To Adorn Oneself When Calling To Allah

Bismillaah, wal-hamdulilaah, was-salaatu was-salaamu 'alaa rasoolillaah, As Salamu 'Alaykum wa Rahmatullaahi wa Barakatuh

A'ishah, the wife of the Prophet Salallahu alayhi wa Salam, narrated that the Messenger of Allah Salallahu alayhi wa Salam said, 'O 'A'ishah, certainly Allah Allah is gentle and He loves gentleness and He gives as a result of gentleness what He does not give because of harshness or anything other than it." (Agreed upon)

Sa'id Ibn Abi Burdah said upon the authority of his father who narrated from his father (the granfather of Sa'id Ibn Abi Burdah) that the Prophet Salallahu alayhi wa Salam said to Mu'adh and Abu Musa as he sent them to Yemen, "Make things easy for the people and do not make things difficult, and give glad tidings and do not chase them away. Be Co-operative and do not differ."(Agreed upon)

It becomes clear from these textual evidences that the essential attributes that every caller (da'iyah) must exhibit is:

1. The First Attribute: Knowledge and understanding of what he is calling to, what he is commanding and what he is prohibiting.

2.The Second Attribute: That gentleness is observed when inviting the people, when commanding them with good and when forbidding then from evil. Allah Subahana wa ta'alaa said about the Messenger Salallahu alayhi wa Salam,

"By the Mercy of Allah (O Muhammad). you were lenient with them. And if you had been stern and harsh of heart, they would have disbanded from around you. So excuse thenm and seek forgiveness for them and consult them in the matter. Then once you have made a decision , then rely upon Allah. Indeed Allah loves those who rely upon Him." (Surat al-Imran 3:159)

3. The Third Attribute: Forebearance after having called people. He should not be hasty or become angry, and he should surpress his anger.

4. The Fourth Attribute: Being patient after calling the people. Surely those who call the people to the way of Allah are often subjected to harm as a result of their call so it is upon them to be patient.

Ibn Tamiyyah Rahimullah said, "Promoting the Sunnah and forbidding innovation (Bi'dah) is considered to be commanding the good and forbidding the evil and it is amongst the best of the righteous deeds. It is obligatory that this is done seeking the pleasure of Allah and in accordance to what has been commanded. In the narration it is found that whoever enjoins the good and forbids the evil must be:

* Knowledge concering what he is commanding and forbidding.

* Gentle in his attempt to enjoin the good and forbid the evil.

* Forebearing when enjoining (the good) and forbidding the evil.

Knowledge precedes the command, gentleness accompanies it and forebearance follows it. If this individual was not knowledegeable, then it would be inappropriate for him to take a stance upon an issue of which he has no knowledge.


If he was knowledgeable but not gentle then he would be like the doctor who lacks gentleness and is harsh with the sick, and this would not be tolerated from him. It is also similar to the educator who is rough and as such children do not benefit from him.

Taken fom the Book The Salaf Methodology pg 118-120 by Shaykh Muhammad Ibn 'Umar Bazmul