Sabeel Ahmed, Islamic Circle of North America, Chicago Reverts Follow-up Dr.Sabeel Ahmed WHY-Islam...

Sabeel Ahmed, Islamic Circle of North America, Chicago

Reverts Follow-upReverts Follow-up

Dr.Sabeel AhmedWHY-Islam

Chicago


How this material came into How this material came into beingbeing

Research into Quran & SunnahInterviewing revertsInteracting with revertsReading about reverts


Consequence of Negligence of Consequence of Negligence of RevertsReverts

New-Muslims ‘Revert’ back to their old faith New-Muslims stay Muslim but cease to associate with

Muslims A incident by new-Muslim - One thing I would liked

discussed is the exclusion of new muslims by arab muslims and the arab muslims insistence that only arabs and arab speakers are going to jennah. My children attend a predominately muslim academy and we often have situations where children as young as 5-6 years old spew this garbage as told by others. This is a serious division amongst the ummah and is discouraging to many new reverts. This is just one of many issues that should be addressed,


A New-Muslim Reciting A New-Muslim Reciting ShahadaShahada


Revert Follow-Up During Revert Follow-Up During Prophet’s (s) TimeProphet’s (s) Time

Amr bin Absa: was taught by Prophet (s) how to make wudu and do salaat.

Musab ibn Umair – Sent to teach new-Muslims and perform Da’wah on people of Madinah.

Kaab bin Malik – ‘We already learned our prayers and knew our religion before we met Rasulullah (saw)’.

Jafar ibn Abu Talib was the teacher of the new-Muslim, Negus of Abyssinia


Why Revert Follow-up?Why Revert Follow-up?

Its our obligation to assist new-Muslims in knowledge and support

WITHOUTWITHOUT proper support ~60% of reverts, revert back to their previous faith

WITHWITH proper follow-up, we can transform a revert into a dynamic, Da’wah and movement oriented practicing Muslim, insha Allah.


Mentoring Reverts:Mentoring Reverts:criteria for being a mentorcriteria for being a mentor

MarriedPast experience with revertsRevert himself/herselfFluent in the language of the revertsSame cultural background as the revertsSame previous faith (ex. Lutherian)Same gender


Mentoring RevertsMentoring Revertscriteria for being a mentorcriteria for being a mentor

Comparative religion knowledgeGood in Arabic pronunciationFluent in EnglishSame ageSame educational backgroundSame geographic area for easy face to face

sharing of knowledge


Hardships Faced By Hardships Faced By New-MuslimsNew-Muslims

How We Can Assist…


Tell your family that you are still worshipping the same God. Allah is the ‘The God’ of the whole creation and not a ‘different’ God of

Arabs and Muslims Show them the difference between Islam Vs. what is shown via media or

seen in some Muslim cultures Discuss similarities between Islam & their faith Convey the high respect & belief in Jesus (s) and Mariam (s). Have your family meet your muslim friends. Take your family to masjid If you are going to change name, retain last name (if it is not unislamic) Fulfill obligation/rights of parents, children, spouse,siblings, relatives etc. BEST DAWAH: If they see how Islam changed you for the better,

tensions will be eased and they will be receptive to the message of Islam, insha Allah

FAMILYFAMILY


FINANCESFINANCESExample of Salman FarsiInquire about their financial condition and

as needed assist personally or via community to meet basic needs.

Don’t make him/her dependent on others for finances

Assist in education or technical specialtyAssist in job placement


MARRIAGEMARRIAGE Single and looking

– Advise of Prophet Muhammad (s) in seeking marriage partner.

– Seek partner is also a revert and of similar background ?

– Seek partner from the immigrant community?

Married– Spouse still non-Muslim Jew or Christian– Spouse still non-Muslim polytheist


ChildrenChildren Try best to accommodate kids of reverts into Islamic

schools. Second option Sunday schools. Provide a mentor to associate with reverts’ children. The above mentor should be of about the same age and

gender as the children of reverts. Muslims should find out the needs of their kids and assist

in every which way possible Involve reverts’ children in Islamic clubs, MCNA, YM,

MSAs etc. Involve reverts’ children in Islamic summer camps and

Islamic activities with other Muslim children.


LODGINGLODGING

Some problems in living with non-Muslim family members.

Drinking

Pork consumption

Free mixing with friends & guests

It is important that the new-Muslim live in an Islamic environment.


EDUCATIONEDUCATION Inform him that the main source of guidance are

the Quran and the authentic Sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh).

Teach the importance of prayer and the way to offer them.

Importance of prayer on time and with jam’ah. Educate him about personal cleanliness: Ablution,

Ghusl, hair, nails etc) See slides on ‘Resources for new Muslims.


Dealing with Islamically Dealing with Islamically unacceptable baggage of unacceptable baggage of

RevertsReverts Physical baggage: Tattoo, drinking, smoking, drugs, ear ring etc. Use hikmah in weaning reverts off from their pre-

Islamic habits. DON’T critique them in each and every time you

discover any un-Islamic activity by reverts. DO choose the best time, place and environment

to share with them the Islamic injunction of that specific un-Islamic act and the wisdom of Allah in discouraging or prohibiting that act.


Dealing with Islamically Dealing with Islamically unacceptable baggage of unacceptable baggage of

revertsreverts DO assist them in the weaning process. Eg. Alcohol, smoking. DO remind them that other Muslims may criticize

them (even harshly) and that they should remain patient.

DO provide examples of early reverts and other reverts who had similar problems and how they tackled them.

DO advise them to pray to Allah (SWT) in assisting them in giving-up undesirable acts/behavior.


Accommodating Reverts into Accommodating Reverts into NNs NNs (Neighbor Nets – Study Circle)(Neighbor Nets – Study Circle)

Go out of your way to assist reverts in your NNs and social circle

Time – Start & Finish on time and at suitable time Place – Suitable & comfortable for all Contents – Interesting, interactive and examples

relevant and understood by revert Set aside more time (than other members of NN)

for reverts for their comments and questions.


Accommodating Reverts into Accommodating Reverts into NNsNNs

Conduct NNs in English If using Arabic terms (or terms in other languages),

then translate them. (during and outside of NNs). Use examples and analogies understandable by

reverts When NN personnel are holding other islamic

events, make sure to invite all reverts and accommodate them.

Periodically, take turns to invite revert and their families over for snack or meal.


Email List For RevertsEmail List For Reverts

Compile data base of Reverts Send them periodic and relevant emails

– Article– Announcements– Practicle tips on tackling situations– Examples:

Website on How to Pray Islamic Q & A: www.irf.net by Dr. Zakir Naik Article of Tauheed – Bilal Philips


New Muslim ClassesNew Muslim Classes

Start & Finish on timeSome like formal, classroom type structure,

some like informal random Q & A sessions. To accommodate both, have half and half.

Provide transportation if neededAssist in baby-sittingSome may not be used to sitting on ground,

have access to chairs.


New Muslim ClassesNew Muslim Classes

Set Syllabus– Sound knowledge of tawheed– Prayer– Zakat– Fasting– Hajj– Other faraid– Sunnah– Relate all of the above in practicality to every day life.Homework and assignment (audio, video, books etc)Have fun with quizzes and prizes.


Resources for new muslimsResources for new muslims

Books– Common questions asked by new-Muslims– Islam in Focus

Audios– Juz Amma’ with English translation - CD

Videos– Pray like the way you see me pray – DVD


Resources for new muslimsResources for new muslims

Magazines– The Message– Al-Jumma– Islamic Horizons

Websites:– www.whyislam.org– Convertstoislam.org– www.beconvinced.com– http://www.latinodawah.org/


Do’s & Don’ts Do’s & Don’ts In Revers Follow-upIn Revers Follow-up

DO’s Immediately welcome her with embraces and

smiles Offer her useful gifts: New Muslim Package Exchange phone number and email address etc.

Then actually CALL her Give her a schedule of all classes, services, special

sessions. Immediately assign a ‘mentor’ to guidance and

support.



DO’s Let her know you understand the peer pressure

and encourage her to be strong Recognize and introduce her and make her feel

special in the presence of other Muslims. Invite her to socialize with other sisters. Be very patient with her Islamic Growth Compliment and encourage her often



DON’TCritique the religion that she left, nor of the

religion of her relatives and old friends.Critique her clothingCriticize her bad habitsLeave her alone in the masjid or an Islamic

functionsAssume that she knows how to pray



DON’TAssume that she knows how to prayMake conversation with others in a foreign

language in front of herExpect too many instant changesOverwhelm her with too much ‘deep’

informationBreak any promises


CONTACTCONTACT

ISLAMIC CIRCLE OF NORTH AMERICA

1-877-WHY-Islam

1-800-662-ISLAM

[email protected]

WWW.WHYISLAM.ORG

Sabeel Ahmed

[email protected]

Sabeel Ahmed, Islamic Circle of North America, Chicago Reverts Follow-up Dr.Sabeel Ahmed WHY-Islam...

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