Why Do Priests & Preachers Enter ISLAM?
- Categories: Da'wah to Non-Muslims -
Why Do Priests & Preachers Enter
ISLAM?
Yusuf Estes Islam
Story
Many people ask me how a preacher or priest in
Christianity can ever go to Islam, especially considering all the
negative things that we hear about Islam and Muslims everyday. Some
people are simply curious, while others take a profound exception
to my "conversion" to Islam. Some have asked how I could have
turned my back on Jesus, or if I truly understood the Holy Ghost
and some even questioned whether or not I considered myself as
"born again" or had ever really been saved at all. These are good
questions to which I will offer answers to at the end of this
writing. I would like to thank everyone for their interest and
offer my humble story, God Willing.
One very nice Christian gentleman asked me in email why and how I
left Christianity for Islam. This is more or less a copy of the
letter I sent to him.
Introduction
My name is Yusuf Estes now, but in years past my friends used to
call me Skip. I have preached Christianity and worked in the
entertainment and music industry since I was a boy in the 1950's.
My father and I have established music stores, TV and radio
programs and outdoor entertainment for fun (and profit). I was a
music minister and even used a pony ride and entertained the
children as "Skippy the Clown".
Once, I have served as Delegate to the United Nations Peace
Conference for Religious Leaders. Now I am a retired former Muslim
Chaplain for United States Bureau of Prisons, Washington, DC. and I
join alongside many American Muslims, working with Muslim student
and youth organizations as well as schools for Muslim children. As
such, I travel around the entire world lecturing and sharing the
message of the Christ of the Quran in Islam. We hold dialogs and
discussion groups with all faiths and enjoy the opportunity to work
alongside rabbis, ministers, preachers and priests everywhere. Some
of our work is in the institutional area, military, universities
and prisons. Primarily our goal is to educate and communicate the
correct message of Islam and who the Muslims really are. Although
Islam has grown now to nearly tie Christianity as the largest of
religions on earth, we see many of those who claim Islam as
Muslims, that do not correctly understand nor properly represent
the message of "Peace, Surrender and Obedience to God" [Arabic =
'Islam'].
Dear me, I am afraid that I got a bit ahead of myself. I was trying
to give a bit of background of our work perhaps to see if it would
in anyway benefit those who may being going through what I
experienced while trying to resolve some of the issues of
Christianity.
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How It Happened
This may seem quite strange, while we perhaps may share a few
different perspectives and concepts of God, Jesus, prophethood, sin
and salvation. But you see, at one time I was in the same boat as
many folks are today. Really, I was. Let me explain.
Born A Strong
Christian
I was born into a very strong Christian family in the Midwest. Our
family and their ancestors not only built the churches and schools
across this land, but actually were the same ones who came here in
the first place. While I was still in elementary we relocated in
Houston, Texas in 1949 "I'm old". We attended church regularly and
I was baptized at the age of 12 in Pasadena, Texas. As a teenager,
I wanted to visit other churches to learn more of their teachings
and beliefs. The Baptists, Methodists, Episcopalians, Charismatic
movements, Nazarene, Church of Christ, Church of God, Church of God
in Christ, Full Gospel, Agape, Catholic, Presbyterian and many
more. I developed quite a thirst for the "Gospel" or as we say;
"Good News." My research into religion did not stop with
Christianity. Not at all. Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, Metaphysics,
native American beliefs were all a part of my studies. Just about
the only one that I did not look into seriously was "Islam". Why?
Good question.
Music
Minister
Anyway, I became very interested in different types of music,
especially Gospel and Classical. Because my whole family was
religious and musical it followed that I too would begin my studies
in both areas. All this set me for the logical position of Music
Minister in many of the churches that I became affiliated with over
the years. I started teaching keyboard instruments in 1960 and by
1963 owned my own studios in Laurel, Maryland, called "Estes Music
Studios."
Business Projects In Texas,
Oklahoma and Florida
Over the next 30 years my father and I worked together in many
business projects. We had entertainment programs, shows and
attractions. We opened piano and organ stores all the way from
Texas and Oklahoma to Florida. We had earned millions of dollars
during those years, but could not find the peace of mind that can
only come through knowing the truth and finding the real plan of
salvation. I'm sure you have asked yourself the question; "Why did
God create me?" or "What is it that God wants me to do?" or
"Exactly who is God, anyway?" "Why do we believe in 'original sin?"
and "Why would the sons of Adam be forced to accept his 'sins' and
then as a result be punished forever." But if you asked anyone
these questions, they would probably tell you that you have to
believe without asking, or that it is a 'mystery' and you shouldn't
ask - "Just have faith, brother."
Trinity
Concept
Strangely enough, the word "Trinity" is not in the Bible. And it
has been a concern for religious scholars as early as 200 years
after Jesus was raised up by Almighty God. I would ask preachers or
ministers to give me some sort of an idea how 'one' could figure
out to become 'three' or how God Himself, Who can do anything He
Wills to do, cannot just forgive people's sins, but rather and had
to become a man, come down on earth, be a human, and then take on
the sins of all people; keeping in mind that all along He is still
God of the whole universe and does as He Wills to do, both in and
outside of the universe as we know it. They never seemed to be able
to come up with anything other than opinions or strange
analogies.
Father - Ordained
Non-Denominational Minister
My father was very active in supporting church work, especially
church school programs. He became and ordained minister in the
1970s. He and his wife (my stepmother) knew many of the TV
evangelists and preachers and even visited Oral Roberts and helped
in the building of the "Prayer Tower" in Tulsa, OK. They also were
strong supporters of Jimmy Swaggart, Jim and Tammy Fae Bakker,
Jerry Fallwell, John Haggi and the biggest enemy to Islam in
America, Pat Robertson.
Distributing "Praise" Tapes for
Jesus
During the early 1980's my Dad and his wife worked together and
were most active in recording "Praise" tapes and distributing them
for free to people in retirement homes, hospitals and homes for the
elderly. We were really "winning souls to the Lord - for Jesus" day
after day.
Met A Man From
Egypt
It was early in 1991 when my father began doing business with a man
from Egypt and told me that he wanted me to meet him. This idea
appealed to me when I thought about the idea of having an
international flavor. You know, the pyramids, sphinx, Nile River
and all that.
He Was A
"Mozlem"
Hijackers; Kidnappers; Bombers, Terrorists - and who knows what
else?
Then my father mentioned that this man was a 'Moslem.' First, I
hated the idea of meeting an "infidel, hijacker, kidnapper, bomber,
terrorist, non-believer." Any normal person would be repulsed at
the idea. I couldn't believe my ears. A 'Moslem?' No way! I
reminded my dad of the various different things that we had heard
about these people.
Lies Against Muslims &
Islam - They Told Us, Muslims:
They don't even believe in God
They worship a black box in the desert.
And They kiss the ground five times a day.
No Way! I Did Not Want to Meet Him!
I did not want to meet this 'Moslem' man. No way! My father
insisted that I meet him and reassured me that he was a very nice
person. This was too much for me. Especially since the evangelists
that we used to travel around with all hated Muslims and Islam very
much. They even said things that were not true to make people
afraid of Islam. So, why would I want anything to do with these
people?
Idea - "Change Him To Christian"
Then an idea came to me, "We can change this man to Christian." So,
I gave in and agreed to the meeting. But on my terms.
Met Him With A Bible, Cross and Cap with "Jesus Is Lord!" on
it.
I agreed to meet him on a Sunday after church so we would be all
prayed up and in good standing with the Lord. I would be carrying
my Bible under my arm as usual. I would have my big shiny cross
dangling and I would have on my cap which says: "Jesus is Lord"
right across the front. My wife and two young daughters came along
and we were ready for our first encounter with the 'Moslems.'
Where Is
He?
When I came into the shop and asked my father where the 'Moslem'
was, he pointed and said: "He's right over there."
I was confused. That couldn't be the Moslem. No way.
Turban &
Beard?
I'm looking for a huge man with flowing robes, a big turban on his
head, a beard half way down his shirt and eyebrows that go all the
way across his forehead with a sword or a bomb under his
coat.
No Turban - No Beard - [No
Hair at All!]
This man had no beard. In fact, he didn't even have any hair on his
head at all. He was nearly bald. Best of all, he was very pleasant
with a warm welcome and handshake. This didn't make sense. I
thought they are terrorists and bombers. What is this all
about?
He Needs
Jesus
Never mind. I'll get right to work on this guy. He needs to be
'saved' in the 'Name of Jesus' and me and the Lord are going to do
it.
Introduction &
Interrogation
After a quick introduction, I asked him:
"Do you believe in God?"
He said:
"Yes." - (Good!)
Then I said:
"Do you believe in Adam and Eve?"
He said:
"Yes." - (Very Good!)
I said: "What about Abraham? You believe in him and how he tried to
sacrifice his son for God?"
He said:
"Yes." - (Even better!)
Then I asked:
"What about Moses?"
"Ten Commandments?"
"Parting the Red Sea?"
Again he said:
"Yes." - (Better still!)
Then:
"What about the other prophets, David, Solomon and John the
Baptist?"
He said:
"Yes." - (Great!)
I asked:
"Do you believe in the Bible?"
Again, he said:
"Yes." - (OK!)
So, now it was time for the big question:
"Do you believe in Jesus? That he was the Messiah (Christ) of
God?"
Again the said:
"Yes." - (Fantastic!)
Well now - "This was going to be easier than I had thought."
He was just about ready to be baptized only he didn't know
it.
And I was just the one to do it, too.
Shocking Knowledge - Muslims
Believe in the Bible?
One day in the Spring of 1991, I came to know that the Muslims
believed in the Bible. I was shocked. How could this be? But that's
not all, they believe in Jesus as:
* A true messenger of God;
* Prophet of God;
* Miracle birth without human intervention;
* He was the 'Christ' or Messiah as predicted in the Bible;
* He is with God now and most important;
* He will be coming back in the Last Days to lead the believers
against the 'Antichrist.'
After "winning souls to the Lord for Jesus" day after day, this
would be a big achievement for me, to catch one of these 'Moslems'
and 'convert' him to Christianity.
Cup of Tea - Discuss
Beliefs
I asked him if he liked tea and he said he did. So off we went to a
little shop in the mall to sit and talk about my favorite subject:
Beliefs. While we sat in that little coffee shop for hours talking
(I did most of the talking) I came to know that he was very nice,
quiet and even a bit shy. He listened attentively to every word
that I had to say and did not interrupt even one time. I liked this
man's way and thought that he had definite potential to become a
good Christian. - Little did I know the course of events about to
unravel in front of my eyes.
Agreed to Do
Business
First of all, I agreed with my father that we should do business
with this man and even encouraged the idea of him traveling along
with me on my business trips across the northern part of Texas. Day
after day we would ride together and discuss various issues
pertaining to different beliefs that people have. And along the
way, I could of course interject some of my favorite radio programs
of worship and praise to help bring the message to this poor
individual. We talked about the concept of God; the meaning of
life; the purpose of creation; the prophets and their mission and
how God reveals His Will to mankind. We also shared a lot of
personal experiences and ideas as well.
Moved to Our
Home
One day I came to know that my friend Mohamed was going to move out
of the home he have been sharing with a friend of his and was going
to be living in the mosque for a time. I went to my dad and asked
him if we could invite Mohamed to come out to our big home in the
country and stay there with us. After all, he could share some of
the work and some expenses and he would be right there when we were
ready to go to out traveling around. My father agreed and Mohamed
moved in.
Continued Ministry &
Preaching
Of course I still would find time to visit my fellow preachers and
evangelists around the state of Texas. One of them lived on the
Texas -- Mexico border and another lived near lived Oklahoma
border. One preacher liked to a huge wooden cross that was bigger
than a car. He would carry it over his shoulder and drag the bottom
on the ground and go down the road or freeway hauling these two
beams formed in the shape of a cross. People would stop their cars
and come over to him and ask him what was going on and he would
give them pamphlets and booklets on Christianity.
Preacher Has Heart
Attack
One day my friend with the cross had a heart attack and had to go
to the Veterans Hospital where he stayed for quite a long while. I
used to visit him in the hospital several times a week and I would
take Mohamed with me with the hopes that we could all share
together in the subject of beliefs and religions. My friend was not
very impressed and it was obvious that he did not want to know
anything about Islam. Then one day a man who was sharing the room
with my friend came rolling into the room in his wheelchair. I went
to him and asked him his name and he said that it didn't matter and
when I asked him where he was from he said he was from the planet
Jupiter. I thought about what he said and then began to wonder if I
was in the cardiac ward or the mental ward.
Man in Wheelchair - Needed the
Lord
I knew the man was lonely and depressed and needed someone in his
life. So, I began to 'witness' to him about the Lord. I read to him
out of the book of Jonah in the Old Testament. I shared the story
of the prophet Jonah who had been sent by the Lord to call his
people to the correct way. Jonah had left his people and escaped by
boat to leave his city and head out to sea. A storm came up and the
ship almost capsized and the people on board threw Jonah over the
side of the ship. A whale came up to the surface and grabbed Jonah,
swallowed him and then went down to the bottom of the sea, where he
stayed for 3 days and 3 nights. Yet because of God's Mercy, He
caused the whale to rise to the surface and then spit Jonah out to
return back home safely to his city of Nineveh. And the idea was
that we can't really run away from our problems because we always
know what we have done. And what is more, God also always knows
what we have done.
Catholic Priest
After sharing this story with the man in the wheel chair, he looked
up and me and apologized. He told me he was sorry for his rude
behavior and that he had experienced some real serious problems
recently. Then he said that he wanted to confess something to me.
And I said that I was not a Catholic priest and I don't handle
confessions. He replied back to me that he knew that. In fact, he
said: "I am a Catholic priest."
I was shocked. Here I had been trying to preach Christianity to a
priest. What in the world was happening here?
Priest in Latin
America
The priest began to share his story of being a missionary for the
church for over 12 years to south and Central America and Mexico
and even in New York's 'Hell's Kitchen.' When he was released from
the hospital he needed a place to go to recover and rather than let
him go to stay with a Catholic family, I told my dad that we should
invite him to come out and live with us in the country along with
our families and Mohamed. It was agreed by all that he would so, he
moved out right away.
Priests Must Study ISLAM? -
YES!
During the trip out to our home, I talked with the priest about
some of the concepts of beliefs in Islam and to my surprise he
agreed and then shared even more about this with me. I was shocked
when he told me that Catholic priests actually study Islam and some
even carry doctors degrees in this subject. This was all very
enlightening to me. But there was still a lot more to come.
Different Versions of the
Bible
After settling in, we all began to gather around the kitchen table
after dinner every night to discuss religion. My father would bring
his King James Version of the Bible, I would bring out my Revised
Standard Version of the Bible, my wife had another version of the
Bible (maybe something like Jimmy Swaggart's 'Good News For Modern
Man." The priest of course, had the Catholic Bible which has 7 more
books in it that the Protestant Bible. So we spent more time
talking about which Bible was the right one or the most correct
one, than we did trying to convince Mohamed about becoming a
Christian.
Quran Has Only ONE Version - In
Arabic - And Still Exists
At one point I recall asking him about the Quran and how many
versions of it there were in the last 1,400 years. He told me that
there was only ONE QURAN. And that it had never been changed. Yet
he let me know that the Quran had been memorized by hundreds of
thousands of people, in it's entirety and were scattered about the
earth in many different countries. Over the centuries since the
Quran was revealed millions have memorized it completely and have
taught it to others who have memorized it completely, from cover to
cover, letter perfect without mistakes. Today, over 9 million
Muslims have memorized the entire Quran from cover to cover.
How Could This Be?
This did not seem possible to me. After all, the original languages
of the Bible have all been dead languages for centuries and the
documents themselves have been lost in their originals for hundreds
and thousands of years. So, how could it be that something like
this could be so easy to preserve and to recite from cover to
cover.
Priest Goes to the
Mosque
Anyway, one day the priest asked the Mohamed if he might accompany
him to the mosque to see what it was like there. They came back
talking about their experience there and we could not wait to ask
the priest what it was like and what all types of ceremonies they
performed. He said they didn't really 'do' anything. They just came
and prayed and left. I said: "They left? Without any speeches or
singing?" He said that was right.
Priest Enters Islam!
A few more days went by and the Catholic priest asked Mohamed if he
might join him again for a trip to the mosque which they did. But
this time it was different. They did not come back for a very long
time. It became dark and we worried that something might have
happened to them. Finally they arrived and when they came in the
door I immediately recognized Mohamed, but who was this alongside
of him? Someone wearing a white robe and a white cap. Hold on a
minute! It was the priest. I said to him: "Pete? -- Did you become
a 'Moslem?'
He said that he had entered into Islam that very day. THE PRIEST
BECAME A MUSLIM!! What next? (You'll see).
My Wife Announces Her
Islam!
So, I went upstairs to think things over a bit and began to talk to
my wife about the whole subject. She then told me that she too was
going to enter into Islam, because she knew it was the truth.
Shocked!
I was really shocked now. I went downstairs and woke up Mohamed and
asked him to come outside with me for a discussion. We walked and
talked that whole night through.
Truth Had Come!
By the time he was ready to pray Fajr (the morning prayer of the
Muslims) I knew that the truth had come at last and now it was up
to me to do my part. I went out back behind my father's house and
found an old piece of plywood lying under an overhang and right
there I put my head down on the ground facing the direction that
the Muslims pray five times a day.
Guide Me! O God! Guide
Me!
Now then in that position, with my body stretched out on the
plywood and my head on the ground, I asked: "O God. If you are
there, guide me, guide me."
Sign Inside of Me
And then after a while I raised up my head and I noticed something.
No, I didn't see birds or angels coming out of the sky nor did I
hear voices or music, nor did I see bright lights and flashes. What
I did notice was a change inside of me. I was aware now more than
ever before that it was time for me to stop any lying and doing
anything sneaky. It was time that I really work at being an honest
and upright man. I knew now what I had to do.
Wash Away the "OLD"
So I went upstairs and took a shower with the distinct idea that I
was 'washing' away the sinful old person that I had become over the
years. And I was now coming into a new, fresh life. A life based on
truth and proof.
- And Become
New!
Around 11:00 A.M. that morning, I stood before two witnesses, one
the ex-priest, formerly known as Father Peter Jacob's, and the
other Mohamed Abel Rehman and announced my 'shahadah' (open
testimony to the Oneness of God and the prophethood of Muhammad,
peace be upon him).
"I bear witness, there is no deity to worship, except Almighty
Allah, alone and He has no partners and I bear witness that
Mohammad is His messenger and servant."
My Wife Was Next
A few minutes later, my wife follow along and gave the same
testimony. But hers was in front of 3 witnesses (me being the
third).
Then My Father
My father was a bit more reserved on the subject and waited a few
more months before he made his shahadah (public testimony). But he
did finally commit to Islam and began offering prayers right along
with me and the other Muslims in the local masjid (mosque).
Children Too!
The children were taken out of the Christian school and placed in
Muslim schools. And now ten years later, they are memorizing much
of the Quran and the teachings of Islam.
Father's Wife (Stepmother)
Next
My father's wife finally acknowledged, before she died, that Jesus
could not be a son of God and that he must have been a mighty
prophet of God, but not God. She passed away within a few months of
this statement at age 86. May Allah accept her statement of faith,
ameen.
Houseful of New Muslims - What's
Next?
Now stop and think. A whole entire household of people from varying
backgrounds and ethnic groups coming together in truth to learn how
to know and worship the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe.
Think. A Catholic priest; a minister of music and preacher of the
Gospel; an ordained minister and builder of Christian schools; and
the children, even a great-grandmother - they all come into
Islam!
His Mercy and
Guidance
Only by His Mercy were we all guided to see the real truth of
Islam, by removing the coverings over our ears and the blinders on
our eyes, no longer having seals over our hearts - He was Guiding
us now.
Amazing Story - Family and Friends
Entering Islam - From One Man
If I were to stop right here, I'm sure that you would have to admit
that at least, this is an amazing story, right? After all, three
religious leaders of three separate denominations all going into
one very opposite belief at the same time and then soon after the
rest of the household.
More? - Yes! Baptist Seminary
Student Reads Quran - Accepts Islam
But that is not all. There is more! The same year, while I was in
Grand Prairie, Texas (near Dallas) I met a Baptist seminary student
from Tennessee named Joe, who also came to Islam after reading the
Holy Quran while in BAPTIST SEMINARY COLLEGE!
More? Yes. Catholic Priest Loves
Islam - But Needs His Job!
There are others as well. I recall the case of the Catholic priest
in a college town who talked about the good things in Islam so much
that I was forced to ask him why he didn't enter Islam. He replied:
"What? And loose my job?" - His name is Father John and we still
pray for Allah to Guide Him.
Another Catholic Priest Makes
Shahadah
The very next year I met a former Catholic priest who had been a
missionary for 8 years in Africa. He learned about Islam while he
was there and entered into Islam. He then changed his name to Omar
and moved to Dallas Texas.
Any more? Again - Yes! Orthodox Arch
Bishop leaves church for Islam
Two years later, while in San Antonio, Texas I was introduced to a
former Arch Bishop of the Orthodox Church of Russia who learned
about Islam and gave up his position to enter Islam.
Daughter of Hindu Pundit (Religious
Leader) - Accepts Islam - Helping thousands to Islam
I met a woman in New York who wanted to make our CDs about "What Is
Islam?" After giving her permission several years ago, I have
learned she has produced and distributed over 600 thousand of these
to the non-Muslims in America. May Allah reward her and keep her
strong in her efforts, ameen.
Hundreds - Thousands - Still
Coming
And since my own entrance into Islam and becoming a chaplain to the
Muslims throughout the country and around the world, I have
encountered many more individuals who were leaders, teachers and
scholars in other religions who learned about Islam and entered
into it. They came from Hindus, Jews, Catholics, Protestants,
Jehovah's Witnesses, Greek and Russian Orthodox, Coptic Christians
from Egypt, non-denominational churches and even scientists who had
been atheists.
Why? Good question.
The combination always seems to be the same; people are sincerely
seeking the truth and are willing to put their different prejudices
and biases out of their minds and begin to ask God for His Guidance
in their lives.
So, now you have the introduction to the story of my coming into
Islam and becoming Muslim. There is more on the Internet about this
story and there are more pictures there as well. Please take the
time to visit it and then please take the time to email me and let
us come together to share in all truths based on proofs for
understanding our origins and our purpose and goals in this life
and the Next Life.
9 Steps to Purify the
Heart
May I suggest to the seeker of truth do the following NINE STEPS to
purification of the heart?
Clean - your mind, your heart & soul - remove
all prejudices & biases.
Thank God - for what you have - every moment of
every day.
Read - a good translation of the meaning of the
Holy Quran in a language that they can understand best. (http://islamtomorrow.com/downloads/)
Reflect on the meanings & consider the bounties of your
Lord.
Seek - Forgiveness From God & Learn to Forgive
others.
Ask - in your heart for Guidance from Above.
Open - your heart and mind.
Continue - to do this up for a few months. And be
regular in it.
Avoid - the poison of evil while your heart is
opening for the "rebirth of your soul."
Remember: Clean; Thank; Read; Reflect - then:
"Seek, and ye shall find. Ask, and it shall be given thee. Knock,
and it shall be opened."
Then: Continue & Avoid
The rest is between you and the Almighty Lord of the Universe. If
you truly love Him, then He already Knows it and He will deal with
each of us according to our hearts.
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ANSWERS TO
QUESTIONS
Now as I promised here are the answers to the questions many have
asked me connected with my choice of Islam:
1. "How could you have turned your
back on the perfect plan of salvation of Jesus Christ on the cross
for you sins?"
Answer: Your question
implies you have not considered the similarities and teachings of
the Bible and the Quran.
"ISLAM" means - "Surrender, submit and obey your Lord in sincerity
and peace." Whoever is trying to do this, is a "MUSLIM." If someone
believes in Almighty God as One God and One Lord and wants to
commit their life to serving Him and obeying His Commandments, then
that person will be in the right way and they will be "saved"
according to God's Mercy. No one can take the sins of another and
the guilty must stand accused for what they have done. It will be
up to Almighty God to Forgive or Punish according to His Judgment
on that Day.
According to the remains of the translations of the Bible [see:
"Bible, A Closer Look"] Jesus, peace be upon him, did not preach a
message of salvation by worshipping him. This was something added
later by Saul (who later became Paul). We find clear statements
indicating salvation would come only through acknowledging Almighty
God as One God and worshipping Him with all the heart, mind and
strength. Jesus, peace be upon him, taught his followers to worship
"My God and your God, My Lord and your Lord."
Again, according to the remains of the English translation of the
Bible, we see the one on the cross crying out a very blasphemous
statement, "Eli! Eli! Lama sabachthani?" (Which being translated
means, "My God! My God! Why have you forsaken me?") This statement
on the cross clearly indicates the one on the cross is not pleased
with the situation nor does he consider it right or just.
Therefore, one would have to conclude this was not something Jesus
approved of nor did he accept, or else someone else was on the
cross in his place. Either way you look at it, the one on the cross
did not accept this as a plan of salvation.
The Quran is absolutely in agreement with these teachings and
Muslims do worship the same God and Lord of Jesus, Moses, Abraham
and Adam, peace be upon them all. The Quran states in many places,
no one will be taken to task for the sins of another, nor can
anyone carry the burden of another. We will all be on our own on
that Day. And I ask Allah to have Mercy and Forgiveness for all
those who believe in Him, ameen.
I consider that I have not left the teachings of Jesus Christ,
peace be upon him. On the contrary, I feel much closer to Jesus,
peace be upon him, and I look forward to His return on earth more
than ever before. Now I am worshipping the same God he worships and
I serve the same Lord he serves, in the very same way he does.
Jesus prayed to Almighty God and taught his followers to do the
same. I am simply doing what he commanded to the best of my ability
and ask Almighty God to accept it.
2. "Do you consider you were really
"saved" and that you had in fact, been "born again?"
Answer: The Baptists have a
statement, "Once saved, always saved." I asked one of them about
this and he agreed it was true. Then I mentioned at one time I had
become a Baptist (in my teen years) but now I was a Muslim. I had
also been "saved" and baptized at the age of 12. I had accepted the
very statement of Jesus being the way, the light and the truth and
no man coming on to the Father except by him. I understood these
statements to mean I must follow Jesus and his teachings.
Therefore, I read the Bible for myself and did not let others tell
me what to think about what I was reading.
The Bible states that Jesus prayed for salvation for himself in the
garden of Gethsemane in this way, "Let this cup pass from me, even
so, Thy Will be done." This prayer was repeated by Jesus, peace be
upon him, a number of times and it is mentioned in more than one
Gospel. Yet, according to Biblical accounts, the cup did not pass
from him and his prayers were NOT ANSWERED. Islam teaches us his
prayers were answered and he did not have to endure the cruel
treatment and death on the cross, but rather he was taken up while
still alive and is with Almighty God even now and ready to return
in the Last Days to bring victory to the believers.
Additionally, we find Jesus, peace be upon him, teaching his
disciples to pray like this, "Our Father in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy
Name, Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done on earth as it is in
Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our
trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not
into temptation, but deliver us from all evil. For Thine is the
Kingdom and the Power and Glory, forever and ever, ameen." Every
Muslim I have met accepts every single word of this pray with the
exception of calling "Allah" our "Father." Muslims consider it
better to call on Almighty God by His Names, which we do consider
to be "Hallowed."
3. "How did your family respond to
your conversion?"
Answer: This is always
difficult for families to adjust to and it usually takes time. My
family was no exception. Although my wife, children entered into
Islam and eventually my father came to declare Islam to be the way
of salvation for himself, still my own mother and many others in my
family resented our going to Islam at first. Eventually, things
became more normalized and we do stay in touch, although they are
all still very much involved in Christianity.
Allah promises to test those who declare their faith in Him with
many types of difficulties and family is one of those mentioned as
a test in the Quran. I do pray for them and ask Allah to guide them
to the very best in this life and the very best in the Next Life.
But it is up to Allah if He wants them to be in Submission to Him
(Islam means, submission to Allah) or not.
4. "How about your congregation?
What did they say?"
Answer: I never had my own
church. I was a music minister in the Church of God (Anderson,
Indiana branch) in Texas and did my preaching to businessmen and
informal gatherings. Those who knew me for the most part did not
object and some even came to Islam, but there were a few who felt
very upset and accused me of "Turing my back on Jesus, peace be
upon him." No matter what I tried to say or do, these particular
individuals would not listen nor did they want to learn anything
about Islam.
5. "Did you experience a lot of
difficulties in changing religions?"
Answer: Certainly anyone
who wants to consider Islam in these times, just as in times gone
by, will have to recognize there will be certain difficulties and
tests along the way. The followers of Jesus, peace be upon him,
were highly criticized and persecuted even until death (read what
Paul said he used to do to them in the Bible; Book of Acts of the
Apostles). Those who followed Muhammad, peace be upon him, suffered
at the hands of their very own tribes, yet they were determined to
continue to worship Almighty God Alone, without partners and submit
to His Will.
The biggest problem with non-Muslims, is their lack of
understanding and lack of knowledge as to what Islam is really all
about and who the Muslims are supposed to be. I pray for them all
and ask Allah to forgive the Muslims for not showing a better
picture to everyone.
6. "Who was responsible for
converting you?"
Answer: As Muslims we
believe that it is only Allah who guides the people and whoever He
guides will not be misguided and whomever He lets go astray none
will be able to guide them. As such, it means we don't believe
anyone really can "convert" someone else.
Also, we accept that all children are born in the natural state of
submission to Almighty God and as such that means they are Muslims.
Should a child die he or she would go to Heaven as they are not
responsible for what they do not understand.
7. "Don't you ever think about
coming back to being a Christian?"
Answer: "Christian"
indicates a follower of Christ. When Jesus, peace be upon him,
returns to earth in the Last Days, all the Muslims will be obliged
to follow him. But we would not call ourselves "Christians" anymore
than he would. He never called himself or his companions
"Christians." The Bible tells us they were never even called
"Christians" until Paul was preaching his message in Antioch.
8. "Doesn't it bother you to
have left the way of peace, justice and love for a religion of
hatred, violence and oppression toward women and
others?"
Answer: All the prophets,
peace be upon them all, called the people to worship Almighty God
as One God and One Lord. As such, those who did not want to submit
to Almighty God would combat them and treat them with hostilities,
even unto death, as Paul had done while still being a Pharisee. The
prophets, peace be upon them all, did encourage their followers to
live in peace and deal with people in justice and certainly love is
the highest form of emotion a human can have for another human
being.
Yet at the same time, believers have to defend themselves, their
families and the religion itself, lest those who are not believers
should remove belief from the very face of the earth. Islam, like
Christianity preaches a message of peace and tolerance - to a
point. But when this is no longer possible without totally
compromising and loosing one's way of life and belief system, then
there is no alternative except to engage in open combat against
those who are combating against the believers.
Jesus called upon his followers to sell their coats and buy swords.
He explained that he did not come with peace, but rather a sword.
He and his companions were engaged in mortal combat with their
enemies, the Pharisees when one of the priests slaves had his ear
cut by the sword. Jesus then told them to put down their swords.
This is mentioned in the Bible.
The word "sword" appears over 200 times in the Bible - but even
though the Arabic language has more than a dozen words for sword,
there is not a single occurrence of any of these words anywhere in
the Quran.
Combat is ordered in the Quran, only under very specific and
limited conditions and it is nothing more than what we would today
call "The War on Terrorism." Fighting against all acts of organized
aggression, oppression, persecution and terrorism is an obligation
on all believers. But it certainly has limits and women, children,
elderly and any innocents are not to killed or injured during such
occasions. Treatment of prisoners is not to be humiliating or
torture of any kind. Even the dead of the enemy are to be buried
with dignity and respect.
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Now since writing my story and publishing here on the internet many
other websites have picked up this story and it had become a famous
example of how "Priest and Preachers Are Coming to Islam."
Again, I thank you for visiting. And I thank our Christian friend
for his email. If he hadn't sent it, I probably would still not
have completed this task of putting down the story once and for all
of how my family, friends and myself all came to Islam.
Please feel free to share this story with others. You should print
it out and make copies for everyone. Give them our links, add our
story to your website or blog page, and send out emails to everyone
you know. Maybe it could make a difference for others like us, God
Willing.
May Allah guide you on your journey to all truth. Ameen. And May He
open your heart and your mind to the reality of this world and the
purpose of this life, ameen.
Peace to you and Guidance from Allah the One Almighty God, Creator
and Sustainer of all that exists.
Your friend,
Yusuf Estes
Chaplain Yusuf Estes