A Journey into Islam
I read with great interest the story of an Italian scientist, Dr. Emanuel (Mahdi) Gullo, who works in the UK. I was very delighted to meet him few years ago and I would like to take this opportunity to share with the respected reader a few passages from his story:
“I was raised as a Roman Catholic, although not a very typical one. I remember being a sort of a pain to priests because of too much enthusiasm and persistence in asking them plenty of questions, which they considered was the result of a sort of “lack of faith”. I always wondered about the nature of God since I was very young, as young as 5, and also was very aware of His One-ness. My idea of God has always been of an all-encompassing Being above everything.”
“I always found that the very best of my worship to God was by myself, in the silence, with nothing in between, and no middle men! I was slowly reaching the conclusion that the true religion was... simply no religion! Just a personal relationship with the Almighty.”
“The encounter with Islam came through friendship with a few colleagues, during a research contract in a Chemistry Department in one of the University of London colleges. The thing that struck me the most was the way they treated each other and treated strangers. I was impressed with the commitment to their daily prayers, to their fasting in Ramadhan, fitting perfectly in their day of study or work and, strangely to me, in their jobs as people of Science!”
“The more I read the Gospels, the more I realised how the original Message in it was so much simpler than the doctrine I had been taught.”
“Getting rid of the prejudice was the first stage, then came interacting with Muslims and starting reading about the true Islam, its true history and the true meaning behind all that devotion and discipline. Getting to know Islam was like uncovering the Truth which had been hidden from my eyes all my life; an authentic cover-up.”
“In fact, as soon as all those things started to make sense in my mind and in my heart, I started hating Islam and the Muslims! Simply because everything pointed out the foolishness of the first 30 years of my life. For a couple of years I took any chance to put them and their religion in a bad light, and started living the most carefree party-ish lifestyle free from rules or consideration, probably because it was the opposite of what they represented, probably as a natural instinctive sign of rejection, or maybe, just maybe, because deep inside I knew it wouldn't last for long: I was in denial, but deep inside I knew something was about to change. Only later on I learned that this is a natural process most converts go through. It's the Truth that starts hurting.”
“I remembered what Islam and Muslims were about, when I first met them, and how the encounter with them had already opened my eyes once. I remembered thinking to myself: "no matter how shocking the truth can be, no matter what I say or how I act, I know that I believe, I believe that Islam is the Truth". The Truth is right before our eyes, and as soon as a person open his eyes and his heart, without preconception and prejudice, it becomes as clear as reality is compared to a dream. The most beautiful thing was looking at my face in the mirror and smiling, being able to "recognise myself", at last, after a long time.”
“When I went to a London Mosque to make my declaration of faith formally, I was impressed with their attitude ... I remember that there was no question that wasn't welcome, that there was no opinion of mine that wasn't valued and there was no pressure on me in doing or saying anything, and most of all I remember them being happy for me, selflessly, truly happy for me. Since then, every day I have been more enthusiastic about my choice and my life. I found inner peace, satisfaction with the true things that life offers, explanation to every single element of human perception, both emotionally and rationally. I found a great community living in true unity and true brotherhood as I never knew it before. Last but certainly not least, I found perfect conciliation with being a full man of Science and a full believer in the One God, as the scientific miracles in the Qur'an are still one of the big proofs to mankind hidden from the World. If only people just wanted to look, and see for themselves.”
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