Muslims was required as the nature of my questions would most likely, in my experience of speaking to religious individuals, have been met with unscientific and typical religious answers by others. Such answers are common from anyone of any religion who is a blind follower and not greatly educated in the sciences, nor even in the critiquing of their own religion.
After hearing the Muslims’ answers and researching the same, I admit I was quite surprised when I began to understand the core issues of my and most non-Muslim’s arguments against Islam. This includes the treatment of women and non-Muslims, men’s right to polygamy, and many others.
While the answers to those arguments are outside the scope of this work, I can say that they were all illuminating and logical as they separated the truth from the rumors.
I then understood that the issue with the arguments of non-Muslims against Muslims, such as those noted above, is they are based on questionable practices which typically are cultural. Many are indeed grossly misinterpreted from the Quran and are indeed evil.
I then saw the difference between such evil and true Islam, i.e. Islam which is defined in the Quran when it is correctly interpreted within the context of where it occurs in the Quran and within the era in which it was revealed, or written. who am I to say I know the ultimate truth? While there were indeed a plethora of questions I possessed and also frustrations with some of the answers received, I ultimately came to see the truth of 12
Bakhabar : October 2015
the answers, the truth of Islam. I finally came to the acceptance of the truth within the Quran, within Islam, by taking my shahadah this last Eid. I can now say that the truth I found in Islam is my belief. Yet, who am I to say I know the ultimate truth? Those grounded in science and those genuine seekers of truth must always be open to the possibility that their truth is not the final truth, that there is a deeper, more profound truth that leads further. Even for believers there is no fear behind this statement because they possess no fear of anything nor anyone that can surface and threaten the truth. As a matter of fact, true believers prepare to be tested by Allah on their belief.
The forewarning of such tests is announced to them in the Quran: {Do the people think that they will be left to say, ‘We believe’ and they will not be tried? But We have certainly tried those before them, and Allah will surely make evident those who are truthful, and He will surely make evident the liars.} (Al-Ankabut 29:23)
I pray I will be allowed to continue to discover this truth for myself, and even for my fellow Brothers and Sisters in Islam.
I also pray to bring these discoveries to the global ummah and the general public via articles, interviews and social events conducted in solitaire and in collaboration with others, Muslim and non-Muslim seekers of truth.
For I am merely a seeker of truth who has set and continues to walk this journey with closed eyes, discovering and following truth. This is my road of conversion and I am a former enemy of Islam.