How to Present Religion to Others

For both of these (i.e. presenting Islam to non-Muslims and holding discussions with other Muslims), there is a long-term approach, and a short-term approach. I will attempt to highlight all the different things that you can get started on, and hopefully, it will be easy for you to try these recommendations.

When you are encountered with someone who has different beliefs then yours, just let them know what you believe is right. If there is something that you realize you do not know, or that you do not have sound knowledge on, and especially when you do not know if you have verified it in Quran or through a scholarly article or information, then the best approach is to let your addressee(s) know that and tell them that you can verify and talk with them again. There may be times that they may present an argument in favor of their religion and you may not know how to answer it, but that is fine. Our responsibility, as explained in the Quran, is to provide the knowledge and the arguments that we have. Our job is not to convince or ‘convert’ others as many people think it is. At many places in the Quran, the Prophet (pbuh) is told that his responsibility was just to inform his addressee(s). For example:

Secondly, our own attitude should also be that of acceptance of arguments that may be different from what we know, but that seem to be better on merit than ours. It is this premise under which we expect others to accept our faith. Consequently, we also have to practice it for it is indeed what is needed to find the truth. It is possible that many things we believe in may turn out to be incorrect over time. If we do not take this approach, then how can we find the truth that may be different from ours. In fact, Quran has also set this as criterion for finding the truth. Those who fear God, whose loyalty lies with God, are the ones who will find the truth. Those who are consumed by the fact that only they know the truth and that they must show others the same are many a times the ones unable to accept truth when it comes their way.

It is possible that we may not know the truth, and in that case, we should be the first ones to accept truth when it comes our way!

The above approach that I have outlined is to be applied in life when one is encountered with anyone – people of your own religion, those of other religions, those belonging to a different sect etc. It is the way of finding the truth, and there is really no other way. This is the short-term approach that I believe everyone should immediately apply and the results will start to come in due course. If we do not apply this approach and are only trying to convert others, then this entire exercise becomes futile; everyone then just wants others to believe in their beliefs and no one really cares what the truth is what is it really that would please God!

Thirdly, if you feel that a certain discussion is becoming more of an argument where both the parties are becoming aggressive or emotional, then it is better to avoid such arguments. All issues should be resolved, if possible, in an amicable way through reasoning. If that is not happening, then sometimes it is better to stop the discussion. And if at a certain point, you learn that the difference between you and the other party is of a nature that cannot be resolved, then it may be worthwhile to call it a difference of opinion, and move forward.

Fourthly, whatever you learn of your religion, I think you should try to put it in practice. If we must be nice with our friends, then one should practice it. If there are certain rights of parents and blood-relatives, then we should try to fulfill those rights. The reason is that one’s actions also present their faith to others, and one really cannot accept a faith merely by tongue – anyone can verbally believe in anything you ask them to, but it is not ‘belief’. If I really believe in something, then I better be doing it, otherwise I do not really believe in it – I am just saying it by my tongue. And believe it or not, while we may not notice it within ourselves, others notice it within us. They notice how we say one thing but do differently. How we exhort others to accept Islam because it teaches honesty, justice, doing good to others, and so forth, while we ourselves do not practice it. If we do not practice it, then how can we ask others to do the same. If we do not really thank God for His blessings on us, we cannot really accept Him as the Creator, and if we cannot really convince ourselves that He alone – the One – is the complete force behind this system and thank Him and pray Him in due fashion, how can we convince others?

It is not necessary that we learn the complete religion, practice it and then preach it to others. But it is necessary that we try to practice whatever we preach. What we do not know or learn over time, we can add to our lives. And what we are unable to practice despite knowing, we should ask God to help us and be honest about it with ourselves at least.

Lastly, the longer term approach is to actually take out time for God. Read Quran on a regular basis. I recommend 15 minutes a day if that is possible to start off. Just spend that time, insha’Allah, you will be able to take out that time even if your days are hectic and busy. If possible, take out more time, or at least try to do that later on. For beginning, try 15 mins a day and perhaps more time on weekends or holidays where all I recommend you to do is just read the translation of the Quran, understand it, ponder upon it, and apply it in your life. Believe me or not, this is the key to your, my, and everyone’s success in the Hereafter, and over time, this is the only way to learn what God wants from us, and how we should live in this life. As you read more and more translation and understand it, you will find that it is a book that appeals to intellect more than anything, and it presents arguments in a logical manner. This logical manner is what will guide you to present Islam to others too insha’Allah. My very first article on my website was on understanding the Quran.