Mufti Menk – Advice to Recent Reverts

			Assalamualaikum my brother, my sister, welcome to Islam. Islam is a knowledge based religion. The
more you know, the more you make an effort to learn, the more you will love it, the more you'll
appreciate it, the less you know, the less interested you are to learn. The more you're dwindle.
I've said this repeatedly. And trust me it's effect. So my brothers, my sisters, now that you've
entered the fold of Islam, don't become overwhelmed by the statements of everyone. You have to do
this. You must do this. You've got to cover today, you've got to do this today. You've got to pray
five times a day you've got yes, they may be right. But you know what, sometimes too many people
		

			telling you too many things right at the beginning is only a sign of their love and concern. They
don't realize they may overwhelm you take it in your stride. A step at a time. Move at your pace,
don't worry, move at your pace. You've learned the pillars of Islam, you know the pillars of Eman?
You know the basics. Sure you've learned cleanliness and how to pray you may not know all the sutras
and all of that in the Arabic language yet no problem. You can slowly put into practice as you learn
but make an effort to learn.
		

			And then like I said in the previous video, if something is not sitting well with you, perhaps it
might be wrong. Or maybe there might be another opinion. Or perhaps it might not be authentic or
maybe there might be an explanation about it. And maybe you might be wrong. So ask and keep asking
for Ellu Allah decree in quantum law talamona Bill Burnett, he was Zubat if you're not sure, ask
those who have knowledge.
		

			Those who have knowledge of revelation
		

			and they will guide you correctly inshallah.
		

			So my brothers and sisters,
		

			welcome to Islam. Like I said, it's submission Unto Allah. It's a beautiful faith of discipline,
worshiping Allah alone, being the best human being you can with the greatest of character. And we do
so in accordance with the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him.
		

			Don't let people make you believe that you need to start hating everyone, you need to start hurting
people you need to be abusive towards others. Absolutely not. That is the furthest from the truth.
So yes, we dislike that which is wrong. But people on the globe will be following all sorts of
things, people will believe you are wrong, and you will believe that others are wrong, there's
nothing wrong with that you do believe they are wrong, but respectfully, you should try to maintain
a decent communication so that you can teach them perhaps let them see the beauty of Islam. I'm sure
if your family was very supportive of your decision to turn to Islam, you're lucky but very few are
		

			lucky because it's a major decision. I don't expect everyone to be excited about it, especially
nowadays, when Islam is looked at by masses as this faith that is going to be filled with violence
and hate. And that's not true. You and I know it's not true. So you need to make sure you portray
the correct image of Islam. By fulfilling the rights of those who supported you, as well as those
who didn't support you from among your family members, your neighbors, your friends, some will leave
you they'll abandon you. Don't worry, they abandon the Prophet peace be upon him, they've abandoned
everyone who turned in the right direction. In fact, I can give you a piece of information. Do you
		

			know that a lot of Muslims who are not practicing abandon their friends who grew up with them for
years on end when they start practicing. So that's just a sign of
		

			you know, that which is unfortunate. It's Allah Who chooses what, where people stand. So take it in
your stride. Be good to people, try your best. If you need to step back, you may at a point where
it's becoming toxic. But remember, fulfill the rights of your parents even more, in an even greater
way. Serve them, reach out to them, be kind to them, find out about them, they will quickly realize
you're a much better person than you were. And this is what happens in the case of a lot of people.
Over time the parents and family members begin to appreciate and realize and then talk to them,
explain to them listen, I love you guys, a different love meaning we're family. So to love as a
		

			family is different love the love of your mother is different from that of your spouse and then of
your brother and then of others the love of a fellow Muslim is different the love of Allah is very
different. The love of the messenger is very different as well. So all these levels of love we speak
about you need to know them. So when someone says you can't love your mother or father if they're
not Muslim, that's not true. That that love filial love or the love of children or
		

			parents' is something put in your heart by Allah. Even the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him loved
his family members who are not Muslim who were close to him and helped him and serving his
grandfather, his uncle and so on. These people work very close to the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon
him, but they will not mostly.
		

			So what do we expect? I mean, he didn't hate them. It was only those who drove him away, or drove
the Muslims out of their houses and those who were nasty and so on, that a natural dislike happens
to come in or to be felt towards them. It's a natural dislike, may Allah Almighty grant us goodness.
So point number one of this video is not to become overwhelmed by everybody understand, it's their
love, but take it in your stride. You have your own steps, moving your own direction, and then don't
fall into the squabbles of others. There'll be a lot of people don't listen to this one that one's a
stray. This one's a straight No, no, no, no, you, Allah guided you to know Islam from cover, you
		

			know, believe from disbelief, for example, He will surely guide you towards what is right, and the
balanced faith of Allah subhanho wa taala. That's evidence based. That's what we believe someone
wants to do something about why are you doing this, and then listen to the explanation, Allah has
given you a brain to process that he's not going to ask you beyond your understanding and capacity.
Now you can leave Allah Who laughs and he knows that verse has deep meaning, Allah will not burden a
soul with more than they can shoulder. And what that would also mean is if Allah has given you a
certain capacity, he's not going to hold against you beyond that capacity, even that of
		

			understanding if this was your understanding, and you really felt that this is it? Do you expect
Allah to punish you, and you really try very, very hard to do the right thing. So it's good to
listen to people. One of the mistakes that some people make nowadays is they say, don't listen to
this one. Don't listen to that one. And other people say don't listen to this one. So the rivers get
confused. So who do we listen to? Because everyone's telling us not to listen to everyone. Try to
select people who don't talk about others, but rather they teach you what's right and wrong. And if
they do talk about others, excuse them, don't don't listen on that matter. But everything else,
		

			okay, I can take because they're human, they make mistakes. This is a mistake. You find a lot of
people think they know a lot. And the same people 10 years later will hold different opinions that
are more flexible, more relaxed, based on environment based on so many factors. Because Islam, yes,
there are certain things that don't change and won't change. But there are certain things that are
connected to your environment, they are connected to the earth, and they add certain things, meaning
the the norms of society and community and so on, there are certain things connected to that. You
need to learn what are these things, you're still new in Islam. So don't get so excited. And
		

			sometimes, because we want guidance for everyone, we start belittling others, we start swearing and
shouting, and we start becoming very arrogant, but you just revert. You've barely been Muslim for a
few days or months or a year. And you know, you're getting so vulgar, you're getting so abusive, you
should be showing the beauty of Islam. And I'm not saying compromise your faith, No, don't. But be
kind, and learn and keep learning. A day will come when you realize all the harshness that was
coming in my direction was actually not what I ultimately follow. Now Subhanallah remember that
because in the excitement of a human being, we tend to say things and do things. When we get wisdom
		

			and experience and we learn things. We soften in our approach to begin with. And then sometimes we
even soften in a few other matters. And we realize that you know what, sometimes some rulings have
been contaminated by factors that perhaps need to be discussed. Yes. And sometimes there there is
more than one opinion. That's actually correct. It's evidence based. If I say this is the most
correct opinion, does it mean that the others are not correct? He they may be correct, but maybe
it's most correct, according to me, or more correct, doesn't make the others wrong. Always. Remember
this. And even if people refute and start arguing and fighting, sometimes they're just fighting over
		

			what's the better of the two opinions. So all these things confused, Revert sometimes. That's why
I'm here to say, take it a step at a time. Follow what you're convinced by and let it be evidence
based in sha Allah. May Allah Almighty guide us all and give us goodness, I hope that this 10 minute
video has actually helped. Because really, it's advice for reverts and it's genuine advice. I wish
and I pray at some point we can have a part two for this. Allah bless every one of us, Apolo Kalia,
that was salam aleikum wa rahmatullah wa barakato.