How to Proselytize a Muslim

Last Updated: November 22, 2021

Would like to witness your faith to a Muslim person? While you know that this person is probably very committed to his/her Islamic faith, perhaps you're convinced that your faith or religion will appeal to them and you'd like to share your ideas or experiences with them. You should know that when a person converts to Islam, they believe taking the Shahada (the declaration that there is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger), destroys all sins which came before it; they believe as a new convert their record is clean, and it would be as if you were just born from your mother’s womb.

Steps

1
Ask the Muslim person about beliefs about your faith. Listen. Be as knowledgeable about Islam as you find workable for you.
2
Know the scriptures and doctrines of your faith background.
- Do not interrupt the Muslim person while he/she is explaining or objecting. No matter how much you disagree with him/her, let the person finish speaking, and then answer objections. Interrupting will make you seem rude/not reasonable.
- Do not push the Muslim to convert. It is ultimately up to him/her to decide that he/she is under wooing from God to convert and then wants to convert to another faith, or remain a Muslim.
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3
Share the Truth: It's not about you -- or goodness. Salvation is by grace through faith. Though we are not the answer, ones own experience might be instructive to him/her. Perhaps you are a convert from either Islam or another faith background, yourself.
4
Learn which branch of Islam that this person adheres to. Although this step may sound unnecessary, it may be beneficial in explaining your own beliefs better to him/her, depending upon the beliefs or practices of whichever Muslim sect he/she is from.
5
Be prepared to handle any kind of objections. For example, many Muslims have difficulty understanding the use of the terms "Son of God and Son of Man". Most will argue that Jesus, who is considered a prophet in Islam, never said "I am The Son of God". This term "son of God" was commonly used at that time to refer to the common man owing ones existence to Father God. Jesus often referred to himself as "The Son of Man" - a significant title identifying as "the perfect man" to take the special role of The Savior of the people He had come to save.
- Another example, Muslims say the Prophet Muhammad was foretold in the Torah and Bible: God had said to Moses: "I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and I will put My words in his mouth; and he shall speak to them all that I shall command him" Deuteronomy 18:18. But, Christians say this was completely fulfilled in Jesus in John 1:45, "We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, [called] the son of Joseph." This verse clarified that no one such as Muhammad was spoken of, as it was already fulfilled hundreds of years before Muhammad, and refers only to Jesus. Differences of understanding like the aforementioned may be similar to what you may encounter when explaining Jesus Christ to a Muslim.
6
Ask him/her intelligent questions on why Muslims believe what they do. For example, why is it so important to honour a prophet such as Muhammad as both the last and greatest of all God's (Allah's) prophets?
- If you are Christian, be prepared to explain that Jesus was not just a prophet or teacher or good man. But, He was the Great Physician, healing the soul and body eternally, our advocate and intercessor to God, Redeemer from slavery of sin, who took our misdeeds and punishment upon Himself. As The Living Word He came to bring the Holy Spirit to abide with us forever, and Jesus is the only Savior. Also, realize that Muslims generally do not believe that Jesus died on the cross or was resurrected. So be prepared to explain the role of The Second Adam to die and take away the sins of mankind, that the first Adam brought on us all.

Community Q&A

Question

How many people convert to Islam, and why?

Community Answer

About 100,000 people convert to Islam every year; 20,000 of those in the United States alone. People change religious beliefs when they find one that resonates more with their own faith and personal beliefs or they want to make a change in their spiritual life because their current religion isn't working out for them.
Question

I have heard of gay Muslims. How can this be?

Community Answer

The Qur'an and authentic hadith both state that homosexuality is forbidden and is a sin (e.g. chapter 26, verses 165 and 166), which is why scholars ruled it is haram. Unfortunately, there are misconceptions and humans sin, including by performing homosexual acts.
Question

Is it true that Quran says if you do not believe in Allah and instead believe in a different God, a true Muslim is entitled to kill you because you are a Kafir and they will still go to heaven?

Hadia Syed

Community Answer

That is definitely not true. it says in the holy Quran, "Whoever killed a person, it shall be as if he had killed mankind." (5:33) Along with one of our holy prophets, prophet Mohammad (PBHU) had said in the Hadith, "Beware! Whoever is cruel and harsh to a non-Muslim minority, I will complain [to God] about that person on the day of judgement." Muslims who believe in Allah can only be also determined by their actions to others, it is not just about the beliefs. The real pillar of Islam is kindness, and also worshiping god and spreading his/her message. Peace.

Warnings

Do not taunt Muslims over Muhammad's marriage to Aisha. Do not proselytize them by doing this. Muhammad lived during a different time and culture than today.

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