Ramadhaan: A Date with Dr. Zakir
Episode 26
Da’wah to Non Muslims
During the month of Ramadhaan
(Duration - 45 mins)
Yusuf Chambers: Dear Brothers and sisters in Islam and humanity, Assalaamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu. Welcome to the show, Ramadhaan - A Date with Dr. Zakir. I’m your host, as usual and today we’re discussing very important topic, Da’wah to Non Muslims.
Dr. Zakir, Assalaamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu.
Dr. Zakir: Wa Alaikum As Salaamu Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu.
Yusuf Chambers: Dr. Zakir, it’s a topic that you and I love very much together and I know that of course you are an authority in the world about it, Alhumdulillah, by the grace and mercy of Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’la).
Dr. Zakir: I prefer calling myself a student, of Islam and Comparative student.
Yusuf Chambers: I know a lot of the viewers would consider you to be and authority on the topic.. Da’wah to Non Muslims and I think that’s why it’s an incredibly important show that we are going to start today.
I’d like you to ask the first question which is first and foremost in any scientific analysis of any topic which is to define the topic, define the term Da’wah. And to… from our last show on Islaah, how does that differ from Da’wah?
Dr. Zakir: Alhamdulillah, was salaatu was salaam ala rasoolillah wa ala aalihi wa ashaabihi wa ajma’een, amma baad.
A’uzu billahi minash shaytan nir-rajeem, Bismillah hirrahman nirraheem.
Rabbish rahli Şadri Wa Yassir Li ‘Amri Wa Ahlul `Uqdatan Min Lisani Yafqahu Qawli
As far as the word Da’wah is concerned, when anyone hears the word Dawat specially the people from the sub continent, India and Pakistan, the moment they hear the word Dawat immediately they start thinking of Mutton Birayani or Chicken Biryani. They start thinking of a lunch party. Dawat does not mean a lunch party. Da’wah or Dawat means an invitation. And today we’ll not be discussing about an invitation to a lunch party or a dinner party. We’re discussing about ‘Dawat ul Islam’ the invitation to Islam. And an invitation can only be given to an outsider. So Da’wah… that’s the reason can only be done to a Non Muslim. When we give information about Islam to a Non Muslim, inviting him towards Islam, the Arabic word used is Da’wah.
And the meaning of the Arabic word Islaah is to repair, it means to improve. So when we speak about Islam to a Muslim giving him more information about Islam, the more appropriate word is Islaah. Though both these words are interchangeable, but if you want to use specifically, the word Islaah is used when we speak about Islam to a Muslim giving him more information and Da’wah is the word used when we speak about Islam to a Non Muslim, inviting him towards the fold of Islam.
Yusuf Chambers: Ok… right.. thank you for that definition. That’s a very good starting.. InshaAllah.
Is Da’wah.. that if as you said.. inviting non Muslims.. is it compulsory? Is it a Sunnah? Or.. what is it?
Dr. Zakir: As far as Da’wah is concerned, for a Muslim it is a Fardh, it’s compulsory.
Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah Ale Imran, Chapter No. 3, Verse No. 110,
“Kuntum Khaira Ummatin Ukhrijat Lin-Naas”,
“O ye Muslim, ye are the best of people evolved for mankind.”
Allah is giving us an honor, he’s calling us the “Khaira Ummah.” There is no honor without responsibility. Whenever there is honor it is always followed up with a responsibility.
For example, in a school a principle has got more honor than a teacher. A teacher has got more honor than a clerk; similarly the principle has got more responsibility than a teacher. A teacher has got more responsibility than a clerk; there is no honor without responsibility. In this verse Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’la) is giving us Muslims and calling us as Khaira Ummah, the best of people. Don’t you think we have a responsibility? The reply is given in same verse, Allah says,
“Ta’ Muruna Bil Ma’roofi Watan Hawna Anil Munkar. Wa Tu’ Minoona Billah”
“Because we enjoin what is good and we forbid what is wrong and we believe in Allah.”
The reason Allah is calling us “Khaira Ummah” is because we enjoin what is right and we forbid what is wrong and we believe in Allah. If we do not enjoin what is right and do not forbid what is wrong, that is do Da’wah, we aren’t fit to be called as Khaira Ummah, we aren’t fit to be called as Muslims.
It is a Fardh, its compulsory that every Muslim should do Da’wah and there are umpteen number of verses in the Qur’an and several Saheeh Hadith which proves Da’wah is Fardh. Time doesn’t permit us to give a talk and I’ve given a talk on this subject Da’wah or Destruction in detail. I’ll just mention one more Surah of the Qur’an.
Allah says in Surah Al Asr, Chapter No. 103 Verse No. 1 to 3,
“Wal Asr”
“Innal Insaana La Fi Khusr”
“Illallazina Aamanu, Wa Amilus Salihaati, Wa Tawa Saw Bil Haqq, Wa Tawa Saw Bis Sabr”
Which means,
“By the token of time man in verily in a state of loss, except, those who have faith, those who do righteous deeds, and those who exhort people to truth, and those who exhort people to patience and perseverance.”
This Surah Al Asr, according to Imaan Ash Shaafi, he said that if this Surah was revealed, it was sufficient as a guidance to the whole of humanity. And it is also called as Rah-e-Nijaat, the Path to Salvation.
For any human being to go to Jannah, he has to fulfill four criteria.
Number one is “Imaan”,
Number two is “Amal-e-Salihaat”, that’s righteous deeds,
Number three is, “Wa Tawa Saw Bil Haqq”, inviting people to truth, that is Da’wah.
And “Wa Tawa Saw Bis Sabr”, inviting people to patience and perseverance.
If any one of these four criteria if they are missing under normal circumstances that human being will not go to Jannah. He may be a very good Muslim. He may be offering five times Salaah, he may be giving Zakaat, he may have gone for Hajj. But if a Muslim does not do Da’wah, according to Surah Al Asr, he shall not enter Jannah… under normal circumstances. If Allah wants to forgive and then put you in Jannah that is Allah’s prerogative. Because Allah says in the Qur’an, as we discussed in the last episode, in
Surah Nisa, Chapter 4, Verse 48 and Surah Nisa, Chapter 4, Verse No. 116
“That if Allah pleases he may forgive any sin, but the sin of Shirk He’ll not forgive, for person who has committed Shirk has strayed away far.”
So if Allah wants to forgive you if you don’t do Da’wah and then put you in Jannah, that’s Allah’s prerogative. But under normal circumstances doing Da’wah is Fardh for any human being to go to Jannah. Not only Da’wah is required, all four are required, Imaan,.. only Da’wah will not take you to Jannah. All four are required, Imaan, righteous deeds, “Wa Tawa Saw Bil Haqq”, that’s Da’wah and “Wa Tawa Saw Bis Sabr” inviting people to patience and perseverance.
Therefore Da’wah is Fardh on every Muslim.
Yusuf Chambers: I think that’s very clear. Now leading on from the definitions of the terms and the fact that we know its now compulsory upon us… what are the best methods during the testing times, lets say for Muslims.. I mean I don’t know if there’s any more or less testing than it was a hundred years ago.. to be honest, but I wasn’t alive then. But I think that we need to know during this particular time with these particular attacks on Islam…that you see prevalent in the Media. What are the best methods that we can utilize in order to give Da’wah to Non Muslims?
Dr. Zakir: There are many strategies and various methodologies that can be used for doing Da’wah. Some are less effective while others are more effective. The most common method used is that whenever a Muslim meets a Non Muslim, he speaks a hundred good things about Islam. Even if the Non Muslims agrees with the hundred points that have been mentioned to him regarding Islam, yet he will have a few negative points at the back of his mind, he will say “Ah you are the same Muslim who is a fundamentalist”. “Ah you are the same Muslim who is a terrorist”… “You are the same Muslim who marries more than one women”… “Oh you are the people who subjugate the women by keeping her behind the veil”
These few negative points at the back of his mind will prevent him from accepting the beauty of Islam.
That’s the reason, whenever I meet a Non Muslim I ask him upfront, I ask him the first question, what do you feel is wrong with Islam? With your limited knowledge, whether right or wrong, what do you feel is wrong with Islam? And I make him comfortable, he can criticize Islam, he can attack Islam, he can criticize the Qur’an and I make him comfortable, that he can ask any questions. What does he feel is wrong with the religion of Islam? And after I make him comfortable he poses about four or five questions and more than past 15 years that I have been in the field of Da’wah, I have realized that there are about 20 most common questions that are asked by the Non Muslims. And when we pose to any Non Muslim, what does he feel is wrong with Islam, he asks four or five questions and invariably it falls amongst these 20 most common questions.
Now how have these 20 most common questions come about? They have come about in the minds of the Non Muslims depending upon how the media portrays Islam. Today we have in the international Media, in the international newspapers, international magazines, international radio broadcastations, international satellite channels, we find that there is virulent propaganda about Islam. They are bombarding misinformation about Islam. So depending upon how the media portrays Islam these 20 common questions arise in the mind of the Non Muslim.
A couple of decades earlier these 20 questions were different. May be a couple of decades later, these 20 common questions will change. Depending upon how the media portrays Islam these questions arise in the mind of a Non Muslim.
And I always say that if every Muslims knows the logical reasons and the scientific reason regarding the answers to these questions, with the quotation from Qur’an Hadith and another religious scriptures, even if he cannot convert the Non Muslim, at least he can neutralize the animosity which is there in the mind of the Non Muslim. It will be the best tool and I’ve written a book on this topic, “Answers to Most Common Questions Asked by Non Muslims” And if a person memorizes this InshaAllah he will be able to remove the animosity from the mind of the Non Muslim regarding Islam.
Yusuf Chambers: InshaAllah. That’s excellent and may it continue to be a benefit.. all of this knowledge which you’ve Alhumdulillah been able to move forward in the field of Da’wah. InshaAllah.
According to your knowledge of the subject Da’wah, what is the most important verse in the Qur’an which gives instructions about passing the message of Islam to Non Muslims.
Dr. Zakir: As I mentioned earlier there are hundreds of verses in the Qur’an which speak about Da’wah, many verses give the methodology, but according to me the master key for doing Da’wah to the Non Muslim is
Surah Ale Imran, Chapter No. 3, Verse No. 64 which says:
“Qul Ya 'Ahlal-Kitaab”,
“Say O people of the Book”
“Ta`alaw 'Ilá Kalimatin Sawa'in Baynana Wa Baynakum”
“Come to common terms as between us and you”
Which is the first term?
“Allah Na`buda 'Illallah”
“That we worship none but one Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’la)”
“Wa La Nushrika Bihi Shay'an” “That we associate no partners with him”
“Wa La Yattakhidha Ba`duna Ba`dan 'Arbaban Min Dunillahi”
“That we erect not among ourselves Lords and Patrons other than Allah.”
“Fa'in Tawallaw”
“If then they turn back”
“Faqulush hadu”
“Say ye bear witness”
“Bi'anna Muslimun”
“That we are Muslims bowing our will to Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’la).”
This Verse of the Qur’an though its addressed to the Ahle Kitaab, it can be used for any Non Muslim. It says,
“Ta`alaw 'Ilá Kalimatin Sawa'in Baynana Wa Baynakum”
“Come to common terms as between us and you”
Which is the first term?
“Allah Na`buda 'Illallah”
“That we worship none but Allah”
So the most important thing that we have to speak to the Non Muslim is, about the concept of Tawheed, Concept of oneness of Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’la). We can start the topic, by asking him that what does he feel is wrong with Islam and what things interest him, but the main focus should be, you have to come to the main point of avoiding Shirk and believing in one Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’la), Tawheed. Unless you don’t come to Tawheed your Da’wah will be useless. You can start with other things, scientific aspect and other things which interest him, literature, may be history, but unless you don’t prove to him about Tawheed, the oneness of Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’la) your Da’wah will be useless. We have to prevent him from doing Shirk. Therefore I call this verse of the Qur’an as the master key for Da’wah. Otherwise there are many other verses, including
Surah Nahl Chapter No. 16 Verse No. 125, which says,
“Ud’u 'Ila Sabili Rabbika Bil-Hikmah Wal Maw`izatil Hasanah Wa Jaadilhum Bilati Hiya 'Ahsan”
“Invite all to the way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching and argue with them and reason with them in the ways that are best and most gracious.”
So here Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’la) tells us, that when you do Da’wah, he has to do with Hikmah and Husnah, in ways that are best and most gracious.
Yusuf Chambers: JazakAllah Khair, Dr. Zakir for that answer. Furthermore… how can you give Da’wah to a Christian and prove to him that the term Tawheed or the oneness of Allah as I understand it is the correct way for him or her to follow?
Dr. Zakir: As I said you have to use the master key, Surah Ale Imran, Chapter 3, Verse 64,
“Ta`alaw 'Ilá Kalimatin Sawa'in Baynana Wa Baynakum”
“Come to common terms as between us and you”
Which is the first term?
“Allah Na`buda 'Illallah”
“That we worship none but Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’la)”
When I will meet a Christian, I will tell him that Islam is the only Non-Christian faith, which makes it an article of faith, to believe in Jesus Christ (Peace be upon him). No Muslim is a Muslim if he does not believe in Jesus Christ (Peace be upon him). We believe that Jesus Christ (peace be upon him) was one of the mightiest messengers of Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’la). We believe to that he was the “Messiah”, translated Christ. We believe that he was born miraculously without any male intervention. We believe that he healed those born blind and lepers with God’s permission. We believe that he gave life to the dead with God’s permission.
The Muslims and the Christians they are going together, but one may ask where is the parting of ways?
The parting of ways is that most of the Christians they believe that Jesus Christ (Peace be upon him) he was Almighty God and he claimed divinity. Infact if you read the Bible there is not a single unequivocal statement in the complete Bible, where Jesus Christ (Peace be upon him) himself says that ‘I am God’ or where he says ‘worship me’. I would like to repeat, there is not a single unequivocal statement, not a single unambiguous statement in the complete Bible, where Jesus Christ (Peace be upon him) himself says that ‘I am God’ or where he says ‘worship me’.
Infact if you read the Bible, Jesus Christ (Peace be upon him) himself says, in the Gospel of John, Chapter No. 14, Verse No. 28,
“My father is greater than I”.
Gospel of John, Chapter No. 10, Verse No. 29,
“My father is greater than all”.
Gospel of Mathew, Chapter No. 12, Verse No. 28
“I cast out devils by the Spirit of God”.
Gospel of Luke, Chapter No. 11, Verse No. 20,
“I with the finger of God cast out devils”.
Gospel of John, Chapter No. 5, Verse No. 30
“I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; for I seek not my will, but the will of the Father”.
Anyone who says I seek not my will but the will of Almighty God, he is a Muslim. Jesus Christ (Peace be upon him) according to the Bible he was a Muslim.
And its further mentioned in the Book of Acts, Chapter No. 2, Verse No. 22,
“Ye men of Israel, listen to this; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God amongst you by wonders and miracles, which God did by him and you’re witness to it.”
“A man approved of God by wonders and miracles and signs, which God did by him and you’re witness to it.”
And when Jesus Christ (Peace be upon him) was asked, its mentioned in the Gospel of Mark, Chapter No. 12, Verse No. 29, when he was asked that which is the first of the commandments, he repeated verbatim what was said earlier by Moses (Peace be upon him) in the Book of Deuteronomy Chapter No. 6, Verse No. 4, and he says that,
"Shama Israelu Adonai Ila Hayno Adonai Ikhad."
“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD”
Yusuf Chambers: Ok, MashaAllah… JazakAllah Khair for that answer. And what of giving Da’wah to one of our Hindu brothers and sisters?
Dr. Zakir: As far as Da’wah to Hindu’s are concerned, again the same master key, Surah Imran, Chapter 3, Verse No. 64,
“Ta`alaw 'Ilá Kalimatin Sawa'in Baynana Wa Baynakum”
“Come to common terms as between us and you”
Which is the first term?
“Allah Na`buda 'Illallah”
“That we worship none but one Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’la)”
When we ask any Hindu, any common Hindu, how many Gods do you believe in? Some may say three, some may say 100, some may say 1000, while others will say 33 crores, 330 million. But when we ask this question to a learned Hindu who is well versed with his religious scriptures, he will say that a Hindu should believe and worship only one God. But the common Hindu, he believes in a philosophy of pantheism. Pantheism means, the common Hindu believes that everything is God. The tree is God, the sun is God, the moon is God, the human being is God, the snake is God. What we Muslims believe, that everything is God’s. ‘G’ ‘O’ ‘D’ with an apostrophe ‘s’ , everything belongs to God, the sun belongs to God, the moon belongs to God, the tree belongs to God, the human being belongs to God, the snake belongs to God. So the major difference between the Muslim and the Hindu’s is, the common Hindu believes that everything is God, what we Muslim believe is everything is God’s. ‘G’ ‘O’ ‘D’ with an apostrophe‘s’. So major difference is only apostrophe ‘s’. If we can solve this difference of apostrophe ‘s’, the Hindus and the Muslims we will be united. How would you do it?
“Ta`alaw 'Ilá Kalimatin Sawa'in Baynana Wa Baynakum”
“Come to common terms as between us and you”
When we read the religious scriptures of the Hindu’s..
It’s mentioned in the Chandogya Upanishad, Chapter No. 6, Section No. 2, Verse No. 1,
“Ekam Evadvitiyam”
“God is only one without a second.”
It’s mentioned in the Shvetashvatara Upanishad, Chapter No. 6, Verse No. 9,
“Na casya kascij janita na cadhipah.”
“Of Him there are no lords, he has got no parents. Almighty God he has got no superior, he has got no mother, he has got no father”
It is mentioned in the Shvetashvatara Upanishad, Chapter No. 4, Verse No. 19,
“Na Tasya Pratima Asti”
“Of that God there is no Pratima”
Pratima is a Sanskrit word which means Almighty God has got no images, he has got no photograph, he has got no sculptor, he has got no painting. Almighty God is without any Pratima.
And the most common book read by the Hindu’s is Bhagavad Gita. It’s mentioned in
Bhagavad Gita Chapter No. 7, Verse No. 20,
“All those whose intelligence has been stolen by material desires, they worship demi Gods.”
That means, those who are materialistic people, they worship demi gods, in some of the commentaries it says idol worship.
And amongst all the Hindu scriptures, the most sacred, the most authentic are the Vedas. There are four Vedas, Rig Ved, Yajur Ved, Sam Ved and Atharva Ved.
It’s mentioned in Yajurveda, Chapter No. 32, Verse No. 3,
“Na Tasya Pratima Asti”
“Of that God there is no Pratima”
Pratima, as I mentioned earlier means Almighty God has got no images, he has got no sculptor, he has got no photograph, he has got no painting. All these could not belong to Almighty God.
And it’s mentioned in Yajurveda, Chapter No. 40, Verse No. 8,
“Almighty God is imageless and pure.”
It’s mentioned in Yajurveda Chapter No. 40 Verse No. 9,
“Andhatma pravishanti ye asambhuti mupaste.”
‘Andhatma’ Sanskrit word meaning darkness. ‘Pravishanti’ means entering, it means,
“They are entering darkness those who worship the Asambhuti.” ‘Asambhuti’ means the natural things like fire, water, air. And the verse continues,
“they are entering more in darkness those who worship the Sambhuti.”
Here Sambhuti means the created things like table, chair, idols etc.
So the verse says, “Those who worship the natural things like fire, water, air they are entering darkeness, they are entering more in darkness those who worship the created things.”
And amongst the Vedas, the other Veda is Atharvaveda.
It’s mentioned in the Atharvaveda, Book No. 20 Hymn No. 58 Verse No. 3,
“Dev maha Asi”
“Verily great is Almighty God.”
And amongst all the Vedas, the most authentic, the most sacred is the Rigveda. It’s mentioned in the Rigveda, Book No. 1, Hymn No. 164, Verse No. 46,
“Ekkam sad vipra bahudha vidante”
“Truth is one, God is one, but sages call him by a variety of names.”
That means there are various attributes given to Almighty God.
And in Rigveda alone, in Book No. 2 Hymn No. 1 there are no less than 33 different attributes to Almighty God.
It’s further mentioned in Rigveda Book No. 8, Hymn No. 1, Verse No. 1,
“Ma Chidanyadvi Sansad”
“Praise him alone, he alone deserves Worship.”
It’s mentioned in Rigveda, Book No. 6, Hymn No. 46, Verse No. 16,
“Ya Ekit Mushtihi” “There is only one God, Praise him alone”
And the Brahma Sutra of Hindu Vedanta is
“Ekam Brahm, dvitiya naste neh na naste kinchan”
“Bhagwan ek hi hai doosra nahi hai, nahi hai, zara bhi nahi hai.”
“There is only one God not a second one, not at all, not at all, not in the least bit.”
So, in this way by doing comparative study coming to common terms you can convince a Hindu from his scriptures that they should only believe in one God, that’s Tawheed and get him closer to Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’la). And for more details I’ve given a talk on “Similarities Between Islam and Hinduism” And I’ve proved various similarities about various aspects and that way you can.. based on the verse of the Qur’an,
“Ta`alaw 'Ilá Kalimatin Sawa'in Baynana Wa Baynakum”
“Come to common terms as between us and you”
I just spoke about the major term, the most important, that’s Tawheed.
Yusuf Chambers: Well.. Dr. Zakir, its almost... difficult to believe that Hindu’s are not worshipping Allah alongside us. It really is.. from what you’ve just said.. SubhanAllah.. I don’t know how many verse you quoted there… but its unbelievable.. I’m sure there’s many more indications..
Dr. Zakir: Hundreds.
Yusuf Chambers: …within the Vedas and the Gita etc.. we can draw upon and help our Brother and Sisters in humanity to come back to the right religion of the Fitrah of Al Islam.. InshaAllah. JazakAllah Khair.
Dr. Zakir, what is the second most important aspect of Islam that we should convey to the Non Muslims, when giving Da’wah?
Dr. Zakir: After Tawheed the second most important aspect of Islam is Risaalat. Talking about the last and final Messenger, Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him).
The moment you prove to him about the existence of Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’la), our Shahaada is… La Ilaha Illallaah Muhammadur RasoolAllah, there’s no God but Allah and Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) is the Messenger of Allah. So after you convince him about the oneness of Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’la), taking away from Shirk and idol worship, then you have to prove to him about the last and final messenger Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam). And I’ve given a talk on “Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) in the various Religious Scriptures.” Time will not permit us to speak in detail.. I’ll just give a few references, not mention the quote, just the references, how to prove to the Jews and the Christians about Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam).
If you read the Old Testament, the Prophecy of Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) is mentioned in the Old Testament. I’ll just give the references, details you can go to our website irf.net. The prophecy of Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) is mentioned in the ..
Book of Deuteronomy, Chapter No. 18, Verse No. 18,
In the Book of Deuteronomy Chapter No. 18, Verse No. 19,
In the Book of Isaiah Chapter No. 29, Verse No. 12.
Song of Solomon Chapter No. 5, Verse No. 16,
The name of Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) is mentioned in the Old Testament in the Song of Solomon Chapter No. 5, Verse No. 16.
He’s also prophesied in the New Testament, there are many, I’ll just mention the main ones..
Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) is prophesied..
In the Gospel of John, Chapter No. 14, Verse No. 16
In the Gospel of John Chapter No. 15, Verse No. 26,
In the Gospel of John Chapter No. 16, Verse No. 7,
In the Gospel of John Chapter No. 16, Verse No. 12 to 14,
And there are many prophecies, that’s what the Qur’an says in Surah A’raaf, Chapter No. 7, Verse No. 157,
“They follow the unlettered prophet whose mentioned in their Scriptures; in the law and the Gospel”
And Allah also says in Surah Saff, Chapter No. 61, Verse No. 6 that Jesus Christ (Peace be upon him) the Son of Mary he said to the Bani Israel,
“I am sent from Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’la) as a Messenger to the Bani Israel confirming the Law that came before me and giving glad Tidings of a messenger to come whose name shall be Ahmad.”
And we know Ahmad (Peace be upon him) was another name of Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam).
Regarding how to convince the Hindu’s? which are the third largest religious people in the world, Hinduism. Number..one.. first is Christianity, second is Islam, third is Hinduism.. in following but natural Islam is number one.
Again if you read the Hindu scriptures there are hundreds of verses in various different Hindu scriptures which speak about Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam), I’ll just mention the main important one, just give references.
Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) has been prophesied in..
Bhavishya Purana, Parva 3, Khand 3, Adhyay 3, Shlokas 5 to 7
He’s also prophesied in Bhavishya Purana, Parva 3, Khand 3, Adhyay 3, Shloka 10 to 27,
He is prophesied in the Kuntap Suktas which is the AtharvaVeda, Book no. 20, Hymn No. 127, Verse No. 1 to 14.
He is prophesied in the AtharvaVeda Book No. 20, Hymn No. 21, Verse No. 6,
As well as in AtharvaVeda, Book No. 20, Hymn No. 21, Verse no. 7
He is also prophesied in the Rigveda Book No. I, Hymn No. 53 Verse No. 9
And we can go on and on giving references. One important prophecy is the prophecy of Kalki Avatar. Which is in the Kalki Purana, Chapter No. 2, Verse No. 5, Verse No. 7, Verse No. 9, Verse No. 11, Verse No. 15.
And it gives details about the name of the father of Prophet Muhammad, he’s mentioned as Vishnuyas, if you translate, its servant of God, its Abdullah which is the name of father of Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam). His mothers name is given as Aminah. That is one who’s peaceful. It’s mentioned he’ll be born in the city of Peace, talking abut Makkah. He’ll be born in the home of the person of the person who’s the chief of that city, that is the family of Quraysh. He’ll have four close companions, talking about Khulafa Rashideen. And on and on.. that angels will help in the battle field.. the full talk I’ve given “Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) in the Hindu Scriptures” alone.
This was in short how we can convince… then you can convince the Buddhist, that Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) mentioned in the Buddhist scriptures, in the Parsi scriptures and the other scriptures of the world. The first is Tawheed, number two is Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam).
Yusuf Chambers: Sallallaahu Alaihi Wa Sallam. Subhan Allah, lots and lots of information obviously in that answer and I think later on in the month we will be dealing with some of the other religions, as we have already mentioned we will be dealing with Christianity and then Hinduism and the other religions.. how best to convince our brothers and sisters in humanity, regardless of race, colour, culture, creed…actually how to come back to worshipping Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’la). May Allah make it easy for them and guide them all InshaAllah.
You’ve already mentioned Chapter No. 3, Verse 64 regarding that being the key stone or the corner stone for giving Da’wah to Non Muslims. How can we use this verse to give Da’wah to the Atheist?
Dr. Zakir: As the verse of Surah Ale Imran says,
“Ta`alaw 'Ilá Kalimatin Sawa'in Baynana Wa Baynakum”
“Come to common terms as between us and you”
Which is the first term?
“Allah Na`buda 'Illallah”
“That we worship none but Allah”
How can we use this master key for atheist, if it’s a master key, it should be applicable to all the Non Muslims, irrespective whether he believes in a religion, believes in a God or not. How can we do Da’wah with this verse to an atheist? The first thing I’ll do when I meet an atheist is I’ll congratulate him. You may wonder that why am I congratulating an atheist? The reason is because most of the human beings they are doing blind belief. They are following their fathers and forefathers blindly.
He is a Christian, because father is a Christian. He is a Hindu because father is a Hindu. Many Muslims are Muslims because their fathers are Muslims. Here this atheist is thinking. His father may be coming from a religious background, but he says, he does not believe in such a God whose weak, who feels hungry, who can be killed, so he does not believe in God. The reason I congratulate the atheist is because he has said the first part of the Islamic Shahaada, Islamic creed, ‘La Ilaha’ that there is no God. The only thing I have to do is ‘Ilallaah’ ‘But Allah’, which I shall do InshaAllah. For the other Non Muslims I’ve a double job. First I’ve to prove to them the God they are worshipping is wrong. And then I’ve to prove to them about the concept of Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’la). Here half my Job is done. He already has said there is no God. ‘La Ilaha’ So he’s already said the first part of the Islamic creed, Islamic Shahaada, ‘La Ilaha’. So half my job is done. The only thing I have to do is the second half that is Illallaah and then after that Muhammad-ur-RasoolAllah, that Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) is the Messenger and I have given a talk on “Is the Qur’an God’s Word?” and in this lecture I’ve showed various ways how you could convince an atheist about the existence of Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’la). Time will not permit us to go in to the detail, but you can prove to him scientifically. I’ll just mention a couple of points.
If you ask an atheist and show him an equipment which no one in the world has seen, and ask him, that who is the first person who will be able to tell you the mechanism of this equipment? After thinking he will tell you that, the Creator. Some atheist may say the manufacturer, some may say the inventor, some may say the maker. Whatever he says it will be somewhat similar. Just keep this at the back of your mind. Then I ask the question to the atheist… the atheist are the people who believe in science, they don’t believe in Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’la).
When I ask the atheist how did our universe come into existence? So he will tell me that a couple of decades earlier, a few decades earlier there were a couple of scientist who described how did our universe come into existence and they call it the Big Bang. First there was a primary nebula, then there was a secondary separation, it gave rise to galaxies, which gave rise to the stars, sun and the earth on which we live. When we ask him, when did you come to know this? He will say, 30 years back, 40 years back. So I will tell him that what you are talking about the Big Bang is already mentioned in the Qur’an, more than 1400 years ago in
Surah Al-Ambiya’, Chapter No. 21, Verse No. 30, which says,
“Awalam Yaral Ladhina Kafaru”
“Do not the unbelievers see”
“Annas Samawati Wal 'Arda Kaanata Ratqan Fafataqnahuma”
That
“The heavens and the earth they were joined together, and We clove them asunder?”
This what you’re talking about the Big Bang is already mentioned in the Qur’an 1400 years ago. Who could have mentioned this? He will say ok may be it’s a fluke. No problem, don’t argue.
Then I ask a next question, that what is the shape of the earth in which we live? So he will tell me that it’s spherical. When did you come to know about this? He will tell, just yesterday in science, 50 years back, 100 years back, 200 years back. He will tell the first person who discovered the world was spherical was the person when he sailed around the earth in 1579, the Qur’an mentions 1400 years ago.
In Surah Naazi’aat, Chapter No. 79, Verse No. 30,
“Wal Arda Ba’da Dhalika Dahaha”
And thereafter ‘We have made the earth egg-shaped’.
The Arabic word ‘Dahaha’, one of its meaning is an expanse, the other is an egg shaped and we know today that the world is not completely round like a ball. It is Geo Spherical in shape. It is flattened from the pole. And the word ‘Dahaha’ does not refer to a normal egg it refers to the Egg of an Ostrich which too is Geo Spherical in shape. Imagine the Qur’an mentions about the geo spherical of the earth 1400 years ago.
When we ask who could have mentioned this? Atheist will may say may be your Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) he was an intelligent man. Don’t argue with him, ask him the next question.
The light of the Moon is it its own light or reflected light? So will tell me, that previously we thought the light of the Moon, was it’s own light. It is recently we have come to know 50 years back, 100 years back, 200 years back, that the light of the Moon is not it’s own light it’s a reflected light. Then we can tell him that Qur'an mentions 1400 years ago in Surah Furqaan, Chapter No. 25, Verse No. 61, That,
“The light of the Moon is borrowed light”
It’s described as ‘Noor’ or ‘Muneer’, it’s a reflection of light. Who could have mentioned this 1400 years ago? And so on and so forth you can talk about biology, about embryology about genetics, about geology, about water cycle.. on and on… there are more than a thousand verses of the Qur’an which speaks about science. And every time you mention a scientific fact, you ask him the question, who could have mentioned this 1400 years ago? He’ll come back to the original answer, the creator, the manufacturer, the maker, the inventor. This creator, this manufacturer, this inventor we call him as Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’la). So with the help of science and the Glorious Qur’an we can prove to the atheist the existence of Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’la).
Yusuf Chambers: Very convincing answers, they’re indeed and… we need to learn how to.. really have the courage and tenacity while we speak those scientific proofs from the Qur’an, InshaAllah.
So Doctor there must be some other important aspects we need to pass on to Non Muslims, could you tell us little bit more about those?
Dr. Zakir: These two are the most important aspects which no one will dispute; number one Tawheed, number two is Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam). There may be differences of opinion which is the third, which is the fourth, which is the fifth. The third is life after death, about salvation, then you can talk about Salaah, you can talk about Zakaat, you can talk about Ramadhaan, fasting… you can talk about Hajj. In short when we speak to a Non Muslim, we should first try and find out what interests him. His interest is literature, you talk about literature. His interest is science, you talk about science. So to begin with, after trying to remove his misconceptions we try and find out what interests him and depending upon what his interest is.. if he’s a scientist.. I will talk about Qur’an and Modern and Science and try and convince him in the field which he likes and then come to Tawheed, Risaalat and the other aspects.
Yusuf Chambers: InshaAllah, JazakAllah Khair. What are the various means by which Da’wah can be done with Non Muslims?
Dr. Zakir: The various means that today a person can use after science and technology has advanced is.. one is giving Da’wah live. One to one basis or giving a talk in public, that’s a common way. But in terms of using means we can use the print media. That’s is.. print media is periodical, non periodical. Non periodical are booklets, literature, pamphlets. Periodical are magazines, newsletters, whether daily, weekly, monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly, yearly.
Besides print media we have the audio media. We can use audio cassettes, CD’s, DAT’s, we can use on walkman while walking, we can use in the offices, you can convey the message of Islam by giving lectures on the audio tapes, CD’s etc. That it can be used besides on individual level, you can use in offices, can use in big gathering, in parties, in functions, can be used on the Radio Broadcastations on a wider scale.
The third is the video media, whether it be video cassettes, video tapes, CD’s, DVD’s. On the larger scale whether it be the cable TV, whether it be the Satellite Channels.
And the fourth is the internet or the Information Technology. You know… through the website, through the e-mails.
So these are besides the individual Da’wah and the public lectures, these are four different means of doing Da’wah.
Yusuf Chambers: Ok, JazakAllah Khair once again Dr. Zakir. What are the various advantages and disadvantages of various means on a part of giving Da’wah to Non Muslims?
Dr. Zakir: Each of these means has a advantage and a disadvantage. For example, as far as retention is concerned, today scientific research tells us that when a person reads something, a common human being he retains 10% of what he has read. When a person hears something he retains approximately 20% of what he has heard. When he sees something, that is the visual, he retains on average 30% of what he has seen. And if he hears and sees together, i.e. the video, audio visual together, video tape or a CD, you know Video CD on average a human being retains 50%. So in terms of retention the maximum power is the video, audio video together. Then is only visual, then comes hearing and the last is only reading.
As far as the advantage and disadvantage is concerned, the print media though the retention is 10% it is portable. You can carry in the train, carry in the bus, carry in your car, can carry it anywhere, its easy for transportation. But at a time only one person reads it. Or sometimes when someone is peeping may be one or two, that’s it.. three. But the reach per thing is limited. One at a time, two at a time, maximum. But its portable, you can carry it anywhere. And it is important…..will always remain important.
The next is the audio media in which the portability is less as compared to the print media, as compared to the book or the pamphlet, but yet you have walkman which can be taken, you can hear it in a cassette, in the car, in the walkman. But at a time either one can hear it individually or group of people can hear it 5, 10, if it’s a gathering a few hundred can hear. On the Radio Broadcastations millions can hear.
As far as the Video media is concerned, again it’s less portable as compared to the audio. You know there are DiscMan that have come out, there are.. now small Television screen in the car, in the buses, in the planes. In terms of portability it is less. But in terms of reach it is much higher. You know it can reach… Cable TV, satellite channels in millions.
Last is the internet, internet.. again individual person has to go on that site. That too you require an internet connection, you require a computer, it has its own limitations, but many people can access you site. It’s easy for anyone to open a website, you don’t require any money, it’s very cheap. Open it.. person can have website.. so you can spread information very easily. It has advantage and disadvantage. Any person who wants to slander or speak false things, easily he can do it, other wise print media, to print a book requires money. To produce audio cassette or a video cassette takes money. Here anyone, without any finance, he can write anything, any nonsense, so it has got disadvantage as well as advantage. A person wants to spread Islam also he can spread it. So you have to make the right choice between the two. So these are the various advantages and disadvantages in the media.
Yusuf Chambers: InshaAllah, according to you what’s the most effective means of giving Da’wah?
Dr. Zakir: As I mentioned earlier each means has advantages and disadvantages. But if you ask me in terms of reach, in terms of cost effectiveness, I would say number one today is a satellite channel. Each one has its advantage it should continue. I’m not saying the other means should not continue. But in terms of reach, as far as satellite channel is concerned a person can reach millions of people. Because for a person to come for a public lecture, a Non Muslim he may feel uncomfortable coming in front of thousands of people. If a person gives a talk, how many people can he gather? Hundred?, few hundred?, thousand?, few thousand?, ten thousand?, how many? The largest gathering I’ve addressed is one million people, that’s also once in a blue moon, other wise normally hundred thousand people. But on the satellite channel you can reach millions of people, Alhumdulillah. Millions of people. And on estimate, Alhumdulillah now on average Peace TV is reaching about 70 million viewers.. at present. And InshaAllah I think in this Ramadhaan its going to increase or going to multiply InshaAllah..this Ramadhaan. This statistics are about 6 months back.. you know throughout the world, Alhumdulillah. Now we are reaching more than 200 countries. So what IRF did in the past 15 years in the field of Da’wah that we did, this Peace TV in one year.. Alhumdulillah.. the amount it has reached, the message that have been conveyed is much more than what we did in the past 15 years. So the effectiveness of a Satellite Channel is much more and the cost effectiveness… if you calculate the amount you spend and divide it with the number of people watching it is may be 5 cent a month. It’s less than 2 Cent per person a month, which is absolutely cheap.. absolutely cheap. Therefore it’s the most effective Alhumdulillah.
Yusuf Chambers: SubhanAllah, JazakAllah Khair Dr. Zakir Naik for this crash course in Da’wah, Da’wah in the month of Ramadhaan. It’s being most useful, I’m sure the brothers and sisters out there certainly myself. Brothers and Sisters in Islam, JazakAllah Khair for listening, take benefit of all of this information you’ve been given and do join us tomorrow, InshaAllah, we will be discussing the topic, Qadha Fasts, Fidia and Kaffara fasts, please do join us then.
Assalaamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu.