Benefits from Ittihāf Al-Uqūl [3]: Some Manners of the Caller to Allāh

Benefit [3] from Ittihāf Al-Uqūl (A Gift to the Intellects) – An Explanation of “The Three Fundamental Principles” by Al-‘Allāmah ‘Ubayd al-Jābirī (رحمه الله)

[Some Manners of the Caller to Allāh]

Al-‘Allāmah Shaykh ʿUbayd ibn ʿAbdillāh al-Jābirī (رحمه الله) said:

“There are many manners the caller to Allāh should have, and perhaps we will mention the most important of these manners:

First: Strong desire towards guiding the people and conveying the religion of Allāh to them.

Second: Gentleness – Indeed gentleness is not found in any affair except that it beautifies it, and it is not removed from any affair except that it disfigures it.

Third: Wisdom – Wisdom is to put things in their rightful place.

Fourth: Good admonition – Encouragement and warning, each of these should be used in its appropriate circumstance.

Fifth: Arguing with that which is better – Good argumentation or (arguing) with that which is better is done when the one being invited is in need to be argued with to dispel his doubts, and he (the caller) follows the closest means to get the truth conveyed to him. As the Most High said:
{“Call to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good admonition, and argue with them in that which is best. Surely your Lord knows best who has strayed from His path, and He knows best those who are guided.”} [al-Naḥl: 125]

Sixth: The Proper Comprehension (Al-Fiqh), which is his knowledge of the commandments and prohibitions.

Seventh: Clarifying the truth to the people, and encouraging them to it with proof. Clarifying falsehood as well and warning the people against it with proof.

Eighth: Should not be overwhelmed with regret over those who did not accept the Guidance of Allāh. This is among what Allāh prohibited His Prophet ﷺ from; because Allāh’s Wisdom and Allāh’s Way of dealing has preceded that the one who lives (accepts guidance) does so after clear proof, and the one who is destroyed (rejects guidance) does so after clear proof.

Ninth: Confronting the doubts of those upon falsehood and of the people of desires, and refuting it with firmness, and warning the people against it – for the Prophet ﷺ did that.”

Source: Ittihāf Al-Uqūl Bi Sharh al-Thalāthah al-Usool, Dāru al-Mīrāth al-Nabawiyy, pg 13-15, 2nd Edition. (Slightly adapted for translation.)

Translated by Abu ‘Umar ‘Abdul-Hakeem & Abu Tayyibah Sādiq.

قال العلامة عبيد بن عبدالله الجابري (رحمه الله):ـ
للداعية إلى الله آداب كثيرة، ولعلنا نذكر أهمَّها:ـ

أولا: الحرص على هداية الناس، وتبليغهم دين الله

ثانيا: الرفق؛ فإنَّ الرفق لم يكن في شيء إلا زانة، ولم ينزع من شيء إلا شانه

ثالثا: الحكمة – والحكمة هي وضع الشيء في موضوعه

رابعا: الموعظة الحسنة – الترغيب والترهيب، يستعمل كُلاًّ منهما في موضوعه

خامسا: المجادلة بالتي هي أحسن – والمجادلة الحسنة أو بالتي هي أحسن: إذا كان المدعوُّ يحتاج إلى مجادلة، يزيل عنه الشبه، ويسلك أقرب طريق لوصول الحق إليه؛ كما قال تعالى: ({ ٱدۡعُ إِلَىٰ سَبِیلِ رَبِّكَ بِٱلۡحِكۡمَةِ وَٱلۡمَوۡعِظَةِ ٱلۡحَسَنَةِۖ وَجَـٰدِلۡهُم بِٱلَّتِی هِیَ أَحۡسَنُۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِیلِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِٱلۡمُهۡتَدِینَ } [النحل: ١٢٥]

سادسا: الفقه وهو علمه بالمجموعات والمنهيات

سابعا: بيان الحق للناس، وحثِّهم عليه بالأدلة، وبيان الباطل أيضا، وتحذير الناس منه بالأدلة

ثامنا: ألاَّ تذهب نفسه حَسَرات على من لم يقبل هدى الله، فذلكم مما نهى الله نبيه صلى الله عليه وسلم عنه؛ لأنه قضت حكمة الله وسنة الله: أنه يحيا من حي عن بينة، ويهلك من هلك عن بينة

تاسعا: التصدي لشبه المبطلين وأهل الأهواء، وردها بالقوة، وتحذير الناس منها؛ فالنبي صلى الله عليه فعل ذلك

المصدر: [مقتبسة من إتحاف العقول بشرح الثلاثة الأصول، دار الميراث النبوي، ص ١٣ – ١٥، الطبعة الثانية]