Diverse Motivations Behind Converting to Islam
The answer to your question is based on various motives mentioned in the provided data.Firstly, one of the motives is the pursuit of holiness and the search for a lifestyle associated with religion, which is seen as energetic and attractive to the youth. For example, one of the sources notes: “A person wants to have a saint.
Why?Because it is inherent in human nature. A person is predisposed to be holy. God created him for holiness. Therefore, a person seeks a shrine for himself. And since Islam does not offer him such an opportunity, it means that he does not match God’s design for man. Finally, there are also two types of Islam prevalent in Russia. This is Russian Islam, which many people are accepting now. In fact, young people are embracing Islam because they are looking for a more active lifestyle. It is believed that Orthodoxy is a grandmother’s religion, while Islam is the religion of strong men. I would rather say—it is the religion of teenagers.” (source: link txt)Secondly, the motivation may be related to marital and family relationships. In particular, the so-called “women’s Islam” is discussed: “There is also another Islam—women’s Islam. This is when a woman, marrying a Muslim, accepts Islam under his influence. Naturally, the reverse is also true, when a man accepts Islam because he marries a Muslim woman...” (source: link txt)Furthermore, the attractiveness of Islam is noted from the standpoint of its clarity and simplicity. People who do not find satisfaction in traditional religious systems may choose Islam precisely for its clarity: “People choose Islam for two reasons, both of which have already been mentioned above. Firstly, ‘despite the current talk about the revival of Orthodoxy’, a true revival, alas, does not exist. Secondly, there is a kind of simplicity in Islam that attracts people... As for Islam—I partly explained above how it differs from Christianity, and I will partly mention it in response to further questions. Regarding its clarity, simplicity... Yes, indeed, Islam is simpler than Christianity. But an arithmetic textbook for the first grade is simpler than an algebra textbook for the eleventh grade.” (source: link txt)Social and economic motives also play an important role. Converting to Islam may be seen as a step towards improving one’s quality of life, when a person, by joining the Muslim community, feels the benefits of a favorable social and material environment: “Once they entered the community of Muslims, all such people immediately found that the new faith gave them an easy and pleasant life. In purely spiritual terms, Islam offered little, but that was exactly what the underdeveloped masses needed. Their religious feelings were fully satisfied by the rituals and the awareness that, since a person had unconditionally surrendered to Allah, he had nothing else to think about or worry about except following the commandments. The guaranteed material life in Islam, justice in mutual relations among the believers, and a community life that was dignified and, in many respects, pure—all were attractive to a devotee of Allah.” (source: link txt)Islam’s economic appeal is further emphasized by its cosmopolitan nature, where adopting the new faith opens up social and material prospects: “This economic lure was all the stronger given that the robbery and expropriation of the property of non-believers was considered by a Muslim his lawful right. In this way, by turning his followers into world conquerors, Islam simultaneously weakened the resistance of the peoples subject to conquest in many of its aspects. Its cosmopolitanism was paramount in this regard. Once a non-believer embraced Islam, no one asked him which tribe he belonged to. He became an equal member of the community of the faithful and transformed from a conquered slave into a master of the world. This was so encouraging for the conquered to accept Islam that the Muslims soon began to oppose conversions to their faith for economic reasons, not wanting to lose people whose property they could appropriate and from whose levies the community of the faithful existed.” (source: link txt)Finally, some people convert to Islam as a way to align their social status and worldview, as seen in the example of the public statement: “I decided to bring my social status into accordance with my beliefs and to publicly testify that I consider myself a follower of the great tradition of Orthodoxy—the Prophets of Monotheism, starting with Abraham—and therefore I no longer consider myself either a clergyman or a member of any Orthodox Church.” At the same time, Vyacheslav Polosin recited the traditional formula that attested to his acceptance of Islam: “There is no god but the One God—Allah, and Muhammad is His Messenger!”... (source: link txt)Thus, the motivation for adopting Islam can be conditioned by the following reasons:1. Spiritual quests – the pursuit of holiness and an active, dynamic lifestyle.2. Marital and family circumstances – the influence of a partner and traditional family relations.3. The simplicity and clarity of Islam – as a religion that is easier to understand and accept compared to others.4. Socio-economic benefits – improved material conditions, belonging to a just and cosmopolitan community.5. The desire to change one’s social status and publicly declare one’s beliefs.