“Why Islamophobe embraced Islam,” (April 25) by Nasim Chowdhury merits Muslims’ attention and appreciation. It reminds us of our follies as we persistently fail to reach out to the vast multitude of humanity with the message of Islam, giving space to Islamophobes to launch propaganda to malign and insult our faith.

If Islamophobes utilize all such opportunities to attack Islam and its Prophet (peace be upon him), we — in the form of militant groups or by opposing the West and everything Western — never fail to provide them ammunition to fuel anti-Islam sentiments. If thousands of Americans reverted to Islam post 9/11, it was not because of any Al-Qaeda’s version of Islamic propaganda, but because of the fact that the Americans read Qur’an with the intention to see why some Muslims turn to violence.

Arnoud Van Doorn too quietly read Qur’an, studied the life of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and “discovered” that whatever was said about the faith and the Prophet was contrary to the fact and that is what changed his mind. I appreciate Shahzad Muhammad of the Canadian Dawah Association (CDA) for assisting and guiding such people who are seeking the truth.

This is a reminder for us also to be cautious while responding to Islamophobes and talk to them wisely as Qur’an said, “When talk to the people of Books (Christians and Jews), talk and preach gently.”

I commend Nasim for citing the example of Caliph Omar as he too came into the fold of Islam in a strange manner. He heard his sister reciting the verses of the Qur’an and when Omar read those verses, the sword with which he had minutes earlier vowed to kill the Prophet (peace be upon him) fell down, and he became Muslim. Arnoud van Doorn, the man who was engaged in hurting Islam became Muslim too when he read the Qur’an.

I, however, must add here that people like Doorn are doing a great favor to themselves by coming into the fold of Islam. Newspapers must appreciate such gesture, which should also be an example for others (non-Muslims) to notice that Islam spreads by peace and for peace only. They are only saving their own Hereafter. I do not deny the fact that conversion of such people of repute will definitely go a long way in strengthening the belief that Islam is not what is being persistently projected by the Islamophobes. It is surely a way that many more like Doorn have chosen to tread in the past and many more will accept in future.

I congratulate Doorn for choosing the right path and commend his statement: “We all represent Islam.”

Being followers of Islam, Muslims must spread Islam’s correct message of peace, tolerance and humanity. May God bless Doorn and all those who approach Islam to understand it and not just to find fault in it. — Mrs. Talat Jabeen, Jeddah