.jpg)
DIFFERENT METHODS OF ISLAMIC PREACHING
🎧 Listen to this chapter (7 min)
The Qur’an teaches us how to spread its message. This is very important. The Qur’an is a book that gives guidance and teaches us what to do. But the most important part is teaching and guiding people. We know that following the rules in the Qur’an is important, but what comes first? From the authors point of view, teaching and guiding others is more important than the rules and laws in the Qur’an. The Qur’an talks about preaching, guidance, divine laws, commands, and Shariah. When we think about what’s most important, we consider "awwaliyat," which means priority. For him, the dominant aspect, or "ghalib," is teaching and guiding others.
The Job of Preaching is Not Bound by Rules and regulations:
He believes that preaching can’t simply follow strict laws. It’s more about understanding what’s going on around you. A preacher needs to have a deep understanding of people and society. Each situation is unique, so there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Therefore, preachers can’t always rely on fixed rules. An Arab scholar once suggested that it’s better to choose someone who is wise and learned to represent you, rather than giving them too many instructions. This person will be able to use their intelligence to adapt to different situations and act accordingly, staying true to the overall purpose.
The Limitations of Preaching:
Preaching began with the first Messenger of Allah and will continue until the end of time. Each preacher faces unique challenges. For example, someone who is skilled at preaching in the East might struggle in the West. This is because different places have different cultures and beliefs. Even if a preacher understands the people in one area well, their knowledge might not apply the same way elsewhere. Each community has its own psychology and way of thinking. So, what works in one place might not work in another.
A miraculous verse regarding preaching:
The Qur’an doesn’t tell us exactly how to preach, which is amazing. It’s up to the preacher to decide when and where to use different methods, based on their passion for religion and their skills. But the Qur’an does have some rules for preaching that we need to follow.
(O Prophet), call to the way of your Lord with wisdom and goodly exhortation, and reason with them in the best manner possible. Surely your Lord knows best who has strayed away from His path, and He also knows well those who are guided to the Right way. Surah an-Nahl : 125
The verse shows two main things about preaching: how much freedom a preacher has and when that freedom stops. The verse makes it clear that preachers have a lot of freedom in what they can preach about. But there are also limits. The verse doesn’t tell preachers exactly what to talk about, like faith, prayers, good behavior, or respecting people’s rights. It just says to guide people towards your Lord’s way. This covers everything that needs to be preached, like teachings from other religions and what people need now and in the future. Preachers can use words, writing, or sermons to spread this message. Some words in the Qur’an, like "hikmat" and "mauizat" and "hasana," have deep meanings.
This verse was revealed in the context of the mission of Prophet Abraham (peace be on him)-the greatest preacher prior to the advent of Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him)
The verse talks about Prophet Abraham preaching about "tauhid," which means believing in one God. It shows how his personality was connected to what he preached, which was the truth. This verse also shows that Prophet Abraham’s way of preaching was the perfect example. The Qur’an often uses examples of preaching to teach lessons. While it doesn’t give strict rules for preaching, it shows how prophets like Joseph, Moses, and Muhammad preached. These prophets are examples of good preaching in Islam. But the Qur’an doesn’t only talk about prophets’ preaching. It also gives an example of preaching by someone who wasn’t a prophet and didn’t spend a lot of time with one. This shows that anyone can learn from these examples, not just prophets.
"And a believing man of Pharaoh’s family, who hid his faith." 40:28 surah ghafir
Even when facing difficult circumstances, he held onto his faith. He didn’t fight against his family and friends, but instead, he fulfilled his duty as a caring friend. Whether someone is in similar circumstances or not, they can learn from how he shared the truth with others. The Qur’an gives good news to those who strive for Allah’s cause, comparing them to those who don’t, in the following verse:
“Those believers who sit at home, unless they do so out of a disabling injury, are not the equals of those who strive in the way of Allah with their possessions and their lives. Allah has exalted in rank those who strive with their possessions and their lives over those who sit at home; and though to each Allah has promised some good reward, He has preferred those who strive (in the way of Allah) over those who sit at home for a mighty reward.” Surah an-Nisa : 95
