Dear non-Muslims, knowing about Islam will certainly surprise you. Much more than you can ever imagine! This is exactly what happened with Professor Dr. Arthur Alison (whose name after embracing Islam became: Professor Dr. Abdullah Alison). He is the head of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering in the University of London and had been the president of the British Society for Psychological and Spiritual Studies for several years.
In the course of his study of religions, Dr Alison got acquainted with Islam. Comparing between Islam and other religions and belief doctrines including Hinduism and Buddhism, he became sure that the former suits his inborn nature.
Invited to the First Islamic International Conference on the Medical Inimitability in the Quran held in Cairo in 1985, Dr. Alison presented two papers:
- The first paper was: “the psychological and spiritual methods of therapy in the light of the Holy Quran”,
- The second paper was: “sleep and death in the light of the Quranic verse 39:42” which he presented in association with Dr Muhammad Yehya.
Hearing the numerous Quranic facts presented in the conference, Dr Alison uttered the “Shahadah” and embraced Islam at the concluding session of the event.
In an interview given to the Arabic-weekly, he narrated the story of his conversion to Islam saying:
“During the conference on Medical Inimitability in the Qur’an, I could realize that the difference was great. Then I was convinced that Islam is the most proper religion that befits my inborn nature and conduct. In the heart of my hearts I had felt that there is a God controlling the Universe. He is the Creator.”
“Therefore, when I studied Islam, I found that it did not conflict with reason and science. I believe that is the revealed religion from the one and only God. As I witnessed the truth, I uttered the two testimonies. The moment I uttered it, I was overwhelmed by a strange and ineffable feeling mingled with ease, comfort and satisfaction.”
Prof Abdullah Alison presented in the conference the meaning of the Qur’anic verse:” It is Allah Who takes away the souls at the time of their death, and those that die not during their sleep. He keeps those (souls) for which He has ordained death and sends the rest for a term appointed. Verily, in this are signs for a people who think deeply.” (Surat Az-Zumar “The Groups”: 42).
Through this verse, he said, they could prove that death and sleep are similar phenomena in which souls depart from the body. In the case of sleep, the soul returns to the body but in death it does not. This verse reminds us that “taking the souls” means both sleep and death. This fact has been proved through parapsychological studies.
This strongly indicates that Islam is the religion of ultimate truth and that it can be proved so not only spiritually but also through strong scientific facts approved by all scientists all over the world.
Embracing Islam 