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Why I Became a Muslim
This book explains in detail the thoughts that lead to his change, from an ordinary English upbringing, to a convert to Islam, and ultimately into a prison in Egypt. It is an explanation written by a father for his son, while imprisoned overseas, charged with calling to bring down the Mubarak regime. It was written for the author's son, as he had not seen him for one and a half years, had not yet been sentenced, and so he was unsure whether he would ever know him properly. He wrote it as an attempt to let him know his father when he is grown up.
116 pages, Paperback
First published June 4, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 18, 2013
I've read the Qu'ran in its entirety, and this book drew my interest because the reason why many people choose their religion is obvious: simple indoctrination. One need only look at a map of religious beliefs of societies in order to understand why many people choose a particular religion. Such a map cannot be a result of the inherent truths of religion, because most religions are mutually exclusive. The author of this book was obviously not a product of familial or geographic indoctrination. Why then did he choose Islam? I had to know.
The book is written well. Grammar, punctuation, and spelling were adequate. Some unpublished books cannot claim the same, so I applaud the author for making the effort.
Now, when I received this book, I did immediately have a feeling of disappointment having opened it. When a book is titled "Why I Became a Muslim", I would expect that either the book would be a long diatribe on why the tenets of Islam are certainly true, or that the author has such convincing evidence that he could explain his conversion in the mere space of 115 pages. My prejudice of the length of the book was certainly not grounds for dismissal, so I proceeded to read with the intent of finding evidence for the latter.
The first thing that should be discussed is the reasons given for the author's conversion to Islam. I will cite passages and then discuss them.
The first reason given for conversion to Islam is thus (Nisbet 20):
"However, at this time, went on a package holiday with my friends to Majorca and while on the plane I started to feel anxious and afraid, suddenly aware of my mortality, so if I died, I wanted to die as a Muslim, someone who submitted himself to Allah. I still knew almost nothing about Islam at this time."
The last statement is revealing. The author admits one paragraph earlier that his knowledge of Islam was limited to a description of Islam provided by Malcolm X. If a combination of having heard of Islam combined with a fear of flying or turbulence were a valid reason for conversion to Islam, then the number of adherents would be far greater. Neither is a valid reason to choose any religion.
"I had learned that Islam was revealed to the prophet..." (Nisbet 25)
Citation of evidence needed.
"...all of the morals, rules, and rituals can be traced back to the belief, which is rationally based." (Nisbet 30)
The author has yet to provide evidence of the tenets of Islam being true, yet asserts a rational basis without evidence.
"In other words, that we can not possibly exist without Allah's existing." (Nesbit 32)
This is the simplest of non-sequiturs. Even if we posit that the universe does need a creator, for which the author provides no evidence other than mere assertion, then it would follow that the creator could be such as Zeus, Yahweh, Elohim, Ra, or even one's crazy neighbor who asserts that he did it without evidence after last weekend's barbecue. The author has no basis to make such a claim.
"So the point is built upon a rational concept that every effect has a cause." (Nesbit 33)
This is a rationally valid concept, although in the context that the author sets, it is not rational. There is no reason an effect can not have a natural cause, all the way back to the creation of the universe. To assert that it is likely, or even must be Allah is non-sequitur.
"We discussed how the Qu'ran challenges those who doubt in its authenticity to produce a chapter like it. This challenge was for all Arabs at the time and for all who come after it. No one was able to do so, and until today that remains the case. This fact alone serves as a clear proof that the Qu'ran is the authentic word of Allah."
What is one to say in the face of the above paragraph? What exactly does it mean? This reviewer has read all of the monotheistic holy books, and to claim that no one could produce a book of similar quality, holy or not, merits explanation. I submit that I could write a paragraph of similar prose and similar claims in less than a half hour. This statement appears vacuous. If this is the clear proof, then either the author has not properly elaborated or he's operating under false assumptions and bad reasons.
"Science itself has become the new unquestionable dogma." (Nisbet 42)
Where exactly does science say that you are required to believe? Does science have a punishment for disbelief? If one does not believe in an important concept in science, is one not allowed to present evidence in opposition? Throughout the chapter on science, the author misuses the term "theory", makes arguments from ignorance, and grossly misunderstands aerodynamics, and then bandies about the term "fool" for those that keep him in the air, even has he converts to Islam simply because he does not understand either the inherent safety statistics or science behind air travel. When Stephen J. Gould proposed the "non-overlapping magisteria" of science, he failed to consider such ignorance. We should rightly void Gould's concept, and our trust that the author can be counted on to understand science. Yet, he is entirely comfortable commenting on it with self-righteous indignation.
Other portions of this book suggest that everyone is an abject slave to Allah (and that we should be glad of our chains), that freedom of speech is only valid in the context of Islam, and that the author laments that the laws of Islam aren't the law of the land.
If you are looking for an evidence-based reason to convert to Islam, there may be one, but this isn't it.
There is not one shred of evidence provided in this book which suggests that the Qu'ran is the revealed word of Allah, that the Prophet Muhammed is his messenger, or even that Islam is a force for good in the world.
Note: If the author would like to defend himself in the comments, I'd be willing to take the time.
Disclaimer: This book was provided free of charge by goodreads through their "First Reads" program for the purpose of review.
The book is written well. Grammar, punctuation, and spelling were adequate. Some unpublished books cannot claim the same, so I applaud the author for making the effort.
Now, when I received this book, I did immediately have a feeling of disappointment having opened it. When a book is titled "Why I Became a Muslim", I would expect that either the book would be a long diatribe on why the tenets of Islam are certainly true, or that the author has such convincing evidence that he could explain his conversion in the mere space of 115 pages. My prejudice of the length of the book was certainly not grounds for dismissal, so I proceeded to read with the intent of finding evidence for the latter.
The first thing that should be discussed is the reasons given for the author's conversion to Islam. I will cite passages and then discuss them.
The first reason given for conversion to Islam is thus (Nisbet 20):
"However, at this time, went on a package holiday with my friends to Majorca and while on the plane I started to feel anxious and afraid, suddenly aware of my mortality, so if I died, I wanted to die as a Muslim, someone who submitted himself to Allah. I still knew almost nothing about Islam at this time."
The last statement is revealing. The author admits one paragraph earlier that his knowledge of Islam was limited to a description of Islam provided by Malcolm X. If a combination of having heard of Islam combined with a fear of flying or turbulence were a valid reason for conversion to Islam, then the number of adherents would be far greater. Neither is a valid reason to choose any religion.
"I had learned that Islam was revealed to the prophet..." (Nisbet 25)
Citation of evidence needed.
"...all of the morals, rules, and rituals can be traced back to the belief, which is rationally based." (Nisbet 30)
The author has yet to provide evidence of the tenets of Islam being true, yet asserts a rational basis without evidence.
"In other words, that we can not possibly exist without Allah's existing." (Nesbit 32)
This is the simplest of non-sequiturs. Even if we posit that the universe does need a creator, for which the author provides no evidence other than mere assertion, then it would follow that the creator could be such as Zeus, Yahweh, Elohim, Ra, or even one's crazy neighbor who asserts that he did it without evidence after last weekend's barbecue. The author has no basis to make such a claim.
"So the point is built upon a rational concept that every effect has a cause." (Nesbit 33)
This is a rationally valid concept, although in the context that the author sets, it is not rational. There is no reason an effect can not have a natural cause, all the way back to the creation of the universe. To assert that it is likely, or even must be Allah is non-sequitur.
"We discussed how the Qu'ran challenges those who doubt in its authenticity to produce a chapter like it. This challenge was for all Arabs at the time and for all who come after it. No one was able to do so, and until today that remains the case. This fact alone serves as a clear proof that the Qu'ran is the authentic word of Allah."
What is one to say in the face of the above paragraph? What exactly does it mean? This reviewer has read all of the monotheistic holy books, and to claim that no one could produce a book of similar quality, holy or not, merits explanation. I submit that I could write a paragraph of similar prose and similar claims in less than a half hour. This statement appears vacuous. If this is the clear proof, then either the author has not properly elaborated or he's operating under false assumptions and bad reasons.
"Science itself has become the new unquestionable dogma." (Nisbet 42)
Where exactly does science say that you are required to believe? Does science have a punishment for disbelief? If one does not believe in an important concept in science, is one not allowed to present evidence in opposition? Throughout the chapter on science, the author misuses the term "theory", makes arguments from ignorance, and grossly misunderstands aerodynamics, and then bandies about the term "fool" for those that keep him in the air, even has he converts to Islam simply because he does not understand either the inherent safety statistics or science behind air travel. When Stephen J. Gould proposed the "non-overlapping magisteria" of science, he failed to consider such ignorance. We should rightly void Gould's concept, and our trust that the author can be counted on to understand science. Yet, he is entirely comfortable commenting on it with self-righteous indignation.
Other portions of this book suggest that everyone is an abject slave to Allah (and that we should be glad of our chains), that freedom of speech is only valid in the context of Islam, and that the author laments that the laws of Islam aren't the law of the land.
If you are looking for an evidence-based reason to convert to Islam, there may be one, but this isn't it.
There is not one shred of evidence provided in this book which suggests that the Qu'ran is the revealed word of Allah, that the Prophet Muhammed is his messenger, or even that Islam is a force for good in the world.
Note: If the author would like to defend himself in the comments, I'd be willing to take the time.
Disclaimer: This book was provided free of charge by goodreads through their "First Reads" program for the purpose of review.
September 22, 2013
The author wrote this while serving time in an Egyptian prison for political protest. He conceived it as a letter to his son explaining the eponymous transformation.
Beyond that, you should not read this. Not because of anything you may have against Muslims, but because the author inadvertently stumbles into all the prejudices you might have or at least heard of concerning adherents to that faith.
Part of the problem may be that he is simply not much of a writer, and even when revising the original draft could not edit in the necessary details to fully explain his journey. But the short of it, as explained herein, is that he was raised a Christian, quickly drifted away, listened to and enjoyed political rap music, and with that basic springboard was completely open to a massive paradigm shift that led to his conversion and eventual imprisonment. (And by the way, the imprisonment isn't really explained in this pretty slim and liberally spaced volume.)
By the time he explains why, he doesn't really explain at all. The bulk of the text is devoted to religious dogma that isn't the slightest bit convincing, but rather to say that if you believe it you can't possibly question it, and he gives two example why, a proof that either he explained badly and certain cultural prejudices that basically say Islam has had everything figured out for centuries whereas every other social body has had to refine its thoughts over time. There's just no way to begin questioning this without being told in response that I am wrong and that there's nothing else to it.
So I ended up finding the opposite of what I'd hoped to read. I learned about Islam in school, the core beliefs, and not in any kind of judgmental way. I too, like the author, read the autobiography of Malcolm X (which by the way details a journey very different from this one). This is nothing but a bit of propaganda. If his son learns anything, I hope there's more than this.
Beyond that, you should not read this. Not because of anything you may have against Muslims, but because the author inadvertently stumbles into all the prejudices you might have or at least heard of concerning adherents to that faith.
Part of the problem may be that he is simply not much of a writer, and even when revising the original draft could not edit in the necessary details to fully explain his journey. But the short of it, as explained herein, is that he was raised a Christian, quickly drifted away, listened to and enjoyed political rap music, and with that basic springboard was completely open to a massive paradigm shift that led to his conversion and eventual imprisonment. (And by the way, the imprisonment isn't really explained in this pretty slim and liberally spaced volume.)
By the time he explains why, he doesn't really explain at all. The bulk of the text is devoted to religious dogma that isn't the slightest bit convincing, but rather to say that if you believe it you can't possibly question it, and he gives two example why, a proof that either he explained badly and certain cultural prejudices that basically say Islam has had everything figured out for centuries whereas every other social body has had to refine its thoughts over time. There's just no way to begin questioning this without being told in response that I am wrong and that there's nothing else to it.
So I ended up finding the opposite of what I'd hoped to read. I learned about Islam in school, the core beliefs, and not in any kind of judgmental way. I too, like the author, read the autobiography of Malcolm X (which by the way details a journey very different from this one). This is nothing but a bit of propaganda. If his son learns anything, I hope there's more than this.
October 4, 2016
This review could very well be titled "Why I Am Still Not a Muslim." I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway some time ago, and have started a half-dozen times to read this book, only to be discouraged by the poor writing. Only now that I have literally no excuses on Christmas Break to put off reading was I able to finally complete it, a surprisingly difficult task for a 115-page double-spaced book. First, Nisbet's tone is hopelessly didactic: while I was expecting to enjoy this book as a man's memoir of finding faith in Islam during a time of adversity, I was disappointed to find a diatribe about why the author is right and why people who disagree with him are wrong. His defense of Islam is tautological: Islam is perfect, so nobody can criticize it, therefore it is infallible. Nisbet tries to disprove modern scientific thought with the hackneyed arguments that science can't be right because it is always changing and that scientists arrogantly think they are always right- not realizing that the two statements contradict each other, as scientists don't think they are always right, and hence evolve their theories as more data become available. Moreover, Nisbet writes about people he disagrees with (e.g. Christians and secularists) in broad-brush statements that indicate a lack of comprehension of what those groups believe. Lastly, the frequency of grammatical errors and poorly constructed sentences are jarring. Given Nisbet's preachy stance, poor defense of strong statements, inability to counter dissenting opinions, and poor editing, I would discourage anyone from reading this book.
P.S. I find it highly biased that the author rated his own book five stars.
P.S. I find it highly biased that the author rated his own book five stars.
March 2, 2014
I received this book from a Goodreads giveaway!
Throughout the story, the author goes through a logical acceptance of Islam, and the reader hears his logic and understands the authors perspective. And though I would have preferred to have felt some of his emotions through his personal experience, his comprehension of Islam in comparison to secular beliefs is something that several born-Muslims unfortunately fail to realize. But on pondering, any human being can come in terms to his views, agreeing on the freedom that Islam brought and continues to bring. After coming so close to the authors mind and understanding, it only leaves you awaiting his second book.
Throughout the story, the author goes through a logical acceptance of Islam, and the reader hears his logic and understands the authors perspective. And though I would have preferred to have felt some of his emotions through his personal experience, his comprehension of Islam in comparison to secular beliefs is something that several born-Muslims unfortunately fail to realize. But on pondering, any human being can come in terms to his views, agreeing on the freedom that Islam brought and continues to bring. After coming so close to the authors mind and understanding, it only leaves you awaiting his second book.
January 9, 2014
OK First of all apologies to Ian. We all created differently and I think Ian is perhaps a lot more introverted than myself. After reading his previous book regarding his incarceration in Egypt I really wanted to get to know him more. How did he meet his wife, was she a Muslim before she met him? Did he struggle with cultural Muslims? Where did he eventually learn more about Islam? I am sure some of that is non of my business but I AM NOSY!!! I suppose being a revert to Islam myself I find it fascinating other peoples journeys after converting. I know these days you have the internet and Islamic studies and so many Islamic books written in English Alhamdulillah. Back in our day these things were like gold dust..
Anyway once again apologies for my nosiness.
To me it felt like Ian seemed a lot more comfortable in writing this book. The main body of it is about Islam and he quite eloquently shows that Islam (when followed correctly)has all that it needs to provide a stable, just, fulfilling society. I love how he shows how the freedom us British think we have doesn't really exist. I think dawah really is his forte. Other than leaving this book knowing that ian has trouble expressing his feelings I don't really feel that I know him much better. However I did feel like a got a little pep talk regarding improving ourselves. I am often one to say 'Allah helps those who help themselves' yet sometimes struggle to get up in a morning to pray. I need to remember this is for my benefit and I need to change myself not wait for someone to change me. Thanks Ian...
Anyway once again apologies for my nosiness.
To me it felt like Ian seemed a lot more comfortable in writing this book. The main body of it is about Islam and he quite eloquently shows that Islam (when followed correctly)has all that it needs to provide a stable, just, fulfilling society. I love how he shows how the freedom us British think we have doesn't really exist. I think dawah really is his forte. Other than leaving this book knowing that ian has trouble expressing his feelings I don't really feel that I know him much better. However I did feel like a got a little pep talk regarding improving ourselves. I am often one to say 'Allah helps those who help themselves' yet sometimes struggle to get up in a morning to pray. I need to remember this is for my benefit and I need to change myself not wait for someone to change me. Thanks Ian...
July 16, 2013
This is a first reads book to me and came as a surprise. I was interested in the book -- the concept of him writing it for his son to the subject matter of his becoming a Muslim.
It is based on his thinking of what England and Europe has led people of his age to be in the Western way of thinking and his peer group - of what Christianity and secular thinking did not provide for him. And what Islamic study and style of life had provided for him. This book is the beginning of his life with Muslim beliefs and not what happened in jail in Egypt ... that is following in an accompanied book. It was written while imprisoned but was rewritten after he was out of prison.
It was a quick read for me. It was thoughtfully written and glad to see some writing about how someone not raised in the religion or lifestyle was brought up to believe in it. I was surprised to see that the emotional part of his life was not on display i.e. about his wife or even meeting her and how that affected his faith...
It is based on his thinking of what England and Europe has led people of his age to be in the Western way of thinking and his peer group - of what Christianity and secular thinking did not provide for him. And what Islamic study and style of life had provided for him. This book is the beginning of his life with Muslim beliefs and not what happened in jail in Egypt ... that is following in an accompanied book. It was written while imprisoned but was rewritten after he was out of prison.
It was a quick read for me. It was thoughtfully written and glad to see some writing about how someone not raised in the religion or lifestyle was brought up to believe in it. I was surprised to see that the emotional part of his life was not on display i.e. about his wife or even meeting her and how that affected his faith...
September 1, 2013
I received this book in a drawing and although it was an interesting insight into why he became a Muslim, I found the book was rather lacking in some of the "proofs" he was using. It was hard to follow at times and I could not quite figure out whether he was trying to comment on religion or politics more. The one thing that I would hope is that his son consider and investigate religion maybe more thoroughly. The sad thing that I did get from the book is it seems that a lot more people than I want to think do not really know their religion well and are not versed in their own beliefs. I do applaud him for following the life that he chose and trying to be the best person that he can.
June 11, 2013
From the moment you read the first sentence of the work you are immediately with the author in his prison cell. The mere description of how he smuggled the pages out of the prison sets the scene. You can sense the emotion on every page and the desire for Ian to communicate with his son about the one thing that means the most to him, Islam.
I won't spoil the story for you.
Read it and elevate yourself.
I won't spoil the story for you.
Read it and elevate yourself.
July 14, 2013
I wanted to read this to have a better understanding of Islam and to enlighten myself as to why my brother had taken himself on a similar journey. Admittedly, under very different circumstances.
Ian Nesbit delivered on both measures in this compelling account of the thinking behind converting not only his religious beliefs but his whole outlook on how to live his life.
A quick but fascinating read that will make everyone who reads it question their own perspective and belief system.
Ian Nesbit delivered on both measures in this compelling account of the thinking behind converting not only his religious beliefs but his whole outlook on how to live his life.
A quick but fascinating read that will make everyone who reads it question their own perspective and belief system.
April 20, 2015
I won this book on Goodreads First Reads.
Nothing much to say about this one. It was written in a way that was hard to read for me. It's great that his son will have some insight into his fathers life when he is old enough to read this, but otherwise, I didn't find it to be a good book. Nothing against the author or his beliefs, I just had a hard time reading it. For lack of another description.. it was boring.
Nothing much to say about this one. It was written in a way that was hard to read for me. It's great that his son will have some insight into his fathers life when he is old enough to read this, but otherwise, I didn't find it to be a good book. Nothing against the author or his beliefs, I just had a hard time reading it. For lack of another description.. it was boring.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews