My Speech...

Salams ppl,

In Minto, every sunday the aunties and uncles have a regular Islamic gathering. Usually they get guest speakers everytime, but lately they've utilised another strategy: they've been getting Muslim youth in the community who are practising Islam to come and speak to them. I guess seeing a young person with a strong zeal for Islam does inspire people. Anyway, they asked me to be their guest speaker last Sunday, and I accepted the invitation.

I had summarized the first 2 chapters of "Let us be Muslim" by Abu'l 'Ala Mawdudi, because I thought it was a very relevant topic for ALL muslims, be they older aunties and uncles or youth. So thats what I prepared, and every step of the way I was getting nervous. I thought I would unintentionally offend someone, because Bangali aunties get offended very easily. I found out on the night that someone once spoke on hijaab before and it offended many aunties... I wonder y (that wasnt sarcasm, i really do wonder y)?

While I went there after having read the Prophet (SAS)'s hadith: "Say what is true, although it may be bitter and displeasing to people" (Baihaqi), I knew I had to say what I had to say, but my tone and way of expressing myself had to be respectable to everyone there. Because people often misread even the nicest of messages badly because of tone...

Alhamdulillah my speech went ok. 2 or 3 aunties even cried when I mentioned some hadiths about how devoted the Sahaba's were and they were the ideal Muslims. The point that a Muslim never questions Allah (SWT)'s command really got to them i think, insha Allah. Because these days we question everything, but the sahabahs didnt think themselves high enough to speak over Allah (SWT), which should be the behaviour of anyone who calls themselves Muslim (ie. one who completely submits their will to the will of Allah SWT). So insha Allah i pray that I have inspired at least some of those present that day to re-evaluate their imaan and become better believers.