Why We Became Muslims_Master_Vol 4_151 to 200

8/7/2019 Why We Became Muslims_Master_Vol 4_151 to 200

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Preface:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

I bear witness that there is no deity worth worship except Allah (The True God and

Creator and Sustainer of this Universe) and I bear Witness that Mohammad is His Servantand Messenger, Afterwards,

In 1930, Dr. Sir Mohd. IQBAL, the well known Urdu and Persian poet and Islamic Philosopher,expressed the need of publishing a book, in which the stories of all those who had converted to

Islam in India be recorded. He said that it would give a new boost to the cause of Islamic

propagation.

He was asked, if there are not already books that express the logic and truth of Islam and are they

insufficient, the noted scholar said:

“Yes they are more than sufficient, but you would get so many new points from such a book thatyou will be amazed. I think there are different ways to impress the heart and mind. Many times

brain rejects the most potent of the arguments, but the hearts gets impressed by a very smallincident or some very small point and grads the mind also.

Conversion to Islam is al related to brain as it is to the heart. A muslim missionary must know

what are the darts that affect heart. There are so many tales of unbelievers coming to Islam thruout the history. We see a person standing firm on his religion for many decades, yet a small

point and a small acts of kindness, sweeps him away from his feet and he makes the most

momentous decision of his life.

You have many logical arguments to prove the truth of Islam, but if you go to a new Muslimand ask him, what impressed him about Islam and what were the points which impressed him. If you have in book form, stories of a large number of such people, it would be a very powerful

tool in the hands of Muslim missionaries. Many new arguments of truth of Islam will come out,

which might not be available in the vast Islamic literature we have”

So many books have been written for past few decades on the true stories of new converts of

Islam. I have compiled about 250 of them and abridged them to be between 6000-8000 words

for ease or reading and to be posted in many shared channels on Internet and distribution thru e-mails etc.

People might agree or disagree with some of points mentioned here. But these are personalexperiences and personal reasons of these people who accepted Islam of their own free will.

Some of them suffered much about this new faith. What kept them firm to their faith varies from

one person to another person.

I pray to Allah to accept this effort and make it useful for those who read it and share it with

other people.



M.U. Qidwai

Jubail, Saudi Arabia

PS: This is volume 4 of a five part series, having stories from Serial 151 to serial 200. The

full series has already been published in tabular form on this site earlier



Story # 151

Why I Became Muslim?

TANIDTHEA (UMM AMINA) AUSTRALIA

I was born in Australia, once I went to the Muslim Mosque in small town of Armindale and

borrowed English translation of Quran for study. While just scanning thru the book, The

following verse of Quran caught my eye, that dealt with planetary movements:

“And the sun runs the course for a period determined for him: that is the decree of (Him) the

Exalted in Might, the All Knowing. And the Moon- We have measured for her mansions (to

traverse) till she returns like the old (and wretched) lower part of a date stalk. It is not permittedto the sun to catch up the Moon, nor can the Night outstrip the day, each (just) swims along in

(its own) orbit (according to Law) 36: 38-40

This made me think, how can Prophet Mohammad, an unlettered man could describe themovements of sun and man in so scientific way? He must be getting these info from God

Almighty….so Quran must be the divine book. Now I started studying Quran with much care and attention taking care to implement in my life

what I read. Soon I decided to enter into faith of Islam.

I tried to convince my husband also about Islam, but despite my best efforts, he continued in hisfaith. So much so that I gave him choice between me and his religion. He divorced me and I got

the custody of my daughter, whom I named AMINA and therefore I am known as UMM

AMINA.

Soon I met a Muslim from Pakistan on Internet Chat club and I migrated to Pakistan and married

him.

Australia is a Christian majority country, but Islam is spreading fast there. Many women are

attracted to Islam for protection, because it is Islam which gives them real protection and realrespect.

I am sorry to say that most Muslims living in Australia do not give a good picture of Islam.

They do not live according to Islam and are divided amongst themselves. To Muslim womenalso I request to think about hereafter, The present life will end in a few decades, and then they

will have to account for that in the eternal life. Islamic teachings are best suited for all situations

in life. They should practice them into their daily life. (abridged)



Story # 152

Why I became Muslim?

AN ANGLICAN CHRISTIAN (NAME WITHELD), Birmingham UK

Even though I had a vague believe in God, I really I had no knowledge about any religion or try

to know about God or felt his need in my life. Then around 8 years ago my mother became

seriously ill and according to doctors she had only one more week to live. It was then that I prayed to God and asked from Him to extend her life. Surprisingly she recovered and lived one

more year and I was able to serve her.

After that personal experience, myself and my wife visited a Baptist Church which was near toour University and one of Mathematics teacher was a member there. Soon he persuade me and

my wife to be formally baptized and we started to join Sunday classes in the Church regularly.

Soon I started to read Christian books and acquire some knowledge about it. I stumbled on theDoctrine of Trinity, which I could not understand, how so much I tried it. I asked my church

fellows, their answers did not satisfy me and I asked more doubts. Finally they advised me toaccept Trinity as taught by the Church and stop trying to understand it.

It was at that time, that one of Muslim Student told me about Quran and its clear teachings. He

gave me an audio cassette of Mr. Jamal Badawi (Well known Muslim missionary from Canada)about concept of God in Islam. I could see that it was a straight forward concept and lacked any

mysteries which Trinity tried to introduce.

I got busied in cultural activities and I noticed that black people were not encouraged or

welcomed in our Church. On many occasions when my wife brought some of her black friends

to the Church, no one spoke to them. When we tried to join in the movement to restore Walter Helms (first Black Superintendent of School in Birmingham, who allowed non union teachers in

Black schools), our Church openly condemned us.

It was at that time that I got an offer to teach mathematics in KFUPM University Dhahran. There

I got an opportunity to learn about Islam from those who were Muslims. Those people gave me

English translation of Quran and other Islamic literature. I got audio and video tapes of Jamal

Badawi, which helped me a lot to know what Islam really is.

I started Muslim prayers even before I declared my faith…..but soon I decided to join

brotherhood of Islam (Abridged)



Story # 153


Testimony of Ahmed Corpus (Formerly Marco Corpus)

All praise is due to Allah, may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon His last Messenger,

Prophet Muhammad, his family, companions, and those following true guidance.

This is my story why I embrace Islam. During my childhood, I was brought up in the Catholicfaith particularly within the Aglipayan sect. My grandfather and aunt are faith healers….

When I reached the age of seventeen, I noticed that there are many religions having different

types of doctrine, however, using one common source, which is the Bible. Everyone claims to be

the true religion. Then, I ask my self; “Shall I remain with my family’s faith or shall I try to

attend and listen to other religion?”

One day my cousin invited me to attend the Pentecost Church. My motive was only to observe

what they are doing inside their Church. I witnessed that they employ singing, clapping, dancing,

crying and raising of hands in worship to Jesus (peace be upon him). The pastor preached aboutthe bible. He mentioned the most common verses quoted by all preachers pertaining to the

divinity of Christ such as: John 1:12, John 3:16, John 8:31-32. That time, I became a Born Again

Christian. I accepted Jesus Christ as my lord and personal savior. …

I began teaching people about the bible and its doctrines. I read the bible twice from cover to

cover. I committed myself to memorize chapters and verses of the bible for the purpose of

protecting the faith I am uphold to defend. With the position I have attained, I became proud of myself. ..

However, looking into the lives of my co-pastors, you cannot find among them as good examples

to the flocks they pastorate. Thus, my faith began to decline. Still, I strive hard to work to serve

my congregation

One day, I thought of going abroad not only to work but also with the intention to proselytize thename of Jesus as Lord, astagfirullah. My plan was to go either Taiwan or Korea. However, by

Divine Will, I got a visa for Saudi Arabia. Immediately, I signed a three-year contract to work in

Jeddah.

A week after I arrived in Jeddah, I observed the diverse lifestyle of different people such as thelanguage, customs, and even the food they eat. I was totally ignorant of other’s culture.

Alhamdulillah, I have a Filipino co-worker in the factory that happens to be a Muslim and who

can speak Arabic. Though, there was little apprehension, I tried to ask him about the Muslims,

their faith and beliefs. I thought Muslims were hard-killers who worship Satan, Pharaohs, andMuhammad (pbuh) as lords. I shared to him my faith in Christ. As response, he told me that his



religion it totally different from my religion. He quoted two verses from the Holy Qur'an. One in

surah al-maidah 5: verse 3 which says;

“…This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you, and havechosen for you Islam as your religion.”

Another in surah Yousuf 12: verse 40 which says;

“You do not worship besides Him but only names which you have named (forged), you and your

fathers, for which Allah has sent down no authority. The command is for none but Allah. He has

commanded that you worship none but Him, that is the straight religion, but most men knownot.”

The verses he quoted struck me. After that I began to observe his life. Everyday we shared each

other’s belief and eventually became close friends. In one occasion, we went to Balad (the

commercial district of Jeddah) to post some letters. There, I happened to notice many people

watching video of a debate by my favorite “preacher”. My Muslim friend told me that thefavorite “preacher” I was telling him happens to be Ahmad Deedat and apparently a famous

propagator of Islam. I told him that, our pastors back home had made us to believe that he is justa “great preacher”. They kept to us his real identity that he is a Muslim propagator! Whatever

their intention was, definitely, it was to keep us away from knowing the truth. Nevertheless, I

bought the videotape as well as some books to read about Islam.

In our residence, my Muslim friend told to me about the stories of the prophets. I was reallyconvinced but pride kept me away from Islam.

Seven months later, another Muslim friend from India went to my room and gave me an English

translation of the Qur’aan. Later on, he brought me to Balad and accompanied me to an IslamicCenter nearby. There, I met one Filipino Brother. We had some religious discussions and relatedto me his life before when he was a Christian. Then he lectured to me the teachings of Islam.

That blessed night, on the 18th of April 1998, without compulsion, I finally entered Islam. I

announced my declaration of faith called the shahadatain, Allahu Akbar!

Before I was following a blind faith. But now, I see the ultimate truth that Islam is the best andcomplete way of life designed for the whole of mankind, alhamdulillahi rabbil ‘alamin. My

prayer is that Allah will forgive us all our Ignorance regarding Islam and Guide us to the siratal

mustaqeem (straight path) leading to Paradise. Ameen.



Story # 154

Why We Became Muslims:

(Stories of New Entrants to Islam, thru Missionary Activities of MAULANA KALIM UDDIN of Village

PHULAT, MUZAFFARNAGAR, India)

Note: These are stories from India, the local color is predominant, some points may seem strange to those

who are not familiar with Indian social life.

The Case of: MAHESH CHANDRA SHARMA (MOHD. AKBAR) KARNAL, HARYANA,

INDIA

A. Family Background:

01. I was born on 7th July 1977. My father was a Hindu Pundit. He was engaged in performing

religious rites, make Birth sketches and other Hindu rites. He died one year before I becameMuslim.

I have one sister. When I was in school, I did not like all these rituals which my father

performed. I even talked to him about it, but he used to say that at least it earns living for himand the family.

02. I used to get up early in the morning and take bath. Once when I was in high School and myexams were due. My mother asked me to pray to their gods before I went for exam. When I

reached temple, I saw (rather Allah made me see) that one dog entered the temple. It ate what

sweets were placed before the idol and then urinated on the head of Idol. This took my faith

away from these idols and I went to my exams without prayer.

03. When my results came, I got First Division. Next year when I was in 11th standard, my father fell suddenly sick and his condition became very serious. My mother insisted that I go to temple

and pray for his recovery. Forced I went to temple and prayed whole night…. But when I

returned , my father had died. That was the second stroke that alienated me from these idols and

their worship.

B. How and Why I accepted Islam:

04. I then went to a Church to become Christian, but when I saw the statue of jesus there, I came

back. Then some one told me that I should meet Maulana Kalim Sahib, who visits this place onsuch and such time. I waited and when Maulana came, I told him my story. He consoled me onmy father’s death and then explained me about Islam.

05. He told me that there is no time for death, it could come any time and my end would be same

as my father’s. He also gave me his small booklet “Your Trust…” and asked me to read it.



After some hesitation, I got convinced and told Maulana that I am ready to become Muslim. He

was very happy to know it. I recited KALIMA in front of him and he gave me my new Islamic

name.

C: What was reaction of spouse , parents, family and society:

06. I was very confident that my mother will be very happy to see that I have found the true

path….but when I went home and told her, she became very angry. She told me that I have

dishonored family name.

She pressed me to come back to my old religion, I said that now this is impossible. I was so

much against idol worship that I broke the idol in the temple which was near my house….this

caused a lot of mayhem in the community.

07. Police arrested me and started beating me mercilessly…some one told my mother, she came

running to Police station. When she saw me being beaten like that, she could not control herself.

She fell in between me and sticks of Police and screamed, if you beat him because he has

converted to Islam so am I!! Beat me if you want.

This took me away all my feeling of pain and I thanked Allah for giving guidance to my mother

in this way.

:Later my sister also accepted Islam.

D. How I saved my Islam:

08. There were very few muslims in my area. After consulting with Maulana , I brought my

mother and sister to Delhi.

I had to face many difficulties to make both the ends meet….there were many trials but Allah

helped me at every juncture and I got a good job to run a darning factory in Delhi.

G. My advice to Muslims / Non Muslims.

09. My advice to muslims is that they should feel pity on people like us, we who are unhappy

with our religion and are in need of truth and correct path.

They should bring to us the message of Islam and they should present themselves as true reps of

Islam.

(Translated from Vernacular Urdu and abridged)

Source: Monthly ARMAGHAN of Sept. 2003



Story # 155


ROSY CARLOS (SHARIFA CARLOS), USA

I was born in a poor Christian family. My parents could not afford higher education for me, so

they were advised to enter me into a Christian Mission and they would take care of my higher

studies. So I went to California to study in a Christian Mission.

All my hopes of higher studies were shattered when I went to that mission, because all they

taught was Christianity and Anti Islamic courses. Arabic language was part of the curriculum

but the teachers were Christians. It was told to me that purpose of all this Islamic knowledge andArabic language is that soon I would be placed in one of Muslim countries and work amongst

their women for Christianity. If I did my work diligently and achieved some thing remarkable, I

would be fixed for life in some well know organization like UNO or its affiliates.

I was destined to work in Egypt. Before going there I was shown many films about poor

conditions of Egyptian Muslim women and how much they were suffering under Islam. I wasfull of confidence and my abilities when I landed in a remote Egyptian town and started my

mission activities.

When I started talking to these poor Muslim women, I found that it was me who was lackingsomething. Whenever I used to tell them about beauties of Christianity they would counter with

some quality of Islam which was lacking in Christianity. Soon I realized that their faith is based

on much solid grounds than it was told to us in the mission school.

When these Egyptian girls used to recite Quran, I was almost mesmerized…. I visited Al Azhar

Mosque in Cairo and talked with scholars there. They told me that there would be a seminar shortly in which many renowned scholars would take place.

I was very eager to attend this seminar and ask my doubts about Islam from them. I was muchimpressed by the simplicity of the event and down to earth approach of renowned Muslim

Scholars, so different from pomp and show which Christian Church luminaries display when

they visit any where. I talked to these scholars who gave questions to all my doubts.

We discussed about the Unity of Islam which is cornerstone of Islam. They gave me very

convincing answers to all my doubts. One more thing I noticed that whenever I asked any doubt,

they would give answer immediately and without much going round the bush. However whenever they asked me any question, I had no answer or a very far fetched answer.

This convinced me that Islam is the true path and it is preserved in its pristine beauty. While noone can make the same claim about Christianity which was changing with time and is still

changing.



I then decided to accept Islam on the hands of these scholars and I thank Allah that He guided

me to the right path. (abridged)



Story # 156


BEGUM AMINA LAKAHANI, OHIO, USA

When a western women like myself turns towards Islam, the road is long and sometimes

difficult…The western culture uses its women towards its own goal. TV Commercials are

indented with lessons that teach everyone what they must desire. A slim figure seems essential because the clothing advertised exposes everything on a western woman.

There are books by millions, about how to be a sex symbol, how to make friends….the system

feeds upon itself. Such was my thinking before coming to Islam.

When I approached Islam, first by reading the Quran and then by studying Islam, I wondered at

its simplicity. Life in the western culture is so endlessly complicated by false needs and desires.

At first Islam seems to be unintelligible to a westerner simply because we are always taught that

the life must befilled with self gratification and self seeking pleasure…Islam is more logical yet it contradicts every thing that I was ever taught. When one spends an

entire lifetime demanding self-abuse in the name of freedom, the prospect of a life dedicated to

Allah, instead of selfish desires, becomes frightening as well as exciting.

The mere notion that there is a better way, is difficult to accept, because we are always taught

that the western way is the only way….Therefore the first step towards Islam requires courage

and conviction.

Islam is a total life system that enjoins respect for the purity of life. It insures purity of family life

as well as purity of the individual. A woman is a special individual in the eyes of Allah and not just a produce for commercialization….A Muslim woman is a respected member of the Muslim

community contributing in a positive way to family and community life…

Muslim woman must be stronger and more confident than other woman. To be a Muslim living

in western world today is a great responsibility, but the rewards may be blessing for all mankind.

I am proud of being a Muslim woman because only in Islam are Allah’s blessings so bountiful…

(Abridged) Source:: Yaqeen International Pakistan July 7-22, 1991 Page 47



Story # 157


Christopher Patrick Nelson , Islam Saved My Mental Health and Returned My Soul

http://news.pacificnews.org/news/

Note: Nelson writes for Silicon Valley De-Bug, a PNS publication by young workers, writers

and artists in Silicon Valley.

I am a 26-year-old Irish American who converted from Christianity to Islam in order to save

myself.

Although I never had a problem taking the Prophet Jesus as a role model for a way of life, I

needed more specific guidance with day-to-day behavior – my own was out of control. After studying Jainism, Buddhism and Hinduism, I concluded that the example of the Prophet

Muhammad served as a blueprint for a comprehensive spiritual life.

And that saves me. Literally.

Let me explain. When I turned 14 I was put in a psychiatric ward for my out-of-control behavior.

I felt high and acted on any impulse as though it were a fabulous idea. I would try to kiss girls I just met, as if we had been going out for a long time. Not a good idea.

Then the pendulum would swing from high and energetic to low and depressed. I found no

pleasure in anything. I wanted to sleep all the time, and, far worse, I wanted to die. I slit mywrists several times. ..

If that sounds funny or even romantic, that's not how it feels. Mania might be fun, but the

ensuing depression is pure hell. It sneaks up on you like the devil, insidiously. I remember

staring at something innocuous, like a coffee table, and suddenly being overwhelmed by theconviction that life is meaningless.

Western medicine may help, but it does not cure me. Medication was mandatory at the

adolescent psychiatric ward in San Jose. We had seven group therapy sessions a day, chores,

wretched meals, and then medication time. As the shrinks mixed and matched my meds I felt as

if I were wading through thick oatmeal.

Eventually, outside the mental institution I found something that finally helped me with being

bipolar: Islam.

I'd always felt, deep down, that my illness had something to do with my soul. Western medicine

– drugs and therapy – could, therefore, never cure me. How could it when it does not even





recognize that I have a soul? Islam, on the other hand, taught me how to purify my soul from

disease …

I found the emphasis on reciting certain invocations to God most helpful. In order to protectthemselves from demonic elements that can do harm, followers of Islam recite prayers. The

discipline and the act of praying helped me deal with my mania directly.

Reciting prayers, though, may not be for people who just want to deal with mental distress. And

I'm not at all suggesting that people go off their medications just yet. There are prerequisites tothe effectiveness of the practice, such as the belief in what one recites. And it's about more than

just prayer: a strict life is a must. Avoidance of pork and intoxicants, as well as a supportive,

mosque-based community are crucial parts of being Muslim.

Dealing with mental illness is a lifelong struggle, but now I feel that I am finally in control. Ihave a soul. And Islam teaches me how to purify it. (Abridged)



Story # 158






The Case of: SUNIT KUMAR SURYAVANSHI (ABDUL RASHID) HARIDWAR, INDIA


01. I was born in a village near HARIDWAR in a religious Hindu family. I have three brothers

and one sister.

I was educated in Hindu GURUKUL type school. These are schools sun by very orthodox

Hindus. I was very active and used to take part in every function.

02. I was very much interested in dancing and had learned to do very good Break dancing. My body was especially suited for breaking dancing and I was very much in demand due tot this

specialty.

However there was a Muslim religious man, who used to prevent me from dancing and such type

of things, saying that men have not been made to do such things. Slowly and slowly he told me

about Islam and its teachings. He took me to mosques and showed me some Muslim schools.


03. I got interested in islam, I accepted Islam on his hand and then he sent me to Phulat to meet

Maulana Kalim Sahib.

He helped me in understanding Islam and its teachings. Very soon I learned about prayer andhow to recite Quran. I even grew full beard and was dressed like any Muslim.


04. For some months I stayed in Phulat and did not contact my family. Then Maulana Sahibasked me to contact my family and work on them.

I phoned my parents and told them about my accepting Islam. They did not react at that time and

told me that my sister’s marriage is to take place on such and such date and I should be present

there. Even if I am renegade from my ancestor’s religion I am still her brother.



05. I reached there and brought some presents for my sister….they did not say any thing…but

after end of marriage…they took me to a room and locked it from inside, then they asked a

barber to shave off my beard. I requested them to leave my beard alone….but they did not listen.

I was very ashamed to meet Maulana in this condition…but he told me not to worry. Allah will

reward me for this.


06. I lived in Phulat and did course in Computers and now I am busy in DTP works in

MAWANA.

I go with Maulana in his missionary missions and try to educate people about Islam and its basicteachings. Alhamdolillah more than twenty people have accepted Islam on my hand. Earlier I

used to wait for Maulana to make them Muslims and recite KALIMA, but Maulana told me not

to wait for any one, because no one knows when the end will come.

E. My Missionary activities:

F. Present Situation:

I try my best to live my life according to Islam as far as I can.


Source: Monthly ARMAGHAN of March 2003.



Story # 159


MARCILIA ANGELLO (FATIMA ABDULLAH), ITALY

I was born in Geneva in a very devout Christian Family. After completing my primary education

I moved to Rome to complete my further study. I joined Arts academy, I was very beautiful to

look at, so I got offers for modeling, which I did in my spare time. After completing mygraduation, my next target was Film Industry. Because of my looks, my modeling background

and my talents, I soon become a famous star in Italian Cinema.

I was living with my “Live-in” husband and both of us were very happy and had every thing inthe world so to say. But something happened in that period which changed our lives for ever.

We had to shoot one of the film on WW-2 in MERCI MATROUH city of Egypt. I was once

waiting there when I found a few people going towards a small building in the town. They took off their shoes, washed their hands, faces and feet and then appeared to do some sort of exercise.

I watched with interest this act and then it became a sort of habit to me to watch these people performing this act.

When I asked someone about it, they told me that these are Muslims and performing their five

regular daily prayers. This kept me thinking about the purpose of my own life….I went toIslamic center in Rome and they gave me some booklets about Islam. When I went for more

they gave me more finally I got convinced about message of Islam and asked them to join it.

I had thought that the ceremony would be long and elaborate and it would take at least couple of

weeks, I was surprised when the ceremony was over in a few seconds and I became a Muslim.

I had left the film line already, soon I became a volunteer of the local Islamic Center. My Live-

in Husband left me even though we loved each other very much. He asked me to see hi from

time to time.

I soon started visiting him and talking Islam to him….slowly and slowly he also got convinced

of the truth and decided to accept Islam. The ceremony was soon over and we became husband

and wife once again, this time according to rites of Islam.

My husband jokingly recalls that “I never thought becoming Muslim would be so easy, I thought

they would demand a few hundred heads of Non Muslims to prove my faith!!!”

So in the end it was that scene in a small Egyptian Mosque, which became my reason to come

into Islam (abridged).



Story # 160


IRENE (AIYESHA) WENTWORTH FITZ WILLIAM U.K.

Note: She was a noble British lady born in 1914. She went to Egypt to make a study of

Comparative religions. She got so much impressed by teachings of Islam that she became

Muslim in 1931. Following her example her younger sister also accepted Islam. She

performed Hajj in 1935. Here she writes in one of the magazines.

I am going to address more particularly to the Non Muslims who are not as well acquainted with

the noble character and life of the holy prophet.

The prophet Mohammad’s character and qualities were those which appeal especially to my own

countrymen and women, namely courage, loyalty, kindness and greatest generosity to a fallen

foe.

His courage was exceptional, at the commencement of his great work, he stood entirely alone.His clansman and people of his own tribe were against him, and he fought for his cause against

apparently overwhelming odds. It was his courage and faith in Allah that brought him victory.

Previous to the days of prophet, the Arabians had sunk to the lowest degree- drunkenness,immorality and idolatry were at their heights. The Kaaba which since the days of Abraham had

been used as the House of God was filled with idols of stone and wood…It was a most

courageous acts of Prophet to cleanse Makkah of those idols.

Mentioning Makkah, I should like to say here that it seems to me a grand thing that the holy

cities of Makkah and Medina are again visited by Occidentals as well as Orientals. This is aswas in the days of prophet.

Every one desires World peace, well, there is nothing which will better accomplish that than thefestival at the end of the pilgrimage at Arafat, where all nationalities, Black, White, brown

Yellow, all dressed alike, Kings, Beggars, Poor and Rich side by side, offer up one universal

hymn of praise to Allah…

The prophet banned all intoxicants. He was the first prophet to raise the status of women. Up to

that time women had no real status, in fact, the Arabs used to bury their female babies alive. All

this the prophet stopped and instituted laws, 1356 years ago, establishing women’s rights, thatalas do not exist even today in some European countries..

To this day, In Islamic laws which the prophet introduced, a woman’s possessions, whether money, land or anything else are her own, even her husband cannot lay a hand on them.



There is a great misconception amongst Christians as regards to women in Islam. For example

many Europeans have said to me “As per your prophet, you have no souls”. How this fallacy has

crept into the Christian imagination is incomprehensible.

(Abridged) Source:: The Islamic Review Sept. 1938 Vol. 26

Story # 161


FAUZUDDIN AHMAD OVERING, Preacher and Social Worker, Holland

http://www.islam4all.com/newpage61.htm

It is difficult to say how my first interest in the Eastern world was aroused. It was purelylinguistic at first. I started learning Arabic when still at the primary school, when I was about

twelve or thirteen, some thirty years ago. But as I had no one to help me, I did not make much

headway at first.

It goes without saying that by the study of Arabic I came into contact with Islam. I boughtseveral books about; though all were written by Western authors and, therefore, not always

unbiased. I became convinced of the truth of the Prophet's mission (the peace and the blessings

of God be on him). But my knowledge about Islam was rather restricted, and I had no one toguide me.

The book that influenced me most was E.G. Browne's History of Persian Literature in Modern

Times. This brilliant work contains parts of two poems that were decisive for my conversion: the

Tarj-Band by Hatif of Isfahan, and the Haft-Band by Mohtashim Kashan.

At first Hatif's poem appealed to me most. It gives a beautiful visionary picture of a soul inturmoil, in a struggle for a higher conception of life, in which I discovered - on a lower level, of

course - my own struggle for Truth. although I cannot agree with some to its couplets, it taught

me at least one great Truth:

There He is One, and there is naught but He,

That there is no god save Him alone.

According to the wish of my mother, and in accordance with my own inclination, I went to a

special school for religious instruction, not because I adhered to its religious principles (which

admitted broadmindedness) but some knowledge of Christianity was thought necessary for ageneral education. I think the Principal of the School was rather surprised when at the end

of the curriculum I handed in a composition in which I confessed my adherence to the

Islamic faith.





My faith in those early days was, however, irrational. It was a conviction, which, though

genuine, was not yet armed by reason against the first onslaught of the rational materialism of

the West.

It is then that the question arises: Why should one choose Islam! And why not maintain the

religion in which one happens to be born (if any)! The answer is contained in the question itself;Islam means being at peace with oneself, the world and the god that is, it consists in submission

to the will of God. Though the beauty and majestic terseness of the Qur'an is lost in translation, Iwill quote God's own words:

"O soul that art at rest. Return to thy Lord, well-pleased with Him, well-pleasing Him. So enter

among my servants. Enter my Garden-the Paradise." (Al-Qur'an LXXXIX: 27-30)

Islam, therefore, is the only pure religion not a religion marred by mythology, like Christianityand other religions.

Compare the Christian doctrine that an infant is responsible for the sins of its forebears, withGod's consoling words:

"And no soul earns evil but against itself, and no bearer of a burden shall bear the burden of

another". (Al-Qur'an VI:165).

"We do not impose on any soul a duty except to the extent of its ability." (Al-Qur'an VII:42).



Story # 162






The Case of: VIKRAM SINGH (MOHD. AKRAM) MEERUT, UP. INDIA


01. I was born in a village (which is now within the city) of Meerut, UP. My father was a farmer.

I have four brothers and three sisters. I did my MA in History. I started LLB course, but did not

continue after first year.

My family were very religious minded. When I grew up, I used to think about God and how He

would be. I used to ask, who will be the Creator of this universe and what will be His powers.

02. When I went to temples and I saw people worshipping the idols made by their own hands, I

used to wonder as to how illogical these people are. I used to say, you made these idols, you

clothe them you put food before them, you make the place cool….how will they help you, whenthey cannot even help themselves.

People had no answers but said that I was a madman. I used to read in papers that this statue was

stolen from this ancient temple and these ornaments stolen from this temple….these incidentconfirmed my thinkings that these idols cannot do anything.

03. Then I started going to these Gurus who are so abundant in India. I saw that these people ask

other to shun pleasure of this life and lead simple life….but their own life style is full of luxury

and they indulge in every pleasure of life.

Then I studied life styles of SADHUS and find many of them living naked and young girls and

women worshipping them…that is enough to disgust any right thinking men from them.


04. Then I decided to know about Islam. There were many Muslims in my village. They told meabout Islam and its teachings. To me they seemed very reasonable.

The thing which impressed me most was their concept of Last day and individual accountability.

I once went to Muslim graveyard to witness burial of Muslims. I found it was much better anddignified than our Hindu concept of burning the dead body.



05. I was slowly and slowly getting attracted to Islam….when my grace of Allah, Maulana

Kalim Sahib visited our village on 12th October 2002. I was very much impressed with his

speech and his personality. I accepted Islam on his hands the same day.


06. When news of my conversion reached to my family, they became very angry and tried everything to turn me back. What more Muslims of my village were also afraid from my conversion

to Islam.

When I feared for my life, I complained to Police about my safety. Local Police inspector also

told me to come back to my old religion (typical Hindu Police in Secular India – MUQ).

07. They asked me where I will be safe, I named Phulat. So they left me there and I was veryhappy to be near Maulana and learn about Islam and take part in missionary activities.


2. On Parents.

08. My father used to come and meet me in Phulat. He used to ask me to come back to my old

religion and I used to reply to him very harshly. Maulana told me to talk to them with respect,

irrespective of what he says. I tried that and now his anger has reduced.

He comes and listens to me about Islam. I am hopeful and I also pray to Allah to open his heart

to Islam.

3. On Family members / Others.

I also present Islam to members of my family who come to meet me. Some of them have gotconvinced and accepted Islam. Some are thinking of accepting it/


09. We all are children of one parent and one Creator. There are more than 300 Millions of Dalit

people in India who are broken from inside.

If we Muslims bring Islam to them, they will be happy to accept it and get their honor back.


Source: Monthly ARMAGHAN of October 2003.





me by saying that you want to join with such people!!! I told that I became Muslim at the hand

of Prophet and such actions would not deter me from the path.

Next period of my life was full of tortures and beatings. My father tried to use force, coercion,

coaxing, and every thing in his power to turn me back from Islam. He even brought Hindu

Pandits to answer my doubts…nothing could turn me back. I was kept permanently chained in asmall room. When news of my tortures reached some Muslims….some of them planned to get

me free even at the cost of risks to their life. Somehow I got free and run back to Maulana, who

sent me away to a remote place away from the reach of my family.

There I studied Islam properly in a Madarsa and got real knowledge about Islam.

By that time I had reached adulthood and had no fear from my family. The partition events of 1947 brought me back to my family, in order to save them from any harm. I was always with my

family till they left for India. One of my Aunt had kept a large sum of money to take care of and

hand it to her when she was finally on the way to India. When I handed it over to her on the train

going to India…some of Hindu passengers observed that I did it because I have Hindu blood inme.

I told, I did it because I am Muslim now, if I was Hindu, I would have already taken that

money!!! Thereupon some observed that if all Muslims were like you, we would have no need to

flee to India!!!

After partition I got a job in the education department, I got married and then retired from Govt.

Service in 1980. My job is now relating my own story to my fellow Muslims in Pakistan and tell

them what it means to be a Muslim.

When I see present conditions of Muslims in Pakistan, I fell saddened. These breaking into sects

and each arguing with others are not what Islam and Quran and prophet taught us. Quran asksall Muslims to jointly hold the “Rope of Allah (Quran) and be not stand divided” 3:103.

I feel that my story would remind some Muslims and Non Muslims as to how precious is their faith and how some people have given everything to enter into it. (abridged)



Story # 164


'Allah came knocking at my heart' By Giles Whittell, The Times UK , 7 January 2000

http://www.themodernreligion.com/convert/convert-british-knocking.html

Anecdotal evidence suggests that there has been a surge in conversions to Islam since

September 11, especially among affluent young white Britons

Six months ago Elizabeth L. — a graduate in political science, the daughter of affluent white

British parents, an opponent of terrorism in all its forms — climbed Mount Sinai at night towatch the desert sunrise from its summit.

“It was the stillest, most peaceful place I’ve ever been,” she says. “I could hear my feelings come

up from within me, and in one surreal moment it all seemed to come together.”

Last Friday, at 4.45pm, Elizabeth went to Regent’s Park Mosque in Central London and

converted to Islam.

It wasn’t hard. She didn’t even have to wear a scarf. Witnessed by two Muslim men and nine

other friends squeezed into the imam’s office, she pronounced, in Arabic learnt from a tape thenight before, the words she will repeat like a mantra five times a day for the rest of her life:

“There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his messenger.” Afterwards there was a modest

celebration at Al-Dar on the Edgware Road. Elizabeth and her well-wishers sipped mint tea and

smoked apple-flavoured tobacco from a hookah. There was no booze, but she never drank muchanyway.

Why has she done this? “I know it sounds clichéd, but Allah came knocking at my heart. That’s

really how it feels. In many ways it is beyond articulating, rather like falling in love.”

It was, in other words, intensely personal. As she read the Koran and prepared for her conversion, the September attacks came and went and failed to derail her spiritual journey,

despite their proven link to a fundamentalist Islamist terror network. In as far as they featured in

her thinking, they even elicited some sympathy. All terrorism is cowardly, she says. “But I cansee why people get fed up with the West. Capitalism is enormously oppressive.”..

They are people like Elizabeth (who asked for her name to be changed because she has not told

her parents yet); like Lucy Bushill-Matthews, a 30-year-old graduate of Newnham College,Cambridge, who flirted with Islam as a student in order to dismiss it, but found it “so simple andlogical I couldn’t push it away”; like “Yahya”, whose father is a pillar of the Anglo

Establishment and who feels that Islam “fits right into British tradition”; and like Joe Ahmed-

Dobson, a son of the former Labor Minister Frank Dobson who believes that Islam transformedhis spiritual life — and helped him to get a first at university.

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0,,7-2002010026,00.html


http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0,,7-2002010026,00.html




If there is something familiar about these people’s startling choices, there should be. We have

been here before, or at least Imperial Britain’s adventuring classes and their moneyed gap-year

successors have.

T. E. Lawrence fell hard for the romance and otherness of Islam and came to embody them for

succeeding generations even though he never converted. Gai Eaton, a former British diplomatnow in his seventies, did convert. His influential work Islam and the Destiny of Man has become

required reading for bright young Anglo-Saxons turning to his adopted faith, often as anexpression of dissatisfaction with a Western culture that appeared to have offered them

everything.

Matthew Wilkinson made headlines when he converted and changed his name to Tariq in 1993;

he was a former Eton head boy. He and Nicholas Brandt, another Etonian and the son of aninvestment banker, swapped their destinies as scions of the Establishment for a Slough semi

shared with four other Muslims.

Lord Birt’s son, Jonathan, forsook a fast track into the ranks of the great and the good byconverting in 1997 and starting a PhD on British Islam. So did a son and a daughter of Lord

Justice Scott, the scourge of Tory sleaze and the chairman of the Arms to Iraq inquiry.

And so did Jemima Khan. “My decision . . . was entirely my own choice and in no way hurried,”

the 21-year-old daughter of the billionaire James Goldsmith declared angrily after suggestionsthat she had converted to marry Imran Khan, the former Pakistan cricket captain. ..Her plea

seemed hard to credit in the circumstances, but it is a common one from educated British women

trying to persuade baffled non-Muslims that conversion did not mean surrendering their

independence or their critical faculties.

For Lucy Bushill-Matthews, it meant the reverse. “When I went to Cambridge I joined theChristian and Islamic societies and all three political parties,” she says. “I wanted to explore all

the possibilities in order to dismiss them.”

Yahya, too, chose Islam from the broadest possible religious gamut. He was raised in a high- profile London family that, because of his father’s position, could not be seen to favour one faith

over another. He then took a degree in comparative religion — the theological equivalent of a

blind wine tasting — and Islam, quite simply, won.

“It’s pure monotheism,” he says. “It has a clear moral system and an intact tradition of religiousscholarship. No scripture expresses its message of the oneness of God as clearly as the Koran. It

also has a remarkably rich mysticism, which may be what appeals to middle-class white Britslike me.”

Yahya converted five years ago. Now 33, he is at Oxford writing a PhD on British Islam and isdismayed not just by last September’s attacks, but also by the mauling he says his religion has

suffered since in the media, even — or especially — at the hands of would-be sympathisers. “It’s

very painful for all of us to be associated with such sickening barbarism (of the attacks),” hesays. “That’s not what we signed up for. And now we can’t portray our religion in undiluted



form. It’s always mediated by someone else. It’s incredibly frustrating to have Polly Toynbee

trying to save you from yourself.”

All those I spoke to agreed that Christianity claims to answer the same yearnings for meaningand guidance. All had rejected it on intellectual grounds. Why grapple with mental puzzles such

as the Holy Trinity and Original Sin, they asked, when the alternative, asserting neither, provedto them so much more satisfying? (Abridged)



Story # 165






The Case of: SATISH CHANDRA GOEL (MOHD. USMAN), BULANDSHAHAR, UP,

INDIA


01I was born in the city of BULANDSHAHAR, UP which has historical importance. My father

was having a big Grocery shop. I have one younger brother. My father died when I was inIntermediate, so I could continue my education further and started sitting on the Shop.

My business grew and I opened a whole sale shop for my brother also. We were quite successful

in our business.

02 I was married to a wealthy trading family of Muzaffarnagar. My wife is a very gentle lady,

she is a Post Graduate. We have two sons and one daughter.

My father was very generous in spending on religious causes. I also inherited this habit from

me. I used to give lavish money for any religious cause, including building and renovation of

Muslim mosques.

03. My father had constructed an old market and the shops were rented to many people, two of them were Muslims. We decided to reconstruct the market and sent notice to all the shopkeepers

to vacate the shops. We were also ready to pay them some money to compensate for their

inconvenience.

Now one of the Muslim shopkeeper went to the Imam of local Mosque and told him the

situation. After learning details, Maulana told him to vacate the shop immediately as Islam does

not allow for any Muslim to violate his trust or contract or agreements.

04. Next day when I went to market, I saw the shop keeper vacating the shop. I officered him100,000 rupees, but he refused to take it saying that Islam does not allow it.

I was amazed and I asked that if his religion has rules for renting shops also. He told me , yes

my religion gives instruction for all spheres of life.




05. I went to Imam Sahib of the mosque and asked him did Islam has rules for such small matters

also. He told me not only this but even smaller matters than that are also covered in islam.

He said that it is mistake of Muslims that have not spread the real islam to Non Muslims of this

country. I was very impressed by his talk and then I used to visit him regularly and he gave me

some books on islam.

06. I got interested in Islam and he told me to go to Phulat and meet Maulana Kalim Sahib there.

I met Maulana and accepted Islam on his hand.

He named me USMAN and told that this was the name of one of the companions of our prophet,

who was very rich and used to spent lots of money on religious causes.


07. Maulana asked me to deal kindly with my family and spend more an more money on them.

He asked me to deal with them kindly and with patience and ask them to read his small booklet“Your Trust…”

I purchased lots of new clothes for my children and special dress for my wife and mother. Then

I used to bring gifts very frequently for all of them. This continued for many days.

08. One day I told my wife not to cook any dinner as I will bring I from the famous restaurant of my city. After dinner when every one was happy, I took out that small booklet and asked my

wife to read it loudly to the family.

She started reading, but after a page or two, she could not control herself and started weeping. I

took the booklet and I read it to them.

09. Then I asked my mother, Is she ready to burn in hell fire. She said that I cannot bear a small

burn, how can I bear the hellfire. After some thought, My mother, and my wife decided to

accept Islam. Then all our children also became Muslim. I took all of them to Phulat andMaulana gave them new Islamic names.


10. Maulana had told us not to declare our Islam not for the time being. But the news spread and

my family members were very unhappy. My in-laws took my wife and children away.

But my wife had read the stories of early Muslims and what they had to undergo to save their

faith, so she stood firm. Son they gave up and we were united and free to practice our faith,

Alhamdolillah.




11. I gave back the key of Shop to my Muslim tenant , saying that this shop is his now for ever. I

have got much more than shop in lieu of it.

The other Muslim shopkeeper, went to court, he lost the case and also had to pay all the cost.

I also had pity on him and I also gave them the key to the shop.

I am busy in Missionary activities and many people have accepted Islam on my hand,

Alhamdolillah.


12. We should tell people about real Islam. There are so many Islamic teachings, which are soreasonable and logical that every one will be attracted to it.

Muslims have kept their religion to themselves and have not propagated it to their brothers living

in their neighborhood.


Source: Monthly ARMAGHAN of Dec. 2008



Story # 166


Dr. R.K MALHOTRA (DR. AHMED SAEED) DELHI, INDIA

Dr. RK MALHOTRA is the elder brother of Mr. V K MALHOTRA, the well known leader of

Delhi BJP, who served as Chief Minister of Delhi and also as Minister in Indian Cabinet. His

family migrated from Pakistan during partition. His family is well educated and very influential.RK completed his studies from St. Stephen college Delhi, did his B. Sc and M. Sc in Chemistry

and then went to Oxford for doctoral studies. He served in London for six years and then came

back to India hearing about his parent’s illness…let us pick up the thread from that point

onwards.

I attended to my father during his long illness and was deeply shocked when he died in 1989.

Within 9 days my mother also died and this was a dual blow to me. At least I felt contended that

I was able to attend to my parents in their old age, which is so different from what I saw in West.

In that state of mind, I decided to renounce the world after this dual blow, I visited all wellknown pilgrimage centers in India…I was surprised to see that what is going on in the name of

religion is really the business deals. Each so called Guru has his own party and they are in race

with each other to collect maximum number of disciples and wealth and position.

Disgusted I came back to Delhi and there met Swami Kalyan Deo, who was engaged in social

work and in educating poor. I agreed to join his trust and help him in education field. There also

I smelt same type of worldly atmosphere. I was not feeling happy and whenever I used todiscuss religion with Swami Ji, he would give not give me clear answers. I felt that he was also

in search of truth.

I left the trust and joined Delhi Public School and was soon made Principal of one of its branch,

later I rose to the position of Administrator and member of committee to establish more branches

of DPS in other parts of India.

Now I come to the curious part of my story, while I was retuning from Ahmedabad (where I had

gone in connection of establishing DPS branch), the train was late and I was waiting on the

platform. It was noon time…suddenly I saw a group of twenty or so porters moving in a groupin one direction…I thought that they want to demonstrate for some cause and I should find out

and help them if I could.

I was surprised when I saw that these people picked up water pots (LOTAS in Hindi) andwashed their faces, hands and feet. Some of them cleaned their teeth with a stick and then they

arranged themselves into rows….one of them went forward and lead them into prayer. All

members followed the leader. After end of prayer, they put back every thing in its place andwent back to their work.

This was my first encounters with Muslim prayers. I started thinking what religion would instill

so much discipline in such poor and uneducated people? I must study about this religion. Back



in Delhi, I went to Jama Masjid area where they sell Islamic books. When I told them that I want

to learn about Islam, they gave me two books, “What is Islam?” by MAULAN MANZOOR

NOMANI and “Ideal Prophet” by MAULANA SULAIMAN NADWI (English translations of two very good books on Islam and prophet’s life in Urdu-Ed.). When I read those books, I

immediately realized that Islam must be the true path. Later I read Hindi Translation of Quran

and my conviction was confirmed.

Now I decided to become Muslim, but it was not that easy. My name and family connections

were known to every one and no one in Delhi was ready to convert me (for want of repercussionand back lash-Ed.). I went to more than twenty Muslims Imams and Scholars, but no one found

enough courage to come forward. I was desperate and in the mean time my sister died and I was

present at her cremation. I saw her burning in flames and thought that this could be my end too.

Some one advised me to go to PHULAT Village in MUZZAFARNAGAAR and meet

MAULANA KALIM SIDDIQUI. I went there and accepted Islam on his hands. . He told that

he understood position in Delhi.

When I announced my conversion to my family… they all were taken back. I was offered all

sorts of rewards and positions to turn back….but how could I? I was not in this for money or position. My wife joined me in Islam and on advice from Maulana I went to Oman to work in an

International School.

During my stay in Oman I continued in my Islamic work…I am glad to report that many of mystudents and teachers (from west) got convinced of truth of Islam. Many of them accepted Islam

and some even established Islamic schools in their countries.

My advice to Muslims in India is that if they do not wish to introduce Islam to Non Muslims,

then at least they should not become a hindrance.

In the end I feel fortunate that Islam invited me itself…what would have happened to me if the

train was on time on that fateful day in Ahmedabad! !!! (Abridged)



Story # 167


AIYESHA ONG, BUDDHIST MALAYSIA

I was born as a Buddhist but I was not taught any thing about Buddhism, its teaching or its

principals. All I know about Buddhism was following my parents to the temples during festive

seasons…We used Joss sticks to prey to the idols, or even colored disks with inscriptions onthem.

When we prayed, we prayed for our own good, making up a very long ‘shopping list’.

In Malaysia, Chinese think they are superior. Most Chinese are either Buddhists or Christians

and there is very small minority who are Muslims. These Chinese Muslims are looked down

upon.

All the Malays are Muslims and Chinese consider them as stupid and lazy. Therefore to

associate with any Malays was a terrible ‘sin’.

To the older generation of Chinese, Islam is only for Malays, and since all Malays are Muslims,

Islam is a stupid religion…

Because I was brought up in that society, I also accepted their ignorant way of thought. Becauseof racial tension in my country, I did not trust any Malays and so my knowledge of Islam was

practically nil.

I was never a religious person at home, so when I came to England, I became an Atheist. All of

my friends were not religious either. All we were interested in was amusement and

entertainment,

It was after two years in England and one broken marriage that I met a Muslim Malay. He gave

me a few books on Islam and in order to please him I read them. I was very suspicious of Islam but I was willing to learn and soon my interest grew.

Then one day I came across a copy of the book “Islam our Choice”, I read that book carefully

and the feelings of those brothers and sisters expressed in that book made a great impression onme..

What really impressed me most about Islam was its moral teachings. One must dress decentlyand cover up one’s body. Another aspect of Islam that attracted me was cleanliness, which in

Islam is very important. Cleaning after call of nature, and performing WUDU before going to

prayer was natural and very wise.

Against my parent's wishes, I became a Muslim after six month of studying the religion…I

became a Muslim because I believe in Allah as the only God and Mohammad is His prophet….



(Abridged) Source:: The Muslim (London) Oct-Nov 1974 Vol. 12 p 10-11



Story # 168


Testimony of Ihsan Chua Gim Sam

Ihsan Chua Gim Sam, 23, born a Taoist, who when he was 9 years old believed in

Christianity because of a threat and later in his young teens followed the teachings of

Buddha, shares with Sister Muneera Al-Adros, his path toward embracing Islam. Ihsan's

story was published in the "Muslim Reader", Oct-Dec 1994. This is a publication of the

Muslim Converts' Association of Singapore.

According to a Hadith, when a child is born, he or she is like a white cloth, it is the parents thatwill colour the white cloth to be red, blue, green or yellow. My parents are Taoists, therefore I

was brought up as a Taoist since my birth. During my childhood years, I believed and accepted

Taoism even though I did not know anything about it. ..

When I was about 9 years old, a school teacher told me and some of my school mates that we

should all become Christians. We were told if we do not become Christians, we will have to die

as a punishment for being a non-Christian. I was very afraid of that threat. Thereupon I became a believer of two religions - Taoism (because of my family) and Christianity (because of the

threat). As I grew older, I could not decide which religion I should be practicing.

During my third and fourth year in Secondary School, I opted to study Buddhism as a subject inReligious Knowledge because it was known to be the easiest paper to study for. I was influenced

by the Buddhism doctrine because it is very logical and practical. The concept of benevolence inBuddhism struck a chord in my heart. I followed the teaching of Buddhism as closely as possible but I did not become Buddhist I found that even though Buddhism is based on good principles

and practices, however, it lacks the presence of a supreme being - God.

When I joined St. Andrew's Junior College, a missionary aided school, it was compulsory for all

students (except Muslim students) to attend the school's weekly chapel service. During theservice, we sang songs and listened to sermons. At the end of some of the services, we were

asked if any of us would like the become Christians. …

However I could not settled down with one one-denomination of the Christian faith. I keptchanging from one church to another. I was still searching for inner peace and could not make up

my mind as to which church I should be attending….

While I was still active with the church, I got to know a Muslim whom I tried to talk to about

Christianity. She was very sure about the truth of her religion but she did not know how to

explain its truth to me. There was no way I could convince her about Christianity. It made me



wonder because many Muslims even those who are drug addicts, they are all "dead sure" that

Islam is the true religion. I decided to ask my Muslim friend what is so true about her religion

that its followers will not renounce it. She did not know how to explain to me but instead told meto get information on Islam from Darul Arqam, the Muslim Converts' Association of Singapore.

I agreed to her suggestion even though I regarded Islam as a religion of terrorism and a religion

that does not make sense. My reasoning was that if the religion is good, the people will be good.…

My family has been against Islam because of what always happened in the Middle East as well

as the Malay workers that my father hired, all of whom happened to be lazy and always

misbehaved.

Since I had agreed to visit Darul Arqam, I went on ahead to the Association. On my first visit I

attended the orientation class and was introduced to Brother Remy. I was shocked and impressedover two things that he told me. First, he pointed out that Islam is not based on emotion unlike

Christianity. I contemplated these words and was surprised at my reaction to those words.

Secondly, he said, "Don't convert first, until you ask questions as much as you want and whenyou have no more questions to ask, then only convert." In Christianity, you 41cannot ask questions because the more questions you ask the more confused you become.

After highlighting those two points, Brother Remy recommended to the Orientation class the

book, "Islam in Focus". I was shocked at what I found in the book. Some issues which I felt wasnot logical in Christianity but had no way to resolve them, I found the answers in this book. I

was also shocked to find in the book what I believed and like about Buddhism are actually

Islamic beliefs. There are many similarities in the principles in the principles of Buddhism with

that of Islam.

Since I got a lot more information from Islamic sources on Christianity, I was not satisfied. What

I found out about Christianity from the Islamic sources, I checked with various encyclopedias

and other different sources. I found that all the information I got from the Islamic sources weregenuine facts.

When I took a closer look (closer than I ever did before) at the prophecy, "the spirit of the truth

will come and lead people to all truth," I could clearly see that this prophecy was referring toProphet Muhammad (s.a.w.) and his message. This prophecy did not point out to Jesus (a.s.)

because the early Christians could not decide on the identity of Christ. To this date they are still

arguing regarding the identity of Christ.

During my study on Islam, I also tried to learn about Islam from Christian books and I foundthem to be malicious. With the knowledge I have on Islam, I could refute all the false claims

made by Christians. One example is the claim that they made about God in Islam - "that of being

seen as so far away and cannot be reconciled with His creations." I know this is not true because

in Islam, God is close to His creation, as close as to a person's jugular vein. "It was We whocreated man, and We know that dark suggestions his soul makes to him: for We are nearer to him

than (his) jugular vein." (The Holy Quran, [50:16])



Later on, when my family found out that I was a practicing Muslim, there was chaos. It became

more chaotic when I observed fasting during the month of Ramadan. I was almost driven out of my house. The situation at home continued to be strained for several months thereafter. I did not

eat at home. I was accused of not loving my family anymore. There were constant quarrels

between my family and I. I tried to explain Islam to them but they just did not understand.

I grew afraid to go home. I stayed out late at night. One day, my mother approached me and toldme not to be out so late at night. She said my father had expressed concern about my late nights.

She suggested that I buy my own food and she would cook separately for me. Now, most of the

time my family and I eat halal food at home. It is more convenient for my mum to cook disheswhere not only my family members can eat but also her Muslim son. Situation at home has

improved for the better except for the occasional harmless nagging that I get from my family.

Alhamdulillah.



Story # 169






The Case of: RAJESHWAR (ALAUDDIN) PANIPAT, HARYANA, INDIA


01.I was born in a small village in PANIPAT, HARYANA. My father had a small piece of land,

in which he used to grow vegetables. I had two sisters older than me. We were a poor family.

My father first married my two elder sisters and then I also got married. Three years after my

marriage, my father died and next year my mother also died. These deaths affected me very

much and I took to drinks.

02. My wife was a very good women, she opened a shop in the village and took care of me and

my children. I had five sons and three daughters, Some how my wife worked very hard to make

both ends meet, I do not know how.


03. Once I was lying in a field, totally intoxicated, my wife took me to Imam of local; mosque

and asked him to do anything, so I can get over my drinking habit. He told that I have oneMaulana in Phulat, who can do this thing, but he would ask you to become Muslim.

My wife told him that she is ready to do anything, if I could be cured me of this bad habit.

04. When I reached Phulat and told Maulana about the condition imposed by the Imam, he told

that it is not conditional to become Muslim. A man should accept Islam for the sake of Allah

and to save himself or herself from the hell fire.

He then asked me to go to a doctor, who used to give medicine for curing people from this habit.I went to him and he gave me medicine to be taken every day….in ten days or so, I stoppeddrinking.

05. When I got cured, my wife took me back to Phulat and thanked Maulana and told that she

was ready to become Muslim. Maulana sahib then explained Islam to us and what it means for our future life…. Myself and my wife accepted Islam with open hearts and we got new Islamic

names.



Then all our children also accepted Islam and got new Islamic names. Then Maulana sahib told

my wife that I should go with a Muslim Missionary party for forty days, to cement my conditionof staying away from Alcohol.

I went for forty days and in that period I learned about prayer and other things of daily needs.


06. People of my village first very happy that I got cured of my sickness and bad habits, but

slowly and slowly they started opposing me and my family.

I discussed with Maulana and we left that village and went to a nearby town and opened a smallgrocery shop.

My children are now studying in an Islamic MADARSA and learning Quran and other things.

My wife is also active in missionary activities.


07. Once my eldest son ran away from house and my wife was very much concerned by his

absence. Some one rumored that my family people killed him. This made her condition

worse….we contacted Maulana and he told us to pray special prayer and pray to Allah.

Me and my wife spent who night in supplicating to Allah to bring our child back and in the

morning, we got the news that our son was back. This strengthened our faith on Allah and HisMercy on us.


08. Maulana sent me to work with a Contractor in Calcutta. After working for some time, he wasimpressed by my work and made me the storekeeper of his factory.

He then sent me to NANDIGRAM for a new site and I started my missionary activities there.

Many labours accepted Islam on my hand Alhamdolillah.

Every one was worried when the trouble started there, (Village agitation re. NANO project

there- MUQ). But Allah kept me safe.


09. It is Muslim’s duty to preach and tell Islam to every one. If they do not do it, then they are

not doing the duty imposed on them by their Prophet, PBUH.

We should try our best to save every one from hell fire.




Source: Monthly ARMAGHAN of Jan. 2008.



Story # 170


HERA LAL (BILAL AHMED) AZAMGARH UP INDIA.

I was born in a Hindu family and my father and brothers came to Delhi in search of work. My

father had a small shop in Delhi and I used to help him occasionally. We were poor and in

Delhi, it is not easy to get a house for poor people. There was a small embroidery workshopnearby which was owned by a pious Muslims. It was arranged that during night, I would sleep

with other workers of the workshop in a small room.

Now it was the practice of the owner to read every night FAZAIL A’MAL (a popular book dealing with rewards for actions). I used to listen to these words every night and soon got

attracted to these words. So much so that I requested to be taken into the faith of Islam. The

owner cautioned me to take care that my fathers and brothers do not know about it, otherwise I

would be tortured and even lose my life.

Accordingly I took care to hide my prayers and fasting from them, but soon they found out. Itold them boldly that I have become Muslim and no persuasion or torture would now turn me

back from the true path. Well I was beaten mercilessly…was taken back to my ancestral village

and tortured there. I was sent to another village, where my mother was from (to change the

environment so to say), but all proved fruitless. They showed me to many soothsayers andvillage quacks to heal me from my sickness. But all proved fruitless.

So much so that one day, I told my father, even if you cut me into pieces, I will not turn awayfrom worship of true God. When all their efforts failed…they left me alone and I got enrolled in

a Muslim Madarsa to learn and study about Islam, and Quran.

Later my father told me that village priest had told him to kill me, otherwise I will turn all of

them away from their ancestral religion. I tried to explain Islam to my father and other

members…..in the end they got convinced of the truth of Islam. But my father told “What yousay is true, Islam is the correct religion….but I cannot leave religion of my forefathers ..what

other people will say and feel”

I remembered the story of Uncle of our prophet, who gave similar reply to our prophet from hisdeath bed. In the end I realized that it is Allah which grants guidance to those who ask for it and

strive for it.

I have one uncle who works in Saudi Arabia….I know he is very close to accepting Islam

(abridged).



Story # 171


An African Missionary (Name Withheld), Burundi

Note: God guides sincere souls to His true path, irrespective of the circumstances.

The nuns looked so clean and smart in their starched white habits. They looked like the saints inthe pictures…I dreamt that I could be one of them.

I got excellent grades in exams every year and I was asked if we would like to study religion,

they thought we were pious for our ages…I could not wait to tell my father, who surprisinglysaid “absolutely not”! He would not like that kind of life without husband and children for his

girl. He enrolled me in another school.

Years spent as Roman Catholic Mission School at Burundi made me tough as we competedagainst boys.. I was interested in religion and excelled in languages…I accepted a full

scholarship to a University in Cameroon. I later got admission in Faculty of Theology inBelgium..

My language ability and my mastery of some African dialects attracted them as a good candidate

for missionary work.

As the years went by, I began to see thru the layers of theology and found the superficiality of

their teachings. I was not alone in seeing so many contradiction in Old and New testaments. Tolearn that Trinity is only once mentioned in New Testament was a surprise..

After graduation from the University, I took a position in Nairobi Kenya. The Church was veryanxious to have an African in a position such as this. They had many programs for women…I

was sent to regional office in Togo…

I had been facing much mediocrity from the Church and at the same time I had Muslim friends

who were very comfortable in their knowledge of God, who prayed five times daily and who had

many virtues. They believed in what they said, in contrast to the Church.

I had never been taught any thing about Islam except a superficial introduction, so I did a lot of

reading about the religion.

I cannot say that to convert to Islam was easy; it was very difficult. But when one is searching

for the truth there is no way to deny it. The decision was also difficult for economic reasons as I

had one of the highest paying jobs with many perks.

I resigned from my position citing my conversion as my reason and immediately lost my job and

salary, housing and medical benefits. I became destitute in one day!



My family does not like my Hijab but they admire the moral aspects of Islam…The spiritual

climate of West Africa is ripe for Islam and there are many projects that need to be done. This is

what I have been trained to do and so my path is straight and narrow.

(Abridged) Source:: Islamic Voice , Feb 1997, p 18



Story # 172


"The Best Speech is the Speech of Allah, And the Best Guidance is the Guidance of Muhammad"

by Jameel William Aalim-Johnson

http://www.pbs.org/muhammad/essays/johnson.html

Note: Jameel Aalim–Johnson , is Chief of Staff for Congressman Gregory Meeks of New York.

Raised as a Christian, he converted to Islam in his early 20s. He now organizes the weekly

Muslim congregational Friday prayer on Capitol Hill.

Raised in a church-going Christian household, I was always a believer in God and organizedreligion. Even after watching "Roots," I still believed that the religion of God was Christianity

and I fully expected that one day I would be baptized and join the Church.

However, television had opened my mind to the realization that other people believed as strongly

in their religion as my family believed in its own. I also had to consider the circumstances thatresulted in my Afro-American family residing in America in the first place: the transcontinental

slave trade of Africans. On my mother's side of the family we can trace my great grandparents to

their time as Virginia slaves. As we are well aware, Africans brought here to become chattelslaves were not allowed to speak their native tongue, maintain their family names, engage in

their native customs, or practice their native religions. They were forcibly converted to

Christianity, although the converted did not achieve an improved status of spiritual brotherhoodwith his converter.

That summer, perhaps because I missed being in school, I went on a reading frenzy. Two works I

read that summer were The New Testament and The Autobiography of Malcolm X. Malcolm's

autobiography was completely captivating. I found myself reading it when I woke up in themorning, on the train going back and forth to the city, when I came home in the evening, and

before going to bed at night. I, like many others, was intrigued by Malcolm's transformations

from street criminal to Black Muslim minister to orthodox Muslim and international figure.

The more I began to study the Christian doctrine, the more I began to see a divergence betweenit and the Bible. On the other hand, the more I began to study the way of the prophets, fromAdam to Jesus (peace be upon them all), I found it coincided with the doctrine and the way of

life espoused by Islam.

More and more, my conversations turned toward religion, particularly among my friends and

colleagues. I was not, however, ready to discuss my Islamic leanings with family members. Allthat changed on February 15, 1988 with what has so far been the saddest day of my life: the day







toward non-Muslims. As I began to change and see the world through different eyes, focusing

more on the spiritual and less on the material, I had difficulty understanding why others didn't

see what I saw. …(Abridged)





I used to see that many people used to come to Maulana, every one with different problem and

situations, but when he met Maulana, his problem was solved and every one used to think that

Maulana loves him most.

05. He sent me to a lawyer to complete the official formalities. He asked about my Islamic

name, I asked if it is a must, he said it is not a must, but it helps in the long run. I said that I likethe Word AKBAR when it is called in prayers….he then named me Mohd. AKBAR.


06. I have a feeling that my family will not oppose my decision to become Muslim. My mother

loves me very much and I am very hopeful that she will become Muslim.

But first I will spend forty days along with the Missionary party, when I come back, I will start

work on my mother and other family members.


07. I feel that many Hindus are very simple, no one told them what Islam is really. They have

misconceptions and wrong opinion about Islam and Muslims.

Recently one LALA JI accepted Islam, he had spent 2, 500,000 Rupees on the Demolition of

Babri Mosque….he thought that he spent that money in the cause of God…. But his young son

was killed in accident and that opened his eyes. Now he has spent the same amount of money to build a mosque in his city… Allah gave him guidance in this way.

There are many cases like that, when one is active in this field, he sees and hears many cases likethis,


08. I would like to warn my Muslim brothers, that they should remember their responsibility of

conveying this message of Islam to every one.

If they do not do that, Allah will question them on the last day…. I do not know what answer

will they give there.


Source: Monthly ARMAGHAN of May 2009.



Story # 174


Dr. KAMLA SURAYYA DAS , Kerala India

Note: Dr. Das was a well respected poet and writer in Malayalam language. She was born

in 1934. Her conversion to Islam in 1999 caused a furor in Indian and World Media.

Before her conversion to Islam, she was well respected at all levels, but after her conversion

all sorts of accusations were leveled at her. Here she provides her own response to these

accusations.

Yes, let the world know that I have become a Muslim. Islam which is a religion of peace andlove. Islam which is a perfect code of life. Moreover, I have not reached this decision

emotionally or suddenly, I have studied Islam with lot of care and consideration for a long time.

After my careful studies, I reached to the conclusion that it is Islam which gives maximum protection and rights to women. One of the best part of Islam is that instead of worshipping

innumerable gods in Hinduism, I am worshipping only One God, the True God, who is myCreator and Sustainer.

I was very much attracted by the Muslim women dress code especially the BURQA (a type of

Hijab popular in Indian subcontinent). It saves women from hungry grazes of men. It givesthem protection. I was using this dress occasionally for past 34 years while going for shopping,

going out and even on some foreign tours. I found that every one respects a women clad in

BURQA and no one teases her.

Islam has given maximum freedom and rights to women and thru out history, there was no

system who gave more rights to women than Islam. She has been given rights as a daughter,sister, wife and as a mother.

I do not think that it is slavery for women to reside inside in her house and take care of her husband and children and contribute in making a happy family life. No system can work unless

there be some sort of restriction and bounds on one’s action and Islamic system also provides

that. It is not Islam but social inequalities which has usurped rights of women. The blame

should be placed on these inequalities rather than on Islam.

I want to introduce Islam in this new millennium as a living and true religion, a religion which is

based on science, reason and logic. I wish o dedicate my talents of poetry in the praise of Allahand His religion. I am now in advance age, but I say that in my experience I never felt the peace

and tranquility in my entire life, like what I felt after accepting Islam (abridged and based on

many interviews).



Story # 175


My Conversion from Christianity to Islam, Hussein Amin

http://www.islamfortoday.com/webmaster.htm

Note: Mr. Hussein Amin is an Irish, he accepted Islam in 1998. He was having a Catholic

Background

Introduction

I have submitted my story of conversion to Islam mainly for the benefit of other (would-be)

western converts, especially those who, like myself, come from a genuinely religious Christian background. Whilst Christianity and Islam have much in common, there remain fundamental

differences about which no compromise is possible, principally concerning the Christian doctrine

of Trinity and the belief that Jesus is divine.

I converted to Islam before I became Internet-aware and had to do all the research for myself. Itwas essential to me that my investigation of Islam result in intellectual and theological

satisfaction. I trust that others from a similar background to mine will find that some of my

experiences along the path from Christianity to Islam serve as useful pointers and starting pointsfor investigation in their own spiritual quest.

Jesus - Son of God?

Where I did have a real problem, though, was with the role of Jesus. I had been brought up a

Catholic Christian, believing in the Holy Trinity of God the Father, Jesus the Son plus the HolySpirit - three persons in one god.

Islam rejects this and teaches the absolute oneness of God (Tawheed) and specifically that Jesus,

though a great prophet, was only human and not divine. (There are many Quranic verses which

are very specific, omitted for space-Ed.)

Islam preaches pure monotheism…. Chapter 112 of the Quran is quite explicit about this:

He is God, the only One, God the Everlasting. He did not beget and is not begotten,

And none is His equal.

Saint Paul and the early Christian Church:





..As my knowledge increased, I came to reject what I now regarded as the doctrinal innovations

of the foremost evangelist of the early church, Paul of Tarsus, usually referred to as Saint Paul

the Apostle.

Paul was not an Apostle at all. In fact, he personally never even met Jesus, yet claimed to

receive visions of Jesus which overrode the first-hand historical and theological knowledge of those who had known and followed Jesus during his actual ministry. .. For the original Jewish

disciples of Jesus the notion of a literal and physical Son of God would have been blasphemousand in direct contravention of the First Commandment….

Saint Paul's missionary work was overwhelmingly directed at polytheist pagans in the northern

Mediterranean. In Corinth he gave up in exasperation on the Jews who stayed faithful to the

worship of God alone and to the oneness of God

The Questionable Validity of the New Testament

As for the four Gospels…. these were compiled from unreliable third and fourth-hand accountslong after Jesus' lifetime.

Mark, 65-75 AD, Luke: 80-85 AD, Matthew, 85-90 AD, John: 95-140 AD..

In addition, it seems silly to have to point it out but Jesus, his apostles and disciples were Jewswhose scriptures were in Hebrew. However, the new testament was written in Greek. …

It is not credible that the Jesus and his followers would be quoting from a foreign language

translation containing significant differences rather than from the Hebrew original of their Jewish

scriptures. This casts further doubt on the accuracy of the New Testament and again undermines

its validity as a basis for doctrine….

Jesus was regarded by his disciples and other contemporaries as a prophet. They do not acclaim

him as an incarnation of God or the Son of God.

My Journey from Catholic Christian to Arian Unitarian to Muslim:

As a result of my studies and after much soul-searching, I came to reject Pauline church doctrinalinnovations such as the Trinity, a concept unknown to Jesus' disciples and not definitively

established as official church doctrine until as late as 381A.D.

I found myself in sympathy with the more purely monotheist beliefs of the late third and earlyfourth century priest Arius of Alexandria and others such as Bishop Eusebius of Nicomedia (later Patriarch of Constantinople), their teacher, the respected priest and martyr Lucian of Antioch

and, in later decades, Roman Emperor Constantius II.

The Catholic Encyclopedia defines Arianism as a heresy:

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01707c.htm




What the encyclopedia fails to mention is that what they are describing as heresy was, in fact,

official church doctrine in the middle of the fourth century. For example, after the Council of

Ariminum in 359A.D. St. Jerome wrote, "the whole world groaned and marveled to find itself Arian". This prevailed until after the death of Constantius and his fellow Arian successor when a

changing political climate within the Roman Empire resulted in the persecution of Arian

Christians and the conclusive imposition of Trinitarianism as official church doctrine at theSecond General Council in 381A.D.

When I too came to the conclusion that Jesus was not divine, I had crossed an essential hurdle in

terms of mindset and beliefs. Whether or not Jesus is divine is the absolute crux of the matter as

far as any believing, theologically aware Christian is concerned. Once I had come to this newunderstanding of Jesus, it was but a small step for me to be able to accept a later prophet and

embrace Islam … it made sense to me that God should send a new prophet, Mohammed, to call

mankind back to the correct worship of himself, the one true god.

There are 25 prophets recognized by name in the Quran. All but three of them are also

mentioned in Jewish or Christian scripture:

I had now reached the point where I genuinely wanted to be a Muslim in my own right, ..

For I see my conversion to Islam not as a rejection of what I regard as true Christianity, simply

as a rejection of the tangent or erroneous path along which Paul and his followers led astray thenew, gentile, former polytheistic Christians of the Greco-Roman world. Sadly, all major forms of

modern Christianity - Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy and Protestantism - stem from

Paul.

The Catholic Encyclopedia states that Arianism has never been revived (although it concedes

that such eminent figures as Sir Isaac Newton and Milton displayed Arian sympathies). What itfails to acknowledge is that Arianism has, for the last fourteen hundred years, been incorporated

within Islam. There is no one left within Catholicism, Protestantism or Orthodoxy to espouse theoneness of God.

Statement of Theological Beliefs

With a clear conscience and with none of the mental torment on this issue that I had to face when

I first started studying Islam, I can now state that I believe Jesus to have been an entirely human prophet of God, one of the greatest prophets of God and worthy of the utmost respect, but that he

was neither an incarnation of God nor the Son of God.

I believe Mohammed to have been a later (the last) prophet of God. And just as the true

Christianity of Jesus' genuine apostles in Jerusalem is the successor to Judaism, so is Islam, thefinal revelation of God's word, the legitimate successor to and fulfillment of original Jerusalem-

Jewish Christianity…





I rejected Christianity as it is known to us today because I no longer believed in the doctrine of

Trinity and the claim that Jesus is God. I came to believe wholeheartedly in the oneness of God.

And I judge this belief to have found its best expression in the religion of Islam. Whatever thefuture may hold in terms of personal relationships, I will continue to hold these beliefs.

And I am sickened by the politicized hate-filled philosophy, which passes itself off as Islamwhen in fact not only does it violate the most basic Islamic rules of warfare, it is often indicative

of a complete lack of trust in God's promise that no one will have to suffer more than they canendure. What a long list of recent examples - September 11, Palestine suicide bombings, the

mid-Atlantic shoe bomber, the Tunisian synagogue massacre, the ongoing slaughter of thousands

of innocent Muslims by Muslims in Algeria, the Bali bombing, the Moscow theatre massacre,and now apparently even the Washington serial sniper. These extremists have set the cause of

the spread of Islam back decades. At times I can't help but echo the lament of British convert,

Michael A. Malik : "Islam is wonderful, but I can't stand the Muslims!"

Thanks to Parents

Finally, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to my parents - devout, practicing

Catholics - who, although strongly disapproving of my conversion to Islam on theological

grounds, have accepted my decision and have continued to show me great love, understanding,

sensitivity and practical support. I have been most blessed in this regard.

http://www.islamfortoday.com/malik01.htm

http://www.islamfortoday.com/malik01.htm





05. Then came British, who enslaved people of India and took its gold and silver out of this

country. They killed and hanged people by thousands.

But I never used to listen to these talks of YOGESH and was living in my own world of hate and

bigotry.

06. Babri mosque agitation gave a new meaning to Hindu Extremism. I was part and parcel of

that agitation. I spent my every energy for that movement and I was present in Ayodhya on 6

Dec 1992, when the mosque was being demolished. In fact I was commanding one unit of peopleengaged in demolition.

When I returned, I gave a big party to celebrate the demolition… disgusted my son left the house

… I must have spent close to 2,500,000 Rupees on this cause.


07. We had demolished the mosque… but I had a fear from inside. The date of 6 December wasa day of bad omens for us. On 6 Dec. 1993, there was a fire and short circuit is one of my

warehouse and good worth close to a Million rupees were lost. We used to suffer some or theother misfortune on 6 Dec….the worst was yet to come.

On 6 Dec 2005, my only son YOGESH had gone to Lucknow in his car. A truck hit his vehicle

and he and driver died on the spot. He left a son aged 9 and a daughter aged 6.

08. This made me almost insane and I was not in my senses. My wife took me to many

physicians, temples and every where else, but every thing was useless.

Then she took me to HARDOI in the famous Islamic Madarsa…. I got some peace. One scholar

there gave me a small booklet “Your Trust returned to you” by Maulana Kalim from Phulat. Iread that book and then he gave me some more books on islam

09. These books convinced me of truth of Islam and the follies which I was following. Themonth of December was close and I wanted to become Muslim before 6 Dec. On 5 Dec I asked

many Muslims to make me Muslims, but no one came forward.

Some one told Maulana about my case and he sent one man, who was himself the one who participated in the Babri mosque demolition, to me. He met me on 22nd Jan and I recited

KALIMA on his hands and I became Muslim.

10. I them thanked Maulana on phone and told him that I had spent so much money to demolish

one house of Allah (during the period for my ignorance) now I will spend the same and more for

construction of House of Allah.

What affects me most is the condition of my son YOGESH, he was so close to islam, but he

went from this world without reciting KALIMA, what will happen to him? Maulana consoles



me by saying that in such cases, the angels of Allah help the person in reciting KALIMA before

their death. I am sure that this must have happened with my son YOGESH.


1. On Spouse

11. My wife became Muslim without much effort… I am sure she was half a Muslim already andit was a trail for her to live with so much Anti Islamic and Anti Muslim man like me for all these

years.


Source: Monthly ARMAGHAN of June 2009.





could never become free. That is the advice which I wish to give all my Muslim Sisters who are

living in west or Islamic countries. They should not accept that “freedom” at any cost.





I decided to learn more about Islam and see a Muslim country by my own eyes. I visited Egypt

and spent most of my time seeing mosques, Arabic Calligraphy and listening to Quran being

recited in most beautiful of all tones.

So much so that one day…one Muslim asked me “If you are so much interested in Islam and

Arabic, why did not I become Muslim?”.

“But I am already a Muslim!!” I told him. He then told me that to be officially recognized as a

Muslim, I have to declare my faith in front of two witnesses…I did so and they gave me acertificate…. I kept is along with all other Arabic literature I had with me…..I was Muslim long

back….Arabic and Quran had converted me long back (abridged).





rationale that they ”just hate us,” and this blind rage can only be dealt with a sweeping yet blunt

sword.

The ”West” needs to acknowledge that, somewhere in the legitimate desire for human andeconomic security, a line has also been crossed. And crossing the proverbial lines has led us

collectively down slippery slopes in opposite directions, from where we are now able to dismissunthinkable horrors without losing too much sleep by saying: ”Yes, it is terrible. But don't forget

about [insert appropriate atrocity here].”

Although it shouldn't, it needs to be said that the vast majority of Muslims are appalled by what

is being justified in the name of their religion. The vast majority of Westerners, meanwhile,

deplore the civilian death toll we have racked up in the name of freedom.

I know it needs to be said because I have heard people say the exact opposite.

Clearly, the vast majority of humanity does not think butchering others is a good idea, and yet

we are somehow caught in this whirlwind of simplistic rationalizations for murder as the bodycount climbs.

The only way I see out is to painfully examine our own complicity in the problem. How did it

come to this? How did we not stop it?

In today's globalize world, no one can claim complete immunity from the events on the planet. I

understand the paradox within which I live - condemning the occupation of Palestine while

living on land that was taken from the First Nations. Yet I, we, Muslims and Westerners, cannotallow ourselves to be paralyzed by such contradictions. Rather, let them spur us into action to

rectify what we can within ourselves and our own lives. It is too easy to cast blame on someone

else and believe that the roots of the problem lie elsewhere.

”Be the change you want to see in the world,” Mahatma Gandhi, a great Eastern thinker, oncesaid. Voltaire, a great Western thinker, warned: ”As long as people believe in absurdities, they

will continue to commit atrocities.”







Story # 181


AMINA JENIAT, USA

I was born in LA state of USA in 1956. My parents were devout Catholics, we later moved to

Florida where I completed my education and joined modeling profession. I got married and had

three children. Our financial position was very good and apparently I had no worry in the worldso to say.

But I was not feeling happy, I was missing something. In my childhood days I was attracted to

religion and had memorized many passages of the Bible. I left modeling and joined Universityto do further studies, I was 30 years at that time.

In my class there were many African American and many Muslims also. I had very bad opinion

about Muslims, and used to equate Muslims with hate, violence and terrorism. I thought may beGod has commissioned me to save these wretched Muslims.

But I used to observe that these Muslim students were different from other students. They did

not mix freely with girls and would shun any party where alcohol was to be served. Whenever I

used to explain to them beauties of Christianity, they would smile and keep quite. I was

frustrated in my efforts to convert any of them.

Then I thought, let me study about Islam, then I would present to them the mistakes of Islam. On

the outset, I did not notice any of the qualities with which Christian writers and priests associateMuslims with. I started reading English translation of Quran. I was surprised that it provided

answers to all question which rise in the mind. On the other hand Bible leaves many doubts and

questions unanswered.

I studied more about Islam and discussed it with Muslims students, I discovered that Islam really

is totally different from what is projected in Western Press and Media. When the truth wasmanifest to me, I declared my new faith on 22 May 1977.

Now my trial period started.. My husband who loved me left me and I had left to parent the two

children….I lost my job because my firm did not like my conversion to new faith….then USfamily court decided that if I want to parent my children I have to leave Islam and come back to

Christianity!! I had to surrender custody of my children.

I had only one support in this period of trial….My Allah ….My God….I used to prey him all the

time, to help me overcome all these trails and give me a way out. I busied myself in the

missionary work of Islam and soon married a Moroccan Muslim, who was Imam in a localMosque and used to recite Quran in a most beautiful voice and manner.

Well I gave birth to a son from this new marriage, who is now 10 years old and very

handsome….



I have established many Women study circles where we discuss the rights and duties which

Islam gives to women. Many US women are wonderstruck when they discover how muchhonor, right and protection Islam provides to them. I praise Allah that he has blessed me with

converting many Women and men to Islam.

One last word….My old family is coming closer to Islam….the eldest son accepted Islam and

took the name Farook. (abridged)



Story # 182


LORENZ (AIYESHA) AL SAEED, USA

One day when I was six years old, my parents gave me a shiny quarter, and told me to put it in

the collection plate for Church “to give it to Jesus for his work”

When I returned the quarter was still in my pocket, because I frankly told my parents that Jesus

was not there!! My parents were more amused than concerned…

I had descended in a family that had three Christian ministers as my grandparents….I attended alEpiscopal Private School, where we studied world religions during our last term.

Trinity was a point which I never understood, I felt it was not logical. How could one Father

(the Great Spirit), plus His Son (Jesus) and one Holy Ghost all be together as one, inside one being?

It was logically impossible, and I had been raised to use rational thoughts to make decision in my

life…I continued reading Bible every night with my father after dinner, looking for answers and

enjoying stories of historical prophets.

In high school I met some more students from the Middle East, who sensing my inner dissatisfaction, asked me if I had ever learned about Islam. I found some books on Islam in

school library, including a English Translation of Quran.

My grandfather encouraged me to read these books as according to him, Islam contained a good

moral code of living..

The more I read, the more my understanding and excitement grew. I found the answers to all my

questions and more!

At the age of 17 I began regular Prayers (SALAT) and even completed my first month of

fasting…That summer I took the train to Bloomington Indiana to attend Muslim students lectures

and seminars…I stayed in campus with other Muslims for a week….

I moved to Houston to seek employment….one evening at an international costume party I met a

polite gentleman whom I later found to be an intelligent Saudi Student. We married shortly and

thru him God has let my dreams come true.

We have three children and he has taken me to perform hajj. I am content and satisfied and

greatly thankful to the Almighty God for accepting my prayers…

(Abridged) Source:: Saudi Gazette 13 April 2001, p9





Bible in this Koran. He told me "We believe Jesus is a Prophet of God, not the son of God nor

God himself" and immediately responded that I believe in the same

In 1995, I went to work at a cafeteria at a University a year after I graduated from High school.At work, I saw so many cultures and different religious people. I still had hate towards non-

Latinos, yet my first week at work a group of students came to buy some stuff at the store Iworked, and they were fighting amongst each other, that everyone wanted to pay.

This incident was very touching to me because I was a very giving person yet my friends took advantage of that quality. All the people in that group who came into the store wanted to pay for

the others…

I replied to him that I used to study Islam for political reasons. He asked, "Why did you stop?" I

told him that I didn't know where to get more information about Islam. He looks at me with joyand he said I have an American Muslim friend that converted six month ago.

The next day they came to visit me, and I saw this white male dressed like the people in theBible and looked like Jesus. My heart felt this peaceful calm feeling that I still feel. .. For two

months, Muslims were coming to me with books, pamphlets, and just to talk.

In September, I went to a party with my friend and I really got drunk that night and almost gotinto a fight, but my friend reminded me that I was studying Islam, so I stopped and asked him if

we can go home. The next day, at 9:00 in the morning I woke up with this disgusting feeling and

the phone rang. It was my friend from the University.

I told him to please pick me up and take me to the Mosque. He came like a lighting flash to my

house. I was nervous and happy at same time. We arrived at this beautiful Mosque Darul-Al-

Hijra in northern Virginia ten minutes away from my house.

At 10:00 a.m. the teacher came, very calm, and not pushing and asked me if I believed that Godis One, I said, "Yes." He asked if I believed that Jesus is a Prophet and the son Mary? I said,

"Yes." Do you believe that Muhammad is the Last Prophet of God, in doubts, I replied "Yes." At

that moment in doubts of Muhammad, I said to myself, “If I believe in the teachings of Islam, I

must be a fool not to accept in the one who brought it, I told the teacher that I was ready to became a Muslim (in submission to God); He told me to repeat:

"I testify that there is nothing worthy of worship than Allah and I testify that Muhammad is the

Prophet of Allah"

At this point, I could smell the mercy and the sweetness of heaven, felt the presence of God inmy torn, sick heart. I felt clean brightness in my new way of life. My life was ready for the next

journey on earth, the journey to Paradise.

All Praises are due to Allah, Lord of the Worlds that He has invited me to Islam, from among

billions of people in the earth to be a Muslim. My thanks are due to Allah the Almighty, for inviting me to His House Makkah in 1997 for Um-rah. (Abridged)



Story # 184






The Case of: PUSHPA BHAGAT (JAMILA), PATIALA, PUNJAB, INDIA


01. I was born in a poor family in RAJPURA, PATIALA, in a Bhagat family. My father’ name

was Shiv Ram Bhagat, and my Mother’ Somi Bai. We were three sisters.

At the age of 20, I was married to a rich family. My aunt thought that by marrying into a rich

family, I would be very happy. But my husband was a very cruel man and man of many vices. I

was treated no more like a made servant in their house.

02. I some how pulled on and I had two boys and one daughter. I started to open my own

workshop for tailoring and darning. Most boys working in my workshop were Muslims. I was

impressed by their sense of dress and specially their women as they covered their bodies.

So much so that I wanted to accept their faith. They were poor Muslims and told that our Baba

will come on such and such day and will make me Muslim.

03. He was of the group that visit graves and do many rites there, I was not knowing much and I

also started doing as he was doing.

I started facing difficulties from local Muslims and they started objecting to my life style…. My

business also suffered and I did not know what to do.


04. At that stage, I met some serious Muslim brothers and Sisters, who educated me about realIslam and the error into which I had fallen.

Then I accepted Islam all of a new and learned prayer and fasting and started to live as a trueMuslim should live. I educated my sons and daughters in the Islamic way and one of my son

memorized whole Quran, Alhamdolillah.






Story # 185


S. P. Singh Gautam (Mohd. Omar Gautam) India

Note: Mr. Gautam was born in Fatehpur UP is a well to do High Caste Hindu Family. He

got his B. Sc and M. Sc. Degrees in Agriculture from Pant Nagar University in 1980 and

1984. He accepted Islam in 1984 and due to opposition from local Hindu groups had to

discontinue his studies and take shelter elsewhere.

When I was 15 years old, I used to mediate on the rites and ceremonies that we used to conduct

as Hindus. Are they true and what is the logic behind that. Before that we were never told as towhy we were Hindus and why do we worship these idols and do all these elaborate rites. Who

created us all, what is the purpose of our life. What will happen to us when we die? Why there

are so many gods and goddesses in Hindu religion? Why a large number of people have been

made untouchable? Etc etc.

When I used to ask our elders these sorst of questions, they really had no answers. They onlyadvised me to follow the religion of my forefathers were. After all how they could be all

wrong? But these replies did not satisfy quest for knowledge.

When I reached Pant Nagar University, I devoted most of my spare time in reading books bynoted Hindu Scholars and Philosophers. I read Vedas, Puranans, Gita, Ramayana,

Mahabharata…..I read biographies of Gautam Buddha, Vivekananda, Param Hans, Gandhi,

Nehru etc. ….so as to know the secret of their success. I got very much confused and decided torenounce this world and spend rest of my life as hermit, in search of God and truth….

Then it came to mind as to not ask my own creator for guidance and ask Him to show me theright path…I did and the path opened for me in a strange way!!!

I made a scooter accident and was hospitalized for a few days. One of my fellow student, onenamed Nasir Khan used to visit me daily in hospital and console me. He helped me during my

stay in hospital and during my rehabilitation period. Once I asked him, as to why he was taking

so much pains for me….He answered that it was his duty as a Muslim to help others in

distress….I got impressed by this reply and wanted to know more about Islam, which gives suchgood advice.

He gave me some books about Islam and I started studying them. I read Hindi translation of Quran, life history of prophet of Islam, life histories of early Muslim Caliphs and Islamic history

in general. In six months and after reading 50 odd books, I got answers to all my questions as to

who my Creator is, Why I am on Earth and what will happen to me when I die… I got convincedthe truth mentioned in Quran that Allah will show guidance to those who seek it

My declaration of Islam met with much resistance at my University…I was ridiculed…

threatened and physically abused. The news was published in local Hindi Newspaper…so much



so that I had to run away from University and could not complete my studies. I joined Jamia

Millia University in Delhi to complete MA in Islamic studies.

After much opposition from my family…soon the things changed and many of my family

members accepted Islam and the number is increasing. My own analysis is that most Hindus did

not get true message of Islam and this is the fault of Muslims in general. If they propagate truth,then the situation could be quite different from what it is these days in India.



Story # 186


CASSANA (AIYESHA) MADDOZ NABLISI, USA

Note: Sister Aiyesha was one of the exchange students, who was sent to Saudi Arabia to attend

Shariah College. She had close contacts with many prominent Saudi citizens of Jeddah. She

accepted Islam in late 1970 s. Here she tells story of her conversion to Islam

My formal education goes slightly beyond the norm, after high school, a got a Bachelor’s degree

in International studies, with 2 of 7 years I studied Arabic. I also studied Arabic with private

paid tutors.

I am a graduate of Naval school and have worked in US navy. I was sent as exchange student to

attend Shariah college at Jeddah University….I later earned master’s degree in International

Education Development.

I came to Islam, taking my SHAHADAH in Northern Nigeria, where I was visiting In-laws of my second marriage, who was a diplomat in Northern Nigeria.

Local people in Nigeria introduced me to Islam, and informed me that it was the most important

facet of the historical pasts of people who were taken out of Africa.

I was not entirely ignorant of Arabic Quran as during my studies I had gone thru English

translation of Quran by Abdullah Yousuf Ali.

Some credit to my conversion should go to Elijah Mohammad , thru whom many black people in

USA learned about true Islamic teaching as a non racial Universal faith for all mankind…

I have visited many Islamic countries and have attended many conference on Islamic and other

topics. I have also written many books to teach English language to people whose mother tongue is not English…

(Abridged) Source:: Why woman are accepting Islam? Pages 20-25





Story # 188






The Case of: RAM VEER (MOHD. TAYYEB), MUZAFFAR NAGAR, UP. INDIA


01. I was born in a farmer family in a small village in MUZAFFARNAGAR District. My father

was a very good person and he was a small farmer. We had seven brothers and sisters, two have

died and now we are only three brothers and two sisters.

I studied upto high school and then left studies. I was married to a good wife, but I fell into bad

habits and divorced my wife. After that I fell into society of bad people and we formed a sort of

Gang.

02. I decided to make a Tube well and do farming in my ancestral land. We dig the tube well,

but no water came out. Some one told me to give some sacrificial things to the well in the nameof Hindu gods. I offered the sacrifice but still no water came out.

I had a Muslim friend, who said that he will offer two units of prayer of water came out. I also

said the same thing and this time water came out with full force. Now my friend said that I mustoffer the prayers. We went to a mosque and I offered the prayer.

03. Then the question came about light for the tube well, village people refused to help me in

this. But the same Muslim friend said that if you become Muslim, he will help me in getting

light.

I said that Muslims will not keep me seeing my habits and past record. He said that once I

became Muslim, all those bad habits will go away.


04. We were in search of some one who will make me Muslim and teach Islam to me. I wasrefereed to go to Phulat and meet Maulana Kalim Sahib there. I went there and met Maulana and

told his story of my life.

After hearing that, he said that Islam is religion of peace and it wants it members to be peacefuland do not cause mischief on the land. He said that I have to repent from all my bad habits and

specially drinking.



05. I was not sure that I will be able to leave my habit of drinking. But he said me that I belong

to a fighting race, If I decide something, I will be able to do it. This encouraged me and Istopped drinking from that day.

This gave me so much confidence that I am able to cure many persons from this bad habit… Hesent me with a Missionary party for 40 days and during that time I learned prayer and other day

to day maters of Islamic life.

06. Them Maulana arranged for my marriage with a very good Muslim girl of near by village.

He did not wanted any trouble from my family members, so he planned marriage to be

performed silently.


07. My father came to know about my marriage and he came to attend it. He was very happy to

see me transformed so much and able to shun all my bad habits. He congratulated Maulana andexpressed his gratitude for all he did for correcting me.

He said that he supports my decision to become Muslim. There was some resistance from

villagers , but my father stood firm and the villagers had to keep quite.


2. On Parents.

08. My father is very impressed with Maulana and he meets him often. I am sure that he has

accepted Islam on the hands of Maulana.

Myself and my wife presented Islam to my mother, she got convinced but is afraid from her

family members. But we asked her to recite KALIMA to us and do not declare her faith openly.

3. On Family members / Others.

09. My two brothers have become Muslim. I am working on other members of my family and pray Allah to open their hearts for islam.

Many of my friends are also interested in islam, seeing how it has changed me.


10. Islam is a religion of peace, it is irony that because of actions of some misguided people (and

Media’ propaganda)… it is being linked with Terrorism.





Story # 189


Balbir Singh (Mohd. Amir) Panipat, Haryana, India

Note: I heard this story myself from Mr. Balbir Singh, so I am a witness to what I am

writing. Since it is translated from vernacular, so I cannot guarantee its accuracy word by

word.

I was born in a village of Haryana. State of India. We belong to the Rajput family. My father

was a very good and pious person and he was headmaster in the local school. He was a true

humanist and he used to tell us about the atrocities committed against humanity during pre and post partition riots of 1947. I on the other hand was influenced by the extreme right wing

attitudes of RSS and Bajrangdal one of its militant affiliates.

My father used to caution me against violent policies of these outfits and used to tell me that nogood would come out of it, as violence is not the solution of any problem.

But in my youth, I was brainwashed by the stories of past atrocities committed by Muslims

against Hindus during Mogul and other past dynastis. Haryana unit of Bajrangdal was most

powerful unit in India. I took active part in Babri Mosque Demolition drive and I was the main

organization (for my district) when Mr. LK Advani (BJP Leader) came to our town during hisfamous Rath Yatra in 1990. I along with many people of my village took pledge to destroy

Babri Mosque and re-built Ram Temple at its site.

Me and my friend Yoginder were present at Ayodhya when Babri Mosque was demolished in

broad day light on 6th December 1992. In fact when Mr. Advani and Ms Uma Bharti exhorted us

to “Give one push and remove the mosque”, myself and Yoginder were amongst the first lot whoclimbed on the dome of Mosque and started demolition work. We were present when the

Mosque was finally raised to the ground and a make shift temple was erected at the site.

We were very happy on the return journey and carried some of Mosque bricks as “trophies” for

our village. There was lot of jubilation and felicitation when we reached our village. At the

advice of Yoginder, every one was asked to come forward and urinate on the “cursed bricks”!!!

My father however was very sad at our actions and forbade me to enter the house. You have

demolished a place of worship, a place of prayer and want me to appreciate it? was what he said.

In my youth I could not understand my father. I was perplexed that I am being honored by everyone in village on my “Heroic deed” and my own father is ashamed of me!!!

Soon a strange change started to come on me and my friend Yoginder. We felt as if we were being watched and something bad is going to happen to us. Every Muslim face felt as some

one who is going to kill us. Yoginder slowly lost his senses and became violent against his own

family members. On many occasions he tried to molest sexually his own mother. Despite every

treatment his condition worsened and he was kept in chains all the time.



Then some one advised his father to take him to a Muslim Scholar and let him find the cure. The

Muslim Scholar told Yoginder to repent sincerely for his crime and become Muslim. WhenYoginder did as he was advised, he became normal after a few days. He told me what happened

to him and advised me to take the same path.

The story of my friend and my own condition also made me realize my folly. I also went to the

same Muslim scholar and he gave me books about Islam to read. When I read those books, I got

convinced of the truth of Islam and became Muslim and took the name of Mohd. Amir.Yoginder took the Islamic name of Mohd. Omar. Mohd. Omar took an oath to built 100 new

mosques to undo (if it can ever be undone) the mistake of demolishing Babri Mosque. I pledged

to free and populate 100 mosques which are under control of Non Muslims. Since that day, we

are both are busy in our tasks.

Now one advice which I want to give to my Muslim friends in India. The present situation and

Anti Islamic feelings which they experience in India is mostly due to their own doing. They

never took their message of Islam to Non Muslims living in India. Most of Hindus are peacefuland peace loving people. Muslims have nothing to fear from bulk of Hindus. That is the only

way for Muslims if they want to survive in India, otherwise they will always be target of Mediaand these hate monger groups.





Story # 191






The Case of: RAM KUMAR (MOHD. HUDHAIFAH) BASTI, UP, INDIA


01. I was born in a landlord family of Eastern UP on 13 August 1957. I have one brother who is

Engineer and one daughter who is married to a lecturer.

I did my Intermediate in 1977, one of my uncle was working in UP Police. On his advise I also

joined Police and during service did B. Com.

02. While on Training in Flora Academy, its Director A. A. Siddiqui advised me to do PH. D isCriminology. I took leave from my service and completed my Ph. D. Based on my

performance I was promoted to the level of Dy. SP. I was posted in the CID (Secret

Investigation).

Our family was known for its Anti Muslim bias. One of the reason could be that many decades

ago, one of our branch accepted Islam and got settled in FATEHPUR, HASWA. Then some

families of Backward caste in our village accepted Islam to save themselves from insults anddiscrimination from High caste Hindus.

In fact I had all the ingredients which can make it difficult for anyone to become a Muslim. But

Allah had different plans for me.


03. Nine members of one family from Ghaziabad accepted Islam in Phulat on the hands of

Maulana Kalim Sahib. Father, Mother, four sons and three daughters. Eight people becameMuslim on that occasion, but since one boy was married, they told that he will accept Islam later

after convincing his wife. Maulana gave them Islamic names and asked them to completeofficial formalities.

This news was leaked to Media and caused a big commotion. Many Hindu organizations came

to oppose this decision and alleged that these people were bribed to changed this religion.

04. I was asked to investigate the matter, I reached Phulat with two inspectors and asked

Maulana about this allegation.



He welcomed us with a smiling face, asked to bring tea and breakfast for us , and then asked how

can he help us. His confidence and ease convinced us that he was innocent and sincere.

05. When I asked about this bribery allegation, he told us that this is totally wrong. These people

came of their own free will to accept Islam and I made them Muslim and then I asked them to goto Govt. offices and complete all official formalities. We are living in Secular country and our

constitution gives us right to practice and propagate our religion peacefully. What is wrong in

that? I had no answer for that.

He then told me, what benefit would any religion have by bribing people to come to their

religion. What good will they do to the religion?

06. He then told me that there is a common misunderstanding amongst Non Muslims that our

prophet came only for Muslims. He came for all people and not only to Muslims.

He then told me that all humans are brothers unto each other and they are sons of same father and mother. He then told me that as a brother it is my duty to save your from any harm. And the

biggest harm is that I see you burning in hell on the last day.

07. He then asked me to become Muslim and save me from hell fire. I had no answer for these

things. He told me that I am asking you to become Muslim, because I know I am right. If you

think that you are right, you should have asked me to become Hindu.

08. He went on asking me to become Muslim…again and again and when we were leaving he

gave us a small booklet in Hindi “Your trust returned to you”. Myself and both my fellow PoliceInspectors were very much impressed by this bold stand of Maulana.

When I reached home and read that booklet… this impressed me very much. Then I got HindiTranslation of Quran and studied it. This convinced me about truth of Islam. I went to Phulat

and accepted Islam on the hands of Maulana. He named me Mohd, HUDHIFA saying that one

companion of prophet of that name, did secret jobs for our prophet.

09. Maulana sent me along with an Islamic missionary party for forty days. I learnt Prayer and

other things of daily needs during that period.


1. On Spouse / Children

10. When I came back from that travels, I was posted at Allahabad. I told my wife every thing ,she was a very simple lady, she did not oppose me in the least and accepted Islam without much

argument.







these “Barbaric and Uncivilized” people give this much respect to other people’s scriptures

(What American Soldiers did with Quran at GITMO and ABU GHARIB is known to every body

–Ed.).

Many days passed and each new day brought more and more surprises to me. I was able to

watch the respect and regard which they showed to women. They never mistreated us or subjected us to any hardship. I was the most outspoken and complaining of the lot. I tried to

break as many rules as I could do….the maximum “Punishment” I received was that I was

denied use of Satellite Phone which was given to other inmates!!!

One thing which I never forgot was the uproar that which open drying of my washed clothes

caused. I had also washed my undergarments and put them out in the sun to dry. Soon I was

requested to take them inside…I refused….they asked again me to remove them as they couldtempt people …I again refused and they gave me Title of “Evil Women”!!!

Finally just one day before American Bombardment started, they told me that they would soon

take me away from harm’s way and release me near Pakistan Border.

I could hardly believe my ears. They are worried about my safety, when their own lives are inextreme danger. …..Soon I was back in “Civilized and Cultured land” and was swarmed by

media person, each asking about what happened to me when I was “in Dark and Medieval” age

Afghanistan!!! They did not seem to believe me, when I told that I was treated with respect and

was not harmed in any way.

Well after my release I remembered my promise to the Taliban commander. My studies about

Islam opened my eyes and I decided to join the “Biggest Brotherhood” on the face of this earthand accepted Islam in June 2002!!! (abridged)



Story #

193

Why we became Muslim?

Joanne Bailey, Solicitor, 30, Bradford

1. “The first time I wore my hijab into the office, I was so nervous, I stood outside on the phone

to my friend for ages going, ‘What on earth is everyone going to say?’ When I walked in, acouple of people asked, ‘Why are you wearing that scarf? I didn’t know you were a Muslim.’

“I’m the last person you’d expect to convert to Islam: I had a very sheltered, working-class

upbringing in South Yorkshire. I’d hardly even seen a Muslim before I went to university.

2. “In my first job at a solicitor’s firm in Barnsley, I remember desperately trying to play the role

of the young, single, career woman: obsessively dieting, shopping and going to bars – but I never

felt truly comfortable.

“Then one afternoon in 2004 everything changed: I was chatting to a Muslim friend over coffee,

when he noticed the little gold crucifix around my neck. He said, ‘Do you believe in God, then?’I wore it more for fashion than religion and said, ‘No, I don’t think so,’ and he started talking

about his faith.

“I brushed him off at first, but his words stuck in my mind. A few days later, I found myself

ordering a copy of the Koran on the internet.

3. “It took me a while to work up the courage to go to a women’s social event run by the Leeds

New Muslims group. I remember hovering outside the door thinking, ‘What the hell am I doinghere?’ I imagined they would be dressed head-to-toe in black robes: what could I, a 25-year-old,

blonde English girl, possibly have in common with them?

4. “But when I walked in, none of them fitted the stereotype of the oppressed Muslim housewife;

they were all doctors, teachers and psychiatrists. I was struck by how content and secure they

seemed. It was meeting these women, more than any of the books I read, that convinced me thatI wanted to become a Muslim.



“After four years, in March 2008, I made the declaration of faith at a friend’s house. At first, I

was anxious that I hadn’t done the right thing, but I soon relaxed into it – a bit like starting a new job.

5. “A few months later, I sat my parents down and said, ‘I’ve got something to tell you.’ Therewas a silence and my mum said, ‘You’re going to become Muslim, aren’t you?’ She burst into

tears and kept asking things like, ‘What happens when you get married? Do you have to cover up? What about your job?’ I tried to reassure her that I’d still be me, but she was concerned for

my welfare.

6. “Contrary to what most people think, Islam doesn’t oppress me; it lets me be the person that I

was all along. Now I’m so much more content and grateful for the things I’ve got. A few months

ago, I got engaged to a Muslim solicitor I met on a training course. He has absolutely no problem

with my career, but I do agree with the Islamic perspective on the traditional roles for men andwomen. I want to look after my husband and children, but I also want my independence. I’m

proud to be British and I’m proud to be Muslim – and I don’t see them as conflicting in anyway.”



Story # 194






The Case of: ANIL RAO (ABDUL RAHMAN) WARRANGAL, AP, INDIA


01. I was born on 13th August 1944 in Warrangal, AP. My father was a big trader in the city. I

did my High School in 1959, Intermediate in 1961, B.Sc. in 1964 and M. Sc. In Physics in 1966and registered myself in Ph. D.

My father wanted to get married, but I wanted not to be fettered with these matters, so much so

that I ran away from Home and went to Haridwar, the well known Hindu holy city. I vowed tolead a life of celibacy. There were many Ashrams in that place, I went to them one by one, but

they did not impress me.

02. One of my friend who was working in BHEL there, advised me to go to Rishikesh, another

Hindu holy city and join Ashram there. I went and after searching , I joined an Ashram run by

Swami Nityananad. He himself was a Physics Professor in the University of Allahabad, but left

it and started this Ashram. Many educated persons were living in that Ashram. I studied therefor six years and then Swami JI tested me and awarded me the degree of Shastri.

My father was searching for me every where, he and my brother located me and came to meet

me after seven years, They wanted me to come back, but I told them to leave me alone in the

study of religion and spend my life in religious cause. They left me, but said that I will not eat

from the charity. They paid all charges for my six years of stay there and also left a large sum of many to take care of my future expenses.

03. I was in the search of truth, but after close study and lots of discussions my inner self was notsatisfied. That Ashram was run by people of Arya Samaj. Every one knows that founder of this

movement was very much influenced by Islamic concept of Monotheism. He borrowed manyconcept from Islam, but in the end, criticised Islam in his book.

It was said that Arya Samaj is based on reason and logic. During my stay and study, I got many

doubts, I used to tell them to Swami JI, and his answers did not satisfy me. In fact I found that

Swami JI himself was not convinced of his answers, but he did not want to admit it.







got courage and told his disciple that he has become a Muslim and should be buried and not

cremated.

They made a SMADHI for him and buried him, instead of cremating him. Many people in his

Ashram are now studying Islam and I am very hopeful.


16. My appeal to Muslims is that they should have a feeling for people like us…. Who find thatour parents and other elders went from this world without accepting Islam…because no one even

asked them to become a Muslim.


Source: Monthly ARMAGHAN of Sept. 2005



Story # 195


Cynthia (Amina) USA

Cynthia gained much Media attention during days of President Ford, when she influenced

Roberdo, a Mafia don, to shun the criminal activities and join Islam. Her feat considering that

she was a physically challenged person was all the more remarkable. She was affected fromPolio in the early childhood and confined to a wheel chair. But her zeal and determination never

caused this disability to stand in the way, what she wanted to get or do. Let us hear from her own

lips her story.

People consider me as Handicapped, but I never consider myself as one….How come any

Muslim be handicapped? With the Powers of Allah behind him, he can never be handicapped.

My own story is proof of it!!!

I was born in American Black Christian family. We were Christians only in name and the

religion did not mean any thing to us in the real world. Since I was confined to wheel chair, Iused to read a lot in my spare job. I was amazed to read as to how Malcolm-X and his friends

were able to convince so many drug addicts to shun that habit and come to Islam. I also decided

to know about Islam and got some books on Islam and read it. This caused a very positive

change in my attitude towards Islam.

I decided to visit the local Islamic Mosque. Now this mosque was built and was looked after by

another New Muslim from black community. His name was Mohammad Yousuf. I was muchimpressed by his story and his talks and his zeal in propagating Islam. I read a lot and then

convinced myself as to the truth of Islam and decided to join the faith.

My announcement of new faith at home was initially ridiculed by my parents and friends. They

thought that it would a passing whim. But when I took to Islamic dress code and shunned

Alcoholic parties….then they realized my sincerity. I did face many hardships at their hands, butAllah gave me strength to bear it all. I remained firm to my faith despite so much opposition.

Then I decided to work in prison and preach Islam to the inmates there. I got much success there

and many convicts decided to embrace Islam. While conversing with one of the inmates he toldme “Why I do not work on Roberdo”? Who is Roberdo, I asked? "He is the Mafia Don and

drug lord for this area" was the reply.

So I decided to meet this Roberdo. I reached his palatial villa one evening. The security guard

would not let me in….The noise brought Roberto out of the Villa. When he saw me (on wheel

chair) he let me in and asked me what I wanted. I told him to leave the evil path and do not spoilthe society. He denied everything but on my persistence agreed to give me five minutes every

day to hear me out…





Story # 196

Why we became Muslim?

Aqeela Lindsay Wheeler

Housewife and mother, 26, Leicester

1. “As a teenager I thought all religion was pathetic. I used to spend every weekend getting

drunk outside the leisure centre, in high-heeled sandals and miniskirts. My view was: what’s the point in putting restrictions on yourself? You only live once.

“At university, I lived the typical student existence, drinking and going clubbing, but I’d alwayswake up the next morning with a hangover and think, what’s the point?

2. “It wasn’t until my second year that I met Hussein. I knew he was a Muslim, but we werefalling in love, so I brushed the whole issue of religion under the carpet. But six months into our

relationship, he told me that being with me was ‘against his faith’.

“I was so confused. That night I sat up all night reading two books on Islam that Hussein had

given me. I remember bursting into tears because I was so overwhelmed. I thought, ‘This could

be the whole meaning of life.’ But I had a lot of questions: why should I cover my head? Whycan’t I eat what I like?

3. “I started talking to Muslim women at university and they completely changed my view. They

were educated, successful – and actually found the headscarf liberating. I was convinced, and

three weeks later officially converted to Islam.

“When I told my mum a few weeks later, I don’t think she took it seriously. She made a fewcomments like, ‘Why would you wear that scarf? You’ve got lovely hair,’ but she didn’t seem to

understand what it meant.

4. “My best friend at university completely turned on me: she couldn’t understand how one week

I was out clubbing, and the next I’d given everything up and converted to Islam. She was too

close to my old life, so I don’t regret losing her as a friend.



“I chose the name Aqeela because it means ‘sensible and intelligent’ – and that’s what I was

aspiring to become when I converted to Islam six years ago. I became a whole new person:

everything to do with Lindsay, I’ve erased from my memory.

5. “The most difficult thing was changing the way I dressed, because I was always so fashion-

conscious. The first time I tried on the hijab, I remember sitting in front of the mirror, thinking,‘What am I doing putting a piece of cloth over my head? I look crazy!’ Now I’d feel naked

without it and only occasionally daydream about feeling the wind blow through my hair. Once or

twice, I’ve come home and burst into tears because of how frumpy I feel – but that’s just vanity.

“It’s a relief not to feel that pressure any more. Wearing the hijab reminds me that all I need to

do is serve God and be humble. I’ve even gone through phases of wearing the niqab [face veil] because I felt it was more appropriate – but it can cause problems, too.

6. “When people see a white girl wearing a niqab they assume I’ve stuck my fingers up at myown culture to ‘follow a bunch of Asians’. I’ve even had teenage boys shout at me in the street,

‘Get that s*** off your head, you white bastard.’ After the London bombings, I was scared to

walk about in the streets for fear of retaliation.

“For the most part, I have a very happy life. I married Hussein and now we have a one-year-old

son, Zakir. We try to follow the traditional Muslim roles: I’m foremost a housewife and mother,

while he goes out to work. I used to dream of having a successful career as a psychologist, butnow it’s not something I desire.

7. “Becoming a Muslim certainly wasn’t an easy way out. This life can sometimes feel like a

prison, with so many rules and restrictions, but we believe that we will be rewarded in theafterlife.”









But her reaction was not what we expected….instead of crying for help….she said loudly…O

Allah you are watching this!!!....O Allah are you satisfied with your Hira…O my father…O myuncle do not die until you are Muslim….then she started saying something in Arabic and her

voice downed down…

From that time on…a strange change came over my brother…he stopped talking to any one and

was lost in thoughts…soon he became ill and we lost all hopes of his recovery….He called me

before dieing and told me that he wanted to become Muslim and wanted to be buried as aMuslim. I was at a Dilemma as how to do this in our village.

I decided to take my brother to Delhi (not far away from our village) and put him in a small

hospital. He accepted Islam and died shortly afterwards…I gave his body to local Muslims to be buried in Muslim graveyard as a Muslim.

After death of my brother, I was totally shattered. Islam which I hated so much…had taken deep

root in my own family and I was powerless to do any thing about it. I was in the same mood andwas returning to my village in a private omnibus. This omnibus belonged to a Muslim, who had

turned on an Islamic cassette played over the bus PA System. This cassette explained about theconcept of Unity of God and Man’s accountability for his deeds after this life. I kept on

listening, my stop came, but I bought extra ticket so that I should listen to this tape completely.

This cassette changed my outlook and I decided to know more about Islam. I went to Delhi andthere I discussed with the Islamic preacher who had converted Hira and told the whole story and

what I had done to that poor girl. I was not sure that will my sins be forgiven once I became

Muslim. He said that once you enter Islam all your past sins are forgiven and you start a newlife!!!

Soon I got converted to Islam and now most of my family is Muslim. When I see my past andmy presence I feel that indeed I am the most fortunate man on this earth.

Whenever I recollect, what I did to my beloved Hira, the following passage from Quran seems to become alive before my eyes: “Woe to the maker of the pit (for fire). Fire supplied (abundantly)

with fuel; Behold! They sat over against the (fire). And they witnessed (all) that they were doing

against the believers. And they ill treated them for no other reason than they believed in Allah,

Exalted in Power- Worthy of All Praise” (85:4-8) I feel that this passage of Quran was revealedfor persons like us. (abridged)





5. “I’d never been part of a religious minority before, so that was a big adjustment, but my

friends were very accepting. Some of them were a bit shocked: ‘What, no drink, no drugs, no

men? I couldn’t do that!’ And it took a while for my male friends at university to remember things like not kissing me hello on the cheek any more. I’d have to say, ‘Sorry, it’s a Muslim

thing.’

“Over time, I actually became more religious than my husband. We started growing apart in

other ways, too. In the end, I think the responsibility of marriage was too much for him; he became distant and disengaged. After seven years together, I decided to get a divorce.

6. “When I moved back in with my parents, people were surprised I was still wandering around

in a headscarf. But if anything, being on my own strengthened my faith: I began to gain a sense

of myself as a Muslim, independent of him.

7. “Islam has given me a sense of direction and purpose. I’m involved with the Muslim Public

Affairs Committee, and lead campaigns against Islamophobia, discrimination against women in

mosques, poverty and the situation in Palestine. When people call us ‘extremists’ or ‘the dark underbelly of British politics’, I just think it’s ridiculous. There are a lot of problems in the

Muslim community, but when people feel under siege it makes progress even more difficult.

8. “I still feel very much part of white British society, but I am also a Muslim. It has taken awhile to fit those two identities together, but now I feel very confident being who I am. I’m part

of both worlds and no one can take that away from me.”



Story # 200






The Case of: VINOD KUMAR KHANNA (MOHD. KHALID) JULLUNDHAR, PUNJAB,

INDIA


01. I was born in the famous city of Jullundhar in August 1956. Our ancestral home was in

Patiala. My father was a Mech. Engineer and he was working in the Hydel Dept and has recentlyretired from the post of Executive Engineer.

I am also an electrical engineer and I also got a job in the same department. I was posted in

Jullundhar for 15 years and have been transferred on promotion for past 3 years.

02. Almost 13 years back on 19 April 1992, I was returning from Delhi by the Super Fast train.

The train stopped in Muzaffar Nagar and a bearded gentleman from Muslim Community enteredmy compartment and took their seats apposite me.

When the train started to move and gathered speed, a villager sitting in a s eat opposite, asked

when the station of Muzzaffar Nagar will come. The Maulana told that Muzaffar Nagar stationhad just passed…. The villager immediately took his belonging and went to door and wanted to

jump from the train.

03. But Maulana held him by hand and said that if he jumped from the fast moving train, he

would certainly die. He should get down at the next station and then take another train. This

went on for some time, ultimately Maulana brought him back to his seat.

When the train stopped at next station, Maulana took his luggage and helped him get down in

proper man and came back and took his seat

04. I was watching this episode with interest and shame. That Time Babri Mosque agitation wasin full swing and here was a Muslim scholar saving the life of a Hindu and me a Hindu did notdo any thing.

I left my seat and took the seat apposite Maulana and asked him, why did he save the life of a

Hindu man in such a way. I am feeling very much ashamed and I wish to die with shame.




05. Maulana kissed my hand and said that I have human feeling left in me. He then told me that

In Islam there are right for every one. Our traveling companions also have a right and our prophet told us to treat every one with respect and help them.

I asked him who he was, he told me that his name is Kalim Uddin and he is resident of a small but historical village called Phulat. I told him that I am an Engineer in Jullundhar.

06. He then told me about Islam and gave me a small booklet called “Your trust returned to you”.He then gave me the name and telephone numbers of two people in my city, whom I can contact

if I wanted to learn more about Islam.

I read that small booklet and after what I had seen the “working example of Islam” from myeyes, I got convinced that Islam is the true path. I therefore decided to accept Islam. I was told

not to declare my Islam for one year.

07. But after one year, I said I am an educated man and I have accepted Islam based on its truth,

why should I hide and I be afraid. Therefore I went to court and declared that I have acceptedIslam


08. I went home and I told my wife and my father about my Islam. Everyone except my father

criticised me. My father said that I was a learned person, if I have become Muslim after studyingit, I have right to do so. But I should make such decision after thinking of every thing.

Later a Muslim scholar told me that I cannot live with my wife, since I am a Muslim and she is aHindu. I consulted Maulana Kalim Sahib about it, he advised me not to treat this matter so

hastily.

09. I should try to understand feelings of my wife and I should continue to live with her and

explain Islam to her slowly and with love and patience and I should also pray to Allah to open

her heart for Islam.

I took his advise and went on working on my wife, after four years, Allah opened her heart for

Islam and she decided to accept Islam and my children also became Muslim.

10. Then I went to Hajj with my wife and five children in year 2000. After my Hajj and visit to

Madina Allah opened my heart fully for Islam and now I find that every teaching of Islam is as

per reason and logic.

I started calling people to islam in my city, I targeted poor people and many of them accepted

Islam. Even priests of three Sikh Gurudwaras also accepted Islam. Alhamdolillah.




2. On Parents.

11. During my Hajj, I prayed to Allah for guidance of my parents and my sisters and other

members of my family.

After returning from Hajj, I went to my father and he was ready to become muslim. He was very

much impressed with one Sufi Saint and when I described about Hajj rituals to him, he became

Muslim.

After three days , My mother also became Muslim, My widowed sister also accepted Islam

without much difficulty. Alhamdolillah.


12. Muslims should present themselves as working models of Islam. See how a small incident in

my life, lead to so many hundreds of people accepting Islam.

Unless Muslims recognise their responsibility, they cannot do Missionary activity in India and inthe world.


Source: Monthly ARMAGHAN of May 2005.

Documents

Why We Became Muslims_Master_Vol 4_151 to 200