Something is terribly wrong in the way Islamic da’wah is being delivered today. Many Masaajid and Islamic institutions enforce an unspoken rule:
"Don’t talk about controversial matters."
"Avoid refuting others' beliefs."
"Keep it light and agreeable."
The result? Speakers water down their messages to the point where even someone holding outright incorrect beliefs can sit comfortably, listen for years, and walk away without feeling the need to change. They leave without the slightest sense that their beliefs have been challenged.
This is not da’wah. This is deception.
The role of a da’i (caller to Islam) is not to entertain or affirm what people already believe—it is to correct misconceptions and guide people toward the truth.
The Prophetic Model: Clarifying the Truth Without Fear
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ never left errors unaddressed. Whenever he encountered a mistake among his companions, he corrected it immediately. He did not hesitate to highlight the flaws in statements and practices, sometimes explicitly naming the person responsible, other times making a general statement.
For example, when a group of people expressed extreme practices—vowing to fast continuously, praying all night without rest, and abstaining from marriage—the Prophet ﷺ immediately responded:
أَنْتُمُ الَّذِينَ قُلْتُمْ كَذَا وَكَذَا أَمَّا وَاللَّهِ إِنِّي لَأَخْشَاكُمْ لِلَّهِ وَأَتْقَاكُمْ لَهُ وَلَكِنِّي أَصُومُ وَأُفْطِرُ وَأُصَلِّي وَأَرْقُدُ وَأَتَزَوَّجُ النِّسَاءَ فَمَنْ رَغِبَ عَنْ سُنَّتِي فَلَيْسَ مِنِّي
“Are you the ones who say such and such? By Allah, I am the most God-fearing among you and the most righteous, yet I fast and break my fast, I pray and sleep, and I marry women. So whoever turns away from my Sunnah is not from me.” (Sahih al-Bukhari: 5063 )
The Prophet ﷺ corrected them openly, showing that balance is a fundamental part of Islam. He never ignored incorrect practices in the name of keeping peace or avoiding discomfort.
Sometimes, he ﷺ even called out individuals by name when the situation required it.
- On one occasion, the Prophet ﷺ spoke about Abu Sanabil:
"كَذَبَ أَبُو سَنَابِل"
“Abu Sanabil lied.” (Sunan Sa’id bin Mansur: 1507)
- At other times, he would generalize, saying:
"مَا بَالُ أَقْوَامٍ..."
“What is the situation of people who say…” (Sahih al-Bukhari: 6101)
In both cases, his goal was the same: to ensure that falsehood was corrected and the truth was clear.
The Curse of Silence: When Truth is Hidden
Remaining silent in the face of falsehood is a betrayal, and it carries consequences. The Qur’an warns us about those who knew the truth yet concealed it:
"لُعِنَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِن بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ عَلَىٰ لِسَانِ دَاوُودَ وَعِيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِمَا عَصَوا وَّكَانُوا يَعْتَدُونَ ﴿٧٨﴾ كَانُوا لَا يَتَنَاهَوْنَ عَن مُّنكَرٍ فَعَلُوهُ ۚ لَبِئْسَ مَا كَانُوا يَفْعَلُونَ"
“Cursed were those who disbelieved among the Children of Israel by the tongue of David and Jesus, the son of Mary. That was because they disobeyed and habitually transgressed. They did not prevent one another from wrongdoing they committed. How wretched was that which they were doing.” (Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:78-79)
This is the reality of those who keep silent while watching misguidance spread. They are cursed because they knew the truth but refused to correct others.
The Da’wah of Deception
Some individuals take pride in the fact that their audience includes people from all backgrounds and beliefs, claiming, “Alhamdulillah, everyone listens to me.” But is this really an achievement?
A da’i once realized that a Deobandi had been attending his lectures for two years and still felt no sense of correction. The man even praised the speaker for making him feel comfortable. This was a wake-up call—how could someone hold incorrect beliefs and not even sense that they were being guided toward the truth?
This is not wisdom. It is deception. The job of a da’i is not to entertain or to validate people’s existing beliefs but to address the real problems in the community. If a doctor praises a sick patient’s hair and eyes while ignoring their life-threatening illness, has he done his job? No. Likewise, a person of knowledge must address the core problems affecting the ummah.
"إِنَّهَا لَا تَعْمَى ٱلْأَبْصَٰرُ وَلَٰكِن تَعْمَى ٱلْقُلُوبُ ٱلَّتِى فِى ٱلصُّدُورِ"
“It is not the eyes that become blind, but the hearts within the chests.” (Surah Al-Hajj 22:46)
The real blindness is not of the eyes, but of the hearts that refuse to accept guidance.
The Role of Da’wah: Directing People to the Right Path
A true caller to Islam does not mislead people. Imagine someone traveling toward their destination. If another person tells them to take a different road, knowing it leads away from their goal, is this not deception? This is exactly what some du’aat are doing today—diverting people from the truth under the guise of inclusivity.
Many du’aat are actively preventing people from reaching the truth, telling them to focus on secondary matters while ignoring the core principles of Islam. When asked about tawheed and sincerity, they downplay its importance, as if these fundamental aspects of Islam are mere details.
The Solution: A Return to Sincerity
The solution to this crisis is a return to true sincerity in da’wah. Yusuf عليه السلام was saved from the temptation of zina because of his tawheed and sincerity:
"إِنَّهُ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا ٱلْمُخْلَصِينَ"
“Indeed, he was one of Our sincere servants.” (Surah Yusuf 12:24)
Everything we do, no matter how small, should be rooted in sincerity. Even something as simple as lending a pen to a fellow Muslim, when done with the intention of fulfilling the rights of brotherhood, can earn immense reward.
But instead of promoting sincerity, some discourage it, making people believe that such intentions are unnecessary. They are part of the problem.
Unite Upon the Truth
The greatest joy for a person of the Sunnah is to see people unite upon the Sunnah. There is no greater success than the unity of the ummah upon the truth. This cannot happen if people remain silent in the face of falsehood.
The message is clear: correct mistakes, speak the truth, and never allow fear or social pressure to prevent you from fulfilling the responsibility of da’wah. May Allah unite us all upon the truth.
Reviving the Legacy of Truth in Da’wah
The best generations of this Ummah stood firm upon the truth, correcting falsehood without fear or hesitation. Their commitment to authentic Aqeedah and unwavering adherence to the Sunnah was the foundation of their success.
Today, we must ask ourselves: Are we following their path, or have we allowed silence and compromise to take over? Upholding the truth begins with seeking authentic knowledge—understanding the correct beliefs and knowing how to convey them with wisdom.
If you're looking to deepen your understanding of true Aqeedah and learn how to give Dawah the right way, there are valuable resources available to guide you. Investing in knowledge is the first step towards reviving the legacy of those who came before us.
Let’s take that step together.
