YOU ARE NOW THE BEST PERSON IN THIS ROOM?!

Two days ago I came across a video of someone embracing Islam in one of the biggest masjids in London. After taking Shahadah, one of the teachers said to the new Muslim: “welcome to Islam, you are now the best person in this room.” In this short post we will clarify why this statement is wrong. FIRSTLY: It is true that when a non-Muslim embraces Islam all their previous sins are forgiven. 'Amr ibn Al-'Aas radhiyallahu 'anhu said: “I went to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and said, 'Extend your right hand, so I can pledge allegiance to you.' He (ﷺ) stretched out his right hand, but I withdrew my hand. He said, 'What is the matter, 'Amr?' I said, 'I wish to lay down some conditions.' He asked, 'What conditions do you wish to put forward?' I replied, 'To be granted forgiveness.' He said: ‏أَمَا عَلِمْتَ أَنَّ الإِسْلاَمَ يَهْدِمُ مَا كَانَ قَبْلَهُ 'Did you not know that (embracing) Islam wipes everything that came before it (previous misdeeds).' [Reported by Muslim] NOTE 1: This happens as soon as a non-Muslim embraces Islam. NOTE 2: A Muslim can also have all his previous sins forgiven (major and minor) by one of three means: 1- Sincere repentance [Surah At-Tahrîm: 8] 2- Hijra (migration) 3- Hajj mabroor [The evidence for 2 & 3 is found in the hadeeth of 'Amr above] SECONDLY: it is also true that when a non-Muslim embraces Islam all their previous sins are changed into good deeds. Allah the Almighty said: { إِلَّا مَن تَابَ وَءَامَنَ وَعَمِلَ عَمَلࣰا صَـٰلِحࣰا فَأُو۟لَـٰۤىِٕكَ یُبَدِّلُ ٱللَّهُ سَیِّـَٔاتِهِمۡ حَسَنَـٰتࣲۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَفُورࣰا رَّحِیمࣰا } “As for those who repent, believe, and do good deeds, they are the ones whose evil deeds Allah will change into good deeds. For Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” [Surah Al-Furqân: 70] NOTE 1: This doesn't happen straight away, but only once the non-Muslim begins to perform righteous deeds; as stipulated in the Aayah. NOTE 2: This is not restricted to non-Muslims. If a Muslim repents and performs righteous deeds, he can also attain this virtue. THIRDLY: Islam commands with rushing towards good { سَارِعُوۤا۟ } ”Hasten“ [Surah Âl-`Imrân: 133] {سَابِقُوۤا۟} “Compete with one another” [Surah Al-Hadîd: 21] {فَٱسۡتَبِقُوا۟ ٱلۡخَیۡرَ ٰ⁠تِ} “Race to do good deeds.” [Surah Al-Baqarah: 148] And Islam recognises the excellence of those who rush towards good. In other words, the one who is first to a good act is more excellent (in this regard) than the one who is second, and so on. Allah the Almighty said: {...لَا یَسۡتَوِی مِنكُم مَّنۡ أَنفَقَ مِن قَبۡلِ ٱلۡفَتۡحِ وَقَـٰتَلَۚ أُو۟لَـٰۤىِٕكَ أَعۡظَمُ دَرَجَةࣰ مِّنَ ٱلَّذِینَ أَنفَقُوا۟ مِنۢ بَعۡدُ وَقَـٰتَلُوا۟ۚ...} “Those who gave and fought before the triumph (conquest of Makkah) are not like others: they are greater in rank than those who gave and fought afterwards.” [Surah Al-Hadîd: 10] The Prophet ﷺ said: “Allah sent me (as a Prophet) to you (people) but you said (to me), 'You are lying,' while Abu Bakr said, 'He spoke the truth,' and consoled me with himself and his money.” [Reported by Bukhari from the hadeeth of Abu Ad-Darda'] Also, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “The person who is best versed in the recitation of the Book of Allah, should lead the prayer; but if all those present are equally versed in it, then the one who has most knowledge of the Sunnah; if they are equal in that respect too, then the one who has emigrated (to Al-Madinah) first, if they are equal in this respect also, then the oldest of them...” [Reported by Muslim from the hadeeth of Abu Mas'ud 'Uqbah ibn 'Amr Al-Badri Al-Ansari]. In another narration in Muslim, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "the one who was first to accept Islam” instead of “the oldest of them”