I have been honoured to work with many da’wah and apologetics groups. I’ve had the opportunity to meet so many different people from backgrounds that I had no idea existed. Writing, copy-editing, debating, lecturing, giving khutbahs, doing podcasts, vidcasts, media development, application development, and many other roles and opportunities were presented to me during my da’wah and apologetics efforts.

Four years ago I became sick. For four years I’ve been doing da’wah and apologetics while suffering with a crippling illness that has no cure and no sufficient treatment for. I still remember the first few days I was hospitalized where I asked my family to bring a book to pass the time. I was reading Martin Ling’s Seerah at the time and so, just before my emergency surgery I had completed reading the Seerah of the beloved Messenger of Allah, Muhammad Mustafa salallaahu ‘alayhi wa salam.

I’m writing this because of an incident that happened this week. I had to be hospitalized again. I had to be taken to the emergency room again. I suffered. I’m still suffering. That incident occurred on Tuesday. Today is Saturday. Yesterday while attempting to retrieve some cough medication from the kitchen I saw a group of Jehovas Witnesses outside. I duly dropped the cough medicine and hurriedly invited the group of two into my home.

I brought out three books to discuss Christianity with them. The first was the Nestle-Aland Greek New Testament 28th Edition (Critical Edition), along with David Trobisch’s guide to it, so that they can follow through with what I intended to explain to them. The third book is Wages of Rebellion by Chris Hedges, by no means is it a religious work but it examines the state of society, the causes of revolution, revolutionary personalities and revolutionary language. Being from the land where the (eventual) traitor General Francisco de Miranda once landed for help from the British, the man who later fought alongside one of the greatest military and political minds the world had ever known – Simon Bolivar – I found myself deeply invested in this book and its assessment of global political history and futures. Providentially perhaps, the Jehovas Witnesses eventually did discuss our political situation and so the book became quite useful.

Needless to say, this was three days after being rushed to two hospitals. Even in my dire state where my body is slowly but surely giving up, I still find the time to do da’wah. I still find the time to go to the Masjid. I still find the time to read the Qur’an and understand Islam. Last year I debated Steven Martins almost two weeks after having an experimental and the first of its kind surgical operation in my country. I still found the time to do two debates with him. This year I traveled to Toronto to seek the counsel of other doctors and still found the time to do two Khutbahs, a lecture, two debates and two street da’wah sessions. I’m writing this article at almost 2 am.  I am in horrible pain, yet here I am. Why?

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اسْتَعِينُوا بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلَاةِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ

O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient. – Qur’an 2:153.

The Qur’an also says:

وَمَن يَتَّقِ اللَّـهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُ مَخْرَجً

وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ ۚ وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّـهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ بَالِغُ أَمْرِهِ ۚ قَدْ جَعَلَ اللَّـهُ لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدْرًا

And whoever fears Allah – He will make for him a way out. And will provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allah – then He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allah will accomplish His purpose. Allah has already set for everything a [decreed] extent. – Qur’an 65:2-3.

Over the last year, brothers whom I do not know, found out perhaps through my da’wah and apologetics colleagues that I have had serious medical episodes that were costly. Many have donated and left messages of support and kindness. I know that the quality of posts I have been making is more of entertainment than apologetics, but that is mostly due to my inability to have time to produce the quality of research, argumentation and apologetics that Islam demands of me. Most have noted that the quality of argumentation in my recent debates has increased exponentially, but for some reason that increase in quality does not transfer over to my articles as of late.

Having met with Dr. Shabir, consulted with other du’at, scholars and colleagues, I’ve taken the decision to take a quasi-hiatus. Meaning then, that my posts may become infrequent but in the absence of newer, more consistent articles, I will be dedicating more time to my health, such that it can facilitate my obligations as a da’ee. By January I should be able to give an update on what the future holds for me. In the event that I should pass before January, certain brothers will have control of the Calling Christians website and most of my research. Preparations have already been put in place should such a dire event occur. In the meantime I leave you, my beloved brothers and sisters with two links.

1. Please donate to our PayPal (please specify if the donation is for da’wah or for medical purposes).
2. MAP – Muslim Apologetics Podcast. This week we had Br. Yusuf Ismail on!

جزاك اللهُ خيرًا

May Allah reward all of you for your continued support.

and Allah knows best.

Categories: Islam

Tags: apologetics, calling christians, ijaz ahmad, Islam