By Ibrahim Bryan Low

There is none worthy of worship except Allah and there is no might nor power except by Him. Allah guided me to Islam, and is the One who guides me. He is my caring sustainer and cherisher. Providing for me every step of the way, in the morning and in the evening. When I am sick, it is He who cures me, when I am lost it is He who guides. His blessings upon us are so apparent and abundant that they become hidden. Something even as overlooked as our eyesight, the blessing is major and constant, however we look past it and forget.

فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

“Then which of your Lord’s favours will you (humans and jinn) both deny?”

Quran 55:13

And I remember that I couldn’t sleep that night. A fear took over me and the reality of the truth of Islam started to sink in. My advent of exploration into Islam was marked by looking at this religion as a source of wisdom, like a bucket being filled by water, one drop at a time. One day it looks empty, and on another, you return and the bucket is almost full. That night my friend poured a whole jug into it and it started to overflow. Perhaps this is what Imam al-Haddad mentions, the urge. It came suddenly, and with a compelling force. I couldn’t deny it even if I wanted.

I was overseas, and thought to myself, “it might be a good idea to wait till I come back to Singapore, go to a few more classes, and read up a little more. Or wait and book the official conversion ceremony at Darul Arqam.” This thought was largely unsettling, I looked at my rationale for it and on the surface it seemed, in my limited understanding, sound. However, I could not shake this feeling ever since I received the message. Thoughts overwhelmed me. The fear stemmed from feeling that I already knew Islam is true, and that perhaps the gift of faith already entered my heart and delaying it even for a moment longer was putting my hereafter in dire jeopardy.

IF I DIDN’T ACCEPT NOW, AND I WERE TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT, BE IT A PLANE CRASH ON THE WAY HOME, A CAR ACCIDENT, OR SUDDEN ILLNESS — WHAT WAS TO BECOME OF ME?

Would I be of those whom the message of Islam reached but did not accept? Is even delaying for a moment safe? Am I verging on Hellfire, missing out on the pleasure of my Lord and eternal bliss in the Gardens? I realised that I could not wait to come home. I took the shahada.

Faith is a gift. And what do you do with gifts? You open them as soon as possible. I am eternally grateful to Allah for Islam, there is no God except Him. He is free of need and who all is in need of and dependent upon.

رَبَّنَا لَا تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا وَهَبْ لَنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً ۚ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلْوَهَّابُ [٨] رَبَّنَآ إِنَّكَ جَامِعُ ٱلنَّاسِ لِيَوْمٍۢ لَّا رَيْبَ فِيهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُخْلِفُ ٱلْمِيعَادَ

“(They say,) “Our Lord! Do not let our hearts deviate after you have guided us. Grant us Your mercy. You are indeed the Giver (of all bounties). Our Lord! You will certainly gather all humanity for the (promised) Day—about which there is no doubt. Surely Allah does not break His promise.””

Quran 3:8-9

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