FROM THE HOLY QUR'ANWhatever is in the heavens and the earth belongs to Allah. Allah will call you to account for what is in your minds whether you disclose it or hide it. He, however, has full authority to pardon or punish anyone He pleases, for Allah has complete power over everything. The Messenger has believed in the guidance which has been sent down to him from his Lord, and those who believe in the Messenger have also sincerely accepted the same. They all believe in Allah, His Angels, His Books and His Messengers, and they say: "We do not discriminate against any of His Messengers. We have heard the Message and submitted to it. Our Lord, we look up to You for forgiveness for to You we shall all return." Allah does not burden any human being with a responsibility heavier than he can bear. Everyone will enjoy the fruit of the good that he has earned and shall suffer for the evil that he has committed.
Our Lord. take us not to task if we forget and lapse into error inadvertently. Lord, lay not on us the kind of burdens that You had lain on the people before us. Lord, lay not on us the kind of burden that we have not the strength to hear. Be kind to us, forgive us and show mercy to us. You are our Protector: help us against the disbelievers.
Here is, essentially, the answer to the question: "Why are you a Muslim?" I have been asked this question a number of times. I guess my experience as a revert to Islam does attract attention. The stories of those who return to Islam are as varied and diverse as are the faces of those who tell the stories. But, whatever the divergence in narrative, the convergence in testimony centers on a simple point which is the door into Islam and becoming a Muslim: The Messenger has believed in the guidance which has been sent down to him from his Lord, and those who believe in the Messenger have also sincerely accepted the same.
God has sent numerous Prophets and Messengers to humankind who acted as guides to lead us to the truth and to the love and worship of the Almighty. The last of this succession of Messengers was Mohammed (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him!). It was through him that God sent us the final written revelation. He (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him!) received the revelation of the Holy Qur'an, and he believed in it himself. In other words, he first RECEIVED, and then he BELIEVED. After this, he proclaimed the revelation to humankind. I have believed the Prophet's (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him!) claims to be true. This means that I believed that the revelation he gave to humankind truly comes from God (just as he believed). Believing that Mohammed (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him!) is indeed the Messenger of God means that I accept the Holy Qur'an as the revelation of God. In this, I share a common faith with the Prophet (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him!). Becoming a Muslim is as simple as this. In fact, the testimony of reversion is simple: Ashadu an laa illaha illa Allah. Washadu anna Mohammadan - abduhu wa rasulluhu. I bear testimony that there is no one who has the right to be worshipped but Allah. And I bear testmony that Mohammed is the Slave and Messenger of Allah. In verse 285 of the same chapter, the prayer of a Muslim rings true: We have heard the message and submitted to it.
A Muslim is someone who is in submission to God. A Muslim is someone who has heard the Message of the Holy Qur'an and who has believed that Mohammed (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him!) is the Messenger of God.
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