Harshness Upon Those Who Do Not Practice The Deen

Harshness Upon Those Who Do Not Practice The Deen
Muhammad Ibn Saalih Al ‘Uthaymeen


Question: Some of those whom we consider to be steadfastly practicing the Deen treat people with some harshness and cold heartedness, and some of them are always frowning. What do you advice them, and what is Waajib upon the Muslim towards his brother [in Islaam] especially if he has shortcomings in practicing the deen.

Answer: The purified Sunnah, the Sunnah of the Prophet -صلى الله عليه وسلم- establishes that it is Waajib (compulsory) upon the [Muslim] human to call to Allaah with Hikmah, lenience/gentleness and with easiness. Allaah Ta’aalah has said to his Messenger Muhammad-صلى الله عليه وسلم-:

{Invite (mankind, O Muhammad ) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islaam) with wisdom (i.e. with the Divine Inspiration and the Qur'ân) and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better.} AnNahl/125]
He Ta’aala also said to him:

{And by the Mercy of Allaah, you dealt with them gently. And had you been severe and harsh¬hearted, they would have broken away from around you; so pardon (their faults), and ask (Allaah's) Forgiveness for them.} [Al ‘Imraan/159]
Allaah Ta’aalah said when He sent Musa and Haaroon to Fir’aun (Pharoah):

{And speak to him mildly, perhaps he may accept admonition or fear Allaah.} [Taha/44]
The Messenger of Allaah related that:

“Indeed Allaah gives through gentleness that which He does not give through harshness/force...”
He -صلى الله عليه وسلم- used to say to his messengers when he sent them:

“Make things easy and do not make things difficult, give glad tidings and do not repel the people [from you].”
He also said:

“Indeed you (Muslims) were only sent to make things easy, and you were not sent to make things difficult.”
This is what the Da’eeyah (caller to Allaah) should be like; gentle/lenient, [always] smiling and open hearted, in order that his Da’wah is more readily accepted by those whom he is calling to Allaah.

It is also imperative that his Da’wah is to Allaah ‘Azza wa Jal and not to himself. One should not try to be victorious over or take revenge of the one who has opposed the path. Because if he calls to Allaah alone, by [doing] this he becomes sincere , and Allaah will make the affair easy for him, and guide through him whomsoever He pleases [to guide] from amongst His slaves.

However if he is calling to himself, as if he wants to be victorious, as if he feels that so and so is an enemy to him and he wishes to take revenge, indeed the Da’wah will be deficient and it’s Barakah (blessing) may be removed.

So my advice to my brothers from the Du’aat is that they feel these feelings, meaning that they call the creation as a mercy upon the creation while glorifying the Deen of Allaah ‘Az wa Jal as well as giving victory to it.

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Kitaab Ad Da’wah: #1291

Translated by: Abu ‘Abdul Waahid, Nadir Ahmad.