THE INTERVIEW: How Dr. Bilal Philips Found Islam, Host Malik Jones of Gambia

TL;DR

Dr. Bilal Philips found Islam after concluding that communism, capitalism, and Christianity did not provide the comprehensive answer he sought for social, political, and economic injustice. A fellow communist’s conversion prompted him to read about Islam, and his growing conviction led him to seek Arabic and Islamic knowledge in Medina. Read on for his account of that journey and the thinking behind it.

Transcript

hello and welcome to the interview my guest tonight is Dr Abu Amina Bilal Phillips a Jamaican Canadian Islamic scholar who converted to Islam in the early 70s but before that he got into communism but consequently to Islam in the early 70s and now he is not only a lecturer at the Islamic online university but he is the founder of the Islamic online... Read More

Key Insights

• 👨‍🔬 Dr. Bilal Phillips' journey from communism to Islam highlights the search for a solution to societal inequalities and injustices.
• 🥺 The shortcomings of communism and capitalism led him to explore Islam as a more holistic and just system.
• 🎓 Islam emphasizes the importance of education and understanding to bring positive change to society.
• 🎓 The Islamic online university aims to provide free, comprehensive Islamic education to students worldwide, promoting knowledge and understanding of Islam.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did Dr. Bilal Philips discover and convert to Islam?

A woman in his communist organization converted to Islam after encountering former members of American political movements who had themselves embraced the faith. Her decision prompted Dr. Philips to read and study Islamic books, and the more he learned, the more convinced he became that Islam was what he had been seeking.

Q: What inspired Dr. Bilal Philips to move from Christianity toward communism?

Although born into a Christian family in Jamaica and raised in Toronto, he described himself as only nominally Christian. At Simon Fraser University, political unrest, the Vietnam conflict, oppression, exploitation, and the history of slavery convinced him that he needed to join a movement seeking social change.

Q: Why did Dr. Bilal Philips reject communism?

He became troubled by the harshness and loss of life associated with communist rule in Russia and China. He also believed communist countries could not compete economically with the West and had to reintroduce capitalist economics, showing him that something was missing.

Q: Why did Dr. Bilal Philips also reject capitalism as a complete answer?

Dr. Philips said capitalism had good points but also many bad ones. Because he was searching for a system that could correct oppression and exploitation while encompassing society more fully, he did not regard capitalism as the answer.

Q: Why did Christianity not satisfy Dr. Bilal Philips’s search?

He felt Christianity did not address matters beyond the church, particularly politics and economics. He wanted an approach that encompassed every part of life rather than separating religious concerns from worldly affairs.

Q: What did Dr. Bilal Philips study at Simon Fraser University?

He majored in biochemistry at Simon Fraser University. During his university years, however, political movements and his growing awareness of injustice led him to seek involvement in changing the world rather than concentrating only on his studies.

Q: Why did Dr. Bilal Philips go to Medina to study Islam?

After accepting Islam in Toronto, he encountered people offering differing teachings and interpretations. He therefore wanted to study Islam from its sources, learn Arabic, and pursue knowledge in Medina.

Q: Who is Dr. Abu Amina Bilal Philips in THE INTERVIEW with host Malik Jones of Gambia?

The interview introduces Dr. Abu Amina Bilal Philips as a Jamaican-Canadian Islamic scholar who converted to Islam after first becoming involved in communism. It also identifies him as a lecturer at and founder of the Islamic Online University.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Dr. Bilal Phillips grew up in a Christian family in Canada but became interested in communism during his university years.

• He later realized the shortcomings of communism and began exploring Islam after a fellow member of his communist organization converted to Islam.

• Dr. Bilal Phillips pursued education in Islamic studies and founded the Islamic online university, offering free courses and diplomas in Islamic studies.