Page 12 The Islamic Bulletin Volume XXV No. 29 22. PRAYER IS A MUST: Whatever situation comes and wherever we were with our Muslim friends, they never missed their prayers. While playing cricket, they used to stop for prayer and while going to shopping centers, they would often leave us and go to pray. I became curious and started praying with them until I became Muslim. -ABDUL LATEEF, INDIA 23. MASJID HAS NO IMAGE: Along with 20 other non-Muslims like myself, we were taken on a tour of a masjid in Abu Dhabi. It was a very spiritual journey. On the tour of the masjid, they explained to us that Muslims do not worship any idols and that they don’t keep any images inside the masjid. A woman explained very nicely to us about the principles of Islam. I loved it so much that I embraced Islam. – MARYAM, ROMANIA 24. THE FAST BREAKING: Muslims break their fast during the month of Ramadan in a beautiful manner. Sitting together and breaking the fast together on the hearing of Adhan is one of the best ways of showing brotherhood. My Muslim colleagues used to call me for Iftar while they were all together breaking their fast in our office. -BILAL, CHILE 25. MUSLIMS CELEBRATED EID: As I used to call my Muslim friends for birthday parties and Dewali celebrations, my Muslim friends used to call me for Eid celebrations at their home. During Eid they had no dancing or singing. Rather, they would go to pray, hug each other, visit relatives, help the needy and enjoy gracefully every moment of Eid. -SAJIDA, INDIA 26. GIVING CHARITY IN EID: Celebrating Eid means not only eating sweets, it was much more than that for Muslims. Giving charity is one of the best parts of Eid. Giving money, giving food, giving clothes and visiting poor relatives and making them smile; Eid is all about celebration but for a good cause. -ASMA, NEPAL 27. UNITY OF MUSLIMS IN HAJJ: The unity of Muslims everywhere and especially during the Hajj is really amazing. Whether king or layman, black or white, rich or poor, everyone wears unstitched, white clothes to show simplicity and fraternity among themselves. I went through many books while learning about Islam before finally converting. –MARIA, UK 28. BE GOOD TO NON-MUSLIM PARENTS: I was interested in Islam but not willing to accept because of my parents as I love them, take care of them and was the only bread-winner for them. Once, while reading about Islam, I learned that Islam orders us to be kind and helpful to our parents, even if they are Non-Muslims. After knowing that, I accepted Islam. – MARYAM, PHILIPPINES 29. BROTHERHOOD IN ISLAM: I am really surprised by seeing the brotherhood system that Muslims have. They consider other Muslims as their brothers and sometime more than that. They care for each other and demonstrate brotherhood in every aspect of life. –WANG, CHINA 31. PROHIBITION OF PORK: I know that eating pork in Christianity is also not allowed, but most of us consume it. Once I came to know that Islam has prohibited eating pork, I started reading about Islam which led me to accept it. – OSCAR, PHILIPPINES 32. TO HAVE A NEW LIFE: I was looking for a life in which I could have inner peace and learn good manners. A life without harming anyone, a life satisfied with what we have, a life totally devoted to almighty God. I found all these qualities in Islam and after accepting Islam I had a new life. –AMEEN, CONGO 33. ISLAMIC PROHIBITIONS: At the beginning I was concerned with so many do’s and don’ts in Islam. Don’t do this, don’t do that etc. But after getting to know many Muslims, I realized that these thing help a person to lead good life. I realized that keeping oneself away from prohibitions make the person socially and morally stronger. – ZULIKHA, PHILIPPINES 34. DRINKING IS PROHIBITED IN ISLAM: I was born into a Christian family and witnessed how my father would drink wine every day before going to sleep. Sadly, he drinks a lot and behaves differently towards the whole family, shouting and fighting for small things were common at our home. This led me to spend most of my time with a Muslim family, where I had complete calmness and a beautiful atmosphere. It was that duration that I studied Islam and accepted it. – ABDULLAH, INDIA 35. CASTE SYSTEM IN MY RELIGION: There is no caste system in Islam; everyone is equal. We used to suffer from this caste system in our country. Upper caste people were abusing us all the time. We were not allowed to have any relationship with them. We were not even allowed to enter the temple on particular days since the upper caste people would be worshiping on those days. Muslims do not have such a system and they all perform their prayers together. ABDUL JABBAR, INDIA 36. CONCEPT OF LIFE AFTER DEATH: Islamic concept of life after death is very practical and logical when compared to our concept of rebirth and reincarnation of souls. The Islamic view of being answerable to our faith and deeds after we die makes us responsible in this world and mindful of God . –NOOR, INDIA 38. TO SAVE MYSELF FROM THE HELL FIRE: I read about Islam and read the verse in the Holy Quran which states, “They do blaspheme who say: “(Allah) is Christ, the son of Mary.” But said Christ: “O children of Israel! Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord.” Indeed, whoever joins others with Allah, Allah will forbid him the garden of paradise, and the Fire will be his abode. And there are not for the wrongdoers any helpers. – MONA, BRAZIL 39. EVERYTHING IS BEAUTIFUL IN ISLAM: I embraced Islam because I believe that there is no God but Allah and that Mohammad is the Messenger. When I was Christian I always felt incomplete and felt like something was missing. I never believed in the trinity because it made no sense. So I started to look at other religions. Islam captured my heart; I found all the answers I was looking for about this life and the hereafter. Everything is beautiful in Islam. –ABDUL RAHMAN, CAMEROON
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