An important requirement of religion is that its followers should also continue to urge others to adopt and adhere to it. It is this requirement of religion for which the terms dawah (preaching) and tabligh (propagation) are used. We Muslims have always been aware that the radiance of faith and good deeds that we have been blessed with entails that we must also enlighten others about it. It is because of this importance of preaching and propagation that the Almighty has revealed a detailed shariah about it just as He has done so in spheres such as politics, economics and worship besides some others. A study of this shariah shows that the responsibility of preaching has been imposed in distinct categories on the believers according to their various capacities.

For convenience of understanding, the shariah of preaching can be categorized as follows:

1. Preaching Obligation of Prophets:

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2. Preaching Obligation of Abraham’s Progeny:

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3. Preaching Obligation of the Scholars:

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4. Preaching Obligation of the Rulers:

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5. Preaching Obligation of an Individual:

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6. Strategy of Preaching:

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(Javed Ahmed Ghamidi)

(Translated by Dr. Shehzad Saleem)