A Framework on how to Approach & Deal with the Foreign Celebrity Flood

 

Over the last few years and months, South Africa, in particular, has seen a flood of celebrity speakers, motivational talkers, life coaches, and public figures that enjoy wide social media outreach, that claim to promote 'Islam' and engage in 'Da'wah'. These celebrities come and go, but leave more questions unanswered after they fly back home with a bucketful of 'gains' made from their foreign tours. 

Muslims around the world, and particularly in South Africa, cannot afford to remain in a slumber anymore. We are all well aware of the fraud, corruption, and scams that pervade our society with no end seemingly in sight. How can we be so naive to be spoofed again and again and again? 

The harsh reality is that the same schemes and shams that swindle our hard earned money have now been applied to our religion, culture, way of life, and on Deen, on the whole. 

Hereunder, a framework to approach this issue is presented. If implemented carefully, placing one's trust in Allah Ta'ala, we can be saved from a number of problems that we can all easily avoid.

Most often, at first, the celebrity speakers are promoted from their websites, social media accounts, and posters that are sent around, calling and inviting people towards them. Once we notice this, note the name of the speaker, the country he or she hails from, as well as the host organization. 

Then, start thinking deeply and analytically, and begin asking questions to one and all. Create an environment of proper investigation and research. Do a detailed analysis of the person yourself, with the following guidelines:

1. Question the belief structure of the person. Get a proper understanding of the background of the speaker, and if he or she has promoted or continues to promote heretical beliefs, different from those adopted by the Ahl-us-Sunnah wal Jama'ah.

2. Question the integrity of the speaker. Ask people in the home country of the speaker about any problematic issues that the speaker or celebrity has been involved in. 

3. Find out from friends, the host organization, and all associated people if the celebrity speaker practices true and traditional Islam, or, do they entertain and confuse the masses?

4. Investigate who the teachers of the celebrity speaker are. Did they learn and study under reputable teachers and 'Ulama', or, are they self-educated, or, have they been spoon-fed on what to do and say?

5. Find out the fees that the celebrity speakers charge for events. The figures that have surfaced of recent are mind-boggling. What do these celebrities do with all that money? Is there no other better avenue for the Muslim public to spend their hard earned money? 

6. Examine the activities of the celebrity speaker. Does he or she care about Deen and Islam, or do they spread their own agenda of what Islam is?

7. Ask them, send questions to their social media, to the host organization, querying about how they view the deviated sects, especially on the Shia, and the interfaith movement.

8. Ask people, why did these celebrities begin a string of controversies when there weren't any problems? Are they perhaps controversial?

9. See if the common sleeping pills dished out by modernists and liberals are the same ones being distributed by the new celebrity speaker. Generally, it begins with, 'there's a difference of opinion, then it progresses to 'have good thoughts', then 'but he is so famous'. The cycle of justification continues until the celebrity arrives and then departs with a thick wallet, filled with wads and wads of cash. 

10. Find out if the foreign celebrity speaker engages in free mixing. If yes, then the program is a total no go zone.

11. Ask about the friends and associates of the celebrity speaker. Who does he or she work for? What does his or her organization represent? If there are question marks that come about here, then stay away from the speaker because it could put you into further confusion.

12. When someone raises the alarm and warns us about doubtful service providers, we comply and make queries. The same applies here. When there is a problematic and controversial celebrity speaker brought to our country, we must ask, question, research, investigate and query. 

Ask yourself honestly, is it worth buying deviation? Does it ever occur to you that you are gambling with your Imaan and Islam? Is our beautiful Deen so cheap, that we sell it by hosting and promoting people who are at the forefront of spreading heresy, immorality, and disbelief on a wholesale scale? Be intelligent, make the right choice, don't sell your Deen.