Ashraf Schneider – Dawah Training #1 – Introduction to Dawah

			Salam Alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh Peace, blessings and mercy be upon you all. Welcome to the
very first episode of dollar Thursday's. In our episode today we're going to be looking at the
concept of Dawa. What exactly is Dawa? And how do you implement it in your everyday life, to invite
people towards the way of Islam. Now, the word Tao itself means to invite or to call, and
islamically we know that this means to invite towards the way of Allah and his religion. So
fundamentally, this means to invite others towards this way of life, this Deen that we follow. And
we know that there are beautiful verses within the Holy Quran that speak about this. For instance,
		

			in the Holy Quran, in chapter 16, verse 125, there is a beautiful birds that reads as follows. Call
to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best.
Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who has strayed from his way, and he is most known of who is
rightly guided. So what we find in this verse is that Allah subhanho wa Taala is telling us that we
are instructed to call people towards this way of life, and to call people towards the path of
Islam. And fundamentally upon this path, it's very important to understand that there are different
individuals, some people might run upon this path to gain as much knowledge as they can. Some people
		

			might jog, others might only take a step a day. But fundamentally, we need to understand that our
responsibility is to invite people upon this path and to support each other, to uplift each other,
to help and teach one another. And Allah subhanaw taala also tells us that once we come into a point
of argumentation with another person, or once we start to debate that we need to do to the wisdom
and with good instruction, that we should not try and raise our voice or dictate what people need to
believe. But just to share what we believe, because in that is a lot of wisdom. Because then people
can choose as to what they want for themselves. And they can start build the relationship with
		

			Allah. because fundamentally, only Allah subhana wa Taala is the change of heart, only he has that
power. Now there's another beautiful verse within the Holy Quran, I would like to share with you in
the Holy Quran, in chapter three, verse 104, Allah Subhan, Allah, Allah says the following, let
there be a group among you who call others to goodness, encourage what is good and forbid what is
evil, it is they who won't be successful. So what Allah is telling us in this verse is that we
should come together, and that there should be a group among us within our communities that call
others to goodness, in what greater way to call others to goodness, than to call those who are
		

			unbelievers, towards the path of Islam, just to teach them regarding our faith and what we believe
just to educate them. And then through that, insha Allah, if it is the world, but Allah Subhan,
Allah, Allah, the Almighty Creator, that will be rightly guided, and they will choose what is best
for them, and they relationship with the Creator. So fundamentally, it is very important for each
and every one of us that wants to be a daddy, to realize that we are here to convey the message of
Islam, we're not there to convert people. Because fundamentally, if we go out there, and we just
share our message, just tell people as you what we believe that we believe in this Almighty Creator,
		

			that we believe in this revelation that we believe in the final prophet peace and blessings be upon
and then fundamentally, they come to an understanding as to what Islam is. And that is our sole
purpose is to tell people what Islam is and to invite them towards this way of life. So what are
some of the benefits that we will find within this approach itself, this approach helps us to break
down barriers, to give people a different perspective of what Islam means to change the concept of
what they believe Islam is based on what they are told through media, other people, through their
own religious leaders, and so forth, but to educate them as to the truth of Islam, and to break down
		

			all those barriers that stand between them, and what the truth itself represents. The second thing
we will learn is to build credibility and relationships with individuals, because fundamentally,
whenever we speak to individuals regarding this way of life, we try to teach them as to what we
believe and what we stand for. And in that is also to connect with an individual based on their own
humanity, as to who they are as individuals, and to truly build that empathy for individuals to
understand where they're coming from, to put yourself in their shoes, and then through that build a
strong relationship with them. This approach will also help us to create an environment for open,
		

			honest and meaningful discussions that is not just focused about the earthly things, for instance,
how much wealth we have, how many followers on Instagram or Facebook or fame on YouTube? Or how
great our status is within our companies? Or what is the next big movie coming out or the next big
song or anything like that. But to focus upon the things that are most important as to what our
purpose is in life. Does God really exist carry rationally understand his existence? And how can we
build bridges between individuals to build and compassion and love and care for one another, it
doesn't matter.
		

			What race or ethnicity or background we come from, but to care for each other, because all of us are
human at the end of the day. And through all of us. This approach changes the perception that people
have regarding Muslims and Islam. And it educates them as to what we believe what is our core
foundation. And this framework itself allows us to bring this image forward to have people perceive
the world through our eyes, as to how we see it and how we believe in the Almighty Creator.
		

			Thank you so much for tuning in today. I hope this small little clip was a benefit to you. And
please stay tuned for the next episode. Next Thursday inshallah all the best blessings to your
family.