Charecteristics Of The Caller Part II

2. Kindness / Gentleness

It is essential that the daa‘ee be soft in conveying the message because harshness could easily discourage people from listening to the truth.
Allaah addressed this issue with regard to the Prophet himself saying:
لَوْ كُنْتَ فَظًّا غَلِيظَ الْقَلْبِ لاَنْفَضُّوا مِنْ حَوْلِكَ
“If you were harsh and hard hearted, they would have fled from around you.”
Soorah Aal ‘Imraan, (3): 159Furthermore, it was as a result of Allaah’s mercy that the Prophet (phuh) was gentle to those he invited to Islaam.
فَبِمَا رَحْمَةٍ مِنَ اللهِ لِنْتَ لَهُمْ
“And by the mercy of Allaah you dealt with them gently.”
Soorah Aal ‘Imraan, (3: 159)The daa‘ee must always consider the fact that Allaah instructed Prophets Moosaa and Haaroon to gently communicate the message of Islaam to Pharaoh who was, at that time, claiming that he was God.
فَقُولاَ لَهُ قَوْلاً لَيِّنًا لَّعَلَّهُ يَتَذَكَّرُ أَوْ يَخْشَى
“So speak to him, both of you, mildly in order that he may reflect or fear God.”
Soorah Taa Haa, (20): 44The Prophet (phuh) also prayed saying:
“O Allaah, be hard on whoever acquires control over the affairs of my nation and is hard on them. And be kind to whoever gains control over the affairs of my nation and is kind to them.”
Gentleness in da‘wah affects the hearts of those being invited and makes them want to listen to the message. The Messenger of Allaah (phuh) was reported by his wife, ‘Aa’ishah to have said,
إِنَّ الرِّفْقَ لَا يَكُونُ فِي شَيْءٍ إِلَّا زَانَهُ وَلَا يُنْزَعُ مِنْ شَيْءٍ إِلَّا شَانَهُ
“Whenever gentleness is in a thing it beautifies it and whenever it is withdrawn from something it defaces.” And he was quoted by Jareer as saying,
مَنْ يُحْرَمْ الرِّفْقَ يُحْرَمْ الْخَيْرَ
“One deprived of gentleness is deprived of all good.”