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A History Lesson In Understanding the Value of Remaining Steadfast, Acting Righteously and Having Impeccable Manners in Da’wah
By Abu Khadeejah.
All praise is due to Allāh, Lord of the worlds. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon His Messenger, his family, his Companions and all who truly follow him. To proceed:
The scholars have a noble role: to preserve the ahādīth, to teach the people, to guide them to the Sunnah, and to correct misunderstandings—especially those arising from bidʿah and disobedience to Allāh. They teach the Book of Allāh along with its meaning, just as the Messenger ﷺ taught the Companions, who then transmitted it to the generations after them.
When one studies the lives of the scholars of the Ummah and their efforts in the field of daʿwah, a unified methodology is evident. They all return to the same guiding light—namely, the Book of Allāh, the Sunnah of His Messenger ﷺ, and the way of the Sahābah (may Allāh be pleased with them).
We see this methodology among the Tābiʿīn, such as Abūl ‘Āliyah (d. 90H), Saʿīd ibn al‑Musayyib (d. 94H), ʿUmar ibn ʿAbdul‑ʿAzīz (d. 101H), al-Hasan al‑Basrī (d. 110H), Muhammad ibn Sirīn (d. 110H), az‑Zuhri (d. 124H), Ayyūb as‑Sakhtiyānī (d. 131H)—all of them took their knowledge from the Book and Sunnah upon the understanding of the Sahābah, they preserved it, and passed it on.
The next generation—the atbāʿ at‑Tābiʿīn, such as Sufyān ath‑Thawrī (d. 161H), Mālik bin Anas (d. 179H), ʿAbdullāh ibn al‑Mubārak (d. 181H)—continued this tradition. And this noble transmission of knowledge and understanding has endured through the centuries.
During the Banū Umayyah dynasty, the Sunnah was largely protected, and Ahlul-Bidʿah were subdued. This remained the case until their overthrow in 132 AH. Then Banū al-ʿAbbās replaced them, almost decimating the entire ruling class of Banū Umayyah. It was in their era that Ahlul-Bidʿah became dominant—sects like the Jahmiyyah, the Muʿtazilah, the Kullābiyyah all deviated in the affair of Allāh’s Names and Attributes, and in credal matters of the Unseen. The ʿAbbāsids also established Baitul‑Hikmah (The House of Wisdom) in Baghdad, housing Greek philosophy, works of Aristotle, Plato, Plotinus and others. Through Baitul-Hikmah and the translation movement, ideas and philosophies of India, Rome, Persia, and Greece seeped into Islām, causing much corruption and misguidance in the ranks of the Muslims.
By the bounty of Allah upon His servants, Allah also raised, in that very time, many scholars of Hadīth and Sunnah: Ahmad ibn Hanbal, ash-Shāfiʿee, ʿAbdur‑Rahmān ibn Mahdi, Ishāq ibn Ibrāhīm ar‑Rāhaway, al-Dārimi, the Rāziyayn, al-Barbahāri, and others who stood firm, defending Islām in the era of Banū al‑ʿAbbās, when Ahlul-Bidʿah had somewhat of a free hand to spread falsehood. The spread of bidʿah through institutions, courts, and libraries meant that innovators such as Bishr al‑Marīsī and Ibn Abī Duʿād—the latter played a major role in the imprisonment and torture of Imām Ahmad—found influence in the royal court, propagating the worst types of innovations.
Yet, in every age, Allāh raises men who stand firm for the truth. Sufyān ath‑Thawrī said: “The angels are guardians of the heavens, and Ahlul‑Hadīth are guardians of the earth.” These great scholars of Ahlul-Hadeeth defended the deen during times when bidʿah became widespread. They wrote works of ʿaqīdah—such as Usūl as‑Sunnah by Imām Ahmad, Kitāb as‑Sunnah by ʿAbdullāh ibn Ahmad, Sharhus-Sunnah by al-Barbahāri, Aslus-Sunnah by the Rāziyayn—and later, Sharh Usūl Iʿtiqād Ahl as‑Sunnah wal‑Jamāʿah by al‑Lālakā’ī, al-Ibānah by Ibn Battah, and many others—all in response to widespread misguidance and a desire to spread the true Deen of Allah.
Non‑Muslims today, and general unlearned Muslims call the era of Banul-ʿAbbās, the “Golden Age of Islām” because it was the era of the Arab philosophers such as al-Kindi, al-Farābi and Ibn Sīna who adopted the teachings and heresies of ancient Greece through the translation movement. As for the Muslims who know the Sunnah and value the Islamic Creed, they recognise that the honour of the Muslims lies in that which Allah enabled in the scholars who preserved and penned the correct belief, the hadīth and Sunnah—and explained the Islamic Law (Sharīʿah).
Centuries later, in the time of Shaykh al‑Islām Ibn Taymiyyah, bidʿah was again widespread beyond what we can imagine. Yet, he stood firm and refuted it, clarifying the ʿaqīdah of Ahlus‑Sunnah wal‑Jamāʿah and Ahlul-Hadīth in many works that are found in his Majmūʿ al‑Fatāwā and elsewhere. His students, such as Ibn ʿAbdul‑Hādī (d. 744H), Ibn Rajab (d. 795 AH), Ibn al‑Qayyim, Imām adh‑Dhahabī and Ibn Katheer, all learned from him and themselves produced great works, including writings defending the true beliefs of the religion.
After Shaykh al‑Islām died in prison in 728 AH, those opposed to him tried to extinguish his legacy. But by Allāh’s decree, his knowledge survived. It was carried forward, generation after generation—even when bidʿah seemed victorious.
Five centuries later (in the twelfth Islamic century), Muhammad ibn ʿAbdul Wahhāb studied those works, mingled with scholars familiar with them, and revived that knowledge. He authored Kitāb at‑Tawhīd, Qawāʿid al-Arbaʿah, Usool ath-Thalāthah, Kashf ash‑Shubhahāt, and many other books. He summarised Ibn al‑Qayyim’s Zād al-Maʿād—so he spread the pure teachings of the Salaf. He faced harm and opposition in that cause, and was expelled and exiled, but still, he remained firm. Finally, in Dīr’iyyah (next to Riyadh), he found support from the ruler, Muhammad ibn Saʿūd (from the House of Saud), who embraced this revival—the daʿwah of Ibn Taymiyyah, in essence, and the Salafī Creed and Manhaj. By Allāh’s permission, much of the Arabian Peninsula adopted it, and it remains till this day, alhamdulillāh.
Allāh Most High says in His Noble Book:
إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى اللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْعُلَمَاءُ ۗ
“It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves who fear Allāh.”
(Sūrah Fatir 35:28)
And:
يَرْفَعِ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ دَرَجَاتٍ ۚ
“Allāh will exalt in degree those among you who believe, and those who are given knowledge.”
(Sūrah al‑Mujādilah 58:11)
Strive, then, to be among those who combine knowledge and righteous action. Verily, actions are the fruits of sound, correct knowledge—and this leads to taqwā, to murāqabah (consciousness that Allāh is watching you), and to peace in the heart.
My brothers and sisters, sons and daughters of the Ummah: acquire sincere Īmān, beneficial knowledge, and do righteous deeds. For righteous deeds do not emerge except from knowledge. The dawah of Allāh does not advance and reach the people except by way of those who know. So if you teach, call to Allāh, or just remain steadfast—with patience, firm resolve, and sincerity.
Expect opposition. Be not surprised when harm comes your way. The path of truth has always been one of facing trials; the Prophets and Messengers (‘alayhimus-salām) suffered more than any of us. Zakariyyah and Yahyā were killed: “And they (the rebellious of Banī Isra’eel) killed the prophets without right…” See Surah Al-Baqarah 2:61, 2:91, Āl ʿImrān 3:112.
The disbelievers among the Children of Israel also tried to slay ʿĪsā (Jesus, ʿalaihis-salām), and the enemies of Muhammad ﷺ caused him suffering, trials and physical pain. Indeed, the Prophet ﷺ said, in words collected by Imām Ahmad, at‑Tirmidhī, and Ibn Mājah: “Those people who are tried the most are the Prophets; then the righteous ones; then those who resemble them most; then those who resemble them most.”
And in another narration: “A man is tried according to his religion; if he is firm in his religion, his trials are more severe, and if he is frail in his religion, he is tried according to the strength of his religion. The servant shall continue to be tried and put to trial until he is left upon the earth sinless.“
Also, the Messenger (ﷺ) said: “There was no one who was harmed more than me for the sake of Allah.” (Reported by at‑Tirmidhī and Ibn Mājah; declared sahīh by Shaykh al‑Albānī.)
So hold fast to the Book and the Sunnah; call to them both, knowing that harm may come—but He whom Allāh wills will protect. Train your soul in patience. Allāh Most High says:
إِنَّمَا يُوَفَّى الصَّابِرُونَ أَجْرَهُم بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ
“Only those who are patient will be paid their full reward, without reckoning.”
(Sūrah az‑Zumar 39:10)
And He commands His Messenger ﷺ:
فَاصْبِرْ كَمَا صَبَرَ أُولُو الْعَزْمِ مِنَ الرُّسُلِ وَلَا تَسْتَعْجِل لَّهُمْ ۚ
“Therefore, be patient (O Muhammad) as those with firm-will and resolve among the Messengers were patient [after they were rejected]. And be not in haste regarding what is justified upon them of punishment.”
(Sūrah al‑Ahqāf 46:35)
The Messenger (salallāhu ‘alaihi wasallam) was commanded to follow those who came before him from the prophets, and to guide the people with their guidance, and we have been commanded to be guided by the guidance of Muhammad (salallāhu ‘alaihi wasallam), and to emulate him:
لَّقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِّمَن كَانَ يَرْجُو اللَّهَ وَالْيَوْمَ الْآخِرَ وَذَكَرَ اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا
Indeed, in the Messenger of Allah, you have a good example to follow for him who hopes in (the Meeting with) Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah much.
(Sūrah al‑Ahzāb 33:21)
This fine example is all-encompassing in every affair; he is the example for us in our ʿaqeedah, ʿibādah (worship), good manners and in all affairs. Many of the callers in our time have abandoned the noble and fine manners of the Prophet (salallāhu ‘alaihi wasallam), but the caller to Allah (the Most High) must follow the example of the Prophet (salallāhu ‘alaihi wasallam), and present the best image of the da’wah of the prophets and messengers, because other than this way will harm the da’wah, and will cause the people to flee, and not accept the truth.
The callers must study the seerah of the Prophet (salallāhu ‘alaihi wasallam) and his fine manners, his beautiful conduct, his ‘aqeedah and manhaj (methodology); and then call to Allah according to this.
So, beware of opposing the Messenger (salallāhu ‘alaihi wasallam) in his ‘aqeedah, manhaj, da’wah and manners. Upon you is to learn how the Prophet (salallāhu ‘alaihi wasallam) called the people, and then pray to Allah (the Most High) that you are inspired by this Prophetic guidance to wisdom, patience, forbearance, tolerance and pardoning the people and being gentle and lenient with them.
Do not take one part of Islām while leaving another part of the path to Allah (the Most High), for that will harm the Religion and the da’wah. By Allah, the Da’watus-Salafiyyah, in this era, and in other times, was not spread except at the hands of men, scholars, wise ones, forbearing ones who practised the manhaj of the Messenger (salallāhu ‘alaihi wasallam), and they implemented whatever they could from the deen of Allah, as much as they could!
Therefore, many people benefited from them, by Allah’s permission. This da’wah of Salafiyyah was spread to every corner of the world, due to their manners, wisdom and knowledge. Shaikh ul-Islām Muhammad ibn ‘Abdul Wahhāb (rahimahullah) died in 1792 CE, and from that time, this da’wah has spread to every corner of the world in these few centuries. Sadly, in these days, the da’wah has regressed and declined somewhat, and this is because the callers have lost the necessary wisdom, forbearance, mercy, manners and the gentleness of the Messenger (salallāhu ‘alaihi wasallam), and the wisdom of the early scholars. On an occasion when ʿA’ishah (radiyallahu ʿanha) reviled a Jew because he insulted the Prophet, the Prophet (salallāhu ‘alaihi wasallam) said to her: “O ʿA‘ishah, indeed Allah is gentle and He loves gentleness in all matters,” (Reported by al-Bukhāri and Muslim from ʿA’ishah herself).
If these noble qualities and traits, which are from the necessities of giving da’wah, are implemented, you will see people coming to the religion in huge numbers by Allah’s permission. These are the qualities displayed by the scholars who call to Allah.
In the time of the Prophet (salallāhu ‘alaihi wasallam), there was an Imām who was leading the people in prayer and making it very long, so the people complained to the Prophet (salallāhu ‘alaihi wasallam), so he said, “Indeed, there are those among you who are scaring the people away, so whoever of you leads the people, must keep it short, for there are those behind you who are old and frail, and people who have business to do.” (Reported by Bukihāri and Muslim from Abu Masʿood al-Ansāri). And he (salallāhu ‘alaihi wasallam) also said: “Make things easy and do not make things hard, and give glad tidings to the people, and do not scare them away.” (Reported by Imām Bukhāri from Anas bin Mālik and Imām Muslim from Abu Musa al-Ashʿari).
In writing this article, I benefited immensely from the speech and writings of my shaikh, al-Allāmah Rabeeʾ Ibn Hādī al-Madkhalī (may Allah shower him with mercy).
Abu Khadeejah ʿAbdul-Wāhid (17th October 2025)
والحمد لله رب العالمين وصلى الله على نبينا محمد وعلى آله وصحبه أجمعين.
