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The Importance of Welcoming and Supporting Reverts and New Muslims to Islam

Islam is a religion that is open to people from all walks of life. The doors of the faith are open to anyone who is willing to embrace it, and there are many people who have done so over the centuries. Many of these people are reverts, or people who have converted to Islam, and new Muslims who have recently accepted Islam. It is the responsibility of the wider Muslim community to welcome and support these individuals in their journey of faith. In this blog post, we will explore the importance of welcoming and supporting reverts and new Muslims to Islam and the history of how the Sahaba, or companions of the Prophet Muhammad, treated new Muslims.

Welcoming and supporting reverts and new Muslims is important for several reasons. Firstly, Islam is a way of life, and it can be challenging for people to make the transition from their previous way of life to this new way of life. This can be particularly challenging for reverts who may have to navigate their new faith in isolation, away from their previous support networks. By welcoming and supporting reverts and new Muslims, the wider Muslim community can help make this transition smoother and less daunting.

Secondly, reverts and new Muslims bring new perspectives and experiences to the Muslim community. By welcoming them and providing them with support, the wider community can benefit from these perspectives and experiences, and the community as a whole can become more diverse and inclusive.

Thirdly, welcoming and supporting reverts and new Muslims is an important part of being a good Muslim. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said,

"None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself"

(Sahih Al-Bukhari).

By welcoming and supporting reverts and new Muslims, we are fulfilling this commandment of the Prophet Muhammad, and we are also strengthening the bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood within the Muslim community.

The History of How the Sahaba Treated New Muslims

The Sahaba, or companions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon Him), set an excellent example of how to welcome and support new Muslims. They understood the importance of providing a safe and welcoming environment for new Muslims, and they went out of their way to do so.

One example of this is the story of Salman Al-Farsi. Salman was a Persian man who had been searching for the truth for many years. He had heard about a prophet who was preaching a new religion in Arabia, so he set out on a journey to find this prophet. When he arrived in Arabia, he was captured and sold into slavery. He was eventually bought by a Jewish man who told him about the Prophet Muhammad and Islam. Salman was intrigued and decided to seek out the Prophet Muhammad. When he finally met the Prophet, he recognized that he was the true messenger of God, and he accepted Islam.

The Sahaba welcomed Salman into their community with open arms. They treated him as one of their own and provided him with the support and guidance he needed to navigate his new faith. Salman became one of the closest companions of the Prophet Muhammad, and he went on to play a key role in the spread of Islam.

Another example is the story of Bilal ibn Rabah. Bilal was a slave who had been captured in Africa and brought to Arabia. He was eventually freed by Abu Bakr, one of the closest companions of the Prophet Muhammad, and he accepted Islam. Bilal faced intense persecution from the non-Muslims of Mecca because of his race and his new faith, but the Sahaba stood by him and supported him. Bilal went on to become one of the most famous companions of the Prophet Muhammad, and he is remembered as one of the most vocal and passionate supporters of Islam.

Welcoming and supporting reverts and new Muslims is an important part of being a good Muslim. It is our responsibility as members of the Muslim community to provide a safe and welcoming environment for new Muslims, and to help them to navigate their new faith. By doing so, we can strengthen the bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood within the Muslim community and create a more inclusive and diverse community that reflects the true spirit of Islam.

As Muslims, we should strive to follow in the footsteps of the Sahaba and provide a welcoming and supportive environment for new Muslims. We should make an effort to reach out to new Muslims, to answer their questions, and to provide them with the support and guidance they need to navigate their new faith. We should also work to create a community that is inclusive and diverse, where people from all backgrounds feel welcome and valued.

Acceptance of other Faiths

The Quran stresses acceptance of other faiths as a fact, this being an important Islamic principle. Acceptance here necessarily means that people should be not be coerced into following a particular religion. This is entirely in consonance with Islam. The Quran (2:256) insists ‘There shall be no compulsion in religion’. The occasion for the revelation of this verse further clarifies the Quranic understanding of religious acceptance. This verse was revealed in connection with a certain Muslim from among the ‘Helpers’ (Ansars) of Medina named Husain, who had two sons. Some traders from Syria had made them Jews when they were young, without their consent, and had had taken them to their land. Husain complained about this to the Prophet. He wanted that his children should be made to embrace Islam. This Quranic verse was revealed in this regard.

The Quran clearly states that human beings have the right to choose whatever religion or ideology they like. It is against God’s Cosmic Plan that everyone should follow one religion—Islam.

By Waris Mazhari

March 12, 2017

The Quran and Acceptance of Other Religions | Waris Mazhari | New Age Islam | Islamic News and Views | Moderate Muslims & Islam