YOUR WAY TO ISLAAM

CHAPTER 22
HOW TO INVITE OTHERS TO ISLAM?

1. Our noble Prophet Muhammad – Sallal-lahu ‘alayhi wasallam – said: “If Allah guides one person to Islam through you, it is better for you, than having the greatest wealth.”
2. He also said: “Whoever calls (others) to guidance has the same reward as the rewards of those who follow him, without decreasing anything from their rewards.”
3. Therefore be keen to invite to Islam those non-Muslims whom you know.
4. Start with people who are closest to you, such as: your parents, wife, son, daughter, brother, then relatives and friends.
5. Allah (Glory be to Him) said to His Messenger Muhammad – Sallal-lahu ’Allahu ‘alaihi wasallam – [The Qu’an 26:214], “And admonish your nearest Kinsmen”.
6. Make clear to them the right religion, and make them interested in it!
7. Tell them of the glad tidings of which Allah has promised, and the blessings and favors that Allah will endow upon them in this world and the next if they follow Islam.
8. Warn them of Allah’s wrath upon them if they disbelieve in the Holy Quran which He has revealed to be a guidance to everyone.
9. Or if they disbelieve in Prophet Muhammad – Sallal-lahu ‘alayhi wasallam – whom He has sent as a mercy to the worlds.
10. Invite them with love and sincerity.
11. And you, yourself, should be an example of good character.
12. Be quick in doing good and in helping others. If you do so:
1. You will be a propagator of Islam by your actions as well as your words.
2. Your friends will be quick to accept when you invite them to Islam, and then Allah will lead them to guidance.
3. They will come to know that what you say is the truth.
4. They will consequently accept Islam and love this religion and love you too.
13. You must know well the wise approach of inviting others to Islam and teaching them. Thus you should speak what is suitable for every occasion.
14. One of the wise sayings of Arabs is: “There is suitable speech for each situation.“
15. Allah (Glory be to Him) says in Al Qur’an: “Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching, and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious, for your Lord knows best who have strayed from His path and who receive guidance.” [The Qur’an 16:125]
16. If you do not know Arabic, it is strongly advisable for you to learn that language so as to be able to understand Islam through its original sources.
17. If you do so, you will be able to speak with confidence about Islam, because you have direct knowledge of Allah’s words, of the sayings of His messenger Muhammad – Sallal-lahu ‘alayhi wasallam – and of the statements of Muslim scholars.
18. Presenting copies of this booklet to those whom you would like to invite to Islam will help you inshallah (God willing) in propagating this religion of Allah.

CHAPTER 23
MUHARRAMAT
(THE FORBIDDEN THINGS)

1. Allah (Glory be to Him) has prescribed for us in the Holy Qur’an and in the Sunnah (Traditions of the Prophet) many laws:
2. Some of these are obligations and others are Muharramat (forbidden things, when something is prohibited we say it is Haram).
3. As for the obligations, I have already pointed them out previously.
4. As for the Muharramat, some of the most important of them are the following:

First: Forbidden Foods:

1. Dead Meat: These are the dead bodies of animals which died naturally, (i.e. without being Islamically slaughtered) or by being strangled, or by falling from a high place, or by being partly eaten by a wild animal, and were not slaughtered before being dead.
2. Also, those animals slaughtered by other than Muslims, Jews or Christians.
3. But the meats of dead sea animals are not forbidden.
4. Blood poured forth.
5. Flesh of the Pig (pork).
6. Meat which has, when slaughtered, had the name of anything or anyone other than Allah invoked upon it, or that was slaughtered to glorify any one other than Allah.
7. The meat of beasts of prey, such as lions, dogs... etc, and those of preying birds that attack with their claws, such as eagles, vultures… etc.
8. The meat of domestic donkeys and asses.
9. The meat of animals that feed on filthy things, except if they are isolated and fed clean food for sufficient time.
10. Any food spoiled by filth until it is cleaned by water if it is possible.
11. Wine and all kinds of intoxicants.
12. Foodstuffs containing toxic elements which are harmful to our bodies.

Second: Forbidden Deeds:

Allah Hates these deeds and their doers and punishes them:

1. To associate (in worship) anything or anyone with Allah.
2. To be disobedient to our parents.
3. To give false testimony.
4. To kill a person whom Allah has forbidden to, except by Law (Legally).
5. Adultery and fornication.
6. To steal.
7. To take anything, unjustly, from the property of an orphan,
8. To desert the battle-field while fighting unbelievers.
9. To falsely accuse with adultery or fornication a chaste Muslim woman or man.
10. To uncover “Awra” infront of anybody.
11. To take others’ wealth illegally, by means of bribery, robbery trickery, or deceit.
12. To bribe in order to take others’ properties illegally, or to get what you have no right to.
13. To marry mother, daughter, sister, paternal aunt, maternal aunt, brother’s daughter, sister’s daughter, whether they are through blood or foster relationship, your father’s wife, your son’s wife, your wife’s mother or daughter.
14. A Muslim man is not permitted to marry a non-Muslim woman unless she becomes Muslim; but he can marry a Christian or a Jewish woman.
15. A Muslim woman is not permitted to marry a non-Muslim man, even a Christian or a Jew, unless he becomes a Muslim.
16. To take part in back-biting or scandals.