How We Converted to Islam

Australians Increasingly Embracing Islam

Other Stories

15 Ukrainian's Convert to Islam

From Kavita to Nur Fatima

Indian Nobel Prize Nominee Embraces Islam

MORE STORIES COMING SOON

The Stories in Detail

Australians Increasingly Embracing Islam

SYDNEY, August 28, 2005 (News Agencies) – The number of Australians embracing Islam has dramatically increased since the 9/11 attacks, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

"Once I started researching for myself and making my own decisions in regards to research and reading I come to my own understanding and realize the beauty of Islam," said Omar Boswood, once Catholic Ryan Boswood.

Like Boswood more than 15,000 Australians in Queensland have embraced Islam since 9/11, according to the ABC.

"I will be honest, but the Bible basically pushed me to Islam because I had so many unanswered questions, and I found the answer in the Qur'an," said Boswood, who embraced Islam last year.

There are some 300,000 Muslims in Australia, making up just 1.5 percent of the country's population of 20 million.

Boswood, who used in the past to refer to Muslims in bad names, thought of joining the army to take revenge from all Muslims following the 9/11 attacks.

"After I watched September 11, I did go to join the army, unfortunately I was asthmatic and so I didn't get let in, obviously.

"But at the time I didn't really understand Muslims or Islam, and I wasn't… I had no way of knowing what Islam was about."

The terrorist attacks prompted many Australians to seek more information about Islam and Muslims.

"It is sad what is happening in the world but the events are allowing us to break those boundaries and jump the obstacles, so we're getting a greater opportunity to speak to the people about the religion Islam," said Uzair Akbar, a Muslim imam in Queensland.

Despite the rising number of Muslims in Australia, they feel they are being targeted more than ever.

Akbar lamented that people tend to generalize in their judgment about Muslims.

Following the July 7 terrorist attacks in London, Australia has been contemplating tougher anti-terror legislation.

Australian Premier John Howard has defended his government's right to spy on mosques and Islamic schools under claims of fighting terrorism.

Australian Federal Justice Minister Chris Ellison has proposed amending laws to enable security authorities to prosecute imams involved in religious preaching and writing "inciting violence".

Australian Muslims have decried anti-terror measures, which include detaining people on terror-related suspicion for up to seven days and questioning them for up to 48 hours without charges.

They maintain that security measures create a climate of fear and apprehension among the Muslim minority in the country.

Akhbar, however, asserted that Australian Muslims are determined to fight extremism and violence.

"We can't be complacent. We have to look out, we have to be very careful. If we see anyone talking about violence, or backing up the acts of violence, then we will inform the authorities."

Australian Muslims are preparing for an all-inclusive meeting to consider a plan of self-policing young Muslims in the country.

In another development, Australian Education Minister Brendon Nelson rebuffed calls to ban hijab in state schools, the ABC reported Sunday, August 28.

"As far as the Government is concerned, we defend the rights of all Australian children to be able to go to schools which their parents think best meet the needs of their own children and, in doing so, to wear the symbols of their own religious conviction and affiliation, so long as they are consistent with broader school's uniform policies," he said.

The comments came ahead of a meeting between Nelson and the principals of the Islamic schools about the teaching of Australian values.

Federal Liberal MP Bronwyn Bishop earlier called for banning hijab in schools.

"The headscarf is being used as a sort of iconic item of defiance," Bishop told Channel Seven.

"I'm talking about in state schools. If people are in Islamic schools and that's their uniform, that's fine. In private life, that's fine."

The hijab ban call was also slammed as extreme and running counter to the Australian values of religious freedom.

"These are very extreme statements from Bronwyn Bishop and Sophie Panopoulos and if John Howard has the respect that he espouses for recognizing the difference of religious beliefs and customs in this country then he'd pull these two into line," said Labor education spokeswoman Jenny Macklin.

The issue of hijab has recently taken central stage in a number of European countries.

France triggered the controversy after adopting a bill banning hijab in state-run schools and public institutions as of March 15, which was branded by the Human Rights Watch (HRW) as "discriminatory".

15 Ukrainian's Convert to Islam

KIEV, July 20, 2005 – Fifteen Ukrainian youth embraced Islam, highlighting the spread of the faith in the former Soviet republic, with the efforts of the Islamic bodies in the country achieving tangible results.

The Ukrainian youth reverted to Islam at the Islamic center in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv -- a body affiliated to the Federation of Social Organizations (Arraid) -- the largest Islamic group in the country.

The center was opened less than two months ago and the 15 youth, seven males and eight females, frequently visited it and were informed about the faith through efforts of its workers.

"Since the opening of the Islamic center in Kharkiv in June 2005, many Ukrainians have been visiting the center to get knowledge of the Islamic teachings and civilization," the Arraid said in a statement. Tuesday, July 19.

"In almost a month and half, such efforts resulted in convincing fifteen youth to embrace Islam," it added.

The federation groups 10 Islamic organizations and three Islamic centers in 10 Ukrainian cities.

Change

Vitalie, a student at the Faculty of Economics, is one of the Ukrainian youth who adopted Islam as their new faith.

He frequently visited the library of the Islamic center to look for a faith that satisfies his religious needs.

One day, while reading a book about Islamic supplications, Vitalie was approached by a Muslim preacher at the center who asked him about the book he was reading.

"It is a wonderful book that makes you watch God in every move and action you do," Vitalie answered.

When asked about his faith, the Ukrainian young man said he has been looking for a religion that convinces him to embrace.

"But now, I feel I have found the religion that I can feel assured to accept."

After a discussion with the Muslim preacher on issues such as the Power of Allah, nature of Christ and Islam's stance on the family, neighbors and society, Vitalie pronounced the Shahadah (the testimony of faith).

"Since he pronounced there is no God but Allah and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah, Vitalie has been very happy and has been frequently visiting the Islamic center."

Asked about his future steps, Vitalie said he would first learn the pillars of Islam.

"Then I will try to convince my acquaintance, my parents, brother, friends and university teachers to embrace Islam."

There are two million Muslims in Ukraine, making up 4% of the overall 48-million population.

From Kavita to Nur Fatima

By Bint Arshad Sahi

It is the story of a girl who, before embracing Islam, belonged to a family associated with extremist Hindu organization Shiv Sena. Here is a brief interview of the girl named Kavita. Her name was later changed to Nur Fatima when she converted to Islam.

Question: What was your name before embracing Islam?

Answer: My name was Kavita. While my nickname was Poonam.

Question: And what is your Is-lamic name?

Answer: I have been named as Nur Fatima after embracing Islam.

Question: Where were you born and what is your age now?

Answer: I was born in Mumbai and I am 30. But I consider myself as a five-year-old because my knowledge about Islam is not more than a five-year-old Muslim kid’s knowledge.

Question: Would you please tell us about your education?

Answer: After schooling from Mumbai, I went to the Cambridge University for higher education. After completing my masters there I did many a computer courses. I regret that I have attained a num-ber of degrees for this world but have done nothing for the world hereafter. Now I want to do some-thing for the purpose.

Question: Would you share with us some facts of your life?

Answer: I had joined a school in Mumbai. The school is big enough and only children of royal families studied there.

Question: Where were you mar-ried and how many children you have?

Answer: I was married in Mumbai but later I came to Behrain along with my husband. I’ve got two sons.

Question: How did you convert to Islam?

Answer: First of all I shall love to pay my gratitude to Allah for His blessings. As  said: “When Allah wishes well for someone He grants himrAllah’s Messenger under-standing of Deen.” I say Allah has showered me with His blessings. The environment in which I grew up was extremist Hindu where Muslims were severely hated. I embraced Islam after my marriage but I disliked worship of idols since my adolescence. I remember that once I had removed an idol to a washroom in my house. When my mother admonished me on it, I replied that if it cannot protect it-self then why do you seek bless-ings from it? Why do you bow be-fore it? What does it grant you? There is a ritual in our family that when a girl is married, she washes feet of her husband and drinks that water. But I refused to do so on the very first day due to which I was severely admonished. As I told you that I had joined a school (for teaching purposes) and since I was alone and used to drive my car; I started visiting a nearby Islamic centre. I heard their conversation and knew that Muslims did not worship idols. They were seeking blessings from some other person. Their Bhagwan was someone else. I liked their views. I knew later that this is Allah Who accom-plishes everything.

Question: How did you attract to Islam?

Answer: the prayer (Namaz) of Muslims impressed me. I did not earlier know that it is called as prayer. However, I was aware of the fact that all the Muslims do like that. At first I thought it was some sort of exercise. I learnt that it was called as Namaz when I started visiting the Islamic centre. I dreamed of one thing whenever I went to bed. It was a four-dimensional room that I dreamed daily. I would get harassed and wake up sweating. The same room would re-appear in my dreams when I would sleep again. I learned much later about this room.

Question: How your family learnt about your conversion to Islam?

Answer: After marriage I shifted to Behrain which helped me a lot in understanding Islam. As it is a Muslim country, our house was surrounded by Muslims. I be-friended a Muslim girl. She seldom visited me but I used to visit her mostly. One day she forbade me from visiting her for it was Rama-zan, the month of worship. “My worship is disturbed due to your visit” she told me. As I wanted to know about the rituals of worship performed by Muslims I got more curious and requested her not to forbid me from visiting her house. I said: “Do whatever you want to. I shall just see you doing all that. I would say nothing and would rather hear whatever you would recite.” So she did not forbade me from visiting her house. When I would see her worshipping, I my-self would be attracted to copy it. Then I asked her about the “exer-cise.” She told me that they call it Namaz. And that the book she used to recite is the Holy Quran. I wished to do this all. I would lock a room of my house and copy my friend in private though I did not know much about it. One day I forgot to lock the room and started offering Namaz when my husband entered there. He asked me what I was doing. I replied: “Offering Namaz.” He said: “Are you in your senses? Do you know what are you saying?” At first I got harassed. My eyes were closing out of fear. But, suddenly, I felt a huge power in my innerself that made me cou-rageous enough to face the situa-tion. I cried out that I had con-verted to Islam so I was offering Namaz. He said: “What! What have you said? Would you repeat your words?” I repeated my words with an added emphasis: “Yes! I have converted to Islam.” Hearing this he started to beat me. Hearing the noise my sister reached there. She tried to rescue me. But when my husband narrated the entire story she too advanced to beat me. I stopped her saying: “You should not come in my way. I know what is good for me and what is bad. I shall walk on the way I have adopted.” Hearing this my husband got furious. He tortured me so much that I lost my senses.

Question: Where were your chil-dren when you were being tor-tured? What was their age? And how did you manage to escape from there?

Answer: My children were at home when this gory drama was being played. My elder son was in 9th and younger son in 8th at that time. But after this incident I was not allowed to meet anyone. I was locked in a room. Though I had not formally embraced Islam, I had ut-tered these words that I had con-verted to Islam. One night when I was there locked in the room; my elder son came there and burst into tears in my arms. I asked where the other family members were. He said they had gone to attend some function and no one was at home. (There was our religious festival on that night.) My son requested me to escape from the house for the family wanted to kill me. I consoled him that nothing such would happen. They would not hurt me. And he should take care of himself and his younger brother. But he continued to insist amid sobs that I should escape from the house. I tried to make him under-stand that then I would be unable to meet them. But he replied that you could meet us only if you were alive. “Go away, Mama, they will murder you.” At last I decided to leave. I could never forget those harsh moments when my elder son went to wake up his younger brother and said to him: “Get up. Mama is leaving. Meet her now for who knows that whether she will meet us again or not.” The younger one had met me after many days. He was rubbing his eyes while looking at me. But when I stepped forward, he clung to me and burst into tears. The children perhaps al-ready knew all. He just asked me, “Mama, are you leaving?” I nod-ded in affirmative saying we would meet again. My both sons were seeing me off on that dark and chilly night. I was crushing the love of mother under my own feet. On one hand was the love of chil-dren and their separation and on other was the love for Islam which was overcoming the former. I was moaning, clinging to my chil-dren.... crushing my love for them. My injuries were fresh. I was un-able to walk on foot. However, I somehow managed to do so. Both the children were waving their hands to me with tears in their eyes at the gate. I could never forget those moments. Whenever I recall this scene, I remember the Mus-lims who had abandoned their homes and families for Islam.

Question: Where did you go then and where did you embrace Islam?

Answer: From my house I headed straight to the police station. My biggest problem there was that they did not know my language. One of them, however, could un-derstand English. I was out of breath and was unable to speak for I was nervous. I requested him to let me take rest until I collect my-self. Then after a while I collected myself and told him that I had left my house and wanted to embrace Islam. I was anxious to narrate all these facts. However, he consoled me and said that he too was a Mus-lim and would help me as much as possible. He took me to his family and provided me shelter in his home. In the morning, my husband reached the police station to seek help saying his wife had been kid-napped. But he was told that his wife had not been kidnapped rather she herself had come there. As she wanted to embrace Islam, he did not have any relation with her (be-ing a non-Muslim) so she could not go with him. He insisted and hurled threats. But I myself refused to go with him. I said he could take all my jewellery, bank balance and property, but I would not go with him. At first he did not give up, but seeing my consistent refusal he got a written statement to obtain all my belongings.

The person who had given me shelter said that now your fam-ily would not harm you and you might embrace Islam. I thanked him and went to a hospital for my whole body was wounded. I re-mained admitted to the hospital for some days. Once a doctor asked me: “Where have you come from? No one from your family had ever visited you at hospital.” I remained quiet and did not reply. For I had left my house in search of only one thing...... Now I neither had any home nor any family..... Now my only relation was Islam which had extended me affection on the very first step.

The Muslim policeman had called me his sister and kept me at his home like a sister. He had provided me shelter on that chilly night when I had lost all my relations. I could never forget his favour. When I was hospitalized, I was anxious about my next step. Where to go in search of peace and protection? After being discharged from the hospital I straightaway went to the Islamic centre. There was no one at that time except an elderly person who perhaps lived there. I went to him and narrated my account. He hesitated for some moments and then said: “Daugh-ter! This sari is not the dress of Muslims. Go, wear headscarf and clad yourself like Muslims.” I had some money with me when left the police station. I purchased a suit with this money and returned to the centre. He told me how to per-form ablution. As I performed the ablution he took me to a room. En-tering the room, I found a big pic-ture hanging on a wall. Seeing the picture I halted as it contained the room that I used to dream in my dreams. I immediately cried out: “That’s it which I have been seeing in my dreams.....which have been disturbing my sleep.” He smiled and said it is the house of Allah. Muslims from across the world come to this house for Hajj and Umra. It is called Baitullah. I was surprised to learn it. I asked, “Does Allah live in a house?” He was an-swering my questions with a smile and affection. Perhaps he knew a lot about Islam. I was facing no difficulty in talking to him. He was explaining each and every thing in my own language. I was feeling a strange happiness which I could not understand at that time. He made me recite the Kalima and then told about Muslims and Islam. Now I was neither anxious nor feeling any burden on my mind. I was feeling myself very light. I felt like I had swum from polluted to clean waters. The owner of this centre where I had embraced Islam adopted me as his daughter and took me to his home. Later, he ar-ranged my marriage in a Muslim family. My first desire was to see the “house of Allah.” And then I performed Umra.

Question: Did you go to India af-ter embracing Islam?

Answer: No, I neither went to In-dia after that nor I want to go there. My family has links in po-litical as well as religious organi-zations there. They have an-nounced head money for me. I am a Muslim, a Muslim daughter.... and I am proud to be a Muslim..... I want to lead my life in the light of Islam.

Question: What was your thinking about Mujahideen before embrac-ing Islam?

Answer: We had been told that they were oppressors who had crossed every limit of oppression. We were made to hate them. But now I have come across the truth and have love for them. I offer prayers for their success in every Namaz. I also pray to Allah that if He blesses me with sons I shall love to see them lined up as Muja-hid. I shall devote them for the glory of Islam. Inshallah.

Indian Nobel Prize Nominee Embraces Islam

Renowned bilingual writer and poetess Madhavikutty 67, popularly known as Kamala Das in the English literary world, yet a celebrated Malayalam writer and the daughter of the late V.M. Nair, former managing editor of widely-circulated Malayalam daily Mathrubhumi and renowned poetess Nalappat Balamani Amma, embraced Islam and adopted the Muslim name Surayya in December 1999.

Her surprise announcement was made at a seminar organized by the Kerala State Library Council in Cochin where she lived. She said that she had decided to embrace Islam on her own volition. Her desire to convert to Islam had blossomed 27 years before when she had adopted two Muslim boys in Mumbai. Then she felt that Islam would bring the much needed solace to her life.

She said that she had a special liking for Islam for the past three decades and had a lot of affection for Muslim brethren. She said that she had looked after several Muslim children while she lived in Mumbai 27 years before.

After shifting to Kerala, she had been associated with several human rights activities and has been contributing articles to Malayalam dailies.

Our famous convert won many literary awards, including the Vayalar Award in 1997 and the Asan Prize in 1985. Several of her works in English have been included in the curriculum of many foreign universities. Her "My Story" is considered as one of her masterpieces.

Madhavikutty is a mother of three sons, including well-known journalist M.D. Nalappad, former editor of Mathrubhumi and former resident editor of The Times of India in Bangalore.  

It takes extraordinary courage for a rich and famous Hindu to embrace Islam and be faced with the ire of Hindu extremists, who recently murdered an Australian Missionary priest and his two lovely children by burning them alive.

The celebrated Indian novelist and poetess Dr. Kamala Das is now Suraiyya. Her Krishna poems are replaced by Ya Allah.

Kamala's "My Story" has been published in more than 15 languages and is a text book in Japan. Her English poetry collections include: Summer in Calcutta, Alphabet of Lust, The Descendants, Old Play House, and Only the Soul Knows How to Sing. She has been awarded numerous prizes and was the only Malayalee to be nominated for the Nobel Prize.

Here is part of the "Times of India" article:

The Times of India

MUMBAI: Noted writer Kamala Das finds herself in the eye of a storm following her recent decision to embrace Islam and change her name to Suraiya. This is not the first time she finds herself embroiled in a controversy. Her writings in the past have generated considerable heat. But the earlier controversies were essentially confined to literary circles. Her decision to convert to Islam has taken Kerla by storm with applause and criticism both flying in her direction. The Times of India spoke to her over the telephone at her home in Kochi on Tuesday evening. Excerpts:

Question: When exactly did you decide to embrace Islam?

Answer: I do not remember the exact time. I think it was about 27 years ago.

Q: Why did you wait so long to convert?

A: When I discussed the matter first with my husband in the early seventies, he asked me to wait. He advised me to read books on Islam. I again thought of converting before the 1984 parliamentary elections.

But, not all my children were married and settled at that time. I did not want my decision to impact on their lives. Now, all of them are well settled and happy. Hence, I have announced my decision now.

Q: Who introduced you to Islam?

A: My first interface with Islam was through two blind Muslim children, Irshad Ahmed and Imtiaz Ahmed. They were sent to me by the National Association for the Blind since I had volunteered to read and teach the blind. The children virtually stayed at our flat at Bank House at Churchgate, Mumbai. I was required to read them Islamic scriptures.

Q: What was it in Islam which attracted you?

A: I liked the purdah which Muslim women wore. I liked the orthodox lifestyle of Muslim women.

Q: But, doesn't the Purdah circumscribe your freedom?

A: I don't want freedom. I had enough of it thrust on me. Freedom had become a burden for me. I want guidelines to regulate and discipline my life. I want a master to protect me. I wanted protection and not freedom. I want to be subservient to Allah. In fact, for the past 24 years I had worn a purdah off and on. I had gone to markets, matinee shows and even while abroad I had worn purdah. I have several of them.

A woman in purdah is respected. No one touches you or teases you if you wear one. You get total protection.

Q: But isn't freedom the most precious of all gifts enjoyed by humankind?

A: My freedom had become frayed at the edges. It was not good any more. It was no more the toy I wanted to play with. I had outgrown the desire for freedom.

Q: What was the immediate reason to accept Islam?

A: Recently I was travelling in a car from the Malabar to Kochi. I started the journey at 5.45 a.m. I looked at the rising sun. Surprisingly, it had the colour of a setting sun. It travelled with me and at 7.00 a.m. it turned white. For years I have been looking for signs telling me when to convert. Finally, I got the message.

Q: Can you please specify the three chief reasons which prompted you to become a Muslim?
A: I cannot list the reasons like that. I wanted protection. My husband died seven years ago and I am now a lonely widow who is 67 years old. When he was there he provided me with protection. I had not to bother about getting tickets, passports, visa and such other things. I just had to follow him.

Q: Did your children approve of your decision?

A: Yes they did. They respect my decision. In fact, one of my sons has embraced Buddhism.

Calling to Islam: The Duty of Every Muslim

While all the messengers appointed by Allah were charged by Him with the responsibility to disseminate the revealed guidance with which they were entrusted, their respective nations too, were called upon to share in the fulfillment of Allah’s orders. Allah reminds in the Holy Qur’an:

“And remember Allah took a covenant form the people of the Book to make it known and clear to mankind, and not to hide it…” (Qur’an 3:187)

The position of the Muslim 'Ummah' (community), in this respect is clear in the Qur’an:

“You are the best ‘Ummah’ evolved for mankind; you enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong…” (Qur’an 3:110)

Thus Allah Almighty has honoured this Muslim Ummah by appointing it to share in the noble cause of its prophet by inviting people to follow the straight path. The Qur’an further stresses that:

“The believing men and women are each other’s protectors; they enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong.” While, “the hypocrite men and women are each other’s protectors, they enjoin what is wrong and forbid what is right.” (9:71)

Hence the truth emerges clearly that “to enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong” constitutes a fundamental difference between a believer and a hypocrite who pretends to be a believer when he is quite the reverse. Consequently, all members of the Muslim Ummah, men and women alike, are individually responsible to further the cause of Islam with the zeal, determination and sense of sacrifice of the Prophet (PBUH) and his companions.

That the companions did their utmost, individually and collectively, to convey the light of Islam to all people even outside the Arabian Peninsula is demonstrated by the lengthy and dangerous journeys they took reaching the Atlantic Ocean in the west and the Wall of China in the East. Countless distinguished companions breathed their last in faraway and foreign lands preaching Islam, for which their sacrifices knew no bounds.

At this point some commonplace misconceptions ought to be cleared. To call all peoples of the world to Allah is the duty of every responsible and conscientious Muslim. Since there is no priesthood in Islam or sacerdotal class among Muslims, the duty of the call to Allah cannot be transferred to an ill-conceived and imaginary group called “men of religion.” In Islam everyone is a man of religion and every man will be accountable to Allah as to whether he fulfilled his obligations sincerely and to the best of his abilities or not. The following verse of the Qur’an should be very enlightening in this respect:

“Say (O Muhammad) this is my way I do invite unto Allah, on evidence clear as the seeing with one’s eyes, - I and whoever follows me. Glory to Allah! And never will I be of those who associate partners to Allah.” (Al-Qur’an 12:108)

Thus, anyone who rightly claims to be a follower of the Prophet (PBUH), peace be upon him, cannot evade his duty to call people to Allah.

The following prophetic traditions amply elucidate this point:

“Let those who witness inform those who are absent.” (Bukhari)

The word “witness” here is taken to mean anyone who possesses some Islamic knowledge. The Prophet (PBUH) is reported to have said:

“Preach on my behalf even with just one verse.” (verse here is referring to a verse from the Quran)

Therefore, one does not have to be a profound scholar or a great jurist to call people to Islam. No doubt a person well-versed in Islamic sciences would be able to speak more authoritatively and he would be in a position to explain matters of religion to the minutest details. However, a high level of scholarship is not a prerequisite to call others to Islam. Everyone’s effort has a definite gap to fill. A Muslim scholar will address his counterpart with a refined style and scholarly content while a Muslim layman will have to reason out with his equals in practical terms, each having a role complementary to the other’s.

Every individual of the Muslim Ummah is obliged to be actively engaged in whatever way he can to guide people to the right path and support, morally as well as materially, those who labor to discharge this responsibility. A common misconception that found appeal even among earlier Muslim generations and which still lingers on to this day stems from failure to comprehend the meaning of the following Qur’anic verse in the proper context:

“O you who believe! You are responsible for your own souls. The misguided one will not harm you if you are guided on the right path.” (5:105)

In all fairness to oneself, the above verse does not connote, by any stretch of imagination, that a so-called pious or saintly person may absolve himself of the responsibility to call mankind to truth simply by thinking that evil would not knock at his door, on account of his being pure and peaceful. Regardless of how pious one may appear to be, he can never equal the Prophet (PBUH) or excel his companions in their moral perfection, sincerity of worship and religious devotion.

None of the Prophet's companions ever dreamt of resigning from the noble task of inviting nations of the east and the west to eternal bliss and salvation offered by Allah through Islam. It was precisely to correct this wrong notion about the verse that Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) issued the following warning:

“O people, verily you read this exalted verse and put it in a place other than its own. Whereas I heard the Apostle of Allah saying: ‘Verily if people see a cruel person and they do not prevent him, Allah may punish all of them.”'  

So fulfill your obligation to Allah and His Messenger. Learn what you are able and convey the Truth – Islam – to those whom you come in contact with. Because calling to Islam is truly the Duty of all Muslims.