Testimony of a Convert to Islam (and a Response to Nabeel Qureshi)

Posted by David Wood - June 18, 2007 on 9:27 pm | In Answering Muslims, Testimonies | No Comments

Nabeel’s testimony about his conversion to Christianity may be read here. Recently, a convert to Islam named Allison wrote a response to Nabeel, which she sent to me. Since Westerners need to understand why people convert to Islam, I have posted Allison’s response.

************

Dear Nabeel,

I am a Christian who became Muslim, so it is with great surprise and no small disappointment that I read your article.

When I was twelve years old, I attended church and heard a sermon on the "death of Jesus" (peace be upon him) on the cross. He asks for fish after his death. Why? Because he is dead? No, because he is alive and hungry. Read the whole chapter on John in the New Testament. At the age of twelve, I felt sure that Jesus was alive. This is also why Doubting Thomas is rebuked for doubting Jesus (a.s.), because Jesus was, in fact, alive.

How did Jesus, peace be upon him, greet everyone? He said "Peace." What religion says "Peace be unto you!" Islam, of course.

When I finally met Muslims, I was impressed by the fact that they always gave respect to Jesus, by following his name with "Alai Salam". It is a prayer for peace on his soul. How can Christianity be superior when the Muslims are the ones saying prayers for Jesus and the Christians don't say anything so respectful or prayerful...

I also became a Muslim based on one simple fact. Muslims pray five times a day. That is a very high standard. Christians attend church once a week. The math shows you who should be closer to God, because Allah has higher expectations for Muslims. If you bathe in a river five times a day versus once a week, who would be spiritually cleaner?

Jesus (a.s.) prayed like Muslims. Read the sermon on the mount. He presses his forehead to the earth. Who prays like that? We Muslims do. Christians do not.

Jesus (a.s.) did not eat pork. We know that because he was a Jew. Christians eat pork and their own language suggests that pork eaters are greedy people. The English language includes these expressions: "You hog!" "Don't be a hog" "Don't hog the road." "What a big pig" and "What a swine!" These are expressions of ultimate disgust. Are you eating pork now that you are a Christian?

You said in your article that you couldn't say that Mohamed (a.s.) "was bad." It seems that your Christian "friends" are pushing you to say that, but because you were Muslim, you couldn't give that disrespect. Thank God, you defended the Holy Prophet by saying that no prophets are bad. I hope you can see that the Christians would like you to say that Jesus (a.s.) is a superior prophet of God. Think about this. God can do whatever He likes. Consequently, you should ask yourself why there are more Hadith about the Holy Prophet than we have about Jesus (a.s.) And, most importantly, we have the Holy Prophet's example as a husband. Because of Christianity's lack of Jesus' (a.s.) example as a husband, the have monasticism, which resulted in all the gay priests committing atrocities with girls and boys.

The Holy Quran offers us very exact and beautiful prayers. (Moses: rabbay inee lay ma unzulta elaya min haran fakir: I am in need of whatever help you might send down to me.) Christians say that they follow the teachings of Moses (a.s.), but they don't have his prayers. What better way to follow him? It is indeed a very humble prayer.

I am sorry. I have three children and I have no more time to respond. I could say a lot more, but if you are not convinced by these arguments, I doubt anyone can persuade you to anything different.

Allah says "Certainly, Allah wrongs not men at all, but men wrong their own souls." (10:45) When I read that, I fell in love with the Holy Quran, because I am an honest person. I don't believe that Allah will dump my sins on the back of Jesus on the day of Judgement. That would be unfair.

You are free to do whatever you want.

My credo is "Love for All, Hatred for None." There is no superior motto in the world. It is sad that you could turn your back on The Promised Messiah (a.s.) AND the Holy Prophet (a.s.) and miss the highest spiritual leadership of this age. But Allah gave you the freedom to choose, so that He could test you and see what you chose.

My seven year old daughter is a waqfe nau. She saw the cross on your website. She said "La whola wula quita ila bila hila lee ulazeem" There is One God and only One God."

Keep praying for the truth. Sometimes you have to be very patient. I have had so many dreams about the truth of the Promised Messiah and the Holy Prophet that I could write a book, but I don't have time to share them with you. However, I will tell you that Allah showed me in a dream that there is still some gold in the bible, but it was less than a half--about a third--not the 95% that your friend David claims. The trick for the Christians is sticking to that one third!

Sincerely,

Allison