Jonathan Abdilla, Ex-Christian, Canada
- Categories: Da'wah to Non-Muslims -
I feel honored to be a Muslim...
And I feel that way for many reasons. There are many norms in the
society I live that are opposite to what it is to be Muslim. And
when I first came to this way of life, I didn't know how well I
would fair with it. To become Muslim was essentially to join a
visible minority, and that's not something I would ordinarily be so
keen to do. However, after learning the unadulterated teachings of
Islam, I found myself compelled to embrace Islam as an absolute
truth.
Having spent a large portion of my short life not being Muslim, I
know the darkness that God speaks of in the Quran. I remember what
it was like when Allah opened my eyes and shined light where the
darkness had once been. In the beginning of my life, I had no
definite form of absolute guidance.
The simplest aspects of creation would boggle my mind. I was
totally oblivious to the miracles God put in nature. One time in
particular I recall learning about evaporation in science class. I
was unable to comprehend it. Not the how, but the why it to
happened.
I understood the idea of the water cycle and its importance for
life, but what would tell the water to essentially disappear and
float back up to the sky?
When posing this question to my mind, without consciously knowing
of God, my mind ran into a mental block where I could not come up
with the answer. Boggled by the thought, I merely shrugged my
shoulders and threw it to the back of my mind.
When looking at the human body, and how it's made largely of water,
or looking at the universe and trying to comprehend what was beyond
it. I would be faced with the mental barricade of not being able to
comprehend the reason for its creation.
Time and time again scientist could explain the how, but never the
why. They could explain purpose within the mechanics of creation,
but they could never explain the purpose for the mechanics itself.
What caused the mechanics? What caused nature to have laws?
Having been brought up in a Christian family, not particularly
practicing. I had a general understanding of the principles of
Christianity. The reason why I never turned to it for guidance was
because it had never made sense to me. When I heard the word "God"
as a child, I recall remembering an absolute, single, omnipotent
being somewhere out there.
My problem with Christianity was the dogma, and more specifically
the beliefs about God. That is a "Triune" God that is essentially
three different individuals that all unite to take on the role of
the "One" God. I know that is not how the Doctrine of Trinity is
official promoted, and any Bible thumpin Christian would probably
accuse me of not understanding the Doctrine, but that's the reality
that I saw in it
Besides the inherent problems contained within the Doctrine of
Trinity, I used to look at the fact that the Christians worship
Jesus, and I would say, "If they worship Jesus, where does God come
in?" Especially since Jesus is narrated as having said in the Bible
that the Father who is in the Heavens is Greater.
Around that time, I unofficially rejected Christianity. I became a
Christian / Atheist / Agnostic. I began to live life trying to come
to terms with my surroundings and myself. Not knowing of a greater
purpose, I saw no problem in taking part in destructive activities
of any kind; on condition I would receive some sort of satisfaction
from it.
I had little or no disregard for my own body, or anybody else's for
that matter. I began to turn to the common reality escape, namely
drugs and alcohol. At first using them as a social tool, and
eventually using them habitually as a sedative. If people ever told
me I should calm down, I would tell them I could stop if I had a
reason, but I had no reason. And I lead my life like that for some
years, eventually going deeper into it, experimenting with other
types of drugs and at one point I even began selling them.
But eventually I started to feel a consciousness within me looking
for some sort of consoling. Although I was lost and in the dark,
since I never saw the light, I didn't know the difference between
the two. I began to think of "the bigger picture."
I began to think about death. I tried to comprehend the concept of
nothingness, and as many times before in my life, when trying to
contemplate the purpose, my mind drew blanks. Until one night,
while I was deep in thought and laying on my bed, for reasons not
knowing why until this day, I turned my face to the sky, and I said
"God, if your real, and you exist, please help me!"
I went to sleep that night never really thinking twice about it.
Then on 9/11 I watched the uncanny events unfold. I was confused
about the whole situation, why it happened, what exactly happened,
and how they knew who did it almost immediately. For the first time
there was meaning being applied to foreign terms that I had heard,
but never new anything about, namely Islam.
I used to literally think that Islam was an Island somewhere in the
Middle East (which surprisingly is still a common misconception
amongst a large portion of the population today, thinking Islam is
a country). I knew of the Muslim religion, but I looked at Muslims
like Buddhist, with strange rituals. I used to think they
worshipped idols. But that night when I went out with my friends,
Islam had become a hot topic.
Some of my friends started to bash Islam, saying that it was a
stupid Religion. While for the first time, some of my friends I
happened to be Muslim began to defend the religion. And now, a
different meaning had been applied to the terms I had heard earlier
in the day. Being curious about the whole topic, and its impending
impact on the near future, I began to investigate. And what I found
surprised me.
I found out that the Muslims worshipped God. Furthermore I found
out that the Muslims believed in Jesus as being a Muslim (one who
submits to God), who was a Prophet and Messenger of God, that God
saved him from the Crucifixion, and that he was no part divine or
any part of God, and that God alone should be worshipped.
Those pieces of information struck a chord with me. Because I
remembered believing in God as One Absolute being when I was
younger, and likewise, I remember rejecting Christianity based upon
it's worship to Jesus devoid of God who was Greater.
Thus I began an inquest into Islam and Christianity. I became
interested in the Subject of Religion and began reading constantly.
I would consult my grandmother (May Allah have Mercy on her) on
issues regarding Christianity, and would consult my friend on
Islam. I would bring the arguments back and forth to one another to
see whose arguments would stand up.
Eventually after reading through the Quran and the Bible, observing
God's Miracles in nature and undergoing a thorough soul searching
experience. I said to myself about Islam, "it sounds so true, but
can it be real?" And right in that instance, I remembered my
previous prayer when I said, "God, if your real, and you exist,
please help me!" I was covered in goose bumps. I realized that this
was the answer, but I still wasn't sure if I wanted to become
Muslim. I didn't know how well I would fit in with the Muslims from
an ethnic standpoint.
I continued reading and was really looking for something to give me
a conformation about my decision. Then one day while reading the
Bible, I came across verse 26:39 in the Gospel of Matthew. The
verse reads:
Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and
prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from
me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."
For me, this verse confirmed three things that I had learnt from an
Islamic view of Jesus. That he was Muslim, as he prayed as a Muslim
by falling to his face in prayer. That he didn't want to die,
because he prayed for the cup of death to be removed from him. And
that he was not God, because he himself prayed to God for
help.
This was the conformation that I needed that really solidified my
decision to embrace Islam. And I couldn't accept the Message,
without accepting the Messenger. So on December 28th, 2001 by the
Mercy of Allah, I took the declaration of faith (To say I bear
witness none has the right to be worshipped except Allah, and that
Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah), and embraced Islam. And since
that time, by Allah's Grace, I have achieved things, and been
places, and have done things that I never would have imagined
possible.
After tasting faith, I know the fruits it bears, and I pray that
Allah allows me to do more good, and allows me to live the
remainder of my life on His path. All praises are for Allah, and
peace and blessing be upon His messenger, Muhammad. Ameen.
By Jonathan Abdilla
IslamReligion.com