Why I Like Listening To Yusuf Estes
I’m not sure when I first heard of Yusuf Estes. I think it was back in the late nineties. Whatever the case, I liked him from the moment I first heard him speak. Alhamdulillah, he has proven to be a great asset to Islam in the West.
Most of you probably already know the story behind his conversion and how he came to Islam. It’s available on Youtube and I advise you to search for it and give it a listen. It is one of the most touching conversion stories you’ll ever hear.
If you haven’t heard how Yusuf Estes became Muslim, Inshallah, I’ll give you a quick rundown of how it happened.
He used to be Christian. But not just your average, go to church every now and then Christian. Yusuf Estes was serious about his Christianity. In fact, he was actually a preacher. He was very much involved in church activities and he and his wife spent a lot of time calling people to church and trying to guide wayward souls to Christianity.
As it happened, one day he took a Muslim into his house as a guest. Being the devout Christian he was, Yusuf Estes had the notion that he was going to go to work on this Muslim and eventually get him to convert to Christianity. What happened was something totally different.
Together with his wife, they spent a lot of time and several days talking with their Muslim guest. They were very polite about it all, and they did not try to push Christianity on him. But they were determined to convert him, nonetheless.
But as Yusus Estes and his wife talked with their Muslim guest about politics and religion they begin to learn that Islam was actually full of truth.
Every time they tried to say something beneficial about Christianity or tried to convince their Muslim guest that Islam was wrong, they found out that in fact they were wrong!
To make a long story short, after a couple of months of going back and forth with the Muslim, Yusuf Estes and his wife both took their Shahada and converted to Islam.
And the rest, as they say, is history.
Today, the Sheikh has several websites devoted to spreading the message of Islam. I actually envy his ability to distribute so much information on Islam in what looks like a pretty effortless manner.
Yusuf Estes is a pretty popular speaker. I haven’t had the opportunity to listen to him live, but I’ve listed to several of his lectures over the years. What I love most about the way he talks is that he’s just so down to earth. It’s like listening to your grandfather.
Sheikh Yusuf Estes doesn’t really get too much into the deep, technical issues of Islam. His talks are usually about spreading the message and informing non-Muslims (and some wayward Muslims, too) about the truth of Islam.
Alhamdulillah, with his laid-back and relaxed manner of speaking, he gets the message across in a very accommodating way that is very comforting and inviting.
I rate this brother as one of my favorite Muslim speakers. He is definitely one of the most popular and beloved speakers in America.
May Allah reward Yusuf Estes and forgive him his sins, Ameen
Salam Alaycom
I just love him
I watched hin Live here in Lebanon about month ago, or more I can’t remember
It was a pleasure to hear the story of his conversion Live ..
Time passes so quickly, I even didn’t feel it pass, his words are simple, touching, and full of love ..
I wish I’d have the chance to meet him again and again ,, and eventually meet him in Jannah
Juma’a Mubaraka brother
Wa Alaikum Salaam Sr. Nada,
Mashallah, I didn’t know Sheikh Yusuf has given talks in Lebanon. It’s good to hear Muslims from America sharing knowledge and experience with Muslims from other parts of the world.
He is a good speaker. May Allah reward him and you. Ameen.
[...] Yusuf Estes: Preacher Who Converted To Islam [...]
As’salam Alaykum,
I myself haven’t seen much of his work but my husband told me about him. It was nice to see how lit up he was about his lectures. Watching videos of how people became muslim has become a habit of his. I was big on Ahmed Deedat when I reverted, but then back then he was the “go to” person. Alhumdullilah there is someone for each generation that just has a way with people.
My husband is Saudi and we would always argue about how to present Islam to our children, here they seem to think scaring people is the way. We always hear the negative, you will be punished, you will go to hell.. but videos like his and many others show you the love and greatness of Islam. I sometimes wish I was living in the states again. I must say once my husband started watching his videos and those of others (in English) he was surprised at their commitment and love of Allah (swt) and Islam. I must say it has eased things up here at home and he seems to see others perspectives now. My youngest is fasting her first Ramadhan fully and has almost leaned to pray entirely on her own. The difference with my youngest is that he didn’t judge her or jump at her to be perfect as if overnight she can fast a full day and know everything, which was what he pretty much did to our other children. Alhumdulillah
Yes, I am attributing speakers like brother Yousef to opening his eyes to more than just how he was taught. Even though he is a Saudi and was raised in Makkah, he is finding out there is still so much to learn and how to be more sensitive towards others.
May we always strive for knowledge and taqwah.
Ameen, Sister Khadijah.
You’ve said it perfectly.
Islam is not just a religion of doom and gloom. And I don’t think that kind of preaching will work with young, western Muslims today anyway.
Perhaps when they’re very young we can scare them into submission with stories of flame and brimstone. Bit once they pass a certain age, those things lose effectiveness.
People need to know that Allah loves us when we strive to please Him. And that He is truly merciful to us in innumerable ways.
[...] drivel they did back in the 90s. But they’re nothing like what they used to be. And with the spread of information on the internet, more Muslims are aware of their rhetoric and tend to avoid [...]