Americans embracing Islam

Given modern distractions, the need to understand Islam better has never been more urgent. Through this forum we can share ideas and hopefully promote the true spirit of Islam which calls for peace, justice, tolerance, inclusiveness and diversity.

feelgud
Posts: 725
Joined: Tue Feb 14, 2006 5:01 am

Re: Americans embracing Islam

#2

Unread post by feelgud » Sat Oct 07, 2006 7:25 am

Ambassadors of Islam

Umm Haram bint Milhan, a Sahabiya, (a companion of the Prophet) was married to Ubadah ibn as-Samit Ansari. Along with her husband she undertook several trips to foreign countries. Now her grave is in Cyprus, and is called the grave of the pious woman (Hayat As-Sahaba 1/592). The grave of Khalid ibn al-Walid, who was born in Mecca, is in Hims (Syria).

The same is the case with the majority of the Companions of the Prophet. At the time of the Prophet’s demise, his companions numbered more than one hundred thousand. However it is worth noting that if you go to Mecca and Medina you will find only a small number of graves there. The reason for this is that these companions left Arabia and spread to various countries far and beyond its borders. The majority of them breathed their last in various Asian and African countries, where their graves still exist.

Why did this happen? It was because during his last days the Prophet gathered his companions together in the mosque in Medina and addressed them in these words: God has sent me as his messenger for the entire world. So you do not differ with one another. And spread in the land and communicate my message to people inhabiting other places besides Arabia . (Seerat Ibn Hisham 4/279).

It was this injunction of the Prophet that led to the Sahaba (companions of the Prophet) settling in foreign lands. In those countries either did business or earned their living by hard work, all the while communicating to their non-Muslim compatriots the message of monotheism which they had received from the Prophet. Every one of them thus became a virtual ambassador of Islam. This resulted in Islam spreading across the globe. Its evidence can still be seen in the inhabited world of that time.

I feel history is repeating itself in modern times. New circumstances, produced in the wake of industrial revolution, have resulted in Muslims leaving their homelands to spread all over the world. Today, whichever part of the globe you visit, you will find Muslims there. Mosques and Islamic institutions have come up everywhere. Muslims have settled in these countries either for work or for business. However, in respect of their religion, their actual position is that of Islam’s representatives. It is as if each one of them is an ambassador of God. Now the need of the hour is to awaken the missionary spirit in these Muslims settled in foreign lands, so that they may effectively communicate the message of Islam—a task of universal magnitude made incumbent upon them by their new sets of circumstances.

Average Bohra
Posts: 924
Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2003 5:01 am

Re: Americans embracing Islam

#3

Unread post by Average Bohra » Sat Oct 07, 2006 5:05 pm

This is feel good BS; no pun intended. You are placing a positive spin on a negative trend. Muslims leaving their homelands to spread all over the world is hardly a cause to celebrate. Quite the contrary.

Report back when non-Muslims are leaving their homeland to live in Muslim countries, let alone Muslims leaving their adopted land to come back to their homeland. Until then you have achieved nothing accept taken advantage of the environment that other have created for you which is better than what you can create for yourself. That is a shame.

As far as effectively communicating the message of Islam you must first ensure that you can do that in your own “homelandâ€

feelgud
Posts: 725
Joined: Tue Feb 14, 2006 5:01 am

Re: Americans embracing Islam

#4

Unread post by feelgud » Sun Oct 08, 2006 7:14 am

Opposition gives additional chances to propogate and prove one's point of view.

AbuJahl and abu lahabs are but natural part of the society , so its foolish to expect warm greetings from every quarter.

feelgud
Posts: 725
Joined: Tue Feb 14, 2006 5:01 am

Re: Americans embracing Islam

#5

Unread post by feelgud » Mon Oct 09, 2006 4:33 am

Early British and American Converts to Islam:

Russell Web - the First American Caucasian Convert

Prominent Converts to Islam

The Great Dive

......The Anglo-Muslim community has produced many stormy petrels over the centuries. Religious dissidents, adventurers, romancers, scholar-pilgrims – all have enriched the diverse and colourful story that is British Islam. Peter Lyall, the Scotsman who became an admiral in the Ottoman navy; Abdullah Quilliam, the Liverpool solicitor who founded a mosque and orphanage in which Christian waifs were raised as Muslims; Benjamin Bishop, His Majesty’s consul in Cairo who turned Muslim and mysteriously disappeared; Lord Headley the peer; Lady Evelyn Cobbold the explorer and pilgrim to Mecca; Mubarak Churchward, the stage-painter and friend of Lily Langtry; the anonymous Scotsman who became governor of Madina; and many more. Few, however, lived such adventurous lives as the celebrated Hajji Abdullah Fadhil al-Zubayr, born William Williamson, remembered even today in the Gulf and Iraq, where his many descendents still retell his exploits. ..