Convert vs Revert

Asalaamu Alaikam,

I prefer the term revert, and actually it makes my skin crawl a bit when people insist on using the term "convert." Why do I prefer revert to convert?

Well.....

Because Islam teaches us that long before any of us were ever born, Allah created every single soul in the world, and we were all gathered in a single place. We were all created as MUSLIMS (meaning, "those who submit to God"). There was no concept of "Christian," "Jew," "Hindu," "atheist," etc. There was only Muslim, in the purest sense of the word (again, as "one who submits," not as "one who follows the religion known as Islam.").

We say that Adam (as) was Muslim, because he submitted to the will of Allah. We say that every prophet that came before Muhammad (saws) was Muslim, because they all submitted to the will of Allah.

Islam teaches us that we were all born as "Muslims," but society made us as other things. Our parents raised us in different religions (or no religion), but that did not change how we were born. The way you grow up does not change the way in which you were born.

When we become Muslim, we are actually returning to something that we once were. The term "revert" means "to change back." The term "convert" means simply "to change." We are not just changing, we are changing BACK. We are returning to the way of life that Allah intended us to live. We are reverting, not converting.

When a Hindu becomes Christian, he is converting, because he was not born as a Christian. When he becomes a Muslim, he is reverting, because we was born as a Muslim.

Also, the term "convert" seems way to synonymous with weights and measures. "Convert inches into centimeters," or "convert liters into ounces." Do we wish to use a term that is so strongly associated with weights and measures to describe our coming to Islam?

Just something to think about......

wasalaamz,

PS I know that it was a reversion for me when I came to Islam for the simple fact that I started feeling about God the same way I did as a 5 and 6 yr old girl, and I understood that there was only one God, and I could talk to God directly (no intercessor required). Islam held the simplicity that I felt as a child. I was reverting back to what I knew then (but had forgotten along the way).

^i agree everyone is born as a Muslim upon the pure fitra, this is why when a child see's an indecently dressed women on the t.v he goes EWWW or see's a man and women haraam kissing he goes "yuck" cos they're still upon the pure nature that allah created them on. How else does a child know that these things are bad. it's as they get older their mentality changes due to parents and society.

Greetings,

format_quote Originally Posted by NoorInaya

Because Islam teaches us that long before any of us were ever born, Allah created every single soul in the world, and we were all gathered in a single place.

That's very interesting - I've never heard about this before.

Does anyone have any more information about this specific teaching?

Peace

Greetings,

format_quote Originally Posted by Uthmān

And (remember) when your Lord brought forth from the Children of Adam, from their loins, their seed (or from Adam's loin his offspring) and made them testify as to themselves (saying): "Am I not your Lord?" They said: "Yes! We testify," lest you should say on the Day of Resurrection: "Verily, we have been unaware of this."Or lest you should say: "It was only our fathers afortime who took others as partners in worship along with Allâh, and we were (merely their) descendants after them; will You then destroy us because of the deeds of men who practised Al-Bâtil (i.e. polytheism and committing crimes and sins, invoking and worshipping others besides Allâh)?" (Tafsir At-Tabarî). Thus do We explain the Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) in detail, so that they may turn (unto the truth).

~ (7:172-174)

I'm struggling to make sense of this text. Are we to understand that "the Children of Adam, from their loins, their seed (or from Adam's loin his offspring)" means every single soul in the world?

Peace

that make us give thanks to Allah that we borned muslims

format_quote Originally Posted by Esther462

I'm a revert as all my friends call me that.

this is said to our prophet also in his begining but you must know that they know you are right but they couldnt do like you

format_quote Originally Posted by czgibson

Greetings,


I'm struggling to make sense of this text. Are we to understand that "the Children of Adam, from their loins, their seed (or from Adam's loin his offspring)" means every single soul in the world?

Peace

Yes. We are all the children of Adam. We are all descended from Adam, since he was the first man created. Regardless of our religion or creed, we all came from Adam.

You will find this also in Christian doctrine, btw.

Salam,
I have always said I am a convert because I've been an active Christian for several years before I converted to Islam. But at the same time I feel that we're all born Muslims and then we can leave Islam and stuff like that so I am not sure... Until I change my mind inshallah I will still call myself a convert.

I personally don't believe that these semantics are of any importance.

salam all

i voted revert, simply because i believe the term "reverting back" makes more sense, however if someone prefers to say convert then it does not bother me

format_quote Originally Posted by squiggle

^i agree everyone is born as a Muslim upon the pure fitra, this is why when a child see's an indecently dressed women on the t.v he goes EWWW or see's a man and women haraam kissing he goes "yuck" cos they're still upon the pure nature that allah created them on. How else does a child know that these things are bad. it's as they get older their mentality changes due to parents and society.

Ive never really thought about that to be honest, and that makes alot of sense jazak'Allah for mentioning that point.