Risala Ajila lil-Duaat
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- Editions
- The book is published on the website of the Saudi Ministry of Awqaf without data
Risala Ajila lil-Duaat (An Urgent Message to Preachers) is an Islamic treatise authored by Khalid bin Thamir al-Subayi addressing contemporary Islamic preachers, scholars, and activists on reforming the methods of Islamic propagation (da'wah) and overcoming internal discord .
Background and Purpose
The author describes the work as an insider's testimony formulated over more than a decade of direct engagement with the Islamic da'wah field . He composed the treatise—subtitling it Ma'alim fi Tariq al-Ummah al-Wahidah (Signposts on the Path of the Single Ummah)—in response to external challenges facing the Muslim world and internal divisions among Islamic workers, aiming to help restore communal unity and realign da'wah efforts with foundational Islamic objectives .
Structure and Core Themes
The work is organized into an introduction, several thematic chapters critiquing prevailing negative trends in da'wah, a set of principles for achieving unity, and a concluding section.
Enjoining Good and Forbidding Evil
The author emphasizes reviving the duty of enjoining good and forbidding evil (al-amr bi-al-ma'ruf wa-al-nahy 'an al-munkar), identifying its abandonment as a primary cause of factionalism and societal decay . He criticizes the tendency among some preachers to limit themselves to theoretical lectures and administrative models while neglecting practical, grassroots counsel in public spaces and everyday life .
Avoiding Factional Reductionism
Al-Subayi warns against "reducing the Ummah" (ikhtizal al-ummah) into narrow groups, factions, or parties while isolating oneself from the general populace . Drawing on writings by Salman al-Awdah and Abd al-Aziz ibn Baz, he argues that the true objective of da'wah is guiding humanity from darkness to light and saving souls from the Fire, rather than rallying crowds around specific organizational identities, competing for leadership positions, or indulging in self-promotional media displays .
Fraternal Sincerity and Internal Rivalry
The treatise addresses the phenomenon of outward friendship masking inner animosity among da'wah workers . Al-Subayi censures Machiavellian political maneuvers and covert rivalries within religious circles, contrasting them with the prophetic bond of brotherhood (al-mu'akhah) established between the Emigrants and the Helpers in early Medina .
Relations with Rulers and Scholars
Al-Subayi outlines the traditional approach toward rulers (wulat al-amr), advising patience and sincere counsel without obedience in sin, and condemning dualistic behavior where figures disparage authorities in private gatherings while displaying flattery in person . He likewise warns against slandering reputable scholars, while noting the need for scholars who stand firmly for truth during trials .
Critique of Da'wah Elitism and Intellectual Subservience
The book identifies two structural dangers within contemporary religious movements:
- Da'wah Elitism (al-Nukhbah): The monopolization of privileges, opportunities, and administrative status by a self-serving elite, accompanied by disdain for the broader public, contrasting this with the classical models of scholarship, worship, self-sacrifice, and charity .
- Intellectual Subservience (al-Istilab al-Fikri): The uncritical submission of followers to mentors, the cloning of standardized personas, the sanctification of group leaders, and narrow partisan loyalties that displace broader Islamic brotherhood .
Signposts for Communal Unity
In the section titled Ma'alim fi Tariq al-Ummah al-Wahidah, the author delineates key principles for unifying Muslims :
- Uniting upon pure monotheism (tawhid) and strict adherence to the Quran and Sunnah as understood by the righteous predecessors (al-salaf al-salih) .
- Centering unity on the decisive fundamentals of Islam rather than narrow group affiliations .
- Maintaining Islamic principles in the face of calls for destructive westernization or uncritical openness .
- Promoting practical cross-group cooperation in religious, social, and economic projects .
Conclusion
The treatise concludes by highlighting three core tenets: adhering strictly to the prophetic example and the path of the Companions, maintaining the obligation of jihad for communal strength, and realigning Islamic da'wah toward guiding mankind and seeking the divine reward .
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