His brother has become Muslim but he is hesitant and wants advice.

I want to become a Muslim, but am very
hesitant. My brother converted a few months ago, which caused a lot of problems between
him and my parents(both of them being Christian). I have a close relationship with my
girlfriend, which doesn't help me out much either. I don't know what to do. I know it'll
be a choice of Allah or my parents/girlfriend. I know what the right decision should be, I
just don't know how, or when to make it. I just need some advice.
Thanks…





Praise be to Allaah.


Congratulations to your brother, congratulations to your
brother, congratulations to your brother! Please give him our best wishes and greetings of
peace (salaam) and tell him that even though we are thousands of miles away, we are
praying he will stand firm in his faith and gain a proper understanding of his religion.
Tell him that he has brothers in faith who share his joy at having entered Islam, even
though he does not know their names or where they live. This is the relationship of
believers with one another, like a structure parts of which support other parts.


With regard to yourself, you say that you know what the right decision
is, and that is great. You have come a long way, and all that remains is for you to make
the decision which you know you have to make.


What is life without religion? What is the point of living and working
and striving if it is not for the purpose of pleasing Allaah? Can there be any joy in life
or salvation after death or any hope of attaining the bliss of Paradise without entering
Islam? If we do not worship Allaah, what are we going to worship? Our whims and desires?
Would a wise person accept to be the slave of his sexual desire that will soon come to an
end or of some wealth that he will soon leave behind in this transient world? Man has a
spirit that will never be at peace unless he worships Allaah. He has a conscience that
cannot thrive except in the light of Allaah. He has a soul that can never be at ease
unless it is in contact with Allaah, remembering Him, speaking to Him, praying and fasting
for His sake, putting its trust in Him and repenting to Him. Allaah says (interpretation
of the meaning):


“Is he who was dead (without Faith by ignorance and disbelief)
and We gave him life (by knowledge and Faith) and set for him a light (of Belief) whereby
he can walk amongst, like him who is in the darkness (of disbelief, polytheism and
hypocrisy) from which he can never come out?…” [al-An’aam 6]


“And whomsoever Allaah wills to guide, He opens his breast to
Islam, and whomsoever He wills to send astray, He makes his breast closed and constricted,
as if he is climbing up to the sky…”


[al-An’aam 6]


There is no need for hesitation in this matter, because it is the
matter of freedom from the Fire of Hell and salvation from the wrath of al-Jabbaar (the
Compeller, i.e., Allaah), and attaining the victory of happiness in this world and the
next. Allaah Who created you and created the heavens and earth is greater, and obeying Him
is more important, than the closest of relatives and the dearest of friends. Become Muslim
and you will be safe. Allaah will help you with regard to your parents and will give you
the strength to stand firm against their pressure. Who knows, maybe you and your brother
will be the cause of saving your entire family. Allaah told the Prophet Moosa (Moses)
about his brother Haaroon (Aaron), peace be upon them both (interpretation of the
meaning): “We will strengthen your arm through your brother…” [al-Qasas
28] So together they went to call Pharaoh and his people to worship Allaah.


With regard to your girlfriend, do not think that this forbidden
relationship will help you adhere to the truth. You have to call her to Islam and to
repent to Allaah. If she repents, then marry her in accordance with the Islamic way that
is acceptable to Allaah. If she does not, then do not feel any regrets about her. The
Prophet of Islam said: “Whoever gives up something for the sake of Allaah, Allaah
will compensate him with something better.”