Andrew Tate embraces Islam
Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.
She took her shahada and embraced Islam last Thursday in a small town outside London. The young lady had been looking into Islam for years as a teenager, but her parents were opposed to her converting.
Now, in her early twenties, she decided to follow what she believes is the truth, regardless of her parents.
Alhamdulillah. May Allah (swt) guide and strengthen our sister.
Social media debates about Andrew Tate’s conversion
You probably never heard of the young lady till I mentioned her above. However, you've probably heard of the conversion of Andrew Tate, a prominent social media personality.
My social media feeds have exploded with posts and videos of Muslims discussing his conversion, his previous statements about women, the many controversies surrounding him over the years and much more.
There was the recent video of him praying in a Mosque, the podcast with Muhammed Hijab and countless debates about his life and statements before and after his conversion.
A new Andrew Tate?
That's the underlying question in many of the polarised discussions amongst Muslims. Some are defending or trying to explain things he said before. Some are questioning if he’s ‘really’ converted. Some are doing tafsir on his statements, claims and counter claims.
A part of me doesn’t want to read the articles or watch the videos I was being sent. Aren't we taught that embracing Islam wipes the slate clean for the individual?
I am aware of his past comments about women which were demeaning, disgraceful and have helped to create a toxic atmosphere towards women – even amongst some Muslim men.
I am aware of his support for Trump and various serious allegations against him. Also, of the fact that he was barred from many online platforms for advocating views and actions that should make any Muslim uncomfortable.
I also know that some Muslim men supported his views regarding women -even though those views were not always in accordance with Islam. As an outspoken critic of aspects of western liberalism, some Muslim men came to see him as a champion, despite his many toxic ideas and practices.
What's positive in all of this?
That someone embraced Islam. Alhamdulillah. May Allah (swt) guide them and continue to guide us all.
The issue at hand?
I think social media's role in a prominent personality's conversion and then the blow-by-blow narration of his life after that is problematic.
Andrew Tate is not like the young lady I mentioned above. She isn't well known and hasn't been on TV and across the internet espousing many terrible views which are not in accordance with Islam. Andrew Tate came to Islam with a lot of 'visible' baggage.
Don't get me wrong, most of us have some sort of un-Islamic baggage when we embraced or started practising Islam.
After all, we live in a world where Islam has been relegated to only certain aspects of life and that was bound to affect us.
Hence, whilst we understand that our thoughts and actions should be in accordance with the Qur’an and Sunnah, we may hold ideas like nationalism, racism, tribalism, secularism and other un-Islamic ideas and practices.
That is another reason why there must be a constant dawah and debate amongst us to challenge the un-Islamic ideas some of us carry.
Living in the public eye
Does Tate now need to be in the public eye giving us a blow-by-blow story of his life and views immediately after embracing Islam? Is this something he wants or are there Muslims around him pushing him to do that? I don't know.
If I could speak to him or those close to him, I would suggest a different approach.
But it’s great to hear from converts
Some around him may think it is inspirational for people to hear him speak about why he's embraced Islam. After all, he is already well known and has many followers.
That would indeed be the case if he's learnt about Islam and the error of his previous views about women.
That would demonstrate that he's really a different man. However, very few people learn so much about the Deen in such a short time.
Changing our views and behaviour naturally takes time, multiple discussions and the right environment and there shouldn't be pressure to do things in a hurry, or for the sake of being in the public eye. Converts need time.
Putting him out there publicly doesn’t help him as a new Muslim, if he comes across as if his views have hardly changed even after embracing Islam.
My hope and prayer?
That him (and all new converts) are surrounded by practising Muslims who have a good understanding of Islam.
I'd suggest they take him aside, get him off social platforms and the public eye and take off the pressure or need to give us a running commentary.
That they help him learn the basics of the Deen, fall in love with Allah (swt), the Prophet (ﷺ) and develop a life-long thirst to learn the Deen in order to implement it in every facet of life.
That they show him all the love, welcome and kindness that embracing being part of our ummah brings. That they show him Islam is a unique and comprehensive way of life with its unique take on every matter.
Therefore, they should go through his past comments and robustly challenge them and educate him on Islam's unique take on the treatment of women, legitimate ways to trade, family life, and how it really is a practical alternative to secular liberal capitalism.
After all that, when he then speaks publicly, inshaAllah, it will be as someone whose views, practice and understanding of the Deen really has changed.
May Allah (swt) guide us all.Please share the newsletter or go to this link and sign up to receive it https://www.tajimustafa.com/newsletter Thanks.
Love and salams,
Taji
🧔 What have I been up to?
I went to a local café Sunday morning for breakfast, to read the newspaper and think. After getting my food and taking it to a table, a brother I know paid for my meal and left the cafe -without telling me.
May Allah (swt) reward him abundantly. Such a lovely ummah.
📖 Ayah and Hadith
وَإِذَا سَمِعُوا۟ ٱللَّغْوَ أَعْرَضُوا۟ عَنْهُ وَقَالُوا۟ لَنَآ أَعْمَـٰلُنَا وَلَكُمْ أَعْمَـٰلُكُمْ سَلَـٰمٌ عَلَيْكُمْ لَا نَبْتَغِى ٱلْجَـٰهِلِينَ
"When they hear slanderous talk, they turn away from it, saying, “We are accountable for our deeds and you for yours. Peace ˹is our only response˺ to you! We want nothing to do with those who act ignorantly.” [Sura Al-Qasas 28:55]
Quote of the Week
“Do not sit idle for death is seeking you.” ― Hasan Al-Basri
❤ My Favourite Things
Article– Thousands of mosques targeted as Hindu nationalists try to rewrite India’s history
Shamsi Jama Masjid, an 800-year-old mosque in Uttar Pradesh, is the latest flashpoint. Now many other Mosques are under threat from the atmosphere created by Modi’s BJP government
Such oppression of Muslims in India. May Allah (swt) aid our ummah in India and around the world..
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