7. Who Should I Give Priority to In Inviting First?
Begin with yourself before your family members and anyone else, as has already preceded. Allah (swt) said:
"O you who believe! Save yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is men and stones over which are (appointed) angels stern (and) severe, who disobey not (from executing) the Commands they receive from Allah, but do that which they are commanded". (66:6)
Then, attend to your wife, before your neighbour and your companions, so that she can help you in bring up the children. Before you give da'wah to your cousins, give da'wah to your brother's children yet give da'wah to your cousins before giving da'wah to your companions - and carry on in this manner.
Why is preference to be given to your own children before, for example, your brother's children? Once you are under the earth's surface (i.e. in your grave), your children, your brother's children and your beloved ones will all feel great sorrow for your absence. But as days go by, forgetfulness has to affect them, except your children, for they will be praying to Allah swt for you everyday, rather many times a day, rather, in many of their prostrations. You will still be receiving good deeds while you are in your grave - how?
The Messenger of Allah (saw) made it clear for us, when he (saw) said, "When a person dies, all of his actions discontinue, except three: a recurring charity, or knowledge that is being benefitted from, or a righteous man that prays for him". (Muslim, Kitab al-Wasiyyah, Engl. trans. vol.3, p.867, no. 4005; Abu Dawud, Kitab al-Wasaayaa, Eng trans. vol.2, p.812, no.2874; and others).
He (saw) said, "Verily the purest of what you eat is that which is of your own earning and indeed your children are from that which you have earned". (al Bukhari, at-Tareekh, at-Tirmidhi and others, Irwa al-Ghaleel, no.1626).
Yet it is surprising to see some propogators of Islam, rather, many of them, unfortunately being very active with great strength in giving da'wah to the people, but their women and their children are in a condition that they themselves are not pleased with, so which of the people have more priority to be given attention, education and da'wah?
