I once thought my upbringing offered an excellent way of
life, especially since I felt satisfied both mentally and physically.
As a young man, I lived the life of an average American who had a
rather hedonistic lifestyle; I was found of music, a festive
atmosphere dames, sports, travel, ethnic foods and foreign languages.
I reached a point, however, where I felt 'spiritually bankrupt' and I
asked myself, "now what?" and I thought, "there has to be more to
life than this." This realization was the impetus that led me to
search for the truth through diverse avenues.

I assumed the reason I felt spiritually unfulfilled had
to do with my lifestyle in America, which was often tied to instant
gratification and impulsive behavior. As a result, I speculated that
the answer might lie in finding a better locale. Thus, I began looking
for that perfect place. After traveling to numerous destinations, I
discovered that it wasn't so much a perfect location I was looking
for, but a particular culture with the most suitable approach to life.
When I found what I considered to be the most appealing culture, I
recognized that it still had flaws. Thereafter, I surmised that we
should learn about the different ways people live and then select the
best from these practices. This was perhaps the road to the truth.

Unable to really implement the life of a global citizen,
I chose to read materials on metaphysics because the esoteric things
in life always intrigued me. I quickly learned everything functions
according to universal laws which can be used for one's own benefit.
After reading many books on this subject, I concluded that more
important than these laws is the One Who created them, i.e., God I
also discovered metaphysics can be a precarious path to follow, in
which case, I refrained from any further reading in this area.

On the suggestion of a good friend, we went on a three-
month camping trip all over America and Western Canada with the
intention of discovering the purpose of life. We witnessed the marvels
of nature and realized this world could not have been created by
mistake, and that it was clearly a wonderland of signs pointing to its
Creator. Hence, this trip reinforced my belief in God.

After returning home, I felt distressed at the busy life
of the city, so I turned to meditation for relief. I was able to find
inner peace through meditation techniques. Nevertheless, this tranquil
feeling was only temporary; once I stood up, I couldn't take that
feeling with me. Likewise, being consistent with meditation became too
much of a formidable task, so I slowly started losing interest.

Before long, I thought the truth might lie in self-
improvement. Therefore I became a voracious reader of motivational
materials and attended related seminars. In addition, I was striving
to live up to the US Army's slogan on TV commercials, 'Be all you can
be', through endeavors in fire-walking, skydiving and martial arts.
Due to my reading and challenging exploits, I gained a keen sense of
self-confidence, but in fact, I still hadn't discovered the truth.

Soon afterwards, I read numerous books on various
philosophies. I found many interesting concepts and practices; yet,
there wasn't any particular philosophy that I could totally agree
with. Thus, I chose to consolidate what I thought was the best wisdom
from among these doctrines. It became sort of a 'religion à la carte'
which mainly emphasized good moral behavior. I eventually concluded
that good morality is good, but it is not good enough to solve 'the
purpose of life puzzle' a more spiritual approach to life.

Shortly thereafter, I obtained a job in a Muslim country
where I had enough of free time to read and reflect on life. While
continuing my search for the truth, I found a recommendation in a book
concerning the need for sincere repentance to God. I proceeded to do
so and felt remorse for all the people I had wronged in my life, to
the degree that tears started rolling down my face.

A few days later, I had a conversation with some Muslim
friends. I mentioned to them that I was used to having a lot more
freedom in America than that was present in their country. One person
said, " Well, it depends on what you mean by 'freedom'. In your part
of the world, no matter how well parents teach morality to their
children inside the home, as soon as they go outside, they generally
encounter the society in contradiction to that morality. On the other
hand, in most Muslim communities, the morals taught to the children at
home are very similar to what they find away from home. So who really
has the freedom here?" From this analogy, I inferred that the Islamic
guidelines and restrictions partially sanctioning human behavior are
not meant to curtail human freedom; rather, they serve to define and
dignify human freedom.

A further opportunity to learn about Islam arose when I
was invited to sit with a group of Muslims over dinner. After
mentioning to the group that I had been living in Las Vegas, Nevada
before coming to the Middle East, a Muslim from America said, " You
must make sure you die as a good Muslim." I immediately asked him to
explain what he meant. He said " If you die as a non-Muslim, it is
like playing the game of roulette in which you put all of your chips
(all of your life, including your deeds and your particular belief in
God) on only one number, just hoping that perhaps by the Mercy of God,
you will enter Paradise on Judgment Day. In contrast, if you die as a
good Muslim, it is like spreading your chips all over the roulette
board, so that every number is covered in this way, no matter what
number the ball falls on, you're safe. In other words, living and
dying as a good Muslim is the best insurance you will not go to the
Hell, and at the same time, it is the best investment that you'll go
to Paradise." As a former resident of Las Vegas, I could directly
relate to this poignant example with the game of roulette.

At this point, I understood I would not find the truth
until I established a relationship with concentrate on those religions
in which God had sent revelation to His prophets and messengers.
Hence, I chose to continue my search for the truth through
Christianity and Islam.

Christianity in Focus

Even though I up as a Christian, I had been confused and
uninterested in Christianity. I felt like I inherited a mysterious
religion beyond understanding. I believe it was for this reason that I
was a Christian by name but not in practice. Furthermore, I realized
my doubt about Christian beliefs caused me to be in a state of non-
religiousness. Nonetheless, while I was searching for the truth, I had
a chance to re-examine those beliefs I inherited from my parents yet
never bothered to scrutinize.

Through booklets, cassettes and videotapes on
Christianity produced by Muslims and non-Muslims, I surprisingly found
out about hundreds of verses in Bible which reveal a lack of harmony
in Christian beliefs. According to these materials, God was One prior
to Jesus (peace be upon him; pbuh). Likewise, Jesus (pbuh) propagated
the belief in One God. However, after Jesus (pbuh) Christianity
emphasized the Trinity instead of the Oneness of God. Also, before
Jesus (pbuh), God was without sons and equals. Similarly, Jesus (pbuh)
said he was God's messenger, whereas after his time, Christianity
stressed that Jesus (pbuh) is God's son or God Himself.

Regarding monotheism, the first of the Ten Commandments
upholds Jesus' (pbuh) assertion for the belief in One God, "...Here, O
Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord." (Mark 12:29)[1] Likewise, there
is plethora of verses in the Bible that refute the divinity of Jesus
(pbuh). For example, Jesus (pbuh) admitted he could not do miracles
independently, but only by the Will and permission of God.[2]
Interestingly, it says in the Bible that Jesus (pbuh) prayed.[3] I
asked myself, "How can Jesus (pbuh) be God and pray to God at the same
time?" A praying God is a contradiction. Additionally, Jesus (pbuh)
states that his teachings are not his own, but those of One who sent
him.[4] Logically, if what he says is not his own, he is just a
prophet receiving revelation from God like those before (and after)
him. Moreover, Jesus (pbuh) admits that he does what he taught by God.
[5] Again, I asked myself, "How can Jesus (pbuh) be taught and be God
at the same time?" In my discussions with Muslims, they concurred with
what Jesus (pbuh) commanded with respect to the belief in only One
God, as in the following Qur'anic verse: Say, " He is God, [Who is]
One." (112:1)[6]

I was also surprised to find out about the verses in the
Bible which refer to Jesus (pbuh) as a prophet of God.[7] Likewise, I
learned about the Islamic view of Jesus (pbuh) which is that he is a
prophet and messenger of God. In the Qur'an God says, "The Messiah,
son of Mary, is not but a messenger; [other] messengers have passed on
before him. And his mother was a supporter of truth. They both used to
eat food. Look how We make clear to them the signs; then look how they
are deluded." (5:75)

Another common belief in Christianity is that Jesus (pbuh) is the son
of God.

According to the Bible, it was customary to call any prophet of God,
or righteous man, a son of God. Jesus (pbuh) called himself the son of
man, not God or God's literal son.[8] Evidently, Paul was most
responsible for elevating the status of Jesus (pbuh) to the son of
God, distorting the teachings of Jesus (pbuh).[9]



What's more, Jesus (pbuh) did not appear to be the 'begotten' son of
God (as it used to say in John 3:16) since this word has been
cancelled from the Revised Standard Version (RSV), as well as many
other new versions of the Bible. Furthermore, God emphatically says in
the Qur'an that He does not have a son.[10] However, God also declared
that He created Adam (pbuh) and Jesus (pbuh): "Indeed, the example of
Jesus to God is like that of Adam. He created him from dust; then He
said to him "Be", and he was." (3:59)



Subsequent to these modification emperors and clergy made further
fabrications, contrary to what Jesus (pbuh) said or did. Of these is
the concept of Trinity in which Jesus (pbuh) is one of the three
manifestations of the Trinitarian God [the Father, the Son and the
Holy Ghost].[11] In the Bible, this verse given as the best proof for
the Doctrine Trinity, even though this doctrine was never forth by
Jesus (pbuh), his disciples, or a Christian scholars. In fact, it was
enacted after much disagreement and conflict among Christians in the
year 325 AD at the Council Nicea. Interestingly, this verse has been
expunged from the Bibles of the modern age.
In addition, the Qur'an warns the Jews Christians to refrain from
disbelieving in revelation of God and against believing in Trinity.
[12]



A related area of controversy I read about was 'original sin' and
salvation through 'the crucifixion' of Jesus (pbuh). Presumably,
before Jesus (pbuh), there was no Doctrine of Original Sin. However,
after Jesus (pbuh), the Doctrine of Original Sin appeared. Moreover,
before Jesus (pbuh), salvation was obtained by obedience to God
whereas after Jesus (pbuh), salvation was achieved through his
crucifixion so they said.



In Christianity, the Doctrine of Original Sin is the justification for
having salvation through the crucifixion of Jesus (pbuh).
Nevertheless, I found out that this doctrine is strongly negated in
the Old Testament.[13] It seems this concept may have been designed as
a way for its believers to eschew their accountability of sins before
God on Judgement Day.[14] It was brought to my attention that,
according to Jesus (pbuh), man is saved through obedience and
submission to God.[15] Correspondingly, in the Qur'an, every soul is
compensated for what it earns.[16] However, it seems that changed this
doctrine, making salvation through the crucifixion of Jesus (pbuh).
[17]



The theory of salvation through crucifixion holds that Jesus (pbuh)
offered himself will to be crucified to ransom and save humanity If
so, why did Jesus (pbuh) request help God before the soldiers came to
arrest him?: "...Father, save me from this hour." (12:27) Likewise, why
does the Bible say Jesus (pbuh) cried out in a loud beseeching God for
help on the cross: "...My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"(Matt.
27:46) In addition, how could Jesus (pbuh) have been crucified for
the of all humans when he was sent only to the Children of Israel?
[18] This is clearly contradiction. I found the foregoing verses be
very convincing that Jesus (pbuh)was crucified on the cross to redeem
the sins mankind. The Qur'an says they did not crucify him, but it was
someone else who was made to look like him.[19] If this is correct,
then it may explain the appearance of Jesus (pbuh) to his disciples
after the crucifixion. If he had really died on the cross, then he
would have come to his disciples in a spiritual body. As shown in Luke
24:36-43, Jesus (pbuh) met them with his physical body after the event
of his alleged crucifixion. Accordingly, I learned it was Paul who
taught the resurrection of Jesus(pbuh).[20] Paul also admitted the
resurrection was his own gospel.[21]



I came across many sources indicating that Paul and others were
frustrated by the Jewish rejection of the message of Jesus (pbuh), so
they extended their call to the Gentiles. They reached into southern
Europe, where polytheism and idolatry were spreading. Gradually, the
message of Jesus (pbuh) was modified to suit the tastes and traditions
of the Romans and Greeks of those days.[22] The Bible warns against
adding or removing information from its teachings, which is precisely
happened.[23] God addresses this point in Qur'an as well, "So woe to
those who write the "scripture" with their own hands, then say, "This
is from God," in order to exchange it for a small price. Woe to them
for what their hands have written and woe to them for what they earn.
" (2:79)



Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in the Scriptures



Another interesting point I learned about concerns Biblical prophecies
on the advent of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). I discovered that clear
prophecies exist in the Bible, (even the original text had been
distorted), foretelling the coming of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) after
Jesus (pbuh).[24] Muslim scholars have affirmed that the description
by Jesus (pbuh) of the one to come after him(in the verses cited in
below) cannot apply to any other person but Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
Furthermore, there is a verse in the Holy Qur'an confirming what Jesus
(pbuh) said regarding this point, "... O Children of Israel, I am
the Messenger of God to you confirming what came before me of the
Torah and bringing good tidings of a Messenger to come after me, whose
name is Ahmad ... " (61:6) The name Ahmad is another name for Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh) and derived from the same root word.



Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in the Qur'an



I observed that the Qur'an directs us to believe in God and Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh) as in the following verse: Say, [O Muhammad], "O
mankind, Indeed, I am the Messenger of God to you all, [from Him] to
Whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. There is no
deity except Him; He gives life and causes death. So believe in God
and His Messenger, the illiterate prophet, who believes in God and His
words, and follow him that you may be guided. " (7-158)



I came to know that the Qur'an also refers to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)
as the last prophet: "Muhammad is not the father of [any] of your men,
but [he is] the Messenger of God and seal [i.e., last] of the
prophets..." (33:40) Even though God states in the Qur'an that
Muhammad (pbuh) is the last prophet, I discovered that Muslims still
believe in and accept all the previous prophets, along with the
revelations they received in their original form.[25]



The Qur'an: The Last Revelation

I comprehended that it was found amen due to innovations attributed to
Divine revelation that the need arose for another prophet after Jesus
(pbuh) with another revelation after the Gospel. This is why God sent
Muhammad (pbuh) with the last Message, (i.e., the Qur'an), to bring
all of mankind back to the belief in and worship of One God, without
partners or intermediaries. According to Muslims, the Holy Qur'an is
the permanent ultimate source of guidance for mankind offers a
rational and historical elucidation of the magnificent role of Jesus.
The name Jesus (pbuh) is cited twenty-five times in the Qur'an, which
contains a chapter called Maryam(Mary), named after the mother of
Jesus (pbuh).



Regarding the Divine authenticity of this revelation, I found the
following Qur'anic verses very compelling: "And it was not [possible]
for this Qur'an to be produced by other than God, but [it is] a
confirmation of what was before it and a detailed explanation of the
[former] Scripture, about which there is no doubt, from the Lord of
the worlds." (10:37) and "And indeed, it is the truth of
certainty." (69:51) Similarly, I was concerned about the adulteration
of the Qur'an since this was a major problem with the previous
revelations. I read that the Qur'an will never change or be abrogated:
"Indeed, it is We who sent down the message [i.e., the Qur'an], and
indeed, We will be its guardian. " (15:9)[26]



I was also informed about some of the scientific phenomena mentioned
in the Qur'an, which give credence to the belief that the Qur'an is
the literal word of God. There are verses describing human embryonic
development,[27] mountains,[28] the origin of the universe,[29] the
cerebrum,[30] seas,[31] deep seas, and internal waves[32] and clouds.
[33] It is beyond explanation that anyone, more than fourteen hundred
years ago, could have known the facts, which were found or confirmed
on recently by advanced mechanisms a sophisticated scientific
procedures.



Islam: The Essence and Culmination of Revealed Religions

Muslims believe that the essential purpose for which mankind was
created is the worship of God. As He said in the Qur'an, "And I did
not create the jinn [i.e., a type of creation, created by God from
fire] and mankind except to worship Me" (51:56) Related to this, a
well known Islamic scholar from the West says, "The most complete
system of worship available humans today is the system found in the
religion of Islam, The very name 'Islam' means 'submission to the Will
of God'. Although it commonly referred to as 'the third of the three
monotheistic faiths, it is not a new religion at all. It is the
religion brought by all the prophets of God for humankind. Islam was
the religion of Adam, Abraham, Moses and Jesus.''[34]



In addition he states, "Since there is only One God, and humankind is
one species, the religion that God has ordained for humans is
[essentially] one... Human spiritual and social needs are uniform and
human nature has not changed since the first man and woman were
created".[35]



Uncovering the fact that the message of God has always been the same,
I realized it is the duty of all human beings to seek the truth and
not just blindly accept the religion that their society or parents
follow, According to the Qur'an, "You worship besides Him not except
[mere] names you have named, you and your fathers, for which God has
sent down no authority..." (12:40) Regarding fitrah [i.e., the
inherent nature of man to worship God prior to the corruption of his
nature by external influences], Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said, "Every
child is born on Al-Fitrah, and his parents convert him to Judaism or
Christianity or Magianism. As an animal delivers a perfect baby
animal, do you find it mutilated?"[36] Furthermore, God says,, 'So
direct your face [i.e., self] toward the religion, inclining toward
truth. [Adhere to] the fitrah of God upon which He has created [all]
people. No change should there be in the creation of God. That is the
correct religion, but most of the people do not know. " (30:30)[37]
Moreover, I learned there no other religion acceptable to God besides
Islam, as He clearly states in the Qur'an: "And whoever desires other
than Islam as a religion, never will it be accepted from him, and he,
in the Hereafter, will be among the losers. " (3:85). I deduced that
man might neglect the guidance of God and establish his own standards
of living. Ultimately, however, he will discover it is only a mirage
that alluded him.



A Traveler

As I continued to read the Qur'an and learn about the sayings and
doings of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) [the Sunnah], I noticed Islam views
man as a traveler in this life and the 'Home' is in the next life for
eternity. We are here for a short period and we cannot take anything
with us from this life except our belief in God and our deeds. Thus,
man should be like a traveler who passes through the land and does not
become attached to it. As travelers on this journey, we must
understand that the meaning of being alive is to be tested. Hence,
there is suffering, joy, pain and elation. These tests of good and
evil are intended to evoke our higher spiritual qualities. Yet, we are
incapable of benefiting from these tests unless we do our best, have
complete trust in God and patiently accept what He has destined for
us.

The Road to Paradise

It was very meaningful to learn about Paradise since this must
certainly be the ultimate goal of every individual. Regarding this
eternal home, God says, "And no soul knows what has been hidden for it
of comfort for eyes [i.e., satisfaction] as a reward for what it used
to do. " (32:17) 1 also became aware of a pleasure that is beyond all
imagination, which is to be in the Presence of the Creator Himself. I
wondered who are the souls worthy of such a reward? This reward of
Paradise is too great not to have a price. I was told the price is
true faith, which is proven by obedience to God and following the
Sunnah(way) of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

I grasped that mankind must worship God to attain righteousness and
the spiritual status necessary to enter Paradise.[38] This means human
beings have to comprehend that worship is as indispensable as eating
and breathing and not a favor they are doing for God. Likewise, I
found out that we need to read the Qur'an to find out what kind of
people God wants us to be and then try to become as such. This is the
road to Paradise.

Overcoming an Obstacle

At this point, I felt about 80% sure I wanted to become a Muslim, but
something was holding me back. I was concerned about the reaction of
my family and friends if they knew that I had become a Muslim. Shortly
thereafter, I expressed this concern to a Muslim who told me that on
Judgement Day, no one will be able to help you, not your father,
mother or any of your friends.[39] Therefore, if you believe Islam is
the true religion, you should embrace it and live your life to please
the One who created you. Thus, it became very lucid to me that we are
all in the same boat; every soul shall taste death and then we'll be
liable for our particular belief in God and for our deeds.[40]

A Meaningful Videotape

By this stage in my search for the truth, I was on the verge of
embracing Islam. I watched an Islamic lecture on videotape about the
purpose of life. The main theme of this lecture was that the purpose
of life may be summed up in one word, i.e., Islam (peaceful submission
to the Will of God).

An additional point was that, unlike other religions or beliefs, the
term 'Islam' is not associated with any particular person or place.
God has named the religion in the following Qur'anic verse: "Indeed,
the Religion in the sight of God is Islam..." (3:19) Anyone who
embraces Islam is called a Muslim regardless of that person's race,
sex or nationality. This is one of the reasons why Islam is a
universal religion.

Prior to my search for the truth, I had never seriously considered
Islam as an option because of the constant negative portrayal of
Muslims in the media. Similarly, it was disclosed in this videotape
that although Islam, is characterized by high moral standards, not all
Muslims uphold these standards. I learned the same can be said about
adherents of other religions. I finally understood that we cannot
judge a religion by the actions of its followers alone, as I had done,
because all humans are fallible. On that account, we should not judge
Islam by the actions of its proponents, but by its revelation (the
Holy Qur'an) and the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

The last point I picked up from this lecture concerned the importance
of gratitude. God mentions in the Qur'an that we should be grateful
for the fact that He created us: "And God has extracted you from the
wombs of your mothers not knowing a thing, and He made for you hearing
and vision and hearts [i.e., intellect that perhaps you would be
grateful. " (16:78) God has also cited gratitude along with belief,
and has made it clear that He gains nothing from punishing His people
when they give thanks to Him and believe in Him. He says in the
Qur'an, "What would God do with [i.e., gain from] your punishment if
you are grateful and believe? ..." (4:147)

The truth Unveils Itself

As soon as the videotape had finished, I experienced the truth being
unveiled to my spirit. I felt a huge burden of sins flying off my
back. Moreover, it felt like my soul was rising above the earth,
refusing the makeshift delights of this world in favor of the eternal
joys of the Hereafter. This experience, coupled with the long process
of reasoning, solved the 'purpose of life puzzle'. It revealed Islam
as the truth, thereby replenishing my 'spiritual landscape' with
belief, purpose, direction and action. I therefore entered the gate of
Islam by saying the declaration of faith required to become a Muslim:
Ashhadu an La ilaha illa Allah wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan Rasoolu
llah. (I bear witness that there is no deity but God and Muhammad is
His Messenger). I was informed that this formal testimony confirms
one's belief in all the prophets and messengers of God, along with all
of His Divine revelations in their original form, thereby updating and
completing one's religion to the last of the prophets [Muhammad
(pbuh)] and to the final revelation of God [the Qur'an]. The following
point became overwhelmingly clear to me: Had Jesus (pbuh) been the
last prophet of God an had the Gospel been the final book revelation,
I would have attested to that. As a result, I have naturally chosen to
follow the final revelation from the Creator as exemplified by the
seal of the prophets.



Impressions of a New Muslim

During my search to find the truth, the lesson, which, transcended all
lessons, was that all objects of worship other than God are mere
delusions. To anyone who sees this clearly, the only possible course
is to bring one's own will and actions into complete unison with that
of God. Acquiescing to the Will of God has enabled me to feel peace
with the Creator, with others and finally, with myself. Consequently,
I feel very grateful, that by the Mercy of God, I have been rescued
from the depths of ignorance and have stepped into the light of truth.
Islam, the true religion of all times, places and peoples, is a
complete code of life Which guides man to fulfill the purpose of his
existence on earth, and prepares him for the Day when he will return
to his Creator Following this path in a devout manner enables one to
gain the pleasure of God and be closer to Him amid the endless
delights of Paradise while escaping from the punishment of Hellfire
Another bonus is that our present life will be much happier when we
make such a choice.



A Deceptive Enjoyment

Embracing Islam has given me more of an insight into the illusive
nature of this life. For instance, one basic object of Islam is the
liberation of man. This is why a Muslim calls himself 'Abdullah', the
slave or servant of Allah (i.e., God) because enslavement to God
signifies liberation from all other forms of servitude, and although
modern man may think that he is liberated, he is in fact a slave to
his desires. He is generally deceived by this worldly life. He is
'addicted' to hoarding wealth, sex, violence, intoxicants, etc. But
above all, he is often seduced by the capitalist system that tends to
work through the invention of false needs, which he feels must be
satisfied instantly, As God says in the Qur'an, "Have you seen the one
who takes as his god his own desire? Then would you be responsible for
him? Or do you think that most of them hear or reason? They are not
except as livestock. Rather, they are [even] more astray in [their]
way. )" (25: 43-44)



Correspondingly, we should not let our zeal to enjoy the pleasures of
this fleeting life jeopardize our opportunity to enjoy the ecstasy of
Paradise. As God says in the Qur'an, "Beautified for people is the
love of that which they desire - of women and sons, heaped-up sums of
gold and silver, fine branded horses, and cattle and tilled land. That
is the enjoyment of, worldly life, but God has with Him the best
return [ie. Paradise]. Say, "Shall /inform you of something better
than that? For those who fear God will be gardens in the presence of
their Lord beneath which rivers flow, wherein they abide eternally,
and purified spouses and approval from God..." (3:14-15) Therefore,
the real competition in this life is not the accumulation of wealth or
the desire for fame; it is facing with one another to perform good
deeds to please God, while having our lawful portion of enjoyment in
this life.[41]



The Right Path to God

There are many religious alternatives available to man and it is up to
him to choose the one he wishes to follow. He is like a merchant with
many goods in front of him, and it is his choice which one to trade
in. He will obviously select the one he thinks will be the most
lucrative. However, the merchant is unsure and has no guarantee of
prosperity; his product may have a market and he may make handsome
returns, but he could just as easily lose all of his money. In
contrast, the believer in the Oneness of God who submits to His Will
(a Muslim), is completely sure that if he follows the path of guidance
[the Qur'an and the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)], there will
undoubtedly be success and reward waiting for him at the end of this
path. Fortunately, this success also starts at the beginning of the
path. Narrated by Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri(may God be pleased with him)-
God's Messenger(pbuh) said, "If a person embraces Islam sincerely,
then God. shall forgive all his past sins, and after that starts the
settlement of accounts: the reward of his good deeds will be ten times
to seven hundred times for each good deed, and an evil deed will be
recorded as it is unless God forgives it .[42]



Epilogue

Based on my search for the truth, I concluded that the precise way we
believe in God and the deeds we perform determine our future condition
for eternity. Our Creator is giving us all an equal chance, regardless
of our circumstances, to earn His pleasure in preparation for
Judgement Day, as in the following Qur'anic verses: "And obey God and
His messenger that you may obtain mercy. And hasten to forgiveness
from your Lord and a garden [i.e., Paradise] as wide as the Heavens
and earth, prepared for the righteous. " (3:132-133)[43]



If we sincerely seek the truth of this life, which is Islam (peaceful
submission to the Will of God), God will guide us there, God Willing.
He directs us to examine the life and the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad
(pbuh), as he represents the best role model for mankind to follow
Furthermore, God directs us to investigate and ponder what He says in
the Qur'an. One will see that the Qur'an is indeed like a persistent
and strong knocking on a door, or loud shouts seeking to awaken those
who are fast asleep because they are just completely absorbed by this
life on earth. The knocks and shouts appear one after the other: Wake
up! Look around you! Think! Reflect! God is there! There is planning,
trial, accountability, reckoning, reward, severe punishment and
lasting bliss!



Clearly and unequivocally, the best way to live and die in this world
is as a righteous Muslim! When one comes to the conclusion that Islam
is the truth, he should not delay in becoming a Muslim because he may
die first, and then it will be too late.[44]



A few months after embracing Islam, I found two verses in the Qur'an
that mirror what the American Muslim told me regarding how we should
live and die: "And Abraham instructed his sons and [so did] Jacob,
[saying], "O my sons! Indeed God has chosen for you this religion, so
do not die except while you are Muslims." (2:132) and "O you who have
believed, fear God as He should be feared and do not die except as
Muslims [in submission to Him]." (3:102)

for more visit:
http://www.al-sunnah.com/bestway.htm
http://www.islamcall.com/why_we_created.htm
http://www.islam-guide.com/
http://www.al-islam.com/eng/
http://www.islamqa.com/index.php?pg=about&ln=eng
http://www.thisistruth.org/index.php
http://www.al-sunnah.com/
http://www.islamreligion.com/
http://sultan.org/
http://www.islamtoday.com/