Who is better in speech than one who invites to Allah, and does righteous deeds, and says, “I am of those who submit to the will of Allah.”
CBS Poll:
What is your impression of Islam?
In 2002, 30% said their impression of Islam was favorable, and 33% said their impression of Islam was unfavorable. In other words, the country was about split on their perception of Islam less than a year after September 11th.
Now, according to the CBS poll in April of this year, only 19% say they have a favorable impression of Islam, and 45% say that they have an unfavorable perception of Islam.
These statistics, and there are others that come to the same conclusion, may be due to a whole host of factors from media bias to Middle East crisis in which Muslims are often designated the role of bad guys. However, one inescapable reality that is reflected in this poll is the fact that we, as a collective community, have not done enough or have done very little to educate our fellow Americans of Islam’s true message, and of Islam’s gift to humanity. And this poll also indicates that we have not found the right techniques and methodology for integrating a positive image of Islam into the hearts and minds of the American people.
Therefore it is our responsibility, both as individuals and as a community, to go out and tell people through our words and deeds of Islam’s real message of mercy, kindness, and justice for all of Allah’s creation. Allah says in surah Fussilat, ayah 33: “Who is better in speech than one who invites to Allah, and does righteous deeds, and says, “I am of those who submit to the will of God.”
And in order to effectively invite people to Islam and to educate people about Islam we must see ourselves as ambassadors of Allah and His Messenger (s). And a good ambassador must possess the following qualities:
He or she must possess wholesome knowledge on the subject.
He or she must know how to convey this knowledge in a way that is accurate and easy to understand.
He or she must possess the wisdom to answer difficult questions or respond to difficult situations.
He or she must be an embodiment for the values for which he or she is an ambassador.
http://muslimchaplain.blogspot.ca/2006/08/biography.html
Information
Mr. Sultan is a graduate of the Hartford Theological Seminary earning a Masters in Islamic Studies & Christian-Muslim Relations, and a Graduate Certificate in Islamic Chaplaincy. His research and academic interests are in Islamic spirituality and psychology, as well as the development of practical skills in religious leadership. Sultan's master's thesis was entitled Preaching with Purpose: Writing and Delivering Great Sermons.
Published on August 28, 2015