THE GERMAN MUSLIM BROTHER
CHRISTOF MARCINCOFISKI
I was attracted to Islam by its conformity with the human instinct and it providing the adequate solutions for the problems of mankind.
During my stay in Western Germany, I met many Muslims of German origin whom Allah (S.W.T.) guided to His right religion. Those who are beginning to enter in God’s religion as groups of both men and women of all classes and cultural levels have reached tens or even hundreds of thousands in number. The influence of Islam on German intellectuals is not new; it goes back to the last century and even before that. The great German poet« Goethe » has praised Islam and its Prophet in his wonderful poems. And today, the enthusiastic activities of the German Muslim community in the field of the call have enabled more and more Germans to be introduced to Islam and find what they were looking for in it; Islam will save these people and enable them to denounce the disgusting materialistic civilization. What is more impressive is that these people, having been guided to Islam, will want to guide members of their family and society to the right path. There is no doubt that these millions of Westerners who choose Islam as their religion, in spite of all the glamour of the Western way of life, are evidence against all those Muslims who are running after their materialistic desire.
Out of these German brothers I came to know, I would like to present to the readers ofNoor Al-Islam the German brother Christof Marcincoliski, whom I had this interview with about how he became a Muslim, and how he found Islam, as well as what he believes the duties of those who work for the cause of Islam are.
I asked brother Christof who did not change his original name:
A: I find Islam, firstly, to be against idolism with all its forms that appears, one way or another, in all the other religions, and which insults the mind. It is the religion of a pure unitary doctrine that gives the clearest idea of our great Creator... It also draws in a wonderful and rational way the ideal relation between man and his Creator what gives life its precious value, makes man feel reassured about his fate, and motivates him to assume a line of positive work that enables him to build life in the right way.
I also found that its book, The Glorious Quran, is not a book that is far away from life and its development. It is not a book to be read in mosques and then put away on the shelves. It is a book that draws a comprehensive system for the life of the individual and the society which is both realistic and able to respond to the needs of man in his life in a balanced and fair way for it does not let either of the needs of the body or the soul to overcome one another. In fact, this is a very vital organization for mankind which we do not find in the other religions.
Moreover, I used to live with a group of friends whom I found to be totally lost; although they believed that a balanced and just system that gives a reason and an objective for their life should exist. But since they did not believe in God and did not allow such a system to organize their life, they were totally plunged in their personal life and have completely ignored the public life... This unacceptable reality was refused by my mind and my feelings, and it was only natural for me to seek deliverance in Islam, the religion of the right path. I made a great effort to understand its principles and teachings. I found in it what I was looking for, and I consider myself to be born again. Moreover, I do not feel sorry for the pleasures my new Islamic belief has made unlawful. Anyway, I am convinced that all what Islam bans is but evil and bad, and all that Islam allows would raise my worth in this life and in the Hereafter.
A: Yes, I do, because the Westerners are against religion in general, and because they want to be with their god at the same level, which is impossible. Man is but a creation and he cannot understand the essence of God. And because they are against religion, the imperial Western powers tried to create some problems for the Muslims and to limit their freedom in many areas, despite the fact that they claim to be democratic and defend man’s rights and freedom. As for the people, they claim to be tolerant. But this is not true, as every Muslim feels and suffers of, especially with the emergence of the new Nazi movements. On the other hand, the status of Muslims in Germany may be better than in other European countries.
A: In fact, man should feel very sorry for the differences that divide groups that aim to fragment Muslims instead of uniting them, although they have the greatest message, the most glorious heritage, and vast wealth that ought to give them a unique position in this world. But I am very interested and concerned in the new Islamic upheaval that has a better understanding of Islam and seeks to establish it on this earth and especially in some of the Islamic countries. However, I am afraid of the inherent weakness that is a result of fragmentation, isolationism and hastiness. I hope that those in charge will try to correct any defects. I also like to mention here in particular, the problem of secular fragmentation and the false accusations made by some people without any consideration of the higher Islamic interest.
We hope, as Muslims living in the West, that the Islamic march in the West will be consolidated and gain more and more followers, for there is good readiness to adopt it especially among intellectuals. But we need to improve our call methods by means of action before words and information though there is great need to improve this side too.
But before anything else we need to be committed, tolerant, and patient because we have a big goal that needs a lot of sacrifices.
Finally, I want to tell the German and other European Muslims - although there is no difference in Islam between one race and another - that they have to reflect the greatness and the beauty of Islam, because we are in a sensitive and critical position, and we cannot serve our Islam if we make any mistakes or misunderstandings.