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From: | Al-Salam |
Subject: | The Truth |
Date: | Mon, 15 Aug 2005 14:44:27 +0300 |
hi dear
I would be thankful if you give my article 5 minute of your value time
THANK YOU.
Guidance to The Truth
A
ِbdul Haqq (DTF WONG, China)WHO I AM
My name is Abdul Haqq (formerly known as D T F Wong). I am of Chinese
origin and was born in Brunei Darussalam (which has a predominantly Muslim
population). I am 36 years old and male. I left Brunei Darusalam in 1977 to
further my education in UK and am now settled in London, UK. My education has
mainly been at a missionary school (from kindergarten) related to the church and
later for nearly 2 years at a Christian independent school in UK before entering
College
WHAT I WAS BEFORE
I was born into a Christian (Protestant/Anglican) family who were (and still is) actively involved in the Church. In a secular society, one could add that I had also accepted and followed secular laws and customs. I remained a Christian till I was 27.
WHAT I AM NOW
I am now a Muslim - have been for nearly 9 years since I left Christianity.
WHY I CHOSE ISLAM
According to Islam, guidance is of two kinds: a) Guidance of Taufiq i.e.
totally from Allah, i.e. Allah opens one's heart to receive the truth (from
disbelief to Belief in Islamic Monotheism). Guidance of Irshaad i.e. through
preaching by Allah's Messengers and pious preachers who preach the truth, i.e.
Islamic Monotheism.
In my case, the guidance from God is guidance of
Taufiq. I say this because I was actively seeking the truth and was hardly
preached by Muslims. When I was 23 (and in my last year in college), I became
God-conscious in a way I was never really taught in Christianity. I looked out
of my window and observed the signs of creation (e.g. sky, trees, people, etc.)
and developed a strong belief in the existence of God. I was studying
Architecture (in College) and for me - when I look at buildings I know that
someone designed and built it. Same with the creation - the alternation of night
and day, the bodily functions, etc. led me to believe strongly that there was a
Creator. Christianity tend to push forward the concept Trinity which many can't
explain and many accept to satisfy their spiritual instinct. I had no problems
with Christianity at this point. However this new God-consciousness stayed with
me. The way the Trinity was being 'pushed to the masses' by the Church as well
as Christians left this new God-consciousness a personal experience for
me.
I had never studied Islam even though I grew up in a predominantly
Muslim country. At that time in Brunei Darussalam, non-Muslims were exempt from
Islamic Education. One day I was passing by a Muslim book shop and decided to
enter (without any idea what I was looking for). I came across the Qur'an and
decided to buy it. As any Muslim will tell you, the Qur'an instructs (time and
time again) all mankind to observe the signs of creation around and affirm their
belief in the Creator. This matched with the way that I had developed my new
God-consciousness and I decided that there was truth in the Qur'an and
Islam.
The Qur'an also led me to question the authenticity of the Bible
and the Trinity for the first time. I began searching and reading books
questioning the authenticity of the Bible and the Trinity. Many Christians
answer difficult questions on issues like the trinity with 'God can do
anything'.
I couldn't fault Islam and the knowledge I was gaining had a
profound impact on me more so than Christianity. I was slowly deciding to switch
to Islam. Islam had a simple purity that anyone would appreciate - i.e. without
the complexity of issues such as the Trinity. Islam allowed mankind to have an
intellectual conviction on fundamental matters of belief. It didn't leave the
spiritual instinct in man to be satisfied by an emotional conviction such as one
would say of idol-worshipping.
The decision to become Muslim was
personal. When I told my parents that I had done so, my mother asked two of my
uncles (who were in priesthood) to communicate with me - trying to convince me
that Christianity was right. They failed and decided that I was not dragged into
a cult and that I had made an informed decision - so they left me to continue as
a Muslim.
As I continue learning and increasing my knowledge of the deen
(religion) of Islam my faith in God increased. I became more aware of
Christianity's lack of guidance for mankind. Church services was man-made,
Christian festivals/celebrations was man-made, arguments as to whether to accept
homosexuality in Christianity or Christians at war, etc. Islam had guidance for
relationships between man/woman and God, between man/woman and himself/herself,
and man/woman with other men/women. Islam had guidance on issues relating to
economics, politics, education, social, legal/penal systems, etc. In Islam there
is guidance on how God wants us to pray, how to conduct Friday prayers, what and
how to celebrate, what is right and wrong, what the penalties for crimes are,
how to set up the state, what the state should implement, how the ruler should
rule, etc. Islam offered guidance on establishing a society based on divine
guidance.
Christianity placed heavy emphasis on faith/beliefs and seemed
happy to co-exist in a secular world. Islam had laws and guidance for
individuals and society. I believed this to be right - that the Creator would
not leave the Created to argue and make laws of their own. The Creator knows
best for the Creation. Anyone would follow instructions from the manufacturer to
make best use of the manufactured item. Islam is submission to the will of God,
our Creator. A Muslim is one who submits to the will of God, our Creator.
Society will only function well and in peace when we all submit to the will of
the Creator.
I could not be a Jew - Jews are a chosen people (descendants
of Judah of the tribe of Israel). Christianity I now see as a deviation from the
real teachings of Jesus - leading mankind from guidance from God to guidance of
man/woman. With a world dominated by man-made laws and the evident injustices in
society, the time is ripe for a return to laws from the Creator - as Islam
offers. I am convinced I made the right choice in becoming Muslim.
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