Upon Whom is Da'wah Obligatory? 


Question : Is da’wah (calling) to Allah obligatory upon every Muslim man and woman, or is it to be left for the Scholars and the students of knowledge only? Is it permissible for the lay person to do da’wah to Allah?

Answer : “When a person has knowledge and insight into that which he is calling to, then there is no difference between the one who has a great amount of knowledge, or a student of knowledge who has recently started in pursuit of knowledge or a lay person - as long as he has certain knowledge of the issue at hand. Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam), said: “Convey from me, even if it is one verse.” [Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith # 3461]

So it is not a condition upon the daa’ee (the one calling) to attain a great amount of knowledge, but the condition is that one must have knowledge of what one is calling to. If this calling is established upon ignorance and built upon emotion and passion, then it is not permissible.

Thus, we see that some of the brothers who call to Allah, they do not have except a little knowledge. We see them, due to their strong emotions, prohibiting that which Allah has not prohibited, whilst making obligatory that which Allah has not made obligatory upon His worshippers. This is a very dangerous matter, since permitting what Allah has made haraam (unlawful) is like prohibiting what Allah has made halaal (lawful). So when they begin prohibiting people for making a particular matter then others will rebuke them for making it haraam. Allah - the Most High - says:

“And do not say, concerning that which your tongues falsely put forward, ‘This is lawful and this is forbidden,’ so as to invent lies against Allaah. Indeed, those who invent lies against Allah will never prosper.” [Quran Surah Nahl 16 Verses #116-117]

As for the lay person, then he must not call to Allah if he does not have knowledge. Rather, it is essential to have knowledge in accordance with the saying of Allah - the Most High:

“Say: This is my path. I call to Allah upon sure knowledge.” [Quran Surah Yusuf 12 Verse #108]

So it is a must to call to Allah upon knowledge. However, if a matter is clearly known to be evil or good, then one can command it - if it is good, or forbid it - if it is evil.

So the callers to Allah must start with knowledge. Whosoever calls to Allah without knowledge, then such a person will cause greater harm than good - as is evident. So it is obligatory for a person to first acquire knowledge, then to do da’wah. As for the clear evils and that which is clearly good, then the good is enjoined and the evil prohibited.”


Answered By: Ash Shaikh Muhammad Ibn Saalih al-Uthaymeen
[Source: As-Sahwatul-Islaamiyyah (Page #75-76) of Shaykh lbn al-’Uthaymeen]