A New Leaf

After reading a very inspiring blogpost I decided to turn over a new leaf. I have deleted all unrelated males from my facebook friends list, and have decided to try to do some good deeds and dawah each and every day , no matter how small, InshaAllah.

I have been giving dawah to my co-workers , showing them dvds, sending them website links, sharing books and pamphlets, but I have gotten complacent. I think its a lack of patience on my end, it just seems incomprehensible to me how someone exposed to the facts of Islam could not just accept it. I use the word facts because persons who have been exposed to the media propoganda and lies as representation of Islam would be less inclined to do so. Then again, propaganda seems to make people want to know more and do their own research, well at least the open minded people anyway.

So I have decided to step up the dawah. I have classified my coworkers based on their personalities, understanding and knowledge so far.

The Agnostic - believes in God, but does not believe there is just one right religion. Also believes in Darwins theory of evolution, watches a lot of news and associates cultural practices with Islam, however is keen to ask about things pertaining to the religion as seen on tv or in the news. Has a strong personality and you have to have the facts straight up to deal with the questions. Willing to learn more about Islam.

The Preacher - Masters in theology (Christian Theology of course), filled with blind faith that the Bible is THE word of God, believes the Nicean council was inspired by God to make the changes to Christianity that they did, believes that unless we all accept Jesus (alaihi salaam) as the Son of God, and as God ,we will not be saved. Unwilling to discuss anything to the contrary, no matter how much logic is shown, but will listen when similarities between the Bible and Quran are discussed. Sometimes asks for the Islamic standpoint on various issues for comparison to the Christian standpoint and is more often than not, pleasantly surprised. 'Really????, you believe that tooooo?' :)

The Searcher - Searching for the truth, finding it, but pondering the ramifications of openly accepting it. Accepts that Muhammad (sallalahu alaihi wa salam) is the Messenger of God, Accepts that Jesus (alaihi salaam) was also just a Messenger of God, Accepts that the Quran is the Word of God...But unwilling to accept Islam..Yet. Has read extensively, found the flaws in the bible, discounts the trinity, but wonders if it is actually necessary to declare faith in Islam. Seems the most promising of the group so far InshaAllah and only time will tell.

The Researcher - Bordering on agnosticism, willing to hear all sides of the religious viewpoints. Acknowledges the errors in the bible, acknowledges the truth in the Quran, especially when shown the scientific facts. Unwilling to accept the 'rules' of Islam, has the mentality of , 'I cant follow so many rules, I just want to live life, I will find out the truth when I am dead'. Usually likes to find the facts by themself and will watch and read dawah material on Islam. Learns best by audio and video. Usually speaks up when someone says something negative about Islam and refutes them with some truthful facts Alhamdullilah. Second most promising of the group.

The Silent One - Her attitude is 'We can just follow what we feel is the truth from the bible and disregard the rest' . Will watch the videos and take the literature (not sure if she reads it though), but staunchly believes Christianity is the only way. Usually makes no comment on religious issues.

The method of dawah to each of them has to be different. I just want them to know all the facts and make an informed decision. I am not trying to convert them, that is not my job, only Allah can lead people to accept Islam. So instead of giving up on them as I was doing, or giving them all the same info at the same time, I will try a new individual approach based on their characteristics InshaAllah. May Allah (subhana wa ta ala) open their hearts and minds to the truth , Ameen.

Random Ramblings

• The concessionaire at work has been replaced, the last one was Seven Day Adventists so they did not cook pork, and they had vegetarian dishes at times. People complained that there was lack of variety (they wanted Pork), but their food was generally good. Now, this new concessionaire serves pork, I am skeptical of their behind the scenes cleanliness. I mean, is there cross-contamination with the meats in the kitchen, do they cook their rice-n-peas with pig's tail ?( a common occurrence in Jamaica). I think I will be bringing lunch to work more often, or heading out to buy lunch from the seven day adventists vegetarian restaurant, its not too far from where I work Alhamdullilah.

• The new Masjid in Kingston is almost complete, Alhamdullilah (I'll post a pic soon InshaAllah). But...and I hope I am sooooooo wrong, although the building is big, the sisters area seems tiny...I hope that what I think is walled off as the sisters area really is like an office or something...InshaAllah. Also, the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) did not have a partition in his masjid separating the sisters from the brothers, sisters were behind the brothers but there was no physical partition...so what's up with that????

• My Boss confronted me the other day about what he called the 'Muslim Crusade' in 642CE, claiming that there was no religious tolerance and what not. As the resident go-to person for all things regarding Islam at my office LOL.. I had to do a little research, and this is what I got from a student of comparative religion.. (It's funny how people think that because you are Muslim you are an encyclopedia of all things Islamic and can explain all things that Muslims do...whether Islamic or not..but thats another post)

The two superpowers of the day, the Persian Empire (Sassanid dynasty at the time) and the Roman Empire (the seat of the Byzantiums) noticed the strong build up and growth of Islaam in Egypt and the readiness of the Nestorians and Qobtiyah (Coptic) people's willingness to accept the Monotheism of the Quraan by way of the Nubuwwah (Prophethood) of Muhammad (salla llaaahu alayhi wa sallam).
So they attacked them and Umar [caliphate 634- 644 AC] ordered a RESPONSE to the attack on the EMERGING MONOTHEISTIC society.

Its noted that Akhnaton, Photep, Imhotep and many other EGYPTIAN PHAROAHS were ALL MONOTHEISTS way before many of the 28 prophets mentioned in Quraan. PLUS the ancient scriptures of the BANEE ISRAAEEL were known to the Nestorians and Coptic People before the Quraan's revelation between August 610 to April 632 CE wherein a Prophet was expected to raised up by Allaah from Abraham's seed born at MAKKAH = BACA in Psalms 84 verses 4 - 6 and BAKKAH [Quran ,soorah 3 verse 96].

• I and some other Muslims and Muslimahs attended the annual 'Roti Festival' here in Kingston last Sunday. Its a festival that highlights Indian culture and food. For all of you that have never had curried Mango...you are missing out, lol. We had a dawah booth (courtesy of another Muslim sister who had a booth there showcasing her business and food products...big up to homechoicejamaica) and got quite a few visitors and names and numbers for follow up. We gave out many pamphlets and qurans and had lively discussion with many of the patrons. Although the music and noise was unbearable at times it was a good experience bringing Islam to the fore, we were the second booth as you walked on the compound. Since it was mainly an Indian Festival highlighting Indian Culture in Jamaica, we displayed some posters about the Indian Muslims who came to Jamaica as indentured labourers back in the day and were free to practice and spread Islam. All in all it was a good day, and I hope those people are guided to Islam or at least more open minded InshaAllah.
  
• Once again...and if I had a $1 for every time I get asked these questions, or been told these statements, I'd probably be rich...well not quite...but almost. 'When are you getting married?', 'How comes you havent found anybody yet?' , It's your turn next, and it goes on and on. And I get it from Muslims and Non-Muslims, there were a spate of pregnancies at my office....yes I say spate because it seemed like an epidemic...and of course the question always was ...you guess it ..'When are you going to have kids', lol, now half the people who were expecting babies were NOT Married, so it was clearly pick on the single muslim MONTH because it went on for a while. Now when they bring their babies pics to the office, that starts the whole annoying conversation up again. One lady said I'd have to move to Abu Dhabi to get married, its funny sometimes, other times NOT. A week ago a Muslimah friend of mine got married, and another is getting married next week...so the most recent question was 'how do you feel?' AAAAARRRRRRGH. Quit asking !!!!!!!!! I am happy for them...end of convo.

Ok lunch break is up...get back to work people :)

Deck the Halls....

Its that time of year again. So this morning my boss comes to my desk and asks if I mind them decorating a tree at the office entranceway. I say no I don't mind. He then asks if I would help to decorate, and that they won't put any 'Christian things' on it, I say nope. Nice of him to ask if I mind though.

Last year they were planning their 'Christmas dinner', and I said I wasn't going. He then had them change it to a 'Family dinner' with no Christmas Carols.Working here is pretty cool, most of the people are open-minded, I am even allowed to pray in the filing room and nobody bothers me, so hey let them have their tree.

By the way, their tree is an articicial banana tree similar to that in the pic :-)