[LarryRda]

If you want to be the most effective at giving Dawa.

Then I suggest that you buy a book on "How to Sell".

So many brother's and sister's have no idea that Dawa is basically selling your religion.

That you are the sales person; and the non muslim is your customer.

Thus, to be the most effective at giving Dawa; requires learning a few basic sales skills and techniques.

[DoterrFor]

If you want to be the most effective at giving Dawa.

Then I suggest that you buy a book on "How to Sell".

So many brother's and sister's have no idea that Dawa is basically selling your religion.

That you are the sales person; and the non muslim is your customer.

Thus, to be the most effective at giving Dawa; requires learning a few basic sales skills and techniques.

To some extent that may be true; however, there are some limitations as well as differences as well.
For example, in the true example of Prophetic Da'wah,
- we are never to seek wages/compensations for our efforts.
- we are also never to lose sight on the fact that we are not the one guiding, but rather fulfilling a responsibility only, and only Allaah ta'aala guides.
- unlike selling a product, a da'ee towards the deen has to cry to Allaah and ask forgiveness in the night time..

Wallaahu A'lam.

[LarryRda]

I was mainly making a comparison with presenting the product.

Not what the product's intrinsic value was in relationship to other products being marketed..

[Olympicdreams]

YES or NO.
Not all sahaba (RAD) masterd the art of debating or even had to learn every aspects of relegious sciences. If one looks at the life of early muslim they had few common thread 1. Humble 2.Sincere 3.examplified muslim in action and character 4.Practiced Sunnah and all nawafil.
A true daiee don't just talk but exert himself in Night time prayer. For a true daiee Tahajud is almost wajib. A tre daie don't look for excuse to abondon Nawaifil let alone Sunnah.

We don't have to sell relegion. It has little to do with money being spent on but more to do with sincerety and humility and mercy.
We do what is asked of us with sincerety no matter how small or great, the guidance comes from Allah alone.
Overreliance on media and the result is short lived. Hence those who venture into the field of dawah without checking their heart often becomes deseased individual defeating the purpose of dawah by neglecting the self.
Ibrahim (AS) was ordered to call out when there was none to hear.

I would reccomend you get yourself book called fiqh of Dawah by Mufti Sajjad www.as-suffa.org, http://www.azharacademy.com/scripts/...idproduct=2470
It is a must for those who think they are doing dawah.
Allahualam

[LarryRda]

Rule #1 in sales is to listen to you customer.

The customer, of course, being the non muslim.

Ask questions; then listen to their answers very intently.

Find out about them, and what they are looking for, and why?

I have seem too many muslims approach Dawa from the attack mode.

And start out by telling their non muslim customer all of the reasons he/she is wrong.

Not a great approach.

[idobestbuyonlinepp]

Yeah you should get the fiqh of Da'wah book that bro Nomadic suggested. I bought it continued to benefit from its content even until now.

[LarryRda]

Thank you both for the suggestion on the book.

I will look into purchasing it to read.

[idobestbuyonlinepp]

Thank you both for the suggestion on the book.

I will look into purchasing it to read.

http://www.al-rashad.com/The-Fiqh-of...hs_p_3782.html

[LarryRda]

I have given Dawa to far more people than I can count,

And estimate that I've been envolved with at least 100 people taking Shahada.

Some were one on one; and some as a group effort with other people.

Forgive me, but I fail to understand what is the "whole picture" that I am missing?

[Gulauur]

Rule #1 in sales is to listen to you customer.

The customer, of course, being the non muslim.

Ask questions; then listen to their answers very intently.

Find out about them, and what they are looking for, and why?

I have seem too many muslims approach Dawa from the attack mode.

And start out by telling their non muslim customer all of the reasons he/she is wrong.

Not a great approach.

alhamdulillah abdul hakim murad talks of these and other mistakes of muslims too vigorous in dawah

[Gulauur]

I have given Dawa to far more people than I can count,

And estimate that I've been envolved with at least 100 people taking Shahada.

Some were one on one; and some as a group effort with other people.

Forgive me, but I fail to understand what is the "whole picture" that I am missing?

mashallah we can benefit from you brother,others should listen and read too
there is nothing like experience

[TodeImmabbedo]

I agree with what brother Revert2001 is saying here. He is just presenting an analogy and obviously it shouldn't be taken in a literal sense, for example after selling a product the cutomer writes a check, whereas it goes without saying that after dawah there is no such thing.

Brother is rather talking about adopting some of the qualities of a good salesman and I agree. When my mother was in a spiritual turmoil during their Ismaili days (she was the first one to revert, Alhamdulillah), one such amazing daiee came along, who gave her just what she wanted. My mother hated going to the shia jamatkhana and found it too open and a place for show-off rather than religion. This was her main concern, and the daiee only focused on that for a while, that in islam you don't have to go out to pray...there's noone watching except Allah swt..etc etc. And Alahmdulillah she was convinced. Everything else came gradually.

I think it is very imporatnt to know the spiritual needs of the one you are talking to, being a good salesman here can definitely help inshaAllah.

Jazak Allah Khair brother.

wasalaam.

[LarryRda]

I am not trying to come across as a know-it-all.

Because I still have much to learn from the people here and other brother's and sister's everywhere.

I'm just trying to express things that I have seen and experienced on my journey with Islam.


I attend a very large Masjid in my city.

Everyone there knows that I am really proficient at giving Dawa to other Americans.

So I am always being called on to do Dawa with visitors to the Mosque.

And also talk to American friends of muslim members about Islam.


This has given me a unique perspective and loads of experience; as to what works; and what to avoid when giving Dawa.

And that's what I want to share with the brother's and sister's here.

[LarryRda]

I think it is very imporatnt to know the spiritual needs of the person one is talking to, being a good salesman here can definitely help inshaAllah.

You are 100% correct sister.

There is a saying in sales, "The prospect doesn't care how much you know; until you show them how much you care".

I have seen very knowledgable brothers and sisters think they were giving Dawa.

And talking to the non muslim all about heavy subjects like fiqh and aqeedah; and go on and on.

While the poor non muslim hasn't got a clue what they are talking about.

I know that they are very serious and mean well; but that approach is highly ineffective.


Again, ask the prospective person thoughtful questions and then let them talk.

Listen, Listen, Listen

[itaspCatCriny]

I like the analogy, jazakAllah khayran.

-----

Is there a difference in the way one should approach:

• a person who has already shown interest or in whom you've noticed an open door - ready to talk (and we listen); and
• people who are unfamiliar to us, people we go to in order to invite or speak or talk to about Islam (in hopes that they listen)?

Where one is like sales the other may be like marketing - requiring different approaches, energies and temperaments - both valuable and necessary.

If so, then we can imagine room for dawah work of any Muslim/ah for anyone/everyone - across situations/possibilities/temperaments etc. etc.

[Xqjfxmfk]

Rule #1 in sales is to listen to you customer.

The customer, of course, being the non muslim.

Ask questions; then listen to their answers very intently.

Find out about them, and what they are looking for, and why?

I have seem too many muslims approach Dawa from the attack mode.

And start out by telling their non muslim customer all of the reasons he/she is wrong.

Not a great approach.

this is very true and we must also be very gentle with new Muslims

one Sheikh uses the metaphor that we mustn't be like a butcher with a cleaver hacking away at the new Muslim

if there are things that they must change in their life its important to help them change gently and focus only on the important things

otherwise we will find many of them run away to the safety of their old lives because we have made things too difficult for them

[LarryRda]

I like the analogy, jazakAllah khayran.

-----

Is there a difference in the way one should approach:

• a person who has already shown interest or in whom you've noticed an open door - ready to talk (and we listen); and
• people who are unfamiliar to us, people we go to in order to invite or speak or talk to about Islam (in hopes that they listen)?

Where one is like sales the other may be like marketing - requiring different approaches, energies and temperaments - both valuable and necessary.

If so, then we can imagine room for dawah work of any Muslim/ah for anyone/everyone - across situations/possibilities/temperaments etc. etc.

So true; we must find out about the person first.

Only then can we address what ever they are seeking or need to know concerning Islam.


One one the first things I do is ask them questions; where are you from, are you religious, what do you do for a living, etc.

I'm looking for commonalities on which to build a relationship with them.

Once we have that; then we have a starting point in order to build friendship and trust.

Both key elements for a successful out come in Dawa.

[LarryRda]

this is very true and we must also be very gentle with new Muslims

one Sheikh uses the metaphor that we mustn't be like a butcher with a cleaver hacking away at the new Muslim

if there are things that they must change in their life its important to help them change gently and focus only on the important things

otherwise we will find many of them run away to the safety of their old lives because we have made things too difficult for them

I was a little apprehensive about starting this thread because I wasn't sure how it would be taken.

I am by no means an Islamic scholar or a Sheikh.

Just a common man who loves Islam.

And want's to share it with as many people as possible.

[BorBitExatini]

MashaAllaah, How Allaah has increased brother David's wisdom! Our elders always advise us to take the work of Dawah and Tabligh as a business. Because, Allaah says:

O you who believe! Shall I tell you about a bargain that will save you from a painful punishment?

You should believe in Allah and His Messenger, and should strive for the cause of Allah with your wealth and your lives. That is better for you, if you but knew it. He will forgive wor sins and enter yo into gardens underneath which rivers flow, and pleasant dwellings in everlasting gardens of. That is the supreme triumph. - (As-Saff 61: 10-12)

[Xqjfxmfk]

I was a little apprehensive about starting this thread because I wasn't sure how it would be taken.

I am by no means an Islamic scholar or a Sheikh.

lol same here and same for nearly everyone on Sunniforum too, although I'm pretty sure there are plenty who have studied a bit and think they are a great scholar deep down inside

Just a common man who loves Islam.

And want's to share it with as many people as possible.

MashaAllah that's a good motivation.