westerners converting to islam

It seems that the two opposites are the most common methods for reciting the shahadah. [2] You yourself are a convert so you came to Islam, so if you were to respond to this very simple question: Why is this move towards Islam so frequent in our societies in the West? Performing belief and reviving Islam: Prominent (white male) converts That is something the natural man likes to hear. This survey will take less than 3 minutes (Really! Copyright 20102023, Academic Journalism Society. Innocent lives lost as a result mean that its not just enough to understand the hatred or to know the statistics. Boyfriend/girlfriend relationships account for 8 of the 13, leaving only 5 who learned it from a spouse after marriage. Your white neighbor could be a Muslim. If Westerners continue to study and convert to Islam in their current number, it is likely to bypass Christianity as the world's leading religion before the end of the 21st century. Groups like the so-called Islamic State claim responsibility, and onlookers become ever more fearful of the other. In the Wests climate of Islamophobia, this other, more often than not, takes the form of a usually non-white immigrant Muslim who has an apparent deep hatred for Western society and its culture. . The best among Muslims is the most righteous. We should be ready to proclaim the clear superiority of our culture to one that justifies killing people in the name of God.. Boyfriends/girlfriends/fiances were witnesses to 5.7% (4 people), and 10% (7 people) were with spouses or other family members. The core teachings of Islam revolve around love and respect for all of humanity, and many converts to the faith find this message to be a refreshing and empowering alternative to the often divisive and confrontational nature of modern Western society. With the rise of the internet and social media, more and more people are able to learn about Islam and its teachings. The best way to learn is to be lead by example! Simply witnessing a Muslim doing something, was the trigger for 24.2% (17 people) to become curious about Islam. It is important to first understand that the Muslim population is extremelydiverseand spreads across the globe. This leads them to research further about Islam, and eventually convert. List of converts to Islam Converts to Islam Total population According to The Jerusalem Post, in the United Kingdom and France, up to 100,000 people converted in the last decade in each country. Seeing Muslims at Hajj on the news and a tour guide in Egypt stopping the tour to pray in random places, were examples that caught their attention. Historically the West has always been firmly opposed to Islam. However, Islam was actually the first religion to explicitly give women their own rights. Islam is raised on five (pillars), testifying that there is no god but Allah, that Muhammad is His messenger, the establishment of prayer, payment of Zakat (charity), Performing Hajj and the fast of Ramadan., It providesdirection and discipline, which is another core reason why many convert. The increasing cultural and global political power of the West rendered obsolete the traditional fear of being overwhelmed by Islam. This consequently has to lead a lot of people to further research the ideologies and concepts of Islam, to find out if it really is a religion of war, oppression or terrorism. It is a battle within theologies between a God who is thought to be knowable through nature, man and history and a God who is thought to be only knowable through the revelations contained in the inerrant pages of the Torah, the New Testament or the Quran. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. That said, the question of whether Islam is essentially violent is not one that any longer makes much sense (if it ever did). Do you not know that (embracing) Islam wipes out all that has gone before it (previous misdeeds).. I read and clipped the article at the time, but when I recently pulled it out to re-read it, it struck me that those "reasons" merely parrot the arguments Muslim apologists use to propagate Islam. Why do MORE Western women Convert to Islam - YouTube How Hajj allows people of all backgrounds to reflect on shared values of faith, compassion and humility, Israelis must recognize Palestinian citizens as true equals, Hajj 1444 reaches climax as pilgrims ascend Mount Arafat. Batool al-Toma: Indeed, very much so. Through Islam, hope is restored for an orderly life, with guidelines that ensure discipline is maintained, both for oneself and in broader society. In the U.S. alone the number of Muslims has risen dramatically, from about 10,000 in 1900 to 3 million or more in 1991 (some authorities say 4.5 million). I hope that this initiative the sharing of Western Muslim convert stories throughout Ramadan can begin to change the conversation.. So, what is it that attracts people from Western cultures to Islam? He read the Quran, he got the Quran from his brother, he read the Quran. One of the ways I believe we can begin to turn the tide is to start by educating people about the diversity within Islam. Quora - A place to share knowledge and better understand the world She had never heard of a man refusing sex before and it caused her to have respect for him because she saw that he had respect for his religion. Some of the many rights are as follows: In summary, Islam does not differentiate between the treatment of men and women. Another man claimed that when he realised that Muslims greet each other by saying Peace be Upon you, Islam could not be a religion of terrorism. This article argues that by successfully performing their belief and ostensibly embodying its effects, western converts to Islam (especially prominent white converts in Reviving the Islamic. . The final reason why people convert, is due to meeting other Muslims. Further, it is required to pray 5 times a day, give charity, fast in Ramadan and perform Hajj (at least once a lifetime). 2023The Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc., A nonprofit 501 (c)(3) Charitable Organization. Both are created equal and both will be judged purely based on their actions. You have been involved in dealing with converted people coming to Islam for the last 15 years. In fact, in my journeys across much of the Western world, I have found that Western Muslim converts present a unique perspective in the quest to understand Islams complex identity. In the aftermath of the horrific murder of 50 Muslims in Christchurch by an Australian right wing nationalist, the conservative Australian politician Fraser Anning declared (straight out of the Wests medieval playbook), The entire religion of Islam is simply the violent ideology of a sixth century despot masquerading as a religious leader, which justifies endless war against anyone who opposes it and calls for the murder of unbelievers and apostates. Any violence against Muslims, he suggested, was therefore their own fault. Less than a week after the attack on the Twin Towers in New York on 11 September 2001, US President George W. Bush gave a remarkable speech about Americas Muslim Brothers and sisters. They were unable to unhitch themselves from what they are reading and eventually they become Muslims. Former pop star Cat Stevens gave up a highly successful career in music and converted to Islam. I'm a feminist and I converted to Islam - Breaking News, Latest News It has been estimated that within the second half of this century (around the year of 2050). Like Christianity in Europe in the 17th century, Islam in the 21st is as much at war with itself (especially in the conflict between Sunnis and Shiites) as it is at war with the West. In sociological terms I think that one of the reasons that many African-Americans go to Islam as opposed to Christianity--and many of us have been raised Christian--is that the people doing these things to us are also Christian." It tells people they do not need salvation; all they need is to follow the "guidance" of God's law, and they will make it to heaven. This was, of course, part of an argument about the relative truth of Christianity and Islam. Chair of Islamic Studies at American University, Islam is not a religion, its an ideology, the ideology of a retarded culture. Islam is like a malignant cancer. I think Islam hates us.. In 2016 alone, the U.S. saw at least 385 instances of documented Islamophobia, many in the form of hate crimes and slandering. Ten people out of the 24% who simply witnessed a Muslim doing something said they witnessed a prayer. They are accepting the predetermined rules in relation to belief, dress, diet and any social or sexual behaviours. The largest populations stem from southeast Asia (comprising more than 60% of the worlds total) with Indonesia currently holding the largest population of Muslims (Pew Research Centre). 'I Am A White Western WomanI Converted From Christianity To Islam' There is personal relationship, and so they want to get married. The early expansion of Islam led in time to widespread conversions of Christians in conquered territories. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Why do so many westerners convert to Islam? : r/exmuslim - Reddit But we also have people like Cat Strevens who became Yusuf Islam, it was something that was his relationship to the Quran. A westerner that converts to Islam is making the conscious decision to change their lifestyle in a diametrically opposite direction. If we start here and shake up peoples perceptions of Muslims and Islam, then perhaps we can turn the corner. In the second part of this article you will read about my reasons to convert to Islam: https://themuslimtimes.info/2017/08/15/glimpses-into-the-life-of-a-global-nomad-part-one/, https://onepathnetwork.com/6-reasons-why-westerners-are-converting-to-islam/, Afghan girls school ban would be un-Islamic, Pakistan PM says, Whatever is in the Heavens or the Earth GlorifiesAllah The Quran. Shamima Begum leaving Gatwick Airport, southern England, 17 February 2015. One reason for the increasing number of Western people converting to Islam is the peaceful and loving nature of the religion. The remaining 30% (21 people) learned something from a number of different people ranging from a neighbor, co-worker, school, relatives, or other undeclared sources. This is because of the strong Christian Tradition of the West. Thus, from the 8th century to the middle of the 19th, it was the virtually unanimous Western opinion that Islam was a violent religion whose success was due to the sword. The doctrine of Jihad (holy war), declared The Quarterly Review in 1877, is not so dangerous or barbarous a one as is generally imagined. Still, the number of those who convert to Islam is significant. Why Are So Many Westerners Converting To Islam Article | Studymode Moreover, we now know that it is difficult to identify the essence of any religion and futile to search for one. When Sheikh Muhammad 'Abduh (1849-1905), one of the most influential Muslim scholars of the late 19th and early 20th century, famously declared that he had found Islam but no Muslims abroad (in the West), and Muslims but no Islam at home (in the Muslim world), he wanted to bring home the message that Muslims were more and more drifting away not only from the original revealed message of . I conducted an online survey asking eight questions to find out these main factors. Why do MORE Western women Convert to Islam - YouTube According to recent researches, three-quarters of Muslim converts from Britain are female. . Finally, there is a third factor which probably no one would ever mention explicitly, for obvious reasons, but which, I believe, is nevertheless important. The masjid with several witnesses was the prime location for 31.4% (22 people) to recite their shahadah. This article is from Reading Islams archive and was originally published at an earlier date. With few exceptions, its proponents ignored both the violence that often went along with the spread of Christianity and the religious tolerance that often accompanied the extension of Islam. But the myth did reflect the deep-seated Western horror, always potent in the collective imagination, of being literally overrun by the fanatical hordes. WESTERN CONVERTS TO ISLAM 155 It was thought that such people might be influenced by the superficial attractions of what was seen to be a lax religion. However, only 3 of those 12 read the Quran, while the remaining read other books or articles about Islam. The final reason why people convert, is due to meeting other Muslims. This radicalisation comes from a place where all hope is usually lost, and they primarily feel alone. I met some of these distinguished converts to Islam while conducting fieldwork for Journey into Europe, a project on Islam in Europe and its place in European history and civilization. Groups like the so-called Islamic State claim responsibility, and onlookers become ever more fearful of the other. In the Wests climate of Islamophobia, this other, more often than not, takes the form of a usually non-white immigrant Muslim who has an apparent deep hatred for Western society and its culture. In sharing these stories of people who have chosen to adopt my faith, I hope to challenge your perspective of Islam. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Its not culturally insensitive, he declared, to demand loyalty to Australia and respect for Western civilisation. Build the bridge for opportunities to give dawah in the future! Firstly, the medias coverage in relation to Islam is predominantly negative. A Campus Revamp Brings Renewed Optimism to Worshippers at Londons Baitul Futuh Mosque, Beyond the Data: Unveiling the Impact of Stories, Cleveland Clinic Internal Medicine Intensive Review Course for Doctors, Pakistans false claims on human rights exposed ahead of Mondays UN review, Pakistan. Better the enemy kept outside the wall than the enemy within. And I have had people come to me saying I want to convert to Islam but Im more shocked, Im surprised that I have come this distance because it is not a faith that I would ever wish to look into. But somehow because they have read into Islam in order to try to understand what goes on in the mind of Muslims who use their faith in order to carry out these terrible atrocities around the world. Contributors control their own work and posted freely to our site. In spite of their differences, Jews, Christians and Muslims worship the same God. So too, there are many Christianities, often so different as to be hardly recognisable as parts of the same tradition think Pentecostal snake handlers in the American south, Catholic peasants in Sicily devoted to the Virgin Mary, or cool Lutherans in Scandinavia. , which may come as surprise to many, considering the amount of negative coverage it constantly receives in the media. Since over half, 54.2% (38 people), were triggered by talking or witnessing the action of a Muslim, this tells us that we should get out there, and meet non-Muslims and socialize with them more. We do this for our children, so why not for others? It listed 5 main reasons given for becoming Muslim: Islam's doctrine is simple and rational, all believers are equal, it is a "practical" religion, and lacks a priesthood. Have you ever heard the phrase Theres no such thing as bad publicity? In conclusion, there are many reasons why Western people are converting to Islam. As a result, converts are sometimes placed in the awkward position of being seen as somehow compromised Westerners in their native society and incomplete Muslims in the Muslim community.

M1-2 Zoning Permitted Uses, Best Women's Sunglasses Similar To Ray Ban Wayfarer, Eso Rivenspire Lorebooks, Is 80k A Good Salary In Texas, Victoria Secret Partnership, What Happened To Columbine High School After The Shooting, 5 Civilized Tribes Trail Of Tears, Ut Austin Insurance Card, Borgata Rewards Levels, What Is Buckshot Used For, Stomach-footed Mollusks, This American Life 189, Hillingdon Council Senior Management Team Number,