I need advice: how best to do dawah in this situation?

[Tabassum07]

:salam2:

I've known a girl on the internet for the past eight or so years. Actually, she's been writing a story which I've been reading for a long time and I send her reviews of what she's written, so we've become friends. Her stories involve a lot of morality and dealings with fate, free will, human interaction and emotion, and basically the characters in the story struggle with their lives trying to figure life in general and struggle between right and wrong. I've been sometimes quite impressed because the stories have taught me a lot. So I was struck that this person, though she's completely in the Western society, she strikes me as having that "spiritual" personality which fits in with Islam. Maybe if she had grown up in Muslim world, she'd have been very good in her faith.

So I want to slowly bring her closer to Islam. But I'm hesitant because this is a very fragile topic. I sent her an email and I discussed what I believe about our lives being controlled by fate and according to a master plan, and we have free will which brings things matching to the plan. And she emailed back saying that she found it quite interesting, and that another medical friend of hers had the same day talked to her about a psychological study of soulmates and fate. She's curious now and wants to know more about what I've discovered about life's mysteries.

So how should I go about slowly convincing her? Of course, she doesn't even know I'm muslim, and I don't yet want to bring in the M word, you all know what general perception people sometimes have of us. She's interested in history, psychology and literature, and I don't even know if she believes in God or not. So what way would my brothers and sisters in Islam suggest that I take to slowly slowly convince this person?? How can I make dawah when I want to wait a few emails before I say Muslim and Islam??

 

[Tabassum07]

Thank you for clearing it up. Sorry, in my first post I wrote it in a hurry, and didn't explain it properly, but when I wrote my email to my friend I said that there is a big difference between (a) the future being known to God, and we have free will, and (b) the future being controlled and where we don't have any will or choice, and that I agree with (a).

Hm, but still, there are some things that are beyond human control, right? Some things do work according to God's plan. I heard that there are different paths of the future, and that if a person chooses Path A, the Outcome A will happen, and if they choose Path B, then Outcome B will happen, etc. Is this true?

 

[Tabassum07]

Oh, this is all so complicated. I'll not think further about fate and free will then. :lol: Basically, I suppose we have complete free will, but the situations we are put in come from Allah, and then we have to see how we behave in that situation. Will we behave good or bad? If we have a good situtation, will we be thankful and feel grateful? And when we have a bad situation, will we know that this is a test and therefore be patient and steadfast? I'm sure you will not disagree that the situations to test us are fated for us by Allah?? A rich person does not become rich purely by his own actions, it was Allah who willed him to be rich and then test him. Similarly, a poor person is not poor because he made bad choices, it's fated for him by Allah, and its all a test. Maybe what I understand by the word 'fate' is different than what you understand?

I'm sorry if I've said anything wrong, I'm just trying to understand things better. Have patience with me!

So how should I go about making dawah? I was thinking if she's interested in history, I'd tell her about how Noah's Ark was actually discovered, about the Big Bang and other scientific evidence. All of religion is actually the complete spiritual history of mankind. What would other people suggest, how should I go explaining Islam to her? Where should I start?

 

[Tabassum07]

Alhamdulillah, this is what I understand about the situation too. Jazakallah khair for explaining so well. For a second, I was almost worried that my basic morals were not clear, but I find now that they are. It's almost best for a person to know the subject completely before explaining it to others.

 

[*Sana*]

Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakaatu,

Masha Allah! All this fate and destiny topic was explained sooo well. It sure will clear up a lot of confusion or misconceptions for anyone that is confused. I probably couldn't have explained it anywhere near that in a million years!

Jazaka Allah Khayr for sharing such wisdom Brother Ayman1 and Sister Tabassum07.

Wasalaam

 

[abu'muhammad]

:salam2:

I've known a girl on the internet for the past eight or so years. Actually, she's been writing a story which I've been reading for a long time and I send her reviews of what she's written, so we've become friends. Her stories involve a lot of morality and dealings with fate, free will, human interaction and emotion, and basically the characters in the story struggle with their lives trying to figure life in general and struggle between right and wrong. I've been sometimes quite impressed because the stories have taught me a lot. So I was struck that this person, though she's completely in the Western society, she strikes me as having that "spiritual" personality which fits in with Islam. Maybe if she had grown up in Muslim world, she'd have been very good in her faith.

So I want to slowly bring her closer to Islam. But I'm hesitant because this is a very fragile topic. I sent her an email and I discussed what I believe about our lives being controlled by fate and according to a master plan, and we have free will which brings things matching to the plan. And she emailed back saying that she found it quite interesting, and that another medical friend of hers had the same day talked to her about a psychological study of soulmates and fate. She's curious now and wants to know more about what I've discovered about life's mysteries.

So how should I go about slowly convincing her? Of course, she doesn't even know I'm muslim, and I don't yet want to bring in the M word, you all know what general perception people sometimes have of us. She's interested in history, psychology and literature, and I don't even know if she believes in God or not. So what way would my brothers and sisters in Islam suggest that I take to slowly slowly convince this person?? How can I make dawah when I want to wait a few emails before I say Muslim and Islam??

:salam2:

The success in here and hereafter is due to the faith and belief in Allah. writing moral stories about human fate,free will, emotions and struggling characters do not give a person the status to reach to success. Unless the person is without his/her faith deeds hold no value. Shakespeare, dickens, browning , others have written novels- stories that have emotional attachments, struggling characters etc. The writers work on to emotionalize and impress the readers,that is their work. If they do so, they will be accepted as good writers and their collections will have good sell and response. The writers stay in writing field and concentrate upon the magnetizing effect that they could produce upon readers. writers who write stories-novels that has plot far from reality and fate. The writers have his/her own view without any firm authority. they live and think of imaginery world. It is sad fact that people like those dream stories-novels. That’s why harry potter,spider –man, super-man, get unprecedented collections. In reality such characters never existed, nor they going to exist. on the contrary, Islam teaches noble and moral values that are real and practical.

my humble opinion regarding your question ---- . If you want to daawah anyone, you have to introduce yourself first. That who are you and what you want to talk about. The daae too needs to be intelligent and wise in subject of talk. because he/she is calling the people towards The Most High – Allah subhanahu wa taala. Allah commands us to call others with sure knowledge and in good way, so you need to get knowledge first of what you would be talking with your friend. You need to know subject in the light of quran and sunnah. If your friend know you well before, than she could understand your talk well . she can understand what values Islam teach and could reflect back. Practically seen, the talk of bit familiar person is well understood than a stranger.

Let you say you are a muslim and talk on the base of quran and sunnah, what you want to talk. Islam gives answers to all questions - alhamdulillah. Our work is to daawah and leave the rest to Allah. so do daawah faithfully and not think much regarding. As you say ; she is interested in history, pcychology and literature – so find out the Islamic view about these subjects and talk with her. Know what ulemas of ahlas-sunnah say about these subjects and then proceed. Allah help you, aameen.

jazakAllah khairan.