How did you accept Islam?


Many people have asked me lately how I came to Islam. It is not an unusual question for a convert (or revert) to be asked. Every person who accepts Islam has a unique story and tale to tell. I remember getting one of the books filled with "convert stories" and being enthralled for days at the variety of experiences people have.

Many "born" Muslims, as they call themselves, take a great interest in such convert stories as well. It reaffirms their faith and strengthens their resolve. After all, if people are accepting Islam in droves today, even though Islam has been stigmatized in popular and secular culture all over the world, there must be a hidden value. Reading what others see in accepting the Islamic way of life reinforces our awareness of this value.

There is another valuable source of convert stories as well. A source which can have an even greater effect on your Iman and Taqwa then contemporary sources. I would recommend that people spend more time reading these stories than those of modern converts. This other source is the stories of the Sahaba (Companions of the Prophet).

Did you know that almost all of the Sahaba were converts to Islam? Every last one of them has a unique story, and quite a few suspense-filled adventures on their way to the truth. Sometimes when I read about one of them, I find parallels in my own journey to Islam. Other times I find myself amazed at the power of the human spirit to overcome even the most insurmountable obstacles.

My personal favorites among the Sahaba are Fatimah, Salman al-Farisee, Abu Darda, Abu Dharr al-Ghiffari, 'Umar, Mu'adh ibn Jabal and Umm Ammarah. In my humble understanding, I feel every Muslim should make it a point to be familiar with the stories of at least ten of the Sahaba. Skim through a book of their biographies, pick a few that seem to interest you and then read in detail. Compare their examples. How did they interact with the Prophet and others? What lessons are there for our own lives today?

I sometimes find myself wishing that in study circles and Tarbiyyah sessions that Muslims would move away from repeating the same worn-out old topics (lessons of the Hijra, significance of Sura al-'Asr) and explore other, deeper themes that are more relevant. The struggles, achievements and trials of the Sahaba have a timeless relationship to what people face in every age.

Is it any wonder that the Blessed Prophet advised us to follow the example of his Sahaba and even Allah, Himself, praises the Sahaba in many places in the Qur'an. Today our children's heroes are basketball players, fashion models, singers and movie stars; people who do nothing important. All they are is entertainers. They teach nothing good in a real sense, they contribute nothing to society and all they do is present an example of a wild and wealthy lifestyle that children want to duplicate.

What of the Heroes of Islam? Time and time again I have seen Khateebs, lectures and scholars mention the names of one Sahaba and others to an audience which was filled with people who didn't know anything about those names. The speaker may feel flushed with pride mentioning those names, but his or her listeners don't know the deep implications and significance.

That's a whole other topic, of course; the gap between the scholars (who live in a dream world) and the masses of Muslims (who are cut off from most Islamic knowledge). I'll save that for another column. Suffice it to say, by reading the stories of those who have accepted Islam, we ourselves can learn jewels of wisdom which can permeate our own experience and make us better Muslims.

Every parent, school and teacher must make certain that our children know at least Sahaba stories in a meaningful and relevant way. Then our children will look to the real giants of history as their heroes and born Muslims can get a sense of pride in their way of life that goes beyond, far beyond what stories those of us converts of today can tell.

Do I have any suggestions for you to begin? Of course, that's the whole reason I write this column month after month. I want improvement. Business as usual may be fine in a dilapidated Muslim country, but the Islamic movement is alive and kicking in America. I want to see it stabilize and become a permanent part of this nation's fabric.

As far as books to read for the stories of the Sahaba, there are three main sources I recommend: "The Beauty of the Righteous and Ranks of the Elite" (Akili), "The Companions of the Prophet" (Hamid) and "Hayatus Sahaba" (Kandhalvi). These three sources are available just about everywhere. If you don't know where to get them you can call a Muslim bookstore and they can send them to you.

There you have it! The names of three great sources for learning and the numbers where to get them. It just doesn't get any better than this! After reading one or all of these books, choose ten Sahaba which you feel most drawn towards and then accept this further challenge. Sit down with some paper and a pen and write a short essay to yourself about what impresses you most about each Sahaba and what lessons you can draw for your own life.

Save those essays and read them again every few years or months as you need to. If you're feeling down or helpless or stressed you can center yourself by reading the examples of others who had even tougher struggles than us and who came through with flying colors. Let's not be like the people that Allah spoke about, the people who are like donkeys carrying piles of books. Let's apply our reading, make it meaningful for our lives and do something with it. Will you accept this challenge? I will.

Yahiya Emerick was a former vice principal at an Islamic school, President of the Islamic Foundation of North America and a Muslim author and has written many articles that have been published in local as well as national magazines, both in North America and abroad. He was born into an American Protestant Christian family and converted to Islam in 1989. Amirah Publishing was founded by Yahiya Emerick in 1992 in order to further his ideal of publishing American-oriented literature on Islam. Emerick's juvenile fiction books are amongst the very first examples of the Islamic Fiction genre.http://islamicfictionbooks.com/ifbauthors.html In addition to being an author he is also a lecturer and educator with national recognition. One of Emerick's books has been adopted into the curriculum of Al-Azhar University in Egypt, the world's oldest college and the foremost in Islam.


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Older Comments:
SABRINA FROM SRI LANKA said:
Excellent article! Totally agree with the writer. The stories of the Sahaba (may Allah be pleased with them all) and the lessons they learned from our beloved Prophet (sallalahu alaihi wa sallam)are the most inspirational and practical lessons we can learn and apply to our own lives. They were true heroes and giants among men!
2014-11-29

MUSLIM FROM WORLD said:
As Salam alaikum perhaps a cartoon version of the classic film THE MESSAGE is
required with the guidance of Al Azhar etc.
2014-11-29

BABANDI A GUMEL FROM U.K said:
Masha Allah beautiful inspiring article worthy of reading by every
one new and the so called old Muslims. Sahabas were the best
examples for every one to follow.May Allah make us become the means
of hidayah to the entire mankind.
2014-11-28

IBN HANIF FROM USA said:
I love reading stories of the Sahaba (radiALLAHu ahuma), always inspirational no doubt. The way they sacrificed everything and dedicated their lives to serving the Messenger of Allah (salALLAHu alayhi wa salam) and Allah is truly amazing. I remember reading a story on a Sahabi who had enough wealth to support his family but would work to help other poorer families and he would give them all his money! SubhanALLAH, and what do we work for? Bigger house, plasma TV, nice car... We don't know the meaning of sacrifice because we are too caught up in the dunya (worldly life) and forgot about the next life. How foolish we are...
2008-11-03

ASRI FROM US said:
an excellent article with a message that all muslims should strive for and meet the challenge.
2008-11-01

ZINEDINE FROM MOROCCO said:
Issa, when I read the story & life of Mus'ab Bnu Umair too back in the 80's I was so overwhelmed by it & I had tears in my eyes. Mus'ab Bnu Umair or Mus'ab Alkhair as Rasoolo Allah (pbuh) called him is an exceptional Sahaabi & his life is extra-ordinary. In In my humble opinion, he is superior to Budha & the Mahatma combined because of the nature of the unbelievable sacrifices he made. This very good looking, super rich and always nicely dressed & perfumed Sahaabi (RAA) had rejected all the wealth that his mother offered him since childhood & had a very emotional separation from his mother & became poor for Islam to eventually die as a Shaheed (martyr) in the battle of Badr. He is an amazing role model & a great example for our children.
2008-10-30

ZINEDINE FROM MOROCCO said:
Salaamu alaikum,

Great article by the author, Jazaka Allahu khairan

1-With all due respect to Yahya Emerick, I have to correct some of Arabic mistakes.

Sahaaba or Ashaab in Arabic is plural for Sahaabi singular
Two male companions of the prophet (pbuh) are called Sahaabiyayn

For women Sahaabiya is singular & Sahaabiat is plural.
Two female companions of the messenger of Allah (pbuh) are called Sahaabiyatayn.

Please note that unlike languages of Latin origins & languages of Germanic origins which only have singular & plural, Arabic & may be other Semitic languages too have singular, dual (Muthannaa) and plural.

2-I would like to add one more book to the list & it's "Rijaal hawla Rasool" by Khaled Mohammed Khaled although my favourite is "Hayaat Sahaaba"

3- You know that Imam shafii said if Surat Al-Asr was the only surat revealed to the prophet (pbuh) it will be enough for us Muslim. I say if the prophet had Ali (KAW) as the only Sabaabi in his life; it will be enough for us Mulims because Ali is the greatest Sahaabi EVER!!!
2008-10-30

ISSA FROM USA/SOMALI said:
It is really wonderful just to read about the stories of the sahaba and how they overcome all odds. In reading of the stories of Sahaba "namely Mus'ab ibn Umair" that I decided if Allah ever gave son, to name after him. That was almost two dacades ago. Inchallah, I have yet to get one but married abd wishing allah from anyday. I really sad that not many people in do know these kind of stories in a Muslim country like Morocco.
2008-10-27

ALI FROM INDIA said:
Why do you consider born Muslims to be different from Muslim reverts? We are all brothers in faith.
2008-10-27

SHAHNAZ FROM US said:
Peace&blessings of ALLAH on our prophet&his companions i Am reading a book Alraheeqilmaktoom&i pray for Our prophet&hois companions every day their stories must be a part of curriculum&every khutba over the world inshaallah
2008-10-27

ADEMOLA SAMSON FROM NIGERIA said:
As salam alaikum,
My brother in faith had written well,we need to study and apply the lessons of the lifes of the sahaba.The prophet was quoted as saying 'My sahaba are like a guiding stars,whosoever you follow,one will not go astray.'
Ma salaam.
2008-10-26

UMMBILAL FROM USA said:
I may humbly recommend the Stories of the Sahaba series by Noura Durkee and tapes and CD's by Anwar Al-Awlaki. They have had a profound impact on my chlidren.
2008-10-25

NARGIZA NURMUKHAMMAD FROM UZBEKISTAN said:
MashAllah dear scholar!!!

Your article is another proof that a pen can be much stronger than a sword. Let me also thank you for your book " Islam for Dummies" that helped me in finding my path to Islam. I was born into a "so-called" Muslim family during Soviet era and knew very little about Islam except for prayers and fasting duties. However, no explanantion on what iman was about.

Thus, young Muslims do need such wonderful articles and good books to learn about Islam and find their path to the ultimate truth.

2008-10-25