Abunaa Sheikh Saalih Ibn Fawzan Ibn Abdillaah Al-Fawzaan was asked the following
question: [54]
Which of the two is most virtuous: seeking knowledge or inviting others to Allaah glory be to
Him the Most High?
Answer: [54]
Seeking knowledge firstly, and that is because it is not possible for mankind to call/invite to
Allaah except that he possesses knowledge and if he does not possess knowledge, then he
does not possess the ability to invite to Allaah. If he does invite to Allaah, then his mistakes
will be more plentiful than that which he rectifies. So the condition of the inviter to Allaah is
that he must possess knowledge before he goes out and gives dawah.
Allaah says, "Say [Oh Muhammad]! this is my way, I invite unto Allaah upon Baseerah [clarity, proofs and evidences] I and whosoever follows me and glory be to Allaah, I am not of the polytheist." [Yusuf:108]
And there are clear affairs that the general person can call to like establishing the prayer and
the prohibiting of abandoning it in Jamaa'ah [Congregation] and the enjoinment of Qiyaamul
Layl [the night prayer] on the residents of his household and the commanding of the children
with the observance of Salah, this affair is clear to the general person and the learned one as
well. However the affairs that which require fiqh [understanding] and that which requires
knowledge are the affairs of Halaal [permissible] and the Haram [forbidden] and the affairs
of Tawheed [singling out Allaah alone for all aspects of worship] and Shirk [deeming others
as equals along with Allaah in that which is specific to Him from worship], these undoubtedly
necessitates or requires knowledge in them.
Ajweebatul Mufeedah Anil Asilati Al-Manaahij Al-Jadeedah pg.89-90 Sheikh Saalih Ibn Fawzaan ibn Abdillaah Al-Fawzaan
الفضيل بن عياض: لو كان لي دعوة ما جعلتها الا في السلطان