The Da'iah must be an example to be followed. He must avoid all undesirable deeds and unneeded permissible actions and practices. He must be in a position where he puts temptations of this worldly life under his feet and avoids competing to get a share of it. He must exploit this life for the service of the religion and not exploit himself for the service of this life, so that he earns the trust of the people and they will know that he is not after any worldly personal interest.
To set a good example the Da'iah actions must conform to his words as the prophet Shuaib (Peace be upon him) said “ I wish not, in opposition to you, to do that which I forbid you to do. I only desire (your) betterment to the best of my power; and my success (in my task) can only come from Allah. In him I trust, and unto him I turn” (Meaning of Quran 11:88). Therefore, they are the scholars of evil, those who call people to come to Islam by their words but they drive them away from Islam by their practices. So my brother, the Da'iah, be an example both in your actions and in your words.
Here there is an issue that we must turn our attention to. It is that many believe that the Da'iah should only ask people to do the good deeds that he himself does and only forbid people from the wrongs that he himself avoid. This is wrong! The right approach, supported by texts from Quran and Sunnah, is to command people to do righteous deeds even if the Da'iah failed to do them and to forbid wrongs even if he is falling in them. Some of the scholars even went to stating that persons in a party drinking liquor should advise each other to stop committing this sin. Committing a sin must not lead to another mistake; that is refraining from forbidding the wrong. The only condition required to command good and forbid evil is to have sincere intention and not to do it to deceive people or get a reputation as a Da'iah.
If a father who smokes saw his son smoking, is it expected that he forbids his son from smoking or allows him because he himself is a smoker? The obvious and right thing to do is to prevent the son from smoking because he is still at the beginning of that sin and can give it up easily.
Any responsible person who is in a sin should act similarly when he sees someone under his responsibility falling in the same sin. If it was not acceptable that a sinful person gives an advice then you won't find any one who is perfect after the prophet (peace be upon him).
Being an example requires the Da'iah to meet mistreatment with forgiveness and good treatment, and be as the prophet (peace be upon him) who forgave when been unjust to, who gave when been denied, and who kept the bond when it was broken. These are the manners of the prophets.
I ask Allah that we be rightly guided and that we guide others rightly, that we will not go astray or mislead others, and that He rewards us with His grace and mercy because He is the One entitled to be heeded as well as entitled to grant forgiveness.
I deem that You Allah free of any resemblance to anything what so ever in any respect and above all unsuitable things ascribed to You and I celebrate Your praises. I testify that none has the right to be worshiped but You. I ask for Your forgiveness and I turn to You in repentance.
