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Great numbers of Christians embraced Islam during and
soon after the Islamic conquests after the prophets death. They were never
compelled, rather it was a recognition of what they were already expecting. Anselm
Tormeeda, a priest
and Christian scholar, was one such person who’s history is worth relating. He
wrote a famous book called “The Gift to the Intelligent for Refuting the
Arguments of the Christians”. In the
introduction to this work
he relates his history:
“Let it be known to all of you that my origin is from
the city of Majorca, which is a great city on the sea between two mountains and
divided by a small valley. It is a commercial city, with two wonderful harbors.
Big merchant ships come and anchor in the harbor with different goods. The
city is on the island which has the same name - Majorca, and most of its land
is populated with fig and olive trees. My father was a well respected man in
the city. I was his only son.
When I was six, he sent me to a priest who taught me to
read the Gospel and logic, which I finished in six years. After that I left
Majorca and traveled to the city of Larda, in the region of Castillion, which
was the center of learning for Christians in that region. A thousand to a
thousand and a half Christian students gathered there. All were under the
administration of the priest who taught them. I studied the Gospel and its
language for another four years. After that I left for Bologne in the region
of Anbardia. Bologne is a very large city, it being the centre of learning for
all the people of that region. Every year, more than two thousand students
gather together from different places. They cover themselves with rough cloth
which they call the “Hue of God.” All of them, whether the son of a workman or
the son of a ruler, wear this wrap, in order to make the students distinct from
the others.
Only the priest teaches, controls and directs them. I
lived in the church with an aged priest. He was greatly respected by the
people because of his knowledge and religiousness and asceticism, which
distinguished him from the other Christian priests. Questions and requests for
advice came from everywhere, from Kings and rulers, along with presents and
gifts. They hoped that he would accept their presents and grant them his
blessings. This priest taught me the principles of Christianity and its
rulings. I became very close to him by serving and assisting him with his
duties until I became one of his most trusted assistants, so that he trusted me
with the keys of his domicile in the church and of the food and the drink
stores. He kept for himself only the key of a small room were he used to sleep.
I think, and God knows best, that he kept his treasure chest in there. I was a
student and servant for a period of ten years, then he fell ill and failed to
attend the meetings of his fellow priests.
During his absence, the priests discussed some religious
matters, until they came to what was said by the Almighty God through his
prophet Jesus in the Gospel: “After him will come a Prophet called Paraclete.”
They argued a great deal about this Prophet and as to who he was among the
Prophets. Everyone gave his opinion according to his knowledge and
understanding; and they ended without achieving any benefit in that issue. I
went to my priest, and as usual he asked about what was discussed in the
meeting that day. I mentioned to him the different opinions of priests about
the name Paraclete, and how they finished the meeting without clarifying its
meaning. He asked me: “What was your answer?” I gave my opinion which was
taken from interpretation of a well known exegesis. He said that I was nearly
correct like some priests, and the other priests were wrong. “But the truth is
different from all of that. This is because the interpretation of that noble
name is known only to a small number of well versed scholars. And we posses
only a little knowledge.” I fell down and kissed his feet, saying: “Sir, you
know that I traveled and came to you from a far distant country, I have served
you now for more than ten years; and have attained knowledge beyond estimation,
so please favor me and tell me the truth about this name.” The priest then
wept and said: “My son, by God, you are very much dear to me for serving me and
devoting yourself to my care. Know the truth about this name, and there is a
great benefit, but there is also a great danger. And I fear that when you know
this truth, and the Christians discover that, you will be killed immediately.” I
said: “By God, by the Gospel and He who was sent with it, I shall never speak
any word about what you will tell me, I shall keep it in my heart.” He said: “My
son, when you came here from your country, I asked you if it is near to the
Muslims, and whether they made raids against you and if you made raids against
them. This was to test your hatred for Islam. Know, my son, that Paraclete is
the name of their Prophet Muhammad, to whom was revealed the fourth book as
mentioned by Daniel. His way is the clear way which is mentioned in the
Gospel.” I said: “Then sir, what do you say about the religion of these
Christians?” He said: “My son, if these Christians remained on the original
religion of Jesus, then they would have been on God’s religion, because the
religion of Jesus and all the other Prophets is the true religion of God. But
they changed it and became unbelievers.” I asked him: “Then, sir, what is the
salvation from this?” He said “Oh my son, embracing Islam.” I asked him: “Will
the one who embraces Islam be saved?” He answered: “Yes, in this world and the
next.” I said: “The prudent chooses for himself; if you know, sir the merit of
Islam, then what keeps you from it?” He answered: “My son, the Almighty God
did not expose me to the truth of Islam and the Prophet of Islam until after I
have become old and my body weakened. Yes, there is no excuse for us in this,
on the contrary, the proof of God has been established against us. If God had
guided me to this when I was your age, I would have left everything and adopted
the religion of truth. Love of this world is the essence of every sin, and
look how I am esteemed, glorified and honored by the Christians, and how I am
living in affluence and comfort! In my case, if I show a slight inclination
towards Islam they would kill me immediately. Suppose that I was saved from
them and succeeded in escaping to the Muslims, they would say, do not count
your Islam as a favor upon us, rather you have benefited yourself only by
entering the religion of truth, the religion that will save you from the
punishment of God! So I would live among them as a poor old man of more than
ninety years, without knowing their language, and would die among them starving.
I am, and all praise is due to God, on the religion of Christ and on that which
he came with, and God knows that from me.” So I asked him: “Do you advise me
to go to the country of the Muslims and adopt their religion?” He said to me: “If
you are wise and hope to save yourself, then race to that which will achieve
this life and the hereafter. But my son, none is present with us concerning
this matter; it is between you and me only. Exert yourself and keep it a
secret. If it is disclosed and the people know about it they will kill you
immediately. I will be of no benefit to you against them. Neither will it be
of any use to you if you tell them what you heard from me concerning Islam, or
that I encouraged you to be a Muslim, for I shall deny it. They trust my
testimony against yours. So do not tell a word, whatever happens.” I promised
him not to do so.
He was satisfied and content with my promise. I began
to prepare for my journey and bid him farewell. He prayed for me and gave me
fifty golden dinars. Then I
took a ship to my city Majorca where I stayed with my parents for six months. Then
I traveled to Sicily and remained there five months, waiting for a ship bound
for the land of the Muslims. Finally a ship arrived bound for Tunis. We departed before sunset and reached the port of Tunis at noon on the second day. When I got off the ship, Christian scholars who heard of my arrival came to
greet me and I stayed with them for four months in ease and comfort. After
that, I asked them if there was a translator. The Sultan in those days was Abu
al-Abbas Ahmed. They said there was a virtuous man, the Sultan’s physician,
who was one of his closest advisors. His name was Yusuf al-Tabeeb. I was
greatly pleased to here this, and asked where he lived. They took me there to
meet him separately. I told him about my story and the reason of my coming
there; which was to embrace Islam. He was immensely pleased because this
matter would be completed by his help. We rode to the Sultan’s Palace. He met
the Sultan and told him about my story and asked his permission for me to meet
him.
The Sultan accepted, and I presented myself before him.
The first question the Sultan asked was about my age. I told him that I was
thirty-five years old. He then asked about my learning and the sciences which
I had studied. After I told him he said. “Your arrival is the arrival of
goodness. Be a Muslim with God’s blessings.” I then said to the doctor, “Tell
the honorable Sultan that it always happens that when anyone changes his
religion his people defame him and speak evil of him. So, I wish if he kindly
sends to bring the Christian priests and merchants of this city to ask them
about me and hear what they have to say. Then by God’s will, I shall accept
Islam.” He said to me through the translator, “You have asked what Abdullah
bin Salaam asked from the Prophet when he – Abdullah came to announce his
Islam.” He then sent for the priests and some Christian merchants and let me
sit in an adjoining room unseen by them. “What do you say about this new
priest who arrived by ship?” he asked. They said: “He is a great scholar in
our religion. Our bishops say he is the most learned and no one is superior to
him in our religious knowledge.” After hearing what the Christian said, the
Sultan sent for me, and I presented myself before them. I declared the two
testimonies that there is no one worthy of worship except God and that Muhammad,
may the blessing and mercy of God be upon him, is His Messenger, and when the Christians heard this they
crossed themselves and said: “Nothing incited him to do that except his desire
to marry, as priests in our religion can not marry.” Then they left in
distress and grief.
The Sultan appointed for me a
quarter of a dinar every day from the treasury and let me marry the daughter of
Al-Hajj Muhammed al-Saffar. When I decided to consummate the marriage, he gave
me a hundred golden dinars and an excellent suit of clothes. I then
consummated the marriage and God blessed me with a child to whom I gave the
name Muhammed as a blessing from the name of the Prophet.”
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