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Shaikh Yusuf Estes Sent This, FROM SHAIKH YUSUF ESTES
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Posted: December 23, 2003 4:20 AM EST  

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Any good is from Allah & the mistakes were from myself.
May Allah guide all of us to His Truth, ameen.
Salam alaykum - Yusuf Estes
Muslim Institutional Chaplain

Salam alaykum:

I have good news and bad news.

Good News - Another new shahadah! Al Hamdulilah.
The good news is that I just received another new shahadah that said he learned Islam from our website, understood the message and then contacted the local Masjid, made shahadah and is now trying to share Islam with his very Christian family members. Al Hamdulilah.


Bad News?
Born Muslims are straying away from Islam and their responsibilities.

More Bad News? Islam under heavy attack from Shayton himself.
Now, more than ever before the Muslims must and can be prepared to answer the harsh attacks against them and everything for which Islam stands. Every aspect of Islam is falling under attack; Allah, Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, the Quran and all that Islam means is being presented by enemies of Islam in twisted and corrupted views on every front. Muslim children are turning away from Islam. Ignorant Muslims in starving countries are being persuaded to abandon their faith for other teachings. Others are openly attacking and even killing Muslims due to their lack of knowledge.

More good news:
There is a clear and effective solution for this problem. Actually this is a great opportunity for us to present Islam in the correct way to these people. One that works, inshallah, and it is all based on the very simple and beautiful teachings of the Quran and the Sunnah, inshallah. We can all do something to make a difference. We MUST all work together to present Islam in the proper menhaj (methodology or way) of Islam and implement it in our daily lives, before it is too late.

Successful dawah (call to Islam) experience has shown us hundreds of cases of new Muslims who, like myself, were once enemies to Islam and then realized the beauty and truth and then became Muslims ourselves. Not just Muslims, but actually committed servants to Allah, ready to endure any sacrifice in order to bring correct understanding, love, truth and justice in submission to the Will of Allah. In other words, "callers to Islam."

I would like to offer to share the technique that we have used over and over again to help so many thousands of people come to correct understanding of Islam, inshallah. Keep in mind of course, that the guidance is only from Allah and all we are doing is presenting the message to the people with our best efforts.

It does not really matter what question a person asks about Islam. It could be about anything. The idea is that they are asking. That is what is important and it means that we have a chance to get this message of worship to Allah, Alone without any partners. That is what it is all about.

Please read this real example of how I presented Islam to someone trying to attack it, according to the basics of Islam and then share it with others as much as you can; through the Internet, chatrooms, discussion boards, emails and websites. Print it out, share it with Muslims everywhere as one example of dealing with the many harsh attacks against Islam.

(I ask Allah to accept from you and from and from all those who are sacrificing so much for the cause of truth, justice and freedom, for the sake of Almighty Allah, ameen.)

__

Question #03-07-31 00:06 AM
re: Shiite's in Iraq protesting the appointment of a woman judge.

"How do you explain the horrible way Shiites in Iraq are opposing the appointment of a woman judge, to someone considering Islam?"
__

Bismillah Rahman Raheem
Answer #03-07-31 1:50 AM

Thank you for your question. Before we begin to provide answers, here are some important points to keep in mind:

1. As Muslims we cannot lie about anything, especially about our religion.

2. We have original recorded sources of our religion (This is a very unique part of Islam, not available in any other ancient religions):

A) The Quran

B) Teachings of Muhammad.

3. We must qualify what it is that someone is saying against what they are implying. Sometimes the "questions" contain misinformation.

4. If you find the answer to your question makes you say, "I didn't know that" or "This is good" are you ready to worship your God and your Lord without and partners?

This what Islam is really all about. The most important subject is the worship of Almighty God, without any partners or associates or "gods" besides Almighty God.

As regards providing a rather simple and straightforward answer in these and similar matters when making dawah or just sharing the basics of Islam, we do recommend the following steps:

Remember that the people asking such questions usually are not really trying to attack Islam nor are they intentionally trying to provoke ire or anger on your part. They have been programmed by the media and enemies of Islam to have preconceived notions of hatred and animosity against Islam. So, do not take offense at the coarse and crude approach that they might take in offering their concerns.

Keep in mind that most of the people that come to Islam these days, like myself, were once those who attacked Islam while they were still in a state of ignorance, just as were the early companions of Muhammad, peace be upon him. So, stay loose and keep your cool. Be patient with them.

1. Thank then for their interest in your religion and for taking their time to educate themselves by asking a Muslim rather than going to the non-Muslims. Tell them that this does show a decided note of sincerity on their part (and it does, by the way).

2. Explain to them that we as Muslims are commanded to tell the truth in all situations and we are not permitted to lie either about our religion or about others. Truth is an essential part of Islam and whether they know it or not, you must keep in mind that you cannot lie. If you don't know the exact answer or you are not sure how to prove it, you are not allowed to guess.

3. A very important subject in Islam is the fact that we do have so much factual proof for all matters. Consider the Quran and the hadeeth are all preserved and attested to by the most righteous and upright people who have ever walked on this earth. Time and again it has been proven that the Quran and hadeeths have weathered the allegations and insinuations of the very worst of those who disbelieve in Allah and the Message of Islam.

4. Remind the person that there are certain prejudices and biases against Islam in the media, politics and within certain religious groups. Also you should mention the fact that there really are some people doing things in the name of Islam, and they are not really acting as Muslims. This is important for all of us to keep in mind.

5. Go over the fact with them that some of the questions that are being asked are simply not questions, they are statements with question marks after them instead of periods or exclamation points. One example I give is the one where someone asks you; "Is your mother out of jail yet?" While you know that your mother is not in jail, nor has she ever been in jail, you are faced with a problem of dealing with a question that is phrased in such a way as to make listeners believe that your mother is or has been in jail at some time.

6. Another thing that I always like to point out to people when they come to me with an attitude of attacking Islam, is that if while we are going over the answers to their questions, they might just find that the answers are something that they actually like and they might see things in a different light. I like to ask them if this occurs; "Are you willing to reconsider your position and considering worshipping your Lord Alone, without any partners?" This is a very important part of giving the answer.

7. Present the real basics first. Break down the words:
A) "Allah" means: (The Only One to Worship; never plural; never male, nor female; used by Jews & Christians for centuries)
B) "Islam" actually mean: (Surrender, submission, obey, sincerity and peace - To Allah)
C) "Muslim" mean: (a person who does "Islam" i.e., he or she surrenders, submits, obeys, in sincerity and peace to Allah)
D) "Quran" mean: (Recitation or Speech of Allah to His creation of Mankind, preserved in over 9,000,000 Muslims hearts)
E) "Muhammad" peace be upon him, only came to redeliver the same message of all the previous messengers:
* Worship Almighty God, Alone and without making any partners with Him at any time in worship.
* He believed in Almighty God as the One and Only God, Creator and Sustainer of the whole universe.
* He believed in the original Old Testament; New Testament; Psalms of David; and Final Testament (Quran).
* He believed in all the prophets of Almighty God: Noah; Abraham; Moses; David; Solomon; Jesus the Christ.
* He believed in Jesus, peace be upon him, as the Messiah (Christ in Koine Greek).
* He believed the Antichrist would come in the Last Days and mislead many.
* He believed that Jesus is with Almighty God and will return in the Last Days and lead true believers to victory over Satan.
* He taught that no one would be saved by their deeds, but that "Salvation is only through the Grace of Almighty God."
F) "Jihad" means: "Struggle against oppression; Fight against wrongdoing; War against terrorism."

(for more on this, visit our website at: www.IslamTomorrow.com/word/ )

Present your answers only after establishing the above 7 steps. This is all very important. And then finally:
Offer to answer the question, after you straighten out the mistakes in it and present the correct way the question should be and do so:
A. Briefly
B. Concisely
C. Nicely

That's all there is to it.

Now let us answer the question used in the above example, inshallah.

Example:

The question above about: "How do you reply to the fact that Shiites in Iraq are opposing the appointment of a woman judge?"

Thank you for asking about my religion.

True Muslims cannot lie; neither about Islam or anything else for that matter.

We do have 1,400 years of complied evidence in written and memorized form all over the earth to verify whatever we might offer about Islam, the Quran, Muhammad, peace be upon him, and his teachings.

Sometimes we hear questions that are twisted in such a way as to give a wrong meaning and we must set them straight before trying to give an answer.

While you are listening to the answers to your questions, if you discover that you like what you are hearing and you think that it is something good, are you then prepared to consider worshipping your Lord, Alone without any partners?"



Now begin the "words": Allah; Islam; Muslims; Quran; Muhammad, peace be upon him; Jihad
(refer to: www.islamtomorrow.com/word )



Let's begin with what these words actually mean so that we can be sure of proper understandings, shall we?

The most important word to Muslims, is not Islam -- it is "Allah." "Allah" comes from the root "elah" meaning something or anything to worship. "Aleeha" is the plural but when you add the "AL" in front of "elah" it changes and becomes very unique. It means: (The Only One to Worship; never plural; never male, nor female; used by Jews & Christians for centuries, long before Muhammad, peace be upon him, was ever born).

Now after the belief in Allah, comes the word "Islam." "Islam" actually means: (Surrender, submission, obey, sincerity and peace - To Allah).

Next, we can easily find our next word, "Muslim." The word "Muslim" means: (a person who does "Islam" i.e., he or she surrenders, submits, obeys, in sincerity and peace to Allah).

Let us turn to the center focus of each and every Muslim in the way they understand how to be Muslims in the submission of Islam to Allah. That is based on two sources, The "Quran" and the "Sunnah" or life of Muhammad, peace be upon him.

"Quran" means "that which is recited." Quran can be thought of as reading more so than a book. To the Muslim, it is the actual Recitation or Speech of Allah to His creation of Mankind.

Linguistic Miracle
The Quran is more than a book of religion. It is at once a miracle of poetry and linguistic and literary prose, yet it is not a book of poetry nor prose.

Miracle of Prophecies and Predictions
It is a miracle of prophesies and predictions, many that have already come true and still others coming to light on a regular basis.

Scientific Miracles
The miracles of science in the Quran can hardly be overlooked, in as much as many of the scientific marvels that we hold high in technology today can trace their very roots back 1,400 years ago to this amazing "recitation." Embryology, oceanography, astronomy, mathematics (zero came from Muslims in India), algebra, meteorology, hydrology and many more sciences draw on references from the Quran.

Foundation for Much Technology Today
The scientific disciplines of Europe are preempted by the discoveries of Muslim scholars 500 to 800 years earlier in Muslim Spain, Iraq and Egypt. For instance Cairo University in Egypt had a globe with a crude outline of the Americas, five hundred years before Christopher Columbus ever sailed to the Caribbean.

Miracle of Preservation
Another miracle of the Quran is the preservation of itself in the hearts of Muslims everywhere. Exactly word for word in the Arabic language, the Quran was memorized by Muhammad, peace be upon him, from the angel Gabriel who taught it to him over a 23 year period. It came piece by piece and was not known to Muhammad, peace be upon him, what it would be like until it was finished. Muhammad, peace be upon him, taught it then to his companions who memorized it entirely and then they taught it to the next generations who did exactly the same thing. The Quran has always been preserved by the art of memorization. All Muslims have memorized at least some portion of the Quran in the original Arabic language. First hundreds, then thousands and then hundreds of thousands and even millions and millions of Muslims have completely memorized and preserved it in their minds and hearts over the last fourteen centuries. The Quran is preserved even today in exactly the same way, in the hearts and minds of over 9,000,000 Muslims.

Challenges in Quran
Allah asks that if any have a doubt in it being from Him, wouldn't it have many contradictions in it? And if you are still in doubt about it (Quran) bring a book like it; or 10 chapters like it; or even one chapter like it. And to this date after 1,400 years, none have been able to do so. Many have lied and tried to deceive the public with their words and books but none have ever been able to bring something like it.

"Muhammad" peace be upon him, only came to redeliver the same message of all the previous messengers:
* Worship Almighty God, Alone and without making any partners with Him at any time in worship.
* He believed in Almighty God as the One and Only God, Creator and Sustainer of the whole universe.
* He believed in the original Old Testament; New Testament; Psalms of David; and Final Testament (Quran).
* He believed in all the prophets of Almighty God: Noah; Abraham; Moses; David; Solomon; Jesus the Christ.
* He believed in Jesus, peace be upon him, as the Messiah (Christ in Koine Greek).
* He believed the Antichrist would come in the Last Days and mislead many.
* He believed that Jesus is with Almighty God and will return in the Last Days and lead true believers to victory over Satan.
* He taught that no one would be saved by their deeds, but that "Salvation is only through the Grace of Almighty God."

By the way, I would like to clear up any misconception that you might have with regard to the position that Islam holds on "terrorism" and fight in the way of Allah or what is called in Arabic, "jihad." "Jihad" means: "A difficult struggle against wrong doing, evil and oppression; it is the fight whether internal or external against all evils and in particular it was declared over 1,400 years ago as the War against terrorism."

And finally the answer to your question:

Finally, we should keep in mind that Shiites of Iraq or Iran do not have the authority to alter or change Islamic law. Shiites do not represent the main body of Muslims in the world. In fact, even Arabs do not represent the main body of Muslims in the world today. We have the most concentration of Muslims in Indonesia and then India and Pakistan; China has over 150 million Muslims; former Soviet Union has many millions; Turkey; Northern Africa; Malaysia; Bangladesh and even Europe and the Balkans. Yet, any and all true Muslims still believe in the very same book, the Quran, and they believe in the teachings of Muhammad, peace be upon him.

As such all Muslims whether they claim to be Shiites, or Sunnis, or Sufis, or any other order, all of them are still obliged to honor the role of the woman in Islam and in society according to very clear and open teachings preserved for over 1,400 years.

The treatment of the women in Islam has been a very hot topic for the people of the western mentality, simply because it is very different from their standards. This must be immediately acknowledged. However, women in Islam have already been honored and exalted in many wonderful ways by Islam over 1,400 years ago. The don't have to prove themselves to be equal to men. In Islamic law, they already are guaranteed equity, respect, dignity, honor and fair treatment in all dealings regardless of their family status, race, color, physical appearance, or financial conditions. They have the right to own property by themselves or in joint ownership with others (not a popular concept in the west even in the early part of the last century); they have had the right to vote since the inception of Islam, 1,400 years ago (check out women's suffrage for the right to vote 80 years ago in USA); they have had the right to accept or reject marriage proposals and even to divorce (compare to Catholic church, Protestant, etc.); women in Islam do not have to expose their beauty to the world in order to achieve recognition or status amongst others in society.

Islam is not against women working in the work place nor does it stop them from using their minds. Muslim countries have had many women in the very highest of positions: Pakistan; Turkey; Bangladesh; Indonesia, all in the past decade.

Islam does recognize that women are sometimes more emotional that other times and certainly gives them excuse for any misjudgment during their monthly cycles. It is established beyond doubt that women do have times when they are less stressed and less emotional than at others.

So, if a country desires to have men in the position of judge rather than worry about some possibility of unjust proceedings or wrongdoing due to emotional decisions, certainly that country should have the right to decide for themselves what they prefer, just as we do here in the USA.

Now recommend to them to read the Quran for themselves and see what the treatment of women really is. ( mailto:[email protected] )
Tell them to keep in mind that when the Quran came 1,400 years ago, women were treated as property or livestock and were often bought, sold or traded for other things. Their property was consumed by their husbands and until even the last century the West did not allow women in some states to own real-estate in their own names. Women were given the right to vote as soon as Islam came. Women in the USA had to fight for it less than one hundred years ago. A woman in the state of Texas during the 1950s could not take out a life insurance policy without the acknowledgment and permission of her husband.

Islam made restrictions and limitations on how men could treat their wives, or marry them or even divorce them. Prior to Islam there were no such provisions on a large scale basis. Quran forbid men to deal unjustly with orphan girls as had been the practice in the "Days of Ignorance" (before Islam). Quran limited men in number of wives and Muslim men had to go out and divorce some of them and then provide for them as well. Treatment of women is guaranteed both in the Quran and in the teachings of Muhammad, peace be upon him (called hadeeth).

Any good is from Allah & the mistakes were from myself.
May Allah guide all of us to His Truth, ameen.
Salam alaykum - Yusuf Estes
Muslim Institutional Chaplain

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