Assalamu Alaikum,

Preaching or inviting people to the Deen of Islam is the duty of every Muslim, whether they are a scholar or not. A mujahid invites people through fighting in the way of Allah, a Muezzin invites people through the Azaan and a scholar invites via his tongue or pen. However, one can only invite people with what they know and they cannot transgress their ability.

Since it is the belief of all Muslims that the Messenger of Allah is the last and final Prophet, it is therefore evident that this great act must be continued by the believers. To call non Muslims to the Deen is called Tabligh and to advise Muslims to come on the straight path is called Islaah.

Both these acts are commanded in the Quran in the following verses;

O Muslims, you are the best of peoples, who have been selected for the guidance of mankind; you enjoin them to do good deeds and prevent them from forbidden things and you have firm faith in Allah (3:10)

O Muslims, there must be a group amongst you who would invite people to good and would command them to do good deeds and would prevent them from evil acts and these are the people who will attain salvation. (3:105)

The Messenger of Allah (May Allah bless Him and grant him peace) said, as narrated by Abu Said Al Khudri (Radi Allaho Anh),

“Whoever sees a forbidden thing being done, he must prevent it by the use of his hand, and if he has no power for this action then he should prevent it with his tongue, and if he cannot do this even, then he should at least consider bad in his heart and this is a very low level of one`s faith.
(Muslim, Tirmidhi Ibn Majah Nasai).

It has been reported by Numan ibn Bashir that the Holy Prophet (May Allah bless Him and grant him peace) said

” There are people who do not transgress the limits (laws) of Allah and there are others who do so. They are like two groups who boarded a ship, one of them settled on the upper deck and the other on the lower deck of the ship. So when the people of the lower deck needed water, they said “why should we cause trouble to the people of the upper deck when we can easily have plenty of water by making a hole in our deck”. Now if the people of the upper deck do not prevent this group from such foolishness then all of them will perish”
(Bukhari and Tirmidhi)

It is therefore very important that a person passes on what he knows. If he does not know then he should ask some who is qualified and knows the answer. For example` if a person`s son is seen to be drinking alcohol by his father, then his father must stop him and advise him that it is Haram to drink this and a major sin`. It would be foolish of the father to say ” I am not a scholar so let me take him to the local imam as I can`t tell him this”. However, one must also not transgress their limits and advise people unless they are certain. Jurisprudence (Islamic Law) must be acquired from proper sources.

Of couse Allah knows best
[Answer provided by: Muhammad Salim Ghisa]