"Currently, Islam is the most growing religion. But on the other side there are Muslims and other believers, Hindus, Jewish, Buddhists who become atheists, and they are in the darkness," Estes told Antara here on Saturday.
Therefore, Sheikh Yusuf invited all people from different faiths to have open dialogue in order to seek the truth by understanding that all human beings basically have similarities in some respects.
Sheikh Yusuf Estes will be in Indonesia from March 17 to 21, 2018, for sermons in several cities in Indonesia, namely, Jakarta, Surabaya (East Java) and Balikpapan (East Kalimantan). In certain locations the preaching by Yusuf Estes is open to public, including for non-Muslims.
"One important thing is to find similarities, that is, we understand that there is God who creates the universe in six periods, and we have common enemies, that is, devil," Sheikh Yusuf, who is dubbed "funny sheikh", noted.
He further explained that nowadays everyone is facing the same problems, such as television programs and games on internet and computer that take children out from their parents.
"Dialogues will open our way from darkness to light," Estes asserted, quoting a verse from the Noble Qur`an which means "Allah is the ally of those who believe. He brings them out from the darkness into the light."
According to him, the verse is in accordance with the topic that he will be delivered in his sermons in Indonesia, namely, "Going into the light of Islam".
To be able to attend Yusuf Estes sermons, people are expected to register themselves first through https://sahabatdakwah.org/yes.
Sheikh Yusuf Estes was born and raised from a very devout Christian family. Before becoming an Islamic preacher, he was an evangelist.
In 1994-2000, Yusuf Estes became a member of the US Delegation for Religious and Scholar Leaders to the United Nations Peace Conference.
Sheikh Yusuf Estes` sermons in Indonesia is organized by Sahabat Dakwah Internasional (SDI) which previously succeeded in presenting international Muslim scholar Dr. Zakir Naik, and Mufti of Perlis Kingdom of Malaysia, Dr. Mohd Asri Zainul Arifin (Dr. Maza) to perform sermons in several cities in the country.
(T.B005/s012)
(T.B005/B/B005/S012)
Reporter: Bambang Purwanto
Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
