The Islāmic Perspective on Preaching

Firstly and foremost it should be known that Islām is a proselytising religion and its Holy Founder has been instructed to convey to the people all such truths revealed from the heavens through Islām, and nothing should be hidden by him; and to expound each and every one of its aspects. As such, God the Exalted addresses the Holy Prophet(sa) in the Holy Qur’ān saying:

“O Messenger of Allāh, clearly convey to the people what has been revealed to thee from thy Lord; and if you do it not (hiding a portion thereof, and conveying another), then know that thou shalt not be deemed as one having conveyed God’s message.”1

Moreover, this obligation of preaching has not been confined to the Holy Prophet(sa) alone. Rather, the same duty has been enjoined upon the followers of the Holy Prophet(sa) as well, in that they convey the truths of Islām to others. As such, the Holy Qur’ān states:

“O Ye Muslims! You are the best people raised for the good of mankind. Your task is to invite people to the good of Islām, and forbid them from evil which is against the teachings of Islām.”2

Then, at one step further, it enjoins that a party of the Muslims should always remain devoted to the service of preaching Islām, and should wholly devote themselves to the service of religion. Therefore, He states:

“And let there be among you a part of the community who remain devoted to the propagation of truth. Their task is to invite people to goodness, teach virtue and forbid evil; And the truth is that it is these very people who shall prosper.”3