Ali Dawah - POP STAR OPENS UP TO MUSLIM - OLI LONDON

00:00:00.000 Islamnet is raising funds to establish a masjid and community centre in Norway.

00:00:03.840 Every person who prays there, every kid that learns about Islam, every youngster that

00:00:07.920 memorises the Qur'an, all of this and so much more can be on your scale of good deeds.

00:00:12.560 Click the link and donate what you can.

00:00:17.440 Assalamu alaikum guys, my name is Ali as you guys know. So as you guys might remember,

00:00:22.240 I did a reaction video to yourself. I'm a Muslim. Have you ever come across, 0.99

00:00:29.120 have you ever read the Qur'an or come across Islam?

00:00:30.800 I study history, so I love history, so I know a lot about the Middle East. I've been to the

00:00:35.520 Middle East and I love it. It's always very welcoming and very accepting.

00:00:38.320 That's good, that's good. Can you tell us a bit about yourself? Like for example,

00:00:40.720 I've seen your videos, etc. Yeah. But firstly, your name?

00:00:44.400 So I'm Oli London. I'm a K-pop singer, a TikToker and YouTuber as well.

00:00:48.160 Okay, so how would you like me to refer to you?

00:00:50.080 Ah, just whatever, just Oli.

00:00:51.600 Oli? Can I call you Oli?

00:00:52.320 You can do Oli or Jimin.

00:00:53.760 Jimin, okay. I think you like Jimin more.

00:00:55.440 I like Jimin, yeah.

00:00:56.400 Okay, all right. I'm going to call you Jimin. 1.00

00:00:57.600 Okay, so tell us a bit about, for example, a bit about yourself. When did you start this?

00:01:03.040 So I actually started making K-pop music two years ago. I used to live in Korea and I fell 0.96

00:01:07.680 in love with the Korean culture. So my producer one day made me a song and I was like, okay,

00:01:11.840 you're doing this song. I was like, really, me? Of all people? And I'd always loved K-pop.

00:01:15.680 So I was like, okay, let me try. And then I released the song. It did very well online.

00:01:19.280 So I've actually now got to the stage where I've just released an album, Fallen Angel.

00:01:24.000 And today I'm dressed up to film my Christmas in Korea video.

00:01:26.800 Okay. So is this the music video that you're doing that you've been going around?

00:01:29.280 Yeah. So this is just a Christmas video, just a fun one for the fans to get everyone in the

00:01:32.880 Christmas spirit and to get everyone happy. Yeah.

00:01:34.960 Just a question from a perspective as a Muslim. What do you think, what would you say is your

00:01:39.600 purpose in life? What is it something that you would like to achieve? Or what do you see your

00:01:42.400 purpose of life?

00:01:43.040 For me, I just want to find happiness, but also spread happiness to others. So I always believe

00:01:48.000 in spreading positivity. I like to make people laugh. I like to entertain people, especially when

00:01:52.800 we have the pandemic. It's a very tough time for the world. So I like to give people a bit of light

00:01:57.040 entertainment online and also spread K-pop and Korean culture as well.

00:02:00.480 Okay. So when we talk about happiness, like for example, how do we attain happiness? For example,

00:02:05.760 what would you say is something that makes you happy? Because when we attach ourselves to

00:02:09.840 materialistic things, anything that we attach our heart to be a relationship, be a partner,

00:02:14.320 be material things, when that thing leaves, our happiness leaves with it. So would you say

00:02:20.240 that maybe in your life, what has caused you unhappiness and how did you seek happiness?

00:02:24.640 I just think that when I was younger, I never liked the way I looked and I used to get bullied

00:02:28.080 at school. So that gave me a lot of unhappiness. But since I've obviously changed, I've had some

00:02:32.320 surgeries. It's given me so much confidence and happiness and it's given me a new lease of life.

00:02:36.480 So, but I feel like, you know, we do find happiness from within. So it's not just an external,

00:02:40.880 it's not just our appearance or like you said, material things don't mean anything.

00:02:44.640 True happiness is feeling love, feeling happy, feeling positive. And that's, you know, it's very

00:02:49.360 hard. We all have a quest to find happiness and we don't always find it. So it's, yeah.

00:02:53.920 As Muslims, for example, we are told in the Quran that God Almighty says,

00:02:56.960 it's only in the remembrance of God that hearts truly find peace. So what it is, is that connection

00:03:02.240 to the higher being, the higher power and understanding our purpose. Because I'll be honest with you,

00:03:05.920 when I was young, for example, like I was not happy with the way my nose looked. Yeah. Okay.

00:03:10.000 So now I did get, and what was it? I was societal pressures and other elements that was making me

00:03:14.160 feel as if I am not attractive. Now, when I was young, for example, obviously I was like,

00:03:18.320 oh my gosh, I get a nose surgery or whatever it may be. But as I grew a bit older and I came like,

00:03:23.520 I'm a revert to Islam. I accepted Islam about nine years ago. I, I realized to myself that I had a lot 0.87

00:03:29.200 of slave masters and what these, when I'm a slave masters, what I meant was like materialism,

00:03:33.360 money, the opposite gender, how I looked to be pleasing to them. And I felt like, 1.00

00:03:37.520 hold on a second. These are actually my masters. And the only way I can free myself from them

00:03:41.520 is to find, please, the one who created me because he's-

00:03:45.120 And find happiness within as well.

00:03:46.240 And find happiness within and be happy with who I am. Because I believe if I'm not happy with who I am,

00:03:50.320 I don't think I can be happy with who I become. That changes. It depends on person to person.

00:03:54.960 But I found the true happiness by trying to please the one that created me,

00:03:58.240 because I realized that the things that I'm trying to be a master to are never going to be happy with me.

00:04:02.160 So that's where I found it. So would you say, for example, you're at a stage now that you are fully

00:04:08.560 happy? Is there any other, for example, like maybe adjustments that you would want to make to yourself?

00:04:13.280 Or would you say, I'm in a place where I'm like, okay, you're very right. It's very hard to get to

00:04:17.280 that point. And like you said, there's a lot of things around us that influence us and influence

00:04:20.880 our happiness. But I've got to a stage now where I'm super happy with my music career,

00:04:24.880 with my look. I'm getting more of the Jimmy look. I'll be super happy when I live in Korea.

00:04:29.440 So that will give me the ultimate happiness. So that's the next step. But I've got to a stage

00:04:33.440 now where I'm super happy. I love my life. I feel very grateful. I feel very appreciative.

00:04:37.200 And, you know, material things don't really matter because it just makes me realize as you get older,

00:04:42.240 it's like we have to appreciate the people in the world, the animals and, you know, spread happiness.

00:04:46.560 Yeah. I would. Would you mind if I give you a gift to the Quran?

00:04:49.440 Sure. Yeah. Before I just give, I know you need to go. I don't want to hold you up anymore.

00:04:53.520 Can you open it in a random verse and let's see what maybe message there might be?

00:04:56.320 Yeah, sure. Just any page. Any page and point out a verse.

00:04:58.880 Okay. And I'll read it for you. Do you want me to read it or?

00:05:02.560 Yeah. Which verse? Pick a verse. Let's start. 0.95

00:05:06.000 Okay. 52. 52. Let me, okay. Let's read it. Okay. Here we go.

00:05:09.600 So do not, okay. So do not obey the disbelievers. Yeah. And strive against them with a great striving. 0.99

00:05:15.360 Yeah. So this is talking about the Quran. So what it's talking about, you know,

00:05:18.880 when the prophet Muhammad came with the message, the pagan Arabs didn't like it.

00:05:22.720 And they were persecuting him just because he was striving with the Quran.

00:05:25.760 So let's just carry on. And he, it is who has released simultaneously the two seeds,

00:05:31.040 one fresh water and one salty water. And he placed between them a barrier and prohibition partition.

00:05:36.560 And it is he who was created from water. So we believe every living thing is created from water.

00:05:40.960 The human being. Oh, 70% water. Yes. Made him a lineage and marriage and ever is your Lord competent.

00:05:46.240 But they worship rather than Allah that which does not befit them or harm them. 0.50

00:05:50.720 And the disbelievers are ever against their laws. So this is what it's talking about in a nutshell, 0.96

00:05:54.400 is that the main message of Islam and why it came down was that we free ourselves from the shackles.

00:05:59.680 Because there was a philosopher. He said, man is born free, but in shackles everywhere.

00:06:03.200 Yeah. We all have restrictions. Exactly.

00:06:04.960 So the reason the Quran Islam came down was to free mankind from all the shackles in society,

00:06:09.440 be it money, be it people having, you've been bullied. Like, that was really sad.

00:06:12.640 Like, nobody should be bullied and made you feel as if you are.

00:06:14.720 You know, we should all spread kindness and happiness. Exactly.

00:06:16.720 You know, there's very important teachings in the Quran, of course.

00:06:18.800 Exactly, exactly. So, in a nutshell, yeah. Yeah, so, and one little verse.

00:06:22.720 I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, okay. All right, last verse, all right.

00:06:25.840 And say, I do not ask for you for any payment, only whatever wills make.

00:06:29.120 So God's saying he doesn't want any money from you. He just wants you to have a connection with him.

00:06:32.160 I'm so, yeah. Thank you very much.

00:06:33.920 Yes, that's the gift. I'm so sorry for holding you.

00:06:35.520 No, no, you're welcome.

00:06:36.000 But it was a pleasure, yeah. Yes, yes. Thank you very much.

00:06:39.120 Thank you. Lovely to meet you.

00:06:39.760 Wish the best. I look forward to seeing the video as well.

00:06:41.680 Please do read it.

00:06:42.480 No, no, I will. I actually love history. I love learning about culture.

00:06:44.880 Do you believe in a higher power, by the way?

00:06:46.160 I'm atheist, but I do, you know, I appreciate all religions.

00:06:48.960 No problem. Do me a favour. Do me a favour. Just try it.

00:06:51.520 No, I'll read some passages.

00:06:53.120 When you go home, just say, God, if you're there, guide me.

00:06:55.760 I would say Jimin. I'd say Jimin if you're there, help me.

00:06:58.400 But this is a great, this is the one who created Jimin. 1.00

00:07:00.160 Yeah, exactly. Yeah, exactly.

00:07:02.160 Anyway, it was a pleasure. I'm so sorry to keep you.

00:07:04.320 I actually really appreciate the fact that you even stopped.

00:07:06.400 Thank you very much.

00:07:07.280 Thank you. Thank you very much. Have a nice day.

00:07:08.640 Thank you. Bye bye.

00:07:10.640 Okay, guys. So basically, actually, thank you very much.

00:07:12.880 Actually, Dawood organized this thing.

00:07:14.400 We tried to, we didn't want to really intrude on them.

00:07:16.560 He's doing his little music video, etc, whatever it may be.

00:07:18.480 But it was interesting.

00:07:19.440 And I think what really touched me there, Dawood, is his last statement.

00:07:22.160 Yeah.

00:07:22.880 Because he wants to be, you know, Jimin is a Korean pop star.

00:07:24.880 Okay.

00:07:25.840 So he wants to be like him and look like him.

00:07:27.200 Okay.

00:07:27.760 And I said to him, I don't know if you heard of it.

00:07:30.000 When you go home, pray to God.

00:07:31.280 Yeah.

00:07:31.520 He said, I will ask Jimin.

00:07:33.040 Yeah.

00:07:33.360 And I was like, this is the one who created Jimin. 0.95

00:07:34.720 Yeah.

00:07:35.120 But the thing is, it goes back to Shirk.

00:07:39.440 Because it's the foundation.

00:07:40.880 Because what you're doing is, in a nutshell, I don't mean intentionally or unintentionally,

00:07:43.680 but he has made Jimin his idol.

00:07:46.960 And I mean idol, I'm not talking about pop star, literal worship that he wants to look like him.

00:07:51.280 And I mean this in a way, but I don't want him to watch this and feel like we had a very nice discussion.

00:07:55.280 It's just that it seems as if that is some kind of deity.

00:07:58.960 Sometimes, you know, and I feel like him, he seems like a very warm and nice kind of person.

00:08:03.360 He's a good guy, he's a good guy.

00:08:04.240 But I feel like sometimes people look for things which are within them, outside.

00:08:09.120 Exactly.

00:08:09.520 Because the thing is, we're all created to worship God.

00:08:11.600 Yeah.

00:08:12.000 It's either you do that or you substitute, try to substitute that.

00:08:14.800 Yeah.

00:08:15.280 And I think it was a nice discussion guys.

00:08:16.640 Hope you enjoyed it.

00:08:17.360 And once again, yes.

00:08:18.800 And we ask Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala to guide him and myself.

00:08:22.080 And we should never belittle, judge people.

00:08:24.000 I didn't want to come here and be hostile.

00:08:26.080 Allah can guide whoever he wants.

00:08:27.120 You get it.

00:08:27.520 And subhanAllah, we should make dua for him.

00:08:29.520 Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala guides him and accepts Islam inshaAllah.

Ali Dawah - December 05, 2021

POP STAR OPENS UP TO MUSLIM - OLI LONDON

Episode Stats

Summary

Transcript