Would alarm bells ring if a Jewish convert came to a Masjid with very large "Star of David" emblemmed necklaces/chains on? He converted about 2 months ago as I saw it happening in the Masjid but he still comes with the necklace/chain on. I've seen him get his mobile phone out and record sermons too.
It's probably all very innocent but I used to work with him and he despised of Muslims. He left our place of work about a year ago to join a Jewish research organisation and he is still working there as far as I am aware. (He keeps in touch with one of my colleagues and I asked her about where he worked and about his conversion and she almost fell off her chair).
Allah has given him hidayat and he is probably a stellar Muslim now, but it just made me wonder how someone could go from being so hateful about a faith and it's followers to then want to follow it. I am probably being paranoid but it just seems a bit dodgy that he is still working for the Jewish research organisation/he records all the sermons/comes in with the huge Star of David jewellery on.
I don't talk to him anymore. When he worked with us, he used to victimise all the Muslims. He would start off with friendly conversation which then led to accusations of us "all being terror wrists". He bullied one of the Muslim sisters so much she went off on sick leave. The managers didn't do anything to him because he was the token Jewish employee. He had in his mindset that all Muslims plotted to have the towers in America bombed and that we were all responsible for the deaths. Like I said, I am probably being paranoid and he is a wonderful new Muslim, but it just got me wondering especially with the Star of David necklace and the fact he still works for a Jewish research organisation.
you should get in touch with him... the star of david necklace is probably an heirloom and a reminder of his racial heritage, probably nothing more than that (I hope).
Karl in Islam we are not to be so judgmental. When someone says they have said shahada, they have said shahada and we treat them as such.
What use would he have to spy anyway? The only real risk is that theoretically IF he was a spy, he is being exposed to the truth.
I'd say reach out to him. Try and talk to him about the star of David.
Do daw'ah!
What if converting to Islam is just a part of his research, I could be wrong but, if he really convereted to Islam he would renounce everything about his previous religion including the symbols those are the easiest things to get rid of and it was expensive or important to him, he would at least leave it at home and not wear it again because clearly it represents a religion which he used to follow. Well whatever he's doing, he's not harming anyone but himself and Allah knows it all.
I can see where both parties are coming from. I would side with Karl and Chase but then again, I worked with him for a year, I know what he is like. But I can also see I am being very judgemental by doing that. He might genuinely have converted.
When I am at work on Monday, I will email the other Muslim colleagues we used to work with and see if they knew about him converting and are still in contact with him.
To be honest, it's none of my business whether he has genuinely converted or if he is a spy and I probably come across like a nosey busy body. However, I am just concerned that if the Imam were to say anything against the people of Israel (which he quite regularly does on a Friday sermon), and this chap actually is a spy, the Imam might get into trouble for being anti semetic. There was a big uproar when the Imam condemned homosexuality and the passing of the law where 2 people of the same sex can marry. Someone reported him for homophobia and he got into trouble for it.
Salaams Uncle Scimi Gee. I will see if I can talk to him if I see him next time. I just hope I don't come across like a fake because I didn't engage with him at all when I worked with him because of his personal attacks on the Muslim sisters I worked with.
Karl in Islam we are not to be so judgmental. When someone says they have said shahada, they have said shahada and we treat them as such.
What use would he have to spy anyway? The only real risk is that theoretically IF he was a spy, he is being exposed to the truth.
I'd say reach out to him. Try and talk to him about the star of David.
Do daw'ah!
Well if a NAZI converted to Judaism and stomped about the synagogue in a SS uniform. Would the Rabbi say "He is ok he is a Jew now"?
Would alarm bells ring if a Jewish convert came to a Masjid with very large "Star of David" emblemmed necklaces/chains on?
format_quote Originally Posted by Karl
He is obviously a spy. And not good at spying.
Alhumdulillah in my local masjid, we have a really big gym downstairs where we do our Iftar program. On Fridays during Jumah, we also have a lot of people come into the masjid. With this said, not all these people eating the food for Iftar and coming to visit the mosque are Muslim. I've seen it where people would walk in, eat the chicken biryani for Iftar at the mosque, and leave before prayers. I've seen it where people would walk in and listen to the Jumah lectures, but would leave right before the prayers and dua'. But I don't mind, because we are getting sawaab by giving food to non-muslims. We are teaching non-muslims that walk in and listen to our lectures how Islam really is. Not what they probably thought we learned all-together.
With this said, I don't think these people are spying on us. I mean, we Muslims have nothing to actually hide from our Imam's lectures. What will a Jewish spy do with information about a car parked outside the mosque blocking the fire hydrant with the license plate 3814343646? Or that there will be a program after magrib salah for boys only Inshallah?
They just want to eat, watch, listen, learn etc. Just like in school where we used to wear our pants down to our knees and such as our style, we don't actually want to cause a scene or anything. We are there for a specific reason, mostly to learn but we don't know everything yet.
Why would he waste time at the masjid for no reason? I'm pretty sure he's still 50-50 in his mind and is still thinking about Islam and whether to fully convert.
Well if a NAZI converted to Judaism and stomped about the synagogue in a SS uniform. Would the Rabbi say "He is ok he is a Jew now"?
LOL. What a ridiculous comparison to make. Are you suggesting Judaism is comparable to Islam?
Are you also suggesting Judaism teaches adhab like Islam does?
LOL. What a ridiculous comparison to make. Are you suggesting Judaism is comparable to Islam?
Are you also suggesting Judaism teaches adhab like Islam does?
I have discussed the convert with a mutual colleague. The convert keeps in touch with him and tells him everything, but there has been no mention of his conversion.
My colleague suggested I have a quiet word with the Imam just in case. I will try and do that. I am not going to cast aspersions, just inform him of the said person. The Imam can then have a quick word with him and invite him to the new Muslim group so they can engage with him better.
I have since Googled and Facebookd him. He still works at the Jewish Synagogue. His book is due to be published soon and it doesn't appear that he has converted at all. He is still doing tours of the Jewish trail near Leeds so it seems rather fishy.
If he is obviously doing such a terrible job at spying, then it seems unlikely that he's a spy! Either that, or yeah, he's the world's worst spy... Haha.
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