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Mohammad Umar
Gautam,
Chairman Islamic
Da'wah Centre (IDC), Delhi |
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I
wept for joy
I was raised in a
religious Christian family. At that time, Americans were more
religious than they are now - most families went to church
every Sunday, for example. My parents were involved in the
Church community. We often had ministers (protestant
"priests") in the
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Fatimah Charitable Foundation, a
newly registered trust in collaboration with Islamic Da'wah Centre
(IDC), Delhi recently organized the first of its kind get together
of reverts – Reverts Get Together – 2010, to learn the experiences
of those who embraced Islam in their search for truth. These
people, who came from diverse social backgrounds and places did not
know that they would find one thing so common. It was their tears
– tears that have no religion and no distinct geographical marks
on the eyes of those who cry out of love for their loved ones. And
for those, who criticize Islam to be the religion of violence and
intolerance, this was an spectacular gathering, where well
educated men and women from different walks of life shared their
experiences of the all-embracing nature of Islam and the trials
and travails they had to undergo.
Treshan Singh, a young British citizen doing some Hindi language
course from Delhi University accepted Islam on 10 December 2010.
The young man had many sleepless nights and was confused about
religion and nature of God unless he was satisfied with the truth
of Islam. If Allah has chosen something for you, He will direct
you to it, he said. Islam is for all humanity, he added.
The quest and curiosity about Islam since Class X upset Shikha
Sharma. I then asked a Muslim friend what he thought of Hinduism,
Shikha says. He did not say anything except that he was satisfied
with his religion and he loved it. That struck my mind, said
Shikha, now Shifa. I had interest in languages and wanted to learn
French. She enrolled for some Arabic language course and also had
to learn Urdu to understand basic Arabic. Shikha had
misconceptions which were removed once she started knowing Islam
on her own.
Shifa's parents were liberal but when great visible changes were
observed in her life, they had apprehensions and objections. Now,
I stand firm as a Muslim, she says. Her two younger sisters, both
students, have also embraced Islam. Shifa does not bother for
trials and tribulations. Tribulations are there but Allah tests us
in order to purify us so that we are eligible for Jannah. Paradise
is not awarded for nothing, Shifa says.
Raj Kumar renamed Mohammad Saad in 2007 wondered how the Creator
of such a vast amazing world could have a form and shape that
human beings ascribe to God. He studied Quran and leant namaz. His
father and sister are in police.
Cardiologist, Dr. Fatimah of Armenia became unsatisfied with life
unless she got its meaning. Now she lives with her Muslim husband
along with her two small children. Sister Renuka, now Aisha,
studied at Jamia Millia Islamia and accepted Islam 15 years ago.
She has illuminated 30 other lives.
Dr Asha, now Aisha has no inhibition to declare her faith and is
glad to share that his father and other members of her family know
that she is a Muslim. My father even corrects me whenever I say
something about Islam which is not exactly as I understand.
Sister Firdaus embraced Islam in 1995 and married a much older
man, in whom she finds great support. Twin sisters Aliya Fatima
and Maryam Fatima don't find courage to tell their family that
they are Muslims. Aliya had a discussion with a Muslim friend and
according to her own admission, her one moment's experience with
truth had diminished her 18 years strong faith in gods that she
thought were the movers and shakers of the world.
Mufti Mohammad Ahmad did Hifz-e-Quran from some madrasa in
Saharanpur and then completed Fazil and Ifta from Darul Uloom
Deoband. He was born in a Pandit family.
Rahul’s story is also no more different. In which form am I going
to face God when I die?, quizzed Rahul, who did schooling in
science stream from Delhi Public School and obtained B. Tech
(Computer) from England in 1998. Rahul was fascinated by the
Quranic description of the many stages of pregnancy in minute
detail with unmistakable accuracy. Namaz (Salah) also appealed me
a lot, Rahul said.
Despite all odds, also intact was
their love for the members of their rather unkind families proved
how hope wins over hatred.
Sulaiman, a Chartered Accountant, who was earlier Abhijeet
Mahaputra, belonging to Bhubaneshwar in Orissa and embraced Islam
in 1996, broke into tears while mentioning about his parents.
"In childhood I was very ill and my
mother cared a lot for me. I love them but am grieved that my
parents fail to understand that I love them too much and I miss
them a lot", he said.
An assistant professor at a degree college in Ghaziabad, Dr.
Shalini was grossly involved in her research work for her PhD in
Zoology. She had little time to think about God and was living
almost like an "atheist'. She traveled Japan, America, Saudi
Arabia and many other countries. But with the progress of her
research there grew in her something else that made her restless.
"I was so confused and depressed", says Dr. Shalini, "I did not
know what to do".
Although familiar with Islam and Muslims, she had a very negative
idea of Muslims. But when I went to Saudi Arabia, I found great
change in me after meeting people there. I started reading the
Quran to find out whether the things being said about Muslims were
correct or not. Dr. Shalini appealed people to help those reverts
who were financially unstable.
Mohammad Umar Gautam, chairman, IDC and the man behind this
initiative, who himself accepted the truth of Islam some 27 years
ago, started the programme by praying to Allah to accept all
efforts for such a noble task. His introductory note was followed
by recitation of the verses of the Quran by 29-year-old Hafiz
Junaid, who was Surender Dubey five years ago and is now a student
of the last year of the five-year Alamiyat course at Darul Uloom
Nadwatul Ulama in Lucknow.
Dr. Mohammad Sami, Sunny Vadhwa of Panipat, Government Hospital,
who did Medical from Jammu Medical College recited enchanting
lines of Naat: Wo Noor Banke Dilon Mein Samaye Jaate Hain/Rasool-e-Pak
Do Aalam Pe Chhaye Jaate Hain (He enters our hearts with his
illuminating rays/The Holy Messenger is pervading the whole wolrd).
Just eight months old into the benign fold of Truth, Dr. Sunny was
fascinated by Islam’s concept of Oneness.
A 6th standard student, Abdullah Umar gave a short speech on
rights of parents in Islam. Taqdees Fatima spoke on the importance
of Dawah in Islam. Fatima said that Islam was a comprehensive
religion that covered all aspects of life. Islam is a way of life,
a code of conduct that makes life better, she said. Dawah
(inviting people to Truth and One God) is an obligation for every
Muslim man and woman according to his and her ability. She asked
Muslims to use every opportunity to sensitise non-Muslims about
Islam.
A short speech on Tawheed in Islam
was given by Adil Umar, a class XIth student of South Delhi's
Hamdard Public School. Srinivas, now Mohammad Zubair thanked Allah
for giving him a way. More than 30 people shared their experiences
and many did not get the opportunity due to shortage of time.
Syed Arshad Ali, retired professor of the Department of Islamic
Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia; Nasim Ahmad Ghazi (Jamaat-e-Islami
Hindi), Najibul Hasan Siddiqui of Jamiatul Muminaat, Lucknow;
Ummul Qura product Arshad Sirajuddin; Sirajuddin Shaikh of Imphal-based
Islamic Research & Da'wah Centre, Advocate Asif of Patiala House
Court, Delhi were among the prominent people who participated in
the programme.
(Manzar Imam
can be reached at manzarkhalil@gmail.com)
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