Tips for making Daawah (Call to Islam)

From: http://www.norwichmuslims.org/

Submitted by Palestine Community

1- Make sure you have both sincerity in intention and correctness of action. Is your intention truly to bring this person closer to the truth? Do not try to prove him or her wrong or to show off your oratory skills. Make sure your intention is solely for the pleasure of Allah, to bring this person closer to the truth (Deen of Allah).

2- Practice what you say to others, the best daawah is by way of example. Don't discuss the importance of truth and honesty in Islam when you yourself lie and cheat constantly. Make sure your actions express the beautiful beliefs and commands of Islam. Hypocricy turns people away. The following are some thoughts and I am sure that every one of us has more:A- Pay for your car when you use UEA car park or any car park.Do not borrow other's cards to pass the car park barriers, don't cheat, be honest.B- Respect and allow elderly people to pass before you in the cashier queue in supermarkets and any other similar places. This is to be worthy of their respect.C- Allow motorists to cross in front of you on T-junctions or any similar places whenever possible, show courtesy on the road.D- Do not forget your neighbours, be caring towards them.

3- Know what you're talking about. Make sure you have a sound, deep knowledge of what you say. Make sure that what you say is absolutely correct. Be honest if you don't know. If you do not have a sound knowledge of what you are saying, your contribution may be negative instead of positive. English people are well educated. Some know about Islam.

4- Have complete faith in what you're saying, do not be in doubt. It is said that what comes from the mouth goes to the ear, but what comes from the heart goes to the heart. The Arabic saying goes: 'if you do not have it, you cannot give it'.

5- Avoid being drawn into argument about contentious issues e.g. can men have more than one wife? Why can't we date? Why don't we accept homosexuality?Don't be apologetic about certain aspects of Islam. Explain it in a simple way, which people can understand, but don't change it or act like it's incorrect.

6- Do not become angry. Don't let people affect you or cause you to change your conduct. Have good manners always. If someone refuses to hear you out, walk away. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says what this means in the Qur'an:"Hold to forgiveness; command what is right; but turn away from the ignorant".He subhanahu wa ta'ala also says about this:"And when they hear vain talk, they turn away therefrom and say: "To us our deeds and to you yours; peace be upon you: we seek not the ignorant".It is true thou wilt not be able to guide every one whom thou lovest; but Allah guides those whom He will and He knows best those who receive guidance."Don't waste your time or get angry with those who refuse to listen.

7- Don't insult the other person's faith. No matter how tempting it would be to talk about the errors and inconsistencies in other people's beliefs, don't do it. It offends people and will possibly give them a bad impression of Islam. Talk about how Islam is distinguished, and by that perhaps exposing the other belief's errors, but do not insult another person's faith. Be respectful.A daawah horror story: a Muslim was speaking at a local high school and began his speech with: "You're all going to Hell." With that, he lost his whole audience before he even started his speech!
8- Discuss what makes Islam beautiful to you. Sometimes we are so busy discussing the pillars of Islam we forget the actual building itself. Islam contributes to every aspect of our lives. Talk about how it gives guidance in how you sleep, how you dress, how you speak, how you marry, how you deal with animals, parents, elders, children, the opposite sex. Talk about Islam's respect for women, the concepts of purity or modesty, it's call to reflect and think about the world around us.

9- And lastly, have patience. Your job is not to convert people; it is not an obligation in Islam to make a certain amount of people Muslim, but it is your obligation to call people to Islam, to distinguish between right and wrong. Who is guided and who is not, however, is solely up to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.

(parts of these tips have been taken from some websites on the internet, I pray Allah that they are of help to all of us).