I've fallen in love. And my wife approves
You don't always expect it at this stage in life but then it happened. It's been nearly two months since I started seriously falling in love. I go to bed thinking about it with ideas whirling through my head regarding my new love: what are we going to do? Where can we take this love affair, insha'Allah?
I'm giddy with excitement
I wake up buzzing with more ideas or a refinement of the ideas from yesterday. This relationship is literally driving me crazy with the endless possibilities that suddenly loom ahead. It's a wonderful feeling, Alhamdulillah.
My wife's reaction?
You were wondering about that, weren't you? She's been wonderful and encouraging. She puts up with me raving about the new discovery with my new love. We even talk about where I could go with my new love. I'm truly blessed.
I've fallen in love with writing. Yes, writing. We all write, and I have written the odd article but never thought I could become a serious writer. Give me a topic to speak about and after a while, when I get my head around it, I'm usually able to talk about it, alhamdulillah. I've had over 20 years of practice giving talks. If you've done anything for 20 years, you do get better at it.
Be serious
Nearly two months ago, I became convinced of the need to take writing seriously. I was online searching for something else and I came across some brilliant videos talking about how writing underpins so much of what we do if you want to sell a product or share a message.
I started to realise that this is a skill that will help me in so many aspects of my dawah and conveying Islam. This is a skill I need to invest in and get better at. I need to take this seriously.
You need to make a video? Write an outline. Write a script. Need to give a talk? Write it. So many times people have asked for my notes after a talk and I have had my scribbles, notes I could understand but which were not clear or coherent enough for others to use. Need to do a podcast? Write show notes, write a script, and write an outline. Need to express your thoughts on an issue in a way that grabs attention and conveys your message? Write. As Sean McCabe says "It all starts with writing".
Practice, practice, practice
So I started reading and watching videos about how to become a better writer, how to write faster, how to write first and edit later, how to write with clarity, how to create captivating blog posts, the need to write a lot, and the fact that you will start out producing not very good articles but that the practice is necessary in order to get better. So I have been writing nearly every day for over a month, trying to build a daily writing habit.
Practice in public
I have published some of the articles and received feedback. This love affair will have its ups and downs but is absolutely worth the journey insha'Allah.
Many of the writing coaches say “you must have something to write about, you must have a message you want to share”. Isn't that what we want to do in dawah? To convince and motivate people with ideas. To inspire them to live the Islamic life, take Islam holistically and love and sacrifice for it – seeking the Pleasure of Allah (swt)? Isn't that what the Prophet (alayhi salam) did?
Convey the message
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) informed us “Convey from me, even if it is one verse.” [Bukhari]
Al-Haafiz ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him) said in Fath al-Baari that this hadeeth, “even if it is one verse” means that everyone who heard him would hasten to convey whatever he heard of the verses, even if it was very little, so that in this manner everything that he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) brought would be conveyed.
How will you convey?
So whether it is through writing, speaking, poetry, khutbahs, circles, or whatever means, find your voice. Fall in love with one of the many ways of conveying this noble message and use it. Craft a message in a way those around you can understand. Learn your Deen, act upon it and convey what you learn.
What comes most natural to you? Improve it. What dawah skill do you need to work on? Take it seriously and work on it. For me, speaking has been the more natural thing. I always admired great writing but thought it was beyond me. Now as I read about the process of writing, and as I immerse myself in the world of my new found love, I have changed that view and fallen in love with writing.
It’s Love
Like all love affairs, we will have our ups and downs but with Allah’s help, I pray this love and the fruits of it will grow stronger. I might even write a book someday, inshaAllah. In the meantime, I'm working on a website to share my ideas and I'm doing an online writing course - and my wife continues to encourage me to spend time with my new love. How cool is that? :)
What particular way of conveying Islam have you falling in love with? Let me know your comments below.
Taji Mustafa