Bilal Philips – The Best In Islam #24

			Salam Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh May Allah's peace and blessings beyond each and every one
of you, I'd like to welcome you to another in our series the best in Islam. As you know, in this
series, we are looking at what Allah and His Messenger have defined as what is ultimately best, best
in human endeavor, best human beings, best acts of worship, etc, etc.
		

			guidance has been given to us as motivation on one hand, and direction on the other hand, in terms
of where we should put our focus, because Islam is huge, it governs every aspect of life. And there
are some aspects of it which are more important and more critical. Allah and His Messenger have
pointed these out. And they he has added in their explanation that they are the best, or they are
better, or they are good. And it is all these various texts which we have gathered together in this
program on the best in Islam. In our previous episode, we were looking briefly at the best in terms
of invitation to Islam, or Dawa. And we looked briefly at the verse 125, in Surah Nahal, which is
		

			the 60s chapter, or the early last abelia of the Kabul Hekmati? Well, more i Little Hasina,
		

			which I didn't home bility here is an invite to the way of your LORD with Wisdom and fair preaching,
and discuss with them using that which is better.
		

			In the previous segment, we touched on the basic meanings of this verse. But there were some other
issues that we also need to consider, among them, the fact that Allah begins with the command or do
call a command, to do this call to the way of your Lord, indicative of this propagation of Islam,
being an obligation on the Ummah to is an obligation on Prophet Muhammad, may God's peace and
blessing be upon him, to convey the message to those around him. And he being the last of the
messengers, whose message was to reach the whole of humankind, then all of his companions, His
followers, etc, that duty is shared by them. So the calling to Islam or inviting others, or
		

			explaining Islam to others, is an obligation on each and every Muslim. And it is an obligation,
which varies according to the level of knowledge that the person has. Because of course, some people
might say, well, I don't know very much about Islam, so how can I call others to it? Well, the
Prophet in another narration had stated, mainly who annual or if you should convey whatever you have
learned from me, even though it may be a single verse from the Quran. So if that's all you know,
then that's all that you are required to convey. Because of course, you shouldn't try to convey or
enter into areas that you don't have knowledge of, so you don't confuse people and misguide people
		

			or turn people off from Islam. So, according to the knowledge that we have, each and every one of us
is required to share that knowledge with those around us, especially those of us who live in
communities where there are many non Muslims or we might actually live in non Muslim countries, then
it becomes an even greater responsibility. When we're in Muslim countries where the contact with non
Muslims might be rare, then obviously, the obligation is less. And maybe we can say that the
obligation now to invite Muslims to practice Islam properly, is the greater obligation. So first and
foremost, we recognize from this verse, that it is an obligation on us to invite others to Islam
		

			That obligation will be an individual obligation where no one else is engaged in it. Otherwise, it
is a communal obligation, where the whole community is obliged to do so. But as long as some among
them do so, then the obligation on the others is lifted. And in our times, we are not engaged in
sharing this message conveying this message. So, we can say in general and scholars have, have said
that it is in our times and individual obligation, then Allah goes on to say that, when calling
people to the way of Allah, and calling them of course, by saying that it is to severely Arabic, the
way of your Lord, that it is to Islam. And it's not necessarily to a culture, because sometimes
		

			people and inviting others, they invite them into Arabic culture, or to Malaysian culture, or to
Gambian culture, or some countries culture. And they think, Well, this is Islam, so I'm inviting
them into Islam, but in fact, they're inviting them into the culture and the customs of a particular
people in a particular place. Whereas Islam is beyond people and place. So the call or invitation
should be to Islam itself. And we should be very careful not to offer people or promote our
cultures, or the cultures that we may be living in, in the place of Islam, we should be clear,
because this is a confusion, which exists around the world, where even Muslims to some degree, don't
		

			know what is culture, and what is Islam. They just think that whatever we do is Islam, because we're
Muslims. So whatever we do is Islam. But that's not the case. In many cases, things that we're doing
have nothing to do with Islam at all. And these become
		

			issues that the detractors of Islam, those who speak against Islam, attack Islam, etc. They point
the finger at these things, assuming that this is something that Muslims do this is a part of Muslim
practice, but in fact, it isn't. So people have a particular air, like a female genital mutilation,
for example, Muslims are globally attacked about this, you know, look at you people in Egypt, in
Sudan, and Somalia. But actually, when you go into these areas, do you find it in Ethiopia, also
amongst Christians? You find it in Egypt, amongst the Christians that are living there. You find it
in Sudan amongst the Christians? Well, Somali, okay, there are no Christians there. But in Kenya,
		

			you will also find it amongst Christians and others. So it's not really a Muslim custom. People
accepted Islam, this was part of their tradition, and they continued, but it's now associated with
Islam as part of Islamic culture, when in fact, it isn't at all. That's an extreme example. But
there are many other examples for which Muslims are attacked, you know, in the media, etc. When in
fact, Islam is free of these practices, or ideas. So it's very important that we call to the way of
our Lord, that is Islam, pure Islam, Islam, which was brought by Prophet Muhammad, may God's peace
and blessings be upon him, not Islam, as perceived by people in different places. Now, Allah goes on
		

			to say, men hikma with wisdom, we pointed out before that the basis for the wisdom is that which is
found in the Quran, and the Sunnah, Revelation, that is the foundation of wisdom. But then there is
also wisdom, which comes from knowing people, knowing the psychology of people,
		

			choosing the right circumstances, choosing the right people, you know, that we, if we're going to
call people, we look at them. We don't just speak to anybody and everybody, we try to understand
those who we're speaking to. If we don't understand their backgrounds, where they're coming from,
you know, then we might be saying things which are irrelevant, or things which may be offensive. So
we should use wisdom in conveying the message to people putting yourselves in their shoes when
you're explaining things, being careful. A lot of times when most
		

			substrate to explain things, they explain it using Islamic terms. So the person they're speaking to
not familiar with these Islamic terms, you know, there are huge gaps in what is being said to them.
So we have to be careful when we're talking, what language we're using. I mean, there are things
which become common amongst Muslims who speak English, for example, that we refer to certain things
using Islamic terms. So, a masjid, for example, okay, maybe the non Muslims have heard of mosque,
but masjid they didn't hear because this is not commonly used. So by using that, you know, we have
to go to the masjid, then the person is at a loss, or what's that what what's a must, you know,
		

			maybe they will ask, maybe they will not. So again, these are amongst the issues that we could say
this wisdom from, you know, acquired wisdom, which doesn't necessarily have its foundation in Quran
and Sunnah. Except that we can say that the Quran and the Sunnah, is also very clear in its
expressions, and in its clarifications, and then Allah goes to say, with my little Hassan, and with
fair preaching, that, you know, when we are conveying the message, we do so in a gentle way, you
know, not screaming, shouting, fire and brimstone approach now, but we tried to get across the
message in a very calm and very, you know, good way that would attract people that would cause them
		

			to want to listen and to understand more. So the mode or the way by which we're speaking, is also
very important. And finally,
		

			Allah mentions which I did whom bility here acid, and we discuss with them with that, which is
better when we don't get into heavy argumentation, you know, very heated arguments, when things are
going in that direction, that's the time to just pull it off. Okay, we can discuss about this at
another time. Or, you know, maybe this is not the appropriate time. Now, let's leave this we don't
need to, you know, get into it's not really an argument, per se, I'm not trying to prove that you're
wrong. And when this No, it's just about conveying sharing the message of Islam to others, we tried
to do so in the nicest and calmest way, when people become loud, etc, we just try to cool them down,
		

			don't join them, don't sink to their level. So these are among the additional elements that could be
gained could be extracted from this verse from Surah Mahal, in which Allah told us to discuss with
the others using that which is better. And we're going to take a short break now and after the
break, we'll come back to look at some other aspects of what's best, or what's better. In Dawa Salam
alaykum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh. Psychology in this day and age can be extremely problematic and
incredibly dangerous. Yes, you heard that psychology can be problematic because most of the content
that we are studying is coming through secular sources. And when we did this content without any
		

			understanding of Islam, this can lead to a lot of confusion. This is where IUU comes to our rescue.
I use Islamic psychology courses are intricately designed to help us understand the relationship
between Islam and psychology. And not only that, it also helps us to scrutinize modern psychology
through the lens of Quran and Sunnah.
		

			We invite you to get yourself one of these courses this semester, and start exploring the
relationship between Islam and psychology to authentic sources.
		

			I didn't come Welcome back from the break. Continuing with the idea of Dawa or calling others to
Allah conveying the message. We have a narration Hadith from Prophet Muhammad, may God's peace and
blessings be upon him, which was related by Solomon sad, and he quoted the Prophet sallallahu
wasallam as saying, well Allah He learned yahoodi Allahu be Hudak Raju Lenoir hidden Cairo laka
Minho, Maria homerun now by Allah, it is better for you that Allah guide one person to Islam through
your efforts than to have the most valuable
		

			and possessions. So this hadith of the Prophet sallallahu wasallam May Allah's peace and blessings
be upon him
		

			puts the value of guiding others to Islam, on a very high pedestal is of such great reward that it
outshines anything that's in this world. There are a number of other narrations, which also
mentioned it being better than anything in this world, because actually, Hamid Nam, really are red
camels. And,
		

			of course, red camels don't have very much significance to those of us who live in places where we
don't deal with camels. I mean, I don't even know what a red camel looks like. But
		

			in those areas, what was referred to as red camo was the most valuable camo. And believe it or not,
you know, camels are actually sold even today for hundreds of 1000s of dollars. Anyway, the point is
that what was most prized are the most prized possession that you can think of, know that for you to
guide someone, or for Allah to guide someone through you, is worth more than any of it.
		

			So this really, when the Prophet may God's peace and blessings be upon him told us that he was
encouraging us to actively engage in sharing the message and trying to guide others. This is an
extension of the verse that we looked at, in the first segment of this episode. One thing to note
here is that the Prophet sallallaahu Salam said, it is better for you that Allah guide, one person
through your efforts. This is the point that Allah guides. Ultimately, we cannot guide people to
Islam, what we can do is to share the message, convey the message to them. And if they're sincere,
Allah will help them to grasp it, to take it, and they will be guided. So our goal is not
		

			necessarily to convert people to Islam. If they convert, that's wonderful. But if they don't,
		

			that's not really a problem. Because our responsibility is to convey the message, not necessarily to
guide people. And even Prophet Muhammad may God's peace and blessings be upon him, was told by
Allah, that you can't guide who you love. In the Culatta demon adept. You can't guide those who you
love, who are lacking Allah. Yeah, the my Insha Allah, but Allah guides whom He wishes. So it's not
really in our hands. And that's why even Prophet Muhammad may God's peace and blessings be upon him,
in spite of his efforts to guide his uncle, to Islam, I will call him I will call him died without
accepting Islam, though he heard he saw, he understood. But he held on to the traditions of his
		

			people, and wouldn't let go. But Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu sallam, he tried everything he could,
what Allah wished otherwise. And that remains as a sign and a message to us. And it's very
important, because if we accept this responsibility to share the message of Islam with others, and
we have in our mind that it's about converting other people, then we go out, we explain to one
person they heard but they didn't convert 2345 After we've done it a few times, and we find nobody's
converting, then the likelihood is you're going to quit saying that it's not working. Either these
all these people are just too hard headed, whatever is no point is a waste of time, you know, or I'm
		

			just not doing this right. You know, I just can't handle it. And they quit. Because they were
mistakenly thinking that their responsibility was to guide people meaning to convert them to Islam,
but that is not the responsibility. Responsibility is only to convey the message as the Lord said
elsewhere in the Quran in the Malaika Bala for Elena hisab. That what is on you is to convey the
message and it is on me to take them to account. It is the law who will take people ultimate
		

			li to account, whether they heard the message and rejected it, or heard it and accepted it, that is
with Allah. So our duty is just to get the message to them, and leave the rest to Allah.
		

			And if that is clear, then we don't become demotivated when our efforts don't seem to bring fruit.
And we should know that oftentimes, when you express or convey Islam, to others, and they may even
be arguing with you, at the same time, your ideas may be going into their heads. And
		

			externally, they seem to be resisting. But internally, some things are clicking, they're making
sense. But they leave you and they seem to be the same way they met you, when they meet somebody
else, who they get into another discussion with. And similar things happen. But more
		

			links are being made in their minds, but they seem to still externally be the same, they haven't
changed, and so on and so forth, they may meet a number of people, till finally they meet somebody
who, at that point, everything has reached a culmination. And they just needed a final word, and
they accepted Islam. The point is that oftentimes, people may accept Islam, after having heard from
many, many other people there many people who played parts on the way, you know, it's rare that a
person will just take one from zero to accepting Islam in one sitting. That's rare cases. You know,
usually, it takes some time for people to absorb the information, unless they've already been
		

			reading. Many times people come, they've already been reading on their own, they've been checking
things out on the internet, they've built up a body of information, they just need, you know, a face
to face presentation, which gives them the final clarification, and then that's enough for them to
accept Islam. So know that you may just be one of the people on the way on the path of that
individual. And your job is not to reap the fruit, your job is just to help water that plant, so it
will grow, eventually, it will produce its fruit. Others may repeat in that sense, but you get
reward for having conveyed that message. Whether the person accepts or they don't accept, you get
		

			reward, if Allah also chooses to make them accept Islam, at the time, when you have done the
convenience, this is a special blessing from Allah, for you, and for them.
		

			So as Allah, through His Messenger has informed us,
		

			we should value this job of conveying the message of Islam, because Allah has given it
		

			among the greatest values. It might seem like nothing might seem insignificant to us, but Allah
considers it very significant, and very important. So we owe it to ourselves, to make that effort,
whatever knowledge that we have, we invite others to it. If we don't have enough knowledge, we get
knowledge, we get help. If we're explaining we get stuck, you know, we don't try to give people
explanations from our own heads when we don't really know. What is the real deal in this case? No,
we tell them there. I'll try. I'll get back to you tomorrow. You know, I'm not too sure about this
point is no harm. Be honest. You don't know. Then ask those who know. So you can come back and
		

			convey the message. So with that, we'd like to thank you for being with us. In this episode of the
best in Islam. I bid you farewell and hope to see you in our next episode Salaam Alaikum
Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh