Means to help overcome fearfulness and laziness in calling people to Allaah

After examining the obstacles
of despair, fearfulness and laziness — which are among the most serious
obstacles faced by daa’iyahs (those who call people to Allaah) — we can
suggest two important remedies that will help in facing these challenges. 

Firstly: 

Remembering the immense
rewards and great virtue that there is with Allaah (May He be glorified and
exalted). The one who is certain that Allaah is the one Who has guaranteed
this reward for him, and that He is looking at him, when he is guiding
people to Him and showing them the way to Allaah, will not hesitate for a
day or even for a moment to persist in his efforts and strive to continue on
his way, and to overcome everything that calls him to despair, laziness and
fearfulness. The wise daa’iyah is the one who bears in mind constantly the
verses which give glad tidings to the daa’iyahs and those who teach the
people good, such as the verses in which Allaah says (interpretation of the
meaning):

“(The believers whose
lives Allaah has purchased are) those who turn to Allaah in repentance (from
polytheism and hypocrisy), who worship (Him), who praise (Him), who fast (or
go out in Allaah’s Cause), who bow down (in prayer), who prostrate
themselves (in prayer), who enjoin (on people) Al‑Ma‘roof and forbid
(people) from Al‑Munkar, and who observe the limits set by Allaah. And give
glad tidings to the believers”

[al-Tawbah 9:112]

“Verily, those who say:
‘Our Lord is Allaah (Alone),’ and then they stand firm, on them the angels
will descend (at the time of their death) (saying): ‘Fear not, nor grieve!
But receive the glad tidings of Paradise which you have been promised!

31. ‘We have been your
friends in the life of this world and are (so) in the Hereafter. Therein you
shall have (all) that your inner‑selves desire, and therein you shall have
(all) for which you ask.

32. ‘An entertainment from
(Allaah), the Oft‑Forgiving, Most Merciful.’

33. And who is better in
speech than he who [says: “My Lord is Allaah (believes in His Oneness),” and
then stands firm (acts upon His Order), and] invites (men) to Allaah’s
(Islamic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: ‘I am one of the
Muslims’”

[Fussilat 41:30-33] 

Secondly: 

Reading biographies of
daa’iyahs who called people to Allaah, and focusing on the biography of the
leader of all daa’iyahs, Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allaah be upon
him), in order to find out about the high ambition of these great daa’iyahs,
learn from them and follow their example, and how they were not lazy or
afraid and did not despair. Rather the slogan of all of them was what the
Prophet (blessings and peace of Allaah be upon him) said when the angel of
the mountain thought that he had despaired of his people, and offered to
destroy them by Allaah’s command, but the Prophet (blessings and peace of
Allaah be upon him) answered him with confidence and certainty: “ Rather I
hope that Allaah will bring forth from their descendants those who will
worship Allaah alone and not associate anything with Him.” Narrated by
al-Bukhaari (3231) and Muslim (1795). 

What despair can remain after
the daa’iyah sees this great determination? What fearfulness can remain
after he sees what the noble Sahaabah, those who followed in their footsteps
and the noble scholars faced in order to convey this religion to us today.
Were not thousands of the very best of the people killed for the sake of
this? Were not thousands of the righteous persecuted? Were they not tested
with imprisonment and deprivation in numbers known only to Allaah? What
virtue can be hoped for by the one who sits in his house and fails to spread
the religion of Allaah and support truth and justice on earth? Does he think
that he will be equal to those who enjoin justice and follow the right path?
Or does he think that the scales on the Day of Resurrection will not show
people’s good deeds, when many generations have gone before us who showed
their resolve in this field?  The one who studies their life stories and
ponders their exploits will be motivated to strive, and he will be inspired
as the early generations were inspired. Khaalid ibn al-Waleed (may Allaah be
pleased with him) said: “May the eyes of the cowards never sleep.” Narrated
by Ibn ‘Asaakir in Tareekh Dimashq. 

Dr. Sayyid al-‘Affaani (may
Allaah preserve him) said:

Ahmad ibn Dawood Abu Sa’eed
al-Waasiti said:

I entered upon Ahmad in
prison before they beat him, and I said to him among other things: O Abu
‘Abd-Allaah, you have dependents and young children and you are excused. It
was as if I was encouraging him to say something (when interrogated) to save
him trouble.   Ahmad ibn Hanbal said to me: “If this is how you think, O Abu
Sa’eed, then you will be safe!” 

How often such things are
said to the daa’iyahs today, and how many people have knowledge of Islam yet
tell themselves something similar, then feel fearful and withdraw, and do
not follow in the footsteps of the daa’iyahs. Rather these are the words of
one who wants to play it safe, as Imam Ahmad said. As for the one whose
heart is touched by the situation of the Muslims, how can he play it safe?
How can he allow his wife and children to be the cause of his resolve
becoming weakened and refrain from supporting the call to the religion of
Allaah? 

Is death anything but
something definite that will come at the appointed time?  

“And no person can ever
die except by Allaah’s Leave and at an appointed term. And whoever desires a
reward in (this) world, We shall give him of it; and whoever desires a
reward in the Hereafter, We shall give him thereof. And We shall reward the
grateful”

[Aal ‘Imraan 3:145] 

Working for Islam will not
hasten death, but it will raise one to Firdaws (the highest level of
Paradise).  

If the Muslim is not with
Ahmad, or the heirs of Ahmad, and he is idle because of some excuse or
quasi-excuse, than he is expected to feel sorry for himself or look down
upon himself at least, because he is not with people who are striving to
call people to Allaah. As it was said to the ascetic Bishr ibn al-Haarith
al-Haafi, on the day that Ahmad ibn Hanbal was punished, “Ahmad ibn Hanbal
has been given seventeen lashes so far.” Bishr stretched forth his leg and
started looking at his calf and saying: “How ugly is this calf, because it
does not have chains around it in support of this man.” 

The sincere Muslim, if he
finds an excuse for himself and allows himself to stay behind and not join
the venture of the daa’iyahs for fear of fitnah and the persecution of the
tyrants, or because of some legitimate excuse or weakness that he sees in
himself, or confusion, then he should acknowledge what he should do and show
humility and stop attacking the daa’iyahs; he should continue to criticize
himself and the conclusions he has reached, and speak well of those who are
patient, courageous and dedicated to da’wah. As for the one who is
controlled by his whims and desires, and argues and waffles, using harsh
words lest anyone accuse him of staying behind,  by his argument he combines
the error of lagging behind with the error of criticizing those who are
doing good work – Allaah forbid. End quote. 

Salaah al-Ummah fi ‘Uluw
al-Himmah
(2/100-102) 

For more information, please
see the chapter entitled Kayfa ta’lu al-Himam in the seventh volume
of the book Salaah al-Ummah fi ‘Uluw al-Himmah (p. 285-367), in which
are mentioned 33 means that help to increase one’s resolve and overcome
causes of incapability and laziness. 

We advice you to read the
chapter ‘Uluw al-Himmah fi’l-Da’wah ila Allaah (2/141-5), and also
the essay al-Hawr ba’d al-Kawr by Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Abd-Allaah
al-Duwaysh (may Allaah preserve him) and the essay ‘Ajz al-Thiqaat by Shaykh
Dr. Muhammad Moosa al-Shareef (may Allaah preserve him). 

And Allaah knows best.