Infused with an ambition to counter and unplug the incessant, ongoing harassment of Christian missionaries- a fed up Muslim retailer in South Africa, knowing very little of his own religion, was propelled to educate himself to close the curtains on the then Christian onslaught against Islam once and for all.
Equipped with his fondness of reading and his knack for story telling, he stumbled on a book, Izharul Haqq (The Truth Revealed), that set him well on his way in developing himself into a master of comparative religion and splendid debater successfully presenting the universal message of Islam vis-a-vis other religions.
For him, as should be the case for all Muslims, it was Allah who set the theme:
"Invite all to the way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious.Surely, your Lord knows best who has strayed from His Path, and He knows best those who receive guidance." -An-Nahl v.125
From silencing pestering missionaries in his city of Durban to stumping scholars, clerics and evangelists of the Protestant and Catholic world throughout Africa and all over the Western hemisphere. He became extraordinary, inspirational, international, renown and some may say heroic in the field of da'wah. His efforts have earned him the Faisal International Award in 1986 and much reverence, but we pray his reward with Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala is infinitely greater and among the highest stations in Jennah. As these efforts have led several thousand during his lifetime, and possibly to this day, to Islam.
That man, Shaykh Ahmed Deedat rahimallahu anhu. The lecture I'll post of his entitled "Christianity and Islam" was conducted March 17, 1987 in Geneva, Switzerland. It serves as a wonderful introduction to Islam and historical lesson well-worth contemplating. "What was the actual religion called upon and followed by all the prophets (peace be upon them)?" appears to be the inquisition here. Enjoy and benefit, in'sha'Allah:
5 comments:
Asalaam Alekum,
I am a big fan of Ahmad Deedat. I have seen almost all of his debates that are posted on youtube. I love the man!
However, when I found out of the stroke he suffered and was paralyzed due to it and eventually died 10yrs after it, I wondered why Allah would do that to him. So I just googled as to why this would happen to him and I only came across christian sites which proclaimed that since he was wrong in his arguments that God punished him by making him suffer like that. Please dont judge my googling it because even though i'm a devout Muslim, i'm still young and i guess lack wisdom and knowledge. Anyways, I wanted to know what you thought about it or if we should even think about such a thing. I came across your blog just today so decided to post this long comment. Hope you dont mind.
maasalaama,
Hiba
p.s. i dont have any accounts which is why i used my friend's account to publish this comment
Wa'alaikum as-salaam wa Rahmatullah, sister. In'sha'Allah this reaches you in the peeks of piety.
Two things you should especially take caution... firstly, asking about that which no one has no knowledge (why Allah subahanhu wa ta'ala would do such and such to anyone?) and secondly, trying to google something that is contained only in the knowledge of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. Remember, Allah is Al Hakeem (The All Wise) and Al Muqsit (The Most Just).
Allah swt has told us "every soul shall taste of death" (Al Ankabut ayah 57). The manner which He decrees our death is not in our power, He alone grants life and death. He as well assures us in Surah Baqarah ayah 156: "...but give glad tidings to those who, when afflicted with calamity say, 'inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un'." And Muhammad salallahu 'alayhi wa salaam told us that "no harm shall touch a believer except that Allah forgives them a sin through it." So the best we can conclude, is that his suffering was out of His Mercy to grant him an even higher station in Jannah, in'sha'Allah. We also know that those who were tested and suffered the most were the prophets and messengers of Allah, the most righteous and pious of men. No one has suffered nor will anyone suffer as much as they have (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon them). Are we to say they blasphemed against God and so he punished them in this life? Au'du billah, we seek refuge with Allah from such thinking.
Whether people are hero or villan, rigtheous or evil, giving or selfish; they all have and to this day suffer and die of various diseases and conditions. Let's not forget there is such thing as an Akhirah.
Consider also the corruption Deedat's most notable opponents were nailed for being invovled. Swaggert who was discovered on seperate occasions with prostitutes and Sorrosh who was jailed just last year for burning down a high rise condo in an effort to destroy tax documents of his organization. In the event they don't die of some fatal affliction, and in a state of shirk, how do suppose Allah will Judge them?
And obviously you have to ask yourself. Was Deedat wrong in his agruments? Is God Almighty alone the Forgiver and Abaser of sins or is Isse alyahis salaam? Is God Almighty the only one worthy of worship or should we worship Isse alayhis salaam, who he himself as a Rasul only summoned people to the correct belief and worship of the one true God, Allah? And to answer your last question, no, we shouldn't even consider their contentious allegations a probability.
Barak'Allah feek and fi amaani Allah, sister.
Subhan'Allah. I left out one very key portion of the ayah in Baqarah. "Give glad tidings to those who PATIENTLY PERSEVERE, who, when afflicted with calamity, say..."
Asalaam Alekum brother,
thank you for your reply. What you have said has served as a reminder. I mean, we as muslims know most of these things...we know that Allah forgives sins through trials/tests, we know that we don't and can't know the reason behind things and yet we still forget it! I mean everything you said...i knew it. But i guess those of us with weaker knowledge and so far weaker iman need constant reminders about these things. Hope my comment made sense. Anyways, thank you brother for your lovely reminder.
Maasalaama,
Hiba
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