From Marxism to Islam

by Yusef Griffin

As presented at the Alexander Lecture Theatre, University of Western Australia

on 12^th July 2003

It was related that Anas said that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

“None of you will have attained faith until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself.”

Hadith - Bukhari

Briefly, I will introduce myself; my former name is Joseph Philip Rene Griffin. Most of my non-Muslim friends know me as Philip Griffin. I was born in Geneva, Switzerland of a Swiss-French mother and an English father.  I have a brother 11 months younger than me, a sister 8 years younger than me, and recently my father and his new wife have had a baby girl, my sister who is 39 years younger than I.

I was baptized as a Swiss French Protestant, and grew up from the ages of 3 -17 years in New Zealand.  My family is wealthy and I was fortunate to grow up in an environment where I did not want for anything materially. My parents were happy together and I felt loved by both of them. My father’s side of the family worshipped money, and its power, and their use of it. (The manipulation of it caused me to view money very suspiciously.)  His family did not attend Church and that practice was in place going back a long way to before my inventor great-great grandfather. These people heralded from Rhode Island in the USA, which was well known for allowing worship and freedom from persecution of any religious or non religious practice.

The first and only organized religious instruction I received in my life was through my Mum, who encouraged me to get some religious education at a Sunday School in the country town we lived in, near the Bay of Islands, New Zealand.  However, I had a major issue with the Christian doctrine being taught to me, namely that Jesus was the Son of God, and that Mankind could kill God, or part thereof, on the Cross. These ideas seemed completely absurd to me at the age of around 6 years old.

Thus the Sunday School classes lasted no more than six lessons. At school I was frequently reminded by other children, that is when I could understand them, as I spoke French as my first language, that I would end up in the Hell Fire as a sinner for not going to Church. I thought at the time that this outcome seemed far fetched, as my major issue with them was how could man kill God. To this day that theory seems structurally flawed to me.

Qur’anically it is said: “ O People of the Book! Commit no excesses in your religion: Nor say of God aught but the truth. Christ Jesus the son of Mary was (no more than) an apostle of God, and His Word, which He bestowed on Mary, and a spirit proceeding from Him: so believe in God and His apostles. Say not "Trinity" : desist: it will be better for you: for God is one God: Glory be to Him: (far exalted is He) above having a son. To Him belong all things in the heavens and on earth. And enough is God as a Disposer of affairs.” 4:171

And further: “…they said (in boast), "We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the Apostle of God";- but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they killed him not” Qur’an 4:157.

Later in my childhood I became aware of the cold war conflict, which encouraged me to ascertain which political system made more sense. I weighed up the Marxist Communist system against the liberal Capitalist system, and decided at around 12 years of age that the Soviet System was best able to promote the greatest good for the greatest amount of people; this incidentally is also an English liberal Utilitarian view point. 

I spent four years at High School learning Russian, presuming that the Soviets would win. My father and I would often disagree on social justice issues, me coming from the left-wing and him having the liberal

laissez-faire viewpoint.

During my seventeenth year my family moved from Auckland to Perth, Western Australia.  I started studying my first degree, a Bachelor of Business, at Curtin University.  Simultaneously I studied night classes at Midland Technical College to complete my Commercial Pilots’ Licence. 

At University I became very good friends with a Palestinian Christian, who explained in depth the true situation in Palestine.  His grandparents being gunned down in cold blood, by the Zionist invaders, in their own house in which the family had lived for many generations. I campaigned with my friend against the Zionist oppression during my last year at University, which brought me into conflict with the Pro Zionist Jewish students who could not understand my position.

They would say to me, you are like us: privileged, drive a nice car, have money etc, why are you supporting this view point. They also explained that God had stated in the Torah that the Tribe of Israel was entitled to that land. I said that I had no issue with them, just that it was unfair to kill for the land, when they could have tried to buy the people out, after all the Jews were mainly wealthy in my view.  I explained that the situation was akin to the British invasion of Aboriginal Australia, in which there was no just compensation for the land grab from the native inhabitants.

I married my ex-wife after University and worked a seven-and-a-half year successful career at a Multi-National company spending almost three years on the road visiting and working in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, England, France and Italy.  My wife bore me two beautiful children, my daughter who is almost 17 and my son who is almost 15.  My son, All praise is due to Allah, reverted to Islam four months after I did.

After my marriage broke down irreconcilably, and being subjected to onerous property settlement and maintenance conditions, I decided to retire from work and spend time rebuilding my shattered manhood, and to spend time with my young children. They were 4 years and 2 years at the time of the divorce. I spent a considerable amount of time with my then-young children, taking them to their first days of school and other important social events in their lives.

After the separation I decided to enjoy life instead of chasing the worldly life of money and career, that had become part of my then-lifestyle. I spent the next twelve years doing what I wanted, and became a regular in the Rave scene with all the sinful consequences.  I did not behave myself and abused myself on drugs, alcohol and women.  All praise is due to God, that Allah has forgiven me all the sins that I committed during that time.  I was depressed at not being able to live with my children, as a regular father, and this concerned me a lot.  The partying scene, of which I remained part, seemed after a while to be the same old thing.  Despite enjoying myself in dance parties in San Francisco, London, New York, Thailand, the scene for me in the end seemed monotonous and the people involved were getting younger and younger and abusing themselves more and more. In that time I had three long term de-facto relationships and other shorter relationships.

A turning point came in the mid-90’s when my family ended up ripping each other to pieces in the public forum of the courts. I sided with justice and supported those who had been attacked viciously for their worth in money.  I thought long and hard about life and re-affirmed my beliefs at that time which were, that there was a creator of the universe, a judgment day and process, that Jesus and Moses (peace upon them) were prophets of the Creator and came with the law. I had brought up my children on the Golden Rule of “do unto others what you want others to do to you”.

I had read the Bhagvad Gita, a Hindu book; the Buddhist Tibetan book of living and dying, and the Tibetan book of the dead.  I had studied Christianity and Judaism. Members of my family are astrologers.  I had looked at all other major faiths in the world except Islam, as I recall as a child being told that Muslims liked to kill Christians.  I had not taken up any faith in depth because none seemed to me to be clearly the truth.

My first experience with Islam occurred in Northern India in the 1993 when I was in Jaipur with my de facto partner.  It was a Muslim festive occasion and my partner insisted on going into the streets with all the men, despite the fact that all the women were located on the first floor balconies.  We were surrounded and harassed by Muslim brothers and had to flee for our lives to an armed Indian Soldier on guard duty.  After that occasion I thought that Islam was unfriendly, and had a prejudice against me, whereas today I realize the aggressive behaviour I was subjected to was not directed at me, but was actually directed at my

partner, who was in reality inappropriately dressed at the time, although at that time I considered her adequately covered.  I never looked further into Islam at that stage, and retained my prejudiced views.

The major shift in my thinking came on 911.  I was half-way through my law degree, which confirmed that there is no justice in the western liberal capitalist system. It really is a tool of the rich elite for exploiting and suppressing the masses. Having subsequently completed my law degree, I have not changed my view.  After 911 I started looking on the internet for any information about these so-called terrorists, i.e. the Muslims.  In fact just before the 911 attack, the UN conference on Racism in Durban, South Africa had witnessed the arbitrary departure from the meeting of both the USA and Israel. This action struck me as a major change in global relations.

After 911 I was busy with my study so I could not spend too much time on my research into Islam. In any event what information I gained pointed to the Muslims as being misrepresented in the Western Media, and that I needed to dig a little deeper.

I felt that if the Muslims were practising their religion, and this was confirmed to me by my view that the Masjids were being used regularly, that they were actually promoting the True religion of God, that is following the last book in the series as revealed to the last Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him.

Another turning point was my son’s decision to come and live with me. I decided that I had to lead by example and to give up permanently my hedonist and Pagan lifestyle.  By pagan I mean, I was not a practicing Jew, Christian or Muslim and that I was a person who set a high value on sensual pleasures.  So, I cleaned up my act and started to behave like an adult.

It has been related that Ibn Mas'ud said that a man said "O Messenger of God! Will we be punished for what we used to do in the days or ignorance?"   The Prophet (Prayers & peace be upon him) said:

"Whoever does good in Islam will not be punished for what he used to do in the days of ignorance, and whoever does evil in Islam will be punished for his previous and subsequent sins."  Hadith - Bukhari

*   *   *

The University break enabled me to do only a little bit of my research into Islam. The major problem was with my ex-wife, who when realizing the loss of monetary benefits through my son’s decision to live with me, forced me to go to Family Court to obtain the necessary orders confirming my son’s wishes. This was my first case, and my first win.

The next semester was once again busy with studying, as in law you are obligated to read a lot of material to obtain a firm grasp of the law and the issues involved.

In June 2002 after the University semester finished I went to buy some books on Islam from the Islamic bookshop at Mayland Markaz (centre). In one book on the later prophets of Islam, I read the verses calling the Jews, Christians and the People of the Book, as the Jews and Christians are referred to by God. “He hath revealed unto thee (Muhammad) the Scripture with truth, confirming that which was (revealed) before it, even as He revealed the Torah and the Gospel.” (Qur’an 3:3)  The verses were just what I had been waiting a long time for. They were God’s words calling to the non-Muslims confirming the previous revelations and the messages of the line of prophets. It also confirmed what I personally believed, that is that God is One and the Creator, Day of Judgment will occur and that Jesus (peace upon him) was a Prophet, as I had thought of him as a child. I also realized that if Muslims had come to me sooner, I would have reverted earlier. All praise is due to Allah for God taking mercy on me and guiding me to the truth and to the straight path.

I also had a good friend who was a practising Muslim, who knew me for six years, yet in all that time, we had never talked about religion; me not asking - and him not telling. There was a kind of stand-off, as if perhaps he sensed my prejudice.  He states today that of the non-Muslims he knew, he always thought that one day I would be one to receive the guidance from Allah.

Continuing from above, after I had read those verses from the Qur’an, I and my Muslim friend went down to Rivervale Masjid together.  I ended up giving Shahadah, and I have never looked back since that date.  I have a personal peace and tranquility today, which reminds me of when I was a child. I know where I am

going and what is expected of me. I know my obligations and responsibilities to my family, friends and my neighbours.  I finally know where I fit in this giant mosaic of life, Alhamdulillah (Praise be to Allah).

I am clean from drugs, alcohol, swearing, music, television and fornication. I am more considerate of others, and in fact understand their positions and can empathize with the non-Muslims, as I was once in their shoes, only a little while ago.

As a revert I know that all of us, Muslims and the non-Muslims alike, need to be reminded of the truth, and the straight path that Allah has ordered us to follow.

All praise is due to Allah that in my first year as a Muslim I have completed all the five requirements of Islam:  I believe in Allah, the One and Only; I pray five times a day waking before dawn for the Fajr prayer; I have paid my zakat (required charity for the poor); I have fasted in Ramadan, and have immensely enjoyed my Hajj experience to Makkah and Madinah.

I enjoy excellent relations with my family and children and they too have seen the huge improvement in me, and also in my son.  God willing I look forward to settling down once again to start afresh a new family and commitments.

*   *   *

In my closing comments I want to remark on what I have seen in the twelve months as a revert Muslim:  Firstly it is imperative to note that Muslims are only allowed to live in the Kuffar (non-Muslim) lands if they are giving Dawah, which is calling non-Muslims to Islam.  I am concerned at what I see in the broader Muslim community, and this begs the inference that Muslims do not really understand their own religion.  The amount of dunya (worldly life) worship and un-Islamic behaviour can not be blamed on any Jews, USA or The West.  In my opinion, those who want to know Islam truly, must not look to the Muslims, because the Muslims today are for the most part not a good example for Islam.

Learning Islam needs to be done through the books.  Islam is not a man-made religion and those who want Islam must take Islam direct from Allah and His Messengers. They must study and learn it through the guidance of the trusted scholars and disregard the Islam talked about by the Muslims today, because he who takes his Islam from people will be misguided and led by the thoughts and misconceptions of the people. God Himself talks about Himself and the acceptable way to Him so we must go to God directly if we truly want to know Him as no-one knows God better than He Himself.

The Muslims must take responsibility for their own actions. Twisting of the ayat (verses of the Qur’an) to suit the kuffar lifestyle is an abomination to God and Allah’s punishment may be forthcoming, in the remainder of this life, or definitely in the Hereafter.

God clearly says that the believers are to hang on to his rope. Do not think for one minute that Heaven is an easy ticket to get hold of.  Besides where in Heaven do you want to end up e.g. 1^st, 2^{nd …} or the 7^th heaven, with Allah the Almighty.

My expectations of the Muslim Ummah were high when I reverted, and having witnessed their condition, I must admit it is a bitter disappointment. The undermining by western oriented Islamic labelled organizations that attack our Islamic values and deviate our women from the straight path, is a sad truth.  The apologizing leadership further ferments discord in the community, whereas in reality, the Imams of the Ummah are sup-posed to be our shields. Muslims, do not need to apologize for the Truth, period.

Allah has told us to practice his deen and to give Dawah to the non-Muslims. The truth of Islam only hurts those who are Munafiq (Hypocrites) and those who live the truth and are reminded of the strict practice of Islam whilst continuing to adopt it are exemplary and are destined to receive the only reward, that is Heaven.

As a Muslim I am compelled by Allah to speak the truth of what I see. It is clear the Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Prophet Mohammad, peace and blessing be upon him, and from properly and highly educated scholars, are all we need to focus upon. We Muslims need to ascertain the origin of any Islamic practice to ensure it is either from Qur’an or the Sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh) as they are the only

legitimate sources.

Similar to the legal training I have, we need to find the source of any comment on the practice of Islam. I could say a lot more about the problems in the Muslim community, however this is not the forum for it, and the aim here is to switch people back and onto Islam, not off it. The problems are big, but the power of Allah is always bigger, remember to cling to his rope for salvation.

Often instead of looking at what we need to do to get to heaven from today on, look at it from the other way. I want the seventh heaven, so how do I get there?  I have found this method simple and positive, and you will find that Islam strips away the unnecessary worldly fixations, and allows you to live a simple clean life. Always remember that the reward is not here and now, but in the hereafter. For the hereafter is for Eternity.

Fortunately I will finish on a positive note and that should give the non-Muslims in the audience comfort that their inquiries and research are leading to the Truthful path. The reverts in the Muslims Community are, in my opinion, generally the closest to the true practice of Islam.

I do not consider that the convert elements of the community are better than, or superior in some way to the born Muslims within the community.  Of course, amongst the Muslims there are people who are seen to be

better than others, or the best in knowledge of Islam and Allah.  And Allah himself says, “Don’t consider yourself the best because Allah alone knows who is the best, because the best of you is he who has the greatest fear of God (taqwa) because the fear of God is in the heart and only Allah sees the heart.”

When I mentioned that there are people who seem better than others in their practice of Islam, this is only from my assumed and human knowledge, but I recognize that only Allah truly knows peoples’ hearts.  However, converts are born and raised in the wrong spiritual environment, and in the darkness of batel (opposite of haqq), so when they see the right and the light of truth, they stick to it strongly and are scared to stray far from it, because they know what it is to live in the dark.

The women who cover up, and men that pray at the Masjid to please their Lord are examples similar to that of the time of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and his companions, in that they parallel their discovery of the revealed truth and how they were quick to adopt its creed into their daily life, and as totally as possible. I consider that the revert Muslims are striving for the highest standard of Islamic practice, and God willing will be rewarded by Allah in the Hereafter, for their recognition of the truth and their living by the truth thereof.  They are an example for the born-Muslims who are struggling in what is in reality one of the most difficult lands in the world in which to cling to the rope of Allah and practice their religion.