I am very interested in finding out what brings ppl to Islam…
I have met 2-3 converts and read atleast two books by converts (road to mecca, and another book by an american muslim)…
All had different reasons.
one said he just got interested in islam after visting a msjid in philadelphia.
Another said he met a muslim student who impressed him a lot..
yet another had a dream…
But i still dont really know what is it that inspires some one to convert…
I remember i was in Grade 2 when i met the first person who decided to be a muslim....my class teacher (she was Caucasian, like American). Anyways, wasn't a big deal to me whatsoever when i found out; i literally just thought 'cool.'
& then basically that was the beginning where i realized that....ppl eventually do their own thinking & independent decisions which will take a whole new different turn in their life. (Bravo! What a realization for me huh?)
Anyways, met a whole bunch of ppl since then who've decided to become muslims later in their life.
Garsh, i just hope there isn't going to be the frequent reply in this thread where ppl say something like, "All I have to say is that it's so sad to see that ppl who've converted to Islam turn out to be better Muslims than us born into the Deen & taught since birth."
Uff, i hate that reply. so much. Any Muslim can leave it up to him/herself to be a good Muslim though his actions & intentions..& to do his own indp research & study for the Deen. Not just a person who's decided to accept Islam later in life...
ppl who convert to islam must really have an open mind cause if u put urself in their shoes.. would u ever think of changing to other religion ??? thing to realize here is that no matter what religion u belong to u r told since ur birth that it is the RIGHT one.. just like we are told and we firmly believe that islam is the right one.. i cannot even begin to think of being a non muslim.. so why and how do other ppl do it ??
Don't love everybody--specialize.. ;-)
Okay well in answer to your question, yes i have met many converts or rather reverts to islam. Many people prefer the term revert as opposed to convert, because of the concept that we are all born muslim. *The Prophet (PBUH) also said, "Each child is born in a state of "Fitrah", then his parents make him a Jew, Christian or a Zoroastrian, the way an animal gives birth to a normal offspring. Have you noticed any that were born mutilated?" (Collected by Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim).*I have a few friends who reverted to islam, i met them after they had embraced islam not before, and also one of my aunts is an American, who embraced Islam.
[quote]
Originally posted by Yankee:
*i cannot even begin to think of being a non muslim.. so why and how do other ppl do it ?? *
[/quote]
Not everyone feels content,secure, and satisfied with what they've been taught, and so they venture outwards trying to find answers to questions they have, etc. Many people for some reason or another do not achieve a sense of fulfillment or contentment from practicing their religion, others may witness something in their religion that they find is unacceptable to them, some may find their religion or lack of religion,etc., to cause an emptiness or absence of spirituality within,still others may observe something in another religion that so greatly impresses them that they are moved towards that other faith. I guess the reasons are many for why people embrace a faith other than their own. In the case of Islam, i guess the reason why most of us cannot imagine (like Yankee said) belonging to any other faith other than islam, because not only are we told from birth that our religion is the right religion, indeed that is only a very small part of it, if it is at all, but because the message of Islam is so clear and so simple, because Islam is so pure, and everything within it rings true in our hearts, the more one studies Islam the more one becomes convinced of its place as the one true religion.
[quote]
Originally posted by pukka desi:
But i still dont really know what is it that inspires some one to convert...
[/quote]
Every case is different, it is truly amazing, SubhanAllah, how people from so many different backgrounds, different experiences, turn towards islam, many of which have to endure many obstacles, including parental opposition, alienated from your family, friends,etc.,etc.. I guess to put it simply, its the will of Allah swt.
u write good Girl from Quraysh.. me got my answer..
http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/wink.gif
Don’t love everybody–specialize.. 
If every person born is a MUSLIM then why
AHAMEDI'S are not MUSLIM?
Gundapaki, just read the hadith one more time, and u'll get your answer.
[quote]
Originally posted by Girl from Quraysh:
The Prophet (PBUH) also said, "Each child is born in a state of "Fitrah", then his parents make him a Jew, Christian or a Zoroastrian, the way an animal gives birth to a normal offspring. Have you noticed any that were born mutilated?" (Collected by Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim).
[/quote]
Just curious, what changes in people when they convert? Any physical changes? Or only spiritual ones. If one is looking for certain inspirational ideologies, like always telling the truth, not stealing, respecting everyone regardless of age, sex, race, color, sexual orientation, etc. If one can just change the habits one is inspiring for, why is there a need for conversion?
Also, why is it that it is against the law in many Muslim countries for people to be converted to other religions from Islam? But it is ok the other way around. Do you think that that is fair?
Gundapaki no one has a right to tell anyone what he or she can be or cannot be. If Ahmadis say that they are Muslims, then that’s what they are. The above Hadith is a piece of shit, if the derivative of such a saying is to equate “mutilation” with being “Jewish, Christian, and Zoroastrian” then whoever thinks on such a wavelength is a scumbag, a bigot and a racist.
Gundapaki
As Muslims we believe that Mohammed S.A.W. is the last prophet and there will be no more Prophet after him. Religion completed with him.
Ahmedi's bring their own prophet in shape of Mirza Ghulam Ahmed, so how could they can call themselves Muslims.
NYA : I agree with you, but please try to refrain from calling Ahadees by bad names.
Its very simple for me. If you call yourself a muslim and if you believe in the 5 tennents of Islam, then you're a muslim - thats it. All this other stuff about shia, sunni, wahabi, Ahmedi etc is simply noise, or quite simply ego wars, since Allah(swt) is the final judge and the ultimate truth lies with HIM.
Salaaam
http://al-islam.org/begin/index.html
This website have links to the stories about newly converted muslims.
Good site Mr. Pakistani. Just checked it.
Wassalam,
Muslim786
Salam brothers and sisters,
Just a word or two here about conversion. It is very important to behave well (husn-e-iqlakh) when talking to people from other religions. Husn-e-Ikhlaq is the asset of Islam. I also had a chance to convert two people towards Islam. One was a Christian and other a Hindu. Again I emphasize, it is actions that speak for themselves. Words are meaningless if we do not prove them by our actions.
**In the end a note of good words for Mr Pakistani, thats a very good site.
Wassalam,
Muslim786.
Thats it, u are right zman, but what are the tenets?–The shahada, salah,sawm ,zakat, and hajj, correct?
Okay now take a good look at the first one, the shahada is the declaration of faith right, and so a muslim declares his/her faith by reciting La ilaha illal lahu muhammadur rasulul lah. Which means There is no god but Allah; and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. Here’s an article that explains the points and different aspects of the shahada in detail, http://muttaqun.com/shahada.html
The basic beliefs of Islam fall into three categories1)Tawhid, the oneness of Allah swt, predestination or supremacy of Divine will.2)Risalah, Angels of Allah swt, the books of Allah swt, the messengers of Allah swt.3)Akhirah, belief in the day of Judgement, and life after death.
"Muhammad is not the father of any man among you but he is the Messenger of Allah and the last (end) of the Prophets and Allah is Ever All-Aware of everything.’ (33:40) Prophet Muhammad sallallaho alaihe wasallam was the seal of the Prophets, he was the last and final messenger of Allah swt. Yet the Ahmadis/Qadianis believe in the claim of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadiani to being an apostle and prophet. That is a direct contradiction to that which is in the Qu’ran, decide for yourself zman, there is a very good book by Dr.M.H.Durrani, written about Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadiani, i suggest you read it.
Hmmm, there’s a verse, in surah al isra that reflects what you said…
And pursue not that of which thou hast no knowledge; for every act of hearing, or of seeing, or of (feeling in) the heart will be enquired into (On the Day of Reckoning).(17:36)
[quote]
Originally posted by zman:
Its very simple for me. If you call yourself a muslim and if you believe in the 5 tennents of Islam, then you're a muslim - thats it.
[/quote]
True but Not exactly!!!
According to one authenticated hadith, Imaan has seven parts:
1. Imaan on Allah (that he is only one God)
Imaan on the Last Prophet and Apostle Hazrat Muhammad Sallal ho Alaihe WasSallam (that he is the last prophet and Apostle)
Imaan on all other Apostles(Rasool) and prophets (Anbiya).
[keep in mind that there is a difference in Nabi and Rasool. Nabi are like the pious people but they get Wahi. Rasool is also a nabi but he comes to make "hujjat" on the nation, and if nation denies him, Allah's Azzab comes on it. It is Allah's sunnah that Rasool can never be killed. Anbiyas, however, can get killed. Jesus (Isa PBUH) was a Rasool. He was not killed. Yahya was a nabi. He was martyred.]Imaan on all the books revealed by Allah.
Imaan on Angels (Malaaika).
Imaan on the fate that whatever good happens is from Allah and whatever bad happenes, not only it is from Allah but due to our deeds as well.
Imaan on the day of judgement (Qiyyamah).
**Sitaaron Pay Jo Daltay Hain Kamand!**
Girl from Quraysh
Nice post. Totally agree with you.
Ahmadi, Quadiani has totally changed the meaning of Khatam. That is why I called them non muslims in my earlier post.
You posting is polite and with references.
Salam brothers and sisters,
*note * Readers should check my conversation with Jawan in the section "Are wahabis enemies of Islam". Jawan is a liar . the last few posts in that section are a witness to his tuhmat (wrong blames ) on me. Astaghfirallah **
Wassalam,
Muslim786
ppl..what i was trying to do was to find out what is it that makes a person convert(ok ok revert) to islam..
and u guys change the direction of the thread... please dont do this...
Ok pukkadesi, I’d like to respond to your question since everyone seems to have ignored it. If you search for coverts to Islam on the net, you’ll literally find thousands of them. Here’s a site I visit
http://www.themodernreligion.com/convert/convert_websites.htm
and www.catstevens.com (his site contains several informative lectures by him on his conversion)
Almost everyone who converts to Islam does it because they find the answer to EVERY single question they might have. It is THE perfect religion. And did you know that 4 out of 5 people who convert to Islam, are women?
Even after the stereotypical way the western media portrays Islam, thousands of people convert to Islam every day.
[This message has been edited by hk (edited August 29, 2000).]
NYAhmadi, I was amazed at the kind of language you use
"The above Hadith is a piece of shit"
NAUZUBILLAH!!
Is this supposed to be the behaviour of someone who expects people to conduct a civilized conversation with him?
How can you expect people to treat you respectfully when you call the Holy Prophet's own words such appalling names?
How shameful!!
[This message has been edited by hk (edited August 29, 2000).]