A scholar in China, Islamic Stories - ,

A Muslim scholar (sheikh)was on a visit to China togive a series of
lectures to the local Muslim community. One day, he was scheduled to
give a lecture at a local hall andwas about to take a taxi along with
his companions to that location.
They got into the taxi and the Sheikh asked about the length of time it
would take to get to the lecture hall. The taxi driver, through the
interpreter, answered"Two hours."
The Sheikh immediately turned to his companions and said:"well, we can't
sit in this taxi with the driver for two hours and not tell him about
our religion. If we did that then we would be no different than any
other non-Muslim or kaffir who uses this taxi. We are the people that
Allah(SWT) chose to carry His message and honoured us to be Muslims. It
is ourduty to tell this person about Islam."
However, the driver was a native Chinese and didn't have a common
language with the Sheikh. They had to communicate through an
interpreter.
Sheikh to interpreter:"Ask the man if he believes in any religion?"
Driver: "No, I don't believe in religion. I just get up in the morning,
go to work and earn money. At the end of theday, I collect my money, go
buy some food and drink for my family. What do I need religion for?"
Sheikh: "Ask this man if he has ever heard anything about Islam."
Driver: "Not much. I've seen a tape once and showed Muslims as violent
people. I don't know much else."
Sheikh: "Ask him about computers. What does he think of computer?"
Driver: "I think the computer is an excellent invention. It is very
useful and very sophisticated."
Sheikh: "Does he think that the computer could have invented itself or
does he think that a human being invented it?"
Driver: "A human invented it, of course. It is not capable of inventing
itself."
Sheikh: "Which one is more complicated the computer or the human being?"
Driver: "The human being is more complicated, of course."
Sheikh: "O.K., if the computer must have been invented by a human being,
then it follows that a human being (which is more complicated) must also
have a creator."
Driver: "O.K."
Sheikh: "In Islam, we believe that Allah is the creator of human
beingsand all other beings. Fine, now let's move on. Assume that you
have never seen a computer before and never heard of it. If I brought a
computer to you and gave it to you. Would you know what to do with it?
Would you be able to use to its full potential?"
Driver: "No, I wouldn't."
Sheikh: "Now, if I gave you a catalogue for the computer, then you will
be able to better use it? Correct?"
Driver: "Correct!"
Sheikh: "In Islam, we view Quran as the catalogue used by human beings
to manage their lives. Without this catalogue, they will ruin
themselves! Now, if this inventor of the computer assembled the machine
and printed thecatalogue, what would be the next step? He would need to
train some engineers and others on how to spreadthe message about this
machine. These people would, in turn, train others and others until
everyone knows about the machine. In the example of Allah and Quran, the
prophets of Allah play the role of the engineers. They learn the message
and teach itto others so that the message will spread. Prophet Muhammad
(saw) is the final messanger of Allah and he was ordered to take the
message to all human beings."
By this time, the trip wascoming to an end and they almost reached the
lecture hall. But the Sheikh can see that there were tears comingout of
the driver's eyes. The words of the Sheikh was having a significant
effect on this driver.
Driver: "These ideas are very interesting to me. Do you mind spending 15
more minutes with me to tell me about this religion?"
The Sheikh agreed to spend those few minuteswith this person and did.The
man asked many questions and seemed genuine in his desire to learn more
about this religion. At the end of these few minutes, the driver said:
"I want to join this religion of yours. How do I do that?"
He was told that all he needs to do is say: "I bear witness that there
is no God but Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad (saw) is his
servant and messenger."
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NajiM - INDIA Aydnajimudeen
aydnajimudeen@myopera.com