Why Did They Become Muslims

subconscious. Rodwell had purposely mistranslated some parts of
the Qur’ân al-kerîm and distorted its meanings, thus turning the
holy book into a mass of unintelligible words altogether different
from the original version. It was not till after having contacted the
‘Islamic Society’ in London and having read a true translation of
the Qur’ân al-kerîm did I know the truth. One thing I would regret
to say at this point is that Muslims are doing very little to advertise
this lovely religion of theirs to the world. If they try to spread the
true essence of Islam over the entire world with due attention and
knowledge, I am sure that they will achieve very positive results. In
the near east people are still reserved towards foreigners. Instead
of coming into contact with them and illuminating them, they
prefer to keep as far away as possible from them. This is an
exceedingly wrong attitude. I am the most concrete example. For
I was somehow hindered from being interested in the Islamic
religion. Fortunately, one day I met a very respectable and highly
cultured Muslim. He was very friendly with me. He listened to me
with attention. He presented me an English version of the Qur’ân
al-kerîm translated by a Muslim. He gave beautiful and logical
answers to all my questions. In 1945 he took me to a mosque. With
intent attention and deep respect, I watched the Muslims praying
there, which was a sight I was watching for the first time in my life.
O my Allah, what a gorgeous and sublime sight it was! People
from all races, all nations and all classes were worshipping. All
those people had come together without any sort of segregation in
the presence of Allâhu ta’âlâ, and they had entirely devoted
themselves to Allâhu ta’âlâ. Next to a rich Turk, for instance,
stood a very poor Indian clad in beggar-like clothes, next was an
Arab who I would say was a merchant, and besides him prayed a
negro. All these people were performing a prayer in profound
reverence. No one was different from any other. Entirely oblivious
to their nationalities and economical, social and official statuses,
they had focused all their existence to the worship of Allâhu ta’âlâ.
No one assumed superiority to another. The rich did not despise
the poor, nor did persons of rank have an iota of scorn for their
juniors.
Seeing all these marvels, I realized that Islam was the religion
that I had been seeking for. None of the other religions that I had
examined up to that time had had an effect like that on me. In fact,
after seeing Islam closely and learning the essence of Islam, I
accepted that true religion without any hesitation.
Now I am proud of being a Muslim. I attended lectures on
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