|
Source :
al-Mujallah.
It was way back in 1989
when I, along with my sister, conducted a tour to some of the countries of
Middle East. During our stay in Bahrain, we were accorded warm welcome.
There I happened to meet some children and had a light chitchat with them.
I put certain questions to them and they flung at me their innocent
queries. During the course of this interaction, they inquired about my
religion. I told them, "I am a Christian." I asked them, as to what was
their religion? A wave of serenity took over them. They replied in one
voice ? Islam. Their enthusiastic answer really shook me from within. Then
they started telling me about Islam. They were giving me information, much
in piece with their age. The pitch of their voice would reveal that they
were highly proud of Islam. This is how I paced toward Islam.
A very short interaction with a group of children ultimately led me to
have long discourses about Islam with Muslim scholars. A great ripple had
taken place in my thought. I made failing attempt to console myself that
nothing had happened but I could not conceal this fact any longer from
myself that at heart I had converted to Islam. This I disclosed first to
my family friend, Qunber Ali. The same Qunber Ali managed to take me to
Riyadh, capital of Saudi Arabia. Till that time, I did not know much about
Islam. From there, in the company of a Saudi family, I proceeded for Mecca
for the performance of "Umrah". There I made public for the first time
that I had become Muslim.
Having embraced Islam, I felt as if I were born again. I found in Islam
the answers to those queries which I had failed to find in Christianity.
Particularly, it was only Islam that provided satisfactory answer to the
question relating to the birth of Christ. For the first time I was
convinced about the religion itself. I pray my family members might
appreciate these facts. My family is the follower of that cult of
Christianity, which is known as AVENDANCE of JEHOVA (Jehova's Witness).
According to its creeds, only 144,000 men would finally qualify to enter
into paradise. ?How comes, It remained always a perplexing creed for me. I
was surprised to know that Bible was compiled by so many men, particularly
about a volume scripted by King James. I wondered if a man compiles a
directory and then ascribes it to God, but he does not fully comply with
these directions. During my stay in Saudi Arabia I have had the
opportunity to buy a cassette released by the erstwhile British pop-singer
and the present Muslim preacher, Yusuf Islam (formerly Cat Stevens). I
learnt a lot from this as well.
When I returned to USA, American media orchestrated heinous propaganda
against Islam and the Muslims. The gossips were let loose on me which
really disturbed my peace of mind. The Hollywood was hell-bent upon
maligning the Muslims. They were being projected as terrorists. There are
many things where there is consensus between Christianity and Islam, and
Quran presents Holy Christ as a virtuous Prophet. Then, I wondered, why
Christian America levels baseless allegations against Muslims?
This made me gloomy. I made up my mind that I would do my best to dispel
the wrong image of Muslims, portrayed by the American media. I had not the
slightest idea that American media would not digest the news of my
accepting Islam and raise such a great hue and cry. It was virtually
acting against all its tall and much-publicized claims about the freedom
of expression and the freedom of conscience. So the hypocrisy of American
society came to surface and lay uncovered before me. Islam unknotted many
complications for me. As a matter of fact, I came to think of myself as a
complete human being, in the literal sense of the word. After becoming
Muslim, I felt a tremendous change in me. I discarded all thing prohibited
in Islam. This made things difficult for my family too. In short, the
Jackson family tumbled altogether. Threatening letters poured in, which
further intensified the worries of my family.
Well, they would tell me that I had nurtured the animosity of American
society and culture, by entering into the laps of Islam, you have deprived
yourself of the right to live with others. WE would make life unbearable
for you in America so on, so forth. But I confess that my family is
broadminded. We have held all religions in esteem. Our parents have
trained and groomed us in that way. Therefore, I may say that the Jackson
family enjoys friendly relation with people belonging to almost all
religions. This is the result of that training that I am being tolerated
by them so far.
On my way back to America, I brought a number of books from Saudi Arabia.
Michael Jackson asked me himself for some of these books for study. Before
this, his opinion was influenced by the propaganda of American media
against Islam and the Muslims. He was not inimical towards Islam, but he
was not favorably disposed towards Muslims either. But after reading these
books, he would keep mum and not say anything against Muslims. I think
perhaps this is the impact of the study of Islam that he diverted his
business interests towards Muslim traders. Now, he has equal shares with
the Saudi billionaire prince Waleed bin Talal, in his multi-national
company.
I testify this fact, at least there is nothing in my knowledge that
Michael Jackson ever said anything derogatory against Muslims. His songs,
too, give message of love for others. We have learnt from our parents to
love others. Only those who have their own ax to grind hurl allegations on
him. When there can be a nasty uproar against me when I became Muslim, why
can it not be so against Michael Jackson. But, so far, media has not
subjected him to scathing criticism, although he is threatened for his
getting somewhat closer to Islam. But who knows what would it look like
when Michael Jackson embraces Islam.
When I returned to America, my mother had already heard the news of my
conversion to Islam. My mother is a religious and civilized woman. When I
reached home, she put forth only one question, "you have taken this
decision all of a sudden, or is it the outcome of some deep and long
thinking behind it?" "I have decided after a lot of thinking about it," I
replied, let me say we are known as a religious family. Whatever we
possess, is due to the blessing of God. Then why we should not be grateful
to Him? This is why we actively participate in the charity institutions.
We dispatched medicines to the poor African countries through special
aircraft. During Bosnian war, our aircraft were engaged in supplying aids
to the affectees. We are sensitive to such things because we have
witnessed abject poverty. We used to live in a house which was hardly a
few square meters capacious.
Like other members of my family, my sudden conversion to Islam was a great
surprise for my sister Janet jackson. In the beginning, she was worried.
She has stashed into her head only one thing that Muslims are polygamous,
they do have as much as four wives. When I explained this permission
granted by Islam with reference to the state of the present American
society, she was satisfied. This is fact that promiscuity and infidelity
is very common in the western society. In spite of the fact that they are
married, western men enjoy extramarital relations with a number of women.
This has caused devastating moral decay in that society. Islam safeguards
the social fabric from this destruction.
As per Islamic teachings, if a man is emotionally attracted towards a
woman, he should honorably give this relation a legal shape otherwise he
must be contented with only one wife. On the other hand, Islam has laid
down so much conditions for second marriage that I do not think that an
ordinary Muslim can afford to meet these conditions financially. There is
hardly one percent Muslims in the Islamic world who have more than one
wife. To my view, the women in an Islamic society is just like a
well-protected flower which is safe from the stray penetrating looks of
the viewers. Whereas western society is devoid of the vision to appreciate
this wisdom and philosophy.
For the larger interest of humanity, Islamic society presents the safest
place on this planet. For instance, take the example of women. American
women are clad in their out-fit in such a manner that gives temptation to
the male for harassment. But this is unthinkable in an Islamic society.
Besides, the prevalent sins and vices have disfigured the moral fabric of
western society. I believe if there is any place left where the humanity
is still visible, it can not be anywhere else than in an Islamic society.
Time would come when the world would be obliged to accept this reality.
American media is suffering from self-contradictions. Take the example of
Hollywood. The status of an artist is measured here keeping in view the
model of his car, the standard of this restaurant that he visits, etc.
This is the media that raises someone from the dust to the skies. They do
not consider the artist as a human being. But I have met so many artists
in the Middle East. They have no misplaced arrogance in them.
Just look at the CNN, they do that much exaggeration about some news that
it appears that nothing else has happened except that event in the world.
The news of fire in the forests of Florida was given such a wide coverage
as it gave the impression that the whole globe has caught fire. In fact,
it was a small area, which was affected by that fire.
I was in Africa, when the bomb-blast took place in Oklahoma City. The
Media, without any proof, started hinting at the involvement of Muslims in
that blast. Later on the Saboteur turned out to be a CHRISTIAN!!! We may
term this attitude of American media as its willful ignorance.
Many persons have impressed me. But the fact is that first I turn to the
Holy Quran, therefore I do not run a risk of getting strayed on the way.
However, there are many Islamic scholars that one can be duly proud of.
God willing, I plan to go to Saudi Arabia with my family to perform, ?Umrah?.
I have seven sons and two daughter who, like me, are fully
Islamic-oriented. My wife is still studying Islam. She insists on going
over to Saudi Arabia. I trust InshaAllah, she would sooner join Islam. May
God Almighty give us the courage and perseverance to remain on this true
religion, Islam. (Ameen)
|
|
