Praise be to Allaah.

Congratulations to your brother, congratulations to your brother, congratulations to your brother! Please give him our best wishes and greetings of peace (salaam) and tell him that even though we are thousands of miles away, we are praying he will stand firm in his faith and gain a proper understanding of his religion. Tell him that he has brothers in faith who share his joy at having entered Islam, even though he does not know their names or where they live. This is the relationship of believers with one another, like a structure parts of which support other parts.

With regard to yourself, you say that you know what the right decision is, and that is great. You have come a long way, and all that remains is for you to make the decision which you know you have to make.

What is life without religion? What is the point of living and working and striving if it is not for the purpose of pleasing Allaah? Can there be any joy in life or salvation after death or any hope of attaining the bliss of Paradise without entering Islam? If we do not worship Allaah, what are we going to worship? Our whims and desires? Would a wise person accept to be the slave of his sexual desire that will soon come to an end or of some wealth that he will soon leave behind in this transient world? Man has a spirit that will never be at peace unless he worships Allaah. He has a conscience that cannot thrive except in the light of Allaah. He has a soul that can never be at ease unless it is in contact with Allaah, remembering Him, speaking to Him, praying and fasting for His sake, putting its trust in Him and repenting to Him. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

Is he who was dead (without Faith by ignorance and disbelief) and We gave him life (by knowledge and Faith) and set for him a light (of Belief) whereby he can walk amongst, like him who is in the darkness (of disbelief, polytheism and hypocrisy) from which he can never come out? [al-Anaam 6:122]

And whomsoever Allaah wills to guide, He opens his breast to Islam, and whomsoever He wills to send astray, He makes his breast closed and constricted, as if he is climbing up to the sky

[al-Anaam 6:125]

There is no need for hesitation in this matter, because it is the matter of freedom from the Fire of Hell and salvation from the wrath of al-Jabbaar (the Compeller, i.e., Allaah), and attaining the victory of happiness in this world and the next. Allaah Who created you and created the heavens and earth is greater, and obeying Him is more important, than the closest of relatives and the dearest of friends. Become Muslim and you will be safe. Allaah will help you with regard to your parents and will give you the strength to stand firm against their pressure. Who knows, maybe you and your brother will be the cause of saving your entire family. Allaah told the Prophet Moosa (Moses) about his brother Haaroon (Aaron), peace be upon them both (interpretation of the meaning): We will strengthen your arm through your brother [al-Qasas 28:35] So together they went to call Pharaoh and his people to worship Allaah.

With regard to your girlfriend, do not think that this forbidden relationship will help you adhere to the truth. You have to call her to Islam and to repent to Allaah. If she repents, then marry her in accordance with the Islamic way that is acceptable to Allaah. If she does not, then do not feel any regrets about her. The Prophet of Islam said: Whoever gives up something for the sake of Allaah, Allaah will compensate him with something better.

We ask Allaah to hasten the blessings of Islam for you, to bless you with happiness in this world and success in the Hereafter, and to protect you from all evil. We look forward to hearing happy news. Peace be with you.