Why Do Priests & Preachers Enter Islam? The story of conversion of the Preacher Yusuf Estes (10)

Doesn’t it bother you to have left the way of peace, justice and love for a religion of hatred, violence and oppression toward women and others?

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How a preacher or priest in Christianity can ever go to Islam?

How could a preacher have turned his back on the perfect plan of salvation of Jesus Christ on the cross for you sins and converted to Islam?

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ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

The ex- American preacher Yusuf Estes continues saying:

Now as I promised here are the answers to the questions many have asked me connected with my choice of Islam:

Question:

8. “Doesn’t it bother you to have left the way of peace, justice and love for a religion of hatred, violence and oppression toward women and others?”

Answer:

All the prophets, peace be upon them all, called the people to worship Almighty God as One God and One Lord. As such, those who did not want to submit to Almighty God would combat them and treat them with hostilities, even unto death, as Paul had done while still being a Pharisee. The prophets, peace be upon them all, did encourage their followers to live in peace and deal with people in justice and certainly love is the highest form of emotion a human can have for another human being.

Yet at the same time, believers have to defend themselves, their families and the religion itself, lest those who are not believers should remove belief from the very face of the earth. Islam, like Christianity preaches a message of peace and tolerance – to a point. But when this is no longer possible without totally compromising and loosing one’s way of life and belief system, then there is no alternative except to engage in open combat against those who are combating against the believers.

Jesus called upon his followers to sell their coats and buy swords. He explained that he did not come with peace, but rather a sword. He and his companions were engaged in mortal combat with their enemies, the Pharisees when one of the priests slaves had his ear cut by the sword. Jesus then told them to put down their swords. This is mentioned in the Bible.

The word “sword” appears over 200 times in the Bible – but even though the Arabic language has more than a dozen words for sword, there is not a single occurrence of any of these words anywhere in the Quran.

Combat is ordered in the Quran, only under very specific and limited conditions and it is nothing more than what we would today call “The War on Terrorism.” Fighting against all acts of organized aggression, oppression, persecution and terrorism is an obligation on all believers. But it certainly has limits and women, children, elderly and any innocents are not to killed or injured during such occasions. Treatment of prisoners is not to be humiliating or torture of any kind. Even the dead of the enemy are to be buried with dignity and respect.

Now since writing my story and publishing here on the internet many other websites have picked up this story and it had become a famous example of how “Priest and Preachers Are Coming to Islam.”

Again, I thank you for visiting. And I thank our Christian friend for his email. If he hadn’t sent it, I probably would still not have completed this task of putting down the story once and for all of how my family, friends and myself all came to Islam.

Please feel free to share this story with others. You should print it out and make copies for everyone. Give them our links, add our story to your website or blog page, and send out emails to everyone you know. Maybe it could make a difference for others like us, God Willing.

May Allah guide you on your journey to all truth? Ameen. And May He open your heart and your mind to the reality of this world and the purpose of this life, ameen.

Peace to you and Guidance from Allah the One Almighty God, Creator and Sustainer of all that exists.

Your friend,

Yusuf Estes, Chaplain Yusuf Estes

What lessons Allah teaches His Servants?

Among the sayings the Prophet Muhammad relates from his Lord (May He be glorified) is that

Allah said:

 

·         “My servants, I have forbidden oppression for Myself and have made it forbidden amongst you, so do not oppress one another.

·        My servants, all of you are astray except for those I have guided, so seek guidance of Me and I shall guide you.

·        My servants, all of you are hungry except for those I have fed, so seek food of Me and I shall feed you. O My servants, all of you are naked except for those I have clothed, so seek clothing of Me and I shall clothe you.

·        My servants, you sin by night and by day, and I forgive all sins, so seek forgiveness of Me and I shall forgive you.

·        My servants, you will not attain harming Me so as to harm Me, and you will not attain benefiting Me so as to benefit Me.

·        My servants, were the first of you and the last of you, the human of you and the jinn of you to be as pious as the most pious heart of any one man of you, that would not increase My kingdom in anything. O My servants, were the first of you and the last of you, the human of you and the jinn of you to be as wicked as the most wicked heart of any one man of you, that would not decrease My kingdom in anything.

·        My servants, were the first of you and the last of you, the entire human beings and the jinn, to rise up in one place and make a request of Me, and were I to give everyone what he requested, that would not decrease what I have, any more than a needle decreases the sea if put into it.

·        My servants, it is but your deeds that I reckon up for you and then recompense you for, so let him who finds good praise Allah and let him who finds other than that blame no one but himself.'”

 

This saying was:

1) Said on the authority of Abu Dharr al-Ghifari, one of Muhammad’s companions (may Allah be pleased with him) from the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)

2) Narrated by the authors of At-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Muslim

Allah does not love (20) those who desire to be Haughty in the Earth

The Story of Qaroun, Moses’ cousin -d

What those who had longed to be in his place said after Allah’s torment to Qaroun?

The sequel, Paradise, is for those who ward off evil

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Verses 28:76-83 of the Noble Quran are talking about “Qaroun”, Moses’ cousin, who was very rich man. He was corrupter in the earth in the earth through his disdain, haughtiness and great wealth.

Verses 28:82-83 are talking about what those who had longed to be in his place said after Allah’s torment to Qaroun.  The sequel, Paradise, is for those who ward off evil, those who ward off disbelief, those who fear, God’s punishment, by performing deeds of obedience.

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The story of Qaroun, Moses’ cousin is mentioned in the previous articles when talking about the verses  28:76-81 of the Noble Quran.

Furthermore, the verse 28:82-83 continue narrating this story.

 

Verse 28:82 says:

And those who had longed to be in his place, who had coveted his place, his status, standing and wealth the day before, were crying to one another were saying,

it is not as Qaroun said, i.e. that his wealth was his own doing, but rather Allah enlarges the provision for whom He will of His slaves and in the case of Qaroun such wealth was a lure to perdition, and straitened it, for whom He will out of care for the person. 

‘Alas! God expands provision for whomever He will of His servants and straitens it, He restricts it for whomever He will

If Allah had not been gracious unto us, and withheld from us what He gave him,

He would have caused it to swallow us also as it swallowed Qaroun.

‘Alas! The disbelievers never prosper; they will never be safe from Allah’s torment.

Lo! Indeed those who are ungrateful, for God’s grace, such as Qaroun, never prosper.

 

Verse 28:83 says

As for that Abode of the Hereafter, namely, Paradise, which Allah shall grant to those who do not desire to be haughty in the earth, through insolence, or to cause corruption, by committing acts of disobedience.

Allah assigns Paradise unto those who do not seek oppression and haughtiness in the earth through their wealth,

And the, praiseworthy, the sequel, Paradise, is for those who ward off evil, those who ward off disbelief, idolatry, haughtiness and corruption in the earth.

And it will be for those who fear, God’s punishment, by performing deeds of obedience.

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Verses 28:82-83 in different translations

QARIB:

82) And in the morning those who had wished to be in his place the previous evening said: ‘indeed, Allah outspreads to whom he will among his worshipers, and he restrains. had he not shown us favor, he could have caused the earth to swallow us. indeed, the unbelievers shall never prosper. ‘

83) That is the last abode, we shall assign it to those who desire neither exorbitance in the earth, nor corruption. the outcome is for the cautious.

 

SHAKIR:

82) And those who yearned for his place only the day before began to say: ah! (know) that Allah amplifies and straitens the means of subsistence for whom he pleases of his servants; had not Allah been gracious to us, he would most surely have abased us; ah! (know) that the ungrateful are never successful

83) (As for) that future abode, we assign it to those who have no desire to exalt themselves in the earth nor to make mischief and the good end is for those who guard (against evil)

 

PICKTHAL:

82) And morning found those who had coveted his place but yesterday crying: ah, welladay! Allah enlargeth the provision for whom he will of his slaves and straiteneth it (for whom he will). if Allah had not been gracious unto us he would have caused it to swallow us (also). ah, welladay! the disbelievers never prosper.

83) As for that abode of the hereafter we assign it unto those who seek not oppression in the earth, nor yet corruption. the sequel is for those who ward off (evil).

 

YUSUFALI:

82) And those who had envied his position the day before began to say on the morrow: “ah! it is indeed Allah who enlarges the provision or restricts it, to any of his servants he pleases! had it not been that Allah was gracious to us, he could have caused the earth to swallow us up! ah! those who reject Allah will assuredly never prosper.”

83) That home of the hereafter we shall give to those who intend not high-handedness or mischief on earth: and the end is (best) for the righteous.

This is Allah (31) Allah forbids open and hidden adultery

Allah Commands: eat and drink but do not be excessive

Allah does not love those who are excessive and prodigal

Allah does not love those who are excessive

The Arabs used to forbid foods and clothes during the days of pilgrimage

The Arab Disbelievers were forbidding what Allah has not forbidden

Allah forbids open and Secret adultery

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Many people do not know Allah. This series is an attempt to help them in order to know and acknowledge their Creator.

Verses 7:31-33 of the Noble Quran talk about:

1) Allah does not love those who are excessive and prodigal,

2) Allah Commands: eat and drink do not be excessive; He does not love those who are excessive,

3) The Arabs used to forbid themselves meat and fat during the days of pilgrimage,

4) The Arab Disbelievers were forbidding what Allah has not forbidden and

5) Allah forbids open and Secret adultery

 

The meaning of verse 7:31

O Children of Adam! Don your adornment, that which covers your nakedness, at every place of worship, at prayer and upon circumambulation of the Holy House in Mecca, and eat and drink, what you want, but do not be excessive; He truly does not love those who are excessive.

In other words, eat and drink, but do not be prodigal, do not declare unlawful wholesome foods. 

Lo! Allah does not love the prodigals, those who transgress by leaving the lawful and going after the unlawful even in eating and drinking..

This verse puts a golden principle about relationship between the health and food; one can speculate that over-eating is not only a health problem but also it is from Satan who made the Arabs before Islam worshiped Allah while they were NAKED!  See article 33.

 

The meaning of verse 7:32

Say O Muhammad to the disbelievers: ‘Who has forbidden the wearing of clothes during the days of pilgrimage, in the Sacred Precinct and upon circumambulation of the Holy House in Mecca? Who has forbidden the adornment of Allah which He has brought forth for His servants, in the way of garments, and the good things, the delicious foods, and the good things of Allah’ sustenance and providing?’ For in the pre-Islamic days they used to forbid themselves meat and fat during the days of pilgrimage, and entered the Sacred Precinct completely naked: the men during the day and the women during the night. Allah made these practices unlawful.

Say: ‘These, on the Day of Resurrection, shall be exclusively for those who believed during the life of this world and the disbelievers will never have anything of that. Thus, in the Quran, We detail the signs, We explain them in such detail, for a people who know’, who reflect, for they are the ones to profit from these [signs].

In other words, all the good things, on the Day of Resurrection, will be only for those who believed during the life of the world in Muhammad and the Quran, while both believer and sinner will enjoy them during the life of this world. Allah elucidates the Quran by explaining the lawful and the unlawful for people who have knowledge, for people who believe it is from Allah.

 

The meaning of verse 7:33

Say) to them, O Muhammad: My Lord forbids only indecencies, grave sins, such as fornication, such of them as are apparent and such as are hidden, that is, the overt ones and the secret ones, and sin, the act of disobedience, and wrongful insolence, against people, namely, oppression, and that you associate with Allah that for which He never revealed any warrant, any definitive proof for such association, and that you say concerning Allah that which you do not know’, in the way of forbidding what He has not forbidden and other things.

In other words, Allah forbids only indecencies, adultery, (such of them as are apparent) open adultery (and such as are within) taking secret lovers, (and sin) intoxicants as the poet said: I sipped sin until my mind erred, Thus indeed does sin take away minds. I openly drank urns of sin, And between us benefiting, you see your goddess; (and wrongful oppression) unlawful overbearingness, (and that you associate with Allah that for which no warrant) no Scripture or proof (hath been revealed, and that ye tell concerning Allah that which ye know not) of forbidding crops and cattle, good things and raiment.

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Verses 7:31-33in different English translations of the meanings of Arabic Quran:

QARIB:

31) Children of Adam, take your adornment at every place of prayer. eat and drink, and do not waste. he does not love the wasteful.

32) Say: ‘who has forbidden the adornment that Allah has brought for his worshipers and the good provision? ‘Say: ‘they are in this life for those who believe, and purely theirs on the day of resurrection. ‘ as such we distinguish the verses to people who know.

33) Say: ‘my lord has forbidden all indecent acts whether apparent or disguised and sin, and unjust insolence, and that you associate with Allah that for which he has never sent down an authority, or to say about Allah what you do not know. ‘

 

SHAKIR:

31) O children of Adam! attend to your embellishments at every time of prayer, and eat and drink and be not extravagant; surely he does not love the extravagant

32) Say: who has prohibited the embellishment of Allah which he has brought forth for his servants and the good provisions? say: these are for the believers in the life of this world, purely (theirs) on the resurrection day; thus do we make the communications clear for a people who know

33) Say: my lord has only prohibited indecencies, those of them that are apparent as well as those that are concealed, and sin and rebellion without justice, and that you associate with Allah that for which he has not sent down any authority, and that you say against Allah what you do not know

 

PICKTHAL:

31) O children of Adam! look to your adornment at every place of worship, and eat and drink, but be not prodigal. lo! he loveth not the prodigals.

32) Say: who hath forbidden the adornment of Allah which he hath brought forth for his bondmen, and the good things of his providing? say: such, on the day of resurrection, will be only for those who believed during the life of the world. thus do we detail our revelations for people who have knowledge.

33) Say: my lord forbiddeth only indecencies, such of them as are apparent and such as are within, and sin and wrongful oppression, and that ye associate with Allah that for which no warrant hath been revealed, and that ye tell concerning Allah that which ye know not.

 

YUSUFALI:

31) O children of Adam! wear your beautiful apparel at every time and place of prayer: eat and drink: but waste not by excess, for Allah loveth not the wasters.

32) Say: who hath forbidden the beautiful (gifts) of Allah, which he hath produced for his servants, and the things, clean and pure, (which he hath provided) for sustenance? say: they are, in the life of this world, for those who believe, (and) purely for them on the day of judgment. thus do we explain the signs in detail for those who understand.

33) Say: the things that my lord hath indeed forbidden are: shameful deeds, whether open or secret; sins and trespasses against truth or reason; assigning of partners to Allah, for which he hath given no authority; and saying things about Allah of which ye have no knowledge.

How Muhammad banned Adultery in few words, a Real Story

Although adultery is forbidden both in the Bible and the Quran; however, in the west, adultery has become so common because of sexual freedoms; all the highlighting these days seems to be on finding sexual satisfaction by committing adultery. On the other hand, in Muslim societies, there is far less emphasis on sex and Adultery is regarded as a big sin.

 

It is narrated that the Prophet Muhammad encouraged all the natural moral virtues such as truthfulness, kindness, generosity, and justice. And he doomed all the naturally offensive sins such as false speech, shamelessness, adultery and fornication, ignorance, and oppression.

 

Muhammad’s wife Aaishah reported that the Prophet did not start His message by telling people not to drink wine and not to commit fornication and adultery. He started by telling them about Allah, the Day of Judgment and the Afterlife until they had firm belief in these principle issues. It is only then he told them not to drink or commit adultery and they obeyed him.

Aaishah said:

“Had he started by telling them not to drink wine or not commit adultery; they would have said, ‘We will never abandon them?”

The Prophet Muhammad has said in many of his teachings that adultery is one of the three major sins.

 

How the Prophet Muhammad banned Adultery in few words in one of his practical teachings?

A Real Story

 

A young Muslim man went to the Prophet; he asked for permission to fornicate because he could not control himself.

Herein, this young man is very honest and very brave. None of the Muslims would dare to ask the prophet to commit adultery that is one of the three major sins.

The young man asked the prophet in the presence of many Muslims who were sitting around the prophet listening to his teachings.  All of them kept silent waiting to see and hear the answer of the prophet.

 

The Prophet dealt with the young man with reasoning and asked him

The woman that you commit adultery with her is one of four; she is a mother, a sister, a daughter, or a wife. Then the Prophet Muhammad asked the young man:

Would you approve of someone else committing adultery with your mother?

Would you approve of someone else committing adultery with your sister?

Would you approve of someone else committing adultery with your daughter?

Would you approve of someone else committing adultery with your wife?

Each time the young man replied ‘No’.

Then the Prophet replied that the woman with whom you plan to have sex is also somebody’s mother, sister, daughter, or wife. The man understood and repented.

Then the Prophet prayed to Allah for his forgiveness.