When Clay turned 40, he had a simple thought: half his life was over, and he needed better “fire insurance.” A former Evangelical Christian who had lost interest in church during his thirties, he realized he had never actually read anything about Islam beyond what he learned in fifth grade. So he bought a few English translations of the Quran and started reading — and within a month, everything changed.
A Description of God Unlike Anything Else
What struck Clay most powerfully was the Quran’s description of God — “maniacally focused” on giving God all the power, all the decisions, all the sovereignty. Nothing was reserved for anyone else. This was not a God who could die on a cross, or who needed partners, or who was limited by human qualities. This was the Creator managing every atom of the galaxy from the beginning of time until the end. After eighteen months of study, Clay woke up one night and realized: “I am Muslim.”
“This description of God was so overwhelming and overpowering that it took residence in me. I read the Quran and it occurred to me — I am not thinking right on this issue. This book is telling me the way it is.”
Advice for Those Searching
- Get a copy of the Quran with commentary — read it carefully, and ask Allah for guidance as you read
- Islam’s portrayal of Jesus as a beloved prophet and Messiah was a welcome revelation, not a loss — it made more sense than any previous theology
- A true believer cannot be a terrorist, and a terrorist cannot be a true believer — this is the most central fact in Islam
- The Quran’s meanings will take residence in you if you approach it with sincerity and an open heart
“Read the Quran carefully. Make du’a to Allah that He will give you guidance — that the meanings of the Quran will take residence in you. May God give you that same startling recognition that He is managing everything.”
