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Bismillahi Rahmani Rahim
Contact: Phone 1-800-662-Islam The following is the material which was distributed at the recent ICNA Workshop, entitled "Dawah to the World," which was given by Br. Sabeel Ahmad, a student of Shaykh Ahmed Deedat.
Bismillah Ar-Rahman Ar-Raheem
DAWAH TO THE WORLD USING HIKMA (WISDOM) Islamic Dawah Line, ICNA
Contents
Dawa & Points of Clarification
POINTS OF CLARIFICATION Dawah=invitation...to Islam Dawah is a Fard (obligatory) on all Muslims
Dawah NOT limited to scholars Many ways to do, not just one
Having knowledge NOT most important...but presenting it IS.
EXCUSES FOR NOT DOING DAWA I am not knowledgeable
Religion is a personal thing.
DAI'S CHARACTER
BASIC KNOWLEDGE OF A GOOD DAI Holds clear concept of tawheed and is able to explain it
THINGS A GOOD DAI CARRIES ON HIMSELF Suppose your Biology teacher tells you at the beginning of the semester that she may give a pop quiz any time in the class and it will be an open book quiz. Won't it be smart for all students to carry their biology textbook and notes to all the biology classes in anticipation of the pop quiz? Likewise it is wise to carry... Pocket Quran - Nobe Quran recommended
BREAKING THE SILENCE Pray to Allah for success
IN THE THICK OF THE CONVERSATION Basic Rule:
Before answering always ask: What do you mean? Neutralize Don't answer questions directly, give brief background of the issue Be extraordinarily polite Don't get sidetracked Remember your purpose: convey Islam and NOT get trapped with Biblical or social issues. Know answers to 20 frequently asked questions Follow the chart during conversation: FOLLOW THIS CHART DURING DAWA >From Islamic Issues and Biblical issues to Tawheed (Oneness of Allah)
HOW TO PROVE...QURAN IS FROM ALLAH 1. Quran says it is from Allah:
HOW TO PROVE...QURAN CONCILIATES SCIENCE Sun's and Moon's orbits, rotation and revolution (Quran 21:33)
HOW TO PROVE...MUHAMMAD (PBUH) WAS A REAL PROPHET Allah's attribute as being the Guide to the Alamin (mankind, Jinns and
all creatures)
Quran mentions Muhammad's (pbuh) Prophethood (33:40)
DIDN'T MUHAMMAD (PBUH) COPY QURAN FROM THE BIBLE? Logically a person who copies has lesser knowledge than the source he is copying. But: Quran has new information not present in the Bible But: How come he didn't incorporate the errors found in the Bible? He was illiterate (Quran 7:157) First Arabic Translation of Old Testament - 900 CE by R. Saadias Gaon
Show one single verse which is copied That may also mean that Jesus and his disciples copied the New Testament from the Old Testament How come same stories are scientifically correct in the Quran but incorrect in the Bible? HOW TO PROVE... ISLAM - COMPLETE WAY OF LIFE Their argument: Well, all religions preach goodness, if all people follow any religion, problems would be solved. Our response #1: OK. Suppose we all decided to follow Christianity. Now the whole world is Christian (will never happen, insha Allah), and now we have to implement Christianity in all walks of life. Tell me in detail, giving references from the Bible, how the education system should be set up, political system, legal system, economic system, etc. Our response #2: Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) has set a precedence for us on how to follow his example in all human endeavors. Only time in the history of humanity that a State was run totally based upon a Revealed Scripture (Quran). No other religions has this precedence before them. Political
CLEAR PICTURE OF ISLAM OVERVIEW OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINES Monotheism: Christians claim to believe in One God. Trinity: God is made of three aspects or personalities, Father, the son and the Holy Ghost. Three in one and one in three. Father is God, Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God, there are not three Gods but One God! Original Sin: Christian doctrine teaches that because Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate of the tree of knowledge, all of their descendants bear the stigma of sin and are condemned to doom. Atonement and Redemption: the crucifixion of man-god Jesus on the Cross paid the price of original sin. Just by believing in this doctrine is enough to attain salvation. Second Coming: All true believers in Christ will disappear from the earth and enter into spiritual realm - Rapture. Then comes the time for Tribulation marked by wars and oppression will then take place leading up to the appearance of the Anti-Christ. When the Anti-Christ tries to invade Israel with his armies, Jesus will return with hosts of angels and defeat him in the great battle called Armageddon. A thousand years of peace will follow, with Jesus acting as a King. FORMULATION OF THE BIBLE 40-45 CE - Letters of Paul
325 Council of Nicea - Organized by Roman Emporer Constantine to settle doctrinal disputes. Emporer was from a Pagan background and favored Trinitarian view of Christianity. Therefore the four Gospels which supported his views were chosen by a majority vote. 367 CE - The Final Version of the Bible was accepted - contained over 70 books. 382 CE - All other Gospels supporting Oneness of God and original teachings of Jesus were banned, including Gospel of Barnabas and Gospel of Thomas (discovered in 1945 in Egypt) 500+ CE - Unitarian church broke off 1000 CE - Western and Eastern church broke off - The Great Schism
1952 CE - Major revision of the King James Version was made because of its great errors Important points to Note:
OVERVIEW OF THE BIBLE Old Testament - 39 Books
Was the Old Testament Written During Moses' Lifetime? Deut. 34:5-10:'So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land
of Moab, accordin gto the word of the Lord. And he buried him in a valley
in the land of Moab over against Bethpeor: But no man knows of this sepulcher
unto this day...and the people of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of
Moab thirty days...and there arose not a prophet since
Oldest copy of the Old Testament: 10th century CE - Not in the same classical Hebrew spoken during Moses' time. Was the New Testament Written During Jesus' Lifetime? Jesus spoke Aramaic and Hebrew and not Greek, but the current and ancient Bibles are in Greek. Can't be the actual disciples: True disciples of Jesus, who are described in the Quran as Muslims, would never write any blasphemous statements about Jesus and God. Conclusion: Has to be aome other source unrelated to Jesus. Is the whole Bible inspired? At one place the Bible says that all Scripture is inspired (II Timothy 3:16), but Paul says in his writing "And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord...But to the rest I speak, not the Lord, Now concerning virgins I have no command of the Lord, yet I give my judgement." (I Corinth. 7:10,12,25). Also see II Timothy 4:9: "Do your diligence to come shortly unto me...The cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus, when you come, bring it with you, and the books, but specially the parchments." Words NOT found in the Bible Bible
HOW TO PROVE...JESUS (PBUH) WAS A PROPHET OF ALLAH Jesus said he is a Prophet. Jesus referring to himself said "...a Prophet is not without honor, save in his own country, and in his own house" (Matthew 13:57) Mark 6:4
People areound him said he is a Prophet
Luke 24:19
Jesus lived as a Muslim Submitted to the will of Allah - Luke 22:42, John 5:30
Luke 24:36
Quranic references of his Prophethood The Messiah (Jesus) son of Mary, was no more than a messenger. (5:75)
HOW TO PROVE...JESUS - PROPHET SENT ONLY FOR THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL Came for his own people to save them from their sins (his people were the Jews)- Matthew 1:21 Jesus said he came not to destroy the law of Moses, but to fulfill it - Matt. 5:17-19 Said he came only for the lost sheep of Israel - Matt. 15:23,24 Told his disciples to preach only to the people of Israel and not the the non-Jews (gentiles) - Matt. 10:6 Told his disciples that the Comforter (Prohet Mohammad, pbuh) will come after him to show them all things. John 16:7,12,13,14 Bible mentioned that after Jesus left, his disciples were preaching only to the Jews. Acts 11:19 Muhammad (pbuh) was a Messenger for the whole Mankind 'Say(O Muhammad) 'O mankind! I am sent to you all as the Messenger of Allah - to Whom belongs the domain of the heavens and the earth.' 7:158 'And We have sent you (Muhammad) not but as a mercy for the Alamin (Mankind, Jinns and all that exists)' 21:107 HOW TO PROVE...JESUS (PBUH) WAS NOT GOD Start with the Attributes of God: All-Mighty, All-Knowing, Eternal, Independent. Then apply these attributes to Jesus and see if he qualifies... God is All-Mighty...Jesus was not
God is All-Knowing...Jesus was not
God has no Beginning...Jesus was born
God doesn't have a God...Jesus did
God doesn't pray to anyone...Jesus did
God is immortal...But not Jesus
Jesus never said 'I am God, worship me.' Quran Surely they disbelieve who say Allah is the Messiah, the son of Mary.
Surely disbelieves are those who said Allah is the third of the three.
HOW TO PROVE...JESUS WAS NOT SON OF GOD
Other sons of God in the Bible Adam - Luke 3:38
Jesus refused to be called son of God Luke 4:41
Said he is the son of man about 84 times in the gospels 'Chosen one' is replaced by 'son of God' John 1:34 and Mark 1:1 'your God, my God, Your Father, My Father' John 20:17 Melchizedek: 'No father, no mother, no ascendants, no descendants, no beginning of days or end of life...' (Hebrews 7:3) Quran Similarity to Adam (3:59) 19:88,89 'And they say: Allah has begotten a son...indeed you have brought forth a terrible evil thing.' 19:35 'It befits not Allah that he begets a son.' ALL PROPHETS WORSHIPPED ALLAH AS MUSLIMS DO
Women must cover their hair while praying: But every woman that prays or prophesizes with her head uncovered dishonors her head.' (I Corinthians 11:5,6,13) Ruku: 'O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.' Psalms 95:5 Sajdah:
HOW TO PROVE...MUHAMMAD (PBUH) IS PROPHESIED IN THE BIBLE Quran 61:6 'Isa (Jesus) son of Mary said 'O children of Israel! I am the Messenger of Allah unto you confirming the Taurat which came before me, and giving glad tiding of a messenger to come after me, whose name shall be Ahmed (The praised one)' (Quran 61:6) New Testament '...comforter, that he may abide with you forever' (Matt.28:20) John 14:16, John 14:26. 'And I will pray the father, and He shall give you another' John 16:7 Jesus said that he has to go away for the comforter to come in to the world. Can't be the Holy Ghost because the Holy Ghost was already present before and during Jesus' presence (Luke 1:41, Luke 1:67, John 20:22) John 16:13 'However when he, the spirit of thruth, is come, he will guide you into all truth for he shall not speak of himself, but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak, and he will show you things to come.' Why not Holy Ghost: Ghost=pneuma (Greek)=neutral word=it (Romans 8:16,26). The words 'which is the holy ghost' in John 14:26 are a later addition. Holy ghost=holy spirit=holy prophet (I John 4:1) Old Testament The illiterate prophet mentioned in the Torah Isaiah 29:12 'And the book is delivered to him that is not learned saying, read this, I pray thee, and he said, I am not learned.' Deut. 18:18,19 'I (God) will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.' The only prophet who came after Moses who fits this description was prophet Muhammad (pbuh) - Brethren (Gen.16:11,12 and Gen.25:18) Ishmael was blessed by God: Gen21:13,18 - a great nation
HOW TO PROVE...BIBLE GOT CORRUPTED
Divinely inspired?
Also see II Timothy 4:9,13: 'Do your diligence to come shortly unto me. The cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus, when you come, bring it with you, and the books, but specially the parchments.' No contradictions? See pages on Contradictions All prophesies fulfilled as prophesied? Jesus was supposed to rule the throne of David forever - Luke 1:32,33 Second coming was to take place in the life of the Disciples - Matt. 16:27,28 Paul said that second coming will be in his lifetime - I Thess. 4:16,17. Jesus would be buried three days and three nights - Matt. 12:40
Preserved from corruption? see pages on contradictions, unscientific facts, etc. Preserved from perishment?
Book of Enoch once existed and was accepted by early church fathers and had the right of a canonical book. -Encyclopedia Biblica. So where is that book now? And where is the original Gospel preached by Jesus? Unembarrassed to read it - I am too embarrassed to talk about it! HOW TO PROVE...BIBLE CONTRADICTS SCIENTIFIC FACTS
Bible: Universal flood, all life perished except the Ark (Gen. 6,7,8)
Bible: Heavens and earth created in 6 days (Yom), 24-hour days - Genesis
Bible:
Bible: God created 2 great lights - Sunlight and moonlight - Gen. 1:16
Bible: God rested on the 7th day. Gen.2:2,3 and Exodus 31:17 (refreshed)
Bible: All the people of the earth will see the son of man coming in
the clouds. Matt. 24:30
Bible: Mustard seed is the smallest of all seeds - Matt.13:31-32
HOW TO DISPROVE TRINITY
Holy ghost is angel Gabriel!!! Compare Matt. 1:18 and Luke 1:26 Verses on the Oneness of God Trinity = Jesus is also a 'god' = disproved earlier Trinity was formulated in the year 325 by Athanasius, an Egyption deacon
from Alexandria at the Council of Nicea presided by Emporer Constantine
Pagan influence Jesus and Moses and all prophets proclaimed the Oneness of God:
See Trinity flyer HOW TO DISPROVE ORIGINAL SIN
Start with a practical example e.g... a father who is displeased with his son and punished him and then goes on to punish the children of his son, and then his great grandchildren, etc. Will you consider this father a loving, caring and forgiving father? Then how can you credit God such a heinous injustice of ascribing Adam's and Eve's sin to the progeny born even after thousands of years? Children: kingdom of God belongs to the children: Mark 10:14, Matthew 19:14. How possible if the children are born sinners?! A son doesn't bear his father's sin, nor vice versa. 7 verses from the
So how can they be sinners and be perfect at the same time?! Quran
HOW TO PROVE... JESUS WAS NOT CRUCIFIED
Quran
BELIEFS OF JUDAISM
Talmud: 'Teachings.' Somewhat similar to commentaries of the old Testament, sayings of Rabbis. First written down during the third and fourth century AD. Before that, oral transmission. JEWISH FESTIVALS Passover - Commemorates the flight of the Israelites from Egypt and the wicked Pharaoh. New Year (Rosh Hashanah) - The symbolic new beginning of the Jewish calendar Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) - The tenth day of the Jewish New Year. Jews observe a 24 hour fast from food and water as a sign of penitence to God. It is considered the most holy day. Hanukkah (Dedication) - A winter festival marking the purification of the second Jewish temple in Jerusalem after the occuppying Greeks had ransicked it in 165 BC. Menorahs [with candles] are lit. Tabernacles (Succoth) - An autumn harvest celebration. Tents are erected and prayers are recited making reference to the Jews wandering in the desert during the time of the Prophet Moses (pbuh) - Quran 2:57,58 Pentecost (Shavurot) - Seven weeks after Passover a festival is held to celebrate the corn harvest and the revelation of the Law to Prophet Moses (pbuh) at Sinai. - Quran 2:51-53 HOW TO PERSUADE JEWS ABOUT ISLAM'S TRUTH Don't discuss politics Discuss similarities:
Prophecies of Muhammad (pbuh) in the Old Testament: See page on prophecies Prove that Hagar was a real wife and not bondswoman or concubine:
Use Science in the Quran as proof: most of them are highly educated. Hindu: The word "Hindu" is a corrupt form of the word "sindhu,"
a region watered by river Indus.
Scriptures:
Caste System: Rig Veda 10:90, 'The cosmic man was sacrificed,
Brahmins were made from his mouth, Kshatriyas from his arms, Vaishyas from
his thighs and Shudras from his feet.'
Holidays:
Polygamy is allowed: 'If after one damsel has been shown, another be given to the bridegroom, he may marry them both' (Law of Manu 8:204) Pilgrimage: Ganges river and the city next to it, Barnabas, are sacred places. Hindus bathe and pray, ashes of dead are scattered there. Women in Hinduism: 'The husband is the wife's god, and he is her refuge. Indeed there is no other refuge for her' - Mahabharata 3:231. See also Mahabharata 1:174 Sects in Hinduism:
HOW TO PERSUADE A HINDU OF ISLAM'S TRUTH...
Bhagavat Gita 7-24: "The ignorant believe that un-manifest Para Brahma (One God) incarnates or takes manifestations, because they do not completely understand My highest, immutable, incomparable, and transcendental existence." Bhagavat Gita 7:19-21: "All those who do idol worship, All those who worship demigods are materialistic people." Yajur Veda 3:32: "...Of that God you cannot make any images." Yajur Veda 32:3: "God is formless and bodiless" Yajur Veda 40:8: "All those who worship the uncreated things, they are in darkness, and you'll enter more into darkness if you worship the created things." Rig Veda, Vol.8,1:1: "All Praise are to Him alone" Rig Veda, Vol.6,45:16: "There is only One God, worship Him." Illogic of God coming down in a physical form - Proven later, inshallah
Explain them Islam.
Prophesies of Muhammad (pbuh) in Hindu Scriptures: 1. 'A Malechha (belonging to a foreign country and speaking a foreign
language) spiritual tacher will appear with his companions. His name will
be Mohammed. Raja (Bhoj) after giving this Maha Dev Arab (of angelic dispostion)
a bath in the Panchgavya and the Ganges water (i.e. purging him of all
sins) offered him the presents of his sincere
2. 'Ahmad acquired Shariah (religious law) from his Lord. This Shariah is full of wisdom. I receive light from him just as from the sun.' (Sama Veda, 2:6,8) HOW TO DEAL WITH AN ATHEIST
Facts of Quran -
Video Tapes
Darwin on Evolution: Darwin's Letter to his friend, Sir Thomas Thompton, 1861: 'I believe in the theory of evolution, not because I have proof, but because it helps me in classification, Morphology, Embryology, and rudimentary organs..." Differentiate Islam from Muslims and all other religions that worship idols/humans/nature etc. SO YOU CAN MARRY FOUR WIVES?
Situations where polygamy is needed to preserve society's chastity More women than men (especially after wars)
Islam provided the best alternative - marry a second wife Criteria for marrying more than one:
No other religion sets a limit on # of wives, only Islam does. Polygamy in the Bible:
Neither Jesus Christ nor God ever prohibited polygamy in the Bible. WHY DO MUSLIMS PRAY 5 TIMES A DAY?
Spiritual discipline: E.g. A body builder needs to exercise at specific periods of time. He can't work-out once a week to maintain optimum physique. E.g. If we love someone we like to talk to them every time we get a chance on the phone. Muslims love Allah more than anyone, therefore Muslims pray - talk to - Allah so many times. Since a person has both body and spirit, he uses both in praying. Constant rememberance of Allah will help us keep His Divine presence in our conscience - prevents many sins. E.g. We eat three meals a day to nourish our body, we pray 5 times to nourish our soul. Can your body be fit to fuction if you ate only once on Sundays? Feeling of peace and closeness to our creator, thanking the Being who created us. Many scientific benefits. Refer to 'All prophets worshipped like Muslims do' page. WHY ARE MUSLIMS SO VIOLENT
Taking up arms is required only under certain conditions:
To remove obstacles of tyranny in spreading and preserving the Truth.
Rules during war:
No compulsion in religion...(Quran 2:256) Jihad in the Bible
WHY DON'T MUSLIM MALES SHAKE HANDS WITH FEMALES (OR VICE VERSA)? Islam was revealed as a Final and complete Guidance to preserve utmost chastity in the society. Dating, premarital sex, hugging, shaking hands are all prohibited by Islam due to their potential for dire consequences for the individual and for the society at large. Any factor that tends to uproot the moral fabric of the society is prohibited/discouraged, and all things that preserve decency and chastity are encouraged e.g. Modest dressing, lowering the gaze, no free intermingling between the sexes, etc. Consequences of loose relationships between sexes in the U.S.:
Separated families, divorces, jealousy, deptrived children, etc. Single families=children deprived of best upbringing=fall into gangs, etc.=cycle repeated=society goes down. WHY DO WOMEN HAVE TO COVER THEMSELVES?
Islam as a complete guidance came to preserve chastity in the society; once chastity is lost, society goes down, eg. US. Ask: Does modest dressing decrease or increase society's chastity?
Islamic dress decreases immorality. Statistics on rapes from the US:
Two twin sisters example (if one dressed modestly and other revealingly, who more likely is to be harrassed while walking down the street?) Nuns dress modestly too. See a supposed picture of Mary, the mother of Jesus. She is properly covered too. Animals don't cover themselves, therefore the more we take off, the more we are behaving like animals. Tell stories of how women who wear Hijab and proper attire get more respect, etc. WHY DO YOU CALL HIM ALLAH?
To God you can add "dess" = Goddess. To Allah can't add "dess." No such
thing as Allahdess.
God with a smal 'g' - god - may cause confusion. Allah can't be written with a small 'g.' God with mother or father added becomes = Godmother, Godfather, etc. To Allah nothing can be added. English word 'God' could be ambiguous, confusing, manipulated, etc., but the pure word 'Allah' could never be confusing because it always refers to the One God, our Creator, with no male and female gender, and no partners.. AFTER DAWA
Ready to take Shahada
Leaning Towards Islam
Neutral
Unbeliever
Atheist
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