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:
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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].
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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 .
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.
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