Five Practical Tips to Give Dawah

By Tasnim Nazeer

Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem

Dawah means to disseminate the teachings of Islam and invite people to accept and embrace Islam. As Muslims, it is obligatory upon us to give dawah and share the message of Islam with our fellow brothers and sisters. Dawah should always be given to those who express an interest in learning more about Islam and should never be forced upon a person. There are many ways to give dawah, some of which are as follows:

1. Educate yourself

The first thing to do if you intend to give dawah correctly and effectively is to attend a course, whether online or offline. Many dawah organizations around the world offer courses on effective ways to give dawah. You could try searching the Internet for online courses in your respective country or read books such as Islamic Studies which discuss Islam, its principles, and its pillars.

2. Teach from the examples of Prophet Muhammad (sa)

Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (sa) was an exemplary example to humankind of how we should conduct ourselves as Muslims. There are many life lessons to be learnt from our beloved Prophet (sa), and we can share these beautiful examples as a means of giving dawah. Sharing a book on the life of the Prophet (sa) with other interested parties can teach people about how wonderful he was, how his character was in accordance with Islam, and how he taught the beautiful religion of Islam and brought it to the world. You could also arrange a small conference or seminar in your college, school, or university to highlight the same.

3. Share your knowledge of Islam

Prophet Muhammad (sa) said: “If anyone hides knowledge, Allah will brand him with the branding iron from the hellfire.” (at-Tirmidhi; reliable) If you attend an Islamic event such as a conference and you take down any notes, share them online and offline as a form of dawah. Be on the lookout. If a person wants to know about a certain aspect of Islam and you have knowledge of the answers to their questions, share your knowledge with them. This is especially significant if the knowledge of Islam you have can benefit another brother or sister in some way.

4. Be a role model

Many people find practical examples to be the best form of dawah. Working to perfect your own practice of Islam and exhibiting character traits that adhere to Islam and depict it positively can enrich another Muslim’s faith and attract a non-Muslim towards learning about Islam. A person with an excellent character has more credibility and builds trust sooner than a person with poor character who is not respected. If you conduct yourself in accordance with the teachings of Islam, you can gain rewards from Allah whilst inviting others to Islam.

The Prophet (sa) said: “Nothing is heavier on the scale of deeds than good manners.” (at-Tirmidhi; authentic)

5. Charity is the key

Help out in charitable causes. This will not only count as a means of voluntary charity but it will also serve as a good example to others. You can help the orphans, raise funds for charity, organise a bake sale, or work on projects that help to raise money for water projects, to alleviate poverty, or for any other positive cause. People are likely to be receptive to the message of Islam if you engage in noble charitable deeds with them.

Tasnim Nazeer is an award winning Freelance Journalist/Writer and Author who has written for a variety of print and online publications including CNN International, The Muslim News, Your Middle East, Islam Channel and many more. She was awarded The Muslim News Award for Excellence in Media 2013 and is an UN Universal Peace Federation Ambassador for Peace. For more information, visit her website at www.tasnimnazeer.com or follow her on Twitter: @tasnimnazeer1

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