"After an operation, a doctor said to the patient, 'You’ll be a new man.''Could you send the bill to the old one, doc?' the patient responded.""Truth has a clarifying, guiding, and revealing nature, and that calling to it helps illuminate and navigate through life’s complexities and uncertainties. Calling to the truth is like tuning a radio to the right frequency, clearing up the static to bring in a clear signal. Finding the truth involves filtering out noise and distractions to receive clear and accurate information," said Cananga while looking at men's pilgrims shaving their hair and women cutting some parts of their hair after performing Sa'ee. During the Umrah and Hajj pilgrimages, Muslim pilgrims are required to travel back and forth seven times between the mountains of Safa and Marwa. This ritual is commonly known as Sa'ee, linguistically meaning walking, pursuing, or striving."Before making any statements in your Dawah, reading the situation is important. So, be conscious of these two main things: the environment and the individual. When it comes to the environment, the first thing to be remembered is the timing, finding the appropriate time. Is it a suitable time to talk about this subject or not? Considering the environment before speaking is indeed important. By being mindful of these factors, you can adjust your topic for better engagement and impact, and tailor your message to fit the purpose and theme of the event.Aligning your message with any relevant current events that might be on your audience’s mind is one of the aspects to consider. Stay informed and keep up-to-date with the latest news and trends that may relate to your topic or audience. Choose current events that have a direct connection to your message or the interests of your audience and keep the relevance. But be mindful of the audience’s feelings towards current events, especially if they are controversial or sensitive. Weave references to current events into your message in a way that enhances your main points.Being aware of cultural sensitivities and norms to ensure your message is appropriate is also necessary. Understanding cultural context is key to conveying your message. Be sensitive to cultural norms, avoiding stereotypes or generalizations. Learn about the cultural backgrounds of your audience members. Use language that is inclusive and respectful of all cultures. Using inclusive language in conveying your message is important to ensure that all audience members feel respected and valued. When giving examples or anecdotes, choose ones that resonate across cultures. By considering these factors, you can ensure your speech is respectful and engaging for a diverse audience.Gauge the audience’s energy and mood to tailor your speech accordingly. is important as well. Gauging the audience’s mood is about reading their non-verbal cues and adjusting your message for better engagement. Reading non-verbal cues is a key part of engaging with your audience. How to interpret these signals? Facial expressions such as smiling, nodding, or frowning can indicate agreement, interest, or disagreement. If the audience maintains eye contact, they are likely engaged. Looking away may suggest disinterest. Postures such as leaning forward can show interest while crossing arms might indicate resistance or discomfort. Gestures such as enthusiastic clapping or thumbs-up are positive signs, while lack of applause or fidgeting may suggest disengagement.You may be wondering, how can I possibly read someone's body language or facial expressions, I don't have that kind of knowledge. So before starting, read 'Basmalah', either spoken or just in your heart, then ask for Allah's help. Remember this Qudsi Hadith, '... My servant draws not near to Me with anything more loved by Me than the religious duties I have enjoined upon him, and My servant continues to draw near to Me with supererogatory works so that I shall love him. When I love him I am his hearing with which he hears, his seeing with which he sees, his hand with which he strikes and his foot with which he walks. Were he to ask [something] of Me, I would surely give it to him, and were he to ask Me for refuge, I would surely grant him it. I do not hesitate about anything as much as I hesitate about seizing the soul of My faithful servant: he hates death and I hate hurting him.' [Sahih Al-Bukhari]The meaning of this hadith is that if a servant is a believer, and is serious about Allah Ta'ala in carrying out the obligatory actions, then he also carries out the sunnah actions, then his Rabb will approach him and raise his level from the level of faith to the level of ihsan, so that he worships Allah as if he sees Him. His heart knows, loves and glorifies Him, fears and dreads Him. He does not depend on anything other than Allah and does not depend on anything based on his desires. He desires nothing but what his Rabb desires. So when a servant does not speak except to remember Him, does not move except according to His command, and if he speaks, he speaks with Allah, if he hears, he hears with Allah. If he sees, he sees with Allah. What this means is that with Allah's Taufik to Him in all these matters, he does not hear other than what Allah loves, he does not see other than what Allah pleases. It is not Allah as his hearing, Allah as his sight and Allah as his hands and feet, Glory be to Allah from that kind of understanding. However, what this means is that Allah gave him taufiq in his hearing, sight, path and grasp. Allah gave him taufiq in all his deeds and speech, hearing and sight. Allah will grant his prayer, if he asks, Allah will grant his request. If he asks for His help, He will help him, if he asks for His protection, then He will protect him.Then start with a question or a statement that encourages participation to feel their responsiveness. Be prepared to adjust your tone, pace, or content on the fly if you sense the audience is not responding as expected. Look for nods, smiles, or other signs of agreement or interest as you speak, and use this feedback to steer your message. By being attuned to the audience’s mood, you can make real-time adjustments to ensure your message is well received.People, in their enthusiasm and excitement, usually want more lectures at the beginning of any new program. However, the reality is that if you give too much or you speak for too long, they will eventually become bored. It is the nature of human beings to become lazy with time. Publilius Syrus is attributed as the first use of this phrase, 'nimia familiaritas parit contemptum [too much familiarity breeds contempt]', or 'familiarity breeds contempt' in Taylor Swift's Bejeweled. The proverb 'familiarity breeds contempt' means that close association with someone or something can lead to a loss of respect for them or it. It implies that when we know too much about someone or something, including their flaws and weaknesses, we may start to value them less. It’s a reminder that sometimes, distance or mystery can maintain respect and interest. Imagine working in a small office where you see the same colleagues every day. Over time, you become very familiar with their habits, work styles, and personalities. Initially, you might have had a lot of respect for a colleague based on their professional reputation. However, as you get to know them better and observe their daily behaviors, you might start to notice their shortcomings, like consistently missing deadlines or not contributing in meetings. This overexposure to their less admirable traits could lead to a decrease in the respect you once had for them. This scenario demonstrates how increased familiarity can sometimes lead to a loss of respect or admiration.Consequently, we have to consider our timing. We must ask ourselves, 'Am I giving them too much?' Muslim reports that 'Ammar bin Yasir (رضي الله عنه) heard the Prophet (ﷺ) say, 'The length of a man's prayer and the shortness of his Khutbah (religious talk) are a sign of his understanding (of the religion).' Therefore, we have to think about the length of our discussion, to insure that it is not too long, and we also have to think about the time we wish to engage in discussion, to insure that it is not at an inappropriate time. The length of your discussion should be carefully considered to keep the audience engaged. The average attention span of an audience is around 20 minutes, so plan your key points accordingly. If the topic is complex, break it down into digestible sections and avoid overwhelming the audience with information. Align with the event’s schedule and ensure your speech fits within the allotted time. If possible, include interactive elements or breaks to keep the audience attentive for longer periods. By managing the length and pacing of your speech, you can maintain audience engagement throughout.To structure your message for optimal attention span, start with a strong, engaging opening to capture attention immediately. Briefly outline your main points at the beginning to give the audience a roadmap of your message. Divide your message into clear, concise segments, each with a single focus. Use smooth transitions between segments to maintain flow and keep the audience following along. Incorporate stories, examples, or visual aids to add variety and maintain interest. And end with a memorable conclusion that reinforces your key message. By structuring your speech in this way, you can help ensure that your audience stays engaged from start to finish.The second principle governing the environment is the audience. Are we talking to a group or an individual? Read the audience as we read the circumstances and the situations. There is a difference when you are talking to a group and when you’re talking to an individual. When you are in a group of people, you cannot convince them. Look at the example of As’haabul Qaryah mentioned in Surah Yaaseen. Allah sent a messenger to a village, and the village people rejected him. Then He sent another messenger, and they also rejected him, they imprisoned and tortured them. So, Allah sent a third messenger to support them against this group, but still, they would not listen. The story went on with another person from the village who accepted the message trying to convince the villagers. Although he used logic and emotion to convince them, they remained unconvinced. He was killed and he has his reward with Allah. Or remember Abu Thalib, the Prophet's (ﷺ) uncle died upon the religion of his father. The Prophet (ﷺ) did his best and utmost in calling his uncle 'revert' to Islam but Abu Jahl and `Abdullah bin Abi Umaiya said to Abu Talib, 'Will you now leave the religion of `Abdul Muttalib?' Abu Talib’s passion for the religion of his parents was stronger than favouring and following the truth, so he died of polytheism and refused to embrace Islam. When people in the group, they might be difficult to convince. If you want to convince someone about something, you need to talk to them one-on-one or maybe two.When you begin addressing your group audience about Tawheed and after the talk, probably you will realize from their questions that they were not interested in Tawheed. No one asked any questions about Tawheed, all their questions focused on what Islam had to say about the latest issue such as social media platform, X, now officially allowing NSFW content.The platform updated its policies to permit the sharing of consensually produced adult nudity or sexual behaviour, provided it is properly labelled and not prominently displayed. This change includes both visual and written content, including AI-generated, photographic, or animated material such as cartoons, hentai, or anime. The policy update clarifies that while adult content is allowed, it must be restricted from being easily accessible to minors and users who opt out of viewing such material. Additionally, X prohibits content promoting exploitation, non-consensual acts, objectification, or any form of harm to minors. Monetization of adult content is prohibited, and X enforces rules to protect users, especially minors, from exposure to such material. Non-consensual adult content remains prohibited, but of course, the platform’s ability to distinguish between consensual and non-consensual material is still unclear.NSFW stands for 'Not Safe For Work.' It refers to content that is inappropriate for professional or public settings, such as workplaces or educational environments. NSFW content typically includes:Adult Content: Explicit images, videos, or descriptions of sexual activities; Profanity: Use of explicit language; Violence: Graphic depictions of violence or gore; Sensitive Topics: Discussions or depictions of topics that could be offensive or disturbing, such as drug use or extreme political views. This label helps people avoid viewing such content in environments where it might be inappropriate or offensive to others, such as at work or in public places. NSFW content often includes explicit sexual material, nudity, violence, or other sensitive topics. It’s essential to be mindful of the context and audience when encountering or sharing NSFW content.
Exposure to sexually explicit content can have various effects, especially on young minds. Regular exposure to explicit material can lead to unrealistic expectations about sex, relationships, and body image. It may create a skewed view of what is considered normal or desirable. Over time, repeated exposure to sexual content can desensitize individuals. They may become less responsive to sexual stimuli, which can affect real-life intimacy and relationships. Some people develop addictive behaviours related to pornography. They may seek out increasingly extreme or novel content to maintain arousal, leading to potential negative consequences. Guilt, shame, and anxiety are common emotional responses to consuming explicit material. These feelings can affect overall mental well-being.Excessive use of NSFW content can strain relationships. Partners may feel betrayed, insecure, or inadequate due to their partner’s consumption of such material. Viewing explicit content may contribute to objectifying others, reducing them to mere sexual objects. Unrealistic expectations about physical appearance and performance can also arise. Accessing certain types of NSFW content may violate laws or ethical boundaries. It’s essential to be aware of legal implications. These effects can vary based on individual factors, frequency of exposure, and personal context. It’s crucial to approach this topic with awareness and sensitivity.
The time was not appropriate for the subject of Tawheed. They are in a group, so, likely, they will not listen properly. Instead, you will give them a general answer, and after the talk and the answer session, you go and talk to them individually. As individuals, they will listen, but as a group they just wanted a quick answer then they left. So we have to carefully read the situation and determine if our topic is suitable for a group of people or if it is more appropriate for individuals.As one calling to Islam must choose the most suitable time to address a given audience, he or she must also choose the most suitable location. The location may be a public hall, a university auditorium, a school classroom, a mosque, an Islamic centre’s hall, etc., or it may be a restaurant, a coffee shop, a park, the beach, out on the desert, etc. One must choose the appropriate location for the type of message one intends to deliver. What may be said over lunch in a restaurant may not be suitable for a university auditorium and vice versa.Besides knowledge, to reach the audience, you need to have a good understanding of the society and culture. In general, the best person to talk to people is someone who shares a similar background with them. We will discuss this in the next episode, biidhnillah."
Citations & References:
- Muhammad al-Jibaly, Closer than a Garment: Marital Intimacy According to the Pure Sunnah, 2002, Al-Kitaab & as-Sunnah Publishing
- Syaikh Rabee' al-Madkhalee, If You Obey Him You Will Be Guided, 2016, Miraath al-Anbiyya Publications
- Shaykh Rabee' ibn Haadi al Madkhali, Encouraging Harmony and Wisdom in Dawah and Warning From Discord, 2005, SalafiManhaj
