Islam Rediscovered
23. Conversion: An Intellectual Transformation
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ISLAM AND CONVERSION
Conversion in Islamic thought is not synonymous
with proselytism in the formal sense. It is an event
which takes place in a person’s life as a result of
intellectual revolution or spiritual transformation. It
is not simply leaving one religious tradition for
another. The Islamic ideal of conversion is for the
individual to discover the truth after an exhaustive
search for it and then by his own choice, abandon
one religion for another.
During his final phase in 6 A.H., the Prophet
Muhammad, may peace be upon him, sent letters to
the neighbouring rulers of his time, by which they
were directly invited to accept the message of Islam.
For instance, in his letter to the Byzantine Emperor
Heraclius I, the Prophet wrote these words: “Accept
Islam and you will be blessed with peace.” Similarly
at any gatherings which took place in Makkah, the
Prophet would make a point of going to that place
and address the assembled people thus: “O people,
say there is no god but God and you will attain
God’s grace.”
