# Is it my duty as a Muslim to preach to others?

*A duty to preach, or a duty to be an example?*

- URL: https://muftiabulayth.org/r/mofs_0ugn4e/s/8/
- Date: 2023-02-22 · Kind: question · Transcript tier: machine · Recording: Muslim Scholars Allying With LGBTQ Community ? | Mufti Abu Layth (37:42–40:07)
- Status: general teaching
- Watch from the start of the segment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOfS_0uGn4E&t=2262s
- Recording page: https://muftiabulayth.org/r/mofs_0ugn4e/

**Topics:** Dawah and debate culture; Character and virtue

**Question as asked:** As part of our responsibility according to Islam, should we not preach the religion both ways, calling Muslims and non-Muslims to Islam?

**Summary (not a quotation; machine-made, unchecked):** Mufti Abu Layth says Muslims have a duty to be an example, not a duty to preach; turning religion into preaching information makes people judgmental.

**Checked position (checked by two independent reviews, not by the channel):** Mufti Abu Layth says Muslims have a duty to be an example, not a duty to preach.

**Evidence, his words at 38:19:** “we have a duty to be an example there's a difference not a duty to preach” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOfS_0uGn4E&t=2299s)

## Longer summary

The caller asks whether preaching is not part of a Muslim's duty, calling Muslims and non-Muslims to Islam. Mufti Abu Layth says there is a lot of misunderstanding around this: Muslims have a duty to be an example, not a duty to preach, and the Quran asks them to be examples of virtue, pillars of the community who help people, give charity and glorify God. Mufti says that if that is called preaching or teaching by example it makes no difference, but confusing it with preaching information makes people judgmental, condemning others to hell and boasting of their own prayers.

## Sources and names cited

- da'wah

## Transcript (machine tier, 37:42–40:07)

[37:02] their own path some people you know through as they question things they may feel yeah this doesn't add up to me or I want to ask someone sure in that case if somebody comes to you then discuss with them but I feel you taking it to people just leads to kind of sectarian fighting and if they come to you then by all means you know you talk you sit down you you provide answers but I yeah I I'm not D I'm not personally for all the kind of Sunni Shia debating thing because I feel it does no good it just does harm and people but I have a question then why as a part of her Duty

[37:42] as a part of responsibility according to Islam we are for the preaching right you should preach the religion in both ways ISL and calling towards Islam means Islam for the Muslims and calling towards Islam to the non-muslims right yeah like that right okay look right look this is I feel there's a lot of misunderstanding around this that people feel this they have a duty to preach I I I feel there's a misunderstanding around that I don't

[38:19] feel we have a I feel let me rephrase it we have a duty to be an example there's a difference not a duty to preach we have a duty to be an example now you may say be an example by the word but more importantly live it like that you know this kind of teaching uh do should we um should we preach should we preach should we preach this kind of stuff it never said this anywhere preach

[38:54] a preach preach it it just said look be examples of virtue yeah like sure Muslims you know they they they should be pillars of a community they should be people who help people people who do charity people who speak of God God's glory like wherever they go they you know always praise God they see that to that so if you want to call that preaching or you want to call that teaching by example uh however we want to call it it doesn't make a difference that I agree there's spot on sometimes we confuse that with preaching information about all the and I think

[39:34] that's what that does is it makes us very judgy like we start you know you know like in in Arabic they like many of the would say you know if they they become you know it's like you know it's like you you you're condemned to hell you're condemned to hell you're faster you I'm better than you I pray five times day I do this I do that oh yeah speaking of Salah you know what I need to quickly do my Salah

## Cite

Mufti Abu Layth Archive, segment mOfS_0uGn4E/s/8. https://muftiabulayth.org/r/mofs_0ugn4e/s/8/

Not a fatwa: these answers were given to specific people at specific times. Ask a qualified scholar about your own situation.