Non-Muslim's question I couldn't answer

[musafeer]

brothers amar_labedi and musafeer. I'm bookmarking all the links that have been suggested.

Brother Amar_labedi, I'd like to stress that it's not my mother I find childish - like I said, I have huge respect and love for her, and I'm so so sad that I'm not supposed to pray for Allah's mercy and forgiveness for her, as long as she is not a Muslim. I've been praying for her acceptance into Paradise all my life, and it's very difficult to remember NOT to!

I find some of her more simplistic and naive beliefs childish, probably because she was taught them by the nuns at her convent when she was 7 years old. Like many mothers, she's had a difficult, thankless life, full of self-sacrifice and stoicism, and uncomplaining, unconditional love for her family. She says it's her faith and beliefs that "kept her going" all these years, believing that she will get her reward in the Hereafter.

It's so heartbreaking! She would be an almost perfect Muslim! How can I get her to realize or accept that all her good deeds will (I've been told) be wasted unless she converts - but if she does convert, all her good deeds to date will be rewarded, and all her bad deeds turned into good deeds?

How can a child say to her mother: "Your beliefs are wrong. I rejected them and embraced other beliefs, which are right. Oh and by the way, you're not going to receive any reward in the Hereafter if you don't agree with me!"

Anyway, what I'm doing at the moment is compiling a mental database of answers to some of her more persistent questions and doubts. Insha'Allah I will be more successful next time we have this conversation!

Salam alaykum sister.

Before giving dawa to others, we should strengthen our Iman. First step to learn Tawhid and shirk, then the life hereafter. Without knowing the life hereafter, we are completely lost. I request you to listen to the lecture series by Sheikh Anwar al Awlaki, especially the life hereafter series. This Sheikh is unique. You will miss hugely if you don't listen to him. The audio lectures are available online for download at

http://islambase.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=category&sectionid=33&id=57&Itemid=181

The Hereafter (some 20 hours in length)
Lives of the Prophets
The Life of Muhammad (SAW) Makkan Period (around 20 hours)
The Life of Muhammad (SAW) Madinan Period (more than 20 hours, part1 and part2)
Abu Bakr As-Siddique his life and times (around 20 hours)
Umar bin Al Khattab his life and times (around 20 hours)
Salman Al Farsi (around 1 hour)
25 Promises from Allah to the Believers (around 1 hour)


Start with The Hereafter series. Those lectures are comprehensive. Once you are armed with the knowledge
of deen al Haq, it will give you much confidence when defending Islam, inshallah.