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One of the most unexpected legacies of 11 September 2001 is that thousands of people around the world have converted to Islam. As a result of peace-loving Muslims speaking out against terrorism, many non-Muslims became interested in Islam – and thousands of them have decided to convert.
Islam is the fastest-growing religion in Europe and North America. This is due to a combination of people moving to these parts of the world and raising families there, together with a rise in rates of conversion.
The draw of Islam
Converts are sometimes referred to as ‘reverts’. The idea is that everyone is born pure and, by definition, a Muslim, however by consciously embracing Islam, they return to the original, sinless state in which God created them.
Some people move towards Islam after falling in love with a Muslim. This is becoming more common as increasing numbers of Muslims settle in countries with diverse populations.
According to Shariah, a Muslim man is allowed to marry a woman who is one of the People of the Book. This means Christians, Jews or Muslims – the religions that originate with the prophet Abraham or Ibrahim in Arabic. A Muslim woman, however, is not allowed to marry a non-Muslim, with the result that some men convert in order to marry.
Duty calls
Unlike some Christian groups, Muslims are not expected to evangelise, but they are expected to follow da’wah, which means encouraging people to turn to Islam – to lead by example and show that they follow a good, honest and pure life.
Although the Qur’an says, ‘There shall be no compulsion in religion,’ Muslims have a duty to invite or call others to return to the straight path of Islam. This, according to the Qur'an, has to be done with wisdom. The ‘most excellent speech’ is that of a person who calls others – whether Muslim or non-Muslim – to God.
To convert is simple – you must recite a declaration of faith called the shahadah in front of two witnesses. To live as a good Muslim, though, is more difficult, and takes faith and commitment.
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