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Fatwa CenterEncounter with Christian missionary
Question
Assalamu alaykum. I am a university student. I decided to head to a building to settle down. While I was walking, I encountered two ladies (one young and the other old). The old lady saw me and decided to act as if we had met somewhere before. She asked where I was heading and I was busy. I politely told her that I was going to eat. There was an event to help the homeless by buying food outside of the campus. She began the discussion of good deeds and asking for my opinion of the definition. Then she went on speaking about God and Jesus. I was speaking politely to her and trying to be an active listener to respect her since she was being rude/disrespectful. However, inside my heart, I dreaded what she was saying, and my mind was not 110% listening. Some words went in one ear and out the other. I spoke to her about the basics of Islam regarding God and Jesus. However, it seems that I was not elaborating enough to her of why a person should do good deeds when a person should only have faith in God. She went on and on. Then she gave me pamphlets and a CD (I later shredded the pamphlets and threw away the CD). Then she asked if there was anything regarding which I would like them to pray for me. I said "No." I just thanked her for sharing her message with me. Then she prayed for me by putting her hand on my shoulder (her prayer did not invoke Jesus as the "son" of God; it only mentioned the "Father" as God; she asked Him for guidance and to show me the truth. Before she did this prayer, she asked where I was from. I told her that I am American but that my father (Muslim) is from Jerusalem (totally ignored) and my Mother (Christian) is from the Philippines. After that, we parted ways. Did I do anything wrong Islamically?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
It does not seem to us that you did anything that violates the Shariah. However, you should beware of such people. This woman may have been nice to you as a means to win you over and be able to influence you in the future and raise misconceptions about Islam within your heart.
The Muslim who does not have sufficient religious knowledge enabling him to refute the misconceptions about Islam might actually be influenced by them. Allah, the Exalted, says (what means): {And indeed do the devils inspire their allies (among men) to dispute with you. And if you were to obey them, indeed, you would be associators (of others with Him)...} [Quran 6:121]
You did well by getting rid of that pamphlet and that CD; may Allah reward you generously. Eliminating the means that lead to fitnah (temptation) and misguidance is Islamically required.
Allah knows best.
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