Dawah guy

So I was walking past a masjid, looking over at it to try and determined how to get in, there were a couple entrances and this one was big enough that you could accidently go in the sisters' entrance.

I was stopped by a man saying -

It's interesting isn't it?

Sorry?

It's interesting isn't it? The building. The mosque. It's a mosque you know?

Yes, I know

We started chatting, he was telling me it is interesting that the building draws people and was hinting for me to reveal what led me to slow and look. Of course I was just looking for the entrance. After a few more statements and questions that I could only really respond something like 'yeah I know', he worked it out.

He appeared somewhat taken aback that I was Muslim but the surprise was laced with a 'pleased' vibe.

He started with a flurry of questions that he didn't give me a chance to answer because he wanted to know why and how and if he is giving Dawah (essentially when Muslims call others to Islam) what would I have been receptive to etc

That and he was introducing me to his friends

He explained that when he and others were giving Dawah they have some 'mic drop moments' he illuded to them as times where Islam has 'gotten things right where science or other faiths have fallen behind'. And it is true that Islam has these moments and these impressive feats. For example Islam described clear elements of the development of the fetus during reproduction, or how it describes the moon as reflecting the light of the sun, or even the movement and phases of the moon all a long long time before it was confirmed otherwise. Circa 1400 years before.

It is true that these and more are impressive and these days help me confirm my belief. However, as I explained to him and others, it would have made no difference to be at all. If he had come to me with amazing evidence I would have had alternative evidence, or I would have had scrutiny and doubt and denial. Anything someone could have presented to me, I would have just disregarded and rejected. For me the life and character of a Muslim, was far more persuasive. Me going away and learning about it and other religions, and researching and privately criticising and then rethinking was more powerful. That towards the end of my 'non-Muslim time' it seemed that anything and everything was guiding me. See this post.

Regularly referenced and very important conceptually

Success and guidance are in the hand of Allah, may He be glorified and exalted. Whomever Allah wills to guide, He guides him, and whomever He wills to leave astray, He leaves him astray. Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):

“That is the guidance of Allah by which He guides whom He wills. And one whom Allah leaves astray - for him there is no guide”

[az-Zumar 39:23]

“Whomever Allah wills - He leaves astray; and whomever He wills - He puts him on a straight path”

[al-An‘aam 6:39]

“Whoever Allah guides - he is the [rightly] guided; and whoever He sends astray - it is those who are the losers”

[al-A‘raaf 7:178].

https://islamqa.info/en/answers/220690/guidance-is-from-allah-and-the-means-are-from-people

Dawah is complex and has set approaches, as far as I understand - and some people are better at it than others and some people more receptive than others. Perhaps the method he was describing would work very well on someone other than me. And likewise perhaps there would have been someone who cold have gotten through to past Adam. It was a positive and amusing interaction in this case.

Ultimately Allah guides whomever he wills and misguides whomever he wills.