When James, an 85-year-old Scottish man, accepted Islam after a lifetime of searching, his story became one of the most moving testimonies on The Deen Show. Interviewed by Sheikh Yusuf Estes in Jeddah after completing the Hajj pilgrimage, James demonstrates that it is never too late to answer the call of the Creator.
A Lifetime Leading to This Moment
Born in Scotland into a middle-class family, James spent over eight decades experiencing different cultures, beliefs, and walks of life. Despite his age and the physical challenges of the Hajj, he persevered through the pilgrimage because he understood that submitting to God was not optional; it was the purpose he had been seeking his entire life.
“As a newcomer to the Muslim faith, I’m bound to come here if Allah wills during my lifetime at least once. It has not been easy because I’m not as young as I used to be, but it’s been worth it.”
The Attributes of the One True God
- He is the Most Merciful, the Most Gracious, the King, the only Holy One, the giver of peace and safety
- He is the only true Creator, the sustainer, the all-knowing, the all-hearing, the Most Wise, the Most Loving
- He is the self-sufficient Master who begets not nor was He begotten; He has no wife, no child, no equal
- In Arabic He is called Allah; in Aramaic, the language Jesus spoke, the word is virtually identical
Why the Time to Act Is Now
James made it to 85 years old before accepting Islam. Most people will not have that luxury. Death can come at any moment, and the party of this worldly life will inevitably end. Every pleasure is in the past tense; Paradise, by contrast, only gets better and better. The first step is simply asking the Creator to guide you with sincerity, and He will respond.
“Why barter something temporary, which is this life, for something eternal? Why would you risk Paradise for a pleasure that’s always in the past tense? In Paradise, it just keeps getting better and better.”
The Invitation Stands Open
- All the messengers of God, from Adam to Muhammad, taught the same message: submit to the one Creator and strive to be the best human being you can be
- Islam is not a new religion invented by Muhammad; it is the original faith of every prophet
- God is ready to forgive all sins the moment you turn to Him sincerely
- You do not need to wait until you are 85; the truth is available to you right now
