Fatwa

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  2. Religions, Sects and Da'wah (Call to Islam)
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  4. Kinds of invitees

Da'wah among non-Muslims
Fatwa No: 92127

Question

In respect to: Fatwa 88293
I find it impossible to invite someone to Islam with our behaviour as Muslims if we propogate the advice of this Fatawa.
How are we to invite anyone we would not be friendly towards? Friendship is a means for opening the way...if the non-believers never know a Muslim then how are we to say we have done our duty?
The Prophet (SAW) was kind and friendly towards everyone and tolerant with his enemies continually calling them to faith.
I feel, we should guard our hearts and not take the company of non-believers in preference to believers, but that we should befriend the non-believer in hope that Allah will accept our Dawa and He will open their hearts to it.
The behaviour of Muslims is the greatest Dawa, not liberation from opression, or any other means. Indonesia came to Islam purely through trade relations...the good behaviour of the Muslim traders was the best Dawa...The evidence? There are now more Muslims in Indonesia than any where else on the planet.
It is through our behaviour as Muslims adhering to Islam that is the best Dawa. I beleive being an unfriendly person is not good Dawa.

Answer

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 is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

 

We very much appreciate your comments about the Fatwa you read on our site. However you should know that there is a difference between being tolerant, courteous and fair towards non-Muslims and taking them as friends. It is true that Indonesia came to Islam through trade relations, but this doesn't mean that we befriend non-Muslims. You can have business transactions with non-Muslims and show them the spirit of Islam. Friendship is a kind of brotherhood and entails affection, some duties and obligations that you should show only to Muslim brothers. Islam requires us to be tolerant, decent towards all people unless they abuse, wrong, or fight us.

Allaah Knows best.

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