Bismillah Rahman Raheem (In the name of Allah,
The Merciful, The Gracious)
The
media classifies Muslims as “terrorists,” “highjackers” and “kidnappers.”
So
why would anyone even look at Islam? Why are so many priests and preachers
going to Islam?
Read his search for “Purpose of Life” – before Islam
|
He learned the truth about Islam – & became a Muslim
|
What
happened to this man?
Good
question. . . .
Email
request for information on “Christian Preachers Entering Islam” sent to me from
Japanese newspaper staff writer:
I
received an email from a Japanese newspaper requesting information about
Americans coming to Islam. Here is a copy of the email:
Subj:
Convert story
Date:
07/28/2000 02:35:30 Eastern Daylight Time
From:
(Takashi Settai)
To:
sheikyusuf@aol.com
Dear
Mr. Yusuf Estes:
My
name is Takashi Settai. I am a staff writer of Nikkei, a Japanese newspaper,
based in New York. I am writing an article about Muslims in America now and I
am looking for a Caucasian guy who recently converted from Christian to Muslim.
I happened to find your home page on the Internet and became very interested in
your personal story. If you are OK to answer my questions about your conversion
and call or return an e-mail to me ASAP, I very much appreciate it.
Nikkei
is a Japanese newspaper, considered the Wall Street Journal of Japan, that is
published twice daily with a nationwide circulation of about 3 million. In
addition, we have an international circulation in Japanese and a weekly edition
in English. The number of Nikkei offices worldwide stands at 37 bureaus on five
continents and employs over 4,000 persons.
Thank
you for your help on this matter in advance.
Takashi
Settai
Nikkei
212-261-6327
or 212-888-5741
From
the Desk of: Chaplain Yusuf Estes
TO:
Takashi Settai
Staff
Writer for Nikkei (Japanese Newspaper)
New
York, New York
RE:
Your email request for more information on former Christians coming to Islam
[email
copy below]
Peace
be unto all those who follow right guidance.
Greetings
Takashi:
Thank
you for your kind letter and for your offer of publishing the story of my
“converting” from Christianity to Islam.
Before
I begin, I must mention that I am leaving on a flight from here (Washington,
DC) to Atlanta in 30 minutes to speak at a special event there. You had
requested information on how a Christian priest (a Catholic priest friend of
ours named Peter Jacobs), a preacher (myself) and a reverend (my father came
last) came to Islam. This email will serve as our permission to publish any
information published on our website or in this email for your newspaper. You
may feel assured that we are most happy to cooperate with you in any way
possible.
I
could perhaps begin by saying, that I have personally witnessed many “converts”
coming into Islam in this country (and Mexico as well). But many people
consider my own personal experience to be rather unique in that it was not
simple one person changing their religion, but rather an entire household of
very religious Christians of three different denominations [Catholic,
"Born Again" and Protestant) all "converting" to Islam.
[The
reason I choose to put the word "convert" in brackets is because the
understanding as taught by the prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, is that all
children are born in a state of "Islam" (surrender, submission and
obedience to Almighty God) and it is their parents who raise them up as Jews,
Christians, Fire Worshippers. So, Muslims consider it more like returning or
"reverting" to Islam.]
But
please do not get the wrong idea, although we entered into Islam within a close
proximity in time we each individually came to the conclusion that Islam was
our own personal choice and it was not an instant decision as a group coming
over to Islam.
While
we would all agree that there are always going to be a certain number of people
who, for whatever reason, will change from one religion to another, we must
also quickly agree that it is highly unusual to find a number of priests,
preachers, reverends and holy men (and women) from various faith groups,
simultaneously entering the same faith around the world.
My
own personal story begins on the Texas/Mexican border in December of 1990. I
was born a white, Anglo-Saxon Protestant and at that time I was working very
actively toward preaching “Born Again” Christianity to anyone and everyone that
would listen. I was definitely NOT LOOKING FOR ISLAM. In fact, religious
leaders of Christianity and Judaism would have us believe, that Islam is a cult
of some kind with the followers worshipping a black box in the desert and
kissing the ground five times a day. Additionally, we have been programmed by
the media to classify most Muslims as “terrorists,” “highjackers” and
“kidnappers.” So why would anyone even look at Islam???
Good
question . . .
All
my close friends at that time were either preachers, ministers or very much
active and involved in preaching a message of “Saving Grace by blood sacrifice
from the Holy Trinity of Jesus.”
One
preacher I knew used to carry a huge (12′ long) cross on his back and walk
alongside the highway to attract people to “come to Jesus.”
Another
preacher used to take me into Mexico and we would preach in the square or
market to individuals about the “salvation of Christ.” We were even arrested in
the night by the Mexican Federal Police and investigated (Mexico is
predominantly Catholic and does not encourage other religions).
Ah
alas, I feared that I would run out of time before completing this story for
you. I must go immediately to the airport now….
Please
feel free to write to me and to discuss this subject and other stories of
priests and preachers coming to Islam…
Best
Regards and May Allah Guide us all in all that is best, Ameen.
Yours
Very Truly,
Yusuf
Estes
Yusuf
Estes.
National
Muslim Chaplain.
Today
Islam Project – USA.
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