al-Dawa ila Allah wa Akhlaq al-Duat

al-Dawa ila Allah wa Akhlaq al-Duat (Calling to Allah and the Ethics of the Callers) is a treatise by the Saudi Arabian scholar Abd al-Aziz ibn Abd Allah ibn Baz (1330–1420 AH / 1912–1999 CE) addressing the legal obligation, virtues, methodology, scope, and ethical conduct required in Islamic proselytization (dawah) al-Dawa ila Allah wa Akhl…+1.

Background and Structure

The treatise was originally prepared and delivered as a lecture and study, published in Majallat al-Buhuth al-Islamiyyah in 1398 AH (1978 CE), and later printed in numerous independent editions, including publications by al-Dar al-Salafiyyah in Kuwait (1404 AH), Maktabat Dar al-Yaqin in Riyadh, and the Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs Majallat al-Buhuth al-Isl…+3.

The text opens with an introduction asserting that Allah created mankind and the jinn solely to worship Him and sent prophets with revealed scriptures to establish justice and resolve human differences al-Dawa ila Allah wa Akhl…+1. It highlights the endurance of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ during his twenty-three years of prophethood in Mecca and Medina, followed by the global dissemination of the message by his Companions and succeeding generations al-Dawa ila Allah wa Akhl…+2. The author organizes the remainder of the work into four principal subjects (umur):

1. The legal ruling and virtue of calling to Allah.
2. The methodology and manners of its delivery.
3. The content and scope of the message.
4. The ethical traits and qualities incumbent upon Islamic callers al-Dawa ila Allah wa Akhl….

Contents

Legal Ruling and Virtues

The author states that dawah is fundamentally an obligation (fard) established in the Quran and the Prophetic Sunnah al-Dawa ila Allah wa Akhl…. In general terms and across territories where sufficient callers exist, it operates as a collective obligation (fard kifayah); however, in circumstances where callers are few, religious violations multiply, ignorance predominates, or where an individual is in a location with no one else to convey the message, it becomes an individual obligation (fard 'ayn) to the extent of one's ability and knowledge al-Dawa ila Allah wa Akhl…+1. Ibn Baz emphasizes the necessity of utilizing modern communication channels—including radio, television, and the press—as well as multiple living languages to convey the message globally al-Dawa ila Allah wa Akhl…+1. He underscores the immense reward of dawah, citing prophetic traditions, including the statement: فوالله لأن يهدي الله بك رجلا واحدا خير لك من حمر النعم ("By Allah, that Allah should guide through you a single person is better for you than red camels") al-Dawa ila Allah wa Akhl….

Methodology and Approach

Relying on the verse ادْعُ إِلَى سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِالْحِكْمَةِ وَالْمَوْعِظَةِ الْحَسَنَةِ وَجَادِلْهُمْ بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ ("Call to the way of your Lord with wisdom and goodly exhortation, and reason with them in the best manner") [al-Nahl: 125], the book outlines a three-tiered approach: starting with wisdom (hikmah), which is defined as clear, sound textual evidence from the Quran and Sunnah that dispels falsehood; followed by goodly exhortation for those showing estrangement; and respectful debate for those with misconceptions al-Dawa ila Allah wa Akhl…+2. The author warns against ignorance and aggression in dawah, maintaining that harshness only repels listeners, except when addressing persistent, obstinate transgressors al-Dawa ila Allah wa Akhl…+1.

Content and Scope of Dawah

Ibn Baz stresses that dawah must be directed purely toward the straight path of Islam rather than toward particular schools of thought, persons, or factions al-Dawa ila Allah wa Akhl…+1. The core priority is the correct creed (aqidah), the two testimonies of faith, and pure monotheism (tawhid) al-Dawa ila Allah wa Akhl…. He presents Islam as a complete system encompassing acts of worship, governance, legal rulings, Islamic brotherhood, and economic guidelines that occupy a middle ground between oppressive capitalism and atheistic communism al-Dawa ila Allah wa Akhl…+2. He also cautions against blind partisanship (ta'assub) in legal matters, urging mutual respect among scholars and adherence to evidence al-Dawa ila Allah wa Akhl…+2.

Ethics of the Caller

The final section enumerates the indispensable qualities that callers must embody:

• Sincerity (ikhlas): Seeking solely the pleasure of Allah rather than social praise, status, or ostentation al-Dawa ila Allah wa Akhl….
• Insight and Knowledge (basirah): Possessing clear legal evidence for what one commands or forbids before speaking al-Dawa ila Allah wa Akhl….
• Forbearance and Gentleness (hilm and rifq): Maintaining patience and avoiding rushed or violent methods al-Dawa ila Allah wa Akhl….
• Exemplary Conduct: Practicing what one preaches to avoid hypocrisy and the grave consequences warned of in the Sunnah for those whose actions contradict their words al-Dawa ila Allah wa Akhl….
• Benevolence toward the Audience: Praying for the guidance of those being addressed and enduring difficulties without despairing of their reform al-Dawa ila Allah wa Akhl…+1.