Islamic Fundamentals and Dawah – Nouman Ali Khan

Al-Hadid 57:16 – Selective Islam

(57:16) Has the time not yet come for believers’ hearts to be humbled at the remembrance of Allah and what has been revealed of the truth, and not be like those given the Scripture before—˹those˺ who were spoiled for so long that their hearts became hardened. And many of them are ˹still˺ rebellious.

(57:17) Know well that Allah revives the earth after it becomes lifeless. We have clearly shown Our Signs to you, perchance you will use your reason.

3 things to ensure that your heart does not die

1. Deeply connected to Allah.  Enslave yourself to Allah only.  The more you learn about Allah, the more it change you.
   1. Al-Akbar: Allah is the greatest – We’re not so great. Be humble.
   2. Al-Hamd: All praise belongs to Allah – You no longer seek praise and validation.
   3. Al-Aziz: Allah is the owner of all dignity and all authority – You should not look for respect from anywhere else.
   4. Al-Adl: Allah is the owner of all justice – You get scared of His justice.
   5. Ar-Rahman: Allah is merciful to me, but I am cold to someone else.
2. Do the best you can within your close family
   1. Fix your relationship with Allah, and all your other relationships will be fixed up.
3. Say good and beautiful things to people and about people

Referring to the Israelites in Surah Al-Baqarah, Allah stresses that like them, we are in real danger that our hearts will harden even though the Quran is in our hands and we recite it in prayer. In the same surah, Allah teaches us how to protect our hearts from this, first by maintaining a deep connection with our creator, which in turn will improve our relationships with close family; then by always speaking well of people, followed by establishing the prayer and finally giving zakat. Salat is the means by which our worship of Allah and goodness to others is reinforced. The consequences of a hardened heart are grave, leading to a strong warning from Allah in ayah 85 against those who believe in some parts of His book and choose to deny or ignore others, if it doesn’t serve their interests. The compensation for such extremists on both sides (those obsessed with the superficial aspects of religion or those who fail to observe even the most basic rites) is humiliation in this life and the worst of jahannam in the afterlife. Such behavior damages the Ummah at large because it makes Islam itself appear contradictory.

3 Types of Muslims

Muslims on the edge

Civilizational Muslims
Very large population of the Muslims.
Sometimes they have a
They’ll
Highly influenced by the modern world.
My parents are Muslim.
We have Eid.
Relationship with Islam reduced to almost nothing.
Habits don’t correspond to Islam.
Religion is a personal thing.

Dawah

Why are you Muslim ?  Tableegh.  Islam has to go to them.
If you invite them. No, thank you.
Allah entertains the Quraish with a story about horses in Surah al-Adiyaat, that has no Islamic significance.
Thereafter he educates them.
Present the message of Islam without presenting the message of Islam.

Muslims that are seeking

The language and culture that they’re used to, is almost like non-Islamic culture.
This is not their scene.
Awkward inside the masjid.  They feel they don’t fit.
They end up online.
Extremism is good sales online.
There are many ideas online.
We have to give them real solutions, on the ground.

Dawah

Environment for people to meet people.  No wearing hijab are here.  We don’t know where they are in their journey.
Make public engagement accessible.

Muslims with harsh views

They found someone online.
This is the right Islam.
This is the right way and everybody else is going to Jahannam.
They develop more problems with friends and family, because they see them as too extreme.
They believe that they understand the sunnah.
You can only have harsh views if you don’t have a deep understanding.

Dawah

Islamophobia wins if we don’t make public engagement accessible
Create really interesting media.
The Mufti’s and Ulema must engage with Muslims and Non-Muslims.
Look at the different views, and come to a consensus.
If there is no consensus, then we should pretend that there is.
Respect other opinions.
Unity is loving each other, not about differences of fiqh opinion.

We must present a positive narrative of Islam: Enrichment, awareness, education

1. Reach people on their frequency.  What is it that interests them ?
2. Make Tik-Tok, Instagram.  Short, entertaining, enriching.  Enrichment, no ilm and evidence.
3. Education is the last step.