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Why Make Dawah and How?

05 July, 2016
Q Assalaamualaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu! I have been having good dreams about someone I have known for 6 years now. He is a non-Muslim and my classmate. I am a medical student soon to graduate. The first dream I had about this person was 3 years back when I saw him writing the name of Allah on white paper or white cloth and showing it to me. The second time was last year after I gave him a copy of the Quran. I dreamt of him doing wudu and reading the Quran aloud but he was somewhat hiding it from me. Next, few days back I dreamt of him reading the first kalima (there no God but Allah). I haven't mentioned any of my dreams to him before. But I have always tried to answer any of his questions regarding Islam as far as I could. I made du’ah continuously that he Inshallah be guided on the right path. After having seen these dreams, I have started wondering if there is a chance for him to revert to Islam. If I should give him dawah and how? I hope I can get some enlightenment about the issue. Jazaak Allah Khair!

Answer

Salam Dear Naz,

Thank you for your question and for your trust in Ask About Islam.

To answer your question, we need to dig a bit deep inside your heart and make sure we fix the trigger of your intention. It is obvious that, on the personal level, you do care for this person and that you are hoping that someday he would come to Islam.

This is really a genuine pure feeling and a great point to start with. Yet, it might be a bit risky, if we limit your intention there and stop at the point of your hope of his “conversion” to Islam.

Let’s look together at Prophet Muhammad’s golden words ever:

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“Deeds are by intentions, whoever’s immigration was for God & His Prophet, then his immigration is for God & His Prophet, and whoever’s intention was for a worldly benefit or for a woman to marry, then his immigration is for what he has migrated for” (Al-Bukhari)

Please notice Naz that “worldly benefits” and “a woman to marry” is simple pure halal accepted goals. But, the priority in our intentions is always, and should always be, for the sake of pleasing Allah and abiding by His Prophet’s ways and sunnah.

All I want to draw your attention to, is to make sure inside your heart that your care for this person does not overcome your original intention, which is to please Allah. Whether you are helping this specific man, or any other person, it is always best to abide by Prophet Muhammad’s golden rule:

“If Allah would guide one person, through you, to Islam, it is better than the whole world and whatever that’s in it.” (Al-Bukhari)

So, do keep and cherish your likeness, respect and care towards this person, or whatever positive feelings your carry for him, but just make sure to base it on your intentions towards the pleasure of Allah. This will add to your reward, fix your intention and bless your deeds inshaAllah.

Now, you are asking if you should make dawah to him, and how. You are also asking if there are any chances for him to revert to Islam. As for the chances of him reverting to Islam, this is really in God’s hands.

Anyone in the world has the chance to come back to Allah and revert to Islam. This is a completely divine matter that we have no hand on. Actually, we should never worry about the result of our dawah, because the result is what God destines for the person and what the person finally wills and chooses. Remember the divine words:

{The Messenger’s duty is only to deliver the message…} (Al-Maidah, Chapter 5 – Verse 99)

Our role and duty is in your first question. This should be your concern: should you make dawah to him and how?

The answer is: Yes of course! Go ahead and give him all the information he needs about Islam. Since he already asks you questions about Islam, then where is the problem? It is always our duty to spread the word of God.Why Make Dawah and How

All you need is to make sure you are doing things the right way. Islam is a treasure in our hands. It is our duty to present it the way it is worth and make sure we express its value in the best way possible.

Here are some advices for you:

1. Don’t be too emotional about your expectations. Don’t have high hopes in his reverting to Islam. Have high hopes that God would accept your efforts and bless your deeds. Remember; his heart is in the hands of God and his decision is his.

Your duty is to convey the message, not to fix his heart. When we get too emotional about dawah, we automatically become pushy and our expectations might curb the person’s development. Let the flow happen naturally. Let go of any expectations.

Just convey the message and give the person space to think, reflect, feel, love and choose. It is his choice, his life and decision.

2. Make sure to be honest always and knowledgeable. Never give wrong information or “I am embarrassed to say ‘I don’t know’, so I’ll just say anything emotional.” Never do that! Islam is rich and sound.

Have confidence. If you don’t know the answer to any of his questions, simply tell him honestly that you are not sure and that you will fetch him the answer. Commit to your word and find him the answer. Ask scholars and read through trusted references. Then, go back to him with the correct answer.

3. Continue what you are doing through your du’a. Pray for him and pray for yourself. Ask Allah to accept your dawah and bless your deeds. Ask Allah to provide you with answers and knowledge. Ask Allah for wisdom and enlightenment. Ask Allah for acceptance and for His pleasure at your efforts.

Be more concerned with your worship of God through your dawah activities, than the result you want to see in his conversion to Islam. What you are doing is your relation with God. Remember: what he will decide is his choice of his relation with God. Then, pray and ask Allah to show him the way.

4. Keep your smile. When he disappears sometimes, or when he does not understand what you are saying, or when he does not accept it, just keep your smile.

Be patient and have faith in God. Be confident. Have trust in Allah, in Islam and in yourself. Work as much as you can on the sincerity of your intention and just be patient.

Faith is like a seed that you throw in the ground. You nourish it with water and wait till it blossoms. Again: No expectations and no “hurry ups”!Why Make Dawah and How

5. Don’t pay too much attention to your dreams. Do not drop them. But, do not live on them. They might be real visions where Allah is drawing your attention that this man needs your help. But they might be simply a reflection of your inner wishes that this man would someday become a Muslim. You will never know.

So, just put them aside and keep going. Cherish them, but don’t hug them tight. Wake up and move towards your goal. You want to help him and get the divine reward? Then stop dreaming about it and simply do it.

I hope this was helpful. In case you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to write us back.

Salam.

About Sister Dalia Salaheldin
Sister Dalia Salaheldin is: - An instructor and consultant of interfaith & intercultural Dialogue - A speaker and orator on interfaith and intercultural discourse - An instructor of Arabic and Quranic language at the American University in Cairo - A trainer of interfaith and intercultural discourse and dialogue - A founder of Reading Islam Website - A bilingual writer and proem poet - A social and political activist who has traveled through the world widely - A human development adviser and alternative medicine practitioner