DAWAH DIARIES

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Embark on a journey through the pages of our Dawah Diaries, where each entry shares a personal tale of connection, enlightenment, and transformation on the path of faith. These firsthand experiences are woven with authenticity and sincerity, inviting you to witness the profound impact of personal encounters in shaping hearts and minds.

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Beyond Words: A Journey of Faith and Friendship Away from Home

Recently, a unique journey unfolded between me and a friend in a foreign land. My first impressions painted me as an extremist, merely based on my choice of hijab and abaya. However, a deeper connection awaited us. As we progressed through our classes together, I discovered that my classmate, despite coming from a practicing family, had chosen to abandon the hijab upon arriving in Georgia. As an introvert da’ee, I felt the need to address this, so I chose a gentle approach through friendship, particularly since casual talks and humor weren’t my strong suit (this was made easier by the fact that she was my classmate).

               As our connection strengthened, our discussions naturally shifted towards matters of faith. It surprised her to learn that I didn’t come from a practicing Muslim family, and didn’t choose to practice either until recently. She was curious about why I embraced hijab in a non-Muslim environment when there was no external pressure, not even from my family. I explained that it wasn’t about defining halal and haram, which she already knew, but about the essence of Muslim identity, the love of Allah SWT, and understanding the purpose of our existence—lessons I learned from my dawah training to Muslim youth. Our discussions extended to exploring Allah’s name, Al Wudood, the Loving, which left a profound impact. It wasn’t about imposing rules but nurturing a love for the Divine. We also contemplated the afterlife, the grave, and our preparedness for what lies beyond. By this point, her perception of me had shifted, and she no longer viewed me as an extremist.

               Crucially, actions walked hand in hand with words. In our evolving friendship, I demonstrated that practicing faith need not be dull; it can coexist with joy. We decided to embark on a trip, and I made a conscious decision to steer away from religious discussions, allowing for guilt-free fun to defy the general notion of practicing Muslims talking non-stop about Islam and giving lectures on and on. Returning from our trip, our bond had grown stronger, and one day, she surprised me by donning the hijab. Alhamdulillah and Allahu Akbar were the only words that escaped my lips, filled with contentment and joy. I quickly grasped the importance of dawah conversations and the influence of aligning actions with words.

              In our later meetings, she revealed that seeing me find joy in both everyday life and religious practices inspired her change. It broke the misconception that people of faith miss out on enjoyment. Our friendship kept growing, and she started a journey towards more modesty and regular prayers.

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From Smiles to Spiritual Clarity

I had a rewarding dawah experience with a girl from college with whom I used to exchange smiles. Our interactions evolved into exchanging Salam dua and brief conversations about well-being. Despite my curiosity about knowing more about her, our busy schedules prevented us from delving into deeper discussions.

One day, at an event, I overheard her expressing confusion about certain beliefs, emphasizing that everyone has their own perspective on matters related to God, and that proving anything seems impossible. This presented the perfect opportunity to initiate a conversation following the GORAP approach. I messaged her, starting a casual chat. She responded to my initial greetings, and in and effort to break the ice, she casually asked to share something I had learned from the event. Seizing the chance, I delved into the topic I had been meaning to discuss — proving the existence of God. I conveyed my excitement about discovering this beautiful aspect of faith and expressed a wish for everyone to learn about it early in life. I shared the knowledge I had gained, addressing her concerns and providing logical explanations. Her response exceeded my expectations; she was ecstatic about the answers I provided. She began seeking clarification on various aspects of Islam. I realized she was a practicing Muslim but was troubled with confusion. The depth of our discussions allowed her to gain clarity and ease her uncertainties. Moreover, during our conversations, she offered a dua for me, saying, “May Rabb be your Kalaam (spoken words).” I attempted to politely correct her and responded that Allah does indeed help people in their Kalaam, trying to highlight the change in the dua. However, she seemed to need help to grasp the concept entirely. Recognizing her confusion, I refrained from pressing the correction further. Instead, I provided a comfortable space for her to open up about her questions and concerns.

Soon, fate led us to sit on the same stairs. She shared her innermost thoughts, expressing the burden of unanswered questions. One specific question revolved around her desire to love Allah the most and understanding why it wasn’t reciprocated if Allah is all-loving. Drawing from the wisdom of “Reclaim Your Heart,” I explained that humans have an inherent emptiness that only Allah can fill. Where would the rest of us go if Allah favored only one person? This emotional perspective created room for a logical explanation. I emphasized the fundamental concept that the Creator and the creation cannot love in the same way and respectfully re-corrected instances where she used phrases like “may God be your Kalam.” Alhamdulillah, sharing emotions and clear logic helped her better understand Islam and deal with her spiritual concerns.

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Moments of Connection and Reflection

Over the past three days, I’ve had some incredible Dawah conversations that filled me with joy. The first one happened during a simple moment of sharing dessert with my friend. Just as we were about to indulge, I casually asked her if she remembered to say “Bismillah” before eating. She admitted she forgot, and that led us to discuss the importance of saying Bismillah. I even shared a hadith from the Prophet PBUH to emphasize its significance. It warmed my heart to see her commit to remembering it before every meal.

The second dawah opportunity arose at my workplace when a server glitch caused a temporary pause in our work. I found myself chatting with two coworkers who were gossiping about our team head. I smoothly redirected the conversation to something more positive, like the satisfaction of doing household chores. Then, I gently brought up how deeply engrossed we are in worldly matters, often forgetting about our relationship with Allah. Surprisingly, they were open to the discussion, soon sharing their efforts to pray regularly and finding peace in reciting the Quran. Engaging in such a wholesome conversation was truly amazing.

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Through these diverse experiences, a common picture emerged—the power of genuine connections and the influence of a consistently lived faith. Whether through casual conversations or profound discussions, each encounter was an opportunity to connect hearts and minds, enlightening paths and inspiring transformation. In a world filled with noise and chaos, these moments of connection remind us of the profound impact of Dawah that connects souls on a journey of faith and understanding.