Inviting others to God is the main subject, drawing on the Quran to teach wisdom, kindness, patience, tolerance, and no compulsion, since God alone guides, and to show when to walk away, with Noah as the closing example. Readers' letters to submission.org follow, including a new Muslim whose husband resists her turn to the Quran alone and converts rejecting Hadith as hearsay.
You shall invite to the path of your Lord with wisdom and kind enlightenment,
and debate with them in the best possible manner... (16:125)
When you discover something
precious in life, your first reaction is to share this experience with
your friends and loved ones. When you discover the peace and power of
“Submission to God,” this feeling is almost impossible to
control. You are filled with excitement and you pray that all those around
you will share in the same path with you.
Unfortunately, this enthusiasm can quickly change to disappointment,
anger and even a sense of separation as others ignore or criticize your
message. If you are finding yourself in a similar situation, you should
take comfort that God has left some advice for you. The Quran teaches
a beautiful way of
sharing God’s message with others and
helps you make sense of the different reactions you may encounter.
You must first understand the role you play in inviting to God. This
responsibility does not come with the pressure and stress of having to
guide the ones you love. God is the only One who guides (2:272, 11:88).
In Chapter 28, Verse 56 of the Quran, we read:
“You cannot guide the ones you love. GOD is the only
One who guides in accordance with His will, and in accordance with His
knowledge of those who deserve the guidance.” (28:56)
As a result, you are simply an instrument that provides information
and demonstrates God’s path to others
by your example. You should not blame yourself or be saddened by the person’s
response to your message. If they decide to turn away, they are not rejecting
you, but rather God’s revelations (6:33, 18:6). Your focus should
be on how best to give the information and please God in the process.
The Quran gives you just the tools you need.
When you invite others, you should not use force or compulsion (2:256).
God will make sure that the right way is clear from the wrong way. Raising
your voice, pressuring someone or making them feel guilty does not make
God’s message any more clear.
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Inviting to God
Your responsibility is to invite to the path of God with wisdom
and kind enlightenment (16:125). If you get into a debate, stay
calm and speak in the best possible manner. A loud voice doesn’t
make your information more convincing. In fact, God describes such
a loud tone as ugly as a donkey’s voice (31:19).
If you are finding that the person is using a bad response, you
should reply in a good manner instead. Can you imagine the example
that you are showing when you respond with good words rather than
matching insults? Such a reaction has the power of turning even
an enemy into a friend (41:34).
Patience is a very important part of inviting to God. Keep in mind
that not everyone will appreciate God’s message in the same
way as you. Each person has a different pace and belief system.
Some will understand the message of Submission quickly and are not
tied down to a belief they have been practicing for a long time
or a religion they have inherited from their parents. Just imagine
how you would feel if someone told you that the religion you have
been practicing for all these years is not according to God’s
path.
A person may need time to examine their belief in light of the
new information you have given them. The best thing you can do is
to offer your support, give encouragement and be available to answer
the questions that come up. The first reaction of someone is not
always the final decision.
A person may criticize or deny your information at first but then
QURAN
The Final Testament
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slowly begin to appreciate some parts
of your message. Focus on the parts you have in common and build
from there. According to the Quran, patience reflects a true strength
of character and is a quality that comes by turning to God for help
(16:127, 42:43). We read about this quality in 20:130: “Therefore,
be patient in the face of their utterances, and praise and glorify
your Lord before sunrise and before sunset…”
Tolerance is another quality you must have when speaking with others
(7:199, 24:22). You should accept the person for who they are while
you are sharing God’s message with them. Tolerance means you
don’t label the person with such names as disbeliever, idol
worshipper, or hypocrite as you are inviting them. Yes, their belief
may be completely different than the message of worshiping God alone,
but you must be tolerant during the process.
Again, ask yourself how you would feel if the person who introduced
God’s message to you had been intolerant and judgmental towards
you. Most likely, you would have jumped ship and refused to listen
to their message. A great example of this trait is reflected in
verse 3:159 when God speaks of the prophet Muhammad: “It
was mercy from GOD that you became compassionate towards them. Had
you been harsh and mean-hearted, they would have abandoned you…”
Don’t give up! When you sense the person is struggling and
wants to believe but is not taking the steps, stay with them. Keep
reminding and encouraging them by being a good example or inviting
them to occasions where they can feel the support of others who
are worshiping God alone.
Page 3
Inviting to God
This continual support is especially encouraged for members of
your own family as we read in 20:132: “You shall enjoin
your family to observe the contact prayers (Salat), and steadfastly
persevere in doing so…”
Of course, there are some common sense signs that tell you when
to stop. If the person starts to fight you verbally or threatens
you, it is time to walk away. Your job is complete. Even as you
part ways, you should remember not to use insults as mentioned in
73:10: “And remain steadfast in the face of their utterances,
and disregard them in a nice manner.” Chapter 109 gives
you the perfect words to use. What do you gain by labeling the person
or condemning them? God is the Ultimate Judge and is fully aware
of their destiny (6:62).
The best thing you can do is to continue
setting an example that will speak God’s message without having
to use words. You will set this example by following the same guidance
that you are sharing from the Quran. Pray to God for the guidance
of those you are inviting and remember that your only duty is to
provide information in the best manner possible. Even if the person
decides to turn away, you have done your job according to God’s
design. As mentioned in verse 41:33: “Who can utter better
words than one who invites to GOD, works righteousness, and says,
“I am one of the submitters?”
Finally, I will leave you with a beautiful example of how Noah
shared God’s message with his people.
He said, “My Lord,
I have invited my people night and day. But my invitation only increased
their aversion. Whenever I invited them to be forgiven by You, they
placed their fingers in their ears, covered themselves with their
clothes, insisted, and turned arrogant. Then I invited them publicly.
Then I proclaimed to them loudly, and I spoke to them privately.
I said, ‘Implore your Lord for forgiveness; He is Forgiving.
He will then shower you generously with rain. And provide you with
money and children, and orchards, and streams.’” (71:5-12)
Amir K
Page 4
Comments
on
submission.org
Asalaamu Alaikum,
…I became Muslim in October, but after looking at your website I
feel that I was following something false. Every-one I know is Sunni Muslims.
Please help because what I have read here has really touched my heart.
I have so many questions? I would like to know where to find more information
relating to women in particular following the Quran only.
I have started to talk to my husband about this and he
is skeptical. I already changed my prayers to worship Allah alone, but
when I was trying to tell my son about it my husband got upset. He doesn't
care what I do but doesn't want me to teach the children any other way
until he's convinced, I guess. I need books or websites or something.
I have read almost all of the Quran and now definitely feel that the Sunnah
and Hadith is hearsay. But trying to get my husband and his family to
listen is hard….
Thank you
L.
My heartiest congratulations on maintaining a web page
which all of us have always needed in order to live our lives according
to the teachings of the Quran. I have learnt so much in the past several
weeks that I never learnt in 50 years. The arguments you make are mighty,
robust and overwhelming----because you base them on the Truth. Oh, all
this is so impressive. May Allah bless you for all you do. You may be
few in number now but if this web page maintains its presence in vigor
and quality, you will be many soon-Inshaallah. More power to you I say!
Wassalam
A. H. F. Ph.D
…I am a Muslim convert. I have been studying Islam
for 15 years. I always had a problem with not only the quality of Hadith
but also the quantity. There is far more Hadith than the Quran itself.
The Jews and the Christians were chastised in the Quran for adding to
or changing the revelation that was given to them. The Islamic community
is guilty of the same. This is why Allah has advised us against turning
into sects.
If we all believed in the Quran as our guidance as we
are commanded there would be no division or sects.
May Allah continue to bless you brothers and sisters….
Dr. B. C. G.
About this work
Kind
Document
Author
International Community of Submitters
Publisher
International Community of Submitters / Masjid Tucson