Aidh al-Qarni's Letter to Nelson Mandela
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This comes up in a local mailing list. Most probably this is old news, but still interesting. Saudi preacher Aidh al-Qarni wrote a letter to (then)President Nelson Mandela, praising Mandela for all that he had done, but suggests that Mandela would need to convert to Islam in order to attain true happiness.
Link to letter
http//www.tdwl.net/vb/archive/index.php/t-48107.htmlQuotes
Whenever I met a group of scholars and learned men, leaders, men of letters and wisdom in the Islamic world, they expressed their wishes and desires that, 'How we wish Nelson Mandela were a Muslim!' For you exemplify and embody the real qualities of nobility and honor that Islam enjoins on its followers
Life is far too short and much too arduous. What about the life of such a great man like you? You have spent almost half of your life oppressed and imprisoned, while innocent. Truly, there is an eternal life; a life of happiness and prosperity for those who believe in Allah and follow all His Messengers.
At the end, it gives me pleasure to present to you my book entitled, 'Don't Be Sad'. I wish you would conclude, as a result, the consensus of scholars and great wise men that the true happiness is truly found in Islam, for there is no doubt.
Great President, I ask Allah the Almighty, the Lord of the Mighty Throne, that He , opens your breast and heart to Islam, and protects you in this life and the hereafter.
Now, the question posed by the man who posted this letter was How come such a great man like Mandela never originated in the Muslim world? He adds the irony pointing out that al-Qarni's native Saudi Arabia produced men like Usama bin Laden instead.
On a sidenote, the book al-Qarni sent to Mandela, 'Don't Be Sad' (La Tahzan) is a bestseller here.
It is correctly pointed out that Mandela has 'Islamic' qualities without being Muslim himself.
So what do you think? I think this has a connection with the 'Not Muslim?' thread.
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Salaam
What do you mean by "muslim"? I mean, how do you define the word "muslim"?
God says "Those who believe and those who are jews and christiens and sabians, whoever believes in God and the last day and does righteous good deeds shall have their rewards with their Lord. On them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve".
This verse is repeated three times in the quraan, yet I do not see any mention of "muslims"?