Why Did They Become Muslims

On my way back home, I looked for a convenient place to have
some coffee. As I walked down the street I had only the Qur’ân
al-kerîm, Islam, and Allâhu ta’âlâ in my mind. I was quite
unaware of where I was going. All of a sudden my legs stopped on
their own. When I raised my head I found myself in front of an
entrance built with red bricks. My legs had brought me here on
their own. I read the sign hanging on the wall. It was a mosque in
Australia.
I said to myself: “Allâhu ta’âlâ has blessed you with the right
way and taught you what you should do. You know Islam now.
Allâhu ta’âlâ has brought you up to the entrance of the mosque.
Go inside right away and embrace this religion.” I walked in, and
became a Muslim.
Until that time I had not known one single Muslim. I found
Islam by myself and accepted it by myself. No one guided me in
this respect. My only guide was my common sense.
24
ABDULLAH BATTERSBY
(G.B.)
Approximately twenty-five years ago, during my stay in
Burma [1] , I took boat trips along the river on a Chinese boat daily
for recreation. The oarsman who rowed my boat was a Muslim
named Shaikh Alî from East Pakistan. He would spare no effort in
carrying out all the religious practices commanded by Islam. His
fastidiously diligent punctuality in his religious practices made me
admire that man, while in the meantime I began to develop some
curiosity about Islam. I decided to find out what was in Islam that
kept such a simpleton continuously under the effect of a firm belief
and staunch feelings of obedience. Most of the people around us
were Burmese Buddhists. They, too, were extremely devoted to
their religion. I think the Burmese people are the most pious
people of the world. However, the Buddhist system of worships
had some conspicuous shortcomings. The Buddists would
assemble in their temples called pagoda and repeat the following
prayer:
“Buddha-karana-Ghachkami-Dama-karana-Ghachkamisanga-karana-Ghachkami.”
[1] Myanmar since 1989.
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