Karakash (K.): When were you converted to Islam?

Ahmet (A.): Alhamdullah, in 1989, that was nine years ago. I was 25 then.

K.: Why did you decide to become Muslim?

A.: I think, it is a call that came from within myself. Nowadays many people are not happy with their lives but they do not know what they really are looking for. One day I came across a few Muslims. Immediately I sensed a kind of strength in them. They radiated with energy. I was also impressed with their sense of morality. It is natural that the weak submits to the strong. Their strong faith and moral values touched me. I decided to become a Muslim.

K.: How did you feel when you became a Muslim?

A.: I felt great. But it is difficult to describe it in details. All I can say is by submitting to Allah I felt I became the richest man on earth. Alhamdullah.

K.: How did your family and friends react to your conversion?

A.: Initially some of them thought that I was out of my mind. My parents and some of my friends regarded me as dead. Although it was hard, I was not deterred. Allah gave me strength to carry on. Now my parents are amazed at the changes in me. May Allah enlighten them so that they will embrace Islam soon. Aamin!

K.: When you introduced yourself as Muslim, how did people react?

A.: My fellow Germans were amazed and began to take interest in Islam. They were rather impressed that a Muslim German appeared among them.

They are beginning to accept that in this non-Muslim country there are not only Muslims from other countries but Muslims who are native Germans.

K.: How do you feel when you are with your fellow Muslims?

A.: I feel rich both spiritually and materially. Before I became a Muslim I was only a member of a family of six. Allah said all Muslims are brothers. Now I am happy to become a member of this huge Muslim family.

K.: How many Germans Muslims are there in Germany?

A.: The numbers of children born to German Muslims alone exceed 70 thousand. There are also 2 million Turkish Muslims living in Germany.

K.: What is your view about the future of Muslims in Europe?

A.: Just now I talked about the weak submitting to the strong. I think that will be the case in Europe and the whole world. People who seek goodness and strength need Allah, need Islam. That is why Europeans brought Muslims here 30 years ago, although originally those Muslims came in search of jobs. Now there are 16 million Muslims in Europe. The Muslim families are three times larger than non-Muslim families. A lot of non-Muslim couples are childless or the size of non-Muslim families are very small. They face a bleak future of loneliness and emptiness. They try to secure their retired lives by purchasing stocks and bonds, but all these depend on their luck. Every week in the world some people go bankrupt because of the unstable financial market. I still remember what my grandfather told me about those who lost everything in the bond market and committed suicide. Besides, money can not guarantee happiness. And some people do not have anyone to leave their money to when they die. A lot of young people worry about their future yet they don’t have the courage to raise kids. Europe may not be whole today if there were not Muslims. We Muslims should be one Ummah in spite of different background, origin and culture. We Muslims will succeed only when we unite with non-Muslims, when we practice justice and fairness. It is our duty as Muslims to spread the faith of our prophet Muhammad Sellallahu Eleyhivessalam and bring the beauty of Islam to non-believers.