Khaleej Times: by Muaz Shabandri —
The son of Arnoud van Doorn, the famous Dutch policy maker and distributor of an anti-Islam film Fitna that caused unrest in 2008, surprised the audiences at the three-day Dubai International Peace Convention by embracing Islam. Arnoud’s son, Iskander Amien De Vrie, was one of the 37 people who converted to Islam during the convention.
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Iskander with his father Arnoud. — KT photo Muaz Shabandri
“I bear witness that there is no God to be worshipped but Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is his worshipper and last messenger,” said Iskander in his Shahadah (testimony) to become a Muslim.
Arnoud van Doorn shot to fame in 2008 as one of the names associated with the anti-Muslim film Fitna, which was released in 2008. The film promoted misconceptions about Islam and Arnoud was one of the film’s distributors. Five years later, Arnoud was a changed man having learned more about Islam, which he today calls as ‘a religion of peace’. He converted to Islam after learning more about the religion and his decision shocked the world.
“I saw my father become more peaceful after converting to Islam. That’s when I realised there is something good in this religion and it made me change my perception of Muslims. I started studying the Holy Quran and going through lectures of important scholars,” said Iskander in an interview with Khaleej Times.
Iskander, 22, credited his college friend Younis for setting a good example of what Muslims really are and how they live their life. “My friend Younis is a good practicing Muslim who taught me something new every day. He was patient with me and there was no way I could be rude to him,” said Iskander.
Iskander also drew inspiration from his father’s life and how he underwent a transformation to become a more peaceful person.
Talking about the anti-Islamic movie Fitna, Arnoud called it a “mistake”, which he deeply regretted. “There is a misconception among people that I produced the movie Fitna, but I wasn’t involved in it. I was only responsible for distributing the movie. Today, it is something that I deeply regret.”
Arnoud hopes to produce a movie about the righteousness preached in Islam and correct his earlier “mistakes”. “I feel an urge and a responsibility to correct the mistakes I have done in the past. I want to use my talents and skills in a positive way by spreading the truth about Islam. I am trying to make a new movie about Islam and the life of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). It would show people what examples the Prophet set in his life and the movie would invite younger people to Islam.”
With both the father and son now leading life as Muslims, the astonishing story was talked about by speakers and scholars even after the convention was over.
Arnoud is now calling on people to support his Islamic Foundation, which is fighting Islamophobia in Europe. Having started the European Dawah Foundation, Arnoud has come a full circle from his earlier days as a member of the right-wing anti-Islam Freedom Party.
His team of volunteers works towards bridging the gap between Muslims and non-Muslims and helping people clear their misconceptions about Islam.
Iskander now plans to take a trip to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah and hopes his mother would also embrace Islam soon.
Origional Post here:http://www.khaleejtimes.com/kt-article-display-1.asp?xfile=data/nationgeneral/2014/April/nationgeneral_April148.xml§ion=nationgeneral
Categories: Conversion To Islam, Europe, Islam: A Religion of Peace, United Arab Emirates
The beauty of Islam is that it is a religion which appeals to common sense. There is no blind belief or dogmatism in Islam. The fundamentals of Islam are simple, straightforward and easy to understand.
If Islam is so bad, then why is it the WORLD’S FASTEST GROWING RELIGION! It is also one of the youngest religions. However no matter how hard everyone tries to give Islam a bad name, it will be twice as more populated. So let’s get straight to the point yeah?, Basically Islam is the most hated religion I don’t know why hmm maybe because it is also the most fastest growing religion and 2nd largest but no one will be able to stop this religion from growing.
Islam is the fastest growing faith in Britain. Hundreds and thousands of Brits are reverting to Islam. By the middle of this century, over half of Brits would be Muslims.
“I have always held the religion of Muhammad in high estimation because of its wonderful vitality. It is the only religion which appears to me to
possess that assimilating capacity to the changing phase of existence which can make itself appeal to every age. I have studied him – the wonderful man
and in my opinion for from being an anti-Christ, he must be called the Saviour of Humanity. I believe that if a man like him were to assume the
dictatorship of the modern world, he would succeed in solving its problems in a way that would bring it the much needed peace and happiness: I have prophesied about the faith of Muhammad that it would be acceptable to the Europe of tomorrow as it is beginning to be acceptable to the Europe of today.” [G.B. Shaw, THE GENUINE ISLAM, Vol.
1, No. 81936.]
IA
http://www.londonschoolofislamics.org.uk
I feel there is typo in the above comment, caused by the originator (GBS) or it is a mistake by Iftikhar sahib. The bad sentence is shown below:
“I have studied him – the wonderful man
and in my opinion for from being an anti-Christ, he must be called the Saviour of Humanity…..”
It should be read as follows:
“I have studied him – the wonderful man
and in my opinion FAR from being an anti-Christ, he must be called the Saviour of Humanity….”
George Bernard Shaw was a very good man, even being an atheist, was better than being a Christian. He did good service to the cause of truth against the misguidance spread by the Christian preachers who tried to mark Muhammad as anti-Christ (Dajjal, God forbids).
That was a very cruel work of the Church preachers. They had spread many wrong things about the prophet Muhammad s.a.w.s. and Islam. One other such false work was that they ascribed the spread of Islam to use of sword.
Many sensible western scholars disowned all such bad teachings of the Church and now nobody mentions those false allegations.
George B. Shaw has highly praised the prophet s.a.w.s. in his words in last para of first comment, saying about Muhammad ““I have studied him – the wonderful man and in my opinion FAR from being an anti-Christ, he must be called the Saviour of Humanity….”
May Allah bless GBS with good reward.
Truth prevaild.
A Kuwaiti prince, Abdallah al-Sabah, converted to Christianity in January 2012, why has it not been reported by the Muslim Times?
A comment above says:
“Hundreds and thousands of Brits are reverting to Islam. By the middle of this century, over half of Brits would be Muslims.”
About 95% of the population of Pakistan is Muslim. What benefits has that fact brought to that country?
Please do not delete my respond, may Allah bless you, Ameen
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Do not be happy if someone convert his belief to Islam. Why?
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1. Enter Islam it does not mean he will enter Heaven or paradise automatically, because to become Islam is easy. There is no a word in Al Quran, a Islam can enter the Home of Heaven ( Allah). Allah only guarantee a Muslim will enter the Home of God, if he can follow Allah’s laws completely. If you follow some and you reject the rest, will be punished QS 2:85.
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2. Those who convert to Islam, want to seek popularity, some of them want to seek money, some of them to damage Islam from inside.
3. Hopefully these men really want to find peaceful religion and prosperity in Islam.
All love
MAY ALLAH GUIDE US RIGHTLY…….