Why I became a Christian?????

[CoolCalm]

I was born in Pakistan into a Muslim family. Most members of my family are devout Muslims, so that I was brought up in the traditional way of studying the Quran and prayers etc. I would have happily stuck with being a Muslim had I known it was the true way to salvation, to reaching the kingdom of God (SWT). What then brought about the change in my life?

It was the inner self-consciousness looking and searching for something missing in my life.

I had everything, education, success, car, house, anything a person could ask for but there was an inner emptiness that longed to be filled.

I used to pray, fast, give charity, but these did not give me the peace I needed. I was reciting the Quran and reading some suras on a regular basis to strengthen my soul and be in close companionship with Allah (SWT) but no, it was all in vain.

I wasn't looking at Christianity as a religion to follow. We were told that the Bible is corrupt, so don't read it. To us Christianity was akin to the Western life style of self abuse which I understood to be following Christianity.

Often I would go with my family to Khattam's (prayers and family gatherings) and we were told stories of Islam, prophet Muhammad and some other Muslim doctrines but there was always this craving inside me to learn the truth. The discussions in family would become debates and elders who had done Hajj would say just because they had done Hajj that they were right so no one would question them. I would just listen to the arguments going on between family members on the different understanding between each other, and observed how they forced their opinion on others to follow, never mind whether they were right or wrong.

It is perceived in Islamic society that if you pray five times a day and stick to the pillars of Islam then you are a good Muslim and anything you do or say is true. We have a lot of hypocrites who have been following this path and yet their real lives reflect a total disregard to humanity as such, people who would sell drugs, take drugs, or steal are a few items to mention. Look at Pakistan's elite, look at their background. They are so called good Muslims but they commit the worst offenses known. Does anybody question them? Of course not! If you did then you might disappear mysteriously. People's rights are suppressed, freedom is just a word without meaning. There is no real freedom because you can't speak your mind.

When I looked around myself and my Muslim background I realised that most of the Muslims' preaching was to do good, do right but did they practice it themselves? Absolutely not! When it came to money matters, money was more a priority to them then humanity or reasoning. On the one hand they would tell you to pray five times a day and on the other there is so much hypocrisy around. The town where I live has a mosque run by people who sell alcohol, and have cafés with slot machines and video games and they sell alcohol on the premises as well. In Islam this is considered haraam money not halaal but does anybody stop these people from running the mosque? They have given money into the mosque like £10,000 or £15,000, of course the answer is no. Here money wins over religion. Why doesn't any Muslim question this? Should they not appoint someone else to do the management who is pure?!

What they preached they certainly did not practice. I often saw conflicts in our local mosque, on occasion I even witnessed how people were stabbed. This is obviously totally opposite to the religious teachings but one has to consider why it is like this!

Muslims were fighting amongst themselves for religious control and control of the charity money that the mosque was collecting every week. Friday prayers were prayed with police guard outside, this made us look bad to others like some kind of gangsters.

If we look at Islam, Jihad is part of Islam, forced conversion to Islam in Muslim dominated countries, persecution of Christians, Muslims believe in visiting shrines of Pirs giving money and food, it's like giving bribe to God (SWT), perhaps that can explain the corruption in our society.

If we are following a true religion and a pure religion then it should put love into our hearts, humility and care for fellow persons but does it? If we are not born like this then something is not quite right here, either the religion or the person but not every person can be wrong!

People in Islam who have gone and done the Hajj, think about themselves as being very good. They think their sins are forgiven, they are better than any other person who hasn't been to Hajj but when I look at these people their morals are so bad, they cannot speak for justice, they show a completely different person from the inside. This is not for every Haji but majority are like this.

In my own surrounding family the Hajis I am supposed to look up to as role models of character and personality, I found them to be very shallow in character, they were no less hypocrites than the people in the mosques. They would hold one policy for the general public and another for their own self and their children.

I became acutely aware and disheartened by this attitude of my family and the Muslims around me that I started to distance myself from these people. I stopped going to the mosque, stopped attending prayer meetings and sitting with the family around myself. I stayed very much on my own. I was practising Martial Arts and stuck to that, keeping to myself and my sport for discipline and solace.

At one point I even became so disillusioned with Islam that I became atheist for a while refusing to believe in anything. But I soon came out of that mode knowing it was wrong but still discontent with the religion I was following.

I had often listened to disputes where one person was saying that you should pray like this and another saying, no, it should be done that way proving to me that these people either didn't know what they are talking about, or one of them is right and the other is wrong. But which one is wrong, who should I follow for my guidance? That was the dilemma.

The people who would normally go to the mosque to do their prayers would stick by what their Mullah would teach and often the dispute would focus on what the individual Mullahs believed and not necessarily what was found in the Quran or Ahadith.

I often thought about this and when I recently went to Pakistan to see my family there, I asked them a few things about going to shrines to pray for things rather than to Allah (SWT) direct and I said this isn't right. They would say, well, a lot of people believe in this and go to shrines of so-called Pirs who died long ago. I would argue, "but you are not praying direct to Allah (SWT) but to some dead person who cannot do nothing for you." They would refuse to believe that this is the case only saying that they can intercede for us.

A lot of customs have crept into our society in Pakistan which aren't right like wedding customs, Bassant (flying kites) a lot of those have to do more with Hinduism than Islam, because Pakistan used to be part of India and when everyone lived together they used to interrelate customs and we still have them today, now they are doing the Basaant (kite flying) in every city on a different day, if you told them that this is a Hindu custom they wouldn't listen or care. They spend thousands of rupees on this, it is such a passion.

I decided that enough was enough and that I should do my own research to find the truth. I had often believed that the family practice of just reciting the Quran was not good with out understanding the Quran of what it said but my family would believe that reciting was good enough to please Allah (SWT) and it was not necessary to understand it all as long as we read the Arabic Allah (SWT) will be happy with us because that is the language the Quran was descended (Nazil) to us.

I was once posting an article on an Islamic news group for my brother-in-law to find something about the religion when I stumbled upon this testimony of "Why I became a Christian"*, so I started to read it as to what is so special about somebody converting from Islam to Christianity.

I was enlightened by what I read and it confirmed in my fears regarding Islam, of what I used to think. What will happen if what I follow is not the truth? I didn't consider myself to be a saint anyway but surely we have to ask for forgiveness of our mistakes and pray to God (Allah Almighty) for salvation?

Muslims don't understand Salvation in the terms Christians do anyway. They think as long as they do good then they will go to heaven. They don't understand the notion of born in sin. Some even believe that Muhammad (prophet) has had his Sunni sect forgiven from God Allah (SWT) and that after some punishment we will all go to heaven. They have decided this for themselves even though Quran says otherwise. Some commonly believe that if you have one of your children recite the Quran and know all of it by memory to become a Hafiz then their seven generations are forgiven and they will go to heaven. This is of course all nonsense as the Quran nowhere states this to be the case, it is just Jahalat (illiteracy).

I sent an e-mail to this person http://www.answering-islam.org/Testimonies/ibrahim.html
who had converted from a devout Muslim to a Christian wanting to know if that was true or just a gimmick and why did he convert.

He replied back confirming and thus we started to have a dialog. I wanted to find out for myself if what he said was true and began to study and understand the Quran by translation, I had two translations of the Quran. I put a lot of time into researching this, cross-referencing the Ahadith, Bukhari and Sahih Muslim as well as the tafsirs of the Quran and some suras. I bought more books and read and re-read to confirm what was right or wrong with an open mind.

After a while I completed all the reading on this side and I decided to do all the reading on the Christian side, namely the Bible, i.e. the Torah, Injil, Zabur. I completed my analysis to confirm that Islam was not the right path for me so now the struggle began inside of me. What should I do.

I thought to myself that I will remain as I am, don't want to practice my religion and die like this because I reasoned if I change then what will my family think! I struggled with these thoughts for a week. There was an inner battle inside me that said embrace the truth and one which said stick to the family values, what will everyone say? I was more concerned with my family's thoughts then the truth.

Eventually the answer came. Embrace the truth whatever the cost and this is when I converted. It was a hard decision but one which has led me to the right path.

After the conversion, how have I changed? Well my search has come to an end, my heart or my inner self feels fulfilled. I feel better as a person towards others. Obviously I want others to know the truth but they are not interested in that. They think what they and their forefathers have been following is the truth. I hate to think what will happen to them but they don't listen.

The struggle has just started, not finished, obviously all my immediate family turned against me but that was expected by me so it is nothing new! I have explained my faith to them, had several discussions with various people, had invited couple of my Christian friends in to debates to discuss with them. In the end it is up to them but I am sticking to my chosen path.

Now after a while my family realises that I am not going to convert back to make them happy. When I tell them things they do not always have answers for them so we have drawn up a truce, I stick to my religion and they stick to theirs. That is fine with me but I will still keep telling them the truth bit by bit. Who knows, someday they may realise and change.

God (SWT) bless them all.

CoolCalm

You are welcome to e-mail me

[butterfly_s]

you know what? whay have you changed?
you needed money to eat.

and if they were not practising properly it doesnt mean you have to change yourself. why didnt you practise properly and set an example for other muslims.

there are good and bad in every religion.

Its upto you what you are upto.

Muslim countries taking over!!! So what ya want all muslims to leave their place to you and where their gonna go?

An opportunist like ya change or not doesnt make a change in islam. so butt out.

how many muslims you seen going to every virtual countries and talking "islam is the best"

but you people know bangladesh is a muslim country and here you come and every day keep saying oh islam is no good. talking all bull**** you can.

you have changed so rest in peace !! and have one dollar to eat okie?

[CoolCalm]

Dear Butterfly,

>>
you know what? whay have you changed?
you needed money to eat.
>>

Obviously you like to make silly statements, read my testimony again, I have enough money so I did not need money to convert, I wasn’t even looking at Christianity.
>>
and if they were not practising properly it doesnt mean you have to change yourself. why didnt you practise properly and set an example for other muslims.
>>
It is not about good practice or bad practice, it is about the truth and I have embraced the truth, it takes courage to face up to facts and most Muslims will not face up to facts.
You want to believe in everything prophet Muhammad gave you as Gospel but disregard what God said in earlier times in the Torah and prophets as corruption just because it does not agree with the Qur’an.
Check earlier revelations of the one true God and you will see that the Qur’anic God is not the same.
Are you courageous enough to admit that or are you just going to deny like other Muslims that Muhammad’s God is true.
The God who hates sin is not going to condone sin for that is what Allah does in the Qur’an for everything Muhammad does wrong, Allah says OK.
Open your eyes before you die and it is too late for you for surely we are all going to meet our creator.

May the truth prevail.

CoolCalm

[Bangali_Nutter]

I just couldn't stop laughing... I couldn't even finish reading the sad, sorry story of this lonely Paki'.

How I feel sorry for you, but also I just can't stop wondering "How Blind!". I have to say I am sorry that you grew up in a corupt household, and they used Islam to justify some of their unruly behaviour! Even more, I am sorry that you were brought up in a household where you were discouraged from arguing points and 'debating' over issues...

What makes me amazingly sorry for you is that you realised that most of the problems that you encountered with Islam was to do with the your interaction of poor muslims and not that of Islam per se.

If the aim of your little posting was to instill a seed of doubt in our minds you have failed terribly... the only thing that you have made me do is thank Allah he has made me an intelligent person and that I do not fall in a sad sorry state as you.

Don't get me wrong, you have all the right in the world to choose your own way of living... but that is only a right that you have in this world, I warn thou the hereafter holds a different story!

Did you have the COURAGE to take up any of these issues (you had about Islam) with real Imams and scholars and not the Village imams you get at the local msq? The stuff you say about Jihad and the such are what I expect to read in a copy of The Guardian (a leftwing crap paper) or The Telegraph
(this time a right wing but still a crap paper!) Come on we all know the true meaning of Jihad and it does not relate to the sword. Just the other day I heard Fred Halliday and a number of other high ranking Jews deliver a lecture on how the Muslims treated the Jews better than they were treated by Christians...

I can go on for a long time... but I'm asking myself do u deserve my time!

------------------
Actually, I'm really quite a nicer guy!

[Bangali_Nutter]

Oh, yeah one more thing... I urge you to do proper research and potray Islam in it's true light if you are going to use it to justify it's 'deficiencies' not use your false subjective failures or the words of orientalists who have been trying to demonise Islam for the last thousand years!

And I pray to Allah that one day you shall be made aware of the unfortunate route that you have taken, repent and seek forgiveness and be allowed to enter the gardens where rivers flow!

Take care

p.s. Indeed, may TRUTH prevail!!!!!

------------------
Actually, I'm really quite a nicer guy!

[This message has been edited by Bangali Nutter (edited 04 June 2000).]

[bornagain]

Bangali Nutter,

You really are a nutter with no brains.

Coolcalm cannot post as you may not know he has been banned from this site, thanks to your Muslim hypocrits, but I know him pretty well and his reasons for conversion.

He did not want to follow a sterile God created by Muhammad.

What makes you think Islam is the truth?

Your quran is just mumbo jumbo nothing in order, plagirasation of the Bible and Jewish heretic stories.

Do you have proof that the quran you hold today is the same as in the 6th century?

coolcalm did do his research and converted after much search and not just jump to conclusions.

I feel sorry for you rather then for coolcalm.

He is saved in Jesus christ.

Who is going to save your sorry state?

Certainly not Muhammad who is dead and buried.

>>
Don't get me wrong, you have all the right in the world to choose your own way of living... but that is only a right that you have in this world, I warn thou the hereafter holds a different story!
>>

Look who is talking?

Can you prove to me there is life after death?

Can you prove to me you have salvation with a guarantee?

Only Jesus Christ is the saviour of the world and no one else.

Keep believing in Muhammad's lies for you are condemned already by your own words.

bornagain

[Bangali_Nutter]

Hi BornAgain,

Thank you for your 'informative' posting. No I did not know that your Cool mate was banned from this site... of which i don't believe. Because using my LSE and Cambridge graduate brain (of which you claim i have misplaced!) to infer that this site is governed and administered by Secular, westerners who have little more than capitalist interest in the Muslim community!

But I am rather taken back by your sarcasm! If you as you claim to be a man of god what is it with your insults about my brain vis-a-vis intelligence I assume. Surely, this religion that you have accepted or have discovered has taught you to respect other fellow humans.

I have proof and evidence supporting the truth... but I guess you are blind to those facts... I am happy with my way of life, my deen and I have no reason to offend others to prove my point! I guess thats something that you can strive to learn... respect others and do NOT insult them...

"Say : O ye that reject Faith!
I worship not that which ye worship,
Nor will ye worship that which I worship.
And I will not worship that which ye have been wont to worship,
Nor will ye worship that which I worship.
To you be your Way, and to me mine.

Surah 109. The Disbelievers, Atheists


Maybe with any luck you may be born again... and then you can truly appreciate your NEW birth!


[This message has been edited by Bangali Nutter (edited 09 June 2000).]