ADVISE (NASIHA)To New Muslims

Dr. Sabeel AhmedGainPeace.com

The Commitment

The Practice

Challenges

Resources

Presentation

Outline

The Commitment

• The choice have been made– You have entered Islam by reciting the testimony

of faith:• Ash-hadu an la ilaha illa Llah(u), wa ash-hadu anna

Muhammad an Rasulu Llah• I testify that there is no God worthy of worship but

Allah, and I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah

Shahada – What does it affirm?

• Divine unity and Prophethood of Muhammad (peace be upon him)– Acceptance of the message of Islam…• Commits a Muslims to all that is permissible• Abstain from all that is forbidden

Shahada – Testimony of Faith

• Prophet Muhammad (s) is the last prophet and messenger– Therefore if anybody says I am a prophet, reject

him/her…• Rashid Khalifa• Joseph Smith• Elijah Muhammad• Mirza Gulam ahmed• Bahaullah• Ellen G. White

Lessons from Jews and Christians

– Left teachings of their Prophets appointed by God– Paid more attention to their scholars• Rabbis• Pastors• Priests• monks

Islam = Religion of Structure

• When somebody tells about any injunction, they should provide evidence from– The Quran – book of God– The Sunnah – example of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon

him)

– From Scholars – Ask Evidence• One mistake by the scholar will be transferred to all his followers and to

future generations, but asking for evidence will act like check and balance and will avoid any slip by any scholar. Don’t be afraid to ask for evidence even from your…– Best of scholars– Beloved scholars– Respected scholar

Our name is ‘Muslims’ – Quran, Chapter 22.78

• Not– Salafis– Sufis– Shias– Sunnis– Deobandis– Wahabis– Hanafis– shafais

Name of the religion is Islam – Quran Chapter 5.3

• Names not given by God, or any Prophet or even their own Bible:– Christianity – not mentioned in the Bible– Judaism – not mentioned in the Bible

Islam - Religion of intellectuals

• > 750 times the Quran uses the words ‘ponder, reflect, think’ etc.

• Inventions, discoveries were made in the past by Muslims.– Main purpose• Using them to worship Allah Better

– Internet to collect zakat– Texting the prayer timings– iPhone prayer app to get Qibla direction

General rule onwhat is forbidden and accepted

• In the matters of worship– All forbidden except what is prescribed– ‘He who innovates something in this matter (of religion) of

ours that is not of it will have it rejected’ (Bukhari and Muslim)

• In worldly matters– All permitted, except what is forbidden

• All animals are allowed except what is forbidden• ‘Allah prescribed religious duties, so do not neglect them, he has set

boundaries, so do not over step them, he has prohibited some things, so do not violate them, about some things He was silent – out of compassion for you, not forgetfulness, so seek not after them’.

The Pillars of Islam

Prayer

• Still pray on time 5 prayers even if you don’t know the Arabic.

• Start praying even though you may not have been consistent in the past. Allah loves those who come back and ask for forgiveness.

• Go to the masjid and learn prayer from a person, not just from any book or the internet

Zakat (Obligatory Charity)

• Obtain details from knowledgeable Muslims

90% of all matters are agreed upon by scholars

• Example of building – An analogy– Structural engineer will say…

• Buildings are made with some flexibility• If rigid the building brittle and fall

• 10 % are differences of not very significant level - flexibility– Where to hold our arms in prayer– How to move the finger in sitting down in prayer– Saying ‘ameen’ silent or loud

• This flexibility– So Islam can be adapted by people of any

• Culture, race, age, nationality, time etc.

How to deal with these differences

• Example - collective dua, • If we have powerful evidence against what a Muslim is doing

then politely approach the person• If he listens fine or else move on• We have better things to do

– Muslim ummah around the world• Under occupation in Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan• Muslims are raped and tortured• Muslims are starving• Muslims are not even coming to the masjid• Muslims not fulfilling their fundamentals of Islam

• Thus we have more important things to tackle than these superficial differences Muslims argue over.

What about the 4 schools of thought?

• Muslims scholars gave their ruling based on the available resources they had.

• When we follow one or more of them, then we have to make sure that what we follow have evidence from– Quran and authentic sunnah of Prophet

Muhammad(peace be upon him)

– When buying a book, see if the author provides references to Quran or authentic hadith.

Importance of Gaining Knowledge

• “The seeking of knowledge is obligatory for every Muslim…”

• (Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 218) – Read authentic books– Consult with authentic scholars– Attend the masjid for lecture and gatherings

• Don’t ever say that– I am 60 years old, no need to gain knowledge– Example of a 67 year old hafiz who started memorizing the

Quran at the age of 65

Other advises

• Begin with learning the obligations• Learn the etiquettes of good manners, humility, modesty• Stay close to the masjid and Islamic community• If weakened in Iman, always return to the Shahada

– Is the God, a man, idol, or any creation or is HE the unseen creator, and Muhammad (s) is the messenger

– Rely on your faith• Start doing the Sunna aspects of Islam

– Extra prayers, fasting, growing beard• Stick with the bigger majority of Muslims (sunni)

– ‘There will always be a group of my ummah openly on the truth until the day of judgment (Muslim)

Avoid the many temptations

• They may get in the way of you fulfilling the obligations– Sports– Drugs– Music– Friends– family

Dawah – Sharing of Islam - an obligation

Start with:• Family – parents, spouses, children• Neighbors• humanity

Learn and become scholars

• Don’t stay new Muslims for the rest of your life– After 100 days you are no longer a new Muslim

– Become scholars and leaders– new Muslims• The 4 khalifas – successors to the Prophet• Almost all the companions of the Prophet • List of prominent Muslims in the West who are converts to Islam:

– Siraj wahaj– Hamza yusuf– Yusuf estes– Zaid shakir– Ingrid mattson– Amina assilmi– Yuvon Riddley– Yusuf Islam

Specialize in knowledge

• Become leaders in at least one field– Dawah - outreach– Comparative religion– Quran tafsir (commentary)– Hadith (sayings of Prophet Muhammad (p)– Tajweed (proper Quranic pronounciation)– Islamic history– Islamic finances

Supplication

• May Allah, swt, always keep us all guided.• May Allah, swt, accept from us and make it

easy for us to learn, practice and propagate Islam, the religion of Peace…aameen.

Contact:

Dr. Sabeel Ahmedsabeel@GainPeace.com

www.GainPeace.com