is the Messenger of Allah, and this takes precedence over everything else.
Do not, for instance, approach the unbelievers and begin by saying, “Give up wine, give up fornication, give up usury.” That is a mistake. Establish the root before the branches. Therefore, the very first call you make is to monotheism and the Prophetic message: that they testify there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. Only after that do you address the remaining pillars of the religion, proceeding in order of importance.
Among the lessons here is that if the audience understands the language being used, further explanation is unnecessary. The Prophet said, “Invite them to testify that there is no deity but Allah,” yet he did not elaborate, because his listeners comprehended the phrase; their tongue was Arabic. However, if we address someone who does not understand the meaning, we must clarify it, for words are of no benefit when their sense is unknown. For this very reason Allah has never sent a messenger except in the language of his own people, so that he might make things clear to them. Thus, if we speak to someone who is unfamiliar with the phrase la ilaha illa Allah, we must explain: it means that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah; everything worshipped besides Him is false. As the Almighty says, “That is because Allah is the Truth, and whatever they invoke beside Him is sheer falsehood” (Qur’an 31:30).
The same applies to the declaration that “Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.” It is not enough for a person merely to pronounce it with his tongue or hear it with his ears; he must grasp it with his heart. Its meaning must therefore be made clear: Muhammad is the man whom Allah sent from the tribe of Hashim to bring people out of darkness into light. He was sent with guidance and the religion of truth. He explained every good and summoned humanity to it; he made plain every evil and warned against it. He is the Messenger of Allah who must be believed in all that he relates and obeyed in all that he commands.