Fear of Islam

Submitted by Hamza (Australia), Oct 8, 2005 at 10:18

I grew up in the Muslim world. lived there for 22 yrs. Kuwait and Pakistan. I then migrated to the western world. Even after spending so many years in the muslim countries, i knew almost nothing about islam. This is very typical of Muslims. Their education system is seriously devoid of Islamic education. They do have madrasas ' religious schools ' which teach you how to read the Quran in Arabic but nobody understands it. In my country Pakistan, the entire region that i lived in was ignorant of Islamic teachings. Only gerneral rituals like praying and fasting etc were known. There were people who could read the Quran and people who prayed but generally all limited to ritualistic Islam. Typical Muslim World. There are hardly any libraries where muslims could go and read up on Islam or anything else. It's as if their governments do not wish people to know about islam. Because then the people will ask for reform.

When i came to the western world, i turned to christianity. I also got an opportunity to information as to the structure of the Muslim world and its history unknown to muslims in the muslim world. I realised that muslim world is still controlled by the western governments. The dictators ruling the muslim world are actually supported or even established by the western nations. these dictators are less concerned for their own people and more concerned to hoard the national GDP for themselves.

For one year i went to church, wednesday night and sunday church, friday we had bible study. It was always the same. singing, certain chosen verses from the bible being read out, the solution to all the problems was said to be in Jesus. I asked questions about life, hard questions and where does all this beautiful preaching fit into this war torn world and a ruthless life. The answer would be "Jesus loves u". I eventually left the churches and christianity. First i found it hard to leave the church as i was losing the social life and friends i had made there who would just repeat things they heard from the pastor like trained parrots without knowing what they were saying and what it really meant. So i turned to new age spirituality which helped me disconnect from Christianity, it at least gave me the confidence to stand by myself knowing there are others outside the church with spiritual beliefs. But still i felt something is missing, a ' piece ' is missing. Yes, 'peace' was missing. I then met 2 former christians who had embraced Islam. I was shocked to see their dedication and devotion to islam, one, a former christian from lebanon and the other an american caucasian also a former christian. I tell u this, when i read up and studied up on Islam, i had never known islam before. After 29 yrs, i discovered Islam. The questions i had of life and living were answered. I highly recommend Islam.

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