From: ahmed@dsg.cs.tcd.ie (Ahmed El-Habbash)
Subject: Re: Conversion to ISLAM/ Do I have to leave my beloved wife?
Organization: DSG, Dept. of Computer Science, Trinity College Dublin
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 20:18:01 GMT

In <1992Nov19.061222.12496@nucc.cc.nagoya-u.ac.jp> f43703a@nucc.cc.nagoya-u.ac.jp (SUPRATIC GUPTA) writes:


>Dear readers,

>     One more question. One of my friends wrote to me by email
> That a muslim should mix with muslims only. (preferablely). He
>must mix with muslim comunity, as the non-muslims will betray
>a muslim (I really don't know why?).

>I like your coments on it.

I think I sent an e-mail reply to a question similar to this, but I will
repeat again, the same answer.

I will just quote two verses from the Quran. I think they are very
clear.
"
 8. Allah does not forbid you respecting those who have not 
 made war against you on account of (your) religion, and have 
 not driven you forth from your homes, that you show them 
 kindness and deal with them justly; surely Allah loves the 
 doers of justice.

 9. Allah only forbids you respecting those who made war upon 
 you on account of (your) religion, and drove you forth from 
 your homes and backed up (others) in your expulsion, that 
 you make friends with them, and whoever makes friends with 
 them, these are the unjust.
"
>Now suppose if I convert ti Islam, do I have to leave my beloved
>wife and all my dear family members? They are all strict HINDU and
>pray multiple GOD, pray IDOLS, in short they are all KHAFIRS. Should/must
>I leave there comunity and join muslim comunity where I don't have any
>friends in INDIA. Here I have many muslim friends. Should I send my
>son to only ISLAMIC INSTITUTE OF TECKNOLOGY rather then Indian Institute
>of TECHNOLOGY? Should I forbid my children to mix with HINDUS?

>I will appreciate your coments? Please use simple words. I will
>beleave that you are speaking the truth. Please don't refer to
>texts. I get confused. Refer to text and then please reply in
>simple words.

>with regards
>SUPRATIC GUPTA

Supratic,

Converting to Islam is not for the sake of joining this group or that
group. One shouldn't enter Islam to to please some people or to betray
others. This not an objective.  One becomes a Muslim because he believed
in God, in His message( Quran ) and in His Prophet/servant/messenger.
Some people enter Islam, because they feel that Islam will help them in
overcomming some of their personal problems, some people find Islam goes
in accordance with some of their desires, and some others enter Islam
for the purpose of doing corruption within the muslim community, while
others find themselves born as muslims, but in reality they are too far from
Islam.

True Islam is the submission to Allah, to His message, and to His code.
The target of the true Muslim is to please Allah, hoping to have his
reward and seeking his forgiveness. Any thing else is negligible in the
sight of the true Muslim. If your target is any thing else other than
Allah, then forget about Islam.

Islam is a frame and that frame is described as a mercy to mankind.
Any details within that frame should  be leading to that mercy.

If one can see Islam so clear, and so straight and believes that it is
true, why should he put so many barriers to make it difficult for himself
to submit to the truth.

Islam forces the Muslim to be kind to his kinsmen, and particularly to
his parents. A muslim is commanded to be in company with his parents even
if they try to force him out of Islam. Of course he should not obey them
to go out of Islam, but he should maintain good ties with them, though.

One point one should consider is that a Muslim is not an angel, he is a
human, and he could become weak in his faith or even loose faith when
faced by the material life and Satan. That is why a Muslim should seek
support in good Muslims. But he is not supposed to betray his friend and
relatives because they are not Muslim. It is your duty towards them to
keep good relations with them, and know that the best that you can do
for them is to present Islam in the best way to them, and that cannot be
presented unless Islam is exemplified in you.

I hope this clears the situation.

With regards.

Ahmed

-- 
Ahmed I. El-Habbash, 
Department of Computer Science, Trinity College,
Dublin 2, Ireland.
Tel: office: +353-1-7021524
Newsgroups: soc.culture.pakistan