Let there arise from among you a band of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right, and forbidding what is wrong. They are the ones to attain felicity. (Quran 3:104)

In the United States, while automobile accidents are the number one cause of deaths among young people under age twenty-five, homicides and suicides are the second and third leading causes. Moreover, America's alcoholism, drug abuse, and child abuse are persistent sources of heartbreak. In addition, 57 percent of US marriages now end in divorce. Incidents of rape, domestic violence, and general assault on women occur as often as once every three minutes. All of these problems are symptoms of a deeper problem spiritual and moral deficits. Apparently, people lacking the anchor of faith are likely to resort to extreme measures when confronted with the pressures of daily living. Alhamdulillah, the central message of Islam is optimistic, and Muslims can offer the perfect antidote for America's overwhelming despair. Islam provides ready access to atonement through Allah's Mercy, asserts the resilience of the human spirit, and presents lonely souls many avenues for individual growth and healthy community life. The Quran Karim reassures the desperate that Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta 'Ala is as close as one's jugular vein (Qur'an 50:16). Likewise, this glorious Din, unlimited by time or place, provides clear, equitable, and reasonable guidelines for every contingency in all arenas of human affairs. Thus, Muslims are obligated to share Islamic heritage by gently inviting others to Islam.

Willingly or unwillingly, every Muslim is a potential ambassador of Islam. When we least suspect it, people watch us and make generalizations about Islam based on what they observe in our demeanor and conduct. Because actions speak louder than words, we must make sure that there is no contradiction between the Islam we preach and the Islam we practice. We must constantly try to follow the example of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) who was always honest, courteous, and considerate of the feelings of others. We should always refrain from un-Islamic behavior, and choose our words carefully before we speak even in the most informal situations.

It is essential before offering dawah to study Islam in depth from reliable sources of Quran, Hadith, and reputable scholarly works. While it is not necessary to become an imam, it is important to ascertain that any facts presented are accurate. Rather than mislead anyone, it is better to admit ignorance and offer to find out or refer the questioner to someone who is more knowledgeable. As in all acts, purity of intention is crucial. We should begin dawah with "Bismillah" and seek refuge in Allah from Shaytan. Dawah offered to prove how much we know, to insult, humiliate, or ridicule, or presented in a boastful fashion will only produce enemies. Instead we should speak with genuine humility and in a gentle tone of voice. We should not approach dawah with the intention of trying to defeat anyone by disputing and debating. Our primary goal in dawah must be to please Allah by trying to win hearts through our positive attitude. We must bear in mind the advice that Allah (SWT) provides:

Know Your Audience, Seize Every Opportunity

We should know about the conditions, problems, trends, and attitudes of those who will receive dawah. This will allow us to highlight relevant issues that directly touch the specific needs and experiences of the audience. Countless situations, present ideal moments for offering dawah such as during condolences for bereavement, when visiting the sick, or during the joy of weddings or the birth of a child. Muslims should not be reluctant to give dawah whenever possible. After all, Allah has instructed us: "Therefore give admonition in case the admonition profits the hearer." (Qur'an 87:9)

We should be particularly aware of the feelings of non-Muslims who enter the masjid to attend the wedding, janazah, or aqiqah of their Muslim relative. Every effort should be made to make such guests feel welcome and to explain our customs so that they can be comfortable. After all, our salat is totally unfamiliar to them, and they are not used to removing their shoes or sitting on the floor at places of worship. Hospitality and courtesy are hallmarks of Islam. Therefore, a non-Muslim guest should be offered a chair, and a diplomatic sister may offer a woman guest a fresh, clean khimar, chador, or jilbab to wear temporarily while inside the masjid. Likewise, it is important to explain to guests that men sit in the front of the masjid out of respect for the women and to guard their modesty; otherwise, they will assume that this custom is sexist. It is also helpful to explain to non-Muslim guests what is about to happen during weddings and funerals because Islamic rites seem entirely different from what they are accustomed to seeing.

Of course, dawah moments usually arise outside of the masjid. Blatant proselytizing is discouraged at many jobs, but by personal example and tactful conversations in the workplace, Muslims can stimulate others to seek out information about Islam. Rather than giving khutbahs in the company cafeteria, the best dawah is performed by showing kindness to co-workers and treating them with respect. In this way, whenever Muslims are in the news (such as when Brother Abdur-Rauf refused to stand for the national anthem) they will feel comfortable about approaching us to ask our opinions. Sometimes just a brief, carefully worded response will suffice to spark even further curiosity. Rather than relentlessly pumping Islam "in your face" like missionaries of other faiths, it is better to simply answer what is asked and end the conversation on a friendly note to leave the door open for future discussions. Time to reflect (sometimes months) may pass before the person will approach with further inquiries.

Additional dawah opportunities may come about through interaction with non-Muslims in various community service projects. In one city, a sister is a volunteer instructor of CPR for the American Red Cross, and several Muslims serve as mentor/teachers for a number of youth programs. They have found that though they are asked not to directly preach religion, Islamic values can be presented in subtle ways. For example, while standing in line at an amusement park, a youth complained about the mosquitoes, and the mentor sister in hijab casually replied, "That's one of the advantages of Islamic dress. Bugs can't bite me because I'm covered." Overhearing the reply, a woman who was not part of the group said, "Hey, you're right. I've been studying Islam. My husband is a Moslem. I haven't yet come to terms with the attire, but you just made a good point about the insect bites. How long have you been wearing Islamic dress?" A conversation ensued between the two women, and the questioner confided that she really appreciated this unexpected chance to get a Muslim woman's perspective on hijab because until then she had only heard her husband's views. The fringe benefit was that the youths also witnessed the entire discussion.

This situation raises another point about who should give da'wah to whom. While initial questions may come from anyone to Muslims of any gender, ideally, for in-depth conversations, men should be referred to brothers, and women should be referred to sisters. For example, a brother whose female co-worker keeps raising questions about Islam should introduce her to his wife or offer her the name and phone number of a sister from the masjid who is willing to discuss Islam with her. Similarly, if a male coworker repeatedly questions a Muslimah about Islam, she should politely refer the questioner to her husband or to her imam. This procedure can prevent potential awkwardness and misunderstandings because a questioner might confuse a Muslim's passion for Islam with romantic interest. Likewise, such referrals allow Muslims to maintain proper hayyah and avoid undue mixing between genders. In addition, this method augments the credibility factor. For example, a female questioner is likely to believe a sister who says she has become comfortable wearing hijab, but she may be skeptical of a brother who makes the same assertion about Muslim women.

Beyond knowledge of Islam, the most important trait for anyone offering da'wah is patience. Although some people will accept Islam readily, others will have reservations and take considerable time to decide. Many will never see the light. We should bear in mind that even some Prophets (AS) were unable to convince their own family members to accept Islam. Prophet Nuh (AS) could not persuade his son, and the wife of Prophet Lut (AS) refused to heed his advice. Though it was painful for Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) to accept, his dear uncle, who had protected him, died without uttering the shahadah. Thus, it would be sheer folly for us to believe that we alone can convince someone to become Muslim. Instead, we must recognize that only Allah (SWT) makes Muslims, and we serve Him by explaining the message and inviting.

However, ultimately, if the questioners remain argumentative, defiant, sarcastic, or hostile. We must remember the Quranic response to them: