109 - Delivery of the religious message

1. The Prophet (peace be upon him) gives this order to the Muslim community to deliver his message and code of law, as it is within their ability and means. If a Muslim can only deliver one verse which he has learnt and understood, or an authentic hadith, then he should do so, and he is deemed to have done his duty.

The fact that the Prophet (peace be upon him) says, ‘even one verse’, makes clear that it is not a condition that an advocate of Islam should be a scholar of Islamic Studies. A Muslim calls on people to believe according to his knowledge, provided that he understands what he delivers and makes sure that the hadith he is quoting is authentic and what he is telling people is correct. 

This does not mean that he may say anything to all people. Advocacy of Islam requires wisdom and insight.

It is important to understand the condition and understanding of the person being addressed. He should be given only what is easy for him to understand; otherwise, it may be confusing for him. ꜤAlī ibn Abi Ṭālib said: ‘Speak to people according to their knowledge. Would you like that falsehood may be attributed to God and His Messenger?’ [1]

2. The Prophet (peace be upon him) then states that it is permissible to relate stories learnt from the Children of Israel. There is no harm in reporting these stories. 

However, this is limited to what we are certain of being correct or possible of their stories. What we suspect to be false may not be related.

3. The Prophet makes clear that it is strictly forbidden to attribute to him what he has not said. To do so deliberately earns severe punishment in Hell. 

False attribution to the Prophet is more strictly forbidden than doing the same to others. This is due to the fact that such false attribution is indeed a false claim attached to God and His faith. The Prophet (peace be upon him) did not speak of his own fancy. Therefore, when a pretender makes a false statement and attributes it to the Prophet, then he is inventing by whim a legislation of permissibility or prohibition.

1. Every Muslim should try to be one who advocates belief in God. Such advocates are the best of people. God says about them: ‘Who speaks better than he who calls people to God, does what is right, 

2. Advocacy of Islam is a duty of all Muslims, each according to their own ability. A person who is able to spread knowledge and deliver the message of Islam should do so. Otherwise, a person should do such advocacy by his good manners and values, and by explaining what type of life a Muslim should lead, publicly and privately. 

3. Advocacy of Islam is easy for everyone. It is not a condition that an advocate should be a scholar who has spent years in Islamic studies. Everyone may do according to their own ability. God does not require anyone to do more than they are able to undertake.

4. Modern technology has made Islamic advocacy easier and simpler. A Muslim is able to search for the meaning of any Qur’anic verse and look it up in several books. He can establish the authenticity of a hadith very easily. With a mouse click, he can send verses, hadiths, recorded message, videos and other information to many people.  

5. Is it not enough for anyone that he receives a reward that is equivalent to the rewards of everyone who follows his advice.

6. Scholars and advocates who are in charge of Islamic advocacy, and those of experience who are ready to give what they can and devote their time to the spread of the message of Islam should explain to people that they must fulfil their own duty of advocacy. They should explain to them that they should get involved in the various aspects of Islamic advocacy, encouraging them to do what they can. They should further guide everyone to do what they can manage best, using all their talents and resources. By doing so, they open before people the different fields in which they can be involved.

7. Happy is the one who guides others to what is good and shows them the way to it. Wretched indeed is the one who promotes evil and encourages others to do it.

8. It is permissible to report stories and events that relate to the Children of Israel, provided that the reporter ascertains that they are true and explains to his audience that what he is mentioning is derived from their history. Thus, his audience will not be under the impression that these are absolutely true.

9. Everyone must beware of false attribution to the Prophet, whether deliberately or unwittingly. One must not relate a hadith unless one is absolutely certain that it is authentic. Otherwise, he may be one of those attributing falsehood to the Prophet. 

10. To ignorantly speak about the religion of Islam, permitting what God has forbidden and forbidding what He has made lawful is one form of false attribution to God’s Messenger (peace be upon him). 

11. Another form of false attribution to the Prophet (peace be upon him) is to deliberately attribute to scholars something they did not say. A person may be told that a particular scholar says that a particular matter is permissible. He will then assume that the scholar must have expressed this on the basis of clear knowledge. As such, he will consider it as part of the religion. To do this is far more serious than saying a simple falsehood. [4]