MOST OF US CAN IDENTIFY TRADEMARKS OF PETROL COMPANIES, CLOTHES BRANDS, CELLPHONE SERVICE PROVIDERS, CHOCOLATES AND MORE.
WHY? It is because they have advertised themselves extensively so that we automatically identify them as providing a particular service.
NOW… How are Muslims supposed to be identified? What is a Muslim’s peculiar brand? Think for a moment. If you see a man in kurta, with a turban and a woman with a cloak what religion would you say they follow? It is universally acknowledged that they would most probably be Muslim. Our outer appearance is our identifying trademark.
EVERY WELL-KNOWN brand also has a reputation of quality, reliability or some outstanding trait. After establishing our trademark, we now need to display outstanding qualities which can be identified with the trademark. Today it is terrorism, extremism and a host of ugly behaviour. The need of the moment is to re-establish our qualities.
HOW… do we go about it? Non-Muslims do not enter our Musjids, nor go to Makkah; they are not recipients of Zakaat nor can they see us fasting. So what are our selling qualities? How do they buy Islam from us? It is through our character in our shops, businesses, schools, on the street and driving on the road. Unfortunately, in this we have failed.
ADVERTISE ISLAM IN YOUR WALK & TALK
