al-Manhaj al-Sahih wa Atharuhu fi al-Dawa ila Allah Taala
- Author died
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- Editions
- Islamic University of Madinah
al-Manhaj al-Sahih wa Atharuhu fi al-Dawa ila Allah Taala (The Correct Methodology and Its Impact on Calling to Allah Almighty) is an academic treatise on Islamic propagation (dawa) by the contemporary Saudi scholar Hammoud al-Ruhayli. The work evaluates contemporary approaches to Islamic activism against the theological and methodological framework of the Quran, the Sunnah, and the understanding of the righteous predecessors (al-Salaf al-Salih).
Background and Purpose
The treatise was published as a research study in the journal of the Islamic University of Madinah (Issue 119, 1423 AH / 2002 CE). In his introduction, al-Ruhayli explains that the primary motivation for writing the study was his observation that many contemporary Islamic groups neglect the foundational objective of dawa—namely, calling people to monotheism (Tawhid) and correcting their beliefs. He notes that while some movements concentrate exclusively on politics and armed struggle, others on asceticism and hortatory encouragement, and others on moral virtues, few prioritize Tawhid, which was the first message of all prophetic missions and the true foundation of Muslim unity. He also observed a lack of independent treatises dedicated solely to this topic under this specific title.
Structure and Contents
The treatise is organized into an introduction, four main chapters, and a conclusion:
- Chapter One: The Importance of Sound Creed and the Obligation to Adhere to It (Ahammiyyat al-Aqidah al-Sahihah wa Wujub al-Tamassuk Biha): Divided into three sections examining the obligation of holding fast to orthodox creed, the merits and primacy of Tawhid, and the necessity of prioritizing Tawhid over all other matters in dawa.
- Chapter Two: The Pillars of the Correct Methodology in Calling to Allah (al-Daaim allati Yaqumu alayha al-Manhaj al-Sahih fi al-Dawa ila Allah Taala): Details seven essential qualifications and ethics for preachers: knowledge (ilm), sincerity (ikhlas), following the Prophetic example (mutabaah), wisdom (hikmah), gentleness and forbearance (rifq wa hilm), patience (sabr), and virtuous character.
- Chapter Three: Causes of the Ummah's Deviation from the Correct Methodology (Asbab Inhiraf al-Ummah an al-Manhaj al-Sahih): Discusses six factors leading to deviation: religious extremism (ghuluww), ignorance (jahl), religious innovation (ibtida), following subjective desires (ittiba al-hawa), prioritizing rationalism over revealed text (taqdim al-aql ala al-naql), and schism and factionalism (al-tafarruq wa al-tahazzub).
- Chapter Four: The Impact of the Correct Methodology on Calling to Allah (Athar al-Manhaj al-Sahih fi al-Dawa ila Allah Taala): Details the positive religious, social, and spiritual outcomes produced when propagation aligns with the Sunnah.
Method and Findings
Al-Ruhayli documents his arguments using primary texts from the Quran and verified Prophetic hadiths, referencing citations from classical authorities alongside an alphabetical bibliography and a detailed table of contents.
In the conclusion, the author summarizes the chief outcomes of adopting this approach: fulfilling the divine command to call with wisdom, purifying society from polytheism (shirk) and superstition, fostering mutual harmony rather than factional conflict, and securing spiritual and worldly stability and peace.
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