ISLAM IN ENGLAND

                                     Activities Abroad

              Its Appeal to an English Youth

”One day, early this month (August 6, 1959),” writes the Imam, the Shah Jahan Mosque, Woking, ”a smart looking English Youngman of about 18 walked into our Mission Office at Woking. His tight-fitting trousers, with a game knife in a leather sheathe stuck up on one of its sides gave him the appearance of a Scout out on a pleasure trip. And so it turned out to be. As we took him to our drawing room and chatted over a cup of tea, it transpired that he had come all the way on his push cycle from his home in the North, near Newcastle, about 300 miles from Woking. It had taken him quite a few days to reach here. On the way he had been staying at the Youth Hostels, of which there is quite a network in this Country. The previous night he had been staying in one such Hostel about 15 miles from here. His interest in Islam had been roused by what he had read about it. Now that he happened to be in the neighbourhood of this Islamic Centre, he availed of the opportunity to pay a visit and have a face-to-face talk about it, with the result that while he was still a Christian when he came, when he went back, he was a Muslim, adopting the Islamic name, Rashid.

”In the following letter, he describes how the inner change was wrought within him. What Mr. McLaren – that is his English name – says of the working of his mind is typical of many a seeker-after-truth, even among the Youth in the Schools and universities, in this Country.

M.Y.K – Editor: The light.

Hill Farm Cottage,

Sturton, Diss,

Norfolk.

Dear Mr. Khan,

I am sorry for the delay in writing to you but I have been planning the text of this letter. Now I will tell you why I became a Muslim. My conversion to Islam stemmed from my dissatisfaction with Christianity. As a child I attended the local Sunday School, and here was taught the main doctrines of Christian belief. As I was unable to reason, and did not know anything better, I accepted them. In later years, however, my attendance at Sunday School lapsed and I saw how the very people who had taught me love for my neighbour, did not always seem to practise it. To a young boy this hypocrisy, I think, tends to be greatly apparent, and so it was to me. Still, I was quite firm in my Christian belief, but disillusioned as to the conduct of my elder Christian brethren.

A closer examination of Christian doctrines and Church history soon showed me the fallacies of the religion into which I was baptised. My denomination, the Church of England, was, I found out, just an independent part of the Catholic Church; the doctrines of the latter called for an even greater polytheism and idolatry than the Church of England. It absolutely refutes any other religion or sect and considers itself infallible in all matters, temporal and spiritual.

My interest centred on the religions which Catholicism refuted and Islam at once interested me. Its perfect monotheism and universality explained away my doubts about Christianity. By the very statement ”There is no God,” Islam swept away the Trinity, and together with it, the Divinity of Jesus, and his Mother. The latter although a special doctrine of the Roman Church, was a thing which I could never agree with.

Also Islam, instead of refuting all other religions and libelling their prophets, praised the latter, and reaffirmed their original messages.

Also Islam, although its strength and unity had deteriorated still preserved intact the original message of its prophet, while Christianity had become polluted with idolatrous doctrines.

The simple and logical doctrines of Islam left nothing to be explained and gave me an insight into the true message of Christianity. I was fortunate, in that the first books that I read on Islam were by Muslim authors, and these gave a true picture of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace and blessings of God be upon him) – whereas later books, which I read, by Christian authors gave a slanderous attack on Islam and the Prophet (Peace be on him), but by comparing the two sets of books, it was easy to see which was true. The Muslim books did not condemn Christianity and Jesus, while the Christian literature abounded in allegations against the Holy Prophet (Peace be on him) and Islam.

Islam retained the brotherly love, which Christian’s claim is taught only by their religion, and an example of this was shown to me by the members of Woking Muslim Mission, who, when I visited them, listened patiently to my primitive inquiries. They gave an example of help and understanding I had never witnessed in Christianity.

Mr. Khan, I enclose a text about Islam, which I copied out of a Catholic school textbook, and come from a chapter refuting all other religions and sects. It shows the way Islam is taught to English school children and explains their attitude to Islam.

Yours sincerely,

Rashid

ANOTHER SEEKER’S LETTER

To

The Imam Woking Mosque.

Sir,

A few weeks ago, I saw your name on a newspaper announcement of a special Service of world congress of Faiths at Whitefield Memorial Church and, although I was unable to attend, I kept a record of your name and the fact that you are the Imam at the Woking Mosque. I felt that I may, one day, wish to contact you, and as anticipated, the day has arrived.

I am a Christian and, whilst I am member of the Methodist Church, I imagine it would be more appropriate if I were to join the Unitarians. Unfortunately, it is useless to take such action because there is no Unitarian Church in Horley. I have always been able to recognize the truth of the teachings of Jesus even when, in my younger days, (I am now 45 years old) I was unable to believe in God. I still believe, in all due respect, that Jesus was the greatest man who ever lived, but I cannot believe that he was anything more than a man. A man chosen by Allah to preach to the sinful world and a man who – whether he was crucified or not – lived as an example of his teaching. But although I believe that Allah inspired him and he was, therefore, possessed of Allah’s attributes, he was, I consider, a man. In fact, his life is all the more wonderous because he was no more than a man, and therefore, human.

Yours sincerely,

R.Roberts

THE IMAM’S REPLY

 Dear Mr. Roberts,

Thanks very much for your letter of the 15th. You are most heartily welcome here any time. Every Sunday at about 2 p.m., when we have said our mid-day prayer, there is a brief talk on Islam, explaining what this religion stands for – you would be welcome to attend both. It would be a great pleasure to us if you and your friend join us at lunch as well at about 12.30 p.m. In case Sunday does not suit, you may come any other day except Friday and Saturday. Every Saturday, we have a group of friends meeting in London at 18, Eccleston Square at about 5 p. m., when there is a Talk on Islam, followed by quite a long discussion. You would be welcome there as well any Saturday if you happen to be in London. The place is about ten minutes’ walk from Victoria Station.

As regards the views you have expressed, you have echoed the feelings of a Muslim mind. Jesus was undoubtedly one of the greatest Divinely inspired Teachers of history. The passionate outpourings of his heart as to the love of God and love of man sparkle undimmed by 20 centuries as so many pearls of the purest ray. And the courage to pay the supreme sacrifice and mount the cross, rather than compromise with Truth – what man is there who would not bow in reverence and awe to that highest example of a glorious end?

Christians, however, have completely missed both this Great Soul and his great message. By making him God or Son of God, they have elevated his status as a matter of fact in doing so they have un-wittingly robbed him of the whole glory of his life and teaching. God can do anything. There is nothing remarkable in His going to the cross if He so choses. What makes it a great feat of love and courage is that a mortal like us should do it.

The Qur’an speaks in the most glowing terms of both Jesus and his mother. Jesus is mentioned as a “sign and mercy of God,” who was “glorious in life” and “one of the nearest to God in the Hereafter.” This is, however, a very long theme, and I must not overload this letter. We would have a good talk about it when we meet.

I will be looking forward to your visit this coming Sunday (August 23rd). The alternative will be any other day that may suit you.

Yours sincerely,

Muhammad Yaqub Khan

Imam, The Woking Mosque