Priests & Preachers Enter Islam

[Bimzoori]

The story of an Ex-Preacher on how he became a Muslim (along with his father, also an ex-Preacher, and his friend who was a Priest)..

A very interesting story & a very entertaining speaker, don't miss out!

How Yusuf Estes came to Islam-1

[Bimzoori]

Part 2:

How Yusuf Estes came to Islam-2

[Bimzoori]

Part 3:

How Yusuf Estes came to Islam-3

[Bimzoori]

Part 4:

How Yusuf Estes came to Islam-4

[Bimzoori]

Part 5 (final):

How Yusuf Estes came to Islam-5

[Shy]

Why would you call this "Priests & Preachers Enter Islam" if it's only about one guy, and what does this have to do with priests?

[Bimzoori]

I've had the pleasure to meet Sheikh Yusuf Estes in person & he was quite the funny character that he is on these videos.. I find his story very inspirational, I've read it and heard it so many times & I can never get bored of it. It always serves as a reminder of the importance of representing Islam the way it was brought to us by Allah (SWT) through His Messenger, our beloved Muhammed :PBUH:..

I'd like to read the members views on the posted videos and what are the lessons that come to mind after hearing the story.. What methods do you think are the strongest in delivering Islam to people?

[Bimzoori]

Why would you call this "Priests & Preachers Enter Islam" if it's only about one guy, and what does this have to do with priests?

Please complete the 5parts to get the whole picture! One Priest & 2 Preachers enter Islam in the story :)

[Shy]

I'll take your word for it.

[Amjad]

Beautiful story. Thanks a lot for sharing it Bimzoori!

I started the first part thinking that I wouldn't be able to complete it, let alone the other parts, but after each part I was more eager to see the next part and get the complete story. Very beautiful!

[STING]

He is one of my favorite scholars. I love his sense of humor and personality. Muslims are truly blessed to have such people becoming Muslim scholars, they help us understand this way of life from a whole new perspective!

[FAITH86]

Interesting indeed!

Thanks for sharing Bimzoori. Watching in progress ;)

[Lym]

Yeah, I remember watching his videos last year thanks to you :)

I always wonder if there are cases of Muslim scholars, Muftis and Imams denouncing Islam and converting into another religion just like we've seen here.

[IceTea]

Sheikh Yusuf Estes makes sense when he talks, I'm sure many Christians converted to Islam due his lectures and way of preaching.

[IceTea]

I always wonder if there are cases of Muslim scholars, Muftis and Imams denouncing Islam and converting into another religion just like we've seen here.

I don't think so, unless the person is just a muslim by name.

And even if someone did that, leaving Islam means leaving the right path to reach heaven.

[dam3t-malak]

I know the story, listened to it many times:)
He has a good way in convincing...


Thanks for sharing..

[ToomuchaT]

.. they help us understand this way of life from a whole new perspective!


100% true.

[Shy]

I always wonder if there are cases of Muslim scholars, Muftis and Imams denouncing Islam and converting into another religion just like we've seen here.

There are. I was going to post one/some for 'balance' because I find this triumphalism kind of annoying. But then I realised the responses would probably just be even more annoying. ("This must be fake" etc).

[Lightning2]

thanks 4 sharing...:)

[Bimzoori]

There are. I was going to post one/some for 'balance' because I find this triumphalism kind of annoying. But then I realised the responses would probably just be even more annoying. ("This must be fake" etc).

I didn't post this video with that intention in mind, hence I placed it in the Islamic Sabla as opposed to the Religion Sabla.. Sheikh Yusuf is a Scholar who I very much respect & very much look up to.. the dicussion I wanted to generate is not Christianity vs Islam but rather what we can learn from a great figure like him on how to peacefuly spread Islam (which I believe is a duty incumbent upon every Muslim).

[Threadlike]

I'm not Yusuf Estes' biggest fan to be honest...His style does not appeal to me.
In any case though, conversion from Christianity to Islam do not negatively affect Christianity a bit.
The same way that conversions from Islam to Christianity do not negatively affect Islam a bit.

[Shy]

I didn't post this video with that intention in mind, hence I placed it in the Islamic Sabla as opposed to the Religion Sabla.. Sheikh Yusuf is a Scholar who I very much respect & very much look up to.. the dicussion I wanted to generate is not Christianity vs Islam but rather what we can learn from a great figure like him on how to peacefuly spread Islam (which I believe is a duty incumbent upon every Muslim).

Alright I'm sorry.

[Jeff]

I didn't post this video with that intention in mind, hence I placed it in the Islamic Sabla as opposed to the Religion Sabla.. Sheikh Yusuf is a Scholar who I very much respect & very much look up to.. the dicussion I wanted to generate is not Christianity vs Islam but rather what we can learn from a great figure like him on how to peacefuly spread Islam (which I believe is a duty incumbent upon every Muslim).

Well, I respect you and so I never took it as a "point scoring" thing.

I thought it was just directed at Muslims who wanted to celebrate and more deeply appreciate what they love about Islam and celebrate when they see that in others from outside who discover it.

I find it deepens my own religious faith to learn what Muslims love about their religion, not the opposite.

I don't think it's a threat if we let down our guard a bit and simply watch Muslims being Muslim (if we are Christian) or watch Christians being Christian (if we are Muslim).

[El Rey]

Very interesting. Most of the converted into Islam people carry a beautiful and touching story about religions with them. We always can learn somethng from them. Thanks for sharing Bimzoori.

[marianna]

I'm not Yusuf Estes' biggest fan to be honest...His style does not appeal to me.
In any case though, conversion from Christianity to Islam do not negatively affect Christianity a bit.
The same way that conversions from Islam to Christianity do not negatively affect Islam a bit.


In that I agree and you have a common sense approach to these things. Wise beyond your years.

[BrAiKi]

Even those who convert to Islam would be Christians by 'name' no matter what their activities were :p.
I like how Threadlike put it, it is always interesting to know the converts' view on both religions, to see what made them take big steps like conversion.

[NicoBambi]

It shows how a person can switch from one god to another very easily and it doesn't mean a thing.. :think:

[Threadlike]

It shows how a person can switch from one god to another very easily and it doesn't mean a thing.. :think:
Yeah man, nothing easier than waking up in the morning and going, 'All those past 16 years were just bull, I think I'll go Hindu today'.

[siah786]

Sheikh Yousuf yestes.. Subhannallah a very knowledgeable person.. I've heard most of his speeches .. and i wish i could meet such good scholars some day... These days he is very active on PEACE TV, with other great scholars of islam... Dr. Zakir Naik is the founder of that channel...
What is really exceptional about Sheikh yousuf yestes is that his source of knowledge and the quotations he gives are exclusively based on quran and sunnah... subhanallah...Not like many other fake scholars like sufis...
Guys listen to him and his speeches, before you speak about him....
salaam

[Bimzoori]

Yeah man, nothing easier than waking up in the morning and going, 'All those past 16 years were just bull, I think I'll go Hindu today'.

Did you really come across someone like that? I've met 10's of converts in recent years and, hearing their stories, it wasn't as easy as you make it sound in your post.

[Bimzoori]

Sheikh Yousuf yestes.. Subhannallah a very knowledgeable person.. I've heard most of his speeches .. and i wish i could meet such good scholars some day... These days he is very active on PEACE TV, with other great scholars of islam... Dr. Zakir Naik is the founder of that channel...
What is really exceptional about Sheikh yousuf yestes is that his source of knowledge and the quotations he gives are exclusively based on quran and sunnah... subhanallah...Not like many other fake scholars like sufis...
Guys listen to him and his speeches, before you speak about him....
salaam

Glad to see more people appreciating the work that Sheikh Yusuf does for our faith! :)

[Bimzoori]

Even those who convert to Islam would be Christians by 'name' no matter what their activities were :p.
I like how Threadlike put it, it is always interesting to know the converts' view on both religions, to see what made them take big steps like conversion.

Thanks for passing by brother.. what are your views on the videos posted? Sheikh Yusuf was a practising Christian before he converted..

[Pygmalion]

He is from San Antonio, TX. I met him in person in 2002 and I heard the story first hand from him. A hilarious, charismatic speaker…
He is very knowledgeable about his and others’ religions. He basically knows what he is talking about… his consolidate his ideas with logic and facts not with emotional statements like most religious speakers do.


His site: http://www.islamtomorrow.com/

[siah786]

I agree with pygmalion.... Specially in Indian subcontinent you going to find, hell lots of guys who fool the innocent muslims with their emotional speeches... One of the greatest of them is TAHIR ul QADRI from pakistan... Has anyone heard of him??

[BrAiKi]

Thanks for passing by brother.. what are your views on the videos posted? Sheikh Yusuf was a practising Christian before he converted..

I know he is :p I watched another video of him explaining how his previous religion didn't make sense to him and all. Which in fact are the same reasons why it doesn't make sense to me either.
On the other hand, I watched other ex-muslims explaining how Islam didn't make sense to them and so they settled on Christianity. Those explanations and reasoning are what I find interesting. :D

[Jeff]

^^

I think it all depends on where you start from and what assumptions you use.

If either one of them simply "didn't make sense", there wouldn't be billions of followers, many of them quite intelligent!

There are lots of people who convert to Islam for intellectual reasons, because they find it convincing. And lots of people who convert to Christianity for the same kinds of reasons...because it makes SENSE to them! The web is full of blogs and the world is full of books by people who converted to Christianity because their minds were convinced of its truth.

But it's interesting for me to hear Sheikh Yusuf and others explain why they found Islam convincing and Christianity unconvincing. I think it's good for us to see how other people's minds work and where they get their spiritual nourishment, even if we don't agree with them.

[BrAiKi]

^ exactly my point, good ol' Jeff.
Btw Sheikh Yusuf reminds me of you :os

[Jeff]

^ exactly my point, good ol' Jeff.
Btw Sheikh Yusuf reminds me of you :os

:p :p:p

How so?

[BrAiKi]

I always had in my mind that you got an accent that is similar to his, looking at your pic and your beard, it made it even closer :XD:

[Jeff]

Ha, ha, no I think I have a neutral, plain American accent.

[wudjab]

Actually I found this video more genuine and even more moving.

Sana

[Arabian Princess]

^ Ameen to the prayer, may Allah guide her to the correct path, whatever it is.

Loved the videos Bimmi .. and I totally agree with Sk. Yousef Estas .. in order to get people interested in Islam, you need to be the best of Muslim. A muslim by spirit and attitude.

[Threadlike]

Actually I found this video more genuine and even more moving.

Sana
Before I say anything I want you to know that I feel TERRIBLE saying this...I don't WANT to be the dude who tries to ruin things you find moving.

It's quite sad that this is happening you know...That there are people who practice Islam in a way that can make even their loved ones run away from it. Not only does it make me feel like I'm living in such a grace of knowing enough of my religion to never doubt it, it also makes me feel very depressed that MY own religion is practiced in such a manner or taught in such a manner that people just find it against freedom and against everything. In any case, may Allah guide her to the path of good.

More importantly, 'Father' Zakaria Boutros was (to use the literal Arabic translation) 'stripped' from the Coptic Church here in Egypt for his comments on Islam and his attempts to raise turmoil against the national unity of Egypt. Father Zakaria is the most prominent member of Al-Hayat Channel (from where the clip was taken) and is a frequent host of its programs. Certain other programs on the channel focus on ridiculing Islamic hadiths and texts of the Qura'n.

P.S: Hopefully you won't go into the argument I'm expecting.

[Jeff]

Before I say anything I want you to know that I feel TERRIBLE saying this...I don't WANT to be the dude who tries to ruin things you find moving.



Brother Threadlike! :)

You know, that was my feeling about Yusuf Estes. I had a lot of criticisms to make and points to raise.

But in the end, I thought..."This is just a thread to make Muslims happy in their religion and to deepen it for them and make them enthusiastic. That's not something that needs to be messed with, just so Jeff can score a point or two..."

[wudjab]

I'm wudjab and I authorize Jeff's message.

[Storm]

Enjoy discussing without breaking rules :)

[clouds]

sheikh yusuf estes is one of my favourites converts sheikhs, I watched his full story live on how he reverted to Islam on Huda TV.

the main lesson learned from his story is if Allah swt wanted non muslims to enter heaven he can lead them and open their hearts to Islam and no one on earth can stop that.

remember the hadeeth of the Prophet pbuh which says in a meaning in judgement day for every 1000 people 999 will enter hell and only ONE will enter heaven, the number of Muslims who enter heaven from Adam to the last person on earth will be like a white hair in a pitch black bull's skin.

imagine that people, the matter is very serious so if you would like to enter heaven and avoid hell you know where to go, just follow the right path of Islam and you will be saved.

[marianna]

^^^Thanks I will remember that when I am attending Mass and the priest tells me in order to be saved I need to follow the Catholic way...........................

[Kamakazy]

thanks for sharing Bimzoori, i recall viewing Sh. Yusufs video before... i think it was posted in the Sabla sometime back...

i always find it moving to hear the stories of how people embrace Islam... especially when they become da3iyaas... i believe that they know more about Islam from the few years that they have become muslims, then me and many mulsims amoung us who were bron muslims...

i take this as a reminder to myself to be a better practising muslim and know that from the small things/actions that i do in my daily life could affect the people around me...

inshallah we all become better muslims...

[siah786]

Brother Threadlike! :)

You know, that was my feeling about Yusuf Estes. I had a lot of criticisms to make and points to raise.

But in the end, I thought..."This is just a thread to make Muslims happy in their religion and to deepen it for them and make them enthusiastic. That's not something that needs to be messed with, just so Jeff can score a point or two..."

Well dude.. i have done alot of research about Christianity( Catholics and protestants) cause a lady i loved alot was a christian... But during my research alhamdulillah i got closer to islam and discovered that islam is the truth...
If you listen to the speech given by sheikh yousuf yestes in Saudi arabia answering questions from the christians like differences b/w nabi and rasool etc... He clears many doubts of christians in it...
If you watch the public talks namely the following :

1) Ahmed deedat and Jimmy stegart....
2) Dr. Zakir Naik and Dr. william campbell.

and many others you going to find out how islam is the truth...

Lastly, I have seen people leaving islam and going into another religion and people living other religions and entering islam...
The only difference is people who leave islam, are people who are ignorant and do not anything about islam ..
And people who enter islam are mostly people who are knowledgeable and they end up becoming scholars, mashallah...
For example.. Sheikh yousuf yestes, Abdur Raheem green , Bilal Philips etc. who are well known scholars of today..

Dude, please do not take me wrong , its just my duty as a muslim to spread the message of islam.. I do not want to hurt you or anyone, but am just trying to Make my Creator happy..Alhamdulillah..
Take care

[wudjab]

Thank you for that.

After reading your post, you just convinced me that I am following the correct religion.

[El Rey]

Aw you converted to Islam ? :super: :D