In a recent column in Pakistan's Urdu-language daily Roznama Nawa-i-Waqt, Islamic religious scholar Dr. Hafiz Masood Azhar praised the Saudi government's efforts aimed at the conversion to Islam of non-Muslim workers and tourists visiting Saudi Arabia. In the column, titled "Approximately 350,000 People Converted To Islam In Saudi Arabia," Azhar wrote: "Every year, a large number of non-Muslims are converting to Islam in Saudi Arabia. There are many reasons for this, notably that the rulers of Saudi Arabia love Islam. Efforts are made to propagate Islam at the government level and at the public level as well."
Following are excerpts from the article by Hafiz Masood Azhar:[1]
"The Purpose For Which Saudi Arabia Came Into Existence Is Still Followed Today; They Are Still Committed To The Promises Made By The Founders Of Saudi Arabia To Allah At The Time Of The Establishment Of Their Country"
"Some news and conversations are such that upon hearing them, faith increases and the heart fills with joy. The most happy and welcoming news among them is that 347,646 [sic., 353,046 from 2019 to 2023]. people have converted to Islam in Saudi Arabia. This faith-inspiring news has been conveyed to the world by Saudi Arabia's Religious Affairs Minister Dr. Abdullatif bin Abdulaziz Al-Sheikh through a press conference.
"Undoubtedly, this is very good news, upon which we extend heartfelt congratulations to the Custodian of the Holy Mosques [in Mecca and Medina], King Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and the people of Saudi Arabia; and we pray that Allah almighty accepts this effort. Under the current circumstances, while the world of Islam is suffering from severe trials and tribulations, this news has raised the morale of the people of Islam and filled their hearts with joy.
"On the one hand, the authenticity and truth of Islam is becoming clear from this good news, while on the other hand, the boundless love of the rulers of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for Islam is also clear. This news is also an expression of the fact that the Saudi society and the rulers of Saudi Arabia are true servants of Islam; [they] love Islam and are using all resources for the propagation and spread of Islam. The purpose for which Saudi Arabia came into existence is still followed today. The promises made by the founders of Saudi Arabia to Allah at the time of the establishment of their country, they are still committed to those promises.
"Now we come to the main topic. At the beginning of the article, we have mentioned the press conference of Saudi Minister of Religious Affairs, Dr. Abdullatif Al-Sheikh. Dr. Abdul Latif's details of those who converted to Islam is as follows: In the year 2019, a total of 21,654 people embraced Islam. In the year 2020, a total of 41,441 people converted to Islam. In the year 2021, a total of 32,733 individuals we embraced Islam.
"In the year 2022, a total of 93,899 people accepted Islam; while in the year 2023, a total of 163,319 people embraced Islam. Thus, the total number of those who accepted Islam is 347,646 [sic., 353,046 from 2019 to 2023]. This data is only from 2019 until now. If the number of people who have accepted Islam since the establishment of Saudi Arabia were collected, it would undoubtedly be in the millions."
"In The Year 2023, A Total Of 163,319 People Converted To Islam In Saudi Arabia; If This Number Is Divided By The 365 Days In The Year, It Would Mean That 447 People Accepted Islam Every Day"; "No Country In The World Is Accepting Islam In Such A Large Number On A Daily Basis"
"Similarly, due to the efforts of Saudi Islamic missionaries and preachers in other countries, thousands of people are embracing Islam every year. It has already been mentioned that in 2023, a total of 163,319 people converted to Islam in Saudi Arabia. If this number is divided by the 365 days in the year, it would mean that 447 people accepted Islam every day in Saudi Arabia [in 2023], which is a very large number, Alhamdulillah [all praise is due to Allah]. And it can be said with certainty that no country in the world is accepting Islam in such a large number on a daily basis.
"Every year a large number of non-Muslims are converting to Islam in Saudi Arabia. There are many reasons for this, notably that the rulers of Saudi Arabia love Islam. Efforts are made to propagate Islam at the government level and at the public level as well. At the governmental level, missionaries and preachers have been appointed in every region of the state.
"Similarly, some of the most important achievements of Saudi Arabia that are proving to be extremely helpful and supportive for the propagation and spread of Islam around the world, are as follows:
"Firstly, the Saudi government has made special arrangements to popularize the teachings of the Holy Quran. For this purpose, the Custodian of the Holy Mosques, Shah Fahd bin Abdul Aziz, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, established a grand publishing house in Medina under the name of King Fahd Quran Printing Complex, which is undoubtedly the largest institution in the world for the printing and publication of the Holy Quran.
"The foundation stone of this blessed project was laid on November 2, 1982. The complex is a fascinating and beautiful masterpiece of architecture. In this printing complex, high-quality and error-free copies of the Holy Quran are printed and distributed free of charge all over the world. Since its establishment until now, millions of copies in various sizes and in more than 40 languages have been published from this complex."
"The Saudi Government Has Established Permanent Centers Of Islam, Mosques, And Madrassas On Solid Foundations Throughout The World, Including In Its Own Country; These Institutions Have Appointed Missionaries, Preachers, Honorable Scholars, Reciters Of The Quran, And Esteemed Scholars, Numbering In The Thousands"
"Shah Fahd, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, has accomplished the great feat of bringing the Holy Quran home to home and popularizing its teachings by translating it and explaining it and distributing it in various living languages of the world, which will be remembered till the Day of Judgement. In addition to the printing and publication of the Holy Quran, books of exegesis and hadiths [traditions of Muhammad] and other books are also published and distributed free of charge, on which millions of Rials are spent every year.
"Secondly, for the promotion of religious education, a university was established in Medina in 1944 under the name of Al-Jamiyat al-Islamiya, in the style of Al-Azhar University, which has become the largest university in the Islamic world in the promotion of Islamic sciences. Here students from all over the world come to study and after the acquisition [of knowledge], they perform the duty of propagating and spreading Islam throughout the world, including Saudi Arabia.
"Thirdly, the Saudi government has established permanent centers of Islam, mosques, and madrassas on solid foundations throughout the world, including in its own country. These institutions have appointed missionaries, preachers, honorable scholars, reciters of the Quran, and esteemed scholars, numbering in the thousands. They are sponsored by the Saudi government and Saudi charity institutions. These preachers and teachers invite people to the right belief in the light of pure monotheism and the Quran and Sunnah [the traditions of Muhammad], due to which a large number of people reform their beliefs and embrace Islam.
"Fourthly, 457 religious groups and NGOs are active in different regions of Saudi Arabia for preaching and dawah [preaching, invitation], which invite non-Muslims for employment opportunities in the country and extend the invitation to Islam to non-Muslims visiting Saudi Arabia for tourism purposes.
"Lastly, it is essential to mention that before this, such a large number of people were not converting to Islam, during the reign of any Saudi king, as has happened during the past few years. The number of those embracing Islam is increasing day by day. This means that in Saudi Arabia now, dawah is being done more seriously and in a better way than before. [We] pray to Allah to accept the hard work of the Saudi government and its scholars for the spread of Islam, and may the Lord grant them the ability to continue this auspicious mission. Amen!"
[1] Nawaiwaqt.com (Pakistan), February 18, 2024.
