Well... came across this again, today, and though it is a bit old.... it is definitely worth a read...
Blog courtesy ... http://gatesofvienna.blogspot.com/2006/04/year-in-umma.html
Today, Bill Gates — who now prefers to go by the name of Abu Mai’saf al-Windaaz — gave up the life he had known to become a Muslim. The wealthy entrepreneur and über-geek left behind the power breakfasts and business suits, moved to Saudi Arabia, and put on a burnoose.
He also answers to the name of Bin Gatees... so as to maintain Business Protocol.
We spoke to the software magnate in his villa, Beta Ri-Lis, on the Red Sea coast not far from Jeddah. We sat on a low couch next to an intricately carved table on a cool terrazzo floor while a ceiling fan turned silently overhead. As we spoke, we drank sweet tea and nibbled on dates and nuts presented by unobtrusive servants.
Q. Tell us about your conversion to Islam. Was it a momentous experience?
A. It certainly was. I was at a conference with some of our software partners in the UAE, and, during the meeting, I noticed the Arab men across the table pointing at my face and whispering.
It turned out that the freckles on my face miraculously formed the words “Allahu Akhbar” in Arabic calligraphy. They showed me in a mirror, and it was true! Then they started telling me about the Qu’ran and the Prophet (peace be upon him), and it all came together in a giant convergence — Allah, my freckles, and me! And now, here I am.
Q. Amazing! What are some of the benefits you have found in your new faith?
A. Well, I guess one of the main things is the prescriptions about women. I’ve always had trouble with… you know, meeting girls, talking to them and so on. But Islam makes it easier, since the women have to cover up and all.
In fact, most of the time you don’t even see them.
Q. And do you find a way to make your faith fit into your business operations?
A. Oh, yes. We’re working with our Dubai partners on the release of a new Islamic software suite called Microsoft Islam 2007. It will have five separate packages, Microsoft Dawa, Microsoft Jihad, Microsoft Hajj, and so on. We’ve got a ways to go yet — we’re working on Virtual Hajj, so that pilgrims won’t have to physically go to Makkah to meet the Hajj specifications. I’m consulting with the Mufti of Makkah to get the application declared halal, so it can aid people in places like Bangladesh.
But not all the bugs have been worked out — we still haven’t perfected the virtual stoning of the devil, for example.
Q. And jihad?
A. Well, I like to think of jihad as the process of getting the bugs out of the spiritual system, both on a personal and umma-wide level.
It’s kind of like optimizing a network — setting the system parameters and protocols, registering the users (in this case, the faithful), establishing permissions, and enforcing restrictions. Think of Allah as the Network Administrator of Islam, with Mohammed (peace be upon him) as his Chief Implementation Engineer.
Q. Is there anything you miss about your old life?
A. Bacon. That’s about it. Wait; there’s also pulled pork barbecue. Oh, and then there’s scrapple. And prosciutto…
Recently the wunderkind of Microsoft has become disenchanted with Islam, and is said to be no longer a follower of the Prophet.
The software magnate is said to be at his new home on the tiny Caribbean island of Santa Melinda, just to the northwest of Aruba. Mr. Gates owns the entire island, and has a sunny villa built on the slopes of Mount Vista, surrounded by lush tropical greenery with a view of the breaking surf below.
Q: Why did you decide to leave Islam?
A: There were several reasons. After I’d been there for a while, I started noticing subtle things I didn’t like. Besides, it was virtually impossible to get a decent broadband connection in Saudi Arabia.
Now a small note to reality-challenged people - Just remember, today is April 1st.
And with due apologies to all Muslims.....this is in no way to hurt anybody's feelings but just to have a good laugh...
Courtesy :
http://gatesofvienna.blogspot.com/2007/04/bill-gates-apostate.html
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