*
A LETTER
TO NON-MUSLIMS
DR UMAR AZAM
BA PHD DCL DIP.FJ
DIP.IM
Manchester, UK
MARCH
2003
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Dear
Non-Muslim,
Islamic
organisations constantly receive enquiries from non-Muslims
stating that they [the latter] are considering whether to
convert* to Islam, or confirming that they have already
decided to convert, and asking what their next step should
be. This paper is intended as a guide to such
prospective Muslims; it is not intended as a propagative
exhortation to pressurise non-Muslims to convert to Islam
against their will.
Millions, of non-Muslims the world over
have already converted to Islam, out of their own
free will, without duress of any kind, over the 1,424
years of Islam's history. So, if you do convert,
you will be joining a multitude of fortunate
people!
Most non-Muslims
convert to Islam after being profoundly convinced of the truth
by the Holy Quran. So please read the English meaning of
the Holy Quran, or the translation
of whichever language you use: Spanish,
Swaheli, German, Mandarin Chinese etc.
If you are
thinking of converting to Islam but are feeling apprehensive,
it's a good idea to get advice from those Muslims
who were themselves formerly non-Muslims. Once you
have decided to convert to Islam, all you need to do is
to go to a Mosque or Islamic Centre and you will be welcomed
with open arms. When you convert, you first need to take
a bath and then declare the following [it is in
Arabic]:
" LA ILAH
ILLALLAH
MOHAMMED-UR-RASOOL ULLAH
There is no god
except Allah and Mohammed [PBUM] is the Messenger of
Allah
And you will
have become a Muslim! After that, all you do is to
follow the rules of Islam with all your heart, that's it -
it's so simple! There is no compulsion or obligation for
non-Muslims to convert to Islam: the Holy Quran makes
this absolutely clear. But believers are urged to preach
Islam to non-Muslims with 'a beautiful preaching'.
If, as a non-Muslim, you become convinced that upon converting
you will, Insha'Allah [by the Will of God] be saved from
the Eternal Fire of Hell, then no other decision you make in
your life can be as important!
Here are some
points a Muslim in the Mosque or Islamic Centre would make to
a non-Muslim to help him/her in his/her decision to become a
Muslim:
Whoever you
are, you are my ultimately my brother or sister because
all mankind is descended from Adam and Eve [May
Allah Bless them]. So your race,
nationality, status etc. are of no particular
concern to me or any other Muslim.
Because you
are my brother/sister, I care for you. So I don't want
Hell to be your destination after death. I want God to
be kind to you. I want you to go to Paradise. Do
become a Muslim. Islam will give you
Paradise.
We live in a
temporary world. It is temporary because there is no
guarantee of life. Death can come at any
time.
Be a
Muslim at the time of your death. When you convert,
you will be forgiven all the sins you accumulated while you
were a non-Muslim. Then when death does come, you
will be in a much stronger position to be forgiven the
sins you accumulated after becoming a Muslim and will,
Insha'Allah, be Blessed on the Day of
Judgement.
Do not allow
anti-Islamic propaganda to beguile you. Islam is a
religion of peace and love. Do not let your family and
friends, if they disapprove of you converting to Islam, become
a barrier to your destiny. Your loyalty to your Creator
ought to be greater than to those you love [indeed God is the
Maker of such relationships]. No soul can bear your
burden on the Day of Judgement, so it is your decision
alone. Moreover, you will be alone in your grave,
so your family and friends won't be able to help you if you
die in disbelief.
The most I can
do for you is to tell you what is true: that if you
decide to believe, you will gain Salvation and Eternal
Bliss. The most I can do is to tell you so. The
final decision as to whether you should convert or not is
in your hands. I pray that God be your Guide and
Mercy.
Dr Umar
Azam
* A
more fashionable word nowadays is to 'revert': 'revert' is the
word presumably used because everyone is born a Muslim
but afterwards
he/she may follow on into another
religion. If he/she becomes a believer later on in life,
this is an example of reversion. I have, however,
decided to remain loyal to the old-fashioned 'convert' because
'convert' does mean to change one thing [in this case, one's
religion] into something
else.