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11. WHY ARE YOU MUSLIM?

Why am I Muslim? Why do I convert to Islam? The real answer is that it is Allah’s guidance. He says:

ستقيم صراط إلىيشاءهمنيهديوللاه... (64النور:;312االبقرة:)مه

… And Allah guides whom He will to a Straight Path.

(Q. 2:213; 24:47)

While the Muslims in Indonesia were being invaded with Christian missionaries with massive foreign aids, when they were desperately in need of rescue, apparently, Allah “stepped in” with His “divine intervention” through the conversion of some Christian scholars, clergymen and priests into Islam, such as, Dr. Yahya (formerly Yopie) Waloni, Petrus Kali who changed his name into Ahmad Fikri after his conversion and turned his church into a mosque, Bernard Nababan, and the former nun Irene Handono (see Khutab IV, no. 6 and 9).

One of the amazing conversions to Islam was that of Emmanuel Manoppo, the only son of the Head of the Indonesian Council of Churches, who converted to Islam in 1990. His father expected him to take his place one day, but Allah had another plan. One night he dreamed a man with a white robe told him to convert to Islam to gain salvation. When he asked the identity of the man, he said that the Muslims knew him, as he used to come in a special night of the year. He found out that it was in the “Night of Power” (Laylat al-Qadr) and the person was the angel Gabriel (Jibrīl). Out of frustration his father persuaded him then punished him and hit him hard, but to no avail. His heart had become solid and unshakable (See Khutab III, no. 24).

The well-known pop star Cat Stephens when he was admitted to the hospital for contracted TB, he started thinking, was he just a body, and his goal in life was merely to satisfy his body, why was he in the hospital’s bed? When he was walking and was caught in the rain, getting wet made him think that the

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body is like a donkey, and has to be trained where it has to go, or it will lead you where it wants to go. He started to be interested in Eastern religion and became vegetarian. He was not interested in Buddhism because he was not ready to leave the world, to become a monk and to isolate himself from society. He tried Zen, Ching, numerology, tarot cards and astrology.

One day Cat Stephens’ brother after returning from the mosque in Jerusalem handed him a copy of the Holy Qur’an. About one and a half years later in 1977 he converted to Islam and changed his name to Yusuf Islam. He then could get direct contact with God, Allah. He was told that the Hindus also believe in one God, but the objects (idols) are used merely to concentrate. Therefore, in order to reach God in Hinduism one has to create associates, namely, idols.

When the Muslim scholar Dr. Abū Shādī was asked this question: “Why are you Muslim?” he gave a comprehensive answer as follows:

1. Islam which I believe is a simple and merciful faith compatible with reasonable logic; it is based on confirming the Oneness of God Who invented this creation and disposes its affairs on wise ancient and general rules. There is no description of Him holier and purer than that in Islam. Verily, the description of divine glory in this religion combines the concept of established scientific reality and the objects of educational and spiritual philosophy.

2. Islam rejects association with Allah in all of its manifestation, and objects all efforts to make His Oneness obscure through associating Him with any other than Him. Islam definitely considers idolatry humiliation to reason and degradation to humanity. Man in Islam is a master and free from various elements of nature. He is neither a slave of the universe nor one who subjects the existence.

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Instead, he is a being with extreme ability to choose, has free will, and is part of the divine order in this wide world.

3. Islam is integrated with revealed religions that preceded it. The teachings of ‘Īsā (Jesus) a.s., especially in peace and blessing, are defended and supported more extensively in Islam. The Jews and the Christians living in Muslim countries are treated as Muslims in nationality, even if they keep their own beliefs. As Islam does not allow conversion by forces, it treats them like its followers, based on the rule: “For them what is for us, and on them what is on us.”

4. Islam is against aggression and corruption, as from the beginning it has called for freedom and justice, and opposes oppression and wrong-doing.

5. Islam is a universal religion, cannot be limited to a special environment, class (nation) or with race. It is an established human reality.

6. Islam has a flexible constitution in its laws and moral behavior which is the Qur’ān. As the Qur’ān is based on general precepts for belief and moral behavior the Muslims are left freely to make rules suitable for their areas and eras based on common interests and acceptable ijtihād (independent judgment, especially in a legal question based upon the interpretation of the Qur’ān and the Sunnah).

7. Islam considers knowledge the lightening lamp guiding to the interpretation of its signs and showing the truth of its message. Therefore, it wages war against ignorance and foolishness, and honours learning and wisdom.

8. Islam does not acknowledge any mediator between man and his Lord. Therefore, there is no priesthood in Islam in any form. It respects human personality, and believes in the possibility of its elevation when it follows the guidance of its fiṭrah (natural disposition) and the call to the faith.

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9. Islam based on its teachings in social justice and true democracy, establishes its own political regulation for governing and remains the source of enormous blessings among people as long as it is fully applied. This governing will not fall down until it abandons its teaching and leads itself to self-destruction.

10. Islam is a practical religion guaranteeing both physical and spiritual success. It completely purifies itself from superstitions, idle talks, foolish occults, and delusive imagination created by blind discrimination.

11. Islam considers the position of knowledge higher than that of formal worships, as knowledge in its essence is a kind of devotion through which the truth upon which faith is based will be revealed, and with it superstition will vanish.

12. The Qur’ān mentions all kinds of predictions applicable with human development in discoveries and inventions which have never been imagined by anybody since fourteen centuries. If the Qur’ān were revealed today, not a single letter would change, as its validity for all eras would not be questioned.

13. The Bible and the Torah have made prediction on the advent of Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. with his message, which is beyond interpretation, despite the arguments of scholars of Christianity and Judaism on its meanings.1

1God addressed Moses indicating the advent of Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. as follows: “I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee (Moses), and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.” (Deuteronomy 18:18). (1) “Among their brethren”, namely, brethren of Israelites (descendants of Abraham through Isaac, including Jesus), are the Ishmaelite (descendants of Abraham through Ishmael, including Muhammad s.a.w.). (2) “Like unto thee (Moses): Birth: usual for both (Moses and Muhammad), unusual for Jesus. Family life: both were married and had children, whereas Jesus without marriage or children. Death: natural for both, unnatural for Jesus. Career: both were prophets

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14. The origins of Islam come from reason and natural disposition, and therefore it is open to accept all systems in conformity with its exalted moral principles, which will guarantee the welfare of human beings wherever they are. Therefore, it supports, maintains, and protects all high civilizations, so that its philosophy contains them. They develop and give share in creating prosperity to Muslims in particular and to human beings in general.

15. Islam does not tolerate reactions at all. Instead, its constant motto is progress and development. Any confinement against freedom and revival is tantamount to denying it. Every person’s right is respected, especially the freedom of thinking and speech, and they have to defend Islam, although they do not follow it.

and statesmen, whereas Jesus was a prophet only. Forced emigration in adulthood: Moses to Median, Muhammad to Madinah, whereas Jesus did not emigrate in adulthood. Encounter with enemies: Moses: hot pursuit; Muhammad: hot pursuits and battles; Jesus: no similar encounter. Results of encounter: Both: moral and physical victory; Jesus: moral victory only. Writing down of revelation: Both in their life times (Moses: Torah; Muhammad: al-Qur’an); Jesus: after him. Nature of teachings: Both: spiritual and legal; Jesus: mainly spiritual. Acceptance of leadership by his people: Both: rejected then accepted; Jesus: rejected by most Israelites. (2) “Put my words in his mouth.” This is in line with the Qur’anic verse: (6-2النجم:)يهوحىوحي إلههوإن.الهوىعنينطقهوما “Nor does he speak of (his own) desire. It is only a Revelation revealed.” (Q. 53:3-4). “And it shall come to pass that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.” (Deuteronomy 18:19). This verse is in line with the Qur’anic verse: ولو

64-66الحاقة:)الوتينمنههلقطعناثهم.باليمينمنههلخذنا.القاويلبعضيناعلتقول ) “If he (Muhammad) had forged a false saying concerning Us (Allah), We surely would have seized him by his right hand (or with power and might), and then We certainly would have cut off his life artery (aorta)” (Q. 69:44-46). Both the late Ahmad Deedat, and his successor Dr. Zakir Naik mentioned in their speech that the expected Paraclete (Comforter, Counselor, Advocate, Helper) is no one but Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.

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16. Man himself is considered responsible for his own salvation by doing good deeds, and there is no mediation, intercession or redemption to save him if his deeds do not save him. The concept of redemption is unknown to Islam.

17. A Muslim can be a follower of Moses, Jesus and Muhammad at the same time, because this is the spirit of Islam and its internationality. Moreover, Islam was, and is still, and will remain capable of leading the world in true democratic way based on the spirit of love and peace.

Dr. Abū Shādī states further that because of these distinguished reasons and various secondary reasons he prefers to remain Muslim and to be proud of his belief in Islam, leaving broad interpretation and practical application of it for concerned experts and helping cultured and conscious scholars concerned with this noble deed.

People with clear and clean heart will see the truth of Islam and will follow it. Knowing the truth does not guarantee that one would follow it. Iblīs knows the truth, but he rejects it out of envy and arrogance. Therefore, we keep praying,

،الباطلوأرناات باعه،وارزقناحق ا،الحق أرنااللهم اجتنابهوارزقناباطلا O Allah show us the truth as truth, and bless us with following it, and show us falsehood as falsehood, and bless us with avoiding it.

(CIVIC, 8 April, 2016) المراجع:

اإلسلم؟محمدالغزالي. 3002القاهرة:نهضةمصر، كيفنفهمهBaagil, H.M, M.D. Muslim-Christian Dialogue. Jeddah: Abul-

Qasim Publishing House, n.d. http://www.islamcan.com/convert-stories/yusuf-islam-

formerly-cat-stevens-how-he-became-a-muslim.shtml#.VvNjUXrIWpY

http://www.republika.co.id/berita/dunia-islam/mualaf/ 15/07/05/ nqzhzp-pendeta-masuk-islam-gereja-diubah-menjadi-masjid