Da'wah's first priority are Islam’s principles and pillars

10-11-2007 | IslamWeb

Question:

What should an introduction to Islam include?

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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, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and messenger.

 

The proper introduction to Islam was clarified by the Sunnah of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. It should include the following:

• Defining the pillars of Islam and its basis as the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, used to call people to testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His messenger. This is because belief is the corner stone of Islam.
• Calling the people to observe prayer, pay Zakah, fast the month of Ramadan, perform pilgrimage, and the other obligations and acts of the Sunnah as well as preferred deeds; this was the second step the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would take.

The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, sent Mu‘aath Ibn Jabal to call the people of Yemen to Islam. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, told him that the first thing he should do is to ask them to testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His messenger. After accepting this, he should inform them that Allaah Has ordained five daily prayers, then inform them that Allaah Has  ordained the payment of Zakah…[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

This narration and others like it emphasize that the basic pillars and principles should be stressed first. 

Allaah Knows best.