The Kernel of Truth
Al-Risala (English), June 1986, p. 32
By Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan is named as the default author of the periodical; a piece that carries another writer’s byline is credited to that writer.
The Kernel of Truth
1986 6 June 32 The Kernel of Truth (257) Garry Miller, an American Christian, was a College Bible teacher. It occurred to him in 1978 to read the Quran in order to learn what its contents were. After a comparative study of the Bible and the Quran, the truth dawned upon him and he accepted Islam, and changed his name to Abdul Ahad Umer. At present he lives in Canada with his wife who is also newly converted. But he does not like to be called a convert. “I haven’t converted to Islam,” he says, “but merely reverted to the religion of my birthright (Muslim Journal, Chicago, June 21, 1985).
Garry Miller has, in fact pointed out a truth which is expressed in these words in the Quran:
“Therefore set your face in devotion to the true faith, the upright nature with which God has endowed man (30:30).
The Prophet expressed the same truth in these words:
“Every new born is of the divine nature, that is, everyone is a born Muslim (Muslim literally means one who has submitted to his Lord).
God has created him a believer.”
It is his national traditions and the society around him that lead him later to accept different creeds or ideologies. The object, therefore, of Islamic missionary work is not really to change people’s religion, but only to remove the artificial overlay of irrelevant beliefs. Wherever, it is possible to do this, what remains is a solid core of true belief.
Everyone, in essence, is a believer, even though he may appear to be something else from the outside.
