The Story of Joram Van Klaveren
Joram Van Klaveren, a former anti-Islam politician in the Netherlands, has converted to Islam. He shares his journey of becoming a Muslim and discusses the challenges he faced. Van Klaveren had initially planned to write an anti-Islamic book but ended up converting to Islam instead. He received death threats and faced Islamophobia after his conversion. He also talks about raising his children as Muslims and offers advice on researching Islam.
What led Joram Van Klaveren to convert to Islam?
Joram Van Klaveren became interested in Islam after planning to write an anti-Islam book. During his research on the religion, he encountered surprising information that led to a change in his views. This shift eventually culminated in his decision to convert to Islam. The transformation from being an anti-Islam politician to a Muslim was a significant and unexpected turn of events in Van Klaveren’s life.
How did people react when Van Klaveren became a Muslim?
After Joram Van Klaveren became a Muslim, he faced a significant backlash from the public. He received over 2000 death threats and experienced Islamophobia. The reaction to his conversion was intense, and he mentioned that he couldn’t sleep for two days due to the backlash he faced. This indicates that the response to his decision was negative and hostile.
Key Moments
The Journey to Islam and the Importance of Education
- 16:14Â The requirements of Islam include praying five times a day, eating in a certain way, and thinking in a certain way.
- 16:52Â Raising children as Muslims is a difficult task, but efforts are made to provide both Islamic and Christian answers to their questions.
- 17:36Â The speaker regrets his previous negative views on Islam and now works to erase misconceptions through an organization called the IXC Islam Experience Center.
- 18:44Â To research about Islam, it is recommended to read books about the life of Prophet Muhammad and study his Sunnah (way of life).
- 19:46Â The speaker invites everyone to consider Islam as it brings peace to the soul and heart.
The Journey to Discovering the Truth of Islam
- 04:07Â The author’s doubts about Christianity led to questions about the truth, which were answered through an Islamic perspective.
- 04:20Â Comparing the concept of God in Christianity and Islam, the author found the Islamic concept of Oneness of God more logical.
- 05:56Â Extensive research, including reaching out to a Muslim professor, led the author to accept Prophet Muhammad as a prophet.
The Impact of Reading Islamic Books and Discovering the Character of Prophet Muhammad ï·º
- 08:07Â Abdul Hakim Murat advises reading Islamic books to understand Islam and its arguments.
- 08:56Â The author’s perception of Prophet Muhammad changed after reading a book about his life.
- 09:36Â The author was surprised by the forgiveness shown by the Prophet towards his enemies.
- 10:42Â The author struggled to accept Prophet Muhammad as a prophet despite recognizing his character.
Challenges and Reactions Faced When Converting to Islam
- 12:13Â The speaker felt a strong need for a sign to confirm their decision to convert to Islam.
- 13:11Â The speaker faced negative reactions and death threats from people who used to support them.
- 14:20Â The speaker’s grandfather had a surprising and humorous reaction to their conversion.
- 15:28Â Praying Salah for the first time as a Muslim was a beautiful and humbling experience.
- 15:58Â The challenges faced when converting to Islam included informing family and dealing with the perception of difficulty.