Converts: Why Do They Fall in Love with Islam?

By: Maged Taman

I do not know how many books out there to analyse why people convert to Islam. I think there is a great opening for successful and intriguing books. I think there are a lot of reasons people convert to Islam or fall in love with Islam. These are some of the reasons:

1- Simplicity: it is easy to self learn and become a Muslim on your own there is no secrets and no conflicting theologian theories. One God with chain of prophets talking the same message with same commandments with different laws but all are applicable.

87:8 And We will make it easy for thee (to follow) the simple (Path). وَنُيَسِّرُكَ لِلْيُسْرَى (87:8)

2- Absence of the middle man: a religion having no one in the middle between you and God is very attractive. Though Muslims respect Imams, Priests and Rabbi there is no middle man you are talking to God and he answers you. An ordinary man can be better than the greatest Imam in the eyes of God.

2:186 AND IF My servants ask thee about Me - behold, I am near; I respond to the call of him who calls, whenever he calls unto Me: let them, then, respond unto Me, and believe in Me, so that they might follow the right way.وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُواْ لِي وَلْيُؤْمِنُواْ بِي لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ (2:186)

3- Islamic Paradox: same things that make people fear Islam eventually attract them. Islam is a very reasonable paradox. For example polygamy came as a way it solve some social problems like taking care of women and orphans when there is necessity. It also takes over extramarital affairs. Most women who are mistresses felt more respect, dignity and preserved rights to be the second wife than to be a mistress. Islam meanwhile still believe the single couple family is the best for the community. Jihad a fight for Islam and in most part is fighting oneself against its evils.

7:157 those who shall follow the [last] Apostle, the unlettered Prophet whom they shall find described in the Torah that is with them, and [later on] in the Gospel: [the Prophet] who will enjoin upon them the doing of what is right and forbid them the doing of what is wrong, and make lawful to them the good things of life and forbid them the bad things, and lift from them their burdens and the shackles that were upon them [aforetime]. Those, therefore, who shall believe in him, and honour him, and succour him, and follow the light that has been bestowed from on high through him-it is they that shall attain to a happy state."

الَّذِينَ يَتَّبِعُونَ الرَّسُولَ النَّبِيَّ الأُمِّيَّ الَّذِي يَجِدُونَهُ مَكْتُوبًا عِندَهُمْ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ وَالإِنْجِيلِ يَأْمُرُهُم بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَاهُمْ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَيُحِلُّ لَهُمُ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَيُحَرِّمُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْخَبَآئِثَ وَيَضَعُ عَنْهُمْ إِصْرَهُمْ وَالأَغْلاَلَ الَّتِي كَانَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ فَالَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ بِهِ وَعَزَّرُوهُ وَنَصَرُوهُ وَاتَّبَعُواْ النُّورَ الَّذِيَ أُنزِلَ مَعَهُ أُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ (7:157)

4- Fulfillment : in the shallow materialist life people struggle for enjoyment and possession. It ends by a shallow hectic life and the human soul always feel emptiness and keep looking for the meaning, the serenity and fulfillment. You get that in Islam and meanwhile, Islam believes in having your share in material life obtained in the right way.

28:77 But seek the abode of the Hereafter in that which Allah hath given thee and neglect not thy portion of the world, and be thou kind even as Allah hath been kind to thee, and seek not corruption in the earth; lo! Allah loveth not corrupters, وَابْتَغِ فِيمَا آتَاكَ اللَّهُ الدَّارَ الْآخِرَةَ وَلَا تَنسَ نَصِيبَكَ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا وَأَحْسِن كَمَا أَحْسَنَ اللَّهُ إِلَيْكَ وَلَا تَبْغِ الْفَسَادَ فِي الْأَرْضِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُفْسِدِينَ (28:77)

5- Wisdom: Quran is full of wisdom and the message of Islam itself is built on wisdom. Wisdom in the message, in how to spread the message and in how to live your life as outlined in the Quran and Hadith.

3:58 "This is what we rehearse unto thee of the Signs and the Message of wisdom." ذَلِكَ نَتْلُوهُ عَلَيْكَ مِنَ الآيَاتِ وَالذِّكْرِ الْحَكِيمِ (3:58)
10:1 A.L.R. These are the ayats (verses) of the Book of wisdom. الر تِلْكَ آيَاتُ الْكِتَابِ الْحَكِيمِ (10:1)
12:2 We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur'an, in order that ye may learn wisdom. إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ قُرْآنًا عَرَبِيًّا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ (12:2)

6- Intriguing religion: it is like a sea that you like how it looks from a distance and attracts you to get into it. Once you feel the nice, clean and comforting water you want to go deeper and stay longer. You will feel this is the religion that was inside you before you were searching for a religion.

30:30 So set thou thy face steadily and truly to the Faith: (establish) Allah's handiwork according to the pattern on which He has made mankind: no change (let there be) in the work (wrought) by Allah; that is the standard religion, but most among mankind understand not. فَأَقِمْ وَجْهَكَ لِلدِّينِ حَنِيفًا فِطْرَةَ اللَّهِ الَّتِي فَطَرَ النَّاسَ عَلَيْهَا لَا تَبْدِيلَ لِخَلْقِ اللَّهِ ذَلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ وَلَكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ (30:30)

7- Idealism: the ideas of Islam are in many parts common with the great Ideas of human soul. The same calls for justice, the human rights and the right to run elected and consulting governments that respect its people. The safety network for the poor and the weak in communities confirm well with the democratic party. The free and fair market with the high potential to human growth and independence is the soul of the republic party. No doubt Islam is very attractive and in fact is likely to become the next religion to Americans. Do not forget Jesus is a Muslim prophet (same Jesus we are talking about).

4:125 Who is better in religion than he who surrendereth his purpose to Allah while doing good (to men) and followeth the tradition of Abraham, the upright? Allah (Himself) chose Abraham for friend. وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ دِينًا مِّمَّنْ أَسْلَمَ وَجْهَهُ لله وَهُوَ مُحْسِنٌ واتَّبَعَ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ حَنِيفًا وَاتَّخَذَ اللّهُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ خَلِيلاً (4:125)

4:146 Save those who repent and amend and hold fast to Allah and make their religion pure for Allah (only). Those are with the believers. And Allah will bestow on the believers an immense reward. إِلاَّ الَّذِينَ تَابُواْ وَأَصْلَحُواْ وَاعْتَصَمُواْ بِاللّهِ وَأَخْلَصُواْ دِينَهُمْ لِلّهِ فَأُوْلَـئِكَ مَعَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَسَوْفَ يُؤْتِ اللّهُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًا (4:146)

8- Sharing common ground with Christianity: a lot of converts are Christians who did not feel they went far by converting to Islam. They just realized there were a last message after Jesus they missed or they were told it is unreal. When they discovered it they discovered the true Islam and the truth about Jesus, which looked to them both reasonable and fulfilling.

61:6 And remember, Jesus, the son of Mary, said: "O Children of Israel! I am the apostle of Allah (sent) to you, confirming the Law (which came) before me, and giving glad tidings of an Messenger to come after me, whose name shall be Ahmad." But when he came to them with Clear Signs, they said, "this is evident sorcery!" وَإِذْ قَالَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ يَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ إِنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ إِلَيْكُم مُّصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيَّ مِنَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَمُبَشِّرًا بِرَسُولٍ يَأْتِي مِن بَعْدِي اسْمُهُ أَحْمَدُ فَلَمَّا جَاءهُم بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ قَالُوا هَذَا سِحْرٌ مُّبِينٌ (61:6)

9- The mass conversion: Like what happens in certain periods of time great awakening to human souls people do massive and determined search for their souls and their true existence. Though at certain periods you find massive conversion to the great religions particularly Christianity and Islam.

110:1 When Allah's succor and the triumph cometh إِذَا جَاء نَصْرُ اللَّهِ وَالْفَتْحُ (110:1)
110:2 And thou seest mankind entering the religion of Allah in troops. وَرَأَيْتَ النَّاسَ يَدْخُلُونَ فِي دِينِ اللَّهِ أَفْوَاجًا (110:2)
110:3 Then hymn the praises of thy Lord, and seek forgiveness of Him. Lo! He is ever ready to show mercy. فَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ وَاسْتَغْفِرْهُ إِنَّهُ كَانَ تَوَّابًا (110:3)

10- The Prophecy power: or call it "God's predetermined will" that people at certain time particularly at end of time will convert to one religion. Though we have the will to do what why want, God through his great abilities know the history in advance and feed in our will while we are still the deciders.

21:105 Before this We wrote in the Psalms, after the Message (given to Moses): My servants the righteous, shall inherit the earth." وَلَقَدْ كَتَبْنَا فِي الزَّبُورِ مِن بَعْدِ الذِّكْرِ أَنَّ الْأَرْضَ يَرِثُهَا عِبَادِيَ الصَّالِحُونَ (21:105)

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