Due to widespread fitna, young Muslims dating non Muslims has become common. To make their relationship halal, some choose to get married. Sometimes under pressure, the non Muslim accepts Islam and they proceed with the Nikaah. Some people remark that he only accepted Islam because he was pressured. Abbas (RA) encouraged Abu Sufyaan (RA) to become a Muslim. He accepted but lacked enthusiasm, due to the doubts he had about Islam. Despite this, over the years he grew stronger spiritually and became a respected companion of Nabi ﷺ.
This shows that embracing Islam due to encouragement is still accepted. Others claim that he only accepted Islam to marry a Muslim girl. But how can we be so sure of what is in their hearts? For all we know, he could be better in the sight of Allah than us. How embarrassing would it be to misjudge someone today, only to find them closer to Allah and Nabi ﷺ on the day of Judgement.
In Ramadan 7AH, Nabi ﷺ sent an army to Huraqat, a tribe of Juhainah. A non Muslim man fought fiercely and bravely, killing many Muslims. Eventually, an Ansaari Sahaabi (RA) and Usaamah ibn Zaid (RA) managed to seize him. He uttered the kalima and the Ansaari Sahaabi (RA) immediately spared him but Usaamah (RA) did not. He attacked him and killed him. By the time they returned to Madinah Munawwarah, the news of this incident had reached Nabi ﷺ. Nabi ﷺ asked him, “O Usaamah, did you kill him after he said la ilaha illallah (There is no true god except Allah)?” Usaamah (RA) replied, “O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! He [only] said this to save his life.”
But Nabi ﷺ asked again in shock, “O Usaamah, did you kill him after he said la ilaha illallah (There is no true god except Allah)?” Nabi ﷺ kept repeating this statement until Usaamah (RA) began to wish that he did not accept Islam before that day (in other words, he wished that he had not committed this action as a Muslim). In another narration, Nabi ﷺ rebuked Usaamah (RA) by saying, “Did you check his heart?!” (Recorded in Bukhari and Muslim). Usaamah (RA) was the son of Zayd ibn Haaritha (RA) and therefore, as dear to Nabi ﷺ as his own grandchildren. It was possible that he was correct in stating that this man became Muslim to save his own skin. Yet Nabi ﷺ still rebuked him because Islam commands us to judge people fairly and assume the best rather than the worst.
Thus, we have no right to begin questioning why a person has reverted. We cannot see their hearts. If he accepts outwardly, we consider him a Muslim and a part of this Ummah. Embrace him and encourage him. This will bring him closer to Islam and it will enable him to act upon it. If he is struggling, help him. Some spread rumours that he doesn’t come to the masjid for Salah. But many born Muslims do not either, yet we do not begin questioning their imaan. Spare some of that courtesy for your revert brothers and think well of them, for later on his Imaan may become stronger than yours. May Allah grant us the understanding, aameen.
— Shaykh Dawood Seedat حفظه الله
Above is an extract from Shaykh’s talk in Masjid-ut-Taqwa, Pietermaritzburg on 22/01/2020. To listen to the full audio, please click here.
