I wish to do Da‘wah, though I do not know how to do that. My colleagues do not encourage me, nonetheless, I have a strong yearning to call people to Allaah The Almighty. I am a very bashful person and I do not talk much. Please advise me.

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds.  I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

Da‘wah has been the mission of the Messengers and their followers over the years. Allaah The Almighty sent all His Prophets and Messengers only to perform Da‘wah and to guide people. Indeed, their successors are those who undertake the responsibility of this great and noble mission. Allaah The Exalted Said to His messenger, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, (what means): {Say, "This is my way; I invite to Allaah with insight, I and those who follow me. And exalted is Allaah; and I am not of those who associate others with Him.}[Quran 12:108]

Ibn Al-Qayyim mentioned that this verse suggests that the followers of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, are the discerning Daa‘iyahs (callers to Islam) who undertake Da‘wah (calling to Islam) with sure knowledge. However, those who do not do this are not considered true followers of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, rather they are his followers only by name. 

The strong yearning you feel to do Da‘wah is a sign of faith and an attribute of the believer, and we ask Allaah The Almighty to increase your faith. Allaah The Almighty Says about the man who is mentioned in Chapter Yaaseen (Chapter 36 in the Quran) (what means): {And there came from the farthest end of the city a man, running.  He said, "O my people, follow the messengers.}[Quran 36:20] This man is an excellent example of how the believer acts when his heart is touched by true faith. This truth moved his heart and thus, he could not remain silent or keep it for himself alone. This was especially so when he saw how evil was spreading everywhere around him. He came from the farthest end of the city just to call his people to Allaah The Almighty and to do Da‘wah.

In addition, we would like you to know that there are various means to convey Da‘wah. The one who cannot convey Da‘wah through words, may do that either by writing a message, or distributing a booklet or tape, or by sending an e-mail message, or organizing a lecture for a professional Daa‘iyah. Undoubtedly, the one who truly wishes to play a role in Da‘wah, will certainly find what suits his nature and talents.

If you receive no encouragement from your colleagues in this respect, you should not let that affect your enthusiasm. You have to know that when one believes in the nobility of the purpose he is working hard to achieve, he is not harmed by those who lack this sense of duty. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {O you who have believed, upon you is [responsibility for] yourselves. Those who have gone astray will not harm you when you have been guided. To Allaah is your return all together; then He will inform you of what you used to do.}[Quran 5:105]

Shaykh al-Islam, Ibn Taymiyyah commented on this verse saying that a Muslim is considered to be guided when he performs his duties. Therefore, when the Muslim carries out his duty towards Da‘wah, meaning when he does his best to enjoin good and forbid evil, as well as other duties, he will not be harmed by those who have gone astray.

Allaah Knows best.