Dawah and Interfaith

Her decision: finding peace by converting from Christianity to Islam

Published

August 12, 2013

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This post was originally posted here.

By: Casey Holliday

Almost immediately after logging onto Facebook and posting that she had converted to Islam, April Fuller was bombarded with messages, from both her close friends and acquaintances.

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“Why did I expect anything less,” Fuller’s former youth pastor wrote. “I am an infadel (sic) according to your cult so therefore I am your enemy. Such a shame you have chosen to turn your back on a loving God and serve a false prophet who preaches hate for anyone not of said cult.”

But an old childhood friend offered congratulations. “I know a lot of people and ‘friends’ are giving you hell about this. It’s your decision. I hope it works out for you sweetie.”

Fuller’s uncle was a pastor in a Southern Baptist church, the largest religion in the state, in the 1,500-person town of Raleigh. Although her family has long been strict adherents, Fuller was drawn to Islam because, for her, it was the first time religion made sense.

“I always grew up believing in something, so I knew there was a god,” Fuller, a sophomore English major, said. “I was just trying to figure out what I wanted to be, but I knew Baptist wasn’t for me.”

The second semester of her freshman year, Fuller was introduced to another student, a practicing Muslim, through a mutual friend. They quickly became friends, and he began to teach her about Islam.

“I started talking to my friend, and he was telling more about it, and I thought this kinda makes sense,” Fuller said. “In Islam, you use logic; in Christianity you have to go on blind faith. A lot of times, when I tried to question Christian beliefs, I was shut down. With Islam, they welcome doubts and attempt to dispel them.”

According to the Council on American-Islamic relations, “Muslims believe in One, Unique, and Incomparable God. They believe in the Day of Judgement and individual accountability for actions.” There are about 7 million Muslims in America, and according to the Foreign Policy Group, Islam is the second largest and fastest growing religion in the world. According to the Association of Religion Data Archives, there are about 4,000 Muslims in Mississippi.

Fuller said she knew her conversion would receive some mixed opinions, but she did not expect the amount of backlash she received on Facebook. While most of her college friends took the change in stride, the older generation had a problem with it.

“My heart is sad for the teenage girl I admired so much in church,” a member of Fuller’s former church posted on her wall. “You were such an inspiration to all the teenagers who saw you stand up for what you believed and not ashamed to be a Christian. Don’t be a stumbling block April to all these young souls.”

Although many of April’s friends at school have largely congratulated her, her grandfather was not nearly as accepting.

“A few days after I came out as Muslim, he called me to ask if I was going to be blowing up any buildings soon,” Fuller said.

While her dad’s side of the family has yet to come around, her mom’s side has openly embraced the change.

“My mom has always encouraged me to follow my heart, and this is no different,” Fuller said. “She educates herself on what I believe, can eat and all that so that she can understand what I’m going through and how she can best help me.”

Any friends that Fuller may have lost, she has more than made up. She joined the Muslim Student Association (where she is also the director of women affairs) at Ole Miss, which, according to Fuller, provides a place where she can be herself. The organization, made up mostly of full-time undergraduate and graduate students, has offered Fuller a new home.

“I love all my friends, don’t get me wrong,” Fuller said. “But since I joined the Muslim Student Association, I have a close group that I can talk about Islam with, as well as a group that won’t pressure me to do anything that goes against Islam.”

Since converting, Fuller has defied the Ole Miss student stereotype. She does not drink, keeping her away from the Square and frat parties, and did not visit the Grove for a single football game last season. Her hijab, a piece of clothing that covers the hair and neck, keeps her in more modest clothing choices (such as not showing ankles, hair, etc.) and not the oversized t-shirts and Nike shorts that Ole Miss girls are known for. As there is no mosque in Oxford, she travels to Memphis with a group every Sunday for worship, while still performing the mandatory five daily prayers.

After everything is said and done, Fuller says she would still make the decision to convert again.

“I finally have a peace I didn’t have in Christianity,” Fuller said. “I know what I believe, who I am, and how I want my life to reflect on this. For the first time, I actually feel like I know what I’m doing. It’s strange; I found peace in a religion where many only see hate.”

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81 Comments

HelplessSlave

August 12, 2013 at 2:16 AM

” I found peace in a religion where many only see hate”

Subhana Allah – That is what Islam really is. The haters hate not because there is something wrong with Islam, it is because they could not find anything wrong about it. So they projected Islam on the wrong stereo types and called it Islam.

Those who practice Islam, still practice it with fervor and passion even though they know they are going to be judged unjustly, prejudiced against, even physical harm is not out of the picture and even maybe be killed, all this just because they PRACTICE ISLAM. I stopped watching videos on the oppression on the what the Muslims are going through in the world, but come to think of it, they have not left Allah and his messenger even when they are threatned with their lives, wealth and basic human rights.

A Da’ee once said “If any other religion were to go through half of what Islam is going through, it would have become extinct and it followers would have long given it up, because when you practice Islam, it is sometimes you against the world ”

I would say rephrase that and say not “half” but 10% of what Islam is going through.

Subahan Allah Alhamdulillah Allahu Akbar !!!

Ya Allah guide us as you guided this sister to your love and open the doors of mercy and wisdom to your deen.

Make the resolve of this sister strong and enter this sister Jannathul Firdouse.

Reply
- theophile
  
  August 13, 2013 at 2:11 PM
  
  Hey! I have a copy of the Quran right here in the USA! Woo Hoo! I can take it to any city here with me…no problem! Can I take my Bible to Mecca?
  Since I carry my Bible in my head, would my head be allowed there?
  
  Reply
  - Taymur
    
    August 14, 2013 at 2:36 AM
    
    Muslims believe in Christianity more than the Christians them selves, and yes you can bring the bible to mecca, just like you can bring any other book, but you must respect the people there, the same way you would expect from a guest at your home. In my home smoking isn’t allowed, although you are allowed to smoke in the USA! Woo Hoo!
    **Islam is all about controlling you behavior depending on the Space & Time**
    
    Reply
    - Janfrans Zuidema
      
      August 18, 2013 at 10:15 AM
      
      Mecca isn’t the home of Muslims. They stole it from the Animists. It’s an illegal occupied area.
      
      Reply
      - Taha
        
        December 19, 2013 at 12:23 AM
        
        Wat. 99% of these “animists” converted to Islam. So technically, you’re wrong.
Jay Online

August 12, 2013 at 11:10 AM

I think it is so strong and important that a person follows their heart. Please forgive the poor displays of Christianity by her community, grandfather and others. Christianity is a religion of the heart and is not bound to the legalism of this world. Chrisitianity practiced from the mind is unfortunate.

I’m not sure I agree with the logical argument for Islam though. How does a the logic of a Muslim religion answer the question of God’s subjectivity to man’s good deeds.

Logically if a God created the universe by his own command and formed us from the dust of the earth, it does not seem likely that He would subject Himself to the good things that I do to form the decisions of the afterlife.

I am a Christian so I’ve answered this logic simply that God became man and sacrificed himself in the form of Christ on a cross to atone for His creations sinfulness. In the Christian worldview God has subjected Himself only to Himself in the form of Christ. I think this is why Christ is so important to salvation. Because without God taking on human form, the logic would break down.

Reply
- HelplessSlave
  
  August 12, 2013 at 2:50 PM
  
  Greetings Jay,
  
  May God guide us all towards him, which is the only perfect way.
  
  I subscribe to logic, but I don’t think trying to comprehend God using our own Wisdom would result in us only degrading him, like the thought that how can God understand the pain and the trials of what the humans go through if he was not did not sacrifice himself or his “son” in first place? Really ?
  
  If God could not understand his creation, then who does.I would not want to be the slave of a God who does not understand his creation(Frankenstein anyone) :-).
  
  he says in the Qur’an.
  
  “And whether you keep your talk secret or disclose it, verily, He is the All-Knower of what is in the breasts (of men).
  Should not He Who has created know? And He is the Most Kind and Courteous (to His slaves) All-Aware (of everything).” quran.com/67/13-14
  
  and in another place he has said that “Man is created indeed in the best mould”.
  
  Okay toss that all aside, if I go by the logic that if God does not sacrifice himself, he cannot really understand man, then if we take that argument further we shall see what that really does …
  
  Okay to break it down, according to Christianity
  
  Mary(peace be upon her) is the Mother of Jesus(peace be upon him)
  Jesus(peace be upon him) is God in human form
  Jesus(peace be upon him) is the Son of God
  Jesus(peace be upon him) = GOD
  
  Please do not be offended, I am only trying to incorporate logic,I have no intention of malice in it.
  
  So then according to the bible God “overcame” Mary(peace be upon her) and she conceived and whom did she conceive. GOD himself. So then in your logic what do you call the Son, whose father is the SON himself. Sounds like logic.
  
  I don’t want go into trinity, because as soon as I say trinity what number does would come to your mind 3 or 1. In Islam we say that God is not just one , he is indivisible(Ahad) and he has 99 beautiful attributes which are only unique to him, these 99 names are not to allow his slaves to understand him better.
  
  Before I conclude I would like to say that then if I go by your logic, if God is not capable of not understanding his creation if sacrifice, then lets dial that down to the level of man.
  
  If I told you that Steve jobs is the Father of the IPhone most people would in a sense agree, but then if I follow up that and say that the MacBook Pro is the Mother of the IPhone, what would you call me :-) …. Then what I am suggesting is Steve Jobs had to re-allocate his molecular structure to that of an IPhone’s and switch from biological entity to a mechanical one himself and be born out of wedlock to a Macbook to understand how it worked. Logic anyone ?
  
  To take your logic to the next level, don’t you think that the “loving” god you created kinda discriminated against animals, and Animal rights, Bird Rights etc .. does not sit well with him, because I don’t read in any place in the bible that God became a bear or lion or goat or ….. to understand how they worked.
  
  I know when you read that part you were thinking “I am talking to an idiot”, but you have no problem repeating that same thing with GOD.
  
  See this is what happens when you try to make God Fit your view of Logic.
  
  Allah in his glorious Qur’an says
  
  “With Him are the Keys of the Ghayb; non knows them but He.”
  (Quran 6:59)
  
  “Who can intercede with Him except the cases He permits? He knows what is in front of them (the Prophet and the Imams) and what is behind them, and they encompass nothing of His knowledge except what He will.” (Quran 2:255)
  
  So the answer is clear, we ONLY UNDERSTAND the things WHICH HE HAD WILLED.
  
  Finally to answer your question from the Qur;an
  
  “And they say: “The Most Beneficent (Allah) has begotten a son (or offspring or children) [as the Jews say: ‘Uzair (Ezra) is the son of Allah, and the Christians say that He has begotten a son [‘Iesa (Christ) ], and the pagan Arabs say that He has begotten daughters (angels, etc.)].”
  
  Indeed you have brought forth (said) a terrible evil thing.
  
  Whereby the heavens are almost torn, and the earth is split asunder, and the mountains fall in ruins,
  
  That they ascribe a son (or offspring or children) to the Most Beneficent (Allah).
  
  But it is not suitable for (the Majesty of) the Most Beneficent (Allah) that He should beget a son (or offspring or children).
  
  There is none in the heavens and the earth but comes unto the Most Beneficent (Allah) as a SLAVE
  
  Verily, He knows each one of them, and has counted them a full counting.
  
  And everyone of them will come to Him alone on the Day of Resurrection (without any helper, or protector or defender).” http://quran.com/19/88-95
  
  Reply
  - Janfrans Zuidema
    
    December 29, 2013 at 10:49 PM
    
    The Trinity of Islam. As an Animist who has communicated to the one God I was told not to tell anyone. Unless someone was bragging. A Helpless Slave bragged and got 30 likes. So here it comes:
    
    “Islam is a trinity: There is Allah before it wrote the Quran (one) and after it wrote the Quran (two). And there is the embodiment of the Quran which is called Muhammad (three).
    
    Btw, I think Judaism, Christianity and Islam are all horrible. I’m an Animist, but the One God told me that Agnosticism is probably the best and most rational way to go. I’m not a Prophet, just a D.J.
    
    Reply
- inqiyaad
  
  August 13, 2013 at 10:06 PM
  
  Yes, I would go a step further and say that Christianity practiced from mind would be ‘more’ unfortunate. As it is, one can only subscribe to the Christian theological concepts (son’s father, the god, became son, a man, and sacrificed his own son, the god, to forgive man’s sins, atonement, trinity, god’s son, son the god, god’s father, and there is a third, you missed him because it is a ghost, and you also missed that they are all one) merely under emotional manipulation. Any attempts to rationalize these illogical concepts, for example, your arguments here, would be several degrees more unfortunate.
  
  God is in complete command and He has announced to me, to you, and the entire mankind, “Worship your Creator alone. If you do not do so, or if you Worship others (idols, Jesus, angels, sun, thunder, tsunamis) I will punish you. If you want to enter the Gardens and luxuries for eternity, those that I have created, then you have to Worship me alone, treat your parents excellently, and be good to mankind. If you worship me alone, but fall short in other aspects, I can choose to forgive you or to punish you. If you do not Worship me alone and die in this state, I will most definitely punish you.” This sounds like someone who is in total control unlike the impotent figment of Christian blasphemies.
  
  Your statement, “God became man and sacrificed himself in the form of Christ on a cross to atone for His creations sinfulness” gives rise to a perplexing question. Why does God have to sacrifice (anyone) to forgive mankind’s sins? By your own argument, can he not simply do just that… forgive? Why does he have to tie His decisions to atonement of sins of someone he created from dust of the earth? Think twice before you suggest justice as an answer.
  
  Even more illogical, problematic, and insane is the claim that ‘God became man’. Dichotomies between the qualities of God and man cannot be imagined to exist in ‘one person’. For example, God knows everything and man does not know everything. How are you going to get a God who knows everything to exist, simultaneously, as a man who does not know everything? Another example, although a little gross, might help us recall the requirements of logic. Man defecates and God does not.
  
  In other words, God taking on human form in and of itself is a complete, total, and absolute breakdown of logic. Therefore, such illogical concepts are best discarded before we even begin to discuss the one thing whose grant or denial will either reward us or cost us eternity, respectively. That one thing is our salvation.
  
  Reply
  - Janfrans Zuidema
    
    August 18, 2013 at 9:58 AM
    
    “God taking on human form in and of itself is a complete, total, and absolute breakdown of logic.”
    
    The same goes for the idea that God spoke to Abraham or that God wrote the Qu’ran. I don’t know what God Christians, Muslims and Jews are worshipping, but it definitely isn’t the one.
    
    Reply
    - Inqiyaad
      
      August 18, 2013 at 12:53 PM
      
      @Janfrans Zuidema
      
      I fail to see the similarity between the two arguments. Your argument begs further clarification. The argument I am making is that God is known universally across a spectrum of beliefs to possess certain qualities, which define Him as God. As a corollary, man is also known to possess certain qualities, which define him as a man. For example, God is immortal while man is mortal, man forgets and God does not, God knows everything and man does not. Now, how are you going to get a being that, simultaneously, knows everything and also does not know everything, forgets things and does not forget even one thing, dies and also never ever dies?
      
      Reply
  - Janfrans Zuidema
    
    October 9, 2013 at 12:01 AM
    
    “Your argument begs further clarification.”
    
    An entity that has written a book loses a certain quality. It becomes temporary instead of eternal.
    
    But hey, if you really are as smart as you claim to be, then you have been aware of this fact for probably quite some time. What are the reasons that you keep hanging on to Islam? Are they sinister? Because the fact that the temporary image of God isn’t sound doesn’t mean that our unimaginable God won’t judge you for your hypocritical blasphemy. Beware!
    
    Reply
    - Inqiyaad
      
      October 9, 2013 at 7:55 AM
      
      @Janfrans Zuidema
      So, do you agree that there is only one God (our Creator)? Do you also agree that it is a disgrace to worship anyone/anything else besides our Creator? Do you agree that the uber-confusing concept of trinity is not acceptable to our intellect, and is not based on reality and Scripture or Jesus’s teachings?
      Do you agree that all images are blasphemous against ‘our unimaginable God’? Do you agree that attributions of divinity to any person or thing are really based on our crude imaginations and are blasphemous? Are you not concerned that ‘our unimaginable God’ will punish us for wrongful and blasphemous attributions to Him?
      
      Reply
    - Abu Hashem
      
      October 9, 2013 at 10:09 AM
      
      Thank you very much, Inqiyaad. Very simple and logical questions to ponder for the ones who are sincerely looking for answers in this temporary life for the next eternal life.
      
      Jazaakallaah Khayran.
      
      Reply
    - Janfrans Zuidema
      
      December 18, 2013 at 1:58 AM
      
      “So, do you agree that there is only one God (our Creator)? Do you also agree that it is a disgrace to worship anyone/anything else besides our Creator?”
      
      Yes, I agree that God is one and I consider the worship of a holy book/religion/person/animal to be a disgrace.
      
      “Do you agree that the uber-confusing concept of trinity is not acceptable to our intellect, and is not based on reality and Scripture or Jesus’s teachings?”
      
      Socrates is the dude I like. But I like myself even better. I think it’s very bigoted of you to assume that every ‘Western person’ gives a damn about Christianity.
      
      “Do you agree that all images are blasphemous against ‘our unimaginable God’? Do you agree that attributions of divinity to any person or thing are really based on our crude imaginations and are blasphemous? Are you not concerned that ‘our unimaginable God’ will punish us for wrongful and blasphemous attributions to Him?”
      
      Well, I’ve spoken to the one God. It is not unimaginable. It is what it was and what it will become once reality ends. It will just be a little bit smarter. It said that it liked images and imaginations. It enjoyed speaking with me about all things other than religion. It said that it will take care of all the religious losers that ever claimed to speak in its name. It doesn’t like to be referred to. It told me to be an Agnostic.
      
      Reply
    - Inqiyaad
      
      December 25, 2013 at 11:40 AM
      
      Janfrans Zuidema,
      
      It is heartening to learn that we agree that there is only one God and that worshipping the things you mentioned is a disgrace. However, it is not clear if you agree with me about the exception, that is the Worship of the one God. Please clarify.
      
      The assumption that my questions are based on assumptions is rooted in your disregard for the context. When you interjected a discussion between a Christian and a Muslim, some of it about trinity, you should have expected these questions.
      
      Please make up your mind if your God is ‘unimaginable’ or ‘imaginable’ or ‘your imaginations’, or ‘your desires’.
      
      Once we have clarified these issues, we can discuss about Prophets. For now, it looks that you might very well be on the list of “losers that ever claimed to speak in God’s name”, and if I may add, “without authority”, to qualify that statement.
      
      إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يُجَادِلُونَ فِي آيَاتِ اللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ سُلْطَانٍ أَتَاهُمْ إِن فِي صُدُورِهِمْ إِلَّا كِبْرٌ مَّا هُم بِبَالِغِيهِ فَاسْتَعِذْ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ
      Indeed, those who dispute about the Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allâh, without any authority having come to them, there is nothing else in their breasts except pride [to accept you (Muhammad SAW) as a Messenger of Allâh and to obey you]. They will never have it (i.e. Prophethood which Allâh has bestowed upon you). So seek refuge in Allâh (O Muhammad SAW from the arrogants). Verily, it is He Who is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer. Al-Quran 40:56
      
      Reply
  - Janfrans Zuidema
    
    December 29, 2013 at 11:09 PM
    
    “The assumption that my questions are based on assumptions is rooted in your disregard for the context. When you interjected a discussion between a Christian and a Muslim, some of it about trinity, you should have expected these questions.”
    
    Be aware that I communicated with the one God directly. It doesn’t care about the concept of Jew, Christian, Muslim, Trinity, etc. It claims that Cosmos reacts to your spirit. The Cosmos will not remember why you brought harm, just that you brought harm. The ones that brought harm won’t be admitted. I repeat: The ones that brought harm won’t be admitted.
    
    This probably will mean that I’m not admitted and that you are not admitted and that Abraham, Jesus, Muhammad, Gandhi and Mandela are not admitted, and that’s the whole point. Only a bunch will gain access. Remember, we are talking about a being that is eternal. Sucks doesn’t it?
    
    Reply
    - Aly Balagamwala | DiscoMaulvi
      
      December 30, 2013 at 12:15 AM
      
      Dear All:
      
      There has been enough discussed on this thread and now it is not leading to any fruitful discussion so we would like to request no further comments on this thread.
      
      MM Comments Team
      
      Reply
- David Kearns
  
  August 21, 2013 at 12:00 PM
  
  Jay Online, Muslims do not believe that “God subject(s) Himself to the good things that (we) do to form the decisions of the afterlife”. We specifically reject this. It is not our deeds that gain us access to paradise, but God’s grace and mercy. God showers his grace and mercy at His will, and no amount of good deeds can possibly equal what He has given us. The lowest level of faith in our tradition is those that do as God asked for fear of the Hellfire. The next highest faith is those that do as God asks for hope of the reward of Heaven. And the highest level of faith is those that do as God asks, regardless of the reward, simply because they love God.
  
  Reply
  - Abu Hashem
    
    August 21, 2013 at 12:20 PM
    
    Thank you & jazaakallaah Khayran David. Very true indeed.
    
    Let hope and pray for the taufeeq from our beloved Allaah, ar-Rahmaan ar-Raheem, that we do worship Him and obey Him just because we do love Him. Ameen Yaa Rabb.
    
    Reply
Religion is Mental disease

August 12, 2013 at 11:47 AM

Religion is to the brain what an infectious disease is to a healthy organism. As with any infectious diseases, some are worst than others. While christianity is like the plague, islam is like the ebola virus. Once it gets you, chances of survival are minimal. She is gone. As I were here family, I would simply write her off as a casualty of an epidemic. It is sad, but you eventually move on.

Reply
- Munira
  
  August 21, 2013 at 2:09 PM
  
  Hello,
  I kindly advise to keep your opinion to yourself. Many people have said, if you have nothing good to say don’t say it all.
  Thank you and have nice day.
  
  Reply
Sarah

August 12, 2013 at 12:38 PM

Salam Alaykum. Thank you for writing this Casey. I am have tremendous respect for sister April, MashAllah. I recently embraced Islam about one year ago and my experience echos April’s journey to peace and serenity.

I can relate to some of the negative responses. I also have many Southern Baptists in my family.

From my own experience I can say any announcement will not speak as loudly as the righteousness of Islamic practice. The Shahada is only the first pillar that props up the pavilion of Islam. Continue to practice with patience and perseverance. After some months my family came to see the beauty of Islamic beliefs, even if they still felt the ardor of Islamic practice is silly or over the top. What takes even longer to show them is that it is in this practice (prayer, fasting, diet, dress, etc) that the peace of the message can manifest itself.

My advice is to let the actions speak for themselves rather than telling your family and friends about it on Facebook. This is what I learned in Surah Maryam. When Maryam was pregnant many people gossiped about her: your father is not unrighteousness, your mother was not a harlot, how can you be like this!? Allah swt instilled Maryam with patience and perseverance, she was even able to go through a painful birth all alone in the desert! MashAllah. Finally, she gave birth to prophet Isa (as). Immediately the child Isa (as) spoke for Maryam’s righteousness and everyone changed their minds: Ya Maryam this is an amazing thing!

Let people see the beautiful fruits of your labor. You know it is goodness from Allah, but it will take time for others to see it, but inshAllah they will see it. And Allah knows best.

Reply
- Abu Hashem
  
  August 14, 2013 at 10:32 AM
  
  “My advice is to let the actions speak for themselves rather than telling your family and friends about it on Facebook.”
  Thank you Sarah. So true. There is no bigger da’wa than our own sincere conduct. Jazaakallaah Khayran.
  
  Reply
  - Janfrans Zuidema
    
    December 18, 2013 at 2:07 AM
    
    “There is no bigger da’wa than our own sincere conduct.”
    
    So what is the sincere conduct that a Muslim should express towards the crisis in Syria. You claim to follow the words of God. Now lead by example. Show the non-Muslim World what Islam is made of…
    
    Reply
Proud Kafir

August 12, 2013 at 4:37 PM

Only weak people fall for islam…all you have to do is look around the globe at who is doing the most killing, destruction etc…JIHAD in the name of ISLAM. Converts are people who have issues, lost their way…..weak…people of sound mind do not convert to islam. That is why so many are converted in prisons…islam attracts the weak.

Reply
- Aria08
  
  December 28, 2013 at 2:23 PM
  
  ‘ Are You Terrorists?? ‘
  
  When people say that i cant help but remember a joke i heard somewhere, it went like :
  
  One day a lady was attacked by a dog and to help her a guy came forward and kicked the dog and the dog died. It became a national news, saying that ‘ an American guy saved a lady in trouble by kicking the dog ‘ but when the guy said he wasnt american the news became, breaking news ‘foreigner saves lady by kicking the dog ‘ this time the guy says he is a Pakistani to which the news becomes, international news which says ‘ terriorist attacks a lady and kills her dog.’
  
  Let me begin by telling you that
  
  The meaning if jihad is to strive hard and fight in the Cause of Allâh with your wealth and your lives. Jihad does not mean to kill innocent people.
  
  TERRORISM has NO RELIGION.
  
  Islam isn’t about war or about fighting and killing innocent lives. Its about unity and brotherhood.
  
  A muslim man or women is forbidden to kill another human unless and until in defense but even then they can’t literally take a life..not unless its a grave condition..
  
  I feel ashamed that our people are into terrorism, i really do, but please tell me when a person from another religion does an act of terrorism why are we the ones who are blamed? Why are other muslims who aren’t invovled in it still looked down upon? And most of all why are we being treated badly for the things some other muslims who clearly aren’t following islam did? Why???
  
  In those terrorist acts people among us are also being killed aren’t they ??!!!
  
  All am asking you is to give other muslims a chance too, not everyone of us are insanely blood loving and politically idiotic terrorists.
  
  U can’t judge all the muslims just by witnessing the actions of the others.
  
  Islam tells us to:
  
  Hate no one, no matter how much they’ve wronged you.
  
  Live humbly, no matter how much wealthy u’ve become.
  
  Think positively, no matter how hard life is.
  
  Give much more even if you’ve been given little.
  
  Forgive who has wronged you.
  
  And do not stop praying for the best for those you love.
  
  Yeah i know.. easier said than done but can’t we atleast give it a try. Believe me if we achieve even one of the above stuff, it feels sooo good, soo peaceful.
  
  (:
  
  So tell me now ….. HOW CAN A RELIGION THAT PREACHES THAT ^ WOULD WANT ITS PEOPLE TO GO KILL INNOCENT HUMAN BEINGS??
  
  THE MEDIA HAS TAKEN IT UPON THEMSELVES TO TRASH ALL MUSLIMS AND BLAME THE MUSLIMS FOR WHATEVER REASON THEY WANT TO.
  
  LIKE I SAID NOT EVERYONE ARE MONSTERS AND LIKE THE WAY YOU CANT BLAME AND PUNISH ALL UR CHILDREN WHEN ONE DOES A BAD THING,U SHOULDNT BLAME AND PUNISH ALL THE MUSLIMS THAT YOU COME ACROSS FOR BEING TERRORISTS.
  
  He who kills the innocent for their selfish reasons is not worthy of being called a muslim or even a human, matter of factly.
  
  TERRORISM has NO RELIGION.
  
  Reply
angelica

August 13, 2013 at 1:50 AM

I am in the am in the same situation as the girl in this story. I cry every time I read another story similar to mine.

Reply
- Abu Hashem Malick
  
  August 13, 2013 at 6:52 AM
  
  Yours is what a Muslim heart is, Angelica. Be thankful. Be thankful. Be thankful for HIS Ultimate Mercy.
  
  Reply
- Janfrans Zuidema
  
  December 18, 2013 at 2:16 AM
  
  Hi Angelica, have you tried to be a Prophet. It’s much more fun than being a follower of Islam. When you are a Prophet you can make up your own rules as you go through life. The one God likes its Prophets. It wants more Prophets. So please Angelica, stop being a sheep!
  
  Reply
  - Aria08
    
    December 28, 2013 at 2:28 PM
    
    Michael David Shapiro, Ex-Jew, Russia
    
    I am ethnically a Russian Jew. My quest began when I was 19 years old. I was recovering from my stint with Scientology (yes I was brainwashed into it).
    
    My belief in God was uncertain. My goals in life were to be a rock star. I was living in my Pasadena apartment and working as a secretary. Funny, I know.
    
    One night I was walking to the kitchen, and encountered a dark fellow. I remembered asking him: “Can I keep this vodka in the fridge tonight?” We shook hands and went to sleep. After that point, my life changed drastically
    
    This dark fellow, a Muslim, was the first Muslim I had ever met. Extremely curious, I conversed with him about his faith. What’s this stuff I hear about praying 5 times a day? And about Holy War? Who is this Mohammed guy?
    
    Our talks were accompanied by our Christian roommate, Wade. Together, we created “The Jewish, Christian, and Muslim dialogue sessions”. In it, we discovered many differences, and many commonalities.
    
    My interest had then shifted from sex, drugs, and parties, to a massive search for the truth. A search that I had to complete. A search for God. And a search for how to follow Him.
    
    In my quest for the truth, I asked myself: “Ok let’s start simple, how many God’s do I think are out there?” I figured only one; knowing that a divided God is weaker than One God; figuring that if one God didn’t agree with the other, there might be arguments and feuds. One God was my choice.
    
    Once I opened up my mind to the possibility of the existence of God, I analyzed both atheist and theist beliefs. The thing that directed me to the latter was the quote “Every design has a designer”. With that in mind, eventually I woke up with certainty that God exists. I can’t explain why, I just felt it somehow.
    
    This newfound excitement was accompanied by a sense of responsibility to follow the Creator. The world of religion was my next frontier.
    
    Then I asked myself, “Where do I start?” There are literally thousands of them. I need a way to narrow them down to a just a few. How do I accomplish such a task? “Find the ones that are monotheistic” entered my mind. “Hey that makes sense, since I believe in only One God.”
    
    Ok, then. This ruled out Buddhism and Hinduism, both being polytheistic faiths. The major religions I encountered that fell under the title of Monotheistic, where Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Well since I’m a Jew, I started with Judaism. One God, some prophets, 10 commandments, Torah, Jewish souls uh, what: “Jewish souls?”
    
    While doing research this idea was brought to my attention. The story goes, “if a person is born Jewish, then they have a Jewish soul, and they must follow Judaism.” Hold on a sec that’s discrimination, isn’t it? That’s not universal.
    
    So God makes Jewish souls, and Christian souls, and Muslim souls, and Hindu souls? I thought all men are created equal? So, because one is born into a religion that means by the decree of God he must remain in it even if the person believes it to be false? Hmm I don’t agree with that.
    
    Another thing really bothered me there is no strict concept of hell in Judaism then why be good? Why not sin? If I don’t have fear of strict punishment, then why should I be moral?
    
    Moving on, I discovered Christianity. Ok, one God, a father, a son, and a holy ghost one more time: one God, a father, a son, and a holy ghost. Uhhh, please explain. How can all those things be one God? 1 + 1 + 1 = 3 right? So how can you say you believe in only one God?
    
    Explanation after explanation, equation after equation, comparison after comparison, analogy after analogy, I couldn’t grasp this concept. Ok let’s keep looking here.
    
    Ok, next major doctrine: Jesus died for our sins and he did this because we all are polluted with “Original Sin”. So, Jesus Christ, the “son of God”, had to be murdered to save everyone from Hell and cure us of our sin “given” to us by Adam.
    
    Ok then, so are you saying that we are all born as sinners? And to sin is to do something wrong right? Then you’re telling me that a one-year old baby is guilty of sin or doing something wrong? Ok that’s strange, so based on the actions of one man, all of mankind must suffer? What’s the moral of that story? Punish the whole group if one deviates? Why would God create such a rule? That’s just not in agreement with my logic.
    
    So Jesus died because he “loves mankind”. Hold on, it says in the Bible that Jesus said “father, why have you forsaken me?” So, apparently, Jesus didn’t understand why he was being brutally murdered. But you just said he “volunteered” to be sacrificed. Anyway, I couldn’t accept this belief. Ok, what’s the next religion?
    
    Islam. Islam means submission. The main beliefs are as follows: One God, worship God five times a day, give 2.5% annual charity, fast during Ramadan (to be closer to God and appreciate lifeamong other reasons) and finally journey to Mecca for Hajj if you are able financially. Ok, nothing hard to understand so far.
    
    There’s nothing that conflicts with my logic here. The Quran is a book with all of these interesting miracles and timeless wisdom. Many scientific facts only discovered recently where proclaimed 1400 years ago in this book.
    
    Ok, Islam had passed my initial religious prerequisites. But I wanted to ask some deep questions about it. Is this religion universal? Yes, anyone can understand these basic beliefs no analogy or equation are needed. Does it agree with science? Yes, dozens of verses in the Quran agree with modern science and technology.
    
    As I sifted through the countless logical facts that I read through and researched, one thing took my attention the most. “Islam”. The name of this religion. I noticed it is written many times in this Quran.
    
    However, recalling my prior studies, I didn’t remember once seeing the word “Judaism” in the Old Testament or “Christianity” in the New Testament. This was BIG. Why couldn’t I find the very name of the religions in those two books? Because, there is no name in these books! Thinking I noticed that “Judaism” could be broken down to “Juda- ism” and “Christianity” could be respectively “Christ-ianity”.
    
    So who is Juda? Or Judah, rather. He was the tribe leader of the Hebrews when God revealed his message to mankind. So this religion was named after a person. Ok let’s look at who Christ is. He was the person who delivered the message of God to the Jews. So this religion was named after a person.
    
    So in recollection, we can deduct that the names of these religions are people’s proper names attached to “ism” and “ianity”. Regardless of that fact, the very names of those religions are not mentioned in their scriptures. I thought that was very odd.
    
    If I went door to door selling a product, and I said “Would you like to buy this _______”? Wouldn’t the logical question be: “What is this _____ called?” I would make no money off of a product without a name.
    
    Naming is the very basis which humans identify with objects, both physical and non-physical. If religion is supposed to be practiced and spread to every person on earth, shouldn’t there be a NAME for it?
    
    Moreover, shouldn’t the name be given to us from God Almighty? YES, my point exactly. The names “Christianity” and “Judaism” were not written in the Holy Scriptures. Humans named them, not God. The notion that God would ordain a religion for mankind to follow without a name is impossible for my mind to accept.
    
    At that point, both Christianity and Judaism lost their credibility as pure, logical, and complete religions, at least from my perspective.
    
    Islam is the ONLY of these religions to include the NAME of the religion in its scriptures. This is so huge for me.
    
    I realized I would follow Islam at that point. I then became a Muslim. I knew the truth. I was out of the darkness. I came into the light
    
    Reply
    - Janfrans Zuidema
      
      December 29, 2013 at 11:34 PM
      
      Great story. Seriously, I love an honest person and you’ve really opened up. Kudos!
      
      “And a search for how to follow Him.”
      
      That’s the stage were you’re whole endeavour went wrong. The one God ignores followers (sheep/ stalkers/ groupies). It is just fed up with them. I’m sorry. I suggest that try to make the world a better place. Perhaps then it will notice you…
      
      Reply
Maryam Hajar

August 13, 2013 at 9:39 AM

My conversion story is very similar to this author’s….my family and closest friends turned on my like you wouldn’t believe. When my own mother saw me in hijab for the first time, she got right up to my face and, completely out of character for my elegant Mom, hatefully said: “I hate you, I hate you, You son of a B____.” that look on her face is something I will never ever forget. I mean, she never ever swore and to hear such anger and hate in her voice was crushing. Now that she has passed away, that’s all I can remember of her. It’s very hard for most converts, due to the ignorance and Islamphobia in the West. I blame the media for her misconception about Islam.

Reply
- abdulraiim
  
  August 17, 2013 at 9:25 AM
  
  very touching and my heart wept as I read your tale. your mum reacted in such a manner because of her misinformation about Islam. find it in your heart to forget her harsh rejection, and keep only the memories of when she was just your priceless mum. indeed Allah is All Knowing, Forgiving, and Just.
  
  Reply
- Janfrans Zuidema
  
  December 18, 2013 at 2:22 AM
  
  “…my elegant Mom, hatefully said: “I hate you, I hate you, You son of a B____.”
  
  Maryam Hajar is a dude who wears a hijab with an elegant Mom who consider herself to be a prostitute…
  
  And this comment gets 30 likes. LOL.
  
  Reply
Abu Hashem

August 13, 2013 at 10:55 AM

As they say: Everyone bears his/her own cross. I am certain you had hoped that she will come around and pay heed to the simplest and most logical of all beliefs, your mother is accountable for her conduct and deeds on the Day of Judgment. It is not just the Western media that is culpable for Islamophobia but a well concerted anti-Allah, anti-Mohammed (Sallallaahu Alayhe Wassallamm), anti-Shariah, anti-anything-Muslim, and thereby anti-Islam propaganda and smear campaign from all other beliefs. Allaah, Azza wa Jall, said that in His Book, and guess what, nothing has changed in last 1400 years. Islam cuts into their god-business and their pockets. None of them are sincerely trying to “save” anyone but expand their own customer base.

Reply
Jacqueline

August 13, 2013 at 11:49 AM

I will pray for you April Fuller, as a Christian who finds Christianity more compellingly logical (& more besides) as I delve into the Bible. We’re all sinners who fell short of God’s Glory, who rebelled against Him (I think we still can agree on this).
The logic is this: that God HIMSELF has to provide the perfect atonement and propitiation for our sins because NONE of us are qualified and because God is so JUST and so HOLY that he cannot ignore our sins (however little according to human standards) based just on the good deeds we have done. Jesus Christ, has to be the Christ, fully God and fully Man, prophesied before He came, and a title to which He Himself lays claim to. If we start with our nature as sinful human beings, you’ll see, I pray, that no other religion offers you this necessity and assurance of salvation more than Christianity can.

Ultimately, the more pressing question is, what is God’s purpose for humanity?

Reply
- Gibran Mahmud
  
  August 14, 2013 at 2:04 AM
  
  “because God is so JUST and so HOLY that he cannot ignore our sins (however little according to human standards) based just on the good deeds we have done.”
  Absolutely. Whoever repents from a sin will be forgiven. God is so forgiving and forgives incredibly. There are no intermediaries-whoever sin needs to go directly to God.
  
  And Christianity is not salvation-how could it be salvation when God forbade anyone who violated the first commandment from entering Paradise? Nay, there is no salvation for them except the fire.
  
  لَقَدْ كَفَرَ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الْمَسِيحُ ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ ۖ وَقَالَ الْمَسِيحُ يَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ رَبِّي وَرَبَّكُمْ ۖ إِنَّهُ مَن يُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ فَقَدْ حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ الْجَنَّةَ وَمَأْوَاهُ النَّارُ ۖ وَمَا لِلظَّالِمِينَ مِنْ أَنصَارٍ
  
  “They have certainly disbelieved who say, ” Allah is the Messiah, the son of Mary” while the Messiah has said, “O Children of Israel, worship Allah , my Lord and your Lord.” Indeed, he who associates others with Allah – Allah has forbidden him Paradise, and his refuge is the Fire. And there are not for the wrongdoers any helpers.”
  
  Will you not repent?
  
  أَفَلَا يَتُوبُونَ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَيَسْتَغْفِرُونَهُ ۚ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
  So will they not repent to Allah and seek His forgiveness? And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
  http://quran.com/5/72-75
  
  And we are not born sinful-we are born human and on the natural state-enslaving ourselves to our caring master alone and to nothing else. It is only for our sin and not our parents or that of anyone else that we are punished. No bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another-this is a promise from God himself.
  
  Reply
- Gibran Mahmud
  
  August 14, 2013 at 2:14 AM
  
  You don’t need someone to die for your sins to be forgiven. There were people who burned believers to death-for no other reason than their faith in God. And if they had repented, God would have forgiven them. He is extremely forgiving and extremely loving.
  
  http://quran.com/85
  
  Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
  
  لَمَّا قَضَى اللَّهُ الْخَلْقَ كَتَبَ فِي كِتَابِهِ فَهُوَ عِنْدَهُ فَوْقَ الْعَرْشِ إِنَّ رَحْمَتِي غَلَبَتْ غَضَبِي
  
  When Allah decreed the Creation He pledged Himself by writing in His book which is laid down with Him: My mercy prevails over My wrath.
  
  Source: Sahih Bukhari 3022, Grade: Sahih
  
  Ibn Abbas reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Allah Almighty has said:
  
  قَالَ اللَّهُ كَذَّبَنِي ابْنُ آدَمَ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ ذَلِكَ وَشَتَمَنِي وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ ذَلِكَ فَأَمَّا تَكْذِيبُهُ إِيَّايَ فَزَعَمَ أَنِّي لَا أَقْدِرُ أَنْ أُعِيدَهُ كَمَا كَانَ وَأَمَّا شَتْمُهُ إِيَّايَ فَقَوْلُهُ لِي وَلَدٌ فَسُبْحَانِي أَنْ أَتَّخِذَ صَاحِبَةً أَوْ وَلَدًا
  
  Allah the Exalted said: The son of Adam has lied against Me but he has no right to do so, and he has abused Me but he has no right to do so. As for his lie, it is his saying that I cannot recreate him as I did before. As for his abuse, it is his saying that I have a son, but glorified am I above taking a wife or a son.
  
  Source: Sahih Bukhari 4212, Grade: Sahih
  
  Abu Mas’ud al-Ansari reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
  
  حُوسِبَ رَجُلٌ مِمَّنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ فَلَمْ يُوجَدْ لَهُ مِنْ الْخَيْرِ شَيْءٌ إِلَّا أَنَّهُ كَانَ يُخَالِطُ النَّاسَ وَكَانَ مُوسِرًا فَكَانَ يَأْمُرُ غِلْمَانَهُ أَنْ يَتَجَاوَزُوا عَنْ الْمُعْسِرِ قَالَ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ نَحْنُ أَحَقُّ بِذَلِكَ مِنْهُ تَجَاوَزُوا عَنْهُ
  
  A man from the time before you was called to account and nothing good was found with him except that he was easy-going in his business with people and he would order his servants to be lenient with those in difficult circumstances. Allah the Exalted said: We are more worthy of such actions, so pardon his sins.
  
  Source: Sahih Muslim 1561, Grade: Sahih
  
  Abu Huraira reported: Among the sayings of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, that he related from his Lord Almighty is that He said:
  
  أَذْنَبَ عَبْدٌ ذَنْبًا فَقَالَ اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي ذَنْبِي فَقَالَ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى أَذْنَبَ عَبْدِي ذَنْبًا فَعَلِمَ أَنَّ لَهُ رَبًّا يَغْفِرُ الذَّنْبَ وَيَأْخُذُ بِالذَّنْبِ ثُمَّ عَادَ فَأَذْنَبَ فَقَالَ أَيْ رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي ذَنْبِي فَقَالَ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى عَبْدِي أَذْنَبَ ذَنْبًا فَعَلِمَ أَنَّ لَهُ رَبًّا يَغْفِرُ الذَّنْبَ وَيَأْخُذُ بِالذَّنْبِ ثُمَّ عَادَ فَأَذْنَبَ فَقَالَ أَيْ رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي ذَنْبِي فَقَالَ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى أَذْنَبَ عَبْدِي ذَنْبًا فَعَلِمَ أَنَّ لَهُ رَبًّا يَغْفِرُ الذَّنْبَ وَيَأْخُذُ بِالذَّنْبِ اعْمَلْ مَا شِئْتَ فَقَدْ غَفَرْتُ لَكَ
  
  A servant committed a sin and he said: O Allah, forgive my sin! Allah the Blessed and Exalted will say: My servant has committed a sin and he knows he has a Lord who forgives sins and holds him accountable. Then he returned to his sin and he said: O Allah, forgive my sin! Allah will say: My servant has committed a sin and he knows he has a Lord who forgives sins and holds him accountable. Then he returned to his sin and he said: O Allah, forgive my sin! Allah will say: My servant has committed a sin and he knows he has a Lord who forgives sins and holds him accountable, so do what you will because I have forgiven you.
  
  Source: Sahih Muslim 2758, Grade: Sahih
  
  Anas ibn Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
  
  قَالَ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ إِنَّكَ مَا دَعَوْتَنِي وَرَجَوْتَنِي غَفَرْتُ لَكَ عَلَى مَا كَانَ فِيكَ وَلَا أُبَالِي يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ لَوْ بَلَغَتْ ذُنُوبُكَ عَنَانَ السَّمَاءِ ثُمَّ اسْتَغْفَرْتَنِي غَفَرْتُ لَكَ وَلَا أُبَالِي يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ إِنَّكَ لَوْ أَتَيْتَنِي بِقُرَابِ الْأَرْضِ خَطَايَا ثُمَّ لَقِيتَنِي لَا تُشْرِكُ بِي شَيْئًا لَأَتَيْتُكَ بِقُرَابِهَا مَغْفِرَةً
  
  Allah, Blessed and Exalted, says: O son of Adam, however much you call upon Me and place your hopes in Me, I will forgive you without any reservation. O son of Adam, if you have sins piling up to the clouds and then ask My forgiveness, I will forgive you without any reservation. O son of Adam, if you come to me with enough sins to fill the earth, and meet Me without associating anything as a partner with Me, I will come to you with enough forgiveness to fill the earth.
  
  Source: Sunan At-Tirmidhi 3540, Grade: Sahih
  
  God is happy at your repentance if only you could understand how welcoming he would be if you just took a step towards him.
  
  Abu Huraira reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
  
  قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَنَا عِنْدَ ظَنِّ عَبْدِي بِي وَأَنَا مَعَهُ حَيْثُ يَذْكُرُنِي وَاللَّهِ لَلَّهُ أَفْرَحُ بِتَوْبَةِ عَبْدِهِ مِنْ أَحَدِكُمْ يَجِدُ ضَالَّتَهُ بِالْفَلَاةِ وَمَنْ تَقَرَّبَ إِلَيَّ شِبْرًا تَقَرَّبْتُ إِلَيْهِ ذِرَاعًا وَمَنْ تَقَرَّبَ إِلَيَّ ذِرَاعًا تَقَرَّبْتُ إِلَيْهِ بَاعًا وَإِذَا أَقْبَلَ إِلَيَّ يَمْشِي أَقْبَلْتُ إِلَيْهِ أُهَرْوِلُ
  
  Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, said: I am as My servant expects Me and I am with him as he remembers Me. By Allah, Allah is more pleased with the repentance of His servant than how one of you would be on finding the lost camel in the waterless desert. When he draws near Me by the span of his hand, I draw near him by the length of a cubit. And when he draws near Me by the length of a cubit, I draw near him by the length of a fathom. And when he draws near Me walking, I draw close to him quickly.
  
  Source: Sahih Bukhari 6970, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi
  
  However, he forbade paradise for whoever violated the first commandment and did not return to him before the time of repenting is over.
  
  Reply
  - Gibran Mahmud
    
    August 14, 2013 at 2:26 AM
    
    Al-Bukhari recorded that Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said that some of the people of Shirk(violators of the first commandment) killed many people and committed Zina (illegal sexual acts) to a great extent; they came to Muhammad and said, “What you are saying and calling us to is good; if only you could tell us that there is an expiation for what we have done.” Then the following Ayat were revealed:
    
    ﴿وَالَّذِينَ لاَ يَدْعُونَ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَـهَا ءَاخَرَ وَلاَ يَقْتُلُونَ النَّفْسَ الَّتِى حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلاَّ بِالْحَقِّ وَلاَ يَزْنُونَ﴾
    
    (And those who invoke not any other god along with Allah, nor kill such person as Allah has forbidden, except for just cause, nor commit illegal sexual intercourse) (25:68).
    
    ﴿قُلْ يعِبَادِىَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُواْ عَلَى أَنفُسِهِمْ لاَ تَقْنَطُواْ مِن رَّحْمَةِ اللَّهِ﴾
    
    (Say: “O My servants who have transgressed against themselves! Despair not of the mercy of Allah.) This was also recorded by Muslim, Abu Dawud and An-Nasa’i.
    
    What is meant by the first Ayah (25:68) is the few ayat that come right after it 25:69 and 25:70
    
    ﴿إِلاَّ مَن تَابَ وَءَامَنَ وَعَمِلَ عَمَلاً صَـلِحاً﴾
    
    (Except those who repent and believe, and do righteous deeds) (25:70).
    
    Furthermore, Allah says in his book we recite,
    
    قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَىأَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا مِن رَّحْمَةِ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَغْفِرُالذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ
    
    Say: “O my Servants who have transgressed against their souls! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah: for Allah forgives all sins: for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
    
    (39:53)
    
    ﴿أَلَمْ يَعْلَمُواْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ يَقْبَلُ التَّوْبَةَ عَنْ عِبَادِهِ﴾
    
    (Know they not that Allah accepts repentance from His servants) (9:104).
    
    ﴿وَمَن يَعْمَلْ سُوءاً أَوْ يَظْلِمْ نَفْسَهُ ثُمَّ يَسْتَغْفِرِ اللَّهَ يَجِدِ اللَّهَ غَفُوراً رَّحِيماً ﴾
    
    (And whoever does evil or wrongs himself but afterwards seeks Allah’s forgiveness, he will find Allah Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.) (4:110). Concerning the hypocrites, Allah says:
    
    ﴿إِنَّ الْمُنَـفِقِينَ فِى الدَّرْكِ الاٌّسْفَلِ مِنَ النَّارِ وَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُمْ نَصِيراً إِلاَّ الَّذِينَ تَابُواْ وَأَصْلَحُواْ﴾
    
    (Verily, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depth (grade) of the Fire; no helper will you find for them. Except those who repent, and do righteous good deeds) (4:145-146).
    
    A man even killed a 100 people and Allah forgave him!
    
    Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri: The Prophet said, “Amongst the men of Bani Israel there was a man who had murdered ninety-nine persons. Then he set out asking (whether his repentance could be accepted or not). He came upon a monk and asked him if his repentance could be accepted. The monk replied in the negative and so the man killed him. He kept on asking till a man advised to go to such and such village. (So he left for it) but death overtook him on the way. While dying, he turned his chest towards that village (where he had hoped his repentance would be accepted), and so the angels of mercy and the angels of punishment quarreled amongst themselves regarding him. Allah ordered the village (towards which he was going) to come closer to him, and ordered the village (whence he had come), to go far away, and then He ordered the angels to measure the distances between his body and the two villages. So he was found to be one span closer to the village (he was going to). So he was forgiven.”
    
    Reply
- Janfrans Zuidema
  
  December 29, 2013 at 11:59 PM
  
  Thanks for your comment, Jacqueline! I’m not sure if Christ will save you, but the behaviour that is associated with Christ could. Go out and make the world a better place! That might be the key…
  
  Reply
convert of 24 years

August 13, 2013 at 1:31 PM

May Allah give you patience April Fuller, in time it might get easier and if it does not Allah will reward you for each moment of suffering.

Reply
- Janfrans Zuidema
  
  December 18, 2013 at 2:27 AM
  
  “…and if it does not Allah will reward you for each moment of suffering.”
  
  The ‘convert of 24 years’ who enjoys judging before the ONE gets to judge you. Don’t be fooled by these demons April Fuller, make up your mind.
  
  Reply
  - Aria08
    
    December 28, 2013 at 2:40 PM
    
    Holy Quran 22:46
    It is not the eyes that are blind but the hearts.
    
    People have corrupted this world, not Islam.
    Islam is perfect but Muslims arent.
    
    Reply
theophile

August 13, 2013 at 2:05 PM

Islam looses the logic when it claims Moses a prophet of God! Why? because Moses disagrees with Mohammed’s Quran! It was Isaac, not Ishmael that Abraham proved his faith with!

The LORD our God is ONE GOD! Jesus even said so! Jesus is God’s Word made flesh….Mohammed even said so! Why would one follow Mohammed a MERE prophet when they could follow God’s ACTUAL word instead?

Now Pauline Christianity requires blind faith…. because that’s how Paul obtained his! … by being blinded.

Reply
- Don
  
  August 14, 2013 at 2:41 PM
  
  This is obviously a pro-Islamic site. Islam is not a religion of peace or logic. Just look at what is happening in the nations that are predominantly Muslim and follow the teachings of the Koran. It is only the watered down versions of westernized Islam and where Muslims are less than 10% of the population where you have peaceful co-existence. Do you call it a logical, loving and peaceful coexistence between Shia, Sunni, and Kharijite Muslims? How tolerant do you think Saudi Arabia, Iraq, or Iran would be to the female imams of China? They all profess to follow the teachings of the Koran, and Islam. There is evil in the world and it has blinded so many to the truth. Do you know what the really sad thing is? G_d’s word has been around for thousands of years and it has been corrupted by religious organizations that have ulterior motives. Mankind’s reluctance to accept G_d’s Holiness, His Wisdom, His path to salvation, His Merciful Grace, our unrighteousness, and our inability to earn our way to heaven will end in eternal damnation. If Islam is a religion of peace, and Allah is a loving god, can anyone show me in the Koran where Allah says to love your enemies so that they may be won over to the truth and light? For that matter can anyone show me in the Koran where you are commanded to love anything? My prayer is that G_D open the hearts and minds of all who seek His truth and that they find truth in His Holy Word.
  
  Reply
  - Don
    
    August 15, 2013 at 5:29 PM
    
    I’m really disappointed that no one has even attempted to rationally answer any of the above questions. Is it because no one with any kind of logical rationale can defend Islam from the Koran without ignoring history or picking and choosing selected verses with a lot of secondary explanations? Perhaps the most damming evidence that Islam is not a religion of peace is how brothers and sisters in Islam can say they believe the Koran is the word of Allah then blow up each other’s men, women, children, and places of worship. That kind of hatred does not make any kind of sense because one believes in a different interpretation of the Hadith. Regardless of how you divide Muhammad’s sayings, the Koran should stand alone and be the absolute authority in determining if the Hadith is sahih (authentic), hasan (good) or daif (weak). The Hadith should never determine how the Koran is interpreted. That would place the Hadith above or equal to the Holy Scriptures and cause fractional denominations. It is still my prayer that G_D open your eyes and heart to His truth.
    
    Reply
    - saudj
      
      August 16, 2013 at 1:50 AM
      
      sounds like you are an orientalist wanting to cause doubt in people’s minds. For the other people out there who sincerely want to know, in the Qur’an Allaah tells us to obey the Messenger (PBUH). This is in effect obeying Allaah, because the Prophet (peace be upon him) only told us to do what Allaah wants us to do. Hence we require hadith to explain some Quranic verses as well as provide a real life example for us.
      
      The point about muslims blowing up each other…. sad yes, but as i am sure any reasonable and sensible person realises, what Islam tells us to do and what muslims do are completely different things.
      
      May Allaah guide you mon ami.
      
      Reply
      - Abu Hashem
        
        August 16, 2013 at 11:47 AM
        
        No, this guy wouldn’t know the first thing about Orientalism except may be Googling it. He is from the group founded by Wallace D. son of Elijah Poole who had founded Nation of Islam (a purported translation of word Ummah) by taking Ahmadia and Americanizing it. He claimed to be Mohammed mentioned in the Holy Quraan and in the Ahmadia commentary of by their Mohammad Ali. They follow this Wallace D. who claimed to be Messiah, Mehdi, denied that we’d be raised again, and put his own twist that America should have its own Shariah. They, in following the footsteps of Jews, write G_d, obviously don’t like the word Allaah Himself used for Himself throughout the Blessed Quraan. Thankfully, there are not too many on Wallace’s path of hellfire.
      - Janfrans Zuidema
        
        December 18, 2013 at 2:31 AM
        
        “Thankfully, there are not too many on Wallace’s path of hellfire.”
        
        Another person who thinks he can judge before the ONE judges.
    - Zaheer
      
      August 16, 2013 at 2:03 AM
      
      Good day Don,
      
      I’ll attempt to address your questions above.
      
      Many Muslim countries are currently experiencing significant sectarian conflict. This is true. There are some which are not (KSA, for instance). It might seem like a ‘cop-out’ to you, given the tone of your questions, but the canon of Islam is not necessarily represented by any/all groups of Muslims alive today. So, just because a country is Muslim-majority, doesn’t mean its people practise Islam as it should be practiced. Furthermore, there are other issues besides religion which can cause conflict. And I would go as far as saying that in every Muslim-majority country currently experiencing major conflict, religion is not the only factor.
      
      The question of Islam as a ‘religion of peace’, Allah as ‘a loving god’ are not simple to answer. Islam means ‘submission’, and part of that is being at peace with the Creator and created.
      
      However, it does not mean no violence/war at all costs – many times violence is necessary to prevent greater evil. Self-defence, whether of person, land, property, family, community, etc is usually the underlying motivation. And violence against non-participants in war (usually women and children, and men who are not actively engaging in combat) is strictly forbidden in Islam. Case-in-point about the difference between Islam and what those who claim to be Muslim do.
      
      There are many verses in the Qur’an indicating showing restraint against clear enemies (e.g. 2:190). There are also many verses instructing calling towards goodness with patience, and good speech. And we are instructed to love all that which is beneficial to us. The website quran.com is a very navigable resource for all the questions you have.
      
      Please let me know what other questions you may have; others may also be able to answer them better.
      
      Reply
      - Don
        
        August 16, 2013 at 1:05 PM
        
        Thank you Saudj and Zaheer for your reply,
        
        Abu Hashem – you have some serious issues to deal with and need to take a more scholarly approach to your comments. You know nothing about me. Your rhetoric is what gives Islam a bad name.
        
        What I want is dialog in order to understand why you really think Islam is a peaceful religion. Help me out here – The Messenger (PBUH) brought Allah’s words to the followers of Islam in oral form then 200 years later his words were written in Arabic which you now have as the Koran. So why do you have to have the Hadith to understand Allah’s spoken word? Orientalist? No- every religion has its liberal believers, conservative believers, and its radical believers. I only see peaceful co-existence with the liberal version of Islam or where conservative/radical Muslims are less than 10% of the population. The followers of the liberal version of Islam would be annihilated in a heartbeat in the birth place of Islam.
        
        Muslims blowing up each other is . . . Sad But? That is a disgusting comment to make in light of the innocent being butchered daily in the name of Allah. Where is the outrage? You are talking about your brothers, sisters and children in faith. Shame on you.
        
        Sectarian conflict and control of petrol dollars is always ugly. Greed comes in all shapes and sizes. Unfortunately it is not all sectarian. Maybe you can explain the Sunni-Shia- Alawites conflict.
        
        You mention the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a model for Islam. In many ways it is westernized, and in many ways it is not. What I do not understand is why the KSA does not take a leadership role and scream out against terrorism and radical Islam.
        
        Please explain to me why you chose Sura 2: Baqara verse 190 as proof that Islam is a religion of peace and you are commanded by Allah to show restraint to your enemies?
        I do not get that interpretation when I read the verse, particularly in light of Sura 2: Baqara verse 191. I have 3 versions of the Koran in English, they all say the same. Is there something lost in the translation from Arabic to English?
        
        190. Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress
        limits; for Allah loveth not transgressors.
        191. And slay them wherever ye catch them, and turn them out from where they
        have Turned you out; for tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter; but
        fight them not at the Sacred Mosque, unless they [first] fight you there; but if
        they fight you, slay them. Such is the reward of those who suppress faith.
        
        I’m looking forward to your reply.
      - Zaheer
        
        August 17, 2013 at 6:26 PM
        
        Don,
        
        Unfortunately I cannot reply directly to your last message (think the thread level is too deep for WordPress…), so I’ll just reply to mine.
        
        You have twice asked why the Qur’an needs the Hadith in order to interpret. Firstly, you should know that only certain parts of the Qur’an are explained, or expanded upon by some of the hadith, and that this is Allah’s sunna (or “way”). If He (S.W.T) chose, He could have revealed 10 Qur’ans, each explaining the other, and forbidden anyone to record anything our Nabiy (s.a.w.s.) said which did not form part of that. He (S.W.T.), chose differently, and instructed us to follow the path of Muhammad (s.a.w.s). This includes his practices, and speech, as a “perfect model” (33:21) of how to implement the Qur’an’s teaching.
        
        The thing many people, including Muslims, misunderstand about the Qur’an, is that it is primarily NOT a “rulebook”. Yes, there are some laws and regulations in it; however majority of its verses are moral in nature. From it, many lessons can be derived, if proper and sincere reflection is undertaken. So, to read the Qur’an and go “o if this is final revelation from Allah, why do I need to care about hadith?”, is to misapprehend exactly why the Qur’an was revealed, and what you’re supposed to take away from it.
        
        Secondly, I need to reiterate the relation between “peace” and Islam. As stated, Islam means (roughly) “submission”, not “peace”. This submission is to Allah. One aspect of that is being “at peace”, whether internally, or with the rest of creation. Moreover, it is being “at peace” with the Creator. But, that is only one aspect. To say “Islam is a religion of peace” in the sense that we are pacifists à la Gandhi, is to use a very narrow definition of peace. So, if this is the peace you refer to: Islam is not a religion of that type of peace. It is a religion of placing things in their proper place. To execute a serial killer is an act of peace. I hope this demonstrates what I mean.
        
        You asked for verses showing where the Qur’an commands us to treat our enemies well; 2:190 is such a verse. It commands us not to trangress in warfare. As I said before, we differ on what is meant by “a religion of peace”, so I did not endeavor to provide verses for what I think it is you mean by this term, but rather, as per your request.
        
        I’m not sure you took me up on my offer to read any of the other verses of the Qur’an which deal with treating enemies/belligerents well, as you’ve again chosen verses only to suit your view. I’ll play along by doing some of your work for you:
        
        Verse 3:159, for e.g., relates to Allah telling Muhammad (s.a.w.s) that ” if you had been rude [in speech] and harsh in heart, they would have disbanded from about you.” This is an injunction to call towards the path, gently.
        
        Verse 16:125 instructs our Nabiyy (s.a.w.s.), and all of us by extension, to “invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best.” This verse (and the Surah it is contained in) was revealed in the early Makkan period, where Islam had far more enemies than friends.
        
        Lastly, I haven’t “chosen” the KSA as a ‘model for Islam’. I simply mentioned it as an example of a Muslim majority country which has low-levels of sectarion and other types of violence.
      - Don
        
        August 19, 2013 at 3:05 PM
        
        Zaheer, I ran into the same problem.
        
        You have really confused me with this reply. I’m beginning to think it is because of the western mindset versus the eastern mindset that there is so much misunderstanding and confusion. Your explanation of the Koran, the need of the Hadith has dumbfounded me. All religions instruct their believers to “Submit to their god.” Before I go any further, I really appreciate your honesty and patients. Not many followers of Islam are willing to explain their faith or have enough knowledge to support why and what they believe in without spouting a lot of rhetorical gibberish. . Doing an in depth search in the Koran using my search engine did not reveal anything I could collaborate with what you were saying. When anyone gives me a verse to look at, I always try to read a few verses before and after the reference to try and understand the context in which it was spoken. I didn’t pick that verse – you did. My attempts to look up verses that contained the word “Love, tolerate, tolerance, patient, et cetera” only seem to pertain to proselytizing, brothers and sisters in faith or to ones who lost the way and need to be encouraged to come back. Having said that, you need to know why I keep coming back to the Koran and the Hadith. I did not pick Sura 2:190, you did. Isolating that Sura by itself I can derive your understanding. I started with 2:187 and worked down to 2:195 it starts off with self-restraint in your household and property. You are then told to fight in the cause of Allah and not Transgress limits. I was unable to determine what the limits were. 191 is pretty clear about what to do to those who continue to transgress and then it goes on to say to be merciful to those of cease to transgress then into restrictions during the prohibited month. Your follow-up Sura 3:159, 16:125 are for proselytizing the unlearned – as I feel you are honestly doing with me. Would that hold true if I started to become vile, belligerent, and blasphemous to your teachings and to Allah? This is what I would call an enemy to the faith. The proper response would be to condemn the hatred and error of his way in a loving but firm response and pray that Allah soften his heart so that he may find truth.
        
        What I am beginning to see in my mind is an arbitrary interpretation of the Koran based on which Hadith and spiritual leader/scholar you choose to follow. This is something I am going to have to research and look into deeper. My misconception was based on the Koran being the Absolute Standard and reference to judge all by, the Hadith as commentary on the Koran, and the spiritual leaders as scholars dedicated to studying Allah’s word’s to Mohammed. What I am hearing is that the believer cannot understand how Allah wants you to live by the Koran alone and must rely upon on what Mohammed said as described by the Hadith and further interpreted by the scholars. Not good. Again, I want to thank you for your patients and willingness to share. You have given me much to meditate on and sort out. Peace be with you.
      - Janfrans Zuidema
        
        December 18, 2013 at 2:39 AM
        
        Zaheer: “So, just because a country is Muslim-majority, doesn’t mean its people practise Islam as it should be practiced.”
        
        So a Muslim that claims that he/she is a Muslim, isn’t necessarily a Muslim. So how do we know that Zaheer is a Muslim? How do we know that anyone is a Muslim until Allah tells us he/she was? Let’s not judge before the ONE judges us all…
YP

August 14, 2013 at 5:27 PM

Not a convert story, but certainly interesting is the ‘Halal Monk’ project, a website that ‘documents’ the journey of a Christian through Islam. It collects the conversations of Jonas Yunus, a christian thinker with influential spiritual leaders and artists of the Muslim world.

Reply
A

August 15, 2013 at 8:14 PM

This is a reply to some of the comments made above:
As when we have a problem, or question we only have to look at our holy book,. Suban’Allah.

Our Almighty Allah (swt), in the holy Qur’an states:

“And Pharaoh said, “O Haman, construct for me a tower that I might reach the ways – The ways into the heavens – so that I may look at the deity of Moses; but indeed, I think he is a liar.” And thus was made attractive to Pharaoh the evil of his deed, and he was averted from the [right] way. And the plan of Pharaoh was not except in ruin.” (Surah Ghafir: 36-37)

Fir’aun had said such an audacious statement, as a believing man from his relatives (his people), who was believer but in hiding, had spoken up and proclaimed the truth when Firaun was planing to kill Musa(as) . He delivered his message of Truth to the fir’aun and than turned to the people, and emphasized Musa (as) message. As people begin to listen to his message, begin to understand his message, their hearts begin to open towards it. Yet when fir’aun saw this, he become afraid, as his own people were leaving him. When a person that doesn’t want to accept the Truth, follow the commandments of Almighty Allah (swt), he begins to feel isolated, as all people are leaving him, his arrogance, and fear loosing his power ultimately causes him to utter such a statement as a joke, so the speech that is having an effect is harmed. But his own doings, harmed him only.

As none can harm Allah (swt), we can only harm ourselves.

But the believer didn’t stop there, a few words from the detractors didn’t move him, he continue to spread the message.

” So Allah protected him from the evils they plotted, and the people of Pharaoh were enveloped by the worst of punishment -” (Surah Ghafir: 45)

The believer was saved, while the Pharaoh and his people only harmed themselves.

Finally
“Indeed, those who dispute concerning the signs of Allah without [any] authority having come to them – there is not within their breasts except pride, [the extent of] which they cannot reach. So seek refuge in Allah . Indeed, it is He who is the Hearing, the Seeing.” ( Ghafir: 56)

So my brother and sisters here, how many of you have read the Qur’an, studied the sunnah?

My dear brothers and sisters, please read the Qur’an yourself, and May Allah (Swt) open your hearts towards it. If you don’t believe in Allah (Swt), than this is a challenge for you to try and read it, and let see if mine and your Lord will open your heart – Remember, to read it in search of your Lord, to attain guidance, otherwise you will never attain the peace that hearts find in the remembrance of their lord. – ” Those who dispute concerning the signs of Allah without an authority having come to them – great is hatred [of them] in the sight of Allah and in the sight of those who have believed. Thus does Allah seal over every heart [belonging to] an arrogant tyrant.” [Ghafir – 35]

May Allah (Swt) give us all hidaya and guide us to right way. Ameen.

Jazakhallah Khairun

Assalamoalikum

PS. The above interpretation is based Dr. Farhat Hashmi’s urdu narration of Surah Ghafir. Apart from the finally portion.

Reply
Huda

August 16, 2013 at 10:58 AM

I honestly do not understand why many are leaving blatantly rude comments. If you disagree with her and solely base your argument upon opinion, why comment? In fact, why base any of your argument on opinion? This girl did not post the article on this website. It was posted here by someone else for dawwah. Therefore, what good does speaking poorly of her lead to? Has she not been hurt enough already as the article mentions? A person with a sound mind would not be led astray by such comments anyway; it would only lead people to grow a stronger dislike towards those with such narrow, sick minds.

I’m fairly confident that whoever posted this article on this website did not post it for arguments about Islam and christianity. It was posted to display to others what people go through in the US.

Also, why would a christian listen to a Muslim who quotes from the Qur’an? As a Muslim, I do not want to listen to their corrupted bible. If you want to have an intellectual conversation with one who is not Muslim, you cannot quote things that they do not believe, such as Al-Qur’an. You must speak to nonMuslims on their level. Be LOGICAL, as the girl stated. Give proofs that surround you. Logically, the creator came before the creations. Allah created the waters and the heavens and everything that we know is in the universe. Allah is the creator of everything. Allah is the most powerful, everlasting and eternal. The One Who is God is not subjugated to weakness. However, humans are weak. Humans have bodies that can get sick, cannot live forever because they soon get old and weak, ect. Allah does not get sick or old or anything of that matter. Therefore, how can one say that God is human, too? Three does not equal one. If there were three or even two gods (or as Christians say the son of God, whom they believe to also be God), then there would be two different wills. One god could will for one thing to happen and one god could will for another to happen. Therefore, one god’s will would not occur because two different wills cannot occur at once. Thus, the christian logic is invalid. THIS is how Muslims can use logic. Of course, we believe in Al-Qur’an, but not everyone will listen to what we have to say about it. Therefore, you have to take different approaches, such as logic.

Reply
- Zaheer
  
  August 17, 2013 at 6:44 PM
  
  Salaam Huda,
  
  Some interesting points here. To be honest, this comment thread has very little to do with the article, and has degenerated into a mudslinging match.
  
  I have tried to address Don’s questions above in a sensible manner, because he asked them politely without overtly “trolling”. I assumed the best and treated it as request for information. He asked for Qur’anic verses, so I gave him some (and asked him to do some of his own research…generally a good test to see how serious someone is, or whether they’re just present to stir things up). From his tone, I was not naive enough to think that this would “convince” him, but guidance is in Allah’s will, so who am I to say.
  
  However, you are correct in that, non-Muslims, not believing in the Qur’an in the first place, can sometimes be more receptive to logic, or plain-old simple reasoning. In the particular case of Christianity, I think you have made some good points about the irrationality of the Trinity concept. However, I have seen many counter-arguments from Christians who state that Muslims (or any non-Christians for that matter) “don’t understand” the Trinity. So they will refute all of this simply by stating that the personality of God as son, father and holy spirit is akin to three facets of one unified entity. Or something like that. To be honest, to have such a confusing concept at the heart of your belief is already a sign that something’s not quite right. But maybe that’s just me:-)
  
  So a good reminder. Sometimes just using dialectical reasoning on a person’s false beliefs can lead them to seriously question them. And, this may have a deeper impact than simply throwing verses at them, which they are unlikely to be convinced by since they don’t believe in it in the first place (I think that’s called “begging the question” in the field of logic/argumentation)! Logic’s fun, huh? :-)
  
  Reply
  - Abu Hashem
    
    August 18, 2013 at 11:07 AM
    
    @Zaheer.
    Jazaakumullaah Khayran for your sincere efforts.
    I was quick to jump in at his first post because I have dealt with such characters for a long time. They pretend to be all knowing yet are very limited, only if they so realize. They are easily recognizable from their long-winded posts with no daleel, off-the-topic, and their behavior as if they know better than the Ultimate-Creator Allaah and His Rasool. As He, Azza wa Jall, says: deaf, dumb, and blind are they. And NO DOUBT, NO DOUBT, He, Subhaana wa Ta’ala, knows best.
    
    Reply
  - Don
    
    August 19, 2013 at 5:08 PM
    
    Honestly, I am very sincere it trying to understand your faith. Don’t try to understand the Trinity. No one can. Not even those who profess to be Christian. Christians, Jews, and Muslims are all considered monotheistic faiths. i.e. One G_d who is Almighty, All Knowing, All Merciful, All Loving, from Everlasting to Everlasting. The rationale behind believing in the Triune nature of G_D starts with the Christian Bible. Their faith believes that the Logos or Written work of G_D is infallible and without contradiction in its original tongue. In the Old and New Testaments there are three manifestations of G_D that accept worship, The Father – The Son – and The Holy Spirit. How G_D can manifest himself as three separate and distinct individuals and yet be one is a mystery beyond any human understanding. All analogies fall short in trying to explain it. Best analogy I have heard – Water manifests itself as Vapor, Liquid, and Solid at the same time when the temperature and pressure reach the triple point of water. It is interesting that you discard all non-believers as Deaf, Dumb and Blind. That is what all of the religions say about each other and those who they consider to be hopeless. Please don’t take this offensively. Keep in mind that both Islam and Christianity have their roots in Judaism. Jews claim the Torah is the original word of G_D and Mohammad Plagiarized portions of the Scriptures to falsely declare Abraham’s descendants through Hagar as G_D’s chosen people. The Christian’s agree with the Jews and depart from the Jewish beliefs by accepting Jesus as their long waited Messiah. The Muslims reject both the Jewish and Christian versions. When you examine the historical content and written documents that have survived the ages between the three religions, it looks like the Jewish and Christian faiths have the historical and Archeological evidence on their side.
    
    Again, Thank you Zaheer, I have a lot to mull over but for now, I can say this, If I were to convert over to Islam, I would want to have someone like you as a mentor. And yes – Logic can be fun. Begging the Question and Circular reasoning all begins with what is perceived as the origin of truth. Peace be with you all.
    
    Reply
    - David Kearns
      
      August 21, 2013 at 12:19 PM
      
      Just a couple of corrections: Muslims also believe that Jews are the chosen people, we have no contention with that, in fact this is repeated many times in Qur’an and Hadith. Also we do not reject the “Christian” version, just the Trinitarian Christian one. We also believe in Jesus, peach be upon him, his virgin birth, his Prophethood, the fact he is “The Word” and the Messiah. We reject the trinity and contend that he was not actually crucified but someone else took his place and he was taken directly up to the heavens.
      
      Reply
    - peace
      
      August 21, 2013 at 10:10 PM
      
      @don, Peace and blessings, My sincere advice to you will be if you are truly seeking to know more about the faith of islam then seek a muslim scholar at a local masjid or in local muslim community. Writings like this do not convey emotions very well and sometimes things appear more offensive then intended. Also to make one point clear, for muslims Quran is the word and command of God. However it has always been understood that Quran should be read with a good Teacher and the message is to be understood with its context. For example in Quran God tells muslims to pray 5 times daily and we get the details of the prayer and its method etc from Hadith. Similarly we read in Quran to not transgress during times of war and Hadith tells us things that are considered transgression like killing children, women, elderly, cutting trees etc. Another useful resource would be lectures from the authentic scholars availiable online like Shaikh Hamza Yusuf.
      
      Reply
    - Don
      
      August 22, 2013 at 11:56 AM
      
      Thank you David and Peace,
      I will check out some of the resources you recommended. It is clear to me that without the Hadith or Sunnah it would be impossible to understand the Koran or how Allah really wants the faithful to walk. The difficulty from the outside looking in is knowing who to trust as a valid scholar or spokesperson for Islam. In the process of trying to find an English version of the Hadith I ran across the testimony of a young man wanting desperately to find an English translation of the Hadith so he could understand the Koran. He only understood English and could never get beyond a few Surahs before getting confused and giving up. What surprised me was the Scholar chastised him and told him the Koran was sufficient enough and pointed to Surah 2:185 where the first part says the Koran is sufficient all by itself. I have a lot to look at and research. I can say this for sure, As I see things now, it would take a lot more faith to truly become a Muslim than it would be to become a Jew or Christian. Peace be to you all and thank you for pointing me to where I should continue my research.
      
      Reply
      - David Kearns
        
        August 22, 2013 at 12:10 PM
        
        I also find the scholars advice odd. Perhaps he has forgotten that the Qur’an also advises us to follow the Prophet, sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, and that is what the Hadith is, his example to follow. There is a science of Hadith that weighs the “trustability” of each, which can be applied to each hadith collection, and proper scholars of hadith know this as well. Indeed the Qur’an didn’t just appear, it was sent through the Prophet, sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, and he is the best to explain it. Keep in mind that with 1.5 Billion Muslims, and those are just the ones alive today, there is quite a bit of difference from one Muslim to the next. My tradition, the Shafi’i School of Jurisprudence and the Ashari’ school of creed is quite well established, and Authentic Scholars are easy to find out since they need certification (ijaza) to teach. It’s harder with the neo-salafi “tradition”, as they reject the traditional madhabs and with that all ability to tell the quality of a teacher before you take lessons from them.
      - Aly Balagamwala | DiscoMaulvi
        
        August 23, 2013 at 12:15 AM
        
        Just a clarification: the Salafi scholars also have a system of ijazas and there is no problem in establishing their “quality”.
        
        -Aly
        *Comment above is posted in a personal capacity and may not reflect the official views of MuslimMatters or its staff*
      - Shazi
        
        August 23, 2013 at 11:56 PM
        
        While there are 4 main madhabs and there are difference of opinion amongst scholars, we are all muslims and our Ultimate teacher is Prophet Muhammad pbuh. I agree some times it is a challenge to find a good teacher however one thing we should never forget is that even the best teacher is human and humans make mistakes. The only perfected human being/teacher was our beloved Prophet and he passed away fourteen hundred years ago. So my friends a perfected teacher is no where to be found. So what do we do? Every learned scholar who has learned the deen from authentic sources has potential of benefit for us. We should seek what is good from them and if there are certain things that do not make sense the we should keep looking. Life is a journey and the search for openings from God should never cease. If you search with clear intensions and honesty He will open doors for you insha-Allah. The argument of my madhab is better or best is poor addab.
        Addab is the first lesson in the chapter of Love.
- Janfrans Zuidema
  
  August 18, 2013 at 10:44 AM
  
  @ Huda “Thus, the christian logic is invalid. THIS is how Muslims can use logic.”
  
  Logic can also easily be used against Islam by Non-Muslims. You speak, for example of ‘the One Who is God that is not subjugated to weakness’. Still if this one God is the author of the Koran, he can’t be considered truely One. Because by writting the book two version of this One being can be identified: The one before and after writting the book.
  
  So the God of Christianity may be a trinity, but the God of Islam is at least a duo.
  
  That’s why I’m an animist. It’s a spiritual tradition that at least worships a logical image of the one God.
  
  Reply
  - Huda
    
    August 18, 2013 at 11:40 AM
    
    No. That’s what you do not understand. Allaah did not physically write the Qur’aan. The Qur’aan was revealed to Prophet Muhammad because that’s what Allaah eternally willed. Allaah’s will does not change. Allaah’s attributes are eternal and everlasting, which also mean that Allaah does not change. The most significant sign of the creation is change. Allaah, however, is as Allaah was, meaning Allaah does not change and never has changed. God is One (AHad).
    
    Basically, Allaah is eternal. He does not change. Allaah’s speech (Kalaam) is eternal. These revelations were revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) through the kalaam of Allaah, Allaah still did not change. Why? Because Allaah’s attributes are eternal and everlasting. Allaah does not change.
    
    This is yet just another reason we say Allaah is One, not divisible by a number.
    
    However, I do not think you will be convinced by whatever I have to say. I think people who usually ask for proofs don’t think they can be proven wrong. That’s typically the attitude many people have. Perhaps you’re different, though.
    
    Reply
    - Zaheer
      
      August 19, 2013 at 4:21 AM
      
      SubhanAllah, WalhamduliLlah, Wa la ilah ha illAllah WAllahu Akbar. I cannot emphasize just how great this is a concise definition of Allah’s oneness, and the relation of the Qur’an to it.
      
      People look at the Qur’an as “a book” because we hold it in our hands like other books, but as Huda has pointed out, the Qur’an is the speech of Allah, has always been the speech of Allah, and will always be. He (S.W.T.) chose to reveal it to Muhammad (s.a.w.s), but there was no “Allah before” and “Allah after” revelation, wa na’uthibiLllah wal ayathubiLlah. As He (S.W.T.) himself has stated “Free of defects is He, free of what they ascribe to him”
      
      Janfrans has made the terrible error of confusing Allah’s attributes, His Kalaam, the revelation of the Qur’an and his indisputable Unity/Indivisibility/Oneness. Sometimes the language we use can cause semantic confusion. Suffice that Allah has said: “…hu wAllahu ahad”. (112:1) Understanding the meaning of this in Arabic is a step in understanding the Oneness of Allah. Basing your understanding of this on a translation into a language like English can be dangerous given the nature of its synonyms to hold new meanings with every new synonym used.
      
      This is a very very deep and serious topic as it is fundamental to our understanding of Allah’s nature. Animism is not the alternative to attempting to understand even one tiny part of Wahdaniyya.
      
      It is, simply speaking, shirk, because of the God-in-everything belief and what this leads to. I’ve heard animists argue that they *truly* believe in the Oneness of God, because they “do not separate God from the Universe, so ‘everything’ is united, i.e. everything is God”. wa na’uthibiLllah wal ayathubiLlah.
      
      In other words, according to some versions of animist belief, there is nothing that is not God. This is patently false, because while everything has been created and has its origin and final destination from/to Allah, He (S.W.T.) is free of the imperfections of His creation. But I fear to (further) derail this comment thread with further explanation of this.
      
      Reply
      - Janfrans Zuidema
        
        December 18, 2013 at 3:02 AM
        
        @ Zaheer. “…the Qur’an is the speech of Allah, has always been the speech of Allah, and will always be.”
        
        So why didn’t Allah spoke this speech to the first Prophet? Why the delay?
        
        Seriously, the Islamic image of the ONE has so many things to answer for. Why the disrespect? Why not just praise it, without the need to understand. It just needs to be loved. Why do all you Muslims want to control it? Why this Ego-trip called Da’wah when you have no conception of what it is in itself?
    - Janfrans Zuidema
      
      December 18, 2013 at 2:47 AM
      
      “However, I do not think you will be convinced by whatever I have to say.”
      
      Well, you didn’t leave an argument to be convinced by. Let’s be honest. You follow a false image of the ONE by your own account.
      
      Reply
fawad khan

August 23, 2013 at 7:42 PM

SubhanAllah, WalhamduliLlah, carle wats a a famous female model of uk embracing Islam her Islamic name is fatimah saleh..

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Random Muslim

August 29, 2013 at 2:19 PM

I did enjoy reading the majority of comments on this page. Happy to know there are people out there who can argue in an appropriate manner when it comes to religious dialogue. Non-muslims difficulties to understand Islam is totally understandable because even I, who was born a muslim, never really considered myself as total-believer of Islam until a few years ago after lots of learning, thinking and comparing. I used to find the Koran’s teaching odd before I finally realized it is not about WHAT is written in the Koran, it is more of HOW to understand the WHY (as in the logic behind one verse) in Koran. The 5Ws+1H method works perfectly (for me) to understand Islam.
Anyway, I am not an English native speaker and do not live in an English-speaking community but I hope my writing adequatly convey what I am trying to say.

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princessjawhara

October 19, 2013 at 8:21 PM

Random Muslim, I teach English as a Second Language, and I must say that you did an excellent job articulating yourself. :) I am just curious about the 5Ws+1H method. I am a new convert to Islam from Christianity, and my reason for converting has been logic based. I do, however, wish to understand Islam even more for both myself (when waves of doubt hit me), and to have answers for others when they try to reason me out of being a Muslim. Shukran. ^__^

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- Aishah
  
  November 15, 2013 at 7:30 PM
  
  Aww…welcome sister! I hope it hasn’t been troublesome for you and you’ve had it easy settling in. Just to let you know if you need any help or you’ve got any questions then feel free to ask…i would be happy to help! :)
  
  Reply
glory felix

December 16, 2013 at 1:01 AM

I am really confused about which is TRUE, I must not deny I love the modesty promoted in islamic woman and I wish I would be allowed by my family to follow to their pattern of dressing.
personally reading islamic blog I think I understand some misinterpreted concept and islam surely is all about discipline and internal peace.
But I can’t seem to understand why do some muslim promote blood shed and gender inequality? , surely I ask myself when I finally make my choice, how will i be treated as a wife of a muslim man and how will I defend islam when blood is shed using jihad as an excuse?
pls I need answers. I need to make a choice.

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- Ducksareyellow
  
  December 28, 2013 at 5:00 AM
  
  @glory Felix.
  
  With respect to blood shed, if you have read the threads above, they mention about peace. Indeed, Islam is the religion of peace. But peace with our Creator rather than the textbook definition of peace which is no fighting at all. We are allowed to encouraged to struggle/fight when people are oppressing islam/Muslims. However, we, as Muslims, are not to transgress limits ie killing innocent, women, children. Further, we are told to be respectful of other at all times and to counter false beliefs using logical debate where possible. Such was the example that our Prophet pbuh led for us.
  
  With respect to gender inequality, I am a female Muslim myself and I can honestly say that I have never feel discriminated against. Islam just see men and women as different, is the best way I can put it across to you. Think of it as an apple and orange, they’re both fruits, yet maintain different qualities. Similar, men and women are different. For example, just look at how our body is made up. Men are made with more muscles as opposed to females who contain more water. Islam takes such great precaution against women because we are something beautiful and to be treasured and protected.
  
  Forgive me if I’m unclear about anything. I am by no means a scholar who can quote verses or Hadith at the top of my head. This is purely from my own understanding and knowledge.
  
  Fellow Muslims, if you feel the need to correct me, please feel free to do so. I know I am by no means perfect and I am still learning more about Islam everyday. I just feel the need to address her question as no one has done so .
  
  Reply
- Riz Khan
  
  December 28, 2013 at 5:59 PM
  
  World War 1 casualties 16 million dead 20 million wounded
  World War 2 casualties over 60 million people killed
  Iraq War Casualties ORB Survey 1033000 deaths
  Vietnam War 195,000-430,000 South Vietnamese civilians died in the war.50,000-65,000 North Vietnamese civilians died in the war
  Hiroshima and Nagasaki Atomic Bomb
  instant deaths 90,000-160000 hiroshima 60,000-80,000 nagasaki
  from radiation 20000-30000 hiroshima 10000-20000 nagasaki
  
  just a few statistics. I call this blood shed. I assure you that the above mentioned blood shed was not caused by muslims; they were rather at the receiving end in some cases. Would you please elaborate some cases where muslims promoted blood shed.
  
  Muslims are not angels. We have our own share of bad apples. They are simply criminals who play with innocent lives. Islam does not allow to kill innocents in any case. Average muslim is usually a moderate muslim; neither ultra religious nor ultra liberal.He is peace loving , friendly and innocent citizen like any other human being. You should meet some muslims and form your own opinion and don’t fall for Islam phobia. Read Quran to know about Islam.
  
  Man and woman are not equal. They are different. Islam gives preferences to men over women and also to women oven men. The result is a complete justice. For example According to a hadîth the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) has said,
  “Do good to and serve your mother, then your mother, then your mother, then your father, then the near relatives and then those who come after them.”[Mazhari]
  
  Here mother (woman) has three times preference over father (man).
  
  May Allah guide you towards the right path, Ameen!
  
  Reply
Ami

January 17, 2014 at 9:40 PM

I too just converted to Islam so I know the difficulties and fears those living in America are facing. In a country that preaches tolerance and freedom to choose your path, I see very little tolerance, love, or freedom in actions towards anyone who chooses to be different and follow their heart if it does not conform to their “politically correct” standards. We must all be strong and follow what we know is right and true regardless for we are all judged individually in the end and must answer only for ourselves. You are not alone.

I was raised in a Catholic environment to be a nun when I reached the preordained proper age to become a novice. Before that time however I had many questions concerning what I was being taught with no real answers. I was just expected to blindly follow, but I could not and so I could not through with joining a religious order I was in doubt of. A huge disappointment to my mother I was a “black sheep” the rest of my life or so it seemed. I tried other christian religions which I found quite hypocritical and spoke of ridiculous ideologies not even in the bible (which I read cover to cover). What they were preaching I could never understand and so felt doomed to hell lol. It just didnt make sense. How can there be 30,000 different christian faiths and each one says only THEY are the real one? O.o How can they say Jesus is God? Only God (Allah) is God, he said so in his commandments to Moses did he not? I dont recall a memo from heaven saying he was changing that do you? The Holy Trinity cant even be found in the bible or adequately explained yet I HAVE to believe some guy who decided it sounded cool one day? No I wont and no one should have to.

When I first read about Islam, it was nothing like I was told. I spent 20+ years looking for answers in other religions and in less than 1 hr. researching Islam I found what I was looking for. I have never in my life felt such love and compassion from anything I have read or been taught. Everything made sense now, my eyes are open, I no longer feel alone or different. Reading the sacred words of scholars I began to cry, not from sadness but happiness because I know now what was hidden from all in American culture. This real revelation is happening all over the world right now, of who our real one God is. Praise be to Allah who has blessed me finally and opened my eyes. So YES I BELIEVE THAT ALLAH IS THE ONE AND ONLY GOD WORTHY TO BE WORSHIPPED, AND MUHAMMED IS HIS PROPHET, I believe the Holy Quran is the true word of our god ALLAH now and forever. For once in my life I feel the peace and joy of the love of God/Allah and I am gratefully his servant.

Never be afraid to say those words. I did say them and in tears of happiness that I am now born into the light, he loves even I, the undeserving, but the real difference is I “feel” him unlike anything I have felt before its hard to describe in words a beautiful feeling. And… something more happened, within 10 min of converting I recieved a healing. I never asked for it (I dare not), it was a gift to me and confirmation. You see I have a autoimmune disease which attacks the nerves and has left me with no feeling in my feet for about 4 years. Right after I converted, all the feeling returned suddenly! I believe in signs and this was one.

All this in less than 1hr. who would not want what I have now? And its so easy, just read about Islam, study it, research it, read the Quran and see what it has for you. If I lose my family, I gain a new one, If I lose all my friends I gain millions of better friends. Whatever happens you gain more than you lose, no worries.

If all the world lived true Islam there would be no war, no suffering, a world as it should be where children have to ask “mommy what does war meam?” I pray we will all be safe until then…

Ami

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PPOO

December 16, 2014 at 5:19 AM

” Fuller’s former youth pastor wrote. “I am an infadel (sic) according to your cult so therefore I am your enemy. Such a shame you have chosen to turn your back on a loving God and serve a false prophet who preaches hate for anyone not of said cult.”’

A false statement that only Islam God is full of hate when Christian God is full of love, remember in Islam God forgave Adam and about christian God being loving see Leviticus 20:27, Deuteronomy 13:6-9 , Deuteronomy 17:3-5 yes they are in Old Testament but Jesus himself said to follow Old Testament- Matthew 5:18-19.

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