OBLIGATION TO PREACH THE SUNNAH TO YOUR PEOPLE

By

Ibn Abdillah As-sudaisiy Al-Iloori

To understand and practice Islaam in accordance with the Sunnah is a rare blessing in this era of our's. Then, to preach Islam according to the Sunnah is a great opportunity granted by Allah سبحانه وتعالى upon whomever He wishes. And to guide a single soul towards a Sunnah based Islam is one of the greatest favours of Allah upon His servants. May Allah make it easy for us to grab this blessing, opportunity and favour and place us among the successful ones in this life and the hereafter.

Consequently, it is an obligation, and not just a voluntary act for anyone to whom Allaah bestows the true knowledge of Islaam according to Sunnah to begin to teach his wife, children, siblings, parents, close and near relatives the fundamentals of Islaam that many people are not aware of and clarify the misconceptions of the people of innovations and desires in the society. It is unfortunate that many parents and family members are not even ready to listen to their own sons and daughters who have been blessed with the true knowledge of Islaam. They reject their own children just because they try to practice Islaam according to Sunnah. 

This is not something strange. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم also faced the same problem and anyone who wants to follow his sunnah must be ready similar challenge. Anyone who does not face rejection from his own people in his da'wah should count himself or herself very lucky. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was also rejected by his own people. Yet, he didn't lose hope on them. He kept calling them till Allah made the conquest of Makkah a reality. Even after the conquest, he kept calling them. So, we must not relent on our parents and relatives. Don't desert your own people who are ignorant of the Sunnah, teach them the real Islaam with wisdom and patience, don't shout on top of your voice while addressing them. May Allah bless you. Allaah says:

(يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا قُوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ وَأَهْلِيكُمْ نَارًا وَقُودُهَا النَّاسُ وَالْحِجَارَةُ عَلَيْهَا مَلَائِكَةٌ غِلَاظٌ شِدَادٌ لَا يَعْصُونَ اللَّهَ مَا أَمَرَهُمْ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُونَ)

[Surat At-Tahrim 6]