This
former U.S. pastor converted to Islam after living in Saudi Arabia
"I
saw good people, who take initiative to welcome others and treat them with
generosity."
https://stepfeed.com/this-former-u-s-pastor-converted-to-islam-after-living-in-saudi-arabia-4598
Samuel Earle Shropshire, pastor-turned-Muslim preacher
An American
pastor-turned-Muslim preacher has revealed the inspiration behind his embracing
Islam: The people of Saudi Arabia.
Samuel Earle Shropshire
shared the story behind his conversion to Islam in an interview published
on semi-official Saudi
news website Sabq last week.
Shropshire, who
now lives in Saudi Arabia, said living among
the kingdom's "good people" and witnessing their hospitality and
"good morals" majorly contributed to his decision to become Muslim.
The former Christian
pastor traveled to Jeddah
in 2011 to work as an editor for a new "easy-to-read" English version
of the Quran.
Speaking to the Saudi
daily, Shropshire said that prior to his trip, he was worried about being
discriminated against in the kingdom due to his religion, explaining that media
outlets portrayed Muslims, and Saudis specifically, in a negative light.
However, he soon realized that what he had seen on the media was flawed due to
stereotypes and misconceptions.
"I saw good people, who take initiative to
welcome others and treat them with generosity, regardless of whether or not
they are Muslim," he said.
The kindness, hospitality, and amity he
experienced, alongside his work on the Quran, encouraged him to learn more
about the religion and further convinced him to embrace Islam.
Shropshire thoroughly
spoke about his conversion to Islam in a video shared on Youtube back in 2017.
While working on the
translation of the Quran, Shropshire "had so many questions" and
sought to find their answers, he said in the video. He was impressed by how the
Islamic holy book holds Jesus Christ and Virgin Mary at a high regard. He
added that while living in Jeddah, he was moved by the calls to prayer and the
sight of worshipers at a nearby mosque.
"My heart longed to
be in that mosque. I felt compelled by God to go there," he said. Months
later, he mustered the courage to visit the mosque, where he "felt God's
presence," and gradually started learning more about the religion.
He converted to Islam
soon after and has been a devoted Muslim preacher ever since.
Who is Samuel Earle Shropshire?
According to IslamiCity, the
70-year-old Muslim preacher holds a Doctor of Theology
degree and has dedicated his life to nonprofit causes. He has worked
in the fields of human rights and peacemaking, including lobbying the American,
Canadian and British governments, as well as the United Nations.
He is also the
founder of nonprofit organization Muslim Voice for Peace &
Reconciliation, which brings Muslims together to promote world
peace, human rights, justice, and religious reconciliation.
https://stepfeed.com/this-former-u-s-pastor-converted-to-islam-after-living-in-saudi-arabia-4598
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