In a world filled with spiritual confusion and ideological noise, some people go beyond the surface and embark on a profound journey to find truth. Among such rare souls is Sheikh Hussain Yee, a Malaysian of Chinese descent, whose search for meaning led him through the teachings of Buddhism, Christianity, and finally to the illuminating truth of Islam.
This is not just a conversion story. It is a reflection of a heart that refused to settle until it found purpose, clarity, and peace in a religion that not only answered the intellect but satisfied the soul.
Born into Buddhism: The Spiritual Roots
Sheikh Hussain Yee was born into a traditional Buddhist family. Like many born into faith traditions, he inherited the customs, rituals, and values of his family without question. Yet, from a young age, he exhibited something unusual—a deep longing for spiritual understanding.
As a child, he immersed himself in Buddhist practices, often serving at temples, engaging in meditation, and trying to grasp the teachings of Gautama Buddha. He was especially drawn to the moral discipline and philosophical depth of Buddhism—the call to humility, detachment, and spiritual purification. The idea that suffering was inherent to life, and that spiritual discipline could liberate the soul, deeply resonated with him.
However, even as a committed practitioner, he began to feel an emptiness.
“I began to question if life was only about avoiding desires, renouncing the world, and isolating oneself. It didn’t feel complete. It didn’t feel balanced,” he reflected.
Buddhism, as practiced by many, taught renunciation of the world—no meat, no marriage, no ownership. But for Sheikh Hussain, something essential was missing: engagement with life. He began to wonder: Is religion meant to disconnect you from life, or guide you through it?
A Detour into Christianity: The Illusion of Freedom
That inner vacuum led him to explore Christianity, partly influenced by his siblings, some of whom had embraced the faith. He attended church, listened to sermons, and became fascinated by the openness he observed—especially compared to the strict asceticism he had left behind.
“Christianity, at first, felt like a breath of fresh air. There was warmth. There was freedom. You could do almost anything—as long as you believed in Jesus.”
However, being a seeker who didn’t just follow, but questioned—he soon encountered unsettling ambiguities. When he tried to share Christianity with his Muslim friends, he was surprised to find that Muslims already believed in Jesus, albeit not as God, but as a mighty Prophet. Their belief in Jesus was strong—but different.
This prompted him to investigate deeper. What exactly was the concept of Trinity? How can God be One, yet simultaneously the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?
When he asked church leaders, he was told to wait for the Holy Spirit to enlighten him. But Sheikh Hussain was not satisfied with vague answers. He wanted clarity, logic, and evidence not spiritual guesswork. So he prayed sincerely:
“Oh God… I don’t know who You are anymore. But I know You exist. Please guide me to the truth.”
This heartfelt prayer would soon lead him to the final chapter of his journey.
The Spark: Discovering Islam Through Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA)
Still in pursuit of spiritual truth, Sheikh Hussain stumbled upon a book detailing the life of Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA)—the second Caliph of Islam and once a fierce opponent of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. The transformation of Umar—who went from plotting to kill the Prophet ﷺ to becoming one of Islam’s greatest defenders—shook him to his core.
“How could one book, the Qur’an, transform a man so completely?” he wondered.
This led him to read more about Islam. He didn’t approach it through people—he approached it through books, history, and deep contemplation. No one handed him a Qur’an, but he longed for one. He wanted to understand what Muslims believed that could turn hearts like Umar’s and bring justice and balance to societies.
He discovered that Islam didn’t teach people to escape the world—it taught them how to live in it with honor, balance, and devotion to God. Islam offered a complete, detailed, and practical way of life.
He learned about worship (ibadah), mutual dealings (mu’amalat), marriage (munakahat), and ethics (akhlaq). Everything was systemized, from how to greet to how to lead a state. Islam had structure, discipline, and divine wisdom—without losing the soul.
Becoming Muslim: A Quiet Revolution of the Heart
In 1968, Hussain Yee embraced Islam. He took his shahadah (declaration of faith) with an Imam, quietly and with deep conviction. He didn’t announce it to his family—he knew the road ahead would be difficult.
But something within him had changed forever. He no longer felt lost. He no longer felt incomplete. He had found what he called the “religion of balance”—a faith that honored both the heart and the intellect, the soul and the body, the individual and the community.
And so began the next chapter: four years living inside mosques, learning, observing, and absorbing Islamic knowledge—just as he had once served in temples and churches. He moved from mosque to mosque, often living off very little, but spiritually rich and content.
“I chose the mosque because I knew only the practicing Muslims come there. It became my university, my home, and my sanctuary,” he said.
Family Response and Later Reconciliation
Returning home to tell his family about his conversion was the most emotionally difficult part of his journey. His mother was shocked and initially hurt. But he approached her with gentleness, love, and humility.
“I told my mom, ‘I’m still your son. I’m still Chinese. I just follow a new way now.’”
With time, his sincerity won them over. He brought home halal food, spent quality time, and showed them the beauty of Islamic values through his actions—not arguments.
Eventually, his elder brother and his mother both accepted Islam. His journey had come full circle.
Reflections on Islam and Other Faiths
As someone who had deeply practiced Buddhism and Christianity, Sheikh Hussain Yee believes that many of the original teachings of previous prophets have been lost, altered, or misunderstood.
He doesn’t dismiss them—but he sees their limitations:
“Buddha prostrated. Jesus prayed. Moses bowed. But their followers changed the path. Islam is the only religion where the message and method are preserved in their original form—through the Qur’an and Sunnah.”
He sees Salah (Islamic prayer) as the perfected form of meditation—a moving, living, breathing reflection of submission. While meditation in Buddhism seeks inner peace by disconnecting, Salah connects the soul to its Creator five times a day, grounding the heart in the Divine.
A Call to the World: Islam Belongs to Everyone
Today, Sheikh Hussain Yee travels the world sharing his story and calling people to reflect—not just follow.
He reminds Muslims and non-Muslims alike that Islam is not a cultural religion—it is a universal message.
“Islam is not about being Arab, Malay, or Pakistani. It’s not about heritage—it’s about truth. It belongs to every human being.”
He especially urges Muslims to differentiate between Islam and Muslims:
“Islam is pure. Muslims are human. Don’t judge the truth of the message by the weakness of its followers.”
A Final Message to Seekers
If he had one chance to speak to every non-Muslim in the world, Sheikh Hussain Yee would say:
“You may think you don’t believe in God. But maybe you’ve just rejected the wrong image of God. Ask sincerely. Search with an open heart. Don’t settle for culture, convenience, or comfort. Settle only when you find the truth—because that is where peace truly lives.”
I was looking for God,” he says. “And Islam showed me He had been waiting for me all along. May Allah Guides us everyone to the good Path, Ameen Yaa Rabbal Aalamin!
