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?

—————————–

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?

—————————–

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

Allah asks you (30) are the unbelievers waiting for the Hour?

The Hour will come on man all of a sudden while he does not perceive

On the Day of Judgment, Friends in sin will be foes and will go to Hell

On the Day of Judgment, Friends in faith will keep their friendship and will go to Heaven

—————————————————————

In the Noble Quran, Allah is asking mankind some important questions.

It seems compulsory for the serious one who is looking for the truth to have a look at those questions and if possible to answer them.

Allah’ questions are many. In this series, these questions are chosen randomly.

—————————————————————

In verse 43:66-71 of the Noble Quran, Allah is asking mankind this question: are the disbelievers waiting for the Hour that is to say they are in fact awaiting nothing; but the Hour should come upon them all of a sudden while they perceive not?  On the Day of Judgment, friends in sin in this world, will be foes and will go to Hell while friends in faith in this world will keep their sincere friendship and will dwell in the Paradise forever.

—————————————————————

Verses 43:66-71 give the question of this article and talk about it

The meanings of the verses 43:66-71

 

Verse 43:66 says:

Are the disbelievers awaiting anything, that is to say they are in fact awaiting nothing; but the Hour should come upon them suddenly, unexpectedly, while they are unaware?, of the time of its coming beforehand, when they are not aware of the descent of punishment upon them?.

 

Verse 43:67 says:

Friends in sin who shared in acts of disobedience in this world, on that day, the Day of Judgment will be foes one to another, except for the God-fearing, those who kept their duty to Allah, those who have love for one another through their commitment to obedience of God — such will be friends on that day and it will be said to them:

 

Verse 43:68 says:

Allah will then say: O MY servants! there is no fear for you this day, when others are in fear, nor will you grieve when others are in grief

 

Verse 43:69 says:

Those who believed Muhammad and the Quran and were self surrendered, submitted themselves to Allah in their worship and confession of Allah’s divine Oneness

 

Verse 43:70 says:

Enter Paradise, you and your spouses, your wives, to be made joyful, to be made glad, to be made happy and to be honored with gifts and delights in Paradise.

 

Verse 43:71 says:

They will be served from all around with large dishes of gold, trays of gold filled with different types of food and also they will be served from all around with round goblets without handles, filled with different drinks

And therein i.e. in Paradise is all that souls desire and eyes find sweet to look at.

And they are immortal therein, you will abide in Paradise forever, never to die or leave.

—————————————————————

Verses 43:66-71 in different translations:

QARIB:

66- Are they looking for anything except the hour (to overtake them). It will come upon them suddenly when they are unaware!

67- On that day close friends shall become enemies of each other, except those who fear (Allah).

68- O my worshipers, there is no fear for you on this day, nor will you grieve

69- To those who believed in our verses and were Muslims,

70- (It will be said) ‘you and your spouses, enter, walking with joy into paradise! ‘

71- To them will be passed large platters and cups of gold. There will be all that souls desire and all that eyes delight in. (and it will be said 🙂 ‘There you shall live for ever.

 

SHAKIR:

66- Do they wait for aught but the hour, that it should come! Upon them all of a sudden while they do not perceive?

67- The friends shall on that day be enemies one to another, except those who guard (against evil)

68- O my servants! there is no fear for you this day, nor shall you grieve

69- Those who believed in our communications and were submissive:

70- Enter the garden, you and your wives; you shall be made happy

71- There shall be sent round to them golden bowls and drinking-cups and therein shall be what their souls yearn after and (wherein) the eyes shall delight, and you shall abide therein

 

PICKTHAL:

66- Await they aught save the hour that it shall come upon them suddenly, when they know not?

67- Friends on that day will be foes one to another, save those who kept their duty (to Allah).

68- O my slaves! for you there is no fear this day, nor is it ye who grieve;

69- (Ye) who believed our revelations and were self-surrendered,

70- Enter the garden, ye and your wives, to be made glad.

71- Therein are brought round for them trays of gold and goblets, and therein is all that souls desire and eyes find sweet. and ye are immortal therein.

 

YUSUFALI:

66- Do they only wait for the hour – that it should come on them all of a sudden, while they perceive not?

67- Friends on that day will be foes, one to another,- except the righteous.

68- My devotees! no fear shall be on you that day, nor shall ye grieve,-

69- (Being) those who have believed in our signs and bowed (their wills to ours) in Islam.

70- Enter ye the garden, ye and your wives, in (beauty and) rejoicing.

71- To them will be passed round, dishes and goblets of gold: there will be there all that the souls could desire, all that their ayes could delight in: and ye shall abide therein (for eye).

Allah asks you (34) who did they go astray? Allah?

Had the Angels misled the Disbelievers?

What happened with Muhammad has happened with all Messengers before him

———————————————

In the Noble Quran, Allah is asking mankind some important questions.

It seems compulsory for the serious one who is looking for the truth to have a look at those questions and if possible to answer them.

Allah’ questions are many.  In this series, these questions are chosen randomly.

Verses 25:17-20 of the Noble Quran give the question of this article:

On the Day of Judgment, Allah will assemble those who worship besides Allah other than Him, such as men, Angels, jinn, idols etc.  He will say to the angels as an example of those who were worshipped: Was it you who misled these servants from my obedience and commanded them to worship you or did they themselves wander from the way and worshipped you out of their own whims?  Then, the Angels will reply!

———————————————

The meanings of verses 25:17-20 of the Noble Quran:

Verse 25:17 says:

And on the Day of Judgment when He will assemble them i.e. those who worship besides Allah other than Him, such as men, Angels, jinn, idols etc.; and it is said: He will say to the angels as an example of those who were worshipped: Was it you who misled these my slaves from My obedience and commanded them to worship you (or did they themselves wander from the way and worshipped you out of their own whims?  In other words, are you causing them to fall into error by commanding them to worship you, or did they go astray from the way, the path of truth, by themselves?

Verse 25:18 says:

The angels will reply: Exalted be You above what does not befit You! It was not, it would [not] have been right, for us to take any guardians besides You, that is, other than You.

Glory be to You! We were not permitted to worship any lords besides You, so how could we have command them to worship us?; but You gave them and their fathers, before them, ease [of living. You gave them a reprieve in their state of disbelief till they forgot the warning, until they shunned professing Your divine Oneness and refrained from worshipping you and became lost folk, doomed for destruction and whose hearts became evil.

Verse 25:19 says:

Thus they will deny you, that is, the ones who were worshipped denied those who worshipped [them], in what you allege, namely, that they are gods, and they will neither be able to.

In other words, neither they nor you will be able to, circumvent, ward off the chastisement from you, nor help, nor protect you from it. And whoever of you does evil, [whoever] ascribes partners to God, We shall make him taste an awful, a severe, chastisement, in the Hereafter.  It is also said that this means: whoever of you O disbelievers, remains firm in his disbelief, Allah shall make him taste great torment in the Fire.

Verse 25:20 says:

And Allah did not send before you O Muhammad any messengers but that they ate food and walked in the marketplaces, and so you are like them in this respect, and truly what was said to them is being said to you. And We have made some of you a trial for others:, a test, trying the rich with the poor, the healthy with the sick, the honorable with the vulgar, in each case the latter would say, ‘Why can I not be like the other person?’ Will you be steadfast? And endure what you hear from those with whom you are tried?   In other words, ‘Be steadfast!’ And your Lord is ever Watchful, of those who remain steadfast and those who become miserable.   It is also said that this means: will you be steadfast, O Companions of the Prophet in the face of their harm until I grant you the reward of the steadfast, and your Lord sees who believes among you and who does not?

———————————————

Verses 25:17- 20 in different translations:

QARIB:

17) on the day when he gathers them with all that they worship, other than Allah, he will say: ‘was it you who misled my worshipers, or did they themselves go astray? ‘

18) They will answer: ‘exaltations to you. we should not have taken others for a guardian, but you gave them and their fathers enjoyment until they forgot your remembrance and they were a destroyed nation. ‘

19) So they belie what you say, and you can neither turn it aside, nor find any help. those of you who have done evil, we let them taste a great punishment.

20) We did not send messengers before you but that they ate food and walked about in the markets, we have appointed some of you to be a trial for others. will you endure? your lord is the seer.

 

SHAKIR:

17) And on the day when he shall gather them, and whatever they served besides Allah, he shall say: was it you who led astray these my servants, or did they themselves go astray from the path?

18) They shall say: glory be to thee; it was not beseeming for us that we should take any guardians besides thee, but thou didst make them and their fathers to enjoy until they forsook the reminder, and they were a people in perdition,

19) So they shall indeed give you the lie in what you say, then you shall not be able to ward off or help, and whoever among you is unjust, we will make him taste a great chastisement

20) And we have not sent before you any messengers but they most surely ate food and went about in the markets; and we have made some of you a trial for others; will you bear patiently? and your lord is ever seeing

 

PICKTHAL:

17) And on the day when he will assemble them and that which they worship instead of Allah and will say: was it ye who misled these my slaves or did they (themselves) wander from the way?

18) They will say: be thou glorified! it was not for us to choose any protecting friends beside thee; but thou didst give them and their fathers ease till they forgot the warning and became lost folk.

19) Thus they will give you the lie regarding what ye say, then ye can neither avert (the doom) nor obtain help. and whoso among you doeth wrong, we shall make him taste great torment.

20) We never sent before thee any messengers but lo! they verily ate food and walked in the markets. and we have appointed some of you a test for others: will ye be steadfast? and thy lord is ever seer.

 

YUSUFALI:

17) The day he will gather them together as well as those whom they worship besides Allah, he will ask: “was it ye who let these my servants astray, or did they stray from the path themselves?”

18) They will say: “glory to thee! not meet was it for us that we should take for protectors others besides thee: but thou didst bestow, on them and their fathers, good things (in life), until they forgot the message: for they were a people (worthless and) lost.”

19) (Allah will say): “now have they proved you liars in what ye say: so ye cannot avert (your penalty) nor (get) help.” and whoever among you does wrong, him shall we cause to taste of a grievous penalty.

20) And the messengers whom we sent before thee were all (men) who ate food and walked through the streets: we have made some of you as a trial for others: will ye have patience? for Allah is one who sees (all things).

 

Allah does not love (4) the proud and the boastful

The Rights of the Parents in the Noble Quran

The Rights of the Neighbor in the Noble Quran

The Rights of the Orphan in the Noble Quran

The Rights of the Guest in the Noble Quran

—————————————————–

In the previous three articles, we have seen that Allah does not love:

(1) the disbelievers and Whoever disbelieves, the consequence of his disbelief shall be upon him,

2) the arrogant and

3) those who reject faith and there is an essential association between the disbelief and the arrogance.

In this article, Allah does not love who is proud and boastful

—————————————————–

The meanings of verse 4:36 of the Noble Quran:

And serve Allah, acknowledge His divine Oneness.

Ascribe no thing, no idol as partner unto Him.

And worship God, declare His Oneness, and associate nothing with Him.

Show kindness unto parents, be dutiful and gentle-mannered to them, and also unto near kindred.

Be kind to near kindred, and to orphans, and to the needy, and to the neighbor who is near, to you in terms of [physical] vicinity or kinship, and to the neighbor who is a stranger, the one far from you in terms of [physical] vicinity or kinship; and to the friend at your side, a traveling companion, or a colleague at work, and, it is also said, one’s wife; and to the wayfarer, the one cut off during a journey, and to what your right hands own, of bondsmen. 

Allah commands you to keep ties with your kin, and orphans

Allah commands that you show kindness to orphans, and to protect their wealth, etc, and the needy, and He enjoins giving alms to the needy, and unto the neighbor who is of kin unto you,

The neighbor who also happen to be your relative has three rights over you: the right of kinship, the right of Islam, and the right of being a neighbor

And the neighbor who is not of kin, the neighbor who is not a relative has two rights: the right of Islam and the right of being a neighbor

and the fellow traveler, a fellow traveler has two rights: the right of Islam and the right of companionship;

it is also said that this refers to one’s wife at home. Allah commands kindness towards her (and the wayfarer)

Allah commands the honoring of guests. Honoring a guest for three days is the guest’s right. The honour bestowed on the guest after the third day is considered a charity on the part of the host;

And the slaves, whom your right hands possess, Allah commands kindness towards slaves, males and females.

Lo! Allah does not love such as are proud, in their walking and boastful about the bounties of Allah, showing nothing but wantonness and arrogance towards Allah’s servants, and Allah does not love the one who boasts before people of what he has been given.

—————————————————–

Verse 4:36 in different translations

QARIB:

Worship Allah and do not associate anything with him. be kind to parents and near kinsmen, to the orphans and to the needy, to your neighbor who is your kindred, and to the neighbor at your far side, and the companion at your side, and to the destitute traveler, and to that which your right hands owns. Allah does not love he who is proud and struts,

SHAKIR:

And serve Allah and do not associate any thing with him and be good to the parents and to the near of kin and the orphans and the needy and the neighbor of (your) kin and the alien neighbor, and the companion in a journey and the wayfarer and those whom your right hands possess; surely Allah does not love him who is proud, boastful;

PICKTHAL:

And serve Allah. Ascribe no thing as partner unto him. (show) kindness unto parents, and unto near kindred, and orphans, and the needy, and unto the neighbor who is of kin (unto you) and the neighbor who is not of kin, and the fellow-traveler and the wayfarer and (the slaves) whom your right hands possess. lo! Allah loveth not such as are proud and boastful,

YUSUFALI:

serve Allah, and join not any partners with him; and do good- to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, those in need, neighbours who are near, neighbours who are strangers, the companion by your side, the wayfarer (ye meet), and what your right hands possess: for Allah loveth not the arrogant, the vainglorious;-

This is Allah (17) the commerce with Allah gives the best profit

1- Allah is the only Forgiving; He is the only one able to forgive your sin

2- What is the outcome of those who read the Quran, observe the prayers and pay the alms?

3- Allah is thankful for people’s little works and rewards them abundantly

4- Allah pays His people for their good deeds one to ten folds or more as He will

5- What is the commerce that will never fail?

—————————————————————-

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

Verses 35:29-31 of the Noble Quran says that:

1) Allah is truly Aware, Observer and Seer,

2) Allah is the only Forgiving,

3) What is the outcome of those who read the Quran, observe the prayers and pay the alms?

4) Allah is Thankful for people’s little works and rewards them abundantly and

5) Allah pays His people one to ten folds or more as He will.

—————————————————————-

The meaning of verse 35:29:

Indeed those who read and recite the Scripture of Allah, those who read and recite the Quran, and observe prayer, and perform the five daily prayers, and expend of what Allah has provided them secretly and openly, to give as alms and otherwise, anticipate a commerce that will never be ruined, they look forward to imperishable gain i.e. Paradise.

The meaning of verse 35:30:

That He, Allah will pay them their wages, their reward in Paradise and increase them of His grace one to ten folds or more as He will.

In other words, Allah may pay them in full their rewards, the reward for their mentioned deeds, and enrich them out of His bounty.

Lo! He is the only Forgiving. He forgives their great sins,

Responsive for their works; He is thankful for people’s little works and rewards them abundantly.

In other words, He is Forgiving, of their sins, Appreciative, of their obedience.

The meaning of verse 35:31:

And that which Allah has revealed to you O Muhammad of the Book, the Quran, as for that with which Allah sends Gabriel to you is the truth, confirming Allah’s divine Oneness and also agrees with some laws that which was revealed) before it of earlier Scriptures. what was revealed before it, in other words, confirming the Books that came before it. Indeed, with regard to His servants, Allah is truly Aware and Seeing, knowing both their inward and outward aspects.  In other words, Allah is indeed Observer; He is aware of those who believe and those who do not, Seer of his slaves; He sees their works.

—————————————————————-

Verses 35:29-31 in different English translations:

QARIB:

29) Indeed, those who recite the book of Allah and establish their prayers and spend, in secret and in public of that which we have provided them, look for a trade that does not come to nothing,

30) So that he may pay them in full their wages and enrich them from his bounty. surely, he is the forgiver and the thanker.

31) That which we have revealed to you of the book is the truth and it confirms what was before it. Allah is aware and sees his worshipers.

SHAKIR:

29) Surely they who recite the book of Allah and keep up prayer and spend out of what we have given them secretly and openly, hope for a gain which will not perish

30) That he may pay them back fully their rewards and give them more out of his grace: surely he is forgiving, multiplier of rewards

31) And that which we have revealed to you of the book, that is the truth verifying that which is before it; most surely with respect to his servants Allah is aware, seeing

PICKTHAL:

29) Lo! Those who read the scripture of Allah, and establish worship, and spend of that which we have bestowed on them secretly and openly, they look forward to imperishable gain,

30) That he will pay them their wages and increase them of his grace. lo! he is forgiving, responsive.

31) As for that which we inspire in thee of the scripture, it is the truth confirming that which was (revealed) before it. lo! Allah is indeed observer, seer of his slaves.

YUSUFALI:

29) Those who rehearse the book of Allah, establish regular prayer, and spend (in charity) out of what we have provided for them, secretly and openly, hope for a commerce that will never fail:

30) For he will pay them their meed, nay, he will give them (even) more out of his bounty: for he is oft-forgiving, most ready to appreciate (service).

31) That which we have revealed to thee of the book is the truth,- confirming what was (revealed) before it: for Allah is assuredly- with respect to his servants – well acquainted and fully observant.