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www. islamhouse. com ????? ???? ?????? Why I Chose Islam (Based??on??a??True??Story) by Saalih al-Fawzaan by:?? M. Emery www. islamhouse. com Copyright ?? This book is not copyrighted. Any or all parts of this book may be used for educational purposes as long as the information used is not in any way quoted out of context or used for profit. This material has been reviewed and forwarded for publishing and distribution by the English language section of the Department of Islamic Resources. Form #: 4343 Date: 23/9/1426H
If you have any corrections, comments, or questions about this publication, please contact us at: en@islamhouse. com www. islamhouse. com 2 www. islamhouse. com Introduction O??seeker??of??truth,??if??you??really??seek??the??truth??put??aside?? all?? preconceived?? notions,?? and?? open?? your?? heart…do?? not?? let?? others?? judge?? or?? make?? a?? decision?? for?? you. This?? being?? said,??I??would??like??to??share??with??you??this??beautiful??account?? of??a??man’s??journey??to??the??truth…I??believe??it??be??best??if??he?? narrates?? his?? account?? to?? us?? himself,?? so?? I?? will?? leave?? you?? with??Mr. Thomas… 3 www. slamhouse. com ???? ?? ????? ??????? I??begin??with??the??name??of??Allah,??the??Most??Merciful,??the??Most??Gracious I??was??born??to??staunch??Catholic??Christian??parents. Even?? from?? my?? youngest?? days,?? my?? father?? sometimes?? took?? me?? along??with??him??when??he??went??to??preach,??it??was??quite??ob? vious?? that?? he?? wanted?? me?? to?? succeed?? him?? in?? his?? profes? sion. By??the?? time?? I?? reached??grade??twelve,??I??could??preach?? the?? Gospels?? in?? my?? own?? way. In?? college,?? I?? often?? met?? my?? Protestant?? classmates?? and?? discussed?? the?? differences?? in?? our??faiths??and??the??performance??of??rituals.
By?? the?? time?? I?? completed?? the?? first?? year?? in?? college,??I?? was?? sufficiently?? grounded?? in?? the?? knowledge?? of?? the?? Christian?? Faith??as??held??by??the??Catholic??Church. I??was??given??a??schol? arship??from??the??Church??funds??and??in??return??for??the??help??I?? received,?? I?? was?? required?? to?? receive?? special?? coaching?? in?? understanding?? parts?? of?? the?? Holy?? Book,?? under?? the?? Chief?? Priest?? of?? the?? Church?? who?? loved?? to?? teach?? me?? very?? much?? and??was??very??intimately??attached??to??me. Having??appeared??in??the??first??group??for??my??intermediate?? course?? I?? used?? to?? sit?? working?? at?? his?? subjects?? till?? late?? at?? night.
One?? night?? when?? all?? were?? asleep?? and?? I?? was?? ab? sorbed?? in?? my?? studies?? an?? idea?? suddenly?? struck?? my?? mind?? to?? examine?? the?? doctrine?? of?? the?? Holy?? Trinity,?? the?? basic?? formula??of??the??Christian??Faith. The??question??how??god??ex? 4 www. islamhouse. com ists??in??three??persons,??and??yet??has??a??single??divine??nature,??a?? single??will??and??be??of??one??substance??arose??in??my??mind. My??failure??to??reconcile??my??belief??in??the??Trinity??with??the?? reasoning?? of?? the?? science?? of?? logic,?? created?? a?? mental?? rest? lessness?? in?? me. Days assed?? on?? and?? many?? a?? time,?? I?? thought?? of?? asking?? my?? father?? to?? help?? me?? in?? solving?? the?? problem??which??puzzled??my??mind??but??I??knew??that??my??fa? ther?? would?? never?? appreciate?? the?? least?? doubt?? in?? the?? dog? matic?? belief?? of?? the?? Catholic?? School. However,?? one?? day?? when??I??found??my??father??in??a??happy??mood??and??asked??him?? to??explain??the??Holy??Trinity…he??finally??said:???? “In?? matters?? of?? faith?? one?? has?? to?? stop?? reasoning…this?? doctrine?? is?? beyond?? the?? grasp?? of?? human?? reason. One?? should?? believe?? in?? the?? doctrine?? only?? by?? one’s?? heart?? and?? mind! ?? This?? reply?? from?? my?? father?? upset?? me?? to?? a?? great?? ex? tent…all??my??thinking??got??centered??in??the??question??which?? had?? become?? a?? definite?? problem?? to?? puzzle?? my?? mind?? fur? ther??and??I??wondered??saying:??”Is??this??the??foundation??upon?? which?? the?? huge?? edifice?? of?? the?? Christian?? faith?? is?? built? Is?? the??basis??of??my??faith??only??a??matter??of??blind??following??of?? some??dictated??belief??which??can??never??stand??reasoning??or?? the?? independent?? scrutiny?? by?? the?? dispassionate?? and?? im? partial??arguments??from??the??clean??conscience? ???? I??became??extremely??worried??and??made??up??my??mind??to?? blindly??believe??in??the??Trinity. 5 www. islamhouse. com One??day??one??of??our??senior??lecturers??was??sitting??alone??in?? his?? room?? and?? I?? entered?? with?? his?? permission?? and?? asked?? him??if??he??could??help??me??to??solve??something??which??to??me?? was?? a?? perplexing?? problem. He?? very?? kindly?? asked?? me?? what?? it?? was. I?? asked?? him?? to?? explain?? to?? me?? how?? God,?? a?? single?? being,?? can?? exist?? simultaneously?? as?? three?? distinct?? persons:??the??Father,??the??Son??(Jesus),??and??the??Holy??Spirit?!
The?? senior?? lecturer?? smiled?? and?? said:?? “Is?? it?? that?? you?? do?? not??like??my??stay??in??this??college? “??I??asked??him:??”Why??sir? “?? He??said:??”What??do??you??think??the??college??authorities??who?? are?? staunch?? Catholics?? will?? do?? with?? me,?? if?? someone?? in? forms??them??that??I??discuss??in??my??private??room??things??op? posed??to??the??Christian??faith??in??general? Will??they??keep??me?? on??the??staff??of??the??College??any??longer? If??you??want??to??dis? cuss??anything??here,??you??must??confine??your??discussion??to?? the??subject??of??your??studies??in??the??College! “???? Thereafter,??I??made??an??appointment??with??him??to??see??him?? in??his??house.
On??Sunday??when??I??met??the??senior??lecturer??he??first??asked?? me??as??to??what??made??me??inquire??into??the??Doctrine??of??Trin? ity. I?? said?? that?? I?? wanted?? to?? know?? how?? far?? the?? doctrine?? stood??to??reasoning. He??smiled??and??said,??”Why??don’t??you??ask??any??one??of??our?? priests? “???? I??said:??”I??have??asked??them??but??they??say??it??is??a??matter??of?? belief??or??faith??and??it??should??not??be??subjected??to??any??logic?? ?? 6 www. islamhouse. com or?? philosophy. This?? has?? upset?? me. This?? has?? raised?? the?? question?? in?? me,?? if?? what?? I?? believe?? in?? is?? unreasonable?? and?? illogical,??why??should??I??subject??myself??to??any??blind??follow? ng? Is?? God?? so?? unjust?? to?? expect?? man?? to?? believe?? in?? a?? doc? trine??about??Himself??which??no??human??brain??can??ever??rea? sonably??conceive? I??request??you,??Sir,??to??somehow??give??me?? some??method??of??arguing??out??the??possibility??of??such??exis? tence??as??the??doctrine??of??Trinity??wants??us??to??believe??in! “?? The?? senior?? lecturer?? smiled?? and?? said:?? ‘Dear?? Thomas,?? suppose?? you?? want?? me?? to?? prove?? by?? some?? mathematical?? formula??how??water??can??remain??water??and??the??same??time?? be?? fire,?? or?? how?? a?? stone?? can?? be?? a?? stone?? and?? at?? the?? same?? time?? be?? water?? too,?? how?? can?? I?? do?? it?
I?? do?? not?? think?? any?? sensible??man??on??earth??can??ever??conceive??such??a??possibil? ity…how??the??Ever??living??God??who??being??the??Ever??living,?? can?? also?? at?? the?? same?? time?? be?? a?? mortal! (i. e. be?? a?? man?? to?? suffer??death??at??the??hands??of??the??other??mortals? )??And??how?? the?? same?? mortal?? being?? at?? the?? same?? time?? be?? the?? Absolute?? Immortal??God? It??is??a??problem??which??our??priests??want??us?? to?? believe?? and?? we?? have?? to?? merely?? believe?? in?? it?? and?? none?? has?? any?? choice?? of?? even?? questioning?? the?? practicability?? of?? this??inconceivable??dogma. ‘?? He ent?? on?? saying:?? “The?? fact?? is?? when?? God,??Whom??we?? believe?? as?? One,?? is?? absolutely?? One,?? it?? means?? that?? God?? is?? singularly?? One?? in?? natural?? essence?? of?? His?? existence,?? free?? from?? any?? different?? or?? variant?? factors?? having?? anything?? to?? do?? with?? His?? pure?? or?? Absolute?? Unity?? to?? justify?? His?? being?? ?? 7 www. islamhouse. com the?? Absolute?? One,?? owing?? an?? indivisible?? existence,?? by?? Himself. Division?? suggests?? that?? the?? One?? is?? not?? an?? Abso? lute?? One?? but?? a?? compound?? of?? some?? variants?? and?? that?? which??is??a??composed??being??can??never??really??be??One??in??the?? true??meaning??of??Oneness.
And??certainly??the??one??depend? ent?? in?? its?? existence?? upon?? its?? different?? components?? can?? never?? be?? independent?? in?? its?? action,?? whereas?? God?? is?? the?? Absolute?? One,?? independently?? Omnipotent?? in?? His?? Will?? and??His??action. Besides??how??can??any??three??which??are??three??separate??be? ings,??with??three??variations??justify??being??three??separate??en? tities,?? remain?? three?? separately?? individual?? native?? proper? ties?? differentiating?? them?? from?? each?? other,?? and?? become?? conceivably?? the?? absolute?? indivisible?? one,?? without?? the?? least??variation??in??the??essential??oneness? An??absolute??one??must??be??totally??independent??in??its??exis? ence,?? Mr. Thomas…it?? is?? impossible?? to?? reason?? out?? the?? doctrine?? of?? the?? Holy?? Trinity?? for?? it?? is?? an?? inconceivable?? human??riddle! “?? He??continued:??’The??only??thing??is??that??we??Christians??are?? shut??out??of??the??vast??sources??of??knowledge??about??the??truth?? and?? of?? the?? higher?? factor?? in?? matters?? of?? religion?? which?? are?? available?? outside?? our?? own?? fold,?? by?? damning?? every?? non? Christian?? as?? the?? Devil’s?? work. We?? Christians,?? Mr. Tho? mas,?? in?? our?? madness?? to?? swell?? up?? our?? ranks?? have?? played?? such?? a?? disgraceful?? role?? that?? a?? scholar?? like?? Sir?? Dennison?? ?? 8 ww. islamhouse. com Ross?? had?? to?? helplessly?? disclose?? truth?? about?? this?? in?? his?? foreword??to??the??translation??of??the??Quran??by??George??Sale. “???? I?? was?? amazed?? to?? hear?? the?? arguments?? of?? the?? senior?? lec? turer?? who?? was?? himself?? known?? as?? a?? Catholic,?? and?? at?? the?? same??time??I??was??very??much??encouraged??to??know??that??my?? doubt??about??the??unreasonableness??of??the??doctrine??of??Trin? ity?? was?? something?? which?? had?? made?? a?? highly?? educated?? and?? enlightened?? mind?? like?? the?? senior?? lecturer?? of?? Mathe? matics??to??enquire??into??it. I??was??much??benefited??by??the??dis? ussion?? with?? the?? senior?? lecturer?? for?? I?? came?? to?? know?? ar? guments??justifying??the??doubt??created??in??my??mind. My?? study?? of?? the?? matter?? in?? the?? ‘Islamic?? Literature’?? and?? the?? translation?? of?? the?? Quran?? opened?? my?? eyes?? to?? many?? great??and??very??important??factors??that??effect??human??life??on?? earth. Once??I??visited??the??senior??lecturer??in??his??house??and?? to??my??amazement??I??found??him??possessing??a??great??amount?? of??literature??on??Islam! I?? further?? asked?? him:?? “May?? I?? know?? sir,??if?? you?? have?? em? braced??the??faith??of??the??Muslims? “???? He??replied:??”Do??not??worry??yourself??about??my??personal?? choice! ???? I?? took?? the?? copy?? of?? the?? translation?? of?? the?? Quran?? by?? George??Sale??and??read??the??introduction??by??Sir??E. Dennison?? Ross. The?? introduction?? needs?? to?? be?? read?? with?? special?? at? tention. Sir??Ross??said: 9 www. islamhouse. com “For?? many?? centuries?? the?? acquaintance?? which?? the?? major? ity?? of?? Europeans?? possessed?? of?? Mohammedanism?? was?? based??almost??entirely??on??the??distorted??reports??of??fanati? cal??Christians??which??led??to??the??discrimination??of??a??mul? titude?? of?? gross?? calumnies. What?? was?? good?? in?? Moham? medanism?? was?? entirely?? ignored nd?? what?? was?? not?? good?? in??the??eyes??of??Europe??was??exaggerated??or??misinterpreted. The?? unity?? of?? God?? and?? the?? simplicity?? of?? his?? creed?? was?? probably?? a?? more?? potent?? factor?? in?? the?? spread?? of?? Islam?? than?? the?? sword?? of?? the?? ghaziz. “?? (G. Sale’s?? translation?? of?? the??Koran???????Introduction)???? This??statement??of??the??great??Christian??scholar??of??interna? tional?? repute,??created?? in?? me?? the??thirst??to??know??the??origi? nal?? teachings?? of?? Islam?? especially?? about?? the?? Islamic?? con? cept??of??God. About??four??years??passed??away??and??by??this??time??I??knew?? the??contents??of??the??Quran. Many??things??had??aroused??my?? attention.
I??had??discussed??many??doubtful??points??with??the?? senior?? lecturer?? whom?? I?? found?? to?? have?? read?? the?? Quran?? several??times??with??a??better??and??more??critical??view. I??was?? now??longing??to??meet??some??Muslim??scholar??to??cross??exam? ine??him??about??certain??doubts??about??the??Islamic??Faith. Once??I??thought??of??Hinduism??but??what??I??saw??daily??with?? my?? own?? eyes,?? curses?? of?? untouchability?? and?? the?? reserva? tions??of??the??caste??system??prevalent??before??us??and??besides?? everything?? else,?? the?? idol?? worship?? and?? the?? observance?? of?? innumerable?? rituals?? did?? not?? prompt?? me?? to?? take?? up?? any?? ?? 10 www. islamhouse. com enquiry?? into?? its?? tenets.
I?? could?? never?? understand?? the?? su? periority?? exclusively?? and?? arbitrarily?? claimed?? for?? the?? members??of??certain??castes,??simply??because??they??had??acci? dentally?? been?? born?? in?? those?? folds. I?? had?? seen?? with?? my?? own??eyes??how??the??people??belonging??to??certain??castes??are?? imagined?? as?? lower?? in?? the?? society?? and?? are?? treated?? as?? the?? untouchables,?? not?? allowed?? even?? to?? enter?? into?? the?? Hindu?? Temples. I?? had?? seen?? these?? poor?? souls?? being?? prohibited?? even?? to?? take?? drinking?? water?? from?? the?? wells?? reserved?? for?? the??superior??classes. The??havoc??in??the??social??life??played??by??Hinduism??divid? ng?? humanity?? into?? castes?? and?? sub? castes?? and?? the?? unrea? sonable??superiority??of??one??caste??over??the??other??is??itself??so?? repulsive that?? no?? one?? would?? like?? to?? take?? any?? trouble?? of?? executing??any??studies??about??the??doctrines??of??that??faith. While??resenting??the??caste??system??and??the??sectarian??seg? regation?? in?? the?? Hindu?? folds,?? I?? was?? automatically?? re? minded?? of?? the?? similar?? restrictions?? amongst?? Christians. I?? asked??myself:???? “Why?? criticize?? other?? people?? and?? their?? beliefs?? when?? the?? religion?? which?? I?? myself?? belong?? to,?? has?? in?? it?? the?? sectarian?? segregation?? as?? well?
Are?? not?? Churches?? in?? Christendom?? owned?? exclusively?? for?? the?? members?? of?? the?? particular?? sects? Are?? there?? not?? churches?? belonging?? to?? a?? particular?? sect??which??cannot??be??used??by??the??people??of??the??other??sect? Has?? not?? Christianity?? failed?? to?? unite?? mankind?? into?? one?? human??society? Did??Jesus??preach??all??these??differences??and?? ?? 11 www. islamhouse. com dissensions??which??we??the??Christians??have??innovated? Is??it?? not??then??that??we??are??far??away??from??the??original??objects??of?? the??Mission??of??Jesus??Christ? “???? Against??the??irreconcilable??differences??and??the??innumer? ble?? dissensions?? of?? the?? social?? order?? in?? the?? very?? folds?? of?? Hinduism?? and?? Christianity,?? I?? was?? very?? much?? impressed?? by?? the?? genuine?? and?? real?? brotherhood?? practiced?? day?? and?? night??among??the??Muslims. I??found??that??a??Muslim??Mosque?? is?? a?? Mosque?? belonging?? to?? everyone?? who?? calls?? himself?? a?? Muslim?? and?? that?? there?? is?? no?? reservation?? of?? seats?? in?? the?? Mosque. I?? saw??with??my??own??eyes,??Muslims??of??all??ranks,?? all??social??and??economical??status??of??different??complexions?? of?? various?? nationalities?? all?? standing?? in?? one?? row,?? turning?? towards?? one?? direction,?? praying?? to?? one?? God?? in?? one?? lan? uage,?? and?? after?? the?? prayer?? shaking?? hands?? with?? one?? an? other. Brotherhood?? or?? social?? equality?? claimed?? more?? in?? theory??by??other??schools??of??thought??in??the??world;??I??found?? it?? to?? be?? an?? ever?? experienced?? and?? a?? living?? reality?? in?? the?? daily??life??of??the??Islamic??folds. One??day??I??was??informed??by??the??senior??lecturer??who??by?? this?? time had??become??a??close??friend??of??mine??that??a??Mus? lim??scholar??was??going??to??deliver??some??talks??in??English??on?? the?? life?? of?? the?? Prophet?? of?? Islam?? in?? a?? hall?? near?? the?? big?? Mosque?? of?? my?? town. My?? senior?? lecturer?? and?? I?? both?? at? ended?? the?? talks?? and?? met?? the?? lecturer?? who?? was?? an?? old?? friend??of??my??senior??lecturer. We??talked??with??the??lecturer?? about??several??important??topics. 12 www. islamhouse. com During?? my?? meeting?? with?? the?? Muslim?? lecturer?? I?? asked?? him?? if?? he?? would?? kindly?? answer?? some?? questions?? for?? my?? own??information. He??said:??”I??will??most??willingly??answer?? your??questions. “???? I?? put?? forward?? the?? following?? questions?? which?? he?? very?? cheerfully?? answered:?? “What?? proof?? have?? you?? besides?? the?? Quran??to??establish??that??Muhammad??was??truly??a??Prophet?? of??God? ???? He??answered:??”Have??you??your??Bible??with??you? “??I??said:?? “Yes. “???? He??took??the??following??verses??and??read??them??to??me??one?? after??the??other:???? The?? Acts?? 3,?? Verses?? 22:?? “For?? Moses?? truly?? said?? unto?? the?? fathers,??a??prophet??shall??the??Lord??your??god??raise??unto??you?? of?? your?? brethren,?? like?? unto?? me;?? him?? shall?? ye?? hear?? in?? all?? things?? whatsoever?? he?? shall?? say?? unto?? you. “?? 23:?? “And?? it?? shall?? come?? to?? pass?? that?? every?? soul?? which?? will?? not?? hear?? the?? Prophet?? shall?? be?? destroyed?? from?? among?? the?? people. ?? 24:?? “Yea! And?? all?? the?? prophets?? from?? Samuel?? and?? those?? that??follow??after,??as??many??as??have??spoken,??have??likewise?? foretold??of??these??days. “???? The?? Acts?? 7:?? Verses?? 37:?? “This?? is?? that?? Moses,?? who?? said?? unto??the??children??of??Israel,??a??Prophet??shall??the??Lord??raise?? up?? unto?? you?? your?? brethren,?? like?? unto?? me;?? him?? shall?? ye?? hear. ” 13 www. islamhouse. com John??14:??”Jesus??says:??16:??’I??will??pray??the??Father,??and??he?? shall?? give?? another?? comforter?? ????? that?? he?? may?? abide?? with?? you??forever. “?? 26:??”Nevertheless??I??tell??you??the??truth:??it??is??expedient??for?? you?? that?? I?? go?? away,?? for?? if?? I?? go?? not?? away,?? the?? comforter?? will?? not?? come?? unto?? you,?? but?? if?? I?? depart?? I?? will?? send?? him?? unto??you. “???? 16:??”I??have??yet??many??things??to??say??unto??you,??but??ye??can?? not??bear??them??now. “???? 16:?? “Howbeit,?? when?? he?? the?? Spirit?? of?? Truth,?? is?? come,?? he?? will?? guide?? you?? unto?? all?? truth?? for?? he?? shall?? not?? speak?? of?? himself,?? but?? whatsoever?? he?? shall?? hear,?? that?? shall?? he?? speak;??he??will??show??you??things??to??come. ???? I?? read?? the?? passages?? which?? I?? had?? already?? gone?? through?? several??times??before,??but??this??time??the??perfect??confidence?? with??which??the??lecturer??asked??me??to??read??the??verse??from?? my??own??sacred??scriptures??in??support??of??his??claim,??threw??a?? new?? light?? upon?? them?? for?? me?? to?? understand?? the?? matter?? dispassionately. Yet??I??replied:??”But??the??prophecy??is??about?? the??advent??of??Jesus! “??He??smiled??and??said:??”Read??the??verse?? again! Does?? not?? the?? verse?? say?? that?? God?? will?? raise?? a?? Prophet?? like?? unto?? Moses?? i. e. he?? will?? be?? a?? man?? born?? of?? a?? father?? and?? a?? mother?? as?? was?? born?? Moses;?? whereas?? Jesus?? was??born??only??of??a??mother.
Besides??the??Prophet??promised?? by?? God?? must?? be?? a?? man?? like?? Moses?? but?? you?? yourself?? call?? Jesus??as??the??son??of??God! Moses??was??a??lawgiving??Prophet?? and??the??one??like??him??must??be??a??law? giver,??whereas??Jesus?? ?? 14 www. islamhouse. com was?? only?? a?? law? abider,?? following?? the?? law?? of?? the?? Ten?? Commandments?? already?? introduced?? through?? Moses. Be? sides?? one?? must?? betray?? his?? common?? sense?? as?? well?? as?? his?? learning?? to?? say?? that?? I?? and?? He?? the?? two?? different?? persons,?? i. e. the??First??and??the??Third??person??mean??the??same,??or??the?? one?? who?? departs?? prophesying?? about?? the?? advent?? of?? some ne??else,??to??be??one??and??the??same. “???? The?? argument?? was?? quite?? reasonable. Then?? I?? asked?? the?? lecturer:??”Do??you??not??believe??in??Jesus??as??the??son??of??God? Cannot??Jesus??be??God??himself??in??the??form??of??a??man? “??The?? lecturer??smiled??and??very??cheerfully??replied:??”Can??there??be?? a?? son?? to?? anyone?? without?? a?? wife,?? my?? friend? Can?? anyone?? who?? believes?? in?? the?? sonship?? of?? Jesus,?? at?? the?? same?? time?? sensibly??imagine??Virgin??Mary??to??have??been??used??by??God?? as??a??wife? Let??us??seek??protection??of??God??against??any??such?? devilish??straying??of??our??minds. Sonship??if??used??in??the??Bi? le??can??be??only??to??mean??a??creature??or??the??one??who??has??re? ceived??life??from??God. Otherwise,??what??do??you??say??about?? Jesus?? addressing?? himself?? as?? a?? son?? of?? man…?? “The?? son?? of?? man?? is?? come?? eating?? and?? drinking?? and?? ye?? say,?? behold?? a?? gluttonous??man,??and??a??wine??bibber??a??friend??of??publicans?? and??sinners. “??(St. Luke??7:34)???? “The??son??of??man??be??ashamed. “??(Luke??9:26)?? “Saying?? the?? son?? of?? the?? man?? must?? be?? delivered?? into?? the?? hands??of??sinful??men. “??(Luke??24)?? “The??son??of??man??shall??give??unto??you. “??(John??6:27)?? ?? 15 www. islamhouse. com
Jesus??addressed??God??as??his??father??and??also??as??our??father?? which?? means?? that?? God?? is?? taken?? as?? the?? father?? of?? Jesus?? as?? much??as??He??is??the??father??(or??the??creator)??of??any??of??us,??and?? hence??Jesus’??sonship??can??mean??in??the??sense??of??creature??of?? god,?? the?? term?? ‘son?? of?? god’?? used?? by?? Jesus?? can?? be?? only?? in?? sense?? of?? ‘servant?? of?? god’?? ????? as?? Jesus?? refers?? to?? himself?? as?? god’s??servant. This??fact??is??testified??by??the??verses??by??which?? every??prophet??of??God??from??Adam??has??been??termed??as??the?? son?? of?? God?? in?? Luke?? 3rd?? chapter?? in?? verses?? from?? 23?? to?? 30.
Jesus??is??called??as??the??son??of??Joseph??and??the??genealogy??of?? Jospeh?? is?? traced?? to?? Adam?? and?? Adam??is??called??the??son??of?? God. Read?? the?? 30th?? verse?? of?? the?? same?? chapter:?? “Which?? was?? the?? son?? of?? Enos,?? which?? was?? the?? son?? of?? Seth,?? which was??the??son??of??Adam,??which??was??the??son??of??God. “??(Luke?? 3:30)?? These??ready??answers??from??the??Bible??created??a??very??deep?? impression??upon??my??mind??about??the??amount??of??compara? tive?? study?? the?? Muslims?? do?? and?? how?? strong?? and?? reason? able??they??are??in??their??faith??about??the??Oneness??of??God.
I??asked??the??lecturer:??”Do??you??believe??in??the??Holy??Bible?? as??a??Heavenly??Book??or??not? “??In??reply??to??my??question??the?? lecturer??requested??me??to??answer??the??following??questions: 16 www. islamhouse. com His??Questions:?? Is??the??Bible??which??is??in?? your??hands,??the??book??which?? Jesus??wrote??as??a??scripture?? revealed??by??God? Did??Jesus??order??or??desire?? at??any??time??in??his??life??to?? write??anything??on??his??be? half? Was??the??Bible??which??is??in?? your??hands,??written??during?? the??life??time??of??Jesus? Was??the??Bible??which??is??in?? your??hands??today??written?? immediately??after??the??de? parture??of??Jesus?
Then?? he?? said:?? “Please?? read?? p. 17?? in?? the?? “Founder?? of?? Christianity?? and?? his?? Religion”?? published?? by?? the?? Chris? tian?? Literature?? Society,?? Madras. It?? is?? said?? in?? the?? book:?? “The?? whole?? Bible?? contains?? sixty?? six?? books?? written?? by?? forty??different??authors??over??a??space??of??about??fifteen??cen? turies. “?? It?? is?? clearly?? said?? in?? the?? book?? that:?? JESUS?? CHRIST?? HIMSELF?? WROTE?? NOTHING. Oral?? teaching?? ?? 17 My??Answers:?? ??”No. ” “No” “No” “No” www. islamhouse. com was?? for?? several?? years,?? the?? only?? means?? employed?? in?? the?? spread?? of?? Christianity.
It?? was?? for?? the?? guidance?? of?? those?? young??converts??that??the??earliest??writings??of??the??new??Tes? tament??were??composed. “???? The?? same?? book?? further?? discloses?? that:?? “They?? were?? probably?? written?? about?? Twenty?? years?? after?? the?? death?? of?? Christ. “???? On??pg. 18??it??is??stated:??”The??Gospels??do??not??give??a??com? plete?? history?? of?? the?? life?? of?? Christ. They?? are?? rather?? mem? oirs. “???? I?? said:?? “But?? the?? Bible?? is?? the?? word?? of?? god?? inspired?? and?? written?? by?? the?? disciples?? of?? Jesus! “?? He?? again?? smiled?? and?? said:?? “Mr.
Thomas,?? if?? the?? Bible?? is?? the?? Book?? of?? the?? Disci? ples??and??of??Jesus,??how??would??you??account??for??the??differ? ences??in??the??Book,??if??it??is??an??inspired??word??of??God…does?? not?? the?? Catholic?? Bible?? contain?? some?? books?? which?? the?? Protestant??version??does??not? “?? Have??you??read??what??Mr. Wilson??says??about??the??Bible,??in?? the?? introduction?? to?? the?? ‘Diaglot’?? ????? published?? by?? the?? Watch?? Tower?? Society? “If?? it?? has?? not?? been?? published?? by?? kingly??authority??it??would??not??now??be??venerated??by??Eng? lish??and??American??Protestants,??although??it??had??come??di? ect?? from?? God. It?? has?? been?? convicted?? of?? containing?? over?? 20,000?? errors! Nearly?? 700?? Greek?? Mss?? are?? not?? known?? and?? some??of??them??are??very??ancient??whereas??the??translator??of?? the?? common?? version?? had?? only?? the?? advantage?? of?? some?? 8?? Mss??none??of??which??was??earlier??than??the??tenth??century. “???? ?? 18 www. islamhouse. com Is?? not?? the?? Bible?? based?? upon?? 8?? manuscripts…whereas?? there??are??700??manuscripts??now??available? If??what??is??con? tained?? in?? all?? such?? manuscripts?? is?? also?? the?? inspired?? word?? of??god,??why??were??these??manuscripts??left??away? In??view??of ll??these??facts??brought??to??your??light,??if??you??still??believe??in?? the??Bible??as??the??inspired??word??of??God,??you??may??do??so??but?? you??can’t??expect??the??whole??world??to??do??it. If??you??make??a?? serious?? and?? an?? impartial?? study?? of?? the?? Old?? and?? the?? New?? Testaments?? you?? will?? find?? in?? them?? the?? amount?? of?? blas? phemies?? which?? the?? Jewish?? mind?? has?? fabricated?? against?? Lot,?? David,?? Noah,?? and?? Abraham?? who?? were?? the?? Holy?? Apostles??of??God,??viz:???? “And??Noah??began??to??be??a??husbandman??and??he??planted??a?? vineyard. “???? “And?? he?? drank?? of?? the?? vine,?? and?? was?? drunken;?? and?? he?? was??uncovered??within??this??tent. ???? “And??Ham,??the??father??of??Canaan,??saw??the??nakedness??of?? his??father??and??told??his??two??brethren??about??it. “???? “And?? Shem?? and?? Japheth?? took?? a?? garment?? and?? laid?? it?? upon?? their?? father,?? and?? their?? faces?? were?? backward,?? and?? they??saw??not??their??father’s??nakedness. “??(Gen:??10:123)?? Lot?? committing?? adultery?? with?? his?? own?? two?? daughters?? (Gen:??19:30? 38)?? David??taking??possession??of??his??neighbor’s??wife??(II??Sam?? 11:4)?? ?? 19 www. islamhouse. com I?? asked,?? “What? Do?? you?? Muslims?? believe?? in?? the?? prophet’s?? of?? god?? other?? than?? Muhammad?? to?? be?? totally?? sinless??and??holy? ?? He??answered??me??by??reciting??to??me??the??following??verses?? from??the??Quran:???? ? Say?? (O?? Muslims),?? We?? believe?? in?? Allah,?? and?? that?? which?? has?? been?? revealed?? to?? Abraham?? and?? Ishmael?? and??Isaac??and??Jacob??and??the??Tribes??and??that??which?? has??been??given??to??Moses??and??Jesus,??and??that??which?? has??been??given??to??the??Prophets??from??their??Lord. We?? make??no??distinction??between??any??of??them. And??we?? submit??to??Allah.? (2:136)?? ? The??Messenger??of??God??believed??in??what??had??been?? revealed?? to?? him?? from?? his?? Lord,?? and?? so?? do?? the?? be? lievers??(i. . Muslims)??they??all??believe??in??Allah??and?? His?? Angels,?? His?? Books?? (the?? different?? holy?? scrip? tures)??and??His??Messengers;??we??make??no??difference?? between??any??of??His??Messengers.? (2:285)?? The?? above?? verses?? of?? the Holy?? Quran?? bear?? clear?? testi? mony?? to?? the?? fact?? that,?? as?? one?? of?? the?? fundamentals?? of?? his?? faith,?? every?? Muslim?? has?? to?? believe?? not?? only?? in?? the?? Holy?? Prophet?? Muhammad,?? but?? in?? all?? the?? other?? Prophets?? and?? Messengers?? as?? truthful?? and?? holy?? and?? should?? not?? make?? any??distinction??between??them.
The??following??verse??of??the?? Holy?? Quran?? informs?? us?? of?? the?? fact?? that?? Prophets?? were?? raised??by??God,??among??all??nations??in??all??parts??of??the??earth. 20 www. islamhouse. com ?There??is??not??a??nation??but??a??warner??has??gone??among?? them.? (35:24)?? It??convinced??me??that??Islam,??alone,??is??an??all??comprehen? sive??faith??which??recognizes??all??other??religions??and??which?? contains??in??it??a??perfectly??harmonious??integration??of??all??the?? good,?? found?? partly?? in?? the?? other?? religious?? orders?? of?? the?? world. The?? sacred?? book?? of?? Islam?? i. . the?? Holy?? Quran?? is?? the??final??exposition??of??the??Divine??Truth. The??limitation??of?? the??human??mind??of??the??different??ages,??did??not??allow??even?? Prophet??like??Jesus??to??speak??out??the??whole??truth. Jesus??had?? to?? depart?? with?? many?? things?? yet?? to?? be?? told?? to?? his?? people. (John??16:14). Jesus??had??to??tell??his??people??to??wait??until??the?? advent?? of?? the?? spirit?? of?? truth?? to?? disclose?? the?? whole?? of?? the?? truth. (John??16:13)?? I?? was?? further?? impressed?? by?? the?? universal?? aspect?? of?? the?? religion?? of?? Islam.
Every?? answer?? from?? the?? lecturer?? was?? with??an??unchallengeable??authority??and??with??an??unbreak? able?? argument. I??was?? awakened?? to?? differentiate?? between?? genuine?? truth?? and?? the?? fabrications?? of?? falsehood?? and?? to?? know?? many?? new?? factors?? to?? which?? I?? was?? blind?? all?? those?? years. But?? I?? did?? not?? know?? how?? to?? reconcile?? the?? dawn?? of?? true??knowledge??of??truth??with??my??original??blind??dogmatic?? belief??and??my??belonging??to??the??Christian??faith??any??longer. I?? wanted?? to?? find?? out?? some?? failure?? on?? the?? part?? of?? the?? lec? urer??to??answer??satisfactorily??some??question??or??the??other,?? so??that??I??may??have??some??excuse,??be??that??even??a??false??one,?? to??maintain??my??position??in??the??Christian??faith. 21 www. islamhouse. com The?? lecturer?? continued?? after?? some?? time?? with?? the?? ques? tion:?? “Shall?? I?? ask?? you?? something?? if?? you?? do?? not?? mind?? an? swering??it??for??my??information? “??I??said:??”Yes. “??He??asked:?? “Do??you??think??Jesus??to??be??a??son??of??God??or??God??himself? “?? I??said:??”Jesus??is??God??himself??in??the??form??of??His??son. “?? He?? said:?? “Can?? you?? ever?? conceive?? anyone?? to?? be?? the?? im? ortal??god??and??at??the??same??time??be??a??mortal??(man)??to??be?? caught??in??the??hands??of??other??mortals??to??suffer??death? Can?? anything??be??high??and??at??the??same??time??low,??black,??and??at?? the?? same?? time?? white? Can?? there?? be?? darkness?? and?? the?? same??time??light? What??philosophy??is??this? “???? The?? lecturer?? continued?? saying:?? “Do?? you?? ever?? consider?? that?? there?? is?? one?? other?? question?? confronting?? the?? doctrine?? of??the??Trinity??which??needs??to??be??answered??by??every??Trini? tarian?? that?? if?? any?? three?? different?? beings?? which?? are?? three?? different??entities,??are??also??at??the??same??time??One,??with??ab? olute?? unity?? in?? all?? the?? perfect?? sense?? or?? meaning?? of?? One? ness,??what??is??the??common??control??which??makes??them??re? main??three??and??also??be??one??at??one??and??the??same??time? If?? there?? be?? any?? factor?? of?? such?? a?? wonderful?? and?? inconceiv? able?? phenomena?? causing?? this?? amazing?? effect,?? then?? that?? supreme?? causative?? power,?? which?? controls?? the?? number?? and??the??unity,??will??alone??be??the??Omnipotent??God??and??not?? any?? one?? of?? the?? three?? which?? are?? only?? the?? controlled?? com? ponents. Besides?? there?? arises?? another?? problematic?? ques? ion?? which?? a?? believer?? in?? the?? Trinity?? will?? have?? to?? answer?? i. e. as??to??who??is??it??that??controls??or??determines??the??splitting?? ?? 22 www. islamhouse. com of??one??into??three??different??others,??to??be??neither??more??nor?? less?? in?? number? There?? must?? be?? some?? cause?? for?? this?? con? trolled??effect??and??that??the??causative??factor??acting??supreme?? over??three??will??be??the??Omnipotent??God??and??not??any??of??the?? three?? which?? will?? only?? be?? the?? effect?? of?? the?? Supreme?? con? trolling??cause. Similarly,?? it?? will?? raise?? the?? question,?? what?? is?? the?? causa? ive?? power?? which?? effects?? the?? three?? to?? be?? only?? one?? when?? joining??together??rather??than??divided??into??many??groups??of?? beings??and,??if??there??be??any??such??cause,??that??supreme??con? trolling??cause??will??be??the??omnipotent??god,??not??any??of??the?? three?? who?? will?? only?? be?? the?? subservient?? ones. Under?? any?? circumstances?? no?? sensible?? man?? can?? ever?? reasonably?? be? lieve?? in?? any?? effect?? whatsoever?? without?? some?? causative?? factor??effecting??it. However,?? the?? Holy?? Trinity?? is?? only?? a?? problematic?? doc? trine?? created?? by?? the?? Christian?? Church?? which?? no?? logical?? reasoning??can??ever??prove??true.
I??had??to??helplessly??agree??to??the??views??of??the??lecturer??for?? I?? could?? not?? now?? reasonably?? believe?? in?? the?? existence?? of?? anything??being??itself??and??at??the??same??time??being??its??own?? opposite. “I?? would?? like?? you?? Mr. Thomas,”?? said?? the?? lecturer?? “to?? ponder?? a?? little?? over?? How?? the?? belief?? of?? Jesus?? being?? God?? Himself??or??the??son??of??God,??coincides??with??the??fact??that??he?? was?? so?? terrified?? at?? the?? impending?? crucifixion?? that?? he?? ?? 23 www. islamhouse. com shouted:?? “Eli,?? Eli,?? Lama?? Sabachtani? “?? (Meaning:?? My?? God,??My??God,??has??thou??forsaken??me? ??(Ma hew??27:46)?? “What?? philosophy?? is?? that? If?? Jesus?? was?? God?? Himself,?? does??it??mean??that??God??was??forsaken??by??God??Himself??and?? can??that??be??God??who??felt??hopeless??and??shouted??to??be??res? cued? “???? “Your??Bible??itself??Mr. Thomas,??reported??that??the??son??of?? God?? was?? forsaken?? by?? his?? father?? (god)?? in?? which?? case?? the?? forsaken?? son?? automatically?? and?? quite?? naturally?? forfeits?? his??personal??merits??as??a??son??and??his??relationship??of??being?? a??son??to??his??father. What??do??you??say? Of??what??profitable?? use??can??the??attachment??to??a??forsaken??son??be? Mr.
Thomas,?? please??tell??me! “???? I?? was?? dumbstruck?? ????? and?? I?? did?? not?? know?? what?? to?? say?? and?? what?? to do?? with?? the?? faith?? I?? already?? possessed?? as?? a?? staunch??Christian. “Besides,”?? the?? lecturer?? continued:?? “Do?? you?? think?? Jesus?? to??be??God??himself??when??he??falls??down??crying,??praying??to?? someone??else??to??remove??the??cup??of??death??by??crucifixion? “???? I??asked:??”Alright,??sir,??how??do??you??reconcile??the??violence?? used?? by?? the?? Prophet?? of?? Islam?? to?? his?? being?? an?? Apostle?? of?? God?! “???? Immediately??came??the??reply??from??the??lecturer:??”Please,?? Mr.
Thomas,?? quote?? a?? single?? instance?? from?? the?? whole?? life?? story?? of?? the?? Holy?? Prophet?? Muhammad?? to?? show?? that?? he?? has?? ever?? committed?? any?? unprovoked?? aggression?? or?? any?? ?? 24 www. islamhouse. com single??instance??of??his??taking??the??least??initiative??in??attack? ing??any??single??soul. Each??expedition??of??a??battle??he??led??or?? he?? allowed?? was?? only?? in?? self? defense! The?? Bible?? does?? not?? preach?? self? defense. The?? Bible?? preaches?? self? surrender?? to?? the??extent??of??handing??over??everything??in??one’s??possession?? when??anything??which??was??in??one’s??hand??had??been??taken?? away??by??any??aggressor.
Does??any??Christian??follow??this? “???? “Apart?? from?? the?? political?? history?? of?? the?? Christian?? na? tions?? of?? Europe,?? do?? you?? not?? remember?? the?? inhuman?? methods??employed??by??Christendom??to??spread??its??faith? “???? I?? was?? ashamed?? to?? hear?? what?? has?? been?? reported?? and?? I?? have?? to?? listen?? quietly?? to?? the?? records?? of?? the?? disgraceful?? conduct?? of?? the?? Christians. I?? at?? last?? ventured?? to?? ask?? one?? more??question. “There??is??the??doctrine??of??atonement??of??ex? piation?? of?? sins?? of?? men?? through?? the?? blood?? of?? Jesus. Jesus?? having??paid??the??price??of??the??sins??of??man,??i. e. e??who??be? lieves??in??Jesus??is??cleansed??and??saved…??have??you??any??such?? accommodation??in??Islam? The??lecturer??smiled??and??replied:??”My??friend,??the??great? est??of??God’s??gifts??to??man??is??common??sense. If??man??forfeits?? it?? of?? his?? own?? accord,?? then?? no?? one?? can?? help?? him. First?? let?? me?? know?? if?? the?? doctrine?? appeals?? to?? reason?? and?? common sense. A,??for??example,??a??Christian??by??faith,??i. e. a??believer?? in??Jesus??Christ??as??his??savior,??plunders??the??house??of??B??and?? the??members??of??B’s??family. Does??sense??and??logic??agree??to?? ‘A’?? being?? let?? off?? unpunished?? by?? the?? law,?? particularly?? to he??Law??of??the??All? Just??Lord??of?? the??Universe,??simply??be? cause??’A’??accepts??Jesus??as??his??savior? “???? I?? had?? to?? say?? “No”?? because,?? to?? say?? otherwise?? would?? mean??I??forfeit??my??common??sense??and??go??against??reason? ing! He?? continued:?? “There?? is?? one?? very?? grave?? aspect?? of?? the?? doctrine?? of?? atonement?? through?? the?? blood?? of?? Jesus,?? i. e. when??we??pay??for??a??thing,??the??thing??becomes??our??own??and?? the??previous??owner??of??that??thing??forfeits??his??entire??claim?? over??it??for??the??price??he??has??already??received,??is??it??not? ???? I??said:??”Yes. “?? Then?? he?? said:?? “If?? the?? sins?? of?? man?? have?? been?? paid?? for,?? god??has??no??right??to??punish??any??sinner! Every??sinner??who?? merely??believes??in??Jesus??would??be??free??do??anything??in??the?? world?? which?? his?? brutal?? passion?? dictates?? him?? to?? do,?? for?? God?? his?? Lord?? has?? no?? right?? whatsoever?? even?? to?? question?? any??sinner,??for??Jesus??has??met??the??cost??of??all??his??sins. Can?? this?? ever?? be?? sensible?? logic?? or?? common?? sense? Can?? this?? doctrine??help??life??on??earth??to??continue??for??one??moment??in?? peace??and??security? ???? He?? continued:?? “Please?? remember,?? Islam?? wants?? every?? individual?? to?? be?? kept?? bound?? by?? his?? being?? answerable?? with??his??own??individual??life??as??well??as??the??interest??of??the?? collective?? life?? in?? this?? world,?? himself?? as?? a?? member?? of?? not?? only??the??human??race??but??also??of??the??creation??of??the??Lord?? as?? a?? whole. Islam?? continuously?? invites?? and?? encourages man??towards??righteousness??with??the??promise??of??the??bliss? ful??life??in??the??Hereafter??and??repeatedly??warns??him??against?? vice?? and?? the?? consequent?? chastisement?? from?? the?? All?? Just?? Lord.
The??Holy??Quran??repeatedly??warns??saying:???? ? And?? be?? on?? your?? guard against?? a?? Day?? when?? one?? soul?? shall?? not?? avail?? another?? in?? the?? least,?? neither?? shall?? intercession?? on?? its?? behalf?? be?? accepted?? nor?? shall??they??be??helped. ???????(2:123)???? ? Whoever?? goes?? aright,?? for?? his?? soul?? does?? he?? go?? aright?? and?? whoever?? goes?? astray?? to?? its?? detriment?? only??does??he??go??astray,??nor??can??the??bearer??of??a??bur? den?? bear?? the?? burden?? of?? another?? nor?? do?? we?? punish?? until??We??have??sent??a??Messenger??(to??give??warning).? (17:15) ?O?? humankind!
Surely,?? we?? have?? created?? you?? of?? a?? male?? and?? female?? and?? made?? you?? into?? nations?? and?? tribes?? that?? you?? may?? know?? each?? other;?? surely?? the?? most??honorable??of??you??with??Allah??is??the??one??among?? you?? most?? careful?? of?? his?? duty. Surely?? Allah?? is?? All? knowing,??All? aware.? (49:13)?? While?? threatening?? man?? with?? grievous?? punishment?? in?? recompense?? for?? his?? evil,?? the?? Holy?? Quran?? discloses?? also?? the??infinite??mercy??of??the??All? Merciful??Lord??who??does??not?? want?? man,?? however?? much?? a?? sinner?? the?? individual?? be?? to?? be??totally??defect??or??hopeless??of??the??merciful??pardon??from?? Him.
The?? only?? condition?? for?? the?? pardon?? he?? needs?? being?? the?? sinner’s?? repentance?? against?? his?? vices,?? with?? his?? inten? tion??of??amending??his??conduct??in??the??future,??and??the??turn? ing?? whole? heartedly?? to?? obedience?? and?? gratitude?? to?? the?? All? Merciful??Lord??for??His??infinite??grace. “???? “For??goodness??sake,??tell??me??Mr. Thomas,??which??do??you?? think?? is?? reasonable?? and?? sensible,?? either?? making?? man?? in? toxicated?? and?? careless?? against?? sinning?? (i. e. making?? him?? unreasonably??confident??of??the??price??of??his??sins??as??having?? already??been??paid??by??someone)??or??alerting??man??with??his?? commitment?? to?? virtue?? against?? vice,?? (i. e. eeping?? him?? warned?? of?? the?? natural?? consequences?? of?? getting?? punish? ment?? by?? the?? All? Just?? Lord,?? against?? any?? misconduct?? or?? disobedience)? ”???? I?? felt?? that?? I?? had?? the?? day?? understood?? the?? hollowness?? of?? the??doctrine??of??atonement??upon??which??is??built??the??whole?? edifice?? of?? the?? Christian?? faith. The?? divine?? mercy?? of?? the?? Lord??dawned??upon??my??heart,??a??new??light??of??Divine??guid? ance. I??thanked??god??for??liberating??me??from??the??clutches??of?? the??grossly??misleading??dogmatic??doctrine??and??leading??me?? to??Islam??which??I??have??myself??found??through??an??impartial?? enquiry??that??it??is??the??right??and??the??Straight??Road??to??salva? ion??which??the??All? Merciful??Lord??Himself??has??shown??man?? through?? this?? Last?? Apostle?? Muhammad,?? may?? peace?? be?? upon??him??and??his??divinely??chosen??descendants. When?? I?? disclosed?? my?? acceptance?? of?? the?? true?? argument?? advanced??by??the??lecturer??and??thanked??him,??he??told??me: “Thomas! You?? must?? thank?? God?? for?? blessing?? you?? with?? the?? fulfillment?? of?? his?? merciful?? promise?? to?? every?? sincere?? seeker??of??Truth! “???? The?? All? Merciful?? Lord?? by?? His?? infinite?? mercy?? has?? ful? filled??His??merciful??promise??to??give??mankind??the??everlast? ng?? guidance?? through?? the?? Holy?? Prophet?? ?? Muhammad?? who??would??abide??in??his??guidance??for??all??times. After?? coming?? across?? so?? many?? strong?? and?? unbreakable?? arguments?? against?? the?? doctrine?? of?? the?? Holy?? Trinity?? and?? also??about??many??other??fundamentals??of??Christian??belief,??I?? only?? wondered?? how?? such?? an?? unreasonable?? faith?? could?? attract??such??a??huge??number??of??people??in??the??world. Once?? I?? found?? my?? father?? returning?? home?? very?? happy?? and?? immediately?? as?? he?? arrived?? he?? called?? me?? and?? said:?? “You??will??be??glad??to??know??my??dear??son??that??today??I??got?? 109??souls??into??our??fold!
At??baptism??of??such??a??big??number,?? the?? rev?? father,?? the?? chief?? of?? our?? mission?? praised?? my?? ser? vices?? very?? much?? and?? has?? increased?? my?? salary?? as?? well?? as?? my?? traveling?? allowance?? and?? has?? awarded?? me?? with?? a?? to? ken?? reward?? corresponding?? to?? the?? number?? baptized?? through??my??efforts! “?? I??asked:??”Who??are??they,??father,??who??were??baptized? “???? He?? said:?? “They?? are?? from?? five?? surrounding?? villages. There??are??men,??women,??and??children. “???? I??asked:??”Are??they??all??educated? ” He?? said:?? “No,?? they?? are?? poor?? people?? of?? the?? slums;?? they?? are??only??laborers??in??the??paddy??fields??of??their??villages. ?? I?? asked?? if they?? had?? understood?? fully?? their?? undertaking?? as?? converts?? to?? the?? Christian?? faith. Would?? every?? one?? of?? them?? stand?? any?? cross?? examination?? against?? their?? decision?? to??leave??the??folds??they??were??in??and??their??joining??the??Chris? tian??Belief? He??replied:??”What??do??you??mean? I??told??you??they??are??all?? uneducated,?? poor?? illiterates;?? laborers,?? from?? the?? slums! The??group??consists??of??men,??women,??and??children. Now??I?? will??have??to??go??there??every??day??and??coach??them??up??in??the?? doctrine??of??our??faith. ???? On??hearing??this??I??smiled,??and??seeing??me??smiling??my??fa? ther?? asked:?? “Why?? do?? you?? smile,?? Thomas? What?? is?? the?? matter? “??I??said:??”Nothing??father,??I??do??not??see??in??this??mass?? conversion?? any?? matter?? of?? pride?? or?? pleasure?? which?? any?? true??religion??or??any??genuine??or??reasonable??faith??can??claim?? for??itself,??for??it??is??nothing??but??exploiting??the??illiteracy??and?? ignorance??of??the??poor??laborers. It??is??leading??the??mentally?? blind?? ones?? into?? something?? which?? they?? neither?? know?? nor?? recognize! Do?? you?? think?? father,?? that?? any?? sensible?? man?? can?? rea? onably?? be?? proud?? over?? his?? getting?? some?? illiterate?? men,?? women,?? and?? children?? to?? accept??his??own?? ideals?? and?? justi? fiably??claim??the??least??merit??or??value??to??his??thought? ” “While??the??entry??into??a??faith??like??Islam??is??effected??only?? after?? a?? detailed?? study?? and?? enquiry?? by?? the?? learned?? ones?? with?? perfect?? conviction,?? we?? Christians?? pride?? over?? our?? success??in??swelling??up??our??ranks??by??mass??conversions??of?? illiterate??laborers,??who??by??circumstances??are??forced??to??ac? cept?? the?? Christian?? doctrine?? without?? knowing?? what?? they?? are?? doing?? is?? right?? or?? wrong?
An?? ignorant?? mind?? is?? like?? a?? blank?? sheet,?? one?? can?? draw?? upon?? it?? whatever?? one’s?? fancy?? chooses?? and?? once?? the?? inscription?? is?? made?? to?? be?? settled?? upon?? such?? raw?? material,?? any?? artist?? can?? pride?? over?? the?? palette??having??any??particular??design??of??his??own. If??today?? to??win??the??sympathy??of??the??ignorant??masses??we??boast??be? fore??our??illiterate??converts??of??our??humanity??and??self??sacri? fices??in??the??cause??of??the??spread??of??our??faith??will??the??outer?? world?? also forget?? the?? Edict?? of?? Milan,?? father,?? and?? will?? all?? the?? records?? of?? history?? of?? the?? brutal?? outrages?? that?? Chris? endom?? committed?? against?? the?? poor?? helpless?? Jews,?? in?? its?? own?? passionate?? eagerness?? and?? anxiety?? to?? swell?? its?? ranks?? totally??vanish? “?? I?? continued:?? “If?? you?? kindly?? permit?? me?? father,?? I?? would?? like??to??know??from??you??if??the??Bible??in??your??hands??is??to??be?? merely??read,??memorized??and??preached??to??the??others…??or?? is??it??to??be??acted??upon??in??our??daily??life? If??it??is??to??be??acted?? upon?? will?? you?? kindly?? show?? me,?? father,?? if?? the?? Christian?? world?? could?? ever?? practice?? the?? principle?? of?? turning?? the?? other??cheek??also??if??one??is??already??smitten? Could??any??sin? ere??Christian??till??now,??give??away??his??shirt??when??his??coat?? was?? taken?? away? Will?? you,?? father,?? surrender?? our?? whole house?? if?? anybody?? invades?? our?? residence?? and?? takes?? pos? session?? of?? any?? of?? the?? rooms?? in?? these?? premises? If?? the?? Christian??powers??of??the??world??really??believe??in??this?? doc? trine?? of?? self?? surrender,?? why?? do?? they?? maintain?? their?? mili? tary??and??police??forces? “???? “Kindly?? tell?? me,?? father?? if?? there?? is?? any?? earthly?? use?? of?? merely?? believing?? in?? any?? golden?? ideals?? which?? can?? only?? adorn?? the?? pages?? of?? some?? book?? and?? which?? can?? only?? be?? preached?? but?? never?? practiced.
Why?? should?? we?? not?? rea? sonably?? accept?? the?? doctrine?? of?? self? defense?? taught?? by?? Is? lam,??and??the??principle??of??pardoning??our??offenders??if??they?? are??repentant,??and??amending??their??conduct? “?? “For??goodness??sake??let??me??know??father,??how??can??three?? different?? ones??at?? the??same?? time??be?? an?? absolute?? one,?? both?? numerically?? and?? also?? in?? the?? essential?? nature?? of?? perfect?? unity? “???? “On?? what?? reasonable?? grounds?? can?? the?? one?? who?? is?? for? saken?? by?? God,?? be?? god?? himself?? and?? if?? Jesus?? is?? to?? be?? be? ieved?? as?? the?? son?? of?? god,?? what?? claim?? to?? the?? relationship?? with??his??father??can??a??forsaken??son??have? “?? “What?? right?? had?? Christendom?? to?? claim?? any?? truth?? in?? it?? when?? its?? spread?? was?? caused?? by??inhuman?? atrocities?? com? mitted?? by?? the?? Christian?? forces?? against?? the?? poor?? helpless?? Jews. The?? conduct?? of?? the?? brutal outrages?? committed?? in?? the??holy??name??of??the??Christ,??has??been??fully??reported??even?? by??the??Christian??authorities??on??the??Edict??of??Milan??and??by?? the?? world?? renowned?? Christian?? scholar?? Gibbon?? in?? his?? fa? ous?? work:?? ‘The?? Decline?? and?? Fall?? of?? the?? Roman?? Em? pire. ‘”?? “The?? Doctrine?? of?? atonement?? through?? the?? blood?? of?? Christ,?? will?? naturally?? attract?? those?? sinners?? who?? have?? sinned?? and?? who?? do?? not?? want?? to?? give?? up?? sinning?? under?? the?? protection?? of?? the?? doctrine?? that?? the?? price?? of?? their?? sins?? has?? already?? been?? paid?? away?? and,?? however?? much?? worse?? sinners??they??themselves??choose??to??be,??they??will??not??in??the?? least??be??chastised??for??their??heinous??crimes,??for,??Jesus??hav? ing??paid??away??for??the??sins??of??man,??God??has??forfeited??His?? claim??to??punish??the??sinners??thereafter. ???? “There??are??many??such??things,??father??which?? need??a??dis? passionate??study??and??an??impartial??judgment. “???? “I?? tell?? you?? father,?? that?? whatever?? be?? the?? consequences?? and??whatever??misfortune??may??afflict??me,??I,??for??one,??have?? decided?? not?? to?? sell?? away?? or?? forfeit?? my?? conscience?? and?? common??sense??to??believe??in??such??unreasonable??dogmatic?? doctrines. I?? have?? embraced?? Islam,?? and?? if?? you?? do?? not?? get?? angry??with??me,??kindly??allow??me??to??explain??to??you??the??de? tails?? of?? my?? enquiries;?? I?? will?? do?? it?? whenever?? I?? am?? re? quested?? to?? do?? so.
I?? do?? not?? like?? any?? thought?? or?? belief?? of?? mine??to??be??swallowed??by??any??one??by??force,??for??the??relig? ion?? of?? Islam,?? which?? I?? now?? openly?? declare?? to?? have?? em? braced,??enjoins??that??there??shall??not??be??any??compulsion??in?? the??matter??of??faith,??as??the??truth??has??been??revealed??against?? falsehood. ” To?? my?? utter?? surprise,?? I?? found?? my?? father?? fully?? attentive?? to?? my?? exposing?? my?? personal?? views?? and?? convictions?? and?? at??the??end,??he??said:???? “Son,?? do?? not?? think?? that?? your?? father?? is?? a?? fool. I?? have?? been?? occasionally?? confronted?? with?? such?? ideas?? during y??life??whenever??I??had??the??occasion??of??discussing??relig? ion??with??my??Muslim??friends. For??God’s??sake??keep??this?? matter?? strictly?? confined?? to?? you. Otherwise?? be?? sure?? we?? will??be??thrown??out??into??the??street??as??destitute. “?? A??few??days??later,??my??father??decided??to??declare??himself??a?? Muslim,??too. I??now,??for??the??information??and??guidance??of??every??seeker?? of??the??truth,??openly??declare??the??actual??findings??of??my??sin? cere??enquiry??that??Islam??is??not??only??the??last??Mighty??Relig? ion,?? but?? it?? is?? also?? the?? perfect?? faith?? which?? contains?? all?? the?? good. One?? of?? the?? most?? distinguishing?? and?? striking?? char? cteristics?? of?? Islam?? is?? that?? it?? requires?? of?? its?? followers?? to?? believe??that??all??the??religions??of??the??world??that??preceded??it?? were??revealed??by??God??for??the??respective??people??of??those?? ages. It??is??one??of??the??fundamentals??of??this??faith??that??its??fol? lowers?? must?? believe?? in?? all?? the?? prophets?? who?? were?? sent?? into??the??world??before??the??Prophet??Muhammad??as??truthful?? and??sinless. Muhammad??is??the??name??of??the??Prophet??through??whom?? this??all??comprehensive??faith??was??revealed??in??its??complete?? and??perfect??form??for??humanity??at??large??for??all??times.
It??is?? the?? West?? that?? named?? his?? faith?? ‘Mohammedanism’?? to?? co? incide?? with?? the?? fashion?? of?? Christianity,?? Buddhism,?? Con? fucianism,?? Zoroastrianism,?? and?? Hinduism. On?? the?? other?? hand,?? the?? name?? of?? this?? religion?? is?? already?? given?? in?? its?? Book,?? the?? Holy?? Quran,?? as?? ‘Islam’,?? and?? the?? Prophet?? of?? Is? lam??is??called??a??Muslim??as??any??other??believer. As??the??vari? ous?? prophets?? preached?? this?? same?? Truth?? among?? different?? nations?? at?? different?? times?? in?? different?? languages,?? every?? Prophet??of??God??is??spoken??of??in??the??Holy??Quran??as??a??Mus? lim.
Thus?? I?? have?? found,?? beyond?? all?? doubts?? that?? Islam?? is?? the??religion??which??humanity??needs??for??its??progress??in??all?? spheres??of??its??material??as??well??as??spiritual??life??to??earn??sal? vation??in??the??end. A??Brief??introduction??of??Islam??for??New??Muslims Islam?? is?? to?? submit?? completely?? to?? Allah?? by?? believing?? in?? His?? Oneness;?? by?? worshipping?? Him,?? and?? forsaking?? all?? types??of??Shirk??(polytheism). Islam?? is?? the?? only?? Deen?? accepted?? by?? Allah. It?? is?? the?? Final?? Deen,?? which?? has?? abrogated?? all?? previous?? religions. Allah?? does??not??accept??from??His??slaves??other??than??it.
Allah??says:?? ‘Indeed??the??only??accepted??Deen??is??Islam. ‘???? He?? also?? says,?? ‘and?? whoever?? seeks?? other?? than?? Islam,?? it?? would?? not??be??accepted??from??him,??and??he??would??be??amongst??the??losers?? in??the??Hereafter. ‘???? ?? How??to??enter??the??folds??of??Islam:??The??Two??Testimonies??of?? Faith???? (La??ilahah??Illa??Allah??wa??anna??Muhammad??Rasool??Allah)?? To??enter??Islam,??you??must??know??the??meaning??of??these??two?? testimonies;?? pronounce?? them?? out?? of?? pure?? conviction,?? without??the??slightest??doubt. Translation??of??the??Shahadah??:???? Ash’hadu:?? I?? certainly?? know?? and?? believe?? without?? the?? slightest??doubt…
An?? la?? ilahah:?? that?? there?? is?? no?? god?? worthy?? of?? being?? wor? shipped??in??the??universe… Ilal’laah:??This??is??an??affirming??sentence;??i. e. that??all??acts??of?? worship??belong??to??Allah??alone… An’na?? Muhammadan:?? Muhammad,?? son?? of?? Abdullah,?? son?? of??Abdul? Muttalib??certainly… Rasool?? Allah:?? was?? sent?? by?? Allah?? to?? mankind?? at?? large;?? to?? both??men??and??jinn. Its??General??Meaning:??(La??ilahah??Illa??Allah??Muhammad?? Rasool?? Allah)?? There?? is?? no?? god?? worthy?? of?? being?? wor? shipped?? except?? Allah?? and?? Muhammad?? is?? the?? Messenger?? of??Allah??(We??obey??his??commands;??refrain??from??whatever??he??has?? forbidden.
We??believe??all??that??he??has??informed??us??with,??and??that?? Allah?? is?? not?? to?? be?? worshipped?? except?? in?? the?? manner?? which?? he?? has??taught??us. )???? ?? The??Divine??Scripture??of??Islam:??It??is??the??Quran,??which??is?? the??words??of??Allah;??it??was??revealed??to??Muhammad,??may?? Allah?? exalt?? his mention,?? through?? Angel?? Jibreel,?? may?? Al? lah??exalt??his??mention. It?? is?? incumbent?? upon?? the?? Muslim?? to?? memorize?? from?? it?? a?? portion??enough??for??him??to??complete??his??prayers. Indeed,?? all?? previous?? scriptures?? were?? distorted?? by?? their?? people;??but??the??Quran??remains??in??its??pure??form??as??it??was evealed?? to?? Muhammad,?? may?? Allah?? exalt?? his?? mention. Allah??has??promised??to??preserve??it??till??the??Day??of??Resurrec? tion. Allah??says:??’Indeed??We??have??revealed??the??Dhikr,??and??We?? will??preserve??it. ‘??For??this??reason,??no??one??can??distort??it. After?? knowing?? the?? meaning?? of?? the?? Two?? Testimonies?? of?? Faith,?? pronouncing?? them?? and?? accepting?? them?? whole? heartedly??(without??being??pressurized??into??accepting??it??or?? promised??worldly??things??upon??pronouncing??it)??he??would?? become??a??Muslim,??upon??whom??certain??obligations??would?? become??due,??and??others??would??be??waived.
If??he??dies??after?? pronouncing??it,??he??would??enter??Jannah,??even??if??he??did??not?? do??a??good??deed. The??Five??Pillars??of??Islam:??(These??pillars??are??to??be??physi? cally?? executed,?? whether?? the?? action?? is?? attestation?? in?? the?? heart,??profession??by??the??tongue??or??a??physical??action)???? ?? The??First??Pillar:??The??Two??Testimonies??of??Faith. There?? is?? no?? god?? worthy?? of?? being?? worshipped?? except?? Al? lah,?? and?? Muhammad,?? son?? of?? Abdullah,?? was?? a?? Prophet?? and??Messenger,??who??was??sent??by??Allah??to??both??men??and?? jinn,??to??guide??them??to??worship??Allah??alone,??without??asso? ciating??any??partners??to??Him.
The??Second??Pillar:??The??Salah??(Prayer). They?? are?? five?? prayers?? in?? total?? during?? the?? day?? and?? night. The?? reward?? the?? Muslim?? would?? attain?? from?? performing?? them?? would?? be?? equal?? to?? the?? reward?? of?? fifty?? prayers…if?? performed?? with?? its?? necessary?? conditions,?? pillars?? and?? compulsory??acts. Some??of??its??conditions??are??that??the??per? son?? who?? wants?? to?? pray?? be?? a?? sane?? Muslim,?? who?? has reached??the??age??of??distinction,??having??made??Taharah??(ab? lution)?? and?? intention?? (to?? pray?? a?? certain?? prayer),?? and?? to?? face??the??Qiblah??while??praying.
The??Third??Pillar:??Zakat??(Poor? Due). It??is??due??on??every??Muslim??whose??wealth??has??reached??the?? Nisaab?? (amount?? of?? wealth?? which?? renders?? it?? incumbent?? upon?? its?? owner?? to?? pay?? Zakat)?? and?? has?? been?? held?? in?? pos? session?? for?? 12?? lunar?? months,?? to?? give?? 2. 5%?? from?? it?? to?? the?? poor?? and?? needy?? from?? among?? his?? relatives?? whom?? he?? le? gally?? does?? not?? have?? to?? support,?? and?? to?? other?? poor?? and?? needy??Muslims,??as??well. The??Fourth??Pillar:??Fasting. The?? person?? should?? intend?? to?? fast?? from?? the?? night. He?? should?? abstain?? from?? food?? and?? drink?? and?? sexual?? inter? ourse?? from?? Fajr?? till?? the?? sunset. The?? Month?? of?? Fasting?? is?? called?? Ramadhan. It?? is?? compulsory?? on?? every?? sane,?? adult?? Muslim. The??Fifth??Pillar:??Hajj??(Pilgrimage)???? It??is??the??visitation??to??Makkah??and??other??sacred??sites??with?? the??intention??to??perform??Umrah??and??Hajj. It??is??a??duty??on?? every?? adult,?? sane?? Muslim?? who?? can?? afford?? performing?? it,?? once??in??a??lifetime. Women??who??have??no??Mahram??(guard? ian)??do??not??have??to??perform??Hajj. Whoever??rejects??one??of??these??pillars??out??of??disbelief??or??due??to?? laziness??would??become??a??Kaafir??(disbeliever)??and??would??exit??the?? folds??of??Islam.
The??Six??Pillars??of??Faith:???? 1. Belief??in??Allah:??That??is??to??believe??that??He??is??the??Crea? tor,??the??Provider,??the??One??Who??causes??death??and??life,??and?? the??One??in??Whose??Hands??are??all??affairs. He??is??the??First??be? fore??Whom??there??is??none,??and??He??is??the??Last??after??Whom?? there?? is?? none,?? He?? is?? the?? Supreme?? above?? Whom?? there?? is?? none,?? and?? He?? is?? the?? Most? Knowledgeable?? from?? Whom?? nothing??is??hidden. We??believe??in??all??His??beautiful??names?? and?? attributes?? without?? distorting?? or?? suspending?? them,?? striking?? parallels?? between?? them?? or?? comparing?? them.
Al? lah??says,??’There??is??nothing??that??resembles??Him,??and??He??is??the?? All? Seeing??All? Hearing’ 2. Belief?? in?? the?? Angels:?? They?? are?? honorable?? slaves,?? who?? obey?? Allah. Among?? them?? are?? Jibreel,?? Mee’ka’il,?? Israfeel,?? Ridhwaan,?? Maalik,?? and?? the?? angels?? who?? record?? the?? good?? and??bad??deeds??of??men. 3. Belief?? in?? the?? Divine?? Scriptures?? which?? Allah?? revealed?? to??his??Prophets??and??Messengers. The??Last??Scripture??is??the?? Quran. It??has??abrogated??all??previous??scriptures,??thus??it??is?? not??permissible??to??put??into??practice??any??scripture??besides?? the??Quran. 4.
Belief??in??the??Messengers:??Allah??sent??them??to??mankind?? to?? guide?? them?? to?? worship?? Him?? alone,?? and?? not?? associate?? partners?? with?? Him. We?? believe?? that?? Allah?? sent?? them. Among?? them?? are?? the?? ‘Ulul?? Azm’?? (Prophets?? who?? exerted?? great??efforts)??who??are,??Nooh,??Ibraheem,??Musa,??Eesa,??and?? finally?? Muhammad,?? may?? Allah?? exalt?? his?? mention,?? and?? render??him??safe??from??every??derogatory??thing,??who??is??the?? last??and??best??of??them. 5. Belief?? in?? the?? Last?? Day:?? It?? is?? the?? Day?? of?? Resurrection,?? the?? Day?? of?? Requital;?? the?? Day?? believers?? would?? enter?? Jan? nah?? and?? disbelievers?? sent?? to?? Hell?
Fire;?? as?? for?? the?? sinners?? (who?? died?? without?? repenting),?? they?? would?? be?? subject?? to?? the??will??of??Allah. He??would??either??punish??them??or??forgive?? them. 6. Belief?? in?? the?? Qadr’?? (Preordainment)?? both?? in?? its?? evil?? and??good??consequences. Know??that??whatever??is??ordained?? would??come??to??pass;??whatever??you??will??be??afflicted??with?? will??take??place. Everything??which??takes??place??in??this??uni? verse??is??already??recorded??in??the??Preserved??Tablet??(al? Lauh?? al? Mahfoodth). Last??Thought?? I??hope??that??you??read??this??book??with??an??open??heart??and?? mind…and??I??pray??to??God??that??you??see??the??light??of??truth.