On a side note - the open house that our masjid had that I mentioned in the original post was a huge success. Shaytan was working against us - everything that could go wrong did - one of the restaurants who promised to donate food to us refused to return our calls or to fulfill their pledge, another was downtown & due to a huge event there all streets were blocked so we couldn't get in to pick the food up & they couldn't get out to deliver - but none of us lost our patience or our faith in Allah azawajal. I read the English translation of the Quran to our guests - of course, I was nervous as all get out. The subject was "Islam's Contribution to Civilization". We had almost standing room only, with both the men's and women's side full. However, thanks to the blessings and grace of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala we had enough food to go around - just enough for everyone to eat their fill.
Our non-Muslim guests asked some very good questions ("Is this a Sunni or a Shia mosque?", "How did Mohammed's followers know his words came from God?", "Why do some Muslims in the news pray at shrines or graves?") and then stood in the back of the masjid and watched us as we prayed Maghrib. Afterwards the non-Muslims and the Muslims mingled (of course, the men and women remained separated by a barrier), they asked questions of us on one on one basis... it was pleasant.
As a show of good faith we always invite the FBI to send representatives to our masjid whenever we have a public event like this, and in the group (usually two or three) of agents they send there is always one particular individual who shows up unfailingly, and he always leaves with a handful of brochures or mushaf or books. Last night as he was putting his shoes on I greeted him and talked about the open houses of the past that he and I both attended. I jokingly pointed out that each time he leaves its with a handful of Islamic literature and that if he kept up that trend he would be taking shahadah and praying with us. He smiled and said "...perhaps..". That gave me quite a good feeling...!
To me, that was what da'wah was all about. And when we do it in the name of Allah, He guides us through it. I got to sleep late last night & woke up early for Fajr and for work, but the lack of sleep is worth it!
Our non-Muslim guests asked some very good questions ("Is this a Sunni or a Shia mosque?", "How did Mohammed's followers know his words came from God?", "Why do some Muslims in the news pray at shrines or graves?") and then stood in the back of the masjid and watched us as we prayed Maghrib. Afterwards the non-Muslims and the Muslims mingled (of course, the men and women remained separated by a barrier), they asked questions of us on one on one basis... it was pleasant.
As a show of good faith we always invite the FBI to send representatives to our masjid whenever we have a public event like this, and in the group (usually two or three) of agents they send there is always one particular individual who shows up unfailingly, and he always leaves with a handful of brochures or mushaf or books. Last night as he was putting his shoes on I greeted him and talked about the open houses of the past that he and I both attended. I jokingly pointed out that each time he leaves its with a handful of Islamic literature and that if he kept up that trend he would be taking shahadah and praying with us. He smiled and said "...perhaps..". That gave me quite a good feeling...!
To me, that was what da'wah was all about. And when we do it in the name of Allah, He guides us through it. I got to sleep late last night & woke up early for Fajr and for work, but the lack of sleep is worth it!
