A Christian woman who is hesitant about entering Islam and is looking for advice

Question

Praise be to Allah.

1.

We are happy to learn that
you have been reading about Islam and that you have seen how the Muslims
worship their Lord. We feel confident that this has created in you feelings
of tranquillity and peace that you cannot express, but which are definitely
there, because in fact you have awakened the fitrah (basic human nature)
that Allaah has created in all people, which is to acknowledge the Oneness
of Allaah (Tawheed) and believe in Him alone with no partner or associate.

2.

If you think about the
non-Muslims who have entered this religion, you will realize something
amazing. Not a day goes by when someone does not enter Islam, and each and
every one of them has a story. They have no worldly interests to be served
by entering Islam, rather they all entered Islam out of conviction and with
firm belief that it is the true religion.

3.

Although we would like you
and your family to be guided, we hope that they will not be an obstacle that
prevents you from being guided to this religion. Remember that the Day of
Resurrection will inevitably come, in which every person will say “Myself,
myself.” On that Day a man will flee from his own brother, mother and
father, and each of them will have enough concerns of his own to make him
indifferent to others. So hasten to save yourself first, then pay attention
to your family and strive to guide them. Do not let anyone come between you
and true guidance. On an airplane, in the event of an emergency, they say to
put the oxygen mask on your own face first, then turn to those beside you,
i.e., save yourself, then save those who are next to you, even if it is the
dearest of people to you. In our religion, Allaah says (interpretation of
the meaning): “Ward off yourselves and your families against a Fire
(Hell) whose fuel is men and stones” [al-Tahreem 66:6]. So you have to
look after yourself first; hasten and do not hesitate to join the blessed
caravan led by the Prophets and Messengers, and remember that you will be
following the truth and the straight path that was travelled by that elite
of Allaah’s creation.

4.

According to our religion,
no person’s Islam is complete unless he believes in all the Prophets and
Messengers, and in their Books that Allaah revealed to them, and whoever
attribute shortcomings any one of them is beyond the pale of Islam. Other
religions attribute shortcomings to some of the Prophets and Messengers; all
of their followers do not believe in our Prophet Muhammad (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him). Look at the great difference between our
religion, which enjoins us to believe in that elite of Allaah’s creation and
to venerate and respect them, and others who disbelieve in our Messenger and
others, and who attribute shortcomings to some of the Prophets and
Messengers, and accuse them of things that one would be ashamed to mention.

5.

This religion has been
exposed to a great deal of criticism and misrepresentation in the media –
newspapers, radio and TV – but by the grace of Allaah its followers have
only become more committed and stronger in conviction, because they realize
that the criticism and misrepresentation are based on whims and desires,
ignorance and hatred, and they have no basis in knowledge. Despite all the
hostility and propaganda against Islam, we see thousands entering the
religion of Allaah in crowds, from the countries where the extremists are
leading the campaign of criticism and misrepresentation against Islam.

Look at an example of that.
In America, after the events of September 11th, the number of
those who entered Islam in America reached 25,000, which was the highest
number in its history. This happened despite the accusations and
misrepresentations of Islam that are produced by the government and by many
foundations and organizations.

6.

We would like to reassure
you that you will never find anything in Islam that may cause confusion. The
rulings and laws of Allaah are wise; Allaah has prescribed them to be
suitable for all times and places. On this website we receive many letters
from people who are hesitant to enter Islam because of what they have heard
of accusations and misrepresentations about the rulings of Islam, but we
have answered them and soon truth became clear to them, then those whom
Allaah wanted to guide and save from doom did not hesitate to declare their
Islam and submit to this religion and its rulings.

7.

In this religion there is
that which will make your faith strong and increase it day by day. Faith in
Islam is increased by means of acts of obedience. In Islam there are many
ways to make your faith flourish and continue, if you do these acts of
obedience. Do not let this be a barrier that prevents you from entering
Islam. There are many verses in the Holy Qur’aan and we are certain that
reading every verse will increase your faith, and every rak’ah that you pray
will cause your faith to grow. The same applies to fasting, ‘umrah, Hajj,
charity, helping the needy and other kinds of good deeds.

8.

Hasten to save yourself and
join this caravan; board the ship of salvation, and do not hesitate. Thank
Allaah for giving you the opportunity to read about Islam, and to see
Muslims praying, and for giving you a reliable Islamic website to write to
and ask for advice. These are blessings that others spend a great deal of
time and money trying to achieve a small part of. Do not waste the
opportunity that is within your grasp, and do not give anyone the chance to
distract you from entering this faith.

We ask Allaah to guide you
to that which He loves and which pleases Him. We ask Him to help you to do
that which is good and is in your best spiritual and worldly interests. We
ask Him to hasten your guidance, for He is able to do that.

And Allaah is the Source of
strength.