What lessons can the callers to the worship of Allaah The Almighty learn from Soorat Al-Muddathir?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

Soorat Al-Muddathir teaches callers to the worship of Allaah The Almighty lessons that can be summarised as follows:

First, an Islamic caller undertakes the obligation of warning people and calling them to worship Allaah The Almighty. He has to free himself from laziness and self-indulgence. This is inferred from the Saying of Allaah The Almighty that reads (what means): {O you who covers himself [with a garment], arise and warn.}[Quran 74:1-2]

Second, glorifying Allaah The Almighty and doing one's best to please Him because He is the Greatest and He is the Lord of everything. Therefore, it is impermissible for the caller to prioritize anything or anyone over the obedience of Allaah The Almighty and serving His religion, regardless of how powerful or dominant they might be. The caller should fear no one in the course of conveying the message of Allaah The Almighty, who Says (what means): {[Allaah praises] those who convey the messages of Allaah and fear Him and do not fear anyone but Allaah. And sufficient is Allaah as Accountant.}[Quran 33:39]

Allaah The Almighty also Says (what means): {And your Lord glorify.}[Quran 74:3]

Third, purifying the soul from sin and betrayal and striving to dress in lawful clothes as well as purifying one's clothing and body from impurities, so that a Muslim's appearance and essence would be in harmony. We learn this from the Saying of Allaah The Almighty (what means): {And your clothing purify.}[Quran 74:4]

Fourth, renouncing sins and forsaking the sinners except to guide them to the message of Allaah The Almighty. This is inferred from the verse that reads (what means): {And uncleanliness avoid.}[Quran 74:5]

Fifth, not reminding oneself of his good deeds or boasting about them to others, for doing so diminishes their reward, cancels their blessing and breeds excessive pride. Any effort exerted by the caller and any hardship he endures for the sake of conveying the message of Allaah The Almighty and supporting His religion is nothing compared to the favours which Allaah The Almighty confers upon man. They are also nothing compared to the blessings and delights which Allaah The Almighty prepared for man's enjoyment in Paradise. This can be understood from the Saying of Allaah The Almighty in the verse that reads (what means): {And do not confer favor to acquire more.}[Quran 74:6]

An illustrative example of the meaning of this verse is to offer someone a gift with the intention of seeking something more valuable in return.

Sixth, being patient while calling others to the way of Allaah The Almighty and tolerating people's accusations and attitudes including false accusations and slander. People might even attempt to strike, imprison or kill the caller. We can understand this from the Saying of Allaah The Almighty (what means): {But for your Lord be patient.}[Quran 74:7]

Seventh, pondering on the horrible end of people in the past who opposed the message of Allaah The Almighty, and reflecting on the pleasant end of the righteous. If this attitude is adopted by the caller it will help him to renounce the transitory pleasures of this worldly life and propel him on his way to the Hereafter. In this way, he will not care about the obstacles because he believes that in the end he will harvest the best outcome. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And when the trumpet is blown, that Day will be a difficult day. For the disbelievers - not easy.}[Quran 74:8-10], and He Says (what means): {I will drive him into Saqar.} referring to Al-Waleed ibn Al-Mugheerah, and Says (what means): {Except the companions of the right, [who will be] in gardens, questioning each other about the criminals.}[Quran 74: 39-41]

In these verses, Allaah The Almighty tells us that the final abode of the disbelievers is Hell, and the final abode of the righteous is Paradise.

Eighth, to not be shaken by trials and tests. This is taken from the verse which mentions the rationale behind dedicating nineteen angels to manage Hell; the verse reads (what means): {And We have not made the keepers of the Fire except angels. And We have not made their number except as a trial for those who disbelieve - that those who were given the Scripture will be convinced and those who have believed will increase in faith and those who were given the Scripture and the believers will not doubt and that those in whose hearts is hypocrisy and the disbelievers will say, "What does Allaah intend by this as an example?" Thus does Allaah leave astray whom He wills and guides whom He wills.}[Quran 74:31]

Finally, knowledge and faith help a believer to remain steadfast. Therefore, the caller should not cease to work on improving these qualities within himself.

And Allaah Knows best.