Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful has blessed all mankind with the perfect and complete religion and the best way of life, Islam. He has sent down His Qur’an as His Book of Divine Guidance and has chosen Prophet Muhammad (Saw) as His Messenger and the best example to all humanity.

Both the Qur’an and the Sunnah (the Traditions and Practices, which include the Ahadîth or teachings and sayings of the Prophet) constitute Allah’s mercy to all of mankind. The Muslims who sincerely adhere to the Qur’ân and the Sunnah are on the Right Path. Allah assures them of success especially in the eternal Paradise. However, those who disbelieve, those who practice Bid`ah (innovation or fabrication) in the Religion are doomed to suffer in the Hell-Fire, if Allah will not forgive them.

It is part of Allah’s mercy that He enjoins us Muslims to invite all to Islam. We, the Du’at (those who invite or call people to Islam), must excel in our noble task. We have to do Da’wah sincerely for the pleasure of Allah. We can only succeed and earn Allah’s reward if we do it based on the Qur’an and Sunnah. The reason is plain and simple: what we are going to convey is Islam, the divine Message that is complete and perfect. It is the divine guidance to all mankind that applies to all people, in all generations, and at all times. It guides us how to develop our character as Du’at which makes us closer to Allah and subsequently earn His Pleasure. It teaches us how to do Da’wah with Hikmah (wisdom) and beautiful preaching in the most humane, professional and diplomatic approach possible that opens the minds and hearts of the non-practicing or secular Muslims and the non-Muslims who sincerely seek the Truth.

Indeed, we Muslims are very blessed that Allah has guided us to the Right Path. It is imperative that we do Da’wah (call or invite people to Islâm) as a way to show our gratitude to Allah the Almighty. We should do Da’wah based on the Qur’an and the Sunnah (Tradition of the Messenger of Allâh) purely for Allah’s pleasure for the following reasons: 

First

To call people to Tawhid (Islamic Monotheism or the absolute Oneness of Allah) especially inviting them to Tawhid Al-Uloohiyah or Ibadaa (Allah as the Only One Worthy of true worship). Tawhid is Allah’s Divine Message to the whole mankind. Allah has commanded us to worship Him alone with sincere devotion for our guidance and ultimate success. Allah the Almighty says in the following Ayat (Verses):

“Here is a Message for mankind: Let them take warning there from, and let them know that He is (no other than) One Allah: Let men of understanding take heed.” (Qur’an 14:52)

By calling people to Tawhid they will be guided to perform and submit to Allah’s very purpose of creating mankind (and the jinns) ¾ that is for all of us to worship Him throughout our lives. Allah makes this very clear in the Qur’an when He says:

“I have created not the jinns and men except that they should worship Me (Alone). I seek not any provision from them nor do I ask that they should feed Me. Verily, Allah is the All-Provider, Owner of Power, Most Strong” (Qur’an 51:56-58)

Second

We must do Da’wah in order to let the Law of Allah (the Shari’ah, which is based on the Qur’an and the Sunnah and the deductions from these two revealed sources of guidance) prevail, instead of the man-made laws. This is to please Allah and, thus, attain His rewards and Mercy. Allah clearly tells us:

“O you who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger (Muhammad) and render not vain your deeds.” (Qur’an 47:33)

“For We had certainly sent unto them a Book based on knowledge, which We explained in detail a guide and a Mercy to all who believe” (Qur’an 7:52)

“Yet you (O Muhammad) were sent as a Mercy from your Rabb to give warning to a people to whom no Warner had come before you in order that they may receive admonition.” (Qur’an 28:46)

Third

By upholding the Law of Allah, it means that we have to stick to the Qur’an and the authentic Sunnah of the Prophet and avoid Bid’ah (any new invented belief and way in the religion outside the Qur’an and the Sunnah). For guidance we must avoid any innovation in matters of our religion. We should take admonition from the following authentic Ahadîth (Teachings and Sayings of the Prophet):

Jabir Bin ‘Abdullah narrated that Allah’s Messenger said, “The best speech is that embodied in the Book of Allah, and the best guidance is the guidance given by Muhammad. The most evil affairs are their innovations; and every innovation is an error.” (Muslim 1885)

To conclude, as Du’at we must embody the Quraan and Sunnah and deliver its message clearly to as many people as we can. By doing so, we are obeying Allah’s command and demonstrating our gratitude to Him. Da’wah is essential to establish the Oneness of Allah and His worship alone, to implement the Shari’ah and last but not least to live the way Allah has commanded us to; by following His book of divine guidance (the Qur’an) and the Sunnah of Muhammad (saw).

Mohammad Ameeruddin, AAT