More than a mere Conversion!
For the second time in my life I witnessed a man converting to Islam today in SUMSA and I thought it might be good to share my thoughts about this, with others:
I was thinking, the word 'conversion' (or reversion as some prefer to call it) although does deliver the meaning intended but in no way carries the whole value and magnificence that is embodied in this act.
Before one converting to any religion (including Islam) one needs to carry out a number of tasks and needs to acquire certain qualifications, included:
- The person needs to care about himself and others
- needs to be open minded
- needs to be a strong and independent thinker
- needs to see beyond the surface
- needs to sacrifice things if necessary
- needs to spend time researching
- needs to be able to think and analyse information
- needs to learn not to be misguided by media, words of mouth, unrepresentative actions, ...
- needs to be prepared to reset his/her studies and start learning again
It is the integration of all the above qualifications and tasks and much more that eventually form itself into one word and one action, that is "Conversion (or reversion)". The 'Shahada' words that the person is saying is in fact manifestation of having acquired all the above.
Perhaps this is why converting to Islam is valued so greatly by Allah and his Prophet (pbuh), to the extent that according to Saheeh Hadith, when a person converts to Islam, his sins will be immediately erased, as if he/she is born again.
Today in SUMSA, I envied the brother who converted to Islam, not only because I knew that at that moment he was the only sinless person in the hall, but also because I thought he had proved to have qualifications that many of us did not have. If we (as Muslims) had all the above qualifications, we could perhaps make a better world for ourselves and for those around us. Then we could see people converting to Islam in queues, similar to what it was at the time of the Prophet (pbuh).
Farhad
I agree as well, which is why I am on the cusp of taking up islam and preparing for a new direction in my life.
For me it is time to enter a mosque and give my soul to god and be with people who I admire and respect, who I see every friday near where I work.
I am ready and eager to learn and when the qur'an arrives at my doorstep the process will begin.
May god guide us in all things.
Hi Jonathan -thats great to hear from you and your sense of direction which you clearly feel. Insha'Allah we will send your literature shortly and hope you benefit from in the now and the hereafter
Assalamu-Alaikum,
Last night i was on the Glasgow Muslims website and came across this link about a talk/discussion organised by the brothers&sisters in America regarding the issues faced by New Muslims immediately after becoming Muslims.
http://www.suhaibwebb.com/ummah/converts/convertsations-the-unheard-stor...
I was up all night watching it and i have to say it was very thought provoking.
I was in tears when they spoke about being heart-broken that family members were not Muslims and may never become Muslims and how this relates to the Hereafter.
There were so many points being made, big&small, that i as a born Muslim maybe didn't fully appreciate before.
So, i wonder if may be we could InshAllah discuss this at the wed meetings and see what we are doing to help New Muslims and what we could do in the future InshAllah.
Shazia
Assalamu alaikum dear respected brother in Islam.
Thank you for sharing this with us. If I am not mistaken, our new brother in Islam is actually here, in our midst! (As a member of the froum)
I appreciate your thoughts, and share your feelings when I've seen a new shahadah - it reminds me of how it feels and how important it is.
Although the points of character and attributes you mention are of course important, I don't think they are always definitely required though. I feel often, an open mind and an open heart is enough, and Allah swt will guide then as he chooses. It's not uncommon for people to embrace Islam in prison for example, where these attributes are hard to find, but the heart is open and listening to the call of the Creator.
Imam Mustaqeem put this beautifully to me a while ago when he said that so many people are wandering around with a 'God-shaped hole' in their lives, but they didnt even know this was why they were never fully fulfilled as human beings, deep down inside.
The important point for our group, for our meetings etc is that we are not just another New Muslims group - we made a point of opening ourselves to people who were perhaps born and raised as Muslims, but have never known the Deen or been shown the way. Some of the people attending our circles have been Pakistani for example, but regard themselves as 'New Muslims' as they only realised the path over the last couple of years, with the help of Allah swt of course.
It's important to include all those needing to practice and learn insha'Allah so we can change the community and spread the good as Allah swt says in Surah Ar Ra'd - that He does not change the condition of people until they themselves change. Thus we need to include those already born into a Muslim background who need encouraged as well.
May Allah swt help us change our condition, for the better, and may He guide us all to the straight path and make it easy for us.
For the second time in my life I witnessed a man converting to Islam today in SUMSA and I thought it might be good to share my thoughts about this, with others:
I was thinking, the word 'conversion' (or reversion as some prefer to call it) although does deliver the meaning intended but in no way carries the whole value and magnificence that is embodied in this act.
Before one converting to any religion (including Islam) one needs to carry out a number of tasks and needs to acquire certain qualifications, included:
- The person needs to care about himself and others
- needs to be open minded
- needs to be a strong and independent thinker
- needs to see beyond the surface
- needs to sacrifice things if necessary
- needs to spend time researching
- needs to be able to think and analyse information
- needs to learn not to be misguided by media, words of mouth, unrepresentative actions, ...
- needs to be prepared to reset his/her studies and start learning again
It is the integration of all the above qualifications and tasks and much more that eventually form itself into one word and one action, that is "Conversion (or reversion)". The 'Shahada' words that the person is saying is in fact manifestation of having acquired all the above.
Perhaps this is why converting to Islam is valued so greatly by Allah and his Prophet (pbuh), to the extent that according to Saheeh Hadith, when a person converts to Islam, his sins will be immediately erased, as if he/she is born again.
Today in SUMSA, I envied the brother who converted to Islam, not only because I knew that at that moment he was the only sinless person in the hall, but also because I thought he had proved to have qualifications that many of us did not have. If we (as Muslims) had all the above qualifications, we could perhaps make a better world for ourselves and for those around us. Then we could see people converting to Islam in queues, similar to what it was at the time of the Prophet (pbuh).
Farhad