The effect of acting within the boundries of Islam on non-muslims

I would say that actions often speak louder than words. If you say that "Islam is the religion of peace", few non-Muslims will be fazed by that, but if you do good deeds, people will see concrete good actions that Muslims are doing, and this is more likely to be well-perceived by non-Muslims and to impress.

As the saying goes: talk is cheap.

format_quote Originally Posted by hend.abuauf

Do we really have to speak about Islam to preach it? Or acting within the islamic bounderies is enough?? Which is stronger the power of words or the power of actions?? I was confused until i read the story of Thumamah

http://omuslimun.com/the-companion-thumamah-ibn-uthal/

Tell me What you think is stronger words or actions??

Asalaamualaykum
They are both equally important. The very fact that someone preaches (I prefer the word encourage) is in itself a very noble action in Islam.

Most people who practice Islam was themselves thought/encouraged by another person be in terms of Masaa'il or Aqaid.

Its like two hands clapping - it doesn't matter which hand moves first or which hand actually hits the other - the main focus is to get a result of a clapping sound, both hands needs to make contact.

If we were to only take encouragement from a person who practices upon it, then reflect of a the number of Muslim parents that encourage their children into Example: Salaah but yet lack the practice itself. If they were to hold the mentality of only encouraging when they themselves are acting upon it, some children would never get that Islah at all in their lives, simply because the parents themselves are still trying to establish the practice.

We live in an ummah today whereby the compass of life is our Nafs rather than the Haq. We seem more interested in whether someone else is doing an action that they themselves encouraged rather than taking the message and making an effort to practice ourselves.

Whenever someone encourages me in an action that they themselves lack therein - I take the message, I try my best to practice it, I make dua that Allah rewards that person for at least taking their time to encourage me and I make dua that should that person lack in the very advice, then may Allah SWT effect that persons heart so as to practice upon it too. Added to that i make it my duty to pass that on from muslim to muslim.

Life is too short to entertain Nafs, Just like in Mario Brothers, I collect the coins (of spiritual gain) and run towards my ultimate destination, The Grave.

Wasalaam.

I don't think I can say that for myself..

format_quote Originally Posted by samirbrazendale

Just like in Mario Brothers, I collect the coins (of spiritual gain) and run towards my ultimate destination, The Grave.

It kinds of scares me silly to think about it.. so I don't. I try to be a good muslim. It is tough. I do hope and pray that I will be judge favourably although I am at times very weak. So, I try to istighfar a lot everyday...

On the OP, both have their uses. Verbal advise gives reasoning and food for thought. Visual examples shows results and has immediate impact. Only thing is, verbal advise can be given at any time but action needs the appropriate time to demonstrate (so there is a possibility that it will never be demonstrated to the intended person)...