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prayer moves non-Muslim audience
Saleema
11/22/00 at 20:36:49
Da’awa at Christian-Jewish Gathering Moves Audience At an event organized by the Troy Hill- Montville Republican Club in Lake Haiwatha New Jersey, on Friday November 5, Shahid Mahmood, a community activist, was asked by the chairman of the organizing committee of the Club to begin the evening’s program with an invocation - a Muslim prayer! The 500 guests present, including Congressman Rodney Frelinghyscn. Slate Senator Bob Martin, Members of the New Jersey State Legislature and Morris County officials listened with rapt attention to Mahmood’s introductory remarks and recitation of certain verses from the Holy Koran. In his remarks, Mahmood said that the verses he had selected will be meaningful for all the guests present and were relevant to the present times. “For sacramental value I will be reciting these verses first in Arabic, which is the language of the Koran, followed by translation in English,” he added. Mahmood explained that in the first verse - Verse 13, Surah 49 - there was a message for all present that evening; for all nations and the entire mankind. The English translation of this verse is: “O Mankind ! We created you from a single (pair) Of a male and a female, And made you into Nations and Tribes, that you may know each other (Not that you may despise each either). Verily the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things).” Mahmood went on to say that the second verse, Verse 58 in Surah 4, is especially meant for individuals in authority, individuals elected to political offices. The third part of his recitation was a Universal prayer, Surah 1, Verses l-9 ( Surah Fateha), which “I think all those who believe in One God will gracefully accept as their own,” Mahmood said.. These beautiful verses from the Holy Koran recited in Arabic and followed by their English translation were very well received and greatly appreciated by all the guests. Several of them came up to Mahmood during the course of the dinner that followed and thanked him profusely for sharing such meaningful and moving verses from the Holy Koran to which they could relate to. One prominent guest, Ralph Avalon, a Catholic Christian by faith and Chairman of the Annual Christmas Concert Organizing Committee of St. Pius Church in Montville, requested Mahmood to also do the invocation at their annual X’Mas Concert to be held on December 17, 2000. [url]www.pakistanlink.com[/url]

Re: prayer moves non-Muslim audience
jannah
11/28/00 at 00:11:52
Good dawah I think, but reading Quran at an xmas concert? that's kinda ironic eh :-)

Re: prayer moves non-Muslim audience
Saleema
11/28/00 at 12:39:51
Assalamoalykum, Ironic? I would use a meaner word. He should have recited the ayahs concerning Jesus.

Re: prayer moves non-Muslim audience
Arsalan
11/28/00 at 14:16:25
Assalamu alaikum, My goodness!  700 posts?  Eeeek! I disagree with you Saleema.  I wouldn't recite verses about Jesus at such a gathering.  They are confrontational.  Here, you're trying to build common ground and make the people listen to what you have to say by attracting them immediately.  I think the verses he recited are good.  Other good verses for such audiences would be the verses at the end of Surah al-Israa that talk about the moral system of Islam.   People often mention Ja'far ibn Abi Talib's speech to the Negus as evidence that we should talk about Jesus when we talk to the Christians about Islam.  But they forget the first part of his speech to the Negus!  In fact Ja'far never brought up the point of Jesus until he was asked to do so by Negus himself (upon the persistence of Abu Sufyan - then a polytheist).  Ja'far, in fact, started his speech with the beauty of Islam, and why it is such a unique religion.   I advise myself and you to go back and read that speech again.  That speech should be a model for every daa'ee and daa'iyah in this country.   Wallahu a'lam.  Wassalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah.
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