An Open Invitation to the Pope and Other World Leaders I begin in the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. May Allah bless all those who follow the correct path. I hereby extend this invitation to the Pope and all the leaders of the world, especially those who govern and rule over millions of people of other religions, sects and ideologies; I invite all of you to embrace Islam. Come to Islam and you will be saved from the punishment of Allah and earn His reward in Paradise. If you are a Jew or a Christian, Allah will give you a double reward once you embrace Islam. 94 Prophet Muhammad said: "A person from the People of the Scripture [a Jew or Christian] who believes in his prophet [Jesus or Moses] and then believes in Prophet Muhammad [i.e., embraces Islam] will have a double reward.“ 95 However, if you reject this invitation, you will be held accountable for all those under your influence and all those who follow you The people of the Book (Jews and Christians) are granted a special status in the Qur’an as to inviting them to Islam and establishing dialogue with them. Allah says: "And do not argue with the People of the Scripture except in a way that is best." (Qur’an 29:46) The Qur’an also states that the Christians are nearest in love to the Muslims: "The nearest of them in affection to the believers are those who say, 'We are Christians.' That is because among them are priests and monks and because they are not arrogant." (Qur’an 5:82) 95 Narrated by Muslim, 342.

Like all my Muslim brothers and sisters the world over, Allah has charged me with the responsibility of conveying this message to all humanity to the best of my ability. He has said: "Say, O People of the Scripture, come to a word that is equitable between us and you – that we will not worship except Allah and not associate anything with Him and not take one another as lords instead of Allah. But if they turn away, then say, 'Bear witness that we are Muslims [submitting to Him].'" (Qur’an 3:64) Having presented the previous proofs in this book so that whoever has eyes can see them and whoever has intellect can understand them, a junction has been reached where Allah, the Exalted, calls on all people to embrace the truth. Once again I affirm that it is my duty and responsibility as a human being, one who submitted by free will to the law and commands of Allah, the one and only God, the Beneficent, the Merciful, to invite all mankind to give up the worship of false deities, whether animate and inanimate objects or any other thing created by Allah or fashioned by man. After repenting, they must submit themselves completely to the will of Allah, the only true God, Creator of the universe.

It is worthy to note that as much money, prestige, position, and power that a non- Muslim might have in this life, he or she will never have enough to buy his or her entrance to the gardens of Paradise in the next world.96 The poorest inhabitant of the earth who has testified that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger (the testimony of faith) will be happier and more dignified in the next world than the richest person who did not accept the last message sent by Allah to guide humankind. Allah says in the Qur’an (3:85): "And whoever desires other than Islam as religion – never will it be accepted from him, and he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers." And in 5:36-37 it states: "Indeed, those who disbelieve – if they should have all that is in the earth and the like of it with it by which to ransom themselves from the punishment of the Day of Resurrection, it will not be accepted from them, and for them is a painful punishment. They will wish to get out of the Fire, but never are they to emerge therefrom, and for them is an enduring punishment.“ Only the person who fulfills his purpose in life, i.e., the worship of Allah alone, may be able to achieve true happiness and internal peace. Allah says: "Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a believer – We will surely cause him to live a good life, and We will surely give them their reward [in the Hereafter] according to the best of what they used to do." (Qur’an 16:97) Allah also says: "…Those who have believed and whose hearts are assured by the remembrance of Allah. Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah hearts are assured." (Qur’an 13:28) In chapter 20, verses , we read: "Whoever follows My guidance will neither go astray [in the world] nor suffer [in the Hereafter]. And whoever turns away from My remembrance indeed, he will have a depressed [i.e., difficult] life.“ This latter verse explains the cause for many psychological illnesses and why some very wealthy people attempt suicide.

So while one's soul is still within his body and he can still breathe, speak and is conscious of his actions, he can always repent to Allah, the Exalted. If repentance is sincere and one testifies that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger, while avoiding all forms of paganism, Allah will forgive him, even if he should be but a minute's distance away from the Hellfire. Allah will then change the person's bad deeds into good deeds and allow him or her entrance into Jannah (the garden of Paradise) eternally. Allah has said: "…Except for those who repent, believe and do righteous work. For them Allah will replace their evil deeds with good. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.“ (25:70) And He has said: "But the ones who believe and do righteous deeds – We will admit them to gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever. [It is] the promise of Allah, [which is] truth, and who is more truthful than Allah in statement?" (4:122) It is the promise of Allah for anyone who wants to repent sincerely and start a new life. I close this invitation citing the following verses from the Qur’an, where Allah, the Almighty, gives the opportunity to all human beings to repent sincerely. He invites sinners to repent, regardless of the magnitude of their sins, and He will forgive them.

In the Qur’an (39:53-54), Allah revealed: "Say, 'O My slaves who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful. And return [in repentance] to your Lord and submit to Him before the punishment comes upon you; then you will not be helped.'" Here also, Allah informs us that time for repentance is of limited duration and that when death arrives it is no longer possible to obtain forgiveness. Finally, Allah extends His promise of forgiveness and mercy to the believer who is steadfast in faith and does good deeds, saying (20:82): "But indeed, I am the Perpetual Forgiver of whoever repents and believes and does righteousness and then continues in guidance." I supplicate to Allah, the Creator of all that exists, the true Guide, to guide to the right path all those seekers of truth whose minds are open to objective analysis. I ask Allah to guide all those who make sincere self-assessments and to improve their conditions according to what is pleasing to Him.