My TV debate – 3 lessons
21st August 2022
Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,
Channel 4 was inviting us to take part in a national TV debate about Muslims and ‘free speech’. What should I say? This is one of the UK’s main TV stations.
Last week, I used a clip from that debate as my 2nd ever Tiktok video and had a huge number of views and comments. Alhamduilillah. In the clip (Debate with Salman Rushdie supporter), I’m debating ‘free speech’ with Kenan Malik, a columnist and Salman Rushdie supporter.
3 Lessons from the TV debate
1) Be active. Allah (swt) will bring opportunities your way
Back then, the Hizb, and other Muslim groups, had reacted to the latest insults on our Beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) in the West. We had issued statements which the media picked up.
So when organising this TV debate, we were already active and commenting on the issue, hence one of those media outlets got in touch. We actually were not the first choice. Another Muslim organisation had been invited but was unable to take part.
So, be active in dawah, seek Allah’s help, and Allah (swt) will give you opportunities to convey His Message.
2) Preparation, preparation, preparation
Another brother was the natural person for this debate. MashaAllah, he is far more eloquent than myself, is very sharp intellectually and had taken part in a big TV interview.
He lived in Birmingham and couldn’t make it to London for the debate, so it fell to me. I’m more nervous about such big events.
Before the debate, I met some brothers in Central London and they helped me prepare. What are the main arguments we want to make? How do we put forward a strong Islamic position against secularists who demand the right to insult Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ)?
3) Allah’s help on the day, before and after
On the day of the TV show, I was on a team with the Imran Khan, a famous lawyer and Sheikh Abu Laban who flew in from Denmark. The late sheikh, may Allah grant him Jannah, had made the Muslim world aware of the Danish cartoons insulting our Beloved Prophet (ﷺ).
Will you trip over your words despite the best preparation? Will you find appropriate answers to questions?
This is where Islam teaches us to always seek and rely on the help of Allah (swt) – despite our best preparations.
Over the years, one of our media team members who helps me prepare for such events and conferences always reminds us that the day we think our ‘good’ preparation is what guarantees a successful outcome, is the day we will fail.
Allah (swt) is the one who helps us find the right words at the right time, sometimes even to your own surprise. Have you had that experience? I have on several occasions. Alhamdulillah.
The end result and strong performance we achieved on the TV debate was due to the help of Allah (swt). On the day, even some non-Muslims in the audience ended up agreeing with the Islamic view on the issue. Alhamdulillah.
Seek opportunities, prepare, make dua
When trying to convey the message of Islam to friends, family, non-Muslims or others, we are trying to fulfil the command of Allah (swt).
Ambassadors of Islam
Our role is to always be ambassadors of Islam seeking opportunities to convey our Deen to those around us. This is every Muslim’s duty. Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-as (ra) reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said بلغوا عني ولو آية “convey on my behalf, even if it is one verse”.
May Allah (swt) enable us all to be ambassadors of Islam wherever we are and to be those who awaken this great ummah and the Islamic civilisation again, so we become an example to mankind.
Watch the TV debate ‘Muslims and ‘Free Speech’
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Love and salams,
Taji
🧔 What have I been up to?
Making Tiktoks.
Experimenting and trying to understand what works on Tiktok. So, I’ve posted daily for the last few days. Watch these ones
Joshua VS Usyk fight in Saudi Arabia
Debate with Salman Rushdie Supporter
Is he a man, woman? Gender confusion in the West
Send Salawat on our Beloved Prophet
Send me suggestions of the types of videos to make. Also follow me on Tiktok @TajiMustafa . Thanks
📖 Ayah and Hadith
هُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَرْسَلَ رَسُولَهُۥ بِٱلْهُدَىٰ وَدِينِ ٱلْحَقِّ لِيُظْهِرَهُۥ عَلَى ٱلدِّينِ كُلِّهِۦ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ ٱلْمُشْرِكُونَ
“He is the One Who has sent His Messenger with ˹true˺ guidance and the religion of truth, making it prevail over all others, even to the dismay of the polytheists.” [At-Tawbah 9:33]
Quote of the Week
“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
– Maya Angelou
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