Da’wah means activities that are calling, invite and call others to believe and obey Allah SWT, in accordance with the lines of creed, shari’ah, and akhlaq of Islam. So da’wah is the activity of calling humankind to Allah SWT with wisdom and good lessons in the hope that the object of da’wah will believe in Allah SWT and deny thagut (believe in something other than Allah) so that they come out from the darkness of ignorance to the light of Islam. Some scholars there mention that the law of da’wah is fardu kifayah (collective duty), some others declare the law is fardu ain.
Here is presented the importance of da’wah in Islam.
1. Drive and guide people to goodness
People who do da’wah means they invite their surroundings to become a better people and have good characters. This is an important way to create a good life in this world.
“And let there be among you [a] people inviting to the good [and] enjoining the right and forbidding from the wrong, and those – they (are) the successful ones.” (Al-Imran 3:104)
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2. Become the best people
Rasulullah SAW managed to turn the society of ignorance into the best people throughout history with his da’wah. Da’wah is the only way to the establishment khairu ummah as we expect.
“You are (the) best (of) people raised for the mankind – enjoining the right and forbidding [from] the wrong and believing in Allah. And if believed (the) People (of) the Book surely would have been good for them. Among them (are) [the] believers, but most of them (are) defiantly disobedient.” (Al-Imran 3:110)
3. Become closer to other Muslims
By doing da’wah, we can become closer to people who are listened by our da’wah. We can discuss many things with them, sharing things, and getting to know each other’s character.
“Call to (the) way (of) your Lord with the wisdom and the instruction the good, and discuss with them in that which (is) best. Indeed, your Lord, He (is) most knowing of who has strayed from His way, And He (is) most knowing of the guided ones.” (An-Nahl 16:125)
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4. Doing good deeds
Da’wah is the best deed because da’wah keeps Islamic charity in person and society. Building the potential and maintaining good deeds is a da’wah charity, so da’wah is an activity and charity that has an important role in upholding Islam. Without this da’wah, then good deeds will not take place.
And who (is) better (in) speech than (one) who invites to Allah and does righteous (deeds) and says, “Indeed, I am of those who submit?” (Fussilat 41:33)
5. Eliminate obstacle that obstructs the relationship with Allah
There are some obstacles for us to become closer to Allah. This obstacle can be eliminated by listening to the da’wah which can make our heart holy and peaceful.
And they say, “Our hearts (are) in coverings from what you call us to it, and in our ears (is) deafness, and between us and between you (is) a screen. So work, indeed, we (are) working.” (Fussilat 41:5)
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6. The main duty of Apostle
The Apostles are those who are sent by Allah SWT to perform their main duty (da’wah). The preeminence of da’wah lies in the propagation of this da’wah work on the most important and noble man namely Rasulullah SAW and his friends, the prophets, and apostles. The Muslim follows the guidance of the Apostle and Rasulullah SAW on the basis of bashirah that is knowledge and belief. This means da’wah is a demand of faith, which if Muslim leaves the duty of da’wah means there is a problem with his faith. Allah says to his Messenger to tell mankind that this is his way, his foothold and Sunnah, preaching tauhid that there is no God who is to be worshiped but Allah and call upon Allah above science and belief.
Say, “This (is) my way; I invite to Allah, with insight, I and whoever follows me. And Glory be (to) Allah and not I am of the polytheists.” (Yusuf 12:108)
7. Double our rewards
Sayings of the Prophet SAW to Ali bin Abi Talib: “By Allah, Allah Almighty shows a person with your (da’wah), then it is better for you than a red camel”. (HR Bukhari, Muslim & Ahmad)
This hadith indicates that the effort of a preacher to convey guidance to a person is something of great value in the sight of Allah SWT, greater and better than one’s pride in his red vehicle. We also get more rewards in the world and the hereafter. The greatness of the reward for the people who do it is not only in the magnitude of the reward for him but also because of the continuing rewards that flow to him even though he has died.
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8. Get a place in the heaven
Allah promises heaven for those who always do da’wah and spread the love of Allah to their surroundings. In addition, we will get pleasure and happiness in the heaven.
Rasulullah SAW said: “Allah Almighty gives much good, His angels, the inhabitants of the heavens and the earth until the ants are hollowed and the fish always pray for those who teach goodness to others”. (HR.Tirmidzi from Abu Umamah al Bahili).
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9. Save us from Allah’s Adzab
Da’wah done by Muslim will bring benefits for himself before the benefits are felt by others who become the object of da’wah. Benefits that among others is the release of responsibility before Allah Almighty so he is protected from the adzab of Allah. Da’wah and amar ma’ruf nahi mungkar are the social control that must be done by the Muslims so that life is always dominated by goodness. The ignorance that dominates life will cause the descent of adzab from Allah Almighty.
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10. Convey the knowledge and goodness
“Convey from me though only one verse” (HR Bukhari)
This hadith asserted that it is obligatory for a follower of Muhammad SAW to convey what brought by Allah although only one verse and the knowledge that we are owned is still very limited. Allah never forbids or limits a good which is spread by His servants because good deed will always be counted by Allah regardless of the amount.
11. Improve the quality of society
The message of da’wah should get special attention so that activity of da’wah really can improve quality of life of society, good quality of life of religion, the life of society, the life of nation and state. Because in the reality of the field, that the implementation of da’wah cannot be separated from the life of society itself. So that da’wah activity is expected to solve all social problems, taking into account the priority scale of the target of da’wah.
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12. Telling the truth
Allah reminds that the problem of tauhid and shari’ah cannot be equated with trade problems that allow bargaining to find a meeting point that is equally pleasing to both parties. The problem of creeds is a separate problem that does not require new mixtures of creatures. The gulf that separates the essential truth from the falsehood is impossible to make a crossing to it.
“And indeed, they were about (to) tempt you away from that which We revealed, to you that you invent about Us other (than) it. And then surely they would take you (as) a friend. And if not [that] We (had) strengthened you, certainly, you almost (would) have inclined to them (in) something a little. Then We (would) have made you double (in) the life, and double (after) the death. Then not you (would) have found for you against Us any helper.” (Al-Isra 17:73-75)
13. Give and get direction
Allah guides and always strengthens the hearts of his chosen servants who always do da’wah. In addition, the listener also gets direction from Allah.
“O, Messenger! Convey what has been revealed to you from your Lord, and if not you do then not you (have) conveyed His Message. And Allah will protect you from the people. Indeed, Allah (does) not guide the disbelieving people.” (Al-Maidah 5:67)
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14. Create good akhlaq
Da’wah is done by having good akhlaq as exemplified by the Messenger of Allah. This method is very effective to influence the people around to imitate the commendable behavior we feel. A person who do da’wah without accompanied by the act of real words will not be trusted by others.
15. Avoid sins
Every human always does sins in his life. However, we can avoid and reduce them by doing da’wah or listening to it.
“By the time, Indeed, mankind (is) surely, in a loss, Except those who believe and do righteous deeds and enjoin (each other) to the truth and enjoin (each other) to [the] patience.” (Al-Asr 103:1-3)
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More Importance of Da’wah (16-25)
Here is presented more importance of da’wah.
- Leaving da’wah will bring disaster
- Get help from Allah
- The unifier of Muslims around the world
- Invite people to know more about Islam
- Create happiness and prosperity of life
- Showing ourselves as Muslims
- To remember Allah
- Feel the greatness of Allah
- Increase the awareness of Muslims
- Strengthen the position and role of Muslims in the life of society, nation and state
That’s all the importance of da’wah in Islam. We need to know and do this to get more benefits from da’wah and become closer to Allah.