Converts to Islam

[j miller]

I would like to hear the stories of when and how people converted to Islam as I am a seeker. I have read the websites on conversion, but I would also prefer to hear from people on this forum.

[MontesShadow]

Do you live in the USA?

[leafs43]

Personally I would think it would be much more interesting to try and seek people who converted as a result of:

[Arbex]

in before SYRIANKID

[MontesShadow]

Originally Posted by leafs43

Personally I would think it would be much more interesting to try and seek people who converted as a result of:

OK suppose it is a fairy tale and you don't believe anything or anyone.
Does that make any of its messages less true?

[YUL]

Originally Posted by j miller

I would like to hear the stories of when and how people converted to Islam as I am a seeker. I have read the websites on conversion, but I would also prefer to hear from people on this forum.

are you in prison or just down on your luck? lol

[DCarruso]

This may not be what you asked, but it may be good to kick the tyre and check out the car before you buy it off the dealer's lot. Perhaps it is a good idea to ask those who got one and see how they like their cars?

http://www.ex-muslim.org.uk/indexMembers.html

[Jericho786]

Well I came from being a Christian to an Atheist and finally to a Muslim. I actually just converted a few months ago and announced it here in the ''Ask about Islam thread.'' My story is very long, but its more about my childhood, so I will cut to the chase about how I converted.

Well for me I was adopted to an Muslim family while I was an Atheist. This is the time I never really liked Muslims to be honest because of the obvious terms like terrorism and etc. So your wondering why I would want to be in a Muslim family, simple really as I was desperate to find a family as I was a lonely guy living alone rough and I did'nt care who took me in. I was impressed also with there living conditions so its what I took more in to consideration. But in time I was so impressed with there kindess and generosity, they never forced me to join there religion even though knowing I was a hardcore Atheist, they never told me what to do and just let me live freely how I wanted. Everytime I came from work, they would be praying like 5 times a day and I was obviously curious what they were doing standing up and down and up and down. To me I thought nice workout lol.

I have been with the family for years, not once in that time did they say become Muslim, the only way they did tell me about Islam is if I asked. So i was more and more curious and I started to learn about it. I heard alot of stories about Islam before about there prophet (pbuh) being a child abuser, wife abuser and etc. But infact the more I read, the more I did'nt believe this anymore, so I asked my family to teach and learn me more about Islam and they did. So for about half a year of learning I decided to convert and never looked back really.

[leafs43]

Originally Posted by MontesShadow

OK suppose it is a fairy tale and you don't believe anything or anyone.
Does that make any of its messages less true?

Actually....yes it does. By a lot in fact.

[MontesShadow]

Ok
Just checking

[Abyss]

Here some Islam conversions, alot of them are famous conversions.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_converts_to_Islam

Here some videos.











http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zt5AE...eature=related

[j miller]

Originally Posted by Naseer

Well I came from being a Christian to an Atheist and finally to a Muslim. I actually just converted a few months ago and announced it here in the ''Ask about Islam thread.'' My story is very long, but its more about my childhood, so I will cut to the chase about how I converted.

Well for me I was adopted to an Muslim family while I was an Atheist. This is the time I never really liked Muslims to be honest because of the obvious terms like terrorism and etc. So your wondering why I would want to be in a Muslim family, simple really as I was desperate to find a family as I was a lonely guy living alone rough and I did'nt care who took me in. I was impressed also with there living conditions so its what I took more in to consideration. But in time I was so impressed with there kindess and generosity, they never forced me to join there religion even though knowing I was a hardcore Atheist, they never told me what to do and just let me live freely how I wanted. Everytime I came from work, they would be praying like 5 times a day and I was obviously curious what they were doing standing up and down and up and down. To me I thought nice workout lol.

I have been with the family for years, not once in that time did they say become Muslim, the only way they did tell me about Islam is if I asked. So i was more and more curious and I started to learn about it. I heard alot of stories about Islam before about there prophet (pbuh) being a child abuser, wife abuser and etc. But infact the more I read, the more I did'nt believe this anymore, so I asked my family to teach and learn me more about Islam and they did. So for about half a year of learning I decided to convert and never looked back really.

Thanks for ur heart-felt story.

[MWarsame]

Originally Posted by j miller

I would like to hear the stories of when and how people converted to Islam as I am a seeker. I have read the websites on conversion, but I would also prefer to hear from people on this forum.

Hay brah

Youtube is really a good source to study first person perspective of new converts to Islam. youtube "Islam converts" and you get lots of results.

Also, beware of certain members in here who behave like robots when it comes to discussing Islam or the word Islam is mentioned *cough* ripper6 *cough*






On the other hand, there are many interesting UK TV programs that highlight interesting stories of converts in MINOR places





p.s. Islam is the only abrahamic faith that believe in Moses (PBUH), Jesus (PBUH) and Mohamed (PBUH) and many if not all Christian prophets.

More over, Ask about Islam is a good thread to study Islam.

[MontesShadow]

Originally Posted by leafs43

Actually....yes it does. By a lot in fact.

How does it change?
I assume you are an atheist. As an atheist you feel the need for everything to be prove scientifically so you can accept it. What are scientists? They study and observe and propose theories. When do theories become facts? When a large number of people start accepting them, not necessarily other scientists. Some theories remain theories because they are unaccepted or can't be proven.
To idiotically simplify it, the way most atheists prefer as a mocking, a bunch of scientists agreed that the theory of evolution is correct.
What are imams or other high ranking religious people? They study their own religion and its teachings and so on. Sounds familiar? Their theories are already proposed to them and when a bunch of them gather and accept God, he exists.
How do you know that the Quran/Bible or any other religious book isn't just a psychological test made up by someone for this answer: God exists because people believe he does.
Cocaine, heroin and some other drugs are harmful for you, will you start doing them just because some book told you not to?
What if there was a God and you will go to "hell"?
What if there was no God but people followed a religion? What will they lose? Not drinking and driving possibly killing someone or knocking some girl up? Not doing drugs and becoming addicted?
You deny the message because of the messenger, what kind of logic is that? Atheism is based on logic, or is it when its convenient?

[a_ahmed]

Originally Posted by Naseer

Well I came from being a Christian to an Atheist and finally to a Muslim. I actually just converted a few months ago and announced it here in the ''Ask about Islam thread.'' My story is very long, but its more about my childhood, so I will cut to the chase about how I converted.

Well for me I was adopted to an Muslim family while I was an Atheist. This is the time I never really liked Muslims to be honest because of the obvious terms like terrorism and etc. So your wondering why I would want to be in a Muslim family, simple really as I was desperate to find a family as I was a lonely guy living alone rough and I did'nt care who took me in. I was impressed also with there living conditions so its what I took more in to consideration. But in time I was so impressed with there kindess and generosity, they never forced me to join there religion even though knowing I was a hardcore Atheist, they never told me what to do and just let me live freely how I wanted. Everytime I came from work, they would be praying like 5 times a day and I was obviously curious what they were doing standing up and down and up and down. To me I thought nice workout lol.

I have been with the family for years, not once in that time did they say become Muslim, the only way they did tell me about Islam is if I asked. So i was more and more curious and I started to learn about it. I heard alot of stories about Islam before about there prophet (pbuh) being a child abuser, wife abuser and etc. But infact the more I read, the more I did'nt believe this anymore, so I asked my family to teach and learn me more about Islam and they did. So for about half a year of learning I decided to convert and never looked back really.

Ripper6 or whatever his name read and learn.

I will post my lil story when I get time The best thing that has happened to my life going through war/refugee, travelling alot, moving schools/changing friends, etc... has been finding and accepting Islam and more recently now 3 years being married alhamdulillah

[leafs43]

Originally Posted by MontesShadow

How does it change?
I assume you are an atheist. As an atheist you feel the need for everything to be prove scientifically so you can accept it. What are scientists? They study and observe and propose theories. When do theories become facts? When a large number of people start accepting them, not necessarily other scientists. Some theories remain theories because they are unaccepted or can't be proven.
To idiotically simplify it, the way most atheists prefer as a mocking, a bunch of scientists agreed that the theory of evolution is correct.
What are imams or other high ranking religious people? They study their own religion and its teachings and so on. Sounds familiar? Their theories are already proposed to them and when a bunch of them gather and accept God, he exists.
How do you know that the Quran/Bible or any other religious book isn't just a psychological test made up by someone for this answer: God exists because people believe he does.
Cocaine, heroin and some other drugs are harmful for you, will you start doing them just because some book told you not to?
What if there was a God and you will go to "hell"?
What if there was no God but people followed a religion? What will they lose? Not drinking and driving possibly killing someone or knocking some girl up? Not doing drugs and becoming addicted?
You deny the message because of the messenger, what kind of logic is that? Atheism is based on logic, or is it when its convenient?

This is a bunch of nonsensical gibberish.

[psamty]

Originally Posted by MWarsame

p.s. Islam is the only abrahamic faith that believe in Moses (PBUH), Jesus (PBUH) and Mohamed (PBUH) and many if not all Christian prophets.

Incorrect. Bahai also believe in Moses, Jesus, Mohammad, etc as Prophets. However, Bahai are under constant persecution from Muslim governments, including Iraq (pre-United States intervention) and Iran.

The relationship of Bahai to Islam is exactly the same as the relation of Islam to Christianity.

Just as Muslims believe that the Prophet Mohammad came after Jesus with a complete set of laws (which are significantly different); so also those belonging to the Bahai faith believe that Bahaullah came after Mohammad and gave updated guidelines on how to live life.

Unfortunately Muslim governments such as Iran, while sensitive to the needs of their own religious community (Islam), are extremely insensitive to the needs of the Bahai, and the Bahai have been persecuted and oppressed for more than a century.

[BahadurShah]

Originally Posted by psamty

Incorrect. Bahai also believe in Moses, Jesus, Mohammad, etc as Prophets. However, Bahai are under constant persecution from Muslim governments.

So do Ahmadis. But like Ahmadis, there are very few Bahais in the world (~5 million at most). It's not considered a major world religion, so it's usually left out of these discussions.

[psamty]

Originally Posted by BahadurShah

So do Ahmadis. But like Ahmadis, there are very few Bahais in the world (~5 million at most). It's not considered a major world religion, so it's usually left out of these discussions.

Bahai has not become major because it has been actively silenced and persecuted by various Muslim governments.

[ripper6]

Originally Posted by a_ahmed

Ripper6 or whatever his name read and learn.

I will post my lil story when I get time The best thing that has happened to my life going through war/refugee, travelling alot, moving schools/changing friends, etc... has been finding and accepting Islam and more recently now 3 years being married alhamdulillah

I have read it. I read it before when he posted it elsewhere before.

There is an old Chinese saying: "When you want to know what is up ahead at the end of the road, ask the people comimg back from that direction."

If you want to know why people convert to Islam, you should also ask about those who converted from Islam.

You should also ask about those who converted to Islam and then left it. In the US 30%-50% of those who convert to Islam have left it within 3-5 years. (There are many more who just stop practicing without officially leaving.)

You can check out these websites created by ex-muslims for more information and more testimonies on converts from Islam:

www.wikiislam.com
www.faithfreedom.org
www.apostatesofislam.com
www.islam-watch.com
http://www.ex-muslim.org.uk/



Also, there are some good books to read:

Have you read these?

http://www.amazon.com/Jesus-Muhammad.../dp/1591852919
Jesus and Muhammad: Profound Differences and Surprising Similarities

Review: "Dr. Mark Gabriel will take you on a journey of discovering Jesus and Muhammad in a way that few others can-as an insider, a believer, and a scholar of both faiths.
Born in Egypt, he grew up as a devout Muslim. He memorized the Quran, earned a Ph.D. in Islamic studies at Al Azhar University, and faithfully followed the laws of Islam. Yet the more he learned, the more disillusioned he became. He abandoned Islam at the age of 34.

After a year of searching for God, he opened a Bible for the first time one night. As he read the life of Jesus from the book of Matthew, he mind automatically compared it to the life of Muhammad. When morning came, he chose to follow Jesus. With the same zeal that he used to follow Muhammad, he has followed Jesus for the past 12 years, earning a Ph.D. in Christian education.

His perspectives on Jesus and Muhammad will give you new insight into these men. You will walk through their lives, discovering amazing similarities between their childhoods, their public ministry, and their teachings. At the same time, deep differences become obvious-in their attitudes toward people, their missions, and their views of God."

http://www.amazon.com/Why-I-Am-Not-Muslim/dp/0879759844


http://www.amazon.com/Leaving-Islam-...ref=pd_sim_b_3



http://www.amazon.com/Infidel-Ayaan-...ref=pd_sim_b_3

[Mad Mullah]

there are tons of videos on youtube of recent converts.













[youtube]kQqdAV5vs60/youtube]


little long



heres a youtube account with 131 conversoin stories

[ripper6]

I was very happy to hear Barak HUSSEIN Obama state emphatically, to the whole Muslim world, in his speech to the Muslim world that he was a baptized CHRISTIAN.

His father was muslim. He was brought up as a child in a muslim country (Indonesia) he was regitered in a muslim school as a muslim. He was also registered for a time in a Catholic school as a MUSLIM.

As an adult he left Islam, was baptized into a christian church, married to a christian woman in a christian church, and had his two children baptized in a christian church.

It is a shame Obama doesn't tell us more about why he left/rejected Islam and chose Christianity. But, none-the-less, he stands as an example to the world and to the billion+ muslims that you CAN leave Islam. You can be like Obama and CHANGE.

[Mad Mullah]

Also ignore whatever psamty says. imo he is almost on par with riptor sometimes in his posts about Islam.

[psamty]

Originally Posted by Mad Mullah

Also ignore whatever psamty says. imo he is almost on par with riptor sometimes in his posts about Islam.

What exactly have I said that is untrue? Bahai have been persecuted in Iran, everyone knows it.

And if you look at Bahai, they basically believe in all the Prophets including Mohammad. Muslims always say that they share a common history with Jews and Christians and therefore deserve respect and rights. But when Bahai do EXACTLY THE SAME THING, THOSE VERY SAME RIGHTS ARE DENIED TO THEM. You cannot oppress on one hand and then complain about it on the other. The Iranian government, and other Muslim governments oppressing Bahais have no moral platform on which to complain about Palestine.

[zodiac666]

Originally Posted by Mad Mullah

Also ignore whatever psamty says. imo he is almost on par with riptor sometimes in his posts about Islam.

What did he say that was inaccurate?

[BahadurShah]

Originally Posted by ripper6

You should also ask about those who converted to Islam and then left it. In the US 30%-50% of those who convert to Islam have left it within 3-5 years. (There are many more who just stop practicing without officially leaving.)

We don't have to get into how many people have left Christianity or become non-practicing Christians in North America in the past 50 years. But cite a source for that statistic, please.

[MontesShadow]

Originally Posted by leafs43

This is a bunch of nonsensical gibberish.

Correct, just like all religions, atheism and any other belief.
What is it but big words lumped together?

[ripper6]

Some videos by an ex-muslim:

[jimbob007]

Muslim convert.

From this



To this

[ripper6]

Originally Posted by BahadurShah

But cite a source for that statistic, please.

The links to the ex-muslim sites in the post above.

Also, most telling is the anecdotal and personal evidence. I have met and known many "muslims" personally. I know many "muslims" who are active in anti-islam organizations. They are much like "jews" I know who are atheists. They identify themselves with their family background but don't believe in the religion.

Also, in my city, after 9/11 a survey was done of the mosques. There were about ten mosques in the area. They ranged from 6 members to 300 members showing up for Friday prayers. The estimated number of "muslims" in the city was 100,000 based on family names and the countries the immigrated from.

Many muslims explicitly leave Islam, many many many leave it with out explicitly saying so. To have only 300 show up at the largest mosque out of 100,000 says a lot about muslim retention rates and conversions in the US.