Why I Embraced Islam

Why I Embraced Islam

1992 6 June 11-12 Why I Embraced Islam (662) I am often asked when and why I became a Muslim, i.e. one who is in harmony with the decrees of the Author of this world. I can only reply that I do not know the precise moment when the truth of Islam dawned upon me. (The word ‘Islam’ means surrender to God. It also means peace.) It seems that I have always been a Muslim. Not that Islam is a natural religion that a child, left to itself, would develop. Indeed, as once described by a Western critic, “Islam is the religion of common sense.”

The more I read and the more I studied, the more convinced I became that Islam, being the most practical religion, was the one most calculated to solve· the world’s many perplexing problems, and to bring to humanity - peace and happiness. Since then I have never wavered in my belief that there is but one God; that Moses, Jesus, Muhammad and others (peace be on all of them) were prophets, divinely inspired, that to every nation God has sent an apostle, that we are not born in sin, that we are in no need of redemption, that we do not need anyone to intercede between us and God, whom we can approach at all times, that no one can intercede for us – not even Muhammad or Jesus – and that our salvation depends entirely on ourselves and on our actions.

Islam is based on two fundamental truths: (a) the oneness of God and (b) the Brotherhood of Man, and is entirely free from any encumbrances of theological dogma. Above everything else it is a positive faith.

The Hajj, above everything else, makes for unity among Muslims. If there is anything that unifies the scattered forces of Islam and imbues them with mutual sympathy it is the pilgrimage. It provides them with a central point to which they rally from all corners of the earth. It creates for them annually an occasion to meet and know one another, to exchange’ views and compare experiences and unite their various efforts for the common good. Distances are annihilated. Differences of sect are set aside. Divergences of race and colour cease to exit in this fraternity of faith that unites all Muslims in one great brotherhood and makes them conscious of the glorious heritage that is theirs.

To be a member of that huge congregation gathered from the four corners of the earth, on this – sacred occasion and on the sacred spot, and to join with this mass of humanity, in all humility, in the glorification of God, is to have one’s consciousness impressed by full significance of the Islamic ideal. It is to be privileged to participate in one of the most soul-inspiring experiences that have ever been granted to human beings. To visit the birthplace of Islam, to tread the sacred ground of the Prophet’s struggle, to call erring humanity back to God, to re-live those hallowed memories of Muhammad’s (Sallallahu ‘alaihi wa Sallam’) long toil and sufferings in his glorious years of sacrifice and martyrdom, is to have one’s soul kindled by celestial fire of his peace with God and His creatures.

To create a healthy social order, Islam laid great stress on protecting the honour of every individual. It forbade people to accept scandalous news without fully ascertaining the facts, (49: 6). In case he was in possession of the facts, a man was obliged to give evidence to help others (2: 283): but false evidence before a court of law was made a cognizable crime. (24: 4).

Islam thus guranteed justice to every individual. In order to ensure its implementation, man’s action was divided into his duty towards God – Huququllah – and his duty towards His creatures – Huququl-Ibad. God may forgive him who fails in performing his duties towards the Almighty, but he who commits a sin against his fellow beings will never be forgiven unless the persons concerned forgive him.

(Lady Eyelyn Zeinab Cobbold, England)