Encourage and welcome, don’t push them away

My fellow blogger Abdullah Hasan was unable to pray Maghrib at the East London Mosque due to the huge congregation, when the larger than life Imam of the Ka’ba – Shaykh Abdur-Rahman al-Sudais popped by. 

Come on brother Abdullah, you should know better! When Shaykh al-Sudais visits and you want to pray at the Masjid, arrive early!  I too was unable to enter the Masjid but joined the thousands who converged onto the streets surrounding the Masjid to pray behind the Imam of the Haram. I loved the experience, and am looking forward to the next time!

I’m told that anything between 6,000 to 10,000 people attended Maghrib prayers that evening. I met a Somali brother who travelled from South London to pray behind the Imam and try and get a glimpse of the man in the flesh. Alas he two prayed Maghrib on the streets, unable to see the man he listens to on CDs and watches on satellite TV; nevertheless the brother seemed happy enough hearing his wonderful recitation.

Many have been quick to criticise the flocking crowd, the personality culture and the pop star status. But I urge that we actually encourage and welcome rather than push people away.

I am positive, and Islam teaches me due to the principles of thinking good and giving the benefit of doubt, that people came in their thousands out of love for the Shaykh, love for the Haram and love for Islam. They did not come thinking the man is an angel, nor for the purpose of performing shirk.

Maybe some of them believe he is from the Awliya of Allah, but hey – who knows? They came because they wanted to pray behind the Imam of the Ka’ba, they wanted to see him in person, maybe even shake his hands, to just be there – it’s not every day that the Imam of the Ka’ba leads prayers in the UK. 

Why not welcome and celebrate these people’s attendance, who knows maybe this experience will be life changing for many of them. Maybe they will begin to establish their prayers, learn about their faith and start practising Islam.

Abdullah is right, if  we all showed more  vigour and passion for Islamic work and not just for personalities the condition of the Muslim Ummah would be much better. But people have to start somewhere, change can begin from unpredictable places.

We should, following the example of the Prophet, encourage people – not dishearten them,  welcome them – not drive them away, seek excuses and not expose them, pray for them and not condemn them. I saw the attendance of so many people who otherwise may not have attended the Masjid as a huge blessing and an opportunity.

I spoke to many people that evening and invited them to a programme about the Qur’an and Ramadan, and a friend of mine distributed boycotting Israeli dates leaflets. Perhaps a seed was planted that evening, perhaps a lofty tree, with firm roots, and branches reaching to the heavens (as described in Surah Ibrahim) will come of that seed. We live in hope.

When Shaykh al-Sudias led the prayers that evening  it was a gathering of remembrance. There are some designated angels of Allah who are always seeking gatherings of remembrance as mentioned in a hadith recorded in Sahih Muslim and narrated by Abu Hurairah:

“”Allah also has angels who travel about seeking out gatherings of remembrance. When they find a gathering in which there is Dhikr, they sit with them and cover one another with their wings until they fill up the space between them and the lowest heaven. When they separate, they rise and ascend to the heaven.

“Allah, the Mighty and Majestic – and He knows best – asks them, ‘Where did you come from?’ They say, ‘We came from some of Your slaves on the earth who were glorifying You, proclaiming Your greatness, saying, ‘There is no god but Allah,’ praising You and supplicating to You.’ He said, ‘What are they asking of Me?’ They say, ‘They are asking You for Your Garden.’ He said, ‘Have they seen My Garden?’ They say, ‘No, O Lord.’ He says, ‘How would it be if they were to see My Garden?’

“They say, ‘They are seeking Your protection.’ They say, ‘From Your Fire, O Lord.’ He says, ‘Have they seen My Fire?’ They say, ‘No.’ He says, ‘How would it be if they were to see My Fire?’ They say, ‘And they are asking Your forgiveness.’ He says, ‘I have forgiven them and given them what they ask and I have granted them protection from what they seek protection from.’

“They say, ‘O Lord, a certain slave is among them who just happened to be passing and sat down with them.’ He says, ‘I have forgiven him. They are such people that the one who sits with them will not be disappointed.’”

If this is the case for the one who had no intention of attending the gathering of remembrance what of the one who came with the desire to participate in the remembrance of Allah most high?