Re: do you think i should?
The question before us is what should Dawud_UK do with respect to eating in the temple with the Sikhs and trying to show them their religion as being false.
Well, as far as it is being allowable in Islam. It appears that this question has been answered very early in the discussion. Nothing wrong with going to the communial meal as long as what one eats is halal.
As to showing another group that their religion is "wrong", surely this is something that all religions who believe they have the truth, that what others have is in error, and the difference has eternal consequences would do. Doing so is actually an act of love.
But, of course the manner of doing so needs to be done in a loving way as well. Hence, I think that PCJS's initial question (not subsequent comments) have value.
Let me ask you this? What should happen to a Christian who goes to a Mosque and tries to convert people?
there is a christian, he is actually a deacon (like a junior manager in the church of england) who visits our local mosque.
he has fully learnt the prayers in arabic, prays in line with us, fasts with us, breaks his fast with us and has now started calling himself a christian AND a muslim and goes to palestine on peace missions.
so really it has worked the other way, he is coming to islam not us coming towards christianity.
But i get what you are trying to say,
Abu Abdullah
I am a Christian. Part of my family is Muslim. I have been invited with them to attend a banquent of the Sugar Festival following Ramadan. How do you think it would have been received if I had attended that event for the purpose of showing, as you said Dawud in your intial post, "the several obvious flaws that ... their religion [is] false?" Even though we are family, I think they might have rightfully thrown me out on my ear.
Of course I attended but made no such comments. What I did was go and try to learn and understand more. Dawud, you could do the same. That doesn't mean that if someone asks you about your faith that you shouldn't be prepared to give an answer for it. But, I think you may have a greater impact for your faith more out the relationships you build, than your expertise as an apologist for the cause. Does not Muhammad (pbuh) counsel using wisdom in cases like this. The belief that I can, in my own superiority of intellect and reason, convince anyone to change their faith simply by challenging them with the obvious errors of their own faith, seems to me to smack of a degree of arrogance that borders on the sin of pride.
Note the pattern of the Christian deacon you lifted up as an example. He took time to learn the prayers, to pray in line with you, to fast with you. He did not come to tell you what was wrong with Islam. He came to participate along side you and you received him warmly. Imagine if he had come the other way, what type of reception would he have gotten then? You would have been kind at first, but in the end you would not have tolerated his demeaning of Islam. Nor should you in your holy places. I think it is a good model for you as well.
Be confident. Be self-assured. But also be humble. Remember, Allah could in an instant change all people on earth to Muslims if he so desired. Yet, these Sikhs are Sikhs and not Muslims. You may be Allah's instrument in this place for bringing them to Islam, but let it be Allah's work through you and not you forcing it upon them.
