CHET-NUN
Asalamu alaykum.
Do not be afraid of them.
Make dawa, instead.
Here is a small experience in counter-missions:
I went to the public library.
A man and I were at the copy machine at the same time.
He must have intuited that I was poor, because he shared his coins
with me.
I finished my business at the library, and there he was again, as I
was leaving the building.
I pushed myself, even though I felt reluctant, to ask for his advice.
His tee-shirt said: AIR FORCE.
He told me he was a retired pilot.
He was sitting at a table filling out some important looking job papers.
I wanted to make sure he wasn't doing anything dumb, stupid, you
know... dangerous.
I asked if he read his Bible.
He said he did.
"Do you read it carefully, thoroughly?"
He hesitated, doubtful.
I wanted him to see where to find the great Prophet in that Book.
But he wanted to know about my Islamic dress; he seemed to feel upset
by it.
I sent him back to his Book on morals, and told him how practical it
is, too, to dress as the Bible says.
Some of his initial reactions were ignorant, rejecting.
He may have become violent if I showed him more of my spiritual
treasures. (Qur'an 22:72)
He put up all kinds of mental arguments even before I could point out
the beautiful logic of a unified faith. (Qur'an 3:103)
I saw he was horribly mis-taught, like most of US Baptists and other
sectaries. We are all mostly wrong. (Qur'an 6:159)
But I was able to remain kind, for I saw that the disturbance I caused
in his heart was like soil ready for a potent seed.
I gained the advice I sought by interpreting his attitudes.
Then I gently whispered as I began my retreat:
"Mohammed is the Paraclete."
"What?!" he replied, startled.
"Mohammed is really the Paraclete," I said again, just a little louder.
Then I disappeared down the road to al-Jummah.
JB
