Reverts Follow-up

1. Reverts Follow-up Dr.Sabeel Ahmed WHY-Islam Chicago Sabeel Ahmed, Islamic Circle of North America, Chicago

2. How this material came into being • Research into Quran & Sunnah • Interviewing reverts • Interacting with reverts • Reading about reverts Sabeel Ahmed, Islamic Circle of North America, Chicago

3. Consequence of Negligence of Reverts • New-Muslims ‘Revert’ back to their old faith • New-Muslims stay Muslim but cease to associate with Muslims • A incident by new-Muslim - One thing I would liked discussed is the exclusion of new muslims by arab muslims and the arab muslims insistence that only arabs  and arab speakers are going to jennah.  My children attend a predominately muslim academy and we often have situations where children as young as 5-6 years old  spew this garbage as told by others.  This is a serious division amongst the ummah and is discouraging to many new reverts.  This is just one of many issues that should be addressed, Sabeel Ahmed, Islamic Circle of North America, Chicago

4. A New-Muslim Reciting Shahada Sabeel Ahmed, Islamic Circle of North America, Chicago

5. Revert Follow-Up During Prophet’s (s) Time • Amr bin Absa: was taught by Prophet (s) how to make wudu and do salaat. • Musab ibn Umair – Sent to teach new-Muslims and perform Da’wah on people of Madinah. • Kaab bin Malik – ‘We already learned our prayers and knew our religion before we met Rasulullah (saw)’. • Jafar ibn Abu Talib was the teacher of the new-Muslim, Negus of Abyssinia Sabeel Ahmed, Islamic Circle of North America, Chicago

6. Why Revert Follow-up? • Its our obligation to assist new-Muslims in knowledge and support • WITHOUT proper support ~60% of reverts, revert back to their previous faith • WITH proper follow-up, we can transform a revert into a dynamic, Da’wah and movement oriented practicing Muslim, insha Allah. Sabeel Ahmed, Islamic Circle of North America, Chicago

7. Mentoring Reverts:criteria for being a mentor • Married • Past experience with reverts • Revert himself/herself • Fluent in the language of the reverts • Same cultural background as the reverts • Same previous faith (ex. Lutherian) • Same gender Sabeel Ahmed, Islamic Circle of North America, Chicago

8. Mentoring Revertscriteria for being a mentor • Comparative religion knowledge • Good in Arabic pronunciation • Fluent in English • Same age • Same educational background • Same geographic area for easy face to face sharing of knowledge Sabeel Ahmed, Islamic Circle of North America, Chicago

9. Hardships Faced By New-Muslims How We Can Assist… Sabeel Ahmed, Islamic Circle of North America, Chicago

10. FAMILY • Tell your family that you are still worshipping the same God. • Allah is the ‘The God’ of the whole creation and not a ‘different’ God of Arabs and Muslims • Show them the difference between Islam Vs. what is shown via media or seen in some Muslim cultures • Discuss similarities between Islam & their faith • Convey the high respect & belief in Jesus (s) and Mariam (s). • Have your family meet your muslim friends. • Take your family to masjid • If you are going to change name, retain last name (if it is not unislamic) • Fulfill obligation/rights of parents, children, spouse,siblings, relatives etc. • BEST DAWAH: If they see how Islam changed you for the better, tensions will be eased and they will be receptive to the message of Islam, insha Allah Sabeel Ahmed, Islamic Circle of North America, Chicago

11. FINANCES • Example of Salman Farsi • Inquire about their financial condition and as needed assist personally or via community to meet basic needs. • Don’t make him/her dependent on others for finances • Assist in education or technical specialty • Assist in job placement Sabeel Ahmed, Islamic Circle of North America, Chicago

12. MARRIAGE • Single and looking • Advise of Prophet Muhammad (s) in seeking marriage partner. • Seek partner is also a revert and of similar background ? • Seek partner from the immigrant community? • Married • Spouse still non-Muslim Jew or Christian • Spouse still non-Muslim polytheist Sabeel Ahmed, Islamic Circle of North America, Chicago

13. Children • Try best to accommodate kids of reverts into Islamic schools. Second option Sunday schools. • Provide a mentor to associate with reverts’ children. • The above mentor should be of about the same age and gender as the children of reverts. • Muslims should find out the needs of their kids and assist in every which way possible • Involve reverts’ children in Islamic clubs, MCNA, YM, MSAs etc. • Involve reverts’ children in Islamic summer camps and Islamic activities with other Muslim children. Sabeel Ahmed, Islamic Circle of North America, Chicago

14. LODGING Some problems in living with non-Muslim family members. Drinking Pork consumption Free mixing with friends & guests It is important that the new-Muslim live in an Islamic environment. Sabeel Ahmed, Islamic Circle of North America, Chicago

15. EDUCATION • Inform him that the main source of guidance are the Quran and the authentic Sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh). • Teach the importance of prayer and the way to offer them. • Importance of prayer on time and with jam’ah. • Educate him about personal cleanliness: Ablution, Ghusl, hair, nails etc) • See slides on ‘Resources for new Muslims. Sabeel Ahmed, Islamic Circle of North America, Chicago

16. Dealing with Islamically unacceptable baggage of Reverts • Physical baggage: • Tattoo, drinking, smoking, drugs, ear ring etc. • Use hikmah in weaning reverts off from their pre-Islamic habits. • DON’T critique them in each and every time you discover any un-Islamic activity by reverts. • DO choose the best time, place and environment to share with them the Islamic injunction of that specific un-Islamic act and the wisdom of Allah in discouraging or prohibiting that act. Sabeel Ahmed, Islamic Circle of North America, Chicago

17. Dealing with Islamically unacceptable baggage of reverts • DO assist them in the weaning process. • Eg. Alcohol, smoking. • DO remind them that other Muslims may criticize them (even harshly) and that they should remain patient. • DO provide examples of early reverts and other reverts who had similar problems and how they tackled them. • DO advise them to pray to Allah (SWT) in assisting them in giving-up undesirable acts/behavior. Sabeel Ahmed, Islamic Circle of North America, Chicago

18. Accommodating Reverts into NNs (Neighbor Nets – Study Circle) • Go out of your way to assist reverts in your NNs and social circle • Time – Start & Finish on time and at suitable time • Place – Suitable & comfortable for all • Contents – Interesting, interactive and examples relevant and understood by revert • Set aside more time (than other members of NN) for reverts for their comments and questions. Sabeel Ahmed, Islamic Circle of North America, Chicago

19. Accommodating Reverts into NNs • Conduct NNs in English • If using Arabic terms (or terms in other languages), then translate them. (during and outside of NNs). • Use examples and analogies understandable by reverts • When NN personnel are holding other islamic events, make sure to invite all reverts and accommodate them. • Periodically, take turns to invite revert and their families over for snack or meal. Sabeel Ahmed, Islamic Circle of North America, Chicago

20. Email List For Reverts • Compile data base of Reverts • Send them periodic and relevant emails • Article • Announcements • Practicle tips on tackling situations • Examples: • Website on How to Pray • Islamic Q & A: www.irf.net by Dr. Zakir Naik • Article of Tauheed – Bilal Philips Sabeel Ahmed, Islamic Circle of North America, Chicago

21. New Muslim Classes • Start & Finish on time • Some like formal, classroom type structure, some like informal random Q & A sessions. To accommodate both, have half and half. • Provide transportation if needed • Assist in baby-sitting • Some may not be used to sitting on ground, have access to chairs. Sabeel Ahmed, Islamic Circle of North America, Chicago

22. New Muslim Classes • Set Syllabus • Sound knowledge of tawheed • Prayer • Zakat • Fasting • Hajj • Other faraid • Sunnah • Relate all of the above in practicality to every day life. Homework and assignment (audio, video, books etc) Have fun with quizzes and prizes. Sabeel Ahmed, Islamic Circle of North America, Chicago

23. Resources for new muslims • Books • Common questions asked by new-Muslims • Islam in Focus • Audios • Juz Amma’ with English translation - CD • Videos • Pray like the way you see me pray – DVD Sabeel Ahmed, Islamic Circle of North America, Chicago

24. Resources for new muslims • Magazines • The Message • Al-Jumma • Islamic Horizons • Websites: • www.whyislam.org • Convertstoislam.org • www.beconvinced.com • http://www.latinodawah.org/ Sabeel Ahmed, Islamic Circle of North America, Chicago

25. Do’s & Don’ts In Revers Follow-up • DO’s • Immediately welcome her with embraces and smiles • Offer her useful gifts: New Muslim Package • Exchange phone number and email address etc. Then actually CALL her • Give her a schedule of all classes, services, special sessions. • Immediately assign a ‘mentor’ to guidance and support. Sabeel Ahmed, Islamic Circle of North America, Chicago

26. Do’s & Don’ts In Revers Follow-up DO’s • Let her know you understand the peer pressure and encourage her to be strong • Recognize and introduce her and make her feel special in the presence of other Muslims. • Invite her to socialize with other sisters. • Be very patient with her Islamic Growth • Compliment and encourage her often Sabeel Ahmed, Islamic Circle of North America, Chicago

27. Do’s & Don’ts In Revers Follow-up DON’T • Critique the religion that she left, nor of the religion of her relatives and old friends. • Critique her clothing • Criticize her bad habits • Leave her alone in the masjid or an Islamic functions • Assume that she knows how to pray Sabeel Ahmed, Islamic Circle of North America, Chicago

28. Do’s & Don’ts In Revers Follow-up DON’T • Assume that she knows how to pray • Make conversation with others in a foreign language in front of her • Expect too many instant changes • Overwhelm her with too much ‘deep’ information • Break any promises Sabeel Ahmed, Islamic Circle of North America, Chicago

29. CONTACT • ISLAMIC CIRCLE OF NORTH AMERICA 1-877-WHY-Islam 1-800-662-ISLAM CHICAGO@WHYISLAM.ORG WWW.WHYISLAM.ORG Sabeel Ahmed Sabeeldawah@yahoo.com Sabeel Ahmed, Islamic Circle of North America, Chicago