The basics of dawah: sharing Islam

Now that you are Muslim, people will ask you about it: family, friends, coworkers. You may also want to share what you have found. This is called dawah, an Arabic word that means "invitation": inviting people to Allah. You do not need to be a scholar to do it well. You need good character, honesty, and gentleness.

What dawah means

The Quran describes the best kind of speech:

And who is better in speech than one who invites to Allah and does righteousness and says, "Indeed, I am of the Muslims."

Quran 41:33 (translation of the meaning)

Notice that the verse joins inviting to Allah with doing good. Your actions come first. The way you keep your promises, speak kindly, work honestly, and treat your family often says more than any argument.

The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said: "Convey from me even if one verse" (Sahih al-Bukhari 3461). You can share the little you know, and that is valuable.

With wisdom and gentleness

Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best. Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who has strayed from His way, and He is most knowing of who is [rightly] guided.

Quran 16:125 (translation of the meaning)

This verse gives three keys: wisdom (saying the right thing, at the right time, in a way the person can understand), good instruction (kind and sincere advice), and discussing in the best way, calmly and gently.

When Allah sent the Prophet Musa (Moses) and his brother Harun (Aaron), peace be upon them, to Pharaoh, He said: "Go, both of you, to Pharaoh. Indeed, he has transgressed." Yet He still told them: "And speak to him with gentle speech that perhaps he may be reminded or fear [Allah]" (20:43-44). If gentle words were commanded even with Pharaoh, they fit even better with your own family and friends.

The Prophet said:

Verily, lenience is not found in anything but it adorns it, and it is not removed from anything but it makes it defective.

Sahih Muslim 2594

Make matters easy and do not make them difficult, and give people glad tidings and do not drive them away.

Sahih al-Bukhari 69 and Sahih Muslim 1734 (agreed upon)

Be honest when you do not know

You will be asked questions you cannot answer yet. That is normal, even for people who have been Muslim all their lives. The companion Abdullah ibn Mas'ud, may Allah be pleased with him, said:

O people, he who knows about something, let him say it. And he who does not know should say: 'Allah knows best.'

Sahih al-Bukhari 4774

It is perfectly fine to say: "That is a good question. I don't know yet, but I will find out." Then ask a trusted imam or teacher. Never guess about what Allah or the Prophet said. In the same hadith where he said "convey from me", the Prophet warned strongly against deliberately saying something false about him (Sahih al-Bukhari 3461). And the Quran says: "And do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge." (17:36).

Avoid arguments

Discussion is good; arguing to win is not. The Prophet said: "I guarantee a house on the outskirts of Paradise for the one who refrains from arguing even if he is right..." (Sunan Abi Dawud 4800, graded hasan). If a conversation turns heated, you can end it kindly: "I don't think we will settle this today, but I'm glad you asked."

Remember that guiding hearts is Allah's work, not yours. Allah said to the Prophet himself: "Indeed, [O Muhammad], you do not guide whom you like, but Allah guides whom He wills. And He is most knowing of the [rightly] guided." (28:56). And: "There shall be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion." (2:256). Your part is to share with kindness. The results belong to Allah.

Caring for your family

Your family may feel confused, hurt, or worried about your new faith. Islam asks you to keep treating them with love and respect. Even about parents who push their child to worship others besides Allah, the Quran says the child should not obey them in that, but should still "accompany them in [this] world with appropriate kindness" (31:15).

The companion Asma bint Abi Bakr, may Allah be pleased with her, was visited by her mother, who was not Muslim. She asked the Prophet whether she should keep good ties with her. He said: "Yes, keep good relations with your mother" (Sahih al-Bukhari 2620 and Sahih Muslim 1003).

This is the last lesson of this step. The short knowledge check below reviews what you learned about the rights of women in Islam and the basics of dawah.