Why Did They Become Muslims

eyond his mental grasp? Gradually, I began to sense that there
was something wrong, that Christianity was not a true religion,
and to feel a bitter resentment against it. Any mention of other
religions, such as Islam, would be enough to exasperate the
priests; they would shout themselves hoarse, saying, “Muhammad
is —may Allâhu ta’âlâ protect us from saying— a liar. Islam is a
concoction.” When I asked why that religion was a mendacious
one, they would falter, fumbling for an answer. This detestable
state they caused themselves into motivated me to examine the
Islamic religion more closely. I made contact with Muslims living
in Malaya, and requested them to enlighten me about their
religion. These people were quite dissimilar to the priests. They
gave me very beautiful information about Islam. Let me add that
in the beginning I had heated discussions with them. Yet, so
convincing were their answers to my questions, and so infinite
was the patience and the firmness they showed to me, that I began
to feel as if a curtain was being raised from before my eyes, and a
great feeling of peace and satisfaction began to stir in me. In
contrast with Christianity fraught with superstitions, everything in
this new religion was rational, logical and reasonable. Muslims
believed in one Creator. That great Creator did not say that
mankind was sinful, but, on the contrary, He bestowed plenty of
blessings on human beings. Among His commandments, there
was not a single dot that I would not understand. Muslims’ acts of
worship were intended only to pay hamd (thanks and praise) to
Allâhu ta’âlâ. They did not worship a number of images or
shapes. Deep in my soul I felt the flavour of each and every âyat
(verse) of the Qur’ân al-kerîm, their holy book. One did not have
to go to a temple for worship. A person could do his acts of
worship in his home as well as in any other place. All these things
were so lovely, so true, and so humanistic that I accepted the fact
that Islam is the true religion of Allah, and I embraced Islam
willingly.
39
ISMÂ’ÎL WIESLEW ZEJILERSKY
(Polish)
I was born in the Krokov city of Poland in 1900. I am from a
famous family recorded in Polish history. My father was a
compulsive atheist. Yet he allowed his children to be given
Catholic education. There were many Catholics in Poland. Being
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