format_quote Originally Posted by
Rashad
:sl:
I was just wondering... Or rather, opining...
Isn't it rude for a Muslim to use the word "infidel"? We should be considerate and avoid words that have a negative connotation. Why not use the word non-Muslim instead?
I have one friend, for example, who refers to "music" as "infidel noise." Is it really necessary? Isn't it part of compassion to refer to them respectfully? As that is what will provide the true meaning of Islam: peaceful and harmonious.
Correct me if I am mistaken.
Asalaamu Aaikum, this is a very valid point as we as Muslims should invite them towards the truth in the best and most beautiful way possible using wisdom and tact. Attacking them with derogatory words like "infidels" will not benefit anyone. We should align our intentions to that of trying to invite them towards Islam and the best form of dawah is one who shows exemplery character as well as good manners and ettiquette.
The Quran Says “Invite (all) to the way of thy Lord with wisdom & beautiful preaching & argue with them in ways that are best & most gracious. For thy Lord knoweth best, who have strayed from his path & who receive guidance.”
Holy Quran
Chapter Al Nahl 16:125
Commentary – Abdullah Yusuf Ali
"In this wonderful passage are laid down principles of religious teachings which are good for all times. But where are the teachers with such qualifications? We must invite all to the way of God & expound his universal will; we must do it with wisdom & discretion, meeting people on their ground & convincing them with illustrations from their own knowledge & experience, which may be very narrow or very wide. Our preaching must be not dogmatic, not self regarding, not offensive, but gentle, considerate, & as such would attract their attention. Our manner or arguments should not be acrimonious, but modeled on the most courteous & the most gracious example, so that the hearer may say to himself, “This man is not dealing merely with dialectics; he is not trying to get a rise out of me; he is sincerely expounding the faith that is in him, & his motives is the love of man & the love of God.”
It may be that the Preacher sometimes say to himself, “What is the use of teaching these people? They have made up their minds, or they are obstinate, or they are only trying to catch me out”. Let him not yield to such a thought. Who knows how the seed of the Word of God may germinate in people’s minds? It is not for man to look for results. Man’s inner thoughts are known best to God."
Some of us Muslims take the opposite route of what Almighty Allah has told us. We plainly tell the Non Muslims, “If you do not accept Islam you will go to hell”. That is not the way to invite someone towards the truth. So we must give dawah like Allah has said by using wisdom and tact. There is no wisdom in using a harsh approach and using harsh and derogatory terms such as infidel.
Our duty is to deliver the message to the best of our ability & then leave the rest to Almighty Allah. So let us invite them in the best most possible manner.
Abu Said Al-Khudri narrated that Allah’s Messenger (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “If a person embraces Islam sincerely, then Allah shall forgive all his past sins, and after that starts the settlement of accounts, the reward of his good deeds will be ten times to seven hundred times for each good deed and an evil deed will be recorded as it is unless Allah forgives it. (Bukhari, Vol. 1, Hadith 40)
Hakim ibn Hizam narrated: I said to Allah’s Messenger (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), “Before embracing Islam I used to do good deeds like giving in charity, slave-manumitting, and the keeping of good relations with kith and kin. Shall I be rewarded for those deeds?” The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) replied, “You became Muslim with all those good deeds (without losing their reward).”
(Bukhari, Vol. 2, Hadith 517)
It is ONLY Allah who guides people to Islam. Our only duty is to convey the Message of Tawhid (Oneness of Allah) and invite others to worship Almighty Allah in the best way possible using wisdom and tact. What better words are there than the words of those who invite towards the way of thier lord?
And Allah knows best in all matters