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has added a new journalThis is an article by Yahiya Emerick on how to build a better Dawah Program, it is an excellent article, it teaches a lot.
Building a Better Dawah Program
Muslims have perhaps the least organized community in the world, yet we are gaining converts faster than anyone else. But what if we were more organized? American convert Yahiya Emerick sets out a strategy to utilize our resources and build up the size and strength of the Muslim community.
"So brother," he asked me, "how did you become a Muslim?" Now this isn't a rare question for one who embraced Islam. In fact, it seems this was the most often asked question in my first two years of entering the faith. Alhumdulillah, "born" Muslims always have a keen interest in how others have found their way into the fold of Islam.
Partly this is a reaffirmation of their own identity, ("Hey, if others are choosing it then it must be good") and partly it is often an unusual phenomenon not seen in the countries from where the average Muslim came. ("Hey, converts are like aliens from outer space in my country.")
Whatever the motivation, I sometimes lament being the only convert in a crowd or at a meeting. I don't have any prejudicial feelings towards my fellow compatriots in the deen, I merely wish there were more people who accepted Islam around me so I could experience the feelings of reaffirmation and say, "Alhumdulillah" too.
It's really amazing when you think about it. We have perhaps the least organized community in the world- even the Hindus are more organized world-wide- yet we are gaining converts faster than anyone else. Some attribute this to the Mercy of Allah, others add that it is a testament to the truth of Islam.
But what if we were more organized? What if we had million dollar da'wah centers for the total work of spreading Islam? What if we rented out stadiums and did Billy Graham style conversion drives? What do you think? I tell you that in my gut I am convinced we would have so many converts that we would be surprised if we met someone who wasn't Muslim.
Islamic teachings beat Christian hodge-podge doctrines any day of the week. You and I know this. Hinduism, Bahaiism, Buddhism and the new age movement have nothing on us. They can't even touch our coat-tails. So how can we utilize our resources to rival everyone even further and build the size and strength of our community?
To begin with, we have to get our act together and organize national standards for da'wah workers, literature and programs. Let me illustrate why: Have you ever attended the following type of da'wah gathering? The mostly-Muslim audience shows up late, the speaker can't speak English right, the sound system squeals horribly, the refreshment table is filled with warm milk-tea and half-eaten doughnuts and the da'wah literature, if there is any, is poorly written gobbledygook which wouldn't convince a mouse that it likes cheese.
I'm sure you can relate to such experiences. For all the good intentions, the entire atmosphere was skewed. Non-Muslims, if they could read the hand-scrawled announcements taped on telephone poles, leave with the feeling that there's nothing for them here.
But what would national standards encompass? It's nearly impossible to get anyone, especially our leaders, to agree on anything. So to solve this problem, I'm going to pretend I have the ear of every Muslim in the country and I'm going to impose national standards right now. So listen up everyone and take notes!
First, nobody will be allowed to speak in front of non-Muslims, or Muslims for that matter, unless they can speak the language of the people clearly. We don't want any thick accents, no Englabic or Urdulish. Only clear, understandable English. No exceptions no matter how "big" the man is.
Second, the only topics that will be allowed in any gathering where non-Muslims are addressed will be limited to subjects about life, our purpose, Allah' guidance/forgiveness, the Qur'an and its role in life and the example of the Blessed Prophet. There will be no lectures on fiqh, politics, tassawuf, Unani healing or the psychothematic paradigms found in the writings of obscure Persian or Urdu poets. No exceptions no matter how "big" the money behind the event is.
Third, women will be allowed to address non-Muslim and Muslim audiences on any of the above approved topics with the addition of the role and rights of women in Islam. (Men will not be allowed to speak at length about this topic but can mention it. You figure out why.) Women will be allowed to decide what they wish to speak about and will be given authority in the planning and carrying out of the da'wah program. Women will appear in proper, fashionable hijab. Duppattas and circus tents need not apply.
Fourth, all programs will be planned well in advance. Sound systems will be checked and rechecked many times for quality reception. Reliable people will be assigned duties in advance and will be briefed many times as to their function. Ushers will be present (not eleven year olds) and the program will not exceed two hours. Everything will proceed on time and the program will begin on time no matter how many "big-shot" community members are late. (Remember: today's big-shots are tomorrow's people of the grave. Don't fear them or the money that is temporarily in their hands.)
Fifth, all children under twelve- and babies- will remain at home. The only exception to this rule is when on-site day-care is available. In such a case, under no circumstances will these children be allowed in the main program area.
Sixth, only da'wah materials approved by native-English speaking Muslims will be distributed. For a current list of approved da'wah literature, see the book, "How to Tell Others About Islam" available from most Islamic bookstores. If you don't have your materials read for accuracy and readability first, don't use them.
Seventh, no da'wah program or effort can be initiated unless the following three criteria are met: 1) good, friendly da'wah workers must be utilized. 2) A follow-up plan for interested prospects must be developed. 3) A mentor program linking converts with designated "mentor" families must be established.
Eighth, No door-to-door da'wah or street corner shouting will be allowed. We are not Jehovah's Witnesses nor do we want to be stigmatized as similar to them.
Ninth, all the latest techniques for mass-da'wah efforts must be studied and tested. Everything from mass-mailing, TV advertising, telethons, self-improvement seminar-type activities, videos, home-study courses, gimmicks, sloganeering, etc.. must be looked at in a specially created da'wah institute which will be established to facilitate the National Standards in Da'wah effort.
Finally, every Muslim and convert will be encouraged to move to areas where the majority of the population are Muslims. Islamic education programs for converts and youth must be established that are fun and interesting, and the community must make every effort to find the convert a job, if they need one, a good husband or wife, if they're single, and a recognized place in the life of the community.
There, I've done it. National Standards have been enumerated. Now if you don't wake up and take a good look at how you're spreading Islam (or trying to) then you'll still find a new convert as an unusual, special thing to be admired and praised. I would rather find converts as common as water, myself.
By: Yahiya Emerick
lashbanda
very nice article, thanx for sharing.JazakAllahu Khair
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has added a new journalIslamify.com www.islamify.com allows Muslims to share articles, videos, images or anything else of interest with other Muslims. It's a way to see what's on the Ummah's mind and share what's on yours.
What is Islamify.com
Islamify.com represents a cutting edge revolution in Islamic Media. The concept combines Muslims, Democracy and Media in order to concentrate the best of what's going on with the Ummah in one place. The best thing is, it's FREE.
How does it work?
Whenever you find anything that you think would be great for other Muslims to know about, whether it's news, an event, a product, video, image, blog post or anything else you can submit it to Islamify.com where other Muslims will be able to vote on it. Those submissions that get a lot of votes are put up on the front page so they get the most exposure. That way all the best stuff going on in the Ummah is in one place for everyone to discover.
Who should use Islamify.com?
Everyone should use it! If you want to publicize an event, your new site or blog you can submit it to Islamify. If you want to market a product that you think is perfect for Muslims or share a video you made then post it on Islamify. It's that easy.
Why Islamify?
Islamify.com has a mission and that is to connect Muslims with what's going on with the Ummah from all over the WORLD on our own site dedicated to those things that are important to Muslims. The world moves fast and this is one way that Muslims can keep up to speed with everything that's going on.
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has added a new journalBook to explain Islam to Americans and others. Winner of 2006 Book award. Material by: Jerald Dirks, Zakir Naik, Jamal Badawi, etc.
Website: easily-understand-islam.com.
Any other good books you liked to explain Islam? Share them here.
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has added a new journalthe testimony
as Salamu ?laykum w& RahmatuLL?Hi w& Barak?tuHu
you asked why i became Muslim
let me guess:
you want to know why i
cry
you want to know why i
'm not afraid to die
i was in manhattan 9/11
& i knew it was a lie
but it started way before that:
it started when i was mouthing the songs at church
i refused to/couldn't dance
i felt lonely in crowded rooms:
were they smiling or baring their teeth?
i felt weak: I had dreams that i couldn't run
i woke up paralyzed thousands of times i couldn't breathe i had to use all my
strength just to wiggle a toe or twist my wrist back & forth to come alive before i
suffocated
i cursed everything
i slept with strangers
i ran away
i smoked
i convoluted, I made myself fall in love
i went to sleep as a hiding place
i lied
more than anything i lied
and then what?
then the music stopped, then it restarted
but i wanted it off
then i unplugged the t.v.
then i unplugged my self:
i skipped class to do my own reading
i ran a lap around australia, from Sydney & back through Perth
the less i saw the more i saw:
nature was screaming 'the truth! the truth!'
i watched the world dying- it's still dying- & it's really not that sad
what's sad is that we're dying & we still haven't decided to live
i started to give, & giving don't count 'til it's something you want, or
especially that you need
i quit askin' my Mom for money,
may ALLAH Guide her,
Ameen.
i fought my way back to the top
i was an overgrown college loser
a fiend
then, when i had nowhere to go,
the Brother invited me to the mosque:
they prayed, & i wasn't impressed 'til i stayed:
more colors than any rainbow were sitting on the floor talking, thriving
the Brothers were all offers
& no requests
REAL men, not macho: firm
strong enough to be open
i was always told that GOD was 3
that was something i learned
but never believed
i was tired of my self, i wanted to be free
i wanted to learn, i wanted to see more than glimpses & shadows & mirrors
i wanted a Light 'cuz i'd seen the Truth
but i wanted to see it more clear
when the moment of Truth came
i was prepared
to say l? il?ha ill-ALL?H, Muhammad-r-Ras& #361;l-ALL?H
i say it in smiles & i say it in tears
to summarize
Isl?m is the oasis
everything else is a mirage
Isl?m is a relief, the reality we're all trying to find
everything else you rush to only seems like it is there:
but where's your lover now, your happiness, your money, your PEACE?
they were like water or sand, just slipping your hands
the truth is you can't hide from the truth cuz the truth is all there is
this isn't the full extent of the affair:
i was once at a barbecue in the north beaches with some dudes from cali. we were deciding what meat to buy & i said "can we skip on the pork please?" the one dude gave me a high five and said "are you Muslim too?" i said "no". that was the first time i remember that i had quit pork, though i can't remember actually making the decision. i never ate it since
i remember when i got back to texas, i had this urge to just read The Autobiography of Malcolm X, as told to Alex Haley. i would read it on my lunch breaks & stay up late at night. i even rented the movie & i recommend both
also, in australia, i started sleeping on the floor. i would sleep between two blankets on my hardwood loft
i started fasting in australia too. once, i didn't eat for a whole month from sunrise to sunset for four weeks. maybe those four weeks coincided with Ramad?n, ALL?H Knows Best
i would still go out at night with my friends. girls would stare at me but i would just stare away. i was proud, it made me feel strong
i met Emad Tehrani, a limo driver & student at sydney uni. looking back i realize he was a Muslim, but all i knew then was that he didn't really fit into the life we were trying to live. may ALL?H Guide him, ?meen.
Eddie. i didn't know his name was Muhammad until i saw his ?m?ni passport. he was wild, even dangerous, but he called me 'Brother' the first time he ever met me, and he proved what it meant to be one time & time again. i love him; ALL?H, Guide him to the Straight Path, ?meen.
so, i started that lap around australia with a gym bag of clothes & no cash. i'd had a gun pulled out on me, but honestly i wasn't afraid. i didn't fear dying, i just didn't want to die. i guess i just knew i wasn't gonna die right then. but i realized, at that moment, that i could have died. we all could have. we could all die at any moment. we could all die at the same moment. and i think i thought what a lot of people feel when they die: "This is so inconvenient?
because they're empty & they have everything to lose
Al-Hamdu LiLL?H i'm whole, and I have nothing to lose. 'cause when "Eddie" told me "Brother, you don't even know who you are" i had smoke in my mouth but i knew he was right
i ran away home
i knew he was right because when my Mother saw me for the first time in a year-and-a-half, she didn't smile
and she needn't have
it didn't hurt, it just told the truth