First Published on Ruben ‘Abu Bakr’: From Hollowness to Islam
Jehad Adel
Abu Bakr, previously known as Ruben, is an ex-atheist who reverted to Islam. Here we follow the important events in his story and shed some light on the significant parts with some comments. Let’s start…
No Perfectly Evil in Life
In one year, Abu Bakr’s parents separated, his loved dog died and his friend passed away. Abu Bakr’s life turned out to be dark. His soul now takes its time to express its rage. Why am I here? What is the purpose of life?
This scenario is repeated actually in different ways. People usually won’t care to search for happiness unless they experience pain. In her book, Reclaim Your Heart, Yasmin Mogahed said that nothing happens without a purpose, even broken hearts or pain. They are warnings that something is wrong and we need to make a change. It’s God Mercy that sometimes He takes something to give something better.
Journey of Investigation
Abu Bakr’s questions push him to search for answers. The best resort for every truth seeker for sure is religion. Hence, Abu Bakr started to investigate Christianity, but he was not satisfied with the different interpretations of the priests. Then he turned to investigate Hinduism followed by Mormonism, then Judaism, Buddhism, and finally Islam.
Uniqueness of Islam & Power of Qur’an
The most thing that attracted Abu Bakr to Islam is its powerful answers to all the questions he faced in his journey of search, especially those related to women. One of the important questions for him in this regard was, why Muslim woman can’t marry four men? All the answers he received for the purpose of life or women’s issues were satisfying. But the truth seeker shall investigate more.
He took a copy from the translation of the meanings of the Qur’an at home and started to reflect more. He felt as if someone gave him guidance. Also, he was overwhelmed by its spiritual mood. He decided to be a Muslim saying, “ this is the time I am about to jump into Islam.” However, some strange ideas came to his mind. He waited to see something magical as a reaction to his decision, but nothing happened! For a while, he got disappointed. But then, he decided to open “the book of guidance” again to continue reading and understand what was happening.
The first verse he met was:
Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of the night and the day, and the [great] ships which sail through the sea with that which benefits people, and what Allah has sent down from the heavens of rain, giving life thereby to the earth after its lifelessness and dispersing therein every [kind of] moving creature, and [His] directing of the winds and the clouds controlled between the heaven and earth are signs for a people who use reason.” (Qur’an, 2: 164) (1)
Indeed, it was like a shock for him! He felt his arrogance in his waiting for a magical sign. Simply Qur’an told him that there are signs for Allah’s existence in every place around you!
Beauty of Being Muslim Moment
Upon saying Shahada and becoming a Muslim, Abu Bakr describes his feeling saying,
“All fear went out of my mind. I felt as a shower was inside my head and someone had just turned on the cold tap! I felt like I’ve been flushed clean!”
Moreover, Abu Bakr admired the Muslim spirit of receiving a new member. All the Muslim men in the Masjid gave him sincere hugs. How wonderful is the social aspect of Islam!
What After Islam
After days of being Muslim, Abu Bakr’s family started to see a positive change in his character. Abu Bakr who first was worried about his family’s reaction towards his decision turned to offer a copy of the Qur’an for his father to read, upon his own request. Indeed, his father was attracted by such a change that happened to his son, so he wants to discover more about Islam.
Conclusion
Finally, this was Abu Bakr’s story; one person sought the truth and exert sincere effort to reach it so he did. What about you? It’s the perfect time to be Muslim now. Here is how to be a Muslim in very quick and easy steps right now.
