:salamext:
format_quote Originally Posted by F.Y
what are some ways we can help others to love Allah and Islam like you said? Some friends we may have -we might not see everyday and that makes it a bit harder. But what sorts of things do you think we could do that would show others the beauty of Islam and Allah?
It depends on how much knowledge your friends already have, if your friends are just normal people who have heard alot of things from their parents, but never really known the concept of what Islaam really is (from authentic sources.)
I.e. before i looked into Islaam properly, i never even had access to what the Qur'an meant, and when i did - i still never knew what it totally meant because i never knew the biography of the Messenger of Allaah (peace be upon him.) I remember i saw Surah Ar-Rum (The Romans) and i was amazed at the surah title, but when i looked into it there wasn't really much about the Romans. Which got me abit confused.
So what i would do first is mention abit of facts (from Authentic Sources; Qur'an/Sunnah) on Islaam to my mates every now and then which make them think differently from another angle. For example, if they get hurt - then i could try to tell them that this is a Mercy from Allaah because there is a hadith in Sahih Al Bukhari that;
Whatever befalls a Muslim of sorrow, grief, exhaustion, fatigue or harm, Allah will forgive him his sins for that. This is true even for a thorn that penetrates his foot.” (Bukhari & Muslim)
If they still are effected by the fact of good/bad deeds, then this may effect them in a positive way insha Allaah and make them draw abit closer to Allaah's Mercy.
Now again, it depends on your friend - if he/she has that little bit of pride in the fact that they're muslim and have that innocence, and they still recognise the concept of good/bad deeds - then continue in giving them small tips which will make them think about life from different angles.
Continue giving them amazing facts, narrate to them stories which you may have heard i.e. shocking stories of death, good/bad endings, and info like that because this makes them think about death more often, which makes them strive to be more prepared and willing to change themselves.
For example i posted in another thread;
There was a lecture i heard last year, and in this lecture the brother discussed good and bad endings of people.
There was a man who was waiting to go on a date with his girlfriend, i think he was muslim. He was waiting for her somewhere, but for some reason - she was taking a really long time. He was so desperate to meet her, why was she taking so long? After a while, she came. He was WELL HAPPY! He got so happy, he fell down and.. prostrated to her. What? Yeah, he did that.. but guess what? He never got up after that again. He died in that state. May Allaah protect us. You know what's shocking? We will be raised on the day of judgement on the last position we were in.
Here's a good one though.
There was a woman who was getting prepared on her wedding day. The people were putting her makeup on her, her gel and all that women wear on one of their most special days of their life. She finds out its maghrib salaah (prayer.)
"I need to do my wudhu.."
"You've got your makeup on now, you can't do that now.."
"I have to pray salaah!"
She got up and ran to do her wudhu. She washed off her gel, her makeup. Starts praying maghrib salaah.
What's the last thing she does?
She moves her head to the side to finish her prayer; "Asalaamu 'alykum warahmatulah..." the angel takes away her soul.. thats the last words that come out from her mouth..
Or even the story of Burseesah which is so shocking subhan Allaah:
http://www.islamicboard.com/general-...e-do-read.html
People like stories. So small stories and ahadith related to daily life have a great impact on that person, if they face a similar situation again - they think differently, and therefore react differently, maybe in a way which they will strive to draw closer to Allaah?
You can also narrate to them ahadith on hellfire and paradise and their reality (i.e. if Allaah created this world mixed with good/bad - it's easy and logical for Him to create a world with pure good, and pure evil in the hereafter etc) from authentic sources, and the person will be amazed. Why? Because they are recieving info from authentic sources, and you have to tell them that you are getting it from real ahadith to make them more amazed (instead of them thinking its tales from your parents or something.)
Once you show them amazing stories of great figures in our Islamic history and what they went through, they realise one time or another that the heroes of today aren't really heroes at all.. infact their just a delusion. It makes the person realise that they have to change themselves, narrate to them ahadith i.e.
Allaah loves a good deed, even if it's small, so long as it's continuous.
So this person might strive on changing his/herself gradually, even if it's small aspects in their life. And then if you show them that you're teaching them in kindness, if they are ever wanting to ask a question - you can show them that you're willing to answer them with open arms, so they won't feel embarrassed.
Infact, this is something that's missing in society today - lack of trust and comfort, everyone thinks that being harsh is kool, and you have to show them that i'm ready to hear you out, and if you're ever afraid, i want to help. This will lead to them asking questions and trusting you, and if you don't know the answer - tell them you will look for it (which is a positive thing because they will realise you don't make anything up, but you are serious, and wanting to find answers from trustworthy sources. Then you can even ask here on the forums.)
Now you might not be able to change them totally, however you have given them a safety net, so even if they do fall - they have Islaam - a secure bed to fall onto. With their questions answered, and all they need to do now is walk forward. You pray to Allaah to guide them, and the best way for someone to be practising is to have muslim friends which they can always return back to, to express themselves, and to clear up any doubts are confusion they may have.
So the more contact, the better. Like i stated earlier, the time when my mate started praying Salaah more was when all the other mates did, and he felt that he HAD to and if he never - he would be the odd one out. Which encouraged him in the good.
Going all the way back to the Surah Rum issue, i only truelly understood the concept of what the Qur'an was when i understood the life of Allaah's Messenger (peace be upon him.) So you should explain that, and how revelation came down gradually in different situations, the authenticity of the Sunnah and how it's not just 'fairy tales' but based on authentic sciences etc. How Islaam was dominant and the superpower in the world for centuries, uptill the 1800's (something which the west tries to hide alot out of pride.)
You make them feel proud of being a muslim, and explaining the great benefits which come through it, how Allaah gives an easier life to those who believe, the concept of giving up something for the sake of Allaah, and Allaah replacing you with something better. The concept of Allaah never overburdening a soul with what it can't bear. Doing something for the sake of the creation at the expense of Allaah's wrath would mean that this creation would in the future turn against you also and criticise you, whereas Allaah is sufficient for you and has a great reward in store for the believers etc.
If you are able to mould them into understanding how Islaam is superior, and how falsehood will die and perish - then they'll realise that what they're upon isn't really something to strive for. Infact it's their loss, and if they strived for Allaah, it would make them winners in this life and the hereafter.
And Allaah knows best.
If you still have more questions, or unsure of what i said - please do ask.