Giving da’wah without knowledge

Reference: Kitaabul-‘Ilm p145 q43

Question: Which of the two is better:

i) Freeing oneself for giving da’wah, or

ii) Freeing oneself to seek knowledge?

Response: Seeking knowledge is better and a priority, with the possibility that the student of knowledge can give da’wah whilst seeking knowledge. And it is not possible to give da’wah whilst he has no knowledge. Allaah سبحانه و تعالى says:

So how can da’wah be given whilst he has no knowledge? And no-one has ever given da’wah without knowledge, and whoever has done so without knowledge, then he will not succeed.

Translation originally published on 23 June, 2002.