I have a friend whose father is Muslim and her mother is Christian, and her father is separated from her mother. The daughter wants to follow the Christian religion; how can I make her come back to Islam?
Praise be to Allah.
Perhaps one
of the most difficult questions asked by many of those who send questions
to our website is that which is mentioned here, “How can I make my friend
come back to Islam?” That is because people’s hearts are in the hands of
the Most Merciful, and no one holds the keys to people’s hearts except
Him, may He be glorified and exalted. Because we are keen to save all
people from the doom of apostasy from Islam, we feel sorry for the
questioner and we hope that Allah will help her and enable her to speak
the words of truth and sincerity that will be a means of her friend
becoming steadfast in Islam. We say to her that no matter what words we
write, whatever advice we give, even if we were to do everything that is
possible, the most successful way to help her friend to become steadfast
is being completely sincere in advising her, being compassionate towards
her and showing her love, friendship and sincere words that will move her
and revive in her heart the faith that is diminishing. She should also
pray sincerely for her, asking Allah to save her from that. That can only
be achieved with a sincere heart and warm feelings towards her. That is
the only thing that will make her stop and think and look at her situation
and the real reasons that are encouraging her to apostatise and become
Christian. If you do that, we do not doubt that she will decide to remain
in Islam and save herself from great danger.
Throughout all
that, you should be keen to discuss things with her and make her ask
questions about the reality of what she is going to do and what it is that
she is missing in Islam and has found in Christianity?!
We think that
you should focus on two important basic matters:
-1-
The great
importance of Tawheed or affirming the Oneness of Allah. This is the
foundation of the religion of Islam and the basis of the messages of all of
the Prophets. This is the message that Allah commanded His Prophet to
address to the People of the Book:
“This
is what We recite to you (O Muhammad SAW) of the Verses and the Wise
Reminder (i.e. the Qur’an).
Verily, the likeness of ‘Eesa (Jesus) before Allah is the likeness of Adam.
He created him from dust, then (He) said to him: ‘Be!’ – and he was.
(This is) the truth from your Lord, so be not of those who doubt.
Then whoever disputes with you concerning him [‘Eesa (Jesus)] after (all
this) knowledge that has come to you, [i.e. ‘Eesa (Jesus)] being a slave of
Allah, and having no share in Divinity) say: (O Muhammad SAW): ‘Come, let us
call our sons and your sons, our women and your women, ourselves and
yourselves – then we pray and invoke (sincerely) the Curse of Allah upon
those who lie.
Verily! This is the true narrative [about the story of ‘Eesa (Jesus)], and,
Laa ilaaha ill-Allah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, the One
and the Only True God, Who has neither a wife nor a son). And indeed, Allah
is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.
And if they turn away (and do not accept these true proofs and evidences),
then surely, Allah is All-Aware of those who do mischief.
Say (O Muhammad SAW): ‘O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians): Come
to a word that is just between us and you, that we worship none but Allah
(Alone), and that we associate no partners with Him, and that none of us
shall take others as lords besides Allah.’ Then, if they turn away, say:
‘Bear witness that we are Muslims.’
O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Why do you dispute about
Ibraheem (Abraham), while the Tawraat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel) were
not revealed till after him? Have you then no sense?
Verily, you are those who have disputed about that of which you have
knowledge. Why do you then dispute concerning that of which you have no
knowledge? It is Allah Who knows, and you know not.
Ibraheem (Abraham) was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but he was a true
Muslim Haneefa (Islamic Monotheism – to worship none but Allah Alone) and he
was not of Al-Mushrikoon.
Verily, among mankind who have the best claim to Ibraheem (Abraham) are
those who followed him, and this Prophet (Muhammad SAW) and those who have
believed (Muslims). And Allah is the Wali (Protector and Helper) of the
believers.
A party of the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) wish to lead
you astray. But they shall not lead astray anyone except themselves, and
they perceive not.
O people of the Scripture! (Jews and Christians): Why do you disbelieve in
the Ayaat of Allah, [the Verses about Prophet Muhammad SAW present in the
Tawraat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)] while you (yourselves) bear witness
(to their truth).
O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians): Why do you mix truth with
falsehood and conceal the truth while you know?”
[Aal
‘Imraan 3:58-71].
-2-
Belief in all
the Messengers of Allah, loving them and acknowledging their status. If she
were to ponder this matter, she would find that Islam is the only religion
that believes in all of the Messengers and Prophets and acknowledges them as
they should be acknowledged. It was the final message that confirmed the
Books and Messengers that came before it and completed their laws and their
message. When the people are called on the Day of Resurrection, for those
who believed in the Prophets to enter Paradise, the Muslims will be the
first to enter. As for those followers of other religions, they disbelieved
in Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) completely, as did
those who believed in Moosa (Moses) and did not believe in ‘Eesa (Jesus). At
that time they will be in grave danger before Allah, may He be glorified and
exalted. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“The
Messenger (Muhammad SAW) believes in what has been sent down to him from his
Lord, and (so do) the believers. Each one believes in Allah, His Angels, His
Books, and His Messengers. They say, ‘We make no distinction between one
another of His Messengers’ – and they say, ‘We hear, and we obey. (We seek)
Your Forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the return (of all)’”
[al-Baqarah
2:285].
Al-Bukhaari
(3442) and Muslim (2365) narrated that Abu Hurayrah said: The Messenger of
Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “I
am the closest of the people to ‘Eesa ibn Maryam, in this world and in the
Hereafter. The Prophets are brothers; their mothers are different but their
religion is one”
We checked
everything that we have published previously on our site about calling
non-Muslims and helping Muslims to remain steadfast in Islam, and we found a
good number of fatwas and questions that you can learn from and make use of
in your efforts to call your friend. They also include a number of important
references concerning this matter. These answers appear under the following
numbers:
219,
2690,
10469,
12615,
12628,
12637,
14418,
154022,
182059,
182799
Take from the
above whatever is appropriate to your friend’s situation, and strive to
accompany that with sincere du‘aa’ (supplication) for her in her absence;
ask Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, to guide her to the straight
path, for du‘aa’ is the weapon, but not everyone is aware of its
importance.
And Allah
knows best.
