Fatwa ID: 03351

Answered by: Maulana Maruf Ahmed​

Question

Is dawah compulsory on all Muslims?

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful 

Answer

Da’wah is one of the most important responsibilities of every sane and mature Muslim, male and female. It is an obligation upon every believer to ensure that the true message of Islam is propagated.

Allah Ta’ala says: “Call to the path of your Lord, using wisdom and excellent speech…” (Surah al-Nahl, verse 125).

However, it is important to realise that da’wah can be performed in different forms and is of varying levels. Furthermore Allah Ta’ala does not expect that a person should b overburdened with the responsibility of da’wah, such that all other responsibilities are unfulfilled. Allah Ta’ala says: “Allah does not burden a soul except that which it can bear…” (Surah al-Baqarah, verse 286).

The scholars explain that when it comes to da’wah, each person is expected to do whatever he or she is able to do, without compromising other responsibilities. For example, if someone is a scholar and is well versed in the knowledge of the religion, they are expected to perform da’wah with their knowledge, wisdom and experience. Yet a Muslim businessman (who is not a scholar) obviously cannot be expected to do the same.

Nevertheless, he should spend some of the wealth which Allah blessed him with for the cause of da’wah. Likewise, all Muslims are generally encouraged to display good character towards others. All of these things are different forms of da’wah. Although they are different, they have the common objective of spreading Allah’s religion and propagating its true message.

Only Allah knows best.

Written by Maulana Maruf Ahmed

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham