Watered Down

By Jennifer Dwyer

In a well-lit coffee shop the manager was “preaching” about Islam to a new Muslim convert. Hunched over the table, he raised his eyebrows.

“Don’t worry about all this new stuff…” waving his arm above us he continued. “…Like covering your hair or being careful about music. God loves all of us for who we are, He doesn’t want it to be hard on us, do as your hearts says, take it easy.” A group of us just sat there speechless.

Knowing we had no choice but to defend our religion, but the new convert beat us to the punch. She slowly slid her hand across the table and held up a napkin. An angry gaze spread over her face.

“You say you are Muslim, yet you sound like all the new wave religions I have heard all my life.” Letting the napkin fly across the table she glared at him.

“I have never read that in the Qur’an and in Islam, you have to back it up.” Lowering her head she gazed at the ice water in front of her.

“I don’t want a watered down version of Islam, I want the truth. Even if I have to struggle, better now than later.”

Besides uttering the Shahadah, many Muslims today do not fully practice Islam. But for some reason they feel the urge to spread Islam (thinking they will get credit from Allah if that person converts). Many water it down and lie to make Islam seem “more palatable”.

But Islam cannot be watered down and any true seeker of Islam can see through the mask. Lying is forbidden, so it should not be a means of calling others to Islam.

Allah ordered Muslims to be truthful, saying: 

“O you who believe! Be afraid of Allah, and be with those who are truthful.” (Qur’an 9:119)

Many “Muslims” today have consciously decided not to apply aspects of Islam to their lives. They not only lie to themselves to justify their decision but often try to guide “would-be” Muslims too. They are so insecure that they try to make Islam look ‘trendy’ or ‘vogue’.

They mix and match like a pharmacist preparing a prescription they think a “possible convert” would swallow. Never thinking that their hypocrisy and lies would either turn them off or falsely lead them down a man made path of Islam. The Prophet (May the Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him) explained thoroughly the consequences of saying the truth and lying, when he said: “Verily, truthfulness, leads to piety, and piety leads to heaven, and verily, and man would be so truthful so that he is registered in Allah’s view as honest. And, verily, lying leads to evil, and evil leads to hell fire, and a man would lie so much that he would be registered in Allah’s view as a liar.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

In all my ten years of experience with da’wah, I have often come across Muslims searching for honesty and respecting hard facts. But there is a manner in which those facts can be communicated. A Muslim should be patient and let their deep love for Allah radiate. I remember a lecture from a new “Muslim revert”. He went to the mosque in America and asked the Imam why he was a Muslim.

The Imam, like most Muslims born into the faith, started talking about prayers and fasting, etc., but the American wanted more (he knew the basics). He then asked him what does it feel like to be a Muslim. The Imam sat back and reflected. After a few minutes he started describing how much he loves Allah, and how it feels to wake up in the early morning and pray while most of the world slept. He spoke about the peace he felt and continued with deep surging emotions pouring out of him.

Of course, the American became Muslim. He didn’t need to be falsely led or lied to. Islam cannot be bought like a “blue light special at a bargain store”.

Many Muslims nowadays want Islam to be accepted by everyone, no matter the cost. They will lie and water down the solid boundaries that Allah gave us in all His Mercy. They think this will help persuade them because they themselves do not follow.

The Qur’an explained, 

“Invite mankind to the way of your Lord with wisdom and fair preaching, and argue with them in the way that is better. Truly your Lord knows best who has gone astray from His path, and He is Best Aware of those who are guided.” (Qur’an 16:125)