THERE IS A growing trend that should make every believer pause: the rise of the celebrity da‘wah figure.
Those who remind others of Allah are among the best of us, as the Messenger ﷺ highlighted. Admiration for such people is natural.
Yet something deeper is happening, something subtle and potentially harmful. For some, the speaker becomes the centre of attention rather than the message. Their every word is treated as final. Their personality becomes the attraction. Crowds gather not out of hunger for truth, but out of excitement for the person delivering it.
This should not surprise us. We live in an age that is obsessed with fame. When hearts grow distant from the Creator, they cling more tightly to His creation. When worship weakens, people begin to look for idols, sometimes in forms that appear more ‘Islamic’.
As a result, some Muslims now cling to charismatic da‘wah personalities instead of singers, actors, or influencers. Yet the dīn was never meant to be consumed like entertainment. The Qur’an was not revealed to thrill us for an hour or two. It was revealed to shape our entire lives.
Consider how ‘umrah and Hajj have changed. The journey is easier than ever, which is a mercy for many. For others, that ease has led to it becoming more like a holiday filled with selfies in front of the Ka‘bah, shopping, fast food, and endless distractions. The heart of the pilgrimage, which should be surrender, humility, tears, and transformation, can become buried beneath it all.
In the same way, the heart of sacred knowledge can be lost when the spotlight shifts from the message to the messenger.
Yes, we want speakers who inspire us. We want reminders that move our hearts. But the purpose of that inspiration is to bring us closer to Allah, not closer to an individual. If the charisma of a speaker becomes more powerful than Allah’s verses and the Sunnah of His Messenger ﷺ, then something in the heart has tilted out of balance.
There is another danger as well: the influence of money. This is expected in a world where capitalism seeks to commodify everything, even what is sacred. When da‘wah becomes a business, when institutions compete like corporations, when speakers expect luxury treatment and high fees, the temptation arises to adjust the message to maintain an audience rather than to speak the truth. The dīn becomes diluted. Sweet and comforting words spread easily, while difficult truths that challenge our comfort and demand change are avoided because they may reduce popularity, attendance, or income.
Social media intensifies all of this. While it allows easier access to knowledge, it also magnifies the culture of celebrity da‘wah.
Of course, not every popular speaker falls into these problems. Many are sincere and hardworking servants of the dīn. Yet the trend is real, and we must be aware of it.
Our tradition teaches us to look beyond faces, voices, and personalities. We are called to focus on the message, not the celebrity.
As Muslims, it thus helps to ask ourselves regularly:
- Am I seeking closeness to Allah, or only an emotional rush?
- Do I value the truth itself, or only the one who delivers it?
- Would I still seek knowledge if it came without excitement or crowds?
- What is the speaker saying, and just as importantly, what is being left unsaid?
If we truly love Allah and His Messenger ﷺ, then their words are what we should hurry toward. Their guidance is what we should reflect on. Their commands are what we should act upon, especially in the quiet moments when the lights are off, the crowds are gone, and it is only Allah and us.
Know the truth deeply and sincerely, and by Allah, you will recognise who truly carries it.
May Allah purify our intentions, guide our hearts, and grant us understanding that transforms our lives. Āmīn.
Living For Islam 