The primary responsibility of Muslims is that of dawah work. Every believer must be eager to guide other people. So, the first level of dawah work deals with intending to do so. It is known in the Islamic Shariah as niyah. Specifically, it means the individual intention to participate in the mission of dawah work. However, such an intention is not just some kind of verbal repetition or lip service. It is a feeling which makes the heart tremble. Every believer should become restless and tremble on seeing others being misguided. This feeling should be of such intensity that, while thinking about it, tears should flood his eyes. Moreover, he should pray for the guidance of others while contemplating solitude.
On the second level of dawah work, believers should take every precaution not to become a hindrance in dawah work. They will not act in such a way as to arouse in people’s hearts hatred or disgust for Islam, nor will they annoy the subject. They will entirely refrain from any such acts as will cause friction between the addresser and the addressee. They will take special care to conduct themselves in this way, even sacrificing their economic, national or political interests.
On the third level, dawah is to be performed directly. Those who can present Islam through public speaking, writing, or the modern means of communication should call upon people to accept the divine religion. They should try to address people’s minds by using arguments that make a powerful impression so that their addressees may leave the wrong path and come to accept true guidance.
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The dawah responsibility of the ummah of the Prophet Muhammad is expressed in a hadith as follows: “Muslims are the witnesses of God on earth.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 2642)
The ummah of the Prophet Muhammad must engage in this task of bearing witness using only those methods that the Prophet employed. This is a divine task in which it is not permissible to include any political, communal, or materialistic aims and objectives. If any other purposes are included in this mission, it would, in the words of the Quran, be an instance of rukun or ‘tilt’, which will make one deserving of severe punishment in God’s eyes. As the Quran says: “Do not incline toward those who do wrong, lest the Fire touches you. For [then] you would have none to protect you from God, and you will not be helped.” (11: 113)
Source: Calling People to God
The primary purpose of dawah work is to introduce man to God—his Creator and Sustainer, and acquaint man with the creation plan of God. This is like telling him what his relationship with God is and how God will deal with him after death. Its objective is to awaken man from his slumber, to make him realize his servitude, and incline him to turn towards God. The task of dawah is a prophetic mission for all times. Therefore, it must be continuously engaged in every age and generation by Muslims as a duty. Responsibility of Muslims Calling people to Islam is a divine mission to fulfill the divine scheme. (The Quran, 4:165) It is, therefore, natural that God should assist man in this endeavour. It is such a difficult task that 14 not receiving divine help would be more surprising than receiving it. The responsibility for carrying on the work of dawah after the Prophet rests with the Muslims. As his followers, they have the responsibility to carry on the prophetic mission generation after generation till Doomsday. (The Quran, 22:78)
Source: Calling People to God
To fulfill his responsibility of dawah, every believer must be eager to guide other people. So the first level of continuing the prophetic mission deals with intention, that is, niyah. Specifically, it means the individual intention to participate in the prophetic mission. However, such an intention is not just some kind of verbal repetition or lip service. It is a feeling which makes the heart tremble. Every believer should become restless and tremble on seeing others being misguided. This feeling should be of such intensity that, while thinking about it, tears should flood his eyes. Moreover, he should pray for the guidance of others while contemplating in solitude.
On the second level of dawah work, believers should take every precaution not to become a hindrance in the way of the prophetic mission. They should not act in such a way as to arouse hatred or disgust for Islam in people's hearts, nor should they in any way cause annoyance on the subject. They should entirely refrain from such acts that will cause friction between the addresser (dayee) and the addressee (madu). They should take special care to conduct themselves this way, even if it means sacrificing their economic, national, or political interests.
On the third level, dawah is to be performed directly. Those who can present Islam through public speaking, writing, or modern means of communication should strive to convey the divine religion to the people. They should try to address people’s minds using arguments that make a powerful impression so that their addressees can fully understand the proper guidance.
Source: Calling People to God
