Islamic Books
Why Did They Become Muslims?
There are a number of people who abandoned their former religion and accepted Islam. These people belong to various races, countries, nationalities, colours and professional groups. Fortytwo [42] of these people were asked several questions, such as, “Why did you become a Muslim?”
“What are the aspects of Islam that you like best?” by some magazines or societies, or by their own friends. Their answers were quite clear and sincere. These noble people decided to embrace Islam after thinking over the matter for a long time and studying the Islamic religion with meticulous attention. Each and every one of their answers, which we have compiled from various books and magazines and we will paraphrase in the following passages, is of documentary value. There are many lessons to be taken from these answers, and those who read them will once again feel in their hearts the sublime nature of our religion.
These documents have been arranged in an alphabetical order of the initial letters of the nationalities to which our new Muslim brothers belong. These countries are:
America, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Holland, Hungary, Ireland, Japan, Malaya, Poland, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Zanzibar.
WHY DID THEY BECOME MUSLIMS
INTRODUCTION
The Islamic religion is the final religion and is therefore at the zenith of perfection. This fact is acknowledged even by (George) Bernard Shaw (1856-1950)[1], the well-known Irish writer and critic, whose personal comments on Islam can be summarized as, “Were we to choose a common religion for the entire world, it would definitely be the Islamic religion.” This conclusion is quite natural. For the Islamic religion is the sole religion that has preserved its intact purity owing to the promised protection against the interpolations suffered by all the religious systems previous to it. Judaism, one of the greatest monotheistic cults, had foretold about the advent of a Messiah. Îsâ ‘alaihis-salâm’ (Jesus) was hailed as the promised Messiah, yet the Injil (Bible), the heavenly book of the religion he spread, was lost. Later, various gospels were written in the name of Injil, and these new gospels, which were no more than interpolations themselves, were interpolated again and again. All these facts, along with various other portents, announced the coming of a final prophet, the real Messiah ‘sall-Allâhu ’alaihi wa sallam’. As a matter of fact, the name of this Messiah is literally written in the Gospel of Barnabas. Then, the Islamic religion is the last, the most true, the most perfect religion wherein all the true religions converge and which, therefore, reflects the full approval of Allâhu ta’âlâ. A friend of ours, [namely, Dr. Nûrî Refet Korur], who had spent his entire youth among Christians in Europe, said to us: “I am a Muslim born from Muslim parents. I spent my life in Europe, where I had the chance and time to study all religions and to compare them with each other. If I had seen that another religion was superior to Islam, I would have given up Islam and accepted that religion. For there was no one to force me to remain a Muslim. Yet, all the research and the comparative studies I carried on, reinforced by the debates that I, in the meantime, indulged in with Christians, revealed the fact that Islam is by far superior to all the world’s present religions and that it is the only intact true religion, so clearly that I became attached to Islam with all my heart.”
Sad to say, today’s western world still accommodates Christians who insist on the wrong and call Muslims “heretics”, “idleminded”, “devil-worshippers”, “irreligious”. These misconceptions are inculcated in the minds of Christian children by priests, whose real purpose is to distract their young and inquisitive brains. These interceptive activities are fed with the slanderous propaganda that the Islamic religion embodies aspects disagreeable with modern civilization. The fact, on the other hand, is that Islam is the only religion suitable for today’s civilized world. Our book Islam and Christianity deals with and refutes these misconceptions. In addition to English, we translated that book into French and German and sent the translated versions to countries all over the world. Thereby we tried to countermand the falsifications spread by priests and thus to state the actual facts. It did not take us long to see how appropriate and useful our work had been. No sooner had we distributed the books to the world than they gave their fruits. We received a letter from India, in which wrote an Indian Christian: “When I read your book Islam and Christianity, I realized that Islam is the true religion and I decided to become a Muslim.” We have been receiving similar letters from young Africans. Anyone who has the opportunity to study the pure, clean, civilized and humane aspects of Islam will feel an irresistable attraction to this religion. The Islamic religion is spreading over the world without any such media as propagation and organization. On the other hand, the missionary organizations belonging to those countries whose primary objective is to spread Christianity are spending huge amounts of money and offering various types of social aid, and yet achieving very little success in comparison with their tremendous efforts.
Despite all this wrongfull and inimical volley of vituperations carried on against Islam and all the stupendous efforts put forth for the spreading of Christianity, there has been an ever growing increase in the number of Muslims on the earth. Later ahead you will find more extensive information on this subject. Some of these Muslims remained Muslims because they had been born in Muslim families. However, besides these people there are also people who accepted Islam although their parents had been in other religions and they therefore had been given their family education in other religions. Among these people are universally renowned diplomats, statesmen, scientists, scholars, men of letters, writers, and even men of religion. These people studied Islam well, admired its greatness, and became Muslims willingly. In addition to these people, many other universally known celebrities met the Islamic religion with deep respect and admiration although they did not officially become Muslims; they even believed in the fact that Islam is the true religion and did not hesitate to express this belief of theirs. Scientists, philosophers, and politicians, admired by the entire world, first of all believe in the fact that Allâhu ta’âlâ exists and is One and that He is the Creator of all beings. In this chapter you will find the statements and observations belonging to some of these celebrities.
Among the people who accepted Islam, there may be those who became Muslims of necessity, for the sake of some advantages, or for advertisement. For instance, a non-Muslim woman may have accepted Islam without studying and learning Islam well for the purpose of marrying a certain man who happened to be a Muslim, or an Indian pariah may have done so in order to regain his lost civic rights. However, the fact that well- known scholars, scientists and writers accept the Islamic religion only after a long observation bears a lofty import. Selections from the explanations given by these cultured people on why they abandoned their religions and embraced Islam have been compiled from various sources and books and listed in the following pages. As you read them you will hear from the very tongues of these respectable people why the Islamic religion is superior to other religions. Perhaps a person who was born a Muslim and has spent his life among Muslims is totally oblivious of these superiorities. Yet when a person belonging to another religion studies Islam, he will see the difference clearly and will admire Islam. In fact, reading these explanations will provide you with an opportunity to see and admire once again the high merits of our religion, and thus feel and offer gratitude to Allâhu ta’âlâ for having been Muslims.
A conclusion drawn from all these explanations, in other words, a summary of the reasons why Islam is superior to the other religions, has been added in an independent chapter.
We hold the belief that this work will give you fresh information about the Islamic religion and will confirm once again that Islam is a great and true religion.
Islam And Christianity
The Bible was formerly in the Hebrew language. In the Middle Ages, it was translated into Latin and entitled “Itala.” When Christianity began to spread, pagans and Jews stood against it. So much so that the Christians had to keep their faith a secret. They worshipped in temples which were built under ground, in caves, in mountains, and in other secret places. The Jews, in spite of all their treachery and oppression, could not prevent Christianity from spreading. Saul, a preeminent Jew and one of the greatest enemies of Christianity, pretented to be a Christian assigned by Hadrat Jesus with the task of inviting all nations, except the Jews, to become Christians. [See chapter 9 of “The Acts of the Apostles” in the Bible.] He changed his name to Paul. He pretended to be a pious Christian so that he could corrupt Christianity from within. The concept of “Oneness” was replaced by “Trinity.” Îsâism (“Jesusism”) became Christianity. He falsified the Bible. He preached that Jesus Christ was the son of God. He made it permissible for Christians to drink wine and to eat pork. He changed the direction of their qibla towards the east so that it faced the rising sun. He also introducted many other falsities which were not previously communicated by Christ (’alaihi ’s-salâm). Eventually his corrupt ideas began to spread among the Christians. Consequently, they divided into various sects. They deviated from the teaching of Îsâ (alaihi’s- salam), and in their place they made up silly fables. They made imaginary pictures and statues of Hadrat ’Îsâ (Jesus [’alaihi ’s- salâm]). They accepted and adopted the cross as their religious emblem (symbol). They began to worship these statues and the cross. In other words, they reverted to paganism. They considered Hadrat Îsâ (Jesus [’alaihi ’s-salâm]) to be the son of God. However, the Prophet Jesus had never said such a thing to them; he had only mentioned the Rûh al-Quds, i.e., the supernatural power endowed upon him by Allâhu ta’âlâ. Believing in the divinity of Jesus, who was believed to be the son of God, and in the Rûh al-Quds (Holy Ghost) along with the belief in God, caused them to stray from the belief in the one, unchanging Creator, which has been the basis of all the true religions, and to lapse into the ridiculous state of worshipping three deities, called “Trinity.”
ISLAM AND CHRISTIANITY
PREFACE
We begin to write the book Islam and Christianity with the Basmala. All praise be to Allahu ta’âlâ, and may the best of prayers be upon His beloved Prophet, Muhammad (’alaihi’s- salâm), upon his Ahl al-Bait, and all his Companions!
Allâhu ta’âlâ has created everything, the living and the non- living, out of nothing. He alone is the Creator. Because He pities mankind very much, He creates and sends everything that is necessary for a comfortable, sweet and cheerful existence in this world and the next. As the most superior and valuable of His endless blessings, He has made distinctions for us between the way of truth leading to felicity and the way of falsehood, which brings about trouble and sorrow. He has always commanded goodness, diligence, and to be helpful to others. He has declared that He will call all people to account following the Rising after death, that those who do good deeds will live in endless happiness in Paradise, and that those who do not believe in the teachings of His prophets (’alaihimu’s-salâm) will remain in endless torture and pain in Hell. Therefore, we begin writing this work glorifying His Name and consigning ourselves to His guidance. We also see it as an honourable duty upon us to express our gratitude and love for those superior men called “prophets”, especially for the most superior of them, the Last Prophet, Muhammad (’alaihi’ s-salâm), whom He has selected as an intermediary and messenger to reveal theway of felicity and comfort to human beings.
This book is written in the nature of a “key” for those Muslim brothers of ours who have just a smattering of knowledge on how the Islamic religion has developed, and it has been written for those non-Muslims willing to know the fundamentals of Islam. Islam, the most up-to-date and the most immaculate of the world’s existing religions, is based upon very humane and very logical principles. Without going into details, this book touches upon the fundamentals of Islam and makes a comparison of Islam with other religions. It answers criticisms raised against Islam by its adversaries and explains as compendiously as possible the qualifications essential for being a good Muslim.
For those who would like to read valuable books on Islam written by Islamic scholars (rahimahumullâhu ta’âlâ) after learning the facts contained in this book, we advise that they read books published in different languages by the Hakîkat Kitabevi (Bookstore) in Istanbul. The names of these books are appended to our books.
Read this book slowly and with reflection! Encourage others to read it, too! An ignorant person cannot be a
good Muslim. Indeed, it is impossible for a person not to attach all his heart to Islam after learning its fundamentals. After reading this book, you will also realize what a lofty, sacred, logical, and perfect religion Islam is, and you will attach all your heart and soul to it in order to attain salvation and repose in this world and in the hereafter.
Could Not Answer
After Îsâ ‘alaihis-salâm’, his adherents deviated from the true faith taught by Îsâ ‘alaihis-salâm’, as the Sons of Israel had strayed from the right way before. Later, they wrote books called Gospels and pamphlets about Christianity daily. Various councils held at different places made completely contradictory decisions. Thus, altogether different Christian sects appeared. They forsook the principle of tawhîd[1] and the religion of Îsâ ‘alaihis-salâm’ thoroughly [and became polytheists and disbelievers]. Upon this Allâhu ta’âlâ sent Muhammad ‘alaihissalâm’, His most beloved, highest and last of the Prophets until the day of Judgement, unto the Earth.
COULD NOT ANSWER
PREFACE
The Islamic scholars have answered all the views, ideas and philosophical thoughts contrary to the Islamic faith. Meanwhile they have exposed the errors of defiled Christianity. They have declared that it is not permissible to follow the changed and invalidated books. They have explained that, for living in comfort and peace in this world and attaining endless bliss in the next world, it is necessary to be Muslim. Priests have not been able to refute the books of Islamic scholars. The books written by the Islamic scholars to refute strayed religions are numerous. Among them, the following are renowned for replying to Christians:
Tuhfat-ul-erîb, Arabic and Turkish; Diyâ-ul-qulûb, Turkish and English; Iz-hâr-ul-haqq, Arabic and Turkish; Es-sirât-ul-mustaqîm, Arabic; Izâh-ul-marâm, Turkish; Mîzân-ul-mawâzîn, Persian; Irshâd-ul- hiyârâ, Arabic; and Er-redd-ul-djemîl, Arabic and French.
Of these, Diyâ-ul-qulûb, written by Is-haq Efendi of Harput,[1] especially answers the wrongful writings and slanders written by Protestant priests against Islam. The book was first published in Istanbul in 1293 [A.D. 1876]. Simplifying the book, we published it in Turkish in 1987. Now we present the English edition. We used brackets for adding statements borrowed from a second book. As will be seen in various parts of the book, the priests could not answer the questions they were asked. We therefore considered the title Could not Answer appropriate for our book. The unscientific, unreasonable and immoral contents of today’s existing copies of the Holy Bible are obvious. On the other hand, the writings of Islamic scholars, shedding light on reason, knowledge, science and civilization, teem in the world’s libraries. Being unaware of this fact would therefore be no more than a flimsy pretext. Now, those who search for a religion other than the Islamic religion brought by Muhammad ‘alaihis-salâm’ will not escape endless torment in the world to come. In our book, the meanings of âyat-i-kerîmas are explained in such terms as “It is purported that…”, “It purports that…”, “It is meant that…”, etc. The meaning of these expressions is “According to the explanation of the scholars of Quranic interpretation (Tafsîr)… .” For, the meanings of âyat-i kerîmas were understood only by Rasûlullah ‘sall- Allâhu alaihi wasallam’, who explained them to his As-hâb. The scholars of Quranic interpretation distinguished these hadîth-i-sherîfs (explaining the âyat-i-kerîmas) from those hadîth-i-sherîfs concocted by munâfiqs, mulhids and zindiqs, who could not find hadîth-i-sherîfs to suit their purposes and so made their own interpretations of âyat-i-kerîmas within the principles of the science of Tafsîr. The interpretations of those religiously ignorant people who know Arabic but who are unaware of the science of Tafsîr are not to be called Tafsîr of the Qur’ân. For this reason, it is stated in a hadîth-i-sherîf: “He who interprets Qur’ân al-kerîm according to his own inferences will become a kâfir.”
[1] IsHaq Efendi of Harput passed away in 1309 [A.D. 1891].
