Joshua Dunning’s Conversion to Islam
Joshua Dunning’s Conversion to Islam was reported in the media.
It is widely held by many that knowledge of history is vital in order to comprehend the world around us, to understand why society operates in the manner that it does, and, perhaps most importantly, to comprehend one’s own sense of self. Joshua Dunning, a young man in his early thirties, is here with us today to share his experiences. At first glance, he appears to be an unpretentious man with shy eyes, a little grin, and disheveled brown hair; if you were to sit next to him on a train or a bus, you might just forget his existence; nonetheless, it is his narrative that serves to elevate him to such prominence.
We have heard many various accounts of Islam conversion throughout the years, but Joshua’s story stands out as being particularly compelling. “I’m a PhD candidate in the subject of mathematics,” he says as he leans back in his chair with a relaxed expression. I’ve never been very religious in the past, but as a result of recent occurrences, I’ve begun to sense the need for something more meaningful. Following a thorough examination of the many various religions practiced throughout the world, I concluded that the Islamic faith was the one that most resonated with me. “I became a Christian and have been a believer ever since.”
Dunning continues by talking about his upbringing, beginning with the fact that his family did not adhere to any religious doctrine. “My father was a lapsed Catholic and my mother was a straight agnostic; I would occasionally go to church with friends after sleepovers and things like that, but it was not a large part of my life, and I can’t say that I ever paid much attention to it,” Dunning says. I didn’t give it much thought one way or the other, and my understanding of the various religions was based on what we studied in school about world history.”
Dunning’s spiritual ambivalence persisted for quite some time, and it was only lately that he came to the conclusion that he needed faith and began searching for solutions spiritually. He takes a few steps back in his chair, a slight frown on his face as he explains the reason for his newfound desire to pursue a spiritual path. My father was diagnosed with prostate cancer within the previous year, and my best buddy was killed in a hit-and-run event, prompting me to question the senselessness of it all.” Despite extensive research into chaos theory, I was unable to see any scientific pattern in the events, and as a result, I began looking for other mathematical and statistical options. While I was unable to come up with a mathematical solution, I did discover that the majority of mathematicians have been deeply religious, which prompted me to seek answers on a more spiritual road.”
“I started out with the various branches of Christianity, as a result of the religious paths chosen by my mathematical predecessors, but they did not ring true for me,” he says, taking a deep breath and reflecting on the beginning of his journey: “I started out with the various branches of Christianity, as a result of the religious paths chosen by my mathematical predecessors, but they did not ring true for me.” The result of this was that I began to look outside the traditional for work in my specialty, which led me to Islam.” “I am really content with my choice of faith; I think that Allah has revealed the ultimate truth, and I endeavor to conduct my life in accordance with all of his ideals,” he says after a pause. It was through Islam that I was able to get spiritual insight into the tragedies that had occurred.”
“The text of the Quran demonstrated to me that there is a simple truth, and that I only needed to accept that truth in order for my life to make sense; there is a logic and a mathematical preciseness to be found within the text, and it was soothing to me on many levels; in addition, the principles by which one should live are logical and practical, characteristics that appeal to me as a mathematician.” Joshua blows his hair off of his forehead, leaning back and smiling slightly, ” As a result, I was able to achieve a profound sense of tranquility and see why Allah had placed these impediments in my road.”
Dunning feels that Islam is the only genuine religion, and he has become sense converted as a result of the answers he was able to find in the Quran, as well as the sense of peace it has provided him in a nonsensical world. Dunning is a member of the Muslim community in the United Kingdom. The Islamic faith was discovered by Dunning after a thorough examination of all major world religions. From a mathematical standpoint, Dunning determined that this was the religion that made sense, appealing not only to his spirituality but also the deeply ingrained sense of logic he feels, which he is also able to find in the Quran. Dunning has not only discovered Islam in this country, where Islam has frequently been perceived negatively, particularly in recent decades, but he has also converted, serving as an encouragement to us all and trying to strengthen our faith in a world that is shaky.
While many people do not consider mathematics to be a determining element in spiritual matters, Joshua’s narrative of conversion can teach us that Allah works through all forms and techniques, including those that appear to have no link to religion or spirituality at first glance. These stories serve to give us courage, as they demonstrate that Allah is still alive and well in the world today, just as he has been throughout history.
