In an important speech addressed to leaders and scholars, the great thinker and reviver Mawlana Muhammad Ilyas al-Kandhalwi (may Allah have mercy on him) imparted the following valuable instructions regarding the effort of da’wah. The advices articulated in his speech, while aimed specifically at the propagator of Islam, apply generally to those involved in all collective religious activities:
“This work is a very important service, as it is the job of the prophets, and therefore those who do this job are deputizing on behalf of the prophets and none can deserve the blessings of Allah more than them. This task, however, demands much care and a heavy sense of responsibility. In fact, tablīgh is not for bringing others to the straight path. It is a process of self-reformation and a service to Allah by His humble slaves. The main object is to win the pleasure of Allah and reach success through His service and obedience. The following instructions should, therefore, be remembered:
Can the Dead Hear? Commentary of a Hadith from Sahih Muslim