Inviting to God

You shall invite to the path of your Lord with wisdom and kind enlightenment,
and debate with them in the best possible manner... (16:125)

When you discover something precious in life, your first reaction is to share this experience with your friends and loved ones. When you discover the peace and power of “Submission to God,” this feeling is almost impossible to control. You are filled with ex-citement and you pray that all those around you will share in the same path with you.

Unfortunately, this enthusiasm can quickly change to disappointment, anger and even a sense of separa-tion as others ignore or criticize your message. If you are finding yourself in a similar situation, you should take comfort that God has left some advice for you. The Quran teaches a beautiful way of

sharing God’s message with others and helps you make sense of the different reactions you may en-counter.

You must first understand the role you play in inviting to God. This responsibility does not come with the pressure and stress of having to guide the ones you love. God is the only One who guides (2:272, 11:88). In Chapter 28, Verse 56 of the Quran, we read:

“You cannot guide the ones you love. GOD is the only One who guides in accordance with His will, and in accordance with His knowledge of those who deserve the guidance.” (28:56)

As a result, you are simply an instrument that provides information

and demonstrates God’s path to others by your example. You should not blame yourself or be saddened by the person’s response to your message. If they decide to turn away, they are not rejecting you, but rather God’s revelations (6:33, 18:6). Your focus should be on how best to give the informa-tion and please God in the proc-ess. The Quran gives you just the tools you need.

When you invite others, you should not use force or compul-sion (2:256). God will make sure that the right way is clear from the wrong way. Raising your voice, pressuring someone or making them feel guilty does not make God’s message any more clear.

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