Why Did They Become Muslims

in their society. If someone should bring up this subject in a social
gathering, the others will protest with a mute frown. In the
meantime, I was sent on an official mission to Australia. Despite
the ‘hatred towards Islam’ which had been engraved on my
subconscious in the name of education, one day I somehow
succumbed to my curiosity and got a translation of the Qur’ân alkerîm.
Yet, I had hardly finished the introduction of the book,
when I immediately closed the book. For the translator of the
book used such an abusive and defamatory language about the
Qur’ân al-kerîm right in the introduction that it meant there was
no sense in reading a book of that sort. Afterwards, I pondered on
the matter. Since Christians hated Muslims and the translator was
a Christian, it was very well possible that he could have
misunderstood some of its parts under the influence of his
predisposition and made that blasphemous translation. And there
was my curiosity. I took the matter more seriously, and when I
went to the city of Perth in western Australia a couple of weeks
later, I visited the grand library of the city and queried whether
there was a translation of the Qur’ân al-kerîm rendered by
Muslims. They found a translation of that sort and gave it to me.
No words could define the emotions that began to stir in the
depths of my soul when I opened it and read the first chapter in it,
the chapter (sûra) called Fâtiha-i-sherîfa, which began with the
phrase, “Hamd (thanks and praise) be to the Rabb (Lord, Creator,
Allah) of âlams (classes of beings).” The first chapter ended with
the invocations that purported, “Guide us to the right path.” How
beautiful it was! I read the Fâtiha-i-sherîfa a number of times. The
creator mentioned here was “Rahmân and Rahîm,” which meant
“Very Merciful and Compassionate.” Contrary to the Christian
dogma, He had not created men sinful. I began to read the Qur’ân
al-kerîm, and the more I read the more ecstatic did I become.
Whatsoever I had desired and imagined I found in this holy book.
Hours elapsed, and I was completely oblivious of where I was, of
the time, and of everything. In addition to that translation of the
Qur’ân al-kerîm, they had brought me some books about the life
of Muhammad ‘sall-Allâhu ta’âlâ ’alaihi wa sallam’. I was reading
them in utter rapture, when at last the librarian came to me and
said, “It’s time we closed the library, sir.” I came back to myself,
and left the library. On my way home I was soliloquizing and
repeating: “I have now attained my goal. I am a Muslim now.”
With the guidance of Allâhu ta’âlâ, I had eventually attained the
hidâya (the right way).
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