The teachings of Islam are there for us All!

I have a good friend who came to me recently (he is from a Sikh background) to ask my advice. He wanted to know whether he should set up business with a person that he has known for a relatively short time. We had tea and chatted together and I told him my opinion: if you haven’t travelled or stayed with a person then you don’t really know him, so how can you make a big decision like that? You need to spend time with that person first.

Based on this advice my friend called me later saying he decided to not go ahead with the deal. Someone else went into business with this character instead and within two months he had left the country with their shared profits.

My friend was really glad that he took my advice and he wanted to know who had told me? I mentioned that it is one of the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H). He was so inspired he began – and still is – reading the Qur’an and learning more about the faith and how it can help him on other issues.

I tell you this story because the advice and knowledge I share and offer as an Imam – is not just for Muslims but is and should be for people of all faiths. We can all learn something from each other and each other’s religion.

My friend was not tolerating my faith, he was acknowledging it, because he realised that there was something beneficial in Islam that could help him in his life.