privilege but there are also some manners of carrying out this work, and if we work keeping these manners in view, it will produce positive outcomes very soon. In this regard, listen to some manners of congregational & individual persuasion towards righteousness as stated on page 6 from the 649-page book ‘Hikayatayn aur Nasihatayn’, a publication of Maktaba-tul-Madinah:

1.        A preacher should be a practicing person because words of one who is practical, has direct influence.

1.        Behave gracefully towards people while calling them towards righteousness and if you find them committing sin than forbid them from doing so and make them understand in a tender manner.

2.        Do not get emotional unnecessarily; if you try to make any person understand by rebuking, there is a probability of him being stubborn,

3.        Do not object or scold anybody in front of others, in case he makes any mistake, this could lead to hurting his feeling. Therefore, make him understand at a suitable time. Sayyiduna Abu Darda        رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ has narrated, ‘The one who advised his brother in public, he has in fact insulted his brother and whoever advised his brother in seclusion he in fact adorned him.’ (Tafseer-e-Kabeer, vol. 10, pp. 191)

4.        There is no harm in it if parents make their children understand with strictness as per the need, husband to his wife and teacher to his student.

5.        The preacher who does ‘اَمۡرٌ بِالۡمَعۡرُوۡفِ’ i.e. calls towards righteousness must have knowledge otherwise he would not be able to make others understand; for this purpose, it is necessary to read Islamic books. The general public preacher (Muballigh) should convey whatever they read from authentic books and whatever they listen to from authentic pious scholars. They cannot interpret Quranic verses or the Ahadis themselves.

6.        The Intention of a preacher should be only for the pleasure of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and the propagation of Islam.    

7.        The preacher should be patient and tolerant because one could verbally abuse him in return of his calling towards righteousness, on such an occasion, the tolerance and attitude of a preacher is tested; if the preacher loses his temper; he has lost.

8.        On the occasions of happy times, sad times and illness of people share your sympathies with them.

9.        Make people understand according to their awareness.

10.    Do not embroil yourselves into complicated matters and rulings. Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ says:

اُدۡعُ    اِلٰی   سَبِیۡلِ   رَبِّکَ   بِا لۡحِکۡمَۃِ    وَ  الۡمَوۡ  عِظَۃِ    الۡحَسَنَۃِ

Translation from Kanz-ul-Iman: ‘Call towards the path of your Lord with sound planning (wisdom) and good advice.’ (Part 14, Surah An-Nahl, verse 125)