The Sharī‘ah of Preaching

An important requirement of religion is that its followers should also continue to urge others to adopt and adhere to it. It is this requirement of religion for which the terms da‘wah (preaching) and tabligh (propagation) are used. We Muslims have always been aware that the radiance of faith and good deeds that we have been blessed with entails that we must also enlighten others about it. It is because of this importance of preaching and propagation that the Almighty has revealed a detailed shari‘ahabout it just as He has done so in spheres such as politics, economics and worship besides some others. A study of this shari‘ahshows that the responsibility of preaching has been imposed in distinct categories on the believers according to their various capacities.

For convenience of understanding, the shari‘ahof preaching can be categorized as follows:

i. Preaching Obligation of Prophets

ii. Preaching Obligation of Abraham’s Progeny

iii. Preaching Obligation of the Scholars

iv. Preaching Obligation of the Rulers

v. Preaching Obligation of an Individual

vi. Strategy of Preaching