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Compelling Atmosphere Of Its
Mosques, Among Other Features, Brought Me To Islam
Brother Donald S
Rockwell
Poet, Critic, Author USA
The simplicity of Islam,
the powerful appeal and the compelling atmosphere of its mosques, the
earnestness of its faithful adherents, the confidence inspiring
realization of the millions throughout the world who answer the five daily
calls to prayer --- these factors attracted me from the first. But after I
had determined to become a follower of Islam, I found many deeper reasons
for confirming my decision. The mellow concept of life -- fruit of the
Prophet's combined course of action and contemplation --- the wise
counsel, the admonitions to charity and mercy, the broad humanitarianism,
the pioneer declaration of woman's property rights - these and other
factors of the teachings of the man of Mecca were to me among the most
obvious evidence of a practical religion so tersely and so aptly
epitomized in the cryptic words of Muhammad, "Trust in God and tie your
camel". He gave us a religious system of normal action, not blind faith in
the protection of an unseen force in spite of our own neglect, but
confidence that if we do all things rightly and to the best of our
ability, we may trust in what comes as the Will of God.
The broadminded tolerance of Islam for other religions recommends it to
all lovers of liberty. Muhammad admonished his followers to treat well the
believers in the Old and New Testaments; and Abraham, Moses and Jesus are
acknowledged as co-prophets of the One God. Surely this is generous and
far in advance of the attitude of other religions.
The total freedom from idolatry ... is a sign of the salubrious strength
and purity of the Muslim faith.
The original teachings of the Prophet of God have not been engulfed in the
maze of changes and additions of doctrinarians. The Qur'an remains as it
came to the corrupt polytheistic people of Muhammad's time, changeless as
the holy heart of Islam itself.
Moderation and temperance in all things, the keynotes of Islam, won my
unqualified approbation. The health of his people was cherished by the
Prophet, who enjoined them to observe strict cleanliness and specified
fasts and to subordinate carnal appetites ... when I stood in the
inspiring mosques of Istanbul, Damascus, Jerusalem, Cairo, Algiers,
Tangier, Fez and other cities, I was conscious of a powerful reaction [to]
the potent uplift of Islam's simple appeal to the sense of higher things,
unaided by elaborate trappings, ornamentations, figures, pictures, music
and ceremonial ritual. The mosque is a place of quiet contemplation and
self-effacement in the greater reality of the One God.
The democracy of Islam has always appealed to me. Potentate and pauper
have the same rights on the floor of the mosque, on their knees in humble
worship. There are no rented pews nor special reserved seats.
The Muslim accepts no man as a mediator between himself and his God. He
goes direct to the invisible source of creation and life, God, without
reliance on saving formula of repentance of sins and belief in the power
of a teacher to afford him salvation.
The universal brotherhood of Islam, regardless of race, politics, color or
country, has been brought home to me most keenly many times in my life and
this is another feature which drew me towards the Faith.
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