Ashraf Schneider – Dawah Training #5 – Downfall of Dawah

			Assalamu alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh Peace, blessings and mercy be upon you all. Welcome to
the first episode of Tao Thursdays. And in our episode today we are going to be looking at the
downfall of Dawa. Now you might be asking yourself, what exactly is the downfall of Tao? Now
fundamentally, the downfall might be some questions that you perceive within the field. Some things
that you are approached with that you don't necessarily know how to comprehend, or how to answer or
it might be a cycle of questions that you are continuously asked. But fundamentally, it doesn't
reach a proper conclusion for you to share the message of Islam. Another downfall might be that a
		

			person would link to completely unrelated things, and then try to use that as an argument against
you. I want you guys to imagine something. Imagine that you are at work. And one of your work
colleagues in you are taking a break. And this work colleague asks you a question about Islam. They
asked you as to why do Muslims pray five times a day? And to the best of your own capacity? You
answer this question. But then your work colleague asks you another question. So why do you wash
your hands your face in your feet before you pray? And to the best of your capacity? You answer this
question? And then they have another question. And they say, but why do you face the Qibla acaba?
		

			And to the best of your capacity, you answer this question. Now fundamentally, I want you guys to
think about this. Have you brought forward the concept of tau? We'd have you shared the foundations
and the fundamentals of Islam? No, because this is a cycle of questions that we oftentimes fall
into. But fundamentally, we do not share the message which is most important. Now, what is good to
implement in a situation like this? Fundamentally, if a person comes with a question to you, and
they asked you something about Islam, you tell them that in order for you to understand the answer
to this question, it's important for you to understand the foundations and fundamentals of Islam.
		

			And then you would have an opportunity to share the foundations and the fundamentals of what we
believe. And they come to an understanding that this is built on a premise of truth, they will also
realize that whatever comes from this foundation that is built upon a premise of truth, must be
truth itself. Because once you share this with them, they will come to an understanding of what you
believe what is within your heart and why you practice and do the things that you do to worship the
Almighty Creator. Another point I would like to reference is that when we have conversations with
individuals, it's very important for us to build a foundation for our conversation based upon
		

			rationality, and not philosophical argumentation. When you start a conversation with someone ask
them that, shall we agree to be rational one another, and bold the conversation based on that
premise? because fundamentally, this takes us away from philosophical argumentation. Now, you might
ask exactly what is this? What do you mean with this? To give an example, there's a philosopher by
the name of Descartes, he had a famous saying that says that, I think, and therefore I am now he
would have many philosophical augmentations based on the existence of this universe and an
individual's sensory experiences of the things around them. Now, I don't necessarily want to concern
		

			you guys regarding that. If you have any questions or ever feel free to ask in the comment sections
below, but what I want to emphasize is that if we build conversations based on philosophical
argumentation, our conversations is not always rooted within rationality, and there can be no
objective truth for us to declare as to what is right and what is wrong. Therefore, it is very
important to bold conversations on rationality. Now, the third and final points I would like to
reference regarding the downfall of Tao is that oftentimes do art go out there and they bolt the
entire dollar approach upon the biblical text. What some do art would do is they would reference
		

			verses like john chapter 17, verse three, where Jesus peace be upon him says that this is eternal
life, that they may know you the only true God and me whom you have sent, or they would speak about
john chapter five, verse three, seven, where Jesus peace be upon him says while standing in front of
his followers, the Pharisees and disciples that you've never heard the voice of God or you've never
seen the shape, or the wood referenced verses like john chapter 20, verse 17, we it tells Mary that
I'm returning to my God, enter your God, I'm returning to my father and to your father. However,
this is problematic, because fundamentally, as soon as you do this, people will start referencing
		

			verses within the Bible to try and to test your point. In conclusion, it is very important for us to
speak to individuals and to have them understand that in order for them to understand the answer to
the questions that they have, they need to understand the foundations and fundamentals of Islam. We
need to comprehend that when we have these conversations, that we build these conversations on
rationality, that we not bear to have philosophical debates with other individuals. And finally,
when we go out there to performed our we build a foundation upon the Holy Quran and the Hadith of
the Prophet peace and blessings be upon him. Because this is often a common criteria to judge what
		

			is right and what is wrong. We there to share the message of Islam, and you just tell people what we
believe, to invite them towards our foundations to have them comprehend that this is truth and the
whatever comes from it must be truth in itself. I hope that you enjoyed today's episode, and if you
have, please leave a like and share it with your friends. I look forward to seeing you at the next
episode. All the best Blessings to you
		

			You know, loved ones.