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How would you explain Islam and Muslims to a non Muslim?
Caraj
01/29/02 at 15:08:31
A request of the brothers and of course any sister who wish to share. How would you explain Islam to a guy who has no idea what Islam is about? Islamic beliefs of God/Allah, family, country, duty, life, etc? What do you most want non Muslims to know about Islam? What do you most want a non Muslim to know about you as a Muslim? Thank You,  Cara

Re: How would you explain Islam and Muslims to a non Muslim?
Rashid
01/29/02 at 18:28:30
[slm] It's very simple, I just want them to know that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his last prophet and messenger.  Without this there can be no further discussion about anything else.  Once the Prophet [saw] sent a Sahabi to give dawah in Yemen and he instructed him to call the people to La Ilaha Illa Allah Muhammad Rasulullah.  If the people accepted this, he was to inform them that 5 daily prayers are obligatory.  If they accepted this, he should inform them that Allah has a right on 2.5 % of their wealth every year...and so on.  I will not discuss politics, hijab, terrorism, beards, etc etc until we can agree on La Ilaha Illa Allah Muhammad Rasulullah.  This is the essence of dawah, any Muslim can do it. [wlm]

Re: How would you explain Islam and Muslims to a non Muslim?
BroHanif
01/29/02 at 18:47:38
Hi caraj [quote]How would you explain Islam to a guy who has no idea what Islam is about[/quote] I would say, Islam is not a religion, its a way of life. The life which leads a person to success in this life and the next. [quote]What do you most want non Muslims to know about Islam[/quote] That without Islam there is no real life. In Islam everyone is the winner, from the young child to the old man. Only in Islam is ones life mapped out. You won't find this in other religions. Salaams Hanif

Re: How would you explain Islam and Muslims to a non Muslim?
*sofia*
01/29/02 at 23:29:18
I always thought the answer Jafar ibn Abi Talib (rA) gave to King Negus was genius.   A little background information, during the early stages of Prophet Muhammad's (saws) prophethood, he and his followers were oppressed and persecuted by the Quraysh (the ruling tribe in Mecca).  So much so that years went by (during which, they were told to stay with patience and steadfastness) when Allah gave permission to Prophet Muhammad (saws) to finally leave Mecca and migrate to Abyssinia (what is now Ethiopia), where there was a just ruler, the Christian King Negus.  Jafar, btw, was the Prophet's (saws) cousin and brother-in-law.  The rest of the story is from http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/history/biographies/sahaabah/bio.JAFAR_IBN_ABI_TALIB.html The Quraysh made life intolerable for them both and for their brethren in faith. They tried to obstruct them from observing or performing the duties and rites of Islam. They prevented them from tasting the full sweetness of worship undisturbed. The Quraysh waylaid them at every turn and severely restricted their freedom of movement. Jafar eventually went to the Prophet, peace be upon him, and sought permission for himself and a small group of the Sahabah, including his wife, to make hijrah to the land of Abyssinia. With great sadness, the Prophet gave his permission. It pained him that these pure and righteous souls should be forced to leave their homes and the familiar and cherished scenes and memories of their childhood and youth, not for any crime but only because they said, "Our Lord is One. Allah is our Lord." The group of Muhajirin left Makkah bound for the land of Abyssinia. Leading them was Jafar ibn Abi Talib. Soon they settled down in this new land under the care and protection of the Negus, the just and righteous ruler of Abyssinia. For the first time since they became Muslims, they savoured the taste of freedom and security and enjoyed the sweetness of worship undisturbed. When the Quraysh learnt of the departure of the small group of Muslims and the peaceful life they enjoyed under the protection of the Negus, they made plans to secure their extradition and their return to the great prison that was Makkah. They sent two of their most formidable men, Amr ibn al-Aas and Abdullah ibn Abi Rabiah, to accomplish this task and loaded them with valuable and much sought after presents for the Negus and his bishops. In Abyssinia, the two Quraysh emissaries first presented their girls to the bishops and to each of them they said: "There are some wicked young people moving about freely in the King's land. They have attacked the religion of their forefathers and caused disunity among their people. When we speak to the King about them, advise him to surrender them to us without his asking them about their religion. The respected leaders of their own people are more aware of them and know better what they believe." The bishops agreed. Amr and Abdullah then went to the Negus himself and presented him with gifts which he greatly admired. They said to him: "O King, there is a group of evil persons from among our youth who have escaped to your kingdom. They practice a religion which neither we nor you know. They have forsaken our religion and have not entered into your religion. The respected leaders of their people - from among their own parents and uncles and from their own clans - have sent us to you to request you to return them. They know best what trouble they have caused." The Negus looked towards his bishops who said: "They speak the truth, O King. Their own people know them better and are better acquainted with what they have done. Send them back so that they themselves might judge them." The Negus was quite angry with this suggestion and said: "No. By God, I won't surrender them to anyone until I myself call them and question them about what they have been accused. If what these two men have said is true, then I will hand them over to you. If however it is not so, then I shall protect them so long as they desire to remain under my protection." The Negus then summoned the Muslims to meet him. Before going, they consulted with one another as a group and agreed that Jafar ibn Abi Talib and no one else should speak on their behalf. In the court of the Negus, the bishops, dressed in green surplises and impressive headgear, were seated on his right and on his left. The Quraysh emissaries were also seated when the Muslims entered and took their seats. The Negus turned to them and asked: [color=Red]"What is this religion which you have introduced for yourself and which has served to cut you off from the religion of your people? You also did not enter my religion nor the religion of any other community." Jafar ibn Abi Talib then advanced and made a speech that was moving and eloquent and which is still one of the most compelling descriptions of Islam, the appeal of the noble Prophet and the condition of Makkan society at the time. He said: "O King, we were a people in a state of ignorance and immorality, worshipping idols and eating the flesh of dead animals, committing all sorts of abomination and shameful deeds, breaking the ties of kinship, treating guests badly and the strong among us exploited the weak. "We remained in this state until Allah sent us a Prophet, one of our own people whose lineage, truthfulness, trustworthiness and integrity were well-known to us. "He called us to worship Allah alone and to renounce the stones and the idols which we and our ancestors used to worship besides Allah. "He commanded us to speak the truth, to honor our promises, to be kind to our relations, to be helpful to our neighbors, to cease all forbidden acts, to abstain from bloodshed, to avoid obscenities and false witness, not to appropriate an orphan's property nor slander chaste women. "He ordered us to worship Allah alone and not to associate anything with him, to uphold Salat, to give Zakat and fast in the month of Ramadan. "We believed in him and what he brought to us from Allah and we follow him in what he has asked us to do and we keep away from what he forbade us from doing. "Thereupon, O King, our people attacked us, visited the severest punishment on us to make us renounce our religion and take us back to the old immorality and the worship of idols. "They oppressed us, made life intolerable for us and obstructed us from observing our religion. So we left for your country, choosing you before anyone else, desiring your protection and hoping to live in Justice and in peace m your midst." The Negus was impressed and was eager to hear more. He asked Jafar: "Do you have with you something of what your Prophet brought concerning God?" "Yes," replied Jafar. "Then read it to me," requested the Negus. Jafar, in his rich, melodious voice recited for him the first portion of Surah Maryam which deals with the story of Jesus and his mother Mary. On hearing the words of the Quran, the Negus was moved to tears. To the Muslims, he said: "The message of your Prophet and that of Jesus came from the same source..." To Amr and his companion, he said:" Go. For, by God, I will never surrender them to you." That, however, was not the end of the matter. The wily Amr made up his mind to go to the King the following day "to mention something about the Muslims belief which will certainly fill his heart with anger and make him detest them" On the morrow, Amr went to the Negus and said: "O King, these people to whom you have given refuge and whom you protect say something terrible about Jesus the son of Mary (that he is a slave). Send for them and ask them what they say about him." The Negus summoned the Muslims once more and Jafar acted as their spokesman. The Negus put the question: "What do you say about Jesus, the son of Mary?" "Regarding him, we only say what has been revealed to our Prophet ," replied Jaffar. "And what is that?" enquired the Negus. "Our Prophet says that Jesus is the servant of God and His Prophet. His spirit and His word which He cast into Mary the Virgin." The Negus was obviously excited by this reply and exclaimed: "By God, Jesus the son of Mary was exactly as your Prophet has described him" The bishops around the Negus grunted in disgust at what they had heard and were reprimanded by the Negus. He turned to the Muslims and said: "Go, for you are safe and secure. Whoever obstructs you will pay for it and whoever opposes you will be punished. For, by God, I would rather not have a mountain of gold than that anyone of you should come to any harm." Turning to Amr and his companion, he instructed his attendants: "Return their gifts to these two men. I have no need of them." Amr and his companion left broken and frustrated. The Muslims stayed on in the land of the Negus who proved to be most generous and kind to his guests.[/color]
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