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In this episode of For All Humans, we look at why people choose to embrace the religion of Islam.
According to The Economist, Britain sees about 5,200 conversions to Islam each year, and in America, nearly a quarter of Muslims are converts. Have you ever wondered why? Let me share with you the five top reasons why new Muslims embrace Islam.
The first reason cited by many converts is their exposure to some aspect of Islamic culture—whether it’s architecture, calligraphy, or prayer. The solace and tranquility brought by the adhan (the Islamic call to prayer), recited from the mosque to announce each of the five daily prayers, has attracted many non-Muslims to Islam. In 2018, The Independent newspaper told the story of a Scottish man who had never met a Muslim but happened to hear the call to prayer while on holiday in Turkey. He said, “It woke something up inside me.” After buying a Quran from a local shop and reading it, he stated, “The Quran really shook me. It’s quite a scary book to read because it tells you so much about yourself.”
Hollywood actor Liam Neeson, after shooting a film in Turkey, described the call to prayer as “the most magnificent wake-up call that gets into your soul.”
The second reason people convert to Islam is a desire to establish a spiritual connection and search for the truth, meaning, and inner peace. For converts, Islam fills a void in their societies. In fact, the Pew Research Center found that the top reason for converting was finding more meaning in Islam. An article in the Huffington Post explains that converts to Islam are spiritual seekers looking for meaning in their lives and better ways to connect with God. Iman Jamal Rahman, in his book Spiritual Gems of Islam, says Islam provides timeless spiritual insights and practices from sacred texts, meditation, and knowledge of the heart. New Muslims are motivated to embark on a journey to tap into the fountain of Islamic spirituality.
The third reason is the appeal of Islamic rituals. Converts realize that practices like fasting during Ramadan are a means of achieving self-control rather than a restriction of personal freedom. Yentzik, a Belgian Muslim who converted in 2018, says, “During Ramadan, I feel much closer to God. I feel like I can start anew and that all my sins have been forgiven.”
Christian Bakker, the former MTV and NBC presenter who converted to Islam, describes Ramadan as a test of willpower. She says, “It is not only a period of renunciation and self-discipline but also a process of physical and spiritual cleansing.” Once the 30 days of fasting are completed, she says, “A certain euphoria sets in. I feel cleansed, fulfilled, and closer to God.”
Sarah Agar, who was known for her Christian faith before converting to Islam, explains, “It is during Ramadan, when Muslims refrain from food and drink during daylight hours, that I appreciate the practicality of the Islamic faith.” She adds that Islamic prayer is particularly meaningful: “The fact that I pray five times a day now means I have to stop what I’m doing. Even if I’m grumpy, we pray in a very physical way; you can’t just pray in your head, you have to engage physically by bowing and prostrating.”
The fourth reason is that many converts find logical answers to their spiritual questions within Islam. Teresa Corbin, an American writer, describes in her article for CNN, “I’m a Feminist and Converted to Islam,” how her journey to Islam began when she was 15. She had questions about her faith, and the answers from teachers and clergymen didn’t satisfy her. As she studied Islam, she was surprised that many tenets resonated with her. She was pleased to find that Islam honors all prophets, from Moses to Jesus to Muhammad, and teaches worship of one God.
Corbin was also drawn to Islam’s appeal to intellect and was astounded by the contributions of Muslim thinkers like Al-Khwarizmi, who invented algebra, Ibn Farnas, who developed flight mechanics before Da Vinci, and Al-Zahrawi, the father of modern surgery.
The fifth and final reason in our discussion at For All Humans is the search for community. Many converts speak of the feeling of community they experience in their journey to Islam. Muslims across cultures are known to be generous in welcoming people into their society. A representative from the Islamic Center in the UAE, who oversees many residents becoming Muslim, says, “I think it’s because they see the sense of community, especially during Ramadan when Muslims gather to break their fast and pray together.”
An article in The Economist describes how people can become fed up with the lewdness and indecency in their societies. They seek a sense of common purpose, where Muslims from various backgrounds come together to form a diverse community that emphasizes decency, morality, and modesty.
We hope you enjoyed this episode. Let us know what you think in the comments section. Meanwhile, share this with your friends and stay tuned for the next one.