Call Disbelieving Parents to Islam, then Travel to Seek Knowledge

Question: May Allaah bless you, our shaikh. We come from America, where the majority of our families are disbelievers. What advice do you have for us that can help bring our families to Islaam?

Answer by Shaikh Muhammad ibn ‘Abdul-Wahhab al-‘Aqeel (hafidhahullaah):
This is a very good question, and extremely important question, because the finest gift you can give to your relatives is that you call them to Islaam.

The first of the ways for their guidance is that you make a lot of du’aa, and supplicate to Allaah, asking Him to guide them. It’s not just that you say, “O Allaah guide these people,” and walk away; rather you must adhere to all the proper etiquettes and manners of du’aa.* And you repeat it a lot, in the night and the day.

Then, it is upon you to look towards and adhere to the way of the Prophet (salallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) and his Seerah. Because the method of the Prophet in calling to Allaah was the most excellent method. Being good and benevolent to them, assisting them upon that which they have to do [in halal matters], trying to bring their hearts together, giving them gifts. Make them love you. And if they love you, they will follow you (accept your da’wah, accept your advice).

And this is the most obligatory matter you must do for them.

Indeed one of the Salaf left from Khurasan to seek some knowledge. So he met some people, who asked him, “Where do you want to go?”

He said, “I want to seek knowledge.”

(One of them) asked, “Are your parents alive?”

He replied, “Yes.”

(One of them) asked, “Are they Muslim?”

He said, “No.”

(One of them) said, “Go back and call them to Islaam, for indeed that is better for you than seeking knowledge.”

So he went back to them, and he served them until they accepted Islaam. And he said:

That was the finest advice I ever received in my life.
His parents died just a short while after that. He was extremely happy that they died upon Islaam. Then, he went on to seek knowledge afterwards, and he obtained a huge portion of knowledge.

Source: Tape The Guidance of Allaah; talk by Shaikh Muhammad ibn ‘Abdul-Wahhab al-‘Aqeel