My name is Basudev Chaudhary alias Mohd Abbas Chaudhary. I belong to a Hindu family and was a pious Hindu who used to go to temple and worship idols. The environment in which I grew up was extremist Hindu where Muslims were severely hated. As a Hindu, I had the opportunity of studying the Hindu faith to a great extent. I was doing my best to convince myself that Hinduism was the only true faith, but alas! Its mysteries, dogmas and the compulsory ‘must beliefs’ did not permit to remain quiet. I started my search for the Truth and remained engaged therein for many years quite silently.
I also used to have discussion with religious pundits and attend satsanga and pravachana but I got satisfaction neither from them nor from the study of the scriptures. The more I used to go deep into the study the more I was in confusion because I always found Hinduism full of dogmas, mysteries, contradictions and paradoxes.
In Hinduism and Buddhism, I found such ‘vacant spots’ that the only alternative left to me was to study Islam. At one time, I really held Islam in abhorrence. I had no Muslim friends, for Islam was so repulsive to me that I did not want even to associate with its adherents.
It continued till my college life when I came in contact with an Islamic organisation. I very clearly remember the day when I went to meet one of my father’s friends in Biratnagar and met some old Muslims. Their way of talking politely with presence of mind really impressed me. That day for the first time I had meals with Muslims altogether at a single dastarkhan. I must thank to Uncle (my father’s friend) who took me to Islamic Library and introduced me to some Islamic scholars. Luckily, this library was just in front of my college. So, I kept visiting the library regularly just to read newspapers, magazines and some religious books for general knowledge and for ‘time-pass’. Till then I had no interest in reading Islam. Very soon I got lots of friends to know with whom I always used to have religious discussions. Unintentionally, I started reading Islamic literature, then Hadith. The more I got deep into the Islamic study the more I felt myself satisfied with them. The more I read the Qur’ān, the more I was convinced that Islam is for me.
Before coming to know Islam, I was already believing in the first part of Kalimah: La Ilaha Illallah (there is no God but Allah).
So, it was first of all for the metaphysical reasons that I reverted to Islam. Other reasons, too, prompted me to do so. For instance, the verses of Vedas, Upanishads and other Hindu scriptures regarding Tauheed (Oneness of God, the Allah Almighty) supported my faith.
In my enthusiasm for Islam, I began to study all religions, from the most ancient to those of the present day, comparing each with the other, and subjecting them to very close criticism; and little by little, I became convinced that Islam is the true religion, and that the Noble Qur’ān contained what every soul requires for its spiritual elevation.
During the comparative study, I found some predictions in Vedas and Puranas about the last prophet Mohammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) where all the Hindus were asked to follow him. These references and some verses of the Qur’ān definitely converted me to the second part of the kalimah: ‘Muhammad-ur-Rasulullah’ (Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah).
When I studied the Noble Qur’ān, I was astonished to read such noble precepts and inspiring passages, such wise and practical advice for everyday life. It made me wonder why I had been taught that Muhammad (peace and blessing of Allah be to him) was a ‘false’ prophet, and how I had not heard the truth about this wonderful ‘Deen’ earlier.
Little did I dream that books on Islam would make a new man out of me? I was gradually becoming so observed in the lively teachings of Islam that it did not take me long to go earnestly further into the mysterious path. It is clean and simple, yet so full of deep studies that I soon felt the inevitable was drawing nigh.
I shall love to pay my gratitude to Allah for His blessings. As Allah’s Messenger said, “When Allah wishes well for someone He grants him understanding of Deen.” I say Allah has showered me with His blessings.
The purity and simplicity of the Islamic Faith, its freedom from dogma and its obvious Truth made a special appeal to me. The honesty and sincerity of the Muslims, too, are greater than anything I have seen in Hindus.
Another beauty of Islam is its equality. It is only Islam that has real equality maintained between man and man and no other religion has anything like this. The faith of Islam generates unity.
The Deen of Islam is also the cleanest religion in the world because Muslims have to wash the exposed parts of the body five times a day, a practice not found in any other religion of the world.
The thing that attracted me most is its teachings. The Qur’ān is the only book I have ever found heart touching and practical which can make you feel satisfied. The Qur’ān that was revealed to the prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) by Almighty Allah guides us in every walk of life. So, it is complete. It is full of divine truth. Islam had always attracted me both by its simplicity and by the devotion of its follower…. So, truthfulness, divinity, simplicity, practicality and its guidance attracted me to Islam.
I hid my reversion to Islam from my family until one day I decided to phone my brother and inform him that I am a Muslim. My brother was so shocked, because we were very devoted and pious Hindus. One day my father phoned me and told me to go home.
My family members didn’t react over the matter immediately, rather they called me to go home. I had to go to India for my further study in Aeronautical engineering. I went home. But the situation was not really good. They forced me to stay in puja and worship their deities. I pretended a lot not to stay in puja but they didn’t listen to me any more. Finally, I rejected the worship. They didn’t do anything but they gave me a condition: If I followed what they were saying then they would give me everything, they would pay for my education, they would fulfil my every need. I didn’t accept their condition rather I said: “If the condition is this, I won’t take anything from you but please let me follow the path of Allah. Let me follow Islam.” My brother said, “Do you know what are you saying?” At first I got harassed. My eyes were closing out of fear. But, suddenly, I felt a huge power in my inner self that made me courageous enough to face the situation. I cried out that I have reverted to Islam so I would not stay in the puja. He said: “What! What have you said? Would you repeat your words?” I repeated my words with an added emphasis: “Yes! I have reverted to Islam.” Hearing this he started to beat me. Hearing the noise, my sister reached there. She tried to rescue me. But when the brother narrated the entire story, she too advanced to scold me. I stopped her saying: “You should not come in my way. I know what is good for me and what is bad. I shall proceed on the way I have chosen.” Hearing this, my brother got furious. He tortured me so much that I lost my senses.
After this incident I was not allowed to meet anyone. I was locked up in a room. At midnight when I was there in the room, my mother came in and burst into tears in my arms. I asked where the other family members were. She said they were sleeping. My mother requested me to escape from the house for the family wanted to send me to some unknown place. I consoled her that nothing of the sort would happen. They would not hurt me. But she continued to insist amid sobs that I should escape from the house. I tried to make her understand that then I would be unable to meet her. But she replied that I could meet her only if I would remain alive. “Go away, my son, they will murder you.” At last I decided to leave.
I could never forget those harsh moments when my mother went to wake up my younger sister and said to her: “Get up! Your brother is leaving. Meet him now for who knows whether he will meet us again or not.” The younger sister had met me after many days. She was rubbing her eyes while looking at me. But when I stepped forward, she clung to me and burst into tears. My sister perhaps already knew all. She just asked me, “Brother, are you leaving?” I nodded in the affirmative saying we would meet again. My mother and sister were seeing me off on that dark and chilly night.
On one hand was the love of mother and sister and their separation and on the other was the love for Islam which was overcoming the former. I was moaning, clinging to my mother and sister…. My injuries were fresh. I was unable to walk on foot. However, I somehow managed to do so. Both my mother and sister were waving their hands to me with tears in their eyes at the gate. I could never forget those moments. Whenever I recall the scene, I remember the Muslims who had abandoned their homes and families for Islam.
I must thank my brother Birendrabhai who helped me a lot during my harsh moments. He carried me on the back seat of the bike and took me to Biratnagar. Other Muslim brothers kept me in safe place. I could never forget the favour.
When I was hospitalised, I was anxious about my next step. Where to go in search of peace and protection after being discharged from the hospital?
I had left my house in search of only one thing…. Now I had neither any home nor any family…. Now my only relation was with Islam which had extended me affection on the very first step.
I lost my family but gained a new family in Islam. My new family, the Muslims, were so wonderful, I cannot express it. I would like to make special mention of my appreciation to the brothers who supported me. I love those who treated me as if I was part of their family. May Allah reward them all – Amen.
I am so happy that Allah Taala has chosen me to be a Muslim.
I thank Almighty God for having mercy upon me, causing me to come to know the beauty of Islam as taught by Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) and his rightly guided followers. It is only by the mercy of Allah that we receive true guidance and the ability to follow the straight path, which leads to success in this life and the hereafter.
Ever since adopting Islam as my faith, I feel that I have come to a turning point in my life. Islam has given me a very practical method of breaking down the barrier of materialism in one of the Five Pillars of Faith, namely ‘prayer’. The Islamic prayer keeps me constantly aware of my duty to Allah, to my soul, and to my fellow creatures. Islam, if sincerely followed, must bring that peace to the mind and body which the world itself needs, and create a perfect social order.
I found Islam the purest and surest religion and is practised more than any other religion. I found in Islam complete solution to humanity and complete guidance in every walk of life. I found the truth and definite guidance what I had been seeking since my childhood.
After embracing Islam I felt a dire need to help those who have not yet been blessed with experiencing the light of Islam.