Stories of Muslim Reverts! - Post yours here!

[believer]

:sl:

Brother believer..that was touching story. Subhaanallaah. Allah guides whom He wills. You were sincere in search and you finally found. Hopefully your family havent broken down.

:statisfie I pray so hard about it.... as a matter of fact... my mother is living sepperately from my father now... my brother and sister live their own lives and my sister despices me.... my christian wife is also not happy about my reverssion.... but she tries hard not to show it since I have been a better person ever since... I am away from my family right now for more than a year already due to a project here in Saudi... but I do pray Allah would touch all of them to also discover Islam...

I also realize lately that Islam is a personal journey... each one should take... and that no one can force anyone to embrace it... if Allah wills then no one can stop one from becoming a Muslim.

My Muslim sponsor also told me that I will sepperate or divorce my wife... I really don't know.... and I don't care.... I still don't believe in divorce and if there is going to be one - it will not come from me. I still pray for her and whatever Allah would do to my life.... I will only submit, surrender and obey.

I had another christian lady who wanted me to marry her.... but it seems like she only wanted me and was not really sincere about making a reversion to islam. I asked her to give me a translation of Surrah al Fatihah in her native toungue... since she claimed to be a master of it (the language)... and 3 days went by, she didn't prioritize it and came up with many excuses. I therefore conclude she is not really sincere.

Anyway, I still think sometimes, Sabr is on my menu for these days... I am already happy being a Muslim and I enjoy a life without cares... because it is a fact.... Allah takes care of everything. And I am only focused in my Jihad.... the struggle to keep walking into the straight path. Jihad happens all the time in the hearts and the minds of men... this is the battlefield... within... and we need to pray always so we will be winning all the time against the evil suggestions of shaytan. Alhamdilillah, I am walking under a strong light now than before. :statisfie

Allah Hafiz...

[believer]

believer your reversion is so amazing... Allahu Akbar...

Thank you brother... Allah is more amazing than my story.... I can never thank Allah enough for the mercy and grace he has bestowed upon me.... and I can only seek more to please Allah by being the best in what I do all the time... it also means being vigilant about the enemies of Islam.... meaning.... stopping people from spreading hatred and prejudice to Muslims.... and at the same time, promoting the Truth to the world in any small ways we can. Being in a cyber community is one way. And being in a public service office is another... or even as an industry player is another. We have a duty to Allah and that is to perform our rights and responsibility to our families, neighbors, community and humanity in general.

Allah hafiz!:statisfie

[MuslimahBarb]

:sl:


My reversion story…

I came to know Islam via my husband MustafaMc. In the summer of 2001, he began practicing Islam again so, I watched him pray many of his 5 daily prayers, saw him go through fasting etc. At the time of course I still considered myself to be a Christian. We would discuss Islam and the differences & similarities of the two religions. The more we talked about it, the Islamic faith began to make much more sense to me than the Christian faith that I grew up in. As I began to read as well as continue to discuss things with my husband, I knew in my heart that my beliefs were actually the Islamic faith, not Christianity. Especially the One God that has no partners concept. I realized I saw Jesus as teacher and messenger and it began to make less sense to me that God would have a son. I also had come to believe that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to be the last Messenger of God. As time went by, my faith began to grow more and more and I knew I was on the right path, the path to embracing Islam. In July 2003 in a small Masjid in rural Mississipppi, I took Shahadah, Alhamdullilah!

Salam,
Sister Barb

[believer]

:sl:


My reversion story…



Salam,
Sister Barb

Allhamdulillah sister!!!

MustafaMc is indeed truly blessed!!! And Allah truly has guided you too.... I hope and pray the same thing would happen to my wife... Allah knows best...

May Allah bless you both more and more Good tidings to your family.... Ameen!!!

Hey there! Looks like you're enjoying the discussion, but you're not signed up for an account.

When you create an account, you can participate in the discussions and share your thoughts. You also get notifications, here and via email, whenever new posts are made. And you can like posts and make new friends.
Sign Up

[MuslimahBarb]

Allhamdulillah sister!!!

MustafaMc is indeed truly blessed!!! And Allah truly has guided you too.... I hope and pray the same thing would happen to my wife... Allah knows best...

May Allah bless you both more and more Good tidings to your family.... Ameen!!!

:sl:

Yes Ahki, I feel so blessed that Allah guided both of us to Islam. He first guided my husband and then in turn guided me as well. It is such a wonderful blessing that we share the same religious beliefs. It was such a joyous day for us both when I reverted and took my Shahadah. Insha Allah the same will happen with your wife.

Salam,
Sister Barb

[believer]

:sl:

Y Insha Allah the same will happen with your wife.

Salam,
Sister Barb

Salaam sister!

As I read your post... tears are pushing out of my eyes... Inshaallah... my wife would also see the light that has dawned on you. Thank you for saying such a positive word. ... Jazakallahkeir.

Ameen...

[MuslimahBarb]

Salaam sister!

As I read your post... tears are pushing out of my eyes... Inshaallah... my wife would also see the light that has dawned on you. Thank you for saying such a positive word. ... Jazakallahkeir.

Ameen...

:w:

Salam Akhi, Seeing the light is exactly what happened with me when I embraced Islam. I feel a peace in Islam that I never experienced in years that I held the Christian belief which was a couple or so years shy of 40 years.

Salam,
Sister Barb

[aligzander]

Mashaallah Brother!!!! WELCOME to LI!!!!

please share your Reversion story here in Saudi.... (post it in the Stories of Reversion thread)... It will be interesting to read it.

Salaam bro!

I'm a Christian Catholic by birth, I can not explain and I don't know why on my early age (9 years old) I give-up the religion of my parents. I became an atheist for 20 years. I can say that the Bible lead me to Islam. Early 80's when I got a copy of Bible, and after I read it, I have one question that no one in any Christian sects in the Philippines gave me an acceptable answer.

This is my question ...... "If we (humankind) belong to one man (Adam) and one woman (Hawa), why theres a black, white, brown, red people etc.?"

I remember one Pastor gave me an answer. He said, there's Adam and Eve in America, there's Adam and Eve in Europe, there's Adam and Eve in Africa, there's Adam and Eve in Asia. I'm shocked and speechless while I'm listening to him. After that conversation, I feel very bad and very angry to all Pastor or religious leader in Christianity and because I believe that they are fooling their members.

Before I came here in Saudi Arabia, I already feel and believe that there is only one God, but the problem I don't know Him and I dont' know where and how I can find Him and the true religion.

When I'm already here in Saudi Arabia, I can not explain before why all my friends is Muslim. A Somalian and Yemen nationals. I met their fathers and brothers and I can't believe that they will treat me nicely. All of them told me to accept Islam, but I refuse because they can not explain to me clearly who is Allah and what is Islam.

And then one day, I woke up and I feel that I want to study Islam. I found one Islamic Center here in Jeddah and I join to the class for the new Muslim. I attend 4 weeks in Islamic Center before I finally accept Islam.

Jazakallah alkhair.

[believer]

This is my question ...... "If we (humankind) belong to one man (Adam) and one woman (Hawa), why theres a black, white, brown, red people etc.?"
Jazakallah alkhair.

Alhamdulillah brother.... by the way... what was the answer to your question?... about the different races of humanity?.... I know there is a verse or some verses in the qur'an about it and I have some ideas about it too.... but I am interested to know what did the Iman told you about it. Please shed some light here. Thanks!

Salaam bro!

[aligzander]

Alhamdulillah brother.... by the way... what was the answer to your question?... about the different races of humanity?.... I know there is a verse or some verses in the qur'an about it and I have some ideas about it too.... but I am interested to know what did the Iman told you about it. Please shed some light here. Thanks!

Salaam bro!

Wa 'alaikum salam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.

He is not Imam, he's just a volunteer in Islamic Center. For short, that volunteer in Islamic Center told me that Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) created Adam (عليه السلام) from different kinds (color) of soil.

[niler]

i really love reading revert's stories i find them very very intersting. iget to look at things from differnt angles and learn new stuff which i take 4 granted
thnx alot 4 sharing ur stories. Allah bless u ol!!

[niler]

dear brothers and sisters.
assalamu aleykum.
i hav a vry pressing issue i wnt to discuss. hop u can help me.

i know this girl who is catholic.she happens to have many muslims friends. one day we got talkin and she told me that because of the many muslim friens she has her mom said she was going to embrace islam. but her reply was a NO, She will never embrace islam. i got curious and asked her y. she told me that muslims behaviour was very bad and she cant b part of them.we got talking n i found that the muslim she knew were not ideal muslims (no offense) they go clubbing, date and even commit zinaa, she's even had muslim boyfriends who she says were just intrested in sleeping with her and then dump her. she toked of this family of 3 siblings, they were less than 10 years but subhanaAllah their behaviour leaved a lot 2b desired, they would flirt with ladies passing by, pass sexist comments and use very rude language.i tried telling her that it was all in the upringing, i 4 one do not do that n pride myself in being a good muslim. but it was like shez already come to her conclusion.

i really felt bad after our talk.like wat have we muslims done?it is our responsibillty to give n show gud examples as muslims but this is no longer the case.i really do want to change her perception about muslims.
my muslim sis n bros who r reverts, uv gone through someone telling u abt islam,
how does one react wen out of the blues sam1 tells them abt islam, being the right religion n u believing n knowing yours is the ryt religion?
so how do i go abt it?its like a month now since shez told me
so how do i even broach the subject,
how will she react to wat i say?
and the things that are unislamic that she sees in her muslim frends r still there so how do i convince her its the right religion?
am really so hurt n disapointed.
any suggestions is gladly welcomed n appreciated.

thankyou. wassalamu aleykum

[niler]

a message to my muslim family

assalamu aleykum.
please bros n sisters take heed of wat u doin. it can b the reason one embraces islam or loathes it. n remember wen u guide aperson to the truth every good act the person does u get thawab without diminishing the doer's thawab (prophetic saying)

so take heed and know that ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS!!!

The prophet propagated islam through his actions.there are many instances where people embraced islam after seeing how the prophet behaved..

islam is action..so act good 4 ur the ambassadors of islam.

shukran

[Muslim Woman]

:w:

. she told me that muslims behaviour was very bad and she cant b part of them.

it's really sad that instead of giving dawah , we are driving away non Muslims from Islam :(

pl. tell her to read Quran ..InshaAllah she will understand the beauty of Islam & no matter how bad some Muslims are , she will accept Islam :)

[Woodrow]

:w:



it's really sad that instead of giving dawah , we are driving away non Muslims from Islam :(

pl. tell her to read Quran ..InshaAllah she will understand the beauty of Islam & no matter how bad some Muslims are , she will accept Islam :)

:w:

Very true. at anytime our post can be the only view of Islam a non-Muslim may ever see. we need to be aware everytime we post, that our words may be the only thing somebody learns of Islam.

[jouju]

alykum to u all...
Thanks soo much fo sharing ur stories with us......Quite touching!!!
I have always been curious about revert stories, actually more about wat interests u in islaam esp now dat we r being branded terrorists.Shukraan jaziila
Allahumma inna nas'alukal hudaa wattuqaa wal 'afaafa wal ghinaa

[aqsakhan]

MASHAHALLAH
Allah is great ALLAH HU AKBAR
he no doubt show's the light to one he wants i m really glad to read these real stories. Subhanallah

[Muslim Woman]

:sl:

Splitting of the Moon , an Amazing Story




In a TV interview with the Egyptian Geologist Dr. Zaghloul Annajar, the anchor asked him about the verse:

"The Hour has drawn near,and the moon has been cleft asunder (the people of Makkah requested Prophet Muhammad [PBUH] to show them a miracle, so he showed them the splitting of the moon)." (Quran 54:1) whether it contains any Quranic scientific astounding facts?



.......................Dr. Najjar continued that at this point a British Muslim young man introduced himself as Daoud Moussa Peetcock head of the British Islamic Party.



He carried on saying sir if you allow me I would like to add on this issue? I said please do.




He explained saying: At the time when I was searching in religions (before he embraced Islam), a Muslim student gave me as a present the translation of the meaning of Quran.



I thanked him and took it home. The first Surat I came across when I opened the book, it was Chapter of the Moon I read "has drawn near, and the moon has been cleft asunder". I said to myself, is this statement logical? Is it possible for the moon to split and then reattach what kind of power may cause this?




The man explained that this verse made me reluctant to continue reading. I became busy with my life,yet ALLAH of course Knows how sincere I was about finding the truth.

So,one day ALLAH made me sit to watch TV. It was a talk show between a British commentator and three American astronautics specialists. The show host was blaming the scientists for spending thriftily over space trips at a time when earth is suffering hunger,poverty, diseases and backwardness.



He was telling them, it would have been more feasible to allocate this kind of money for reconstruction of earth. To this argument, the three men answered defending their position that such technology is widely applied in many wakes of life such as medicine, industry and agriculture. They added that the money is never wasted but it rather supported the development of highly advanced technology.

During their dialogue, they mentioned the trip in which a man landed on the moon surface as it consumes the the largest cost which comes to more than US $100.000.000.000.



The British TV anchor screamed saying what kind of thrift is this? A hundred thousand million dollars just to plant the American flag on the moon surface? They answered no; the objective was not to plant the American flag but rather to study the interior composition of the moon. We actually came to a finding that would cost us double folds of this amount for people to believe and yet they will never believe.




The show host inquired what is this fact? They replied: One day this moon was split and then reattached. The show host again probed: how did you realize that? The scientists responded about finding a belt of transformed rocks cutting the moon from its surface to core and then to the surface again. The stated saying: we consulted with earth scientists and geologists who explained that such phenomenon would never occur unless this moon one day split and then reattached.

The British Muslim man said: I jumped out of my chair saying ALLAH (SWT) forced the Americans to spend more than a hundred billion dollars to prove to Muslims a a miracle that took place 1400 years ago for Mohamed (PBUH)? This religion must be the truth.


He added: I went back to the Quran and recited Surat Al Qamar, which was my gate for accepting Islam.




http://www.islamcan.com/cgi-bin/incr...39613112.shtml

[niler]

I have a bizzare concept of soon.


funny fishman

[moslema4ever]

Assalamu Alaikom sisters and brothers

I thought I could share my story and journey to Islam, after reading all these wonderful stories, mashallah.

I reverted to islam about a year ago. That's when I said "La illaaha illa Allah..." for the first time. Couple years ago I meet this guy, he is a muslim, and we became friends. We were talking pretty much about religions, because I was christian ( actually a Lutheran ) and he is Muslim. We got to know each other better and better, and of course I had those silly stereotypes in my head about islam. But he told me about Islam and at one point I noticed that I prefer to listen to what he is telling me about Islam, than to attend any kind of christian ceremonies, or even talk about religion with my friends. And I started questioning christianity and I started asking the priest questions which meant a lot to me, but I got only one answer: "You just have to believe !".. At first I was so surprised, because I had been a "true christian" for quite a time, although I am so young (17 when reverting to Islam). And I was actually paniced that "how can I think this way?" and I was thinking like "oh I can't think this way, this is wrong, I'm a christian". But no, only those thoughts were wrong. I had the right feeling : I should become a muslim.

I prayed and asked for guidance and help, to know what I really want, and what I really should do. And right after I had prayed that, my cellphone rang, and it was him, the guy who introduced Islam to me. After the phonecall, I just sat on my bed and cried because I felt so good, and relieved. Then I went to watch the full moon from my window, and I noticed that it was snowing,and Subhan'Allah it was so beautiful. I will never forget the moment.
It may not sound so special to others, but for me the phonecall was a sign that I should become a muslim. And I did. It was the best feeling I have ever had,and I felt so happy and safe and reliefed at the same time. I told about my decision to this muslim guy the next day, and he was so happy and he told me what I should do. And here I am! I have been a muslim for months already! I have learned so much but I still have more and more to learn.

My parents didn't take it so well at first, but now they have accpeted it and my mom have even asked things about Islam. My father is an orthodox and my mother is a Lutheran, but they don't attend christians seremonies much, only in funerals or weddings and so on. Still religion is important to my father mostly because it's "a tradition" in his mind.
Subhan'Allah I am now engaged to the person who told me about islam, and insha'Allah we will get married.
My life has already turned into a better one after reverting. And I am so happy that all of these things happened to me.

I live in a small city in the middle of nowhere and as far as I know, there is only one muslim family here. I have seen them once, and I'd really love to talk with them, but I don't know where they live and I never see them anywhere. Insha'Allah I will be able to talk with them soon. All my friends are christians, the closest masjid is about 100 kilometres away from me and the closest muslimah I know, lives hundreds of kilometres away from me. Still I don't feel alone at all, I keep in touch with my wonderful sisters in Islam via Internet and phone. I love Islam, it's the most important thing to me. All I want is to do the right thing and to live my life in the right way.

May Allah guide all the people towards Islam, ameen.

[crayon]

I've been reading this thread for the past 3 hours.
Each story I read is more beautiful than the one before it.

May Allah guide us all to the right path, both the reverts and converts, inshallah ameen.

[abdulrahman114]

Assalaamu alaykum,

I became Muslim about a year ago, mash'allah. Since I was 15, now 23, I've been searching for a religion. I started out messing with the occult. But then I moved on to other religions in high school and after. Christianity, Judaism, Sikhism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, whatever, I've probably been there. After coming to Islam, alhamdulillah, I've been at peace and life has been so much better. The prayer was very daunting at first, but now it is easy. I'm still memorising some of it, but I enjoy praying 5 times a day. Fasting was no problem at all as I had practiced that before. On a side note yesterday I got my first miswak and I love it :D. If you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail me abdulrahman114@gmail.com because I won't be re-checking this thread. I guess since I don't have 50 posts I can't reply to any private messages...so...I guess just email me insha'Allah.

Wassalaam,

Abdul-Rahman

[umar113]

wow, these are pretty interesting stories.

[IbnAbdulHakim]

How Abu Muhammad Abdullah Bin Abdullah (Al-Tarjuman)
The Majorcan became a Muslim
By: Abul-Farag Ibn Ahmad



a)An ex-priest, Anselm Tormeeda.
b)The greatest Christian scholar (during) the 14th century.
c)The author of "The Gift to the Intelligent for Refuting the Arguments of the Christians".

please someone let me know where i can find this book?

Assalamu Alaikum

[Muslim Woman]

:w:

Assalaamu alaykum,

I became Muslim about a year ago, mash'allah.
Abdul-Rahman

is it ok if i share ur story in other forum ???

oh no , u r not reading this ?? :(

[MuslimahBarb]

MashaAllah!! I always enjoy reading of how others came to embrace Islam.

[Muslim Woman]

:sl:


video

In the Hyde Park



Why Abdul Raheem Green Came to Islam ?

http://www.everymuslim.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=708&Item id=58

[kwolney01]

This really isn't my full conversion story, because I haven't converted yet. But I thought it would be good to post something I wrote a couple of weeks ago reflecting on my life and what I have been through.


Reflections

Over the past two years I’ve learned a great deal about myself and life in general. I use to be so immature thinking I was “in love” when really I wasn’t. I would have never thought that I would say that. The reason why is because I was young, and immature. Believing that I was in love with someone who was in jail for something really stupid. I use to think me and him were “forever” its so funny how things change so fast. You would never think you’re whole life could change so drastically. From getting D’s and F’s in high school, to receiving A’s and B’s in college. Knowing that you can achieve more than you ever thought you could. I must have skipped school a hundred times, smoked, and drank alcohol. I use to think all of that was so fun to do, because everyone I was hanging with was going it along with me. I have learned that you can accomplish things you may not have even thought of doing, or even believed you could. I have learned not to take life for granted and to not let what others think or say about you get in your way. I have learned not to let someone else’s opinions stop me from achieving my dreams. I have learned that you must forgive others for their mistakes if you want to be forgiven for yours.
Finding Islam has changed my life completely. I no longer skip school, smoke, or drink. I stopped doing that almost immediately after realizing that Islam was the truth. To my surprise it wasn’t that hard giving up my old ways. They were getting pretty boring and old anyways. The first exposure I had to Islam was in my freshmen year of high school. A lot of my friends were Muslim. From time to time I would find myself asking them questions about Islam and learning more and more about it. After leaving that high school and most of my Muslim friends I really didn’t think about Islam anymore. I still smoke, drank, and skipped class. I never really started thinking about Islam until I met Asif. Meeting Asif has changed my life entirely. When I first started talking to Asif I was still doing all the same things; I was in my junior year of high school then. When we first started talking we were just friends. I was still at that time thinking I was “in love” with Matt aka Direct Tv. As Asif and I started talking more and more we became closer. We started talking more and more each day talking about everything from A to Z. As we grew closer I started to have feelings for him and we eventually started talking on the phone instead of only over the internet. While talking we started talking about religion he said he was Muslim. He started telling me more about the religion during this time it was Ramadan of 2005. Ramadan was probably the main thing that got me talking I started telling him what I knew about Islam, and he answered my questions. As time went on I continued to research Islam on my own. I started learned so many things it was all just so great. I was getting so into it. Asif and I would talk more and more. It was a relief to talk religion with someone my age. Most people either don’t want to talk about it, or feel like talking about religion will start debates. None of that happened with Asif and me. As I started learning more I started to feel like I had found something special. (Yes, in you too Asif!) Everything made since to me, there was no confusion. Asif gave me a Qur’an and I started to read it and found everything I had been looking for. Any question I had was answered almost right away in the Qur’an. I knew after reading the Qur’an that Islam was the truth.
As for right now, I’m working on telling my mom more about it. I intend to convert sometime soon. Sometimes I wish I could just convert right now, but I know I need to let my mom know first. I continue to tell my mom more and more about Islam. Almost my whole family is Catholic; most of them do not practice it though. I have started to slowly learn how to pray. I know I don’t pray as much as I should. I have no excuses for that, I guess maybe that’s just my laziness coming out. I have a lot more to learn and I look forward to learning everything I can. Right now I’m trying to find a way to tell my mom that I plan on converting to Islam. It has been hard for me to talk to her about it, since she isn’t very religious in the first place. I find myself telling her things about Christianity that she doesn’t know herself. After I convert I hope to share my story with more people. I don’t want people to get the wrong idea about my conversion. I hope nobody thinks I’m converting because of Asif. I would NEVER do something this drastic to be with someone. This is for me, and no one else. Islam has brought me peace, and I am so thankfully to God for showing me the truth!! Islam has turned me into a much better person, without Islam I would still be ruining my life with dumb actions. I continue to struggle on some things to this day, but my belief in God will make me stronger, and I will continue to become a better person each day.

[Muslim Woman]

Salaam/peace;

... I wish I could just convert right now, but I know I need to let my mom know first.

no sis , it's not a must to tell mom first .

IF you are sure that Islam is the Truth , then you must not delay to be a Muslim.

Also , you must not spend time with opposite sex . You may learn about Islam from sisters or read Quran with translation or ask here in the forum . Spend with a specific person alone may lead you to commit sin ( may Allah
forbid ).


Hope to welcome you to Islam soon :)
may Allah make it easy for you

[Muslim Woman]

:sl:

• Haunted by Werewolves (Part 1)

You might imagine you're about to read a review on a horror movie, but what Maryam is to tell us is a true story from life...


http://www.readingislam.com/servlet/...lam/DIESection

[Muslim Woman]

:sl:

Yusuf Islam in his latest TV interview with the ex-BBC Director Alan Yentob.

A recent Video which was made earlier this year.


They Discuss Yusuf's Life and how he came from being Cat Steven World Famous Popstar to him finding Islam.



Also interviewing his brother and they speak about their family life. They come across as a very close family.




It is one of the best documentaries about Yusuf Islam around. So please do watch it.



http://www.turntoislam.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17





http://www.turntoislam.com/

[teen-omar]

mashallah, i always love to read stories of how people revert
just shows how merciful allah is to those who search for the truth
wassalam

[rose_petal]

mashallah amazing to jus read stories. its a real booster and welcome to the new ummah family, all reverts broz n sistaz.

[Muslim Woman]

:sl:


From Catholicism to Islam
By Angela Collins


Related Links

• US Mayor Embraces Islam
• An American Mormon's Journey to Islam
• An American Police Officer Discovers Islam
• An American Teenager Discovers Islam
• American Performing Artist Discovers Islam
• Canadian Catholic Discovers Islam

http://www.readingislam.com/servlet/...am%2FDIELayout

[iliketosmile99]

I converted to Islam when I was fifteen. I was never raised in a particular religion, but I had always, even when I was tiny, believed in a God. I just didn't know which one. For a long time, I considered myself a neo-Pagan with Islamic influences, but I felt very uneasy with my spirituality right before I converted.

There are a number of reasons why I felt as though my spirituality was not in a good place. I was into drugs, alcahol, sex... You name it, I did it. I was also raped when I was fourteen on my high school grounds, and the attacker only got a five day suspension from school (this not only included the attack, but that he had smoked marijuana on school grounds), so I still saw him every day after that, and I still see him twice a week (I changed schools, but we live in the same town). Obviously, after I was raped, the amount of substances in my body shot sky high. Not only this, but I was very depressed. I ended up starving myself for a time, and I lost twenty pounds. I was already thin, too, so at this point, I was just a stick.

I convinced myself that there were no good people in the world and that God did not care about me anymore. But, that all started to change about eight months before I converted. I had a dance teacher at that time who started to notice my deteriorating body. Everyday before I went to her class, she would show up early, because I always did too, with a box of pizza that she forced me to eat. Slowly, my dance teacher got my appetite back. With my appetite came self-confidence, happiness, and in a way clarity. Before my dance teacher got me eating, I didn't want to do anything. I didn't even want to think, or grow intellectually. But now, I'm the top student in my class. As I slowly healed, I thought that maybe, in fact, God did still care about me.

At that point, I went on a journey to find my spirituality. Since I was already familiar with Islam, I decided to start there. I read the Qur'an cover to cover, and read many informative books about Islam. I visited a Mosque for the first time with a Muslim friend of mine. Everything about Islam gave me such a sense of peace. After reading the Qur'an every night, I could fall asleep in a wink, and when I learned to pray for the first time, I felt so good, almost accomplished. Everything about Islam gave me a warm feeling in my tummy, and I didn't want the feeling to leave. So, I became a Muslima.

[Güven]

I converted to Islam when I was fifteen. I was never raised in a particular religion, but I had always, even when I was tiny, believed in a God. I just didn't know which one. For a long time, I considered myself a neo-Pagan with Islamic influences, but I felt very uneasy with my spirituality right before I converted.

There are a number of reasons why I felt as though my spirituality was not in a good place. I was into drugs, alcahol, sex... You name it, I did it. I was also raped when I was fourteen on my high school grounds, and the attacker only got a five day suspension from school (this not only included the attack, but that he had smoked marijuana on school grounds), so I still saw him every day after that, and I still see him twice a week (I changed schools, but we live in the same town). Obviously, after I was raped, the amount of substances in my body shot sky high. Not only this, but I was very depressed. I ended up starving myself for a time, and I lost twenty pounds. I was already thin, too, so at this point, I was just a stick.

I convinced myself that there were no good people in the world and that God did not care about me anymore. But, that all started to change about eight months before I converted. I had a dance teacher at that time who started to notice my deteriorating body. Everyday before I went to her class, she would show up early, because I always did too, with a box of pizza that she forced me to eat. Slowly, my dance teacher got my appetite back. With my appetite came self-confidence, happiness, and in a way clarity. Before my dance teacher got me eating, I didn't want to do anything. I didn't even want to think, or grow intellectually. But now, I'm the top student in my class. As I slowly healed, I thought that maybe, in fact, God did still care about me.

At that point, I went on a journey to find my spirituality. Since I was already familiar with Islam, I decided to start there. I read the Qur'an cover to cover, and read many informative books about Islam. I visited a Mosque for the first time with a Muslim friend of mine. Everything about Islam gave me such a sense of peace. After reading the Qur'an every night, I could fall asleep in a wink, and when I learned to pray for the first time, I felt so good, almost accomplished. Everything about Islam gave me a warm feeling in my tummy, and I didn't want the feeling to leave. So, I became a Muslima.

Awful Past you have Sis But that doesnt matter anymore you have found The Light and may Allah bless you with good and happiness in this life and the hereafter ameeeen :)

( PS. and Sis, I see that you like to smile, So smile:D)

[MKE Brother]

My story is far over due.

Grew up in Iowa on the usual Iowa farm. A Catholic upbringing...let me change that, a VERY Catholic upbringing. The area is/was about 95% Catholic. Attended Catholic school right through 8th grade.

You get the point.

As I grew up and matured I had a growing feeling of unease and distrust in the religion that had been thrust so heavily upon me. Call it the feeling that something just wasn't right.

Forward into my 20's when I shed the whole idea of religion. With Christianity and more specifically Catholicism simply not something I could be a true believer in it was my only choice given my surroundings in small town America. Did my lack of faith and religion cause issues. When I look back on a failed marriage in my 20's I say "yes", that a strong faith would have helped me through tough times but one cannot dwell on that.

Fast forward to my 30's and moving out of small town America. I met my now very loving wife and we have a combined (she was also previously married) six children whom are my pride and joy. I slowly was introduced to Islam. I guess you could say that I was slowly "drawn" to Islam. It fell within my belief strusture, simply put, it all made sense to me in a way that Christianity never did in two decades.

My family back in small town America were not thrilled....at all. I had some difficult times, lack of acceptance, etc. It was very difficult for me. I found strength after some time in someone I call my "mentor" who I met at our masjid.

When going back home I get the strange looks, people wondering what is up with the local looking guy but who is sporting a pseudo-beard and the, as someone said, "one of those Muslim lookin' hats". "For the record it is called a skull cap or kufi" was my reply. Some people ask, being intrigued. Anything I can do to educate people I do, but it isn't always accepted.

So that is my much abbreviated story.

Assalamu Alaikum to you all and thank you for reading

[i_m_tipu]

At that point, I went on a journey to find my spirituality....

It was very difficult for me. I found strength after some time in someone I call my "mentor" who I met at our masjid.....

:salamext:

There r so many journey we made
There r so many taste we take
There r so many thing we see
There r so many thing we dream
So many....

But when we got sick & tired of our self. We want so badly some place to sit and take rest with peace.

[Souljette]

Subhanallah amazing stories ...keep striving brothers and sister

[Muslim Woman]

:sl:

For the First Time in My life, I knew the Truth

Scott Lynch

Taylors, South Carolina USA
lynch_scott1@centerpartners.com

12/12/2002



I converted to Islam about 21 months ago. My journey to Islam was a long one that spanned over more than 2 decades.


ALL-AMERICAN BOY



Allah is a permanent reality that works in the lives of those who hear His message. Not having a personal relationship with my Creator tugged at my heart and mind for nearly two decades.

Then, I discovered Islam. I would not be considered in the West as a stereotypical Muslim. I believe the popular Western stereotype of a Muslim male is something like the following: dark skin, dark hair, bearded, Middle-Eastern or Asian descent, dressed in modest clothing and possibly a head covering.


No, I’m the complete opposite of this. I am in many ways the epitome of the “all-American boy”: blond-hair, blue-eyed, corn-fed Protestant/Christian background.



However, Islam and Muslims take on many faces, many backgrounds, many cultures, many nationalities and many tongues. Our family moved a few times in my youth, but my world was limited to the heart of the “Bible-belt” in Augusta, GA, and Spartanburg and Greenville, SC—all fairly large communities, but all offered little in religious diversity. I had normal, loving, God-fearing parents—they are still happily married today after more than 30 years—and one younger brother.




I grew up as a “PK” (for those of you outside of Protestant Christianity, I was a “preacher’s kid”). My father was a Southern Baptist minister for more than 25 years.



As you can imagine, for the first 18 years of my life, I attended church every Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday night and any number of other nights that the church lights were on. I grew up believing in God and Jesus, or, should I say, fearing God and Jesus. Like most adolescents, I was afraid not to believe in the religion of my parents. However, something was wrong.

I can recall thinking, even at age 10, “this Jesus’ story just doesn’t make sense to me.” Even at this young age, I didn’t accept the divinity of Jesus and the notion of Christian salvation (i.e., Jesus dying for my sins). As all my church friends were getting saved, baptized and confirmed during their pre-teen and teenage years (this all seemed like more of a rite of passage than a sincere decision for most, or just the popular thing to do), I quietly sat in the church pews questioning the fundamentals of Christian theology. My parents, my church-friends and the various churches my father pastored throughout my childhood all prayed for my salvation.

Then, one Sunday night, I sub-came to the pressure. I was 12 years old and my family was at the First Baptist Church of North Spartanburg (in Spartanburg, South Carolina). After a fiery sermon, which obviously moved a lot of people, my father came to me and said, “Son, do you want to ask Jesus into your heart? It’s about time you do so.” Tired of all the solicitations, tired of all the “Scott, we’re praying for you,” tired of always feeling like the one who didn’t belong, I lied to my father and said, “Yes POPS.”

That night, I repeated after my father and supposedly accepted Jesus into my heart. I was presented to the church as a new Christian, baptized and immediately became part of the Christian community; although, I was very empty inside. For the next 5 years, I put on the charade of a good preacher’s kid.

I attended Bible studies, went on summer mission trips and even had a couple “saves” (individuals becoming Christian) contributed to me. This was all under the veil of a big lie—that night when I was 12 years old, the night that I supposedly became a Christian myself—I never asked Jesus in my heart.


True, I went through the motions, but it meant nothing to me.

full story here
http://www.islamonline.net/english/journey/jour39.shtml

['Abd al-Baari]

Assalamu Alaykum Warahmatullahi Wabarakaatuh,

An article written by Noor, an overseas student from India who came to study in a British university and accepted Islam following her experiences in Western social culture:

I came from a purely Hindu family where we were always taught to regard ourselves (i.e. women) as beings who were eventually to be married off and have children and serve the husband–whether he was kind or not. Other than this I found that there were a lot of things which really oppressed women, such as:

If a woman was widowed, she would always have to wear a white sari (costume), eat vegetarian meals, cut her hair short, and never re-marry.
The bride always had to pay the dowry (bridal money) to the husband’s family. And the husband could ask for anything, irrespective of whether the bride would have difficulty giving it. Not only that, if after marriage she was not able to pay the full dowry she would be both emotionally and physically tortured, and could end up being a victim of “kitchen death” where the husband, or both the mother-in-law and the husband try to set fire to the wife while she is cooking or is in the kitchen, and try to make it look like an accidental death. More and more of these instances are taking place. The daughter of a friend of my own father’s had the same fate last year!
The “caste” system, where women of lower caste are treated badly.
In addition to all this, men in Hinduism are treated literally as among the gods. In one of the religious Hindu celebration, unmarried girls pray for and worship an idol representing a particular god (Shira) so that they may have husbands like him. Even my own mother had asked me to do this. This made me see that the Hindu religion which is based on superstitions and things that have no manifest proof , but were merely traditions which oppressed women could not be right.Subsequently, when I came to England to study, I thought that at least this is a country which gives equal rights to men and women, and does not oppress them. We all have the freedom to do as we like, I thought. Well, as I started to meet people and make new friends, learn about this new society, and go to all the places my friends went to in order to “socialise” (bars, dance halls, …etc.), I realised that this “equality” was not so true in practice as it was in theory.

Outwardly, women were seen to be given equal rights in education, work, and so forth, but in reality women were still oppressed in a different, more subtle way. When I went with my friends to those places they hung out at, I found everybody interested to talk to me and I thought that was normal. But it was only later that I realised how naive I was, and recognised what these people were really looking for. I soon began to feel uncomfortable, as if I was not myself: I had to dress in a certain way so that people would like me, and had to talk in a certain way to please them. I soon found that I was feeling more and more uncomfortable, less and less myself, yet I could not get out.

Everybody was saying they were enjoying themselves, but I don’t call this enjoying. I think women in this way of life are oppressed; they have to dress in a certain way in order to please and appear more appealing, and also talk in a certain way so people like them.

During this time I had not thought about Islam, even though I had some Muslim acquaintances. But I felt I really had to do something, to find something that I would be happy and secure with, and would feel respected with. Something to believe in that is the right belief, because everybody has a belief that they live according to. If having fun by getting off with other people is someone’s belief, they do this. If making money is someone’s belief, they do everything to achieve this. If they believe drinking is one way to enjoy life then they do it. But I feel all this leads to nowhere; no one is truly satisfied, and the respect women are looking for is diminishing in this way.

In these days of so called “society of equal rights”, you are expected to have a boyfriend (or you’re weird!) and to not be a virgin. So this is a form of oppression even though some women do not realise it.

When I came to Islam, it was obvious that I had finally found permanent security. A religion, a belief that was so complete and clear in every aspect of life. Many people have a misconception that Islam is an oppressive religion, where women are covered from head to toe, and are not allowed any freedom or rights. In fact, women in Islam are given more rights, and have been for the past 1400 years, compared to the only-recently rights given to non-Muslim women in some western and some other societies. But there are, even now, societies where women are still oppressed, as I mentioned earlier in relation to Hindu women.

Muslim women have the right to inheritance. They have the right to run their own trade and business. They have the full right to ownership, property, disposal over their wealth to which the husband has no right. They have the right to education, a right to refuse marriage as long as this refusal is according to reasonable and justifiable grounds.

The Quran itself, which is the word of Allah, contains many verses commanding men to be kind to their wives and stressing the rights of women.

Islam gives the right set of rules, because they are NOT made by men, but made by Allah; hence it is a perfect religion.

Quite often Muslim women are asked why they are covered from head to toe, and are told that this is oppression–it is not. In Islam, marriage is an important part of life, the making of the society. Therefore, a woman should not go around showing herself to everybody, only for her husband. Even the man is not allowed to show certain parts of his body to none but his wife. In addition, Allah has commanded Muslim women to cover themselves for their modesty:

“O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their Jilbaabs (outer garments) over their bodies (when outdoors). That is most convenient that they could be known as such (i.e. decent and chaste) and not molested.” (Quran 33:59)

If we look around at any other society, we find that in the majority of cases women are attacked and molested because of how they are dressed.

Another point I’d like to comment on is that the rules and regulation laid down in Islam by Allah (God) do not apply just to women but to men also. There is no intermingling and free-running between men and women for the benefit of both. Whatever Allah commands is right, wholesome, pure and beneficial to mankind; there is no doubt about that. A verse in the Quran explains this concept clearly:

“Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and protect their private parts (from indecency, illegal sexual acts). That will make for greater purity for them. And Allah is well aware of what they do. And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and protect their privaate parts (from indecency, illegal sexual intercourse). That they should not display their beauty and ornaments except that which is apparent thereof …” (Quran, surah “Al-Nur” 24:31)

When I put on my hijaab (veil), I was really happy to do it. In fact, I really want to do it. When I put on the hijaab, I felt a great sense of satisfaction and happiness. Satisfied that I had obeyed Allah’s command. And happy with the good and blessings that come with it. I have felt secure and protected. In fact people respect me more for it. I could really see the difference in behaviour towards me.

Finally, I’d like to say that I had accepted Islam not blindly, or under any compulsion. In the Quran itself there is a verse which says “there is no compulsion in religion” . I accepted Islam with conviction. I have seen, been there, done that, and seen both sides of the story. I know and have experienced what the other side is like, and I know that I have done the right thing.

Islam does not oppress women, but rather Islam liberates them and gives them the respect they deserve. Islam is the religion Allah has chosen for the whole of mankind. Those who accept it are truly liberated from the chains and shackles of mankind whose ruling and legislating necessitates nothing but the oppression of one group by another and the exploitation and oppression of one sex by the other. This is not the case of Islam which truly liberated women and gave them an individuality not given by any other authority.

Source

WaAlaykumus Salaam Warahmatullahi Wabarakaatuh :)

[Souljette]

WOW mashallah that was a good story Jazakallah khair

[Muslim Woman]

:sl:



Belgian Convert Day *



By Eva Vergaelen Freelance Writer







Eva Vergaelen lives in both Egypt and Belgium and works as a freelance journalist, with special interest in gender politics and identity.


She wrote a book on female immigrants in Belgium. Eva studied African culture and obtained a master's in governance and development. She embraced Islam in 2004.



The first Belgian day for converts took place on Sunday March 4, 2007.


More than 700 people joined the workshops and lectures. In the Imam Bukhari mosque in Antwerp, 500 women and 200 men gathered in two gender-separated places.

Al-Minara (an organization that informs and supports new female converts) organized the Convert Day for women, and De-Koepel (an organization that informs and supports new male converts)organized the activities for men.

This is an interview with Aisha Cindy Raes and Karolien Mus, president and vice president of Al-Minara respectively.



http://www.readingislam.com/servlet/...am%2FDIELayout

[Souljette]

WOW thts so cool

[TabTabiun]

Asalaamu Aleykum Brothers and Sisters. Since my conversion, I have had so many people ask me to write down my account, so I think that right now is the time. As with many reverts, something happened in my old life that led me to where I am now. When I was in high school, in history class we were all assigned a religion to study, and the religion that my group picked was Islam. I found it very interesting and I really got involved in the project, but after it was over, I forgot most of it. From time to time I remember hearing about Islam from my mom (she loves Cat Stevens, and I remember her telling me about his conversion.) I was brought up in a family that is very open minded and never attached judgment to any of these things. I was baptized into the Catholic Church when I was eight years old because my parents thought that religion would help give some form of stability to my family. My parents were Christians one day a week at best, and never really impressed religion beyond what we learned in church upon us. My senior year in high school I started my search for religion. I became a devoted Christian going to a different church every Sunday, and going to Bible study. I went to Nicaragua the previous summer on a mission trip, but while there found a verse in 1Timothy that had me angry with God for days. Going to Nicaragua made me more convinced that Christianity is used as a coping tool because with out it, the people would not have the hope to survive. I attended more than 15 different denominational churches in my search for God.
I study religion because I am able to see the part that it plays in the lives of individuals, but I never felt fulfilled. The more I learned, the more questions were being raised for me, and the more and more unsatisfied I felt. I ignored these feelings and came to a Catholic College, and became active in the Campus ministry. It was at college that I met Muslim sisters that began to teach me about Islam. Looking back, I was so ignorant, and they were so patient, teaching me over and over. My friend went back and looked at our first conversation and laughs at some stupid things I said. I remember not being able to say the whole greeting, and then how happy I was when I realized that I could say it correctly. My Muslim sisters I met gave me websites and people to talk to about Islam, and through these people I learned more and more.
I never intended to convert. I still was misinformed about the roles of Women in Islam. Because of what I read and because of the media, I did see them as silent and subservient. I had my eyes open when I met some wonderful Muslim sisters. When I saw a Sister pray I knew that I wanted to convert. It was so beautiful and fluid, and I could feel the closeness with God. I kept telling people I didn't want to convert but when the fact that I believed Shahadah was pointed out to me; I couldn't stop thinking about religion. All day in my classes, before I slept, all my time awake I studied Islam and kept questioning why I was here on this earth. I came to the realization that it was to worship Allah. I took Shahadah in my heart long before I took it with witnesses. When I was put on the phone with someone that pointed out that I believed in Islam, it was then I cried. I cried because I realized that my life was about to change, and I couldn't ignore it. I was scared to go to the masjid to say Shahadah so I put it off. When I did go, I was so nervous. It was a fun experience for me to go to the masjid though. Someone even took my flip-flops to make wudu. In the following months, I have faced a lot of difficulties and obstacles in my faith. I hope to InshaAllah learn more about Islam everyday, and have my eyes opened more and more everyday. Thank you to all of the wonderful brothers and sisters that have helped me on my journey...and my I grow closer everyday to the relationship that Allah wants me to have with HIM.
Part two:

Sometimes I think that living in IN ruined me. It makes me care what other people through of me, too much, and it didn’t expose me to as many cultures and religions as I would like to have been exposed to. My grandfather is a Catholic priest and more than anything else in my life, I fear his finding out that I converted. I was at one time completely encompassed by fear about what my parents would think. Even before I converted I was so incredibly afraid of what other people would and will think about my conversion. I spend hours explaining Islam to people and dispelling their unguided incorrect information, but never tell them that, I am in fact a Muslim. I don’t look like a stereotypical Muslim. I am white, with light brown hair and blue eyes, and I look like a good little American Christian girl. I don’t wear hijab; once again for my fear of people paying me undo interest. I remember going to the masjid and I have to walk about half a mile from the train station, and being terrified because I put hijab on and was afraid that someone was going to do something to me while I was walking to the masjid. Nothing happened though, and I am starting to realize that all of my fears from living around close-minded people aren’t necessary here. People in this area are used to seeing women in hijab. People in Indiana would think that I’m a nun. I am very picky with the people I tell that I’m Muslim. It took a month and a half and there are still a couple people in my office that don’t know I’m Muslim. When it came to finding a Muslim for a speaking engagement though, guess who they looked to J me…..hahaha that was rather interesting.
Anyways though this was supposed to be about my telling my parents! I went home about three weeks ago, and I knew that I had to tell them. It was eating me up inside. I didn’t eat for three days before I went home, and I was just so incredibly nervous. I was having panic attacks and alternating between sleeping all the time and not sleeping at all, and it was all I could think about when I was awake, and when I was asleep I was dreaming of the worst-case scenario. It really wasn’t a good situation. People kept telling me, either, don’t tell them, or trust God.
After I returned home, I was making a grilled cheese sandwich and my mother said something, I can’t remember what having to do with religion and looking into ‘Muslim’. I first couldn’t believe that she already knew I was looking into Islam and secondly couldn’t believe how uninformed about Islam she was. I told her not to tell my dad, so of course she leans over and yells out the window ‘hey John, I have something to tell you’. He comes over and is like ‘what’? My mom says in all her glory ‘your daughter is studying Muslim’ ….I about died, but I replied ‘Islam mom, its Islam.’ “Oh…she’s studying Islam then’. My father’s response was… “Where did you want to me to plant this?” I almost died with relief.
When I went to pray my mom wanted to see my hijab and all of my Islamic paraphernalia that I had cleverly hidden in a backpack. I showed her and she was moderately interested. See, my parents have always taught my brother and I to be the most open minded, kind, charitable people that we are able to be, to ignore the chains of modern society and be our own person. Because of this, my mother now has a Wiccan son and a Muslim daughter. I think she is quite happy.
While at home, my mother was making mac and cheese with ham in it and I explained that I didn’t eat ham and explained why. She the proceeded to make me my own little batch with no ham in it. When I left, I left her a book to read and that she did read and apparently took to heart. See, I am convinced that my mother would be a wonderful Muslim. After reading my book, she says out of solidarity with me, she stopped eating pork or anything containing pork products. The one thing is that she forgot to tell me this lol. I found out through my moms friend. I was completely shocked. My mother loved ham and all that stuff, and I cried because I realized that moment how much my mother loved me and would always support me, unless I became a Republican. That would seriously be the only way to get disowned in my family. Anyways, inshaAllah I can show my mother the way, and she can become a Muslim. I know that it’s in her heart, and I can show her the path. Salaam Aleykum brothers and sisters. Thank you for your support
Please e-mail me with any comments because it will take a year to find any on here...thanks

As-Salaamu Alaikum Wa Rahmahtullah,
Sister Leena your story was very beautiful Masha'Allah.
May Allah increase us all in knowledge Ameen, and as far as hijab is concerned don't be afraid of what people think, let the world know that you are Muslim, let them know, don't be ashamed, if you cover men will rescpect you, try to do it gradually like wear the hijab when you go shopping, because when you wear Hijab watch how you feel when you are walking you feel....honored, when I was younger I never knew that I would be wear all black, as a matter of fact when I was younger I used to wear colors now I am not even comfortable with wearing blue, Masha'Allah so Insha'Allah as time progresses you will wear it with ease.
As-Salaamu Alaikum Wa Rahmahtullahi Wa Barakhatahu

[Muslim Woman]

:sl:


A Hindu's Journey to Islam
By Saumya


It all started when Saumya enrolled in a Family Law course at college, that included both Hindu and Islamic Laws.


It was only then that she felt the clarity of Islam dawn over her. A deep interest in Islam was born, taking her to a decision that changed her life…



...I always believed that God existed and being a Hindu it existed for me in thousand forms: from a stone to a tree, from a tree to a river, from a river to a well (funny but true).



All were objects of worship for me as I was told by my family and other traditions.

I took pride in being a polytheist, considering that all objects made by God are worth worshipping and that there exists a part of God in them, in every single being; so all are worthy of worship.


It could be a cow, a tree, a river (as I said also a well), idols and even human beings themselves.



Related Links

• From Hinduism to Islam

• An Indian Family’s Journey to Islam

• Caught Between Two Ideologies

http://www.readingislam.com/servlet/...am%2FDIELayout

[Muslim Woman]

:sl:



The First Jewish Rabbi Convert to Islam


double post ??? Worthreading ...so go ahead :)




Abdullah ibn Salam




Al-Husayn ibn Salam was a Jewish rabbi in Yathrib [Madinah] who was widely respected and honored by the people of the city, even by those who were not Jewish.
He was known for his piety and goodness, his upright conduct, and his truthfulness.

Al-Husayn lived a peaceful and gentle life but he was serious, purposeful and organized in the way he spent his time. For a fixed period each day, he would worship, teach and preach in the temple.

Then he would spend some time in his orchard, looking after date palms, pruning and pollinating. Thereafter, to increase his understanding and knowledge of his religion, he would devote himself to the study of the Torah.

In this study, it is said he was particularly struck by some verses of the Torah which dealt with the coming of a Prophet who would complete the message of previous Prophets. Al-Husayn therefore took an immediate and keen interest when he heard reports of the appearance of a Prophet in Makkah.

What follows is his story, in his own words:

When I heard of the appearance of the Messenger of God (peace be upon him) I began to make enquiries about his name, his genealogy, his characteristics, his time and place and I began to compare this information with what is contained in our books.

From these enquiries, I became convinced about the authenticity of his prophethood and I affirmed the truth of his mission. However, I concealed my conclusions from the Jews. I held my tongue.

Then came the day when the Prophet, peace be upon him, left Makkah and headed for Yathrib. When he reached Yathrib and stopped at Quba, a man came rushing into the city, calling out to people and announcing the arrival of the Prophet.

At that moment, I was at the top of a palm tree doing some work. My aunt, Khalidah bint Al-Harith, was sitting under the tree. On hearing the news, I shouted: "Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar!" (God is Great! God is Great!)

When my aunt heard me, she remonstrated with me: "May God frustrate you... By God, if you had heard that Moses was coming you would not have been more enthusiastic."

"Auntie, he is really, by God, the 'brother' of Moses and follows his religion. He was sent with the same mission as Moses." She was silent for a while and then said: "Is he the Prophet about whom you spoke to us who would be sent to confirm the truth preached by previous (Prophets) and complete the message of his Lord?"

"Yes," I replied.

Without any delay or hesitation, I went out to meet the Prophet. I saw crowds of people at his door. I moved about in the crowds until I reached close to him.
The first words I heard him say were: "O people! Spread peace... Share food... Pray during the night while people (normally) sleep... and you will enterParadise in peace."

I looked at him closely. I scrutinized him and was convinced that his face was not that of an imposter. I went closer to him and made the declaration of faith that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.

The Prophet turned to me and asked: "What is your name?" "Al-Husayn ibn Salam," I replied. "Instead, it is now Abdullah ibn Sallam," he said (giving me a new name). "Yes" I agreed. "Abdullah ibn Salam it shall be. By Him who has sent you with the Truth, I do not wish to have another name after this day."

I returned home and introduced Islam to my wife, my children and the rest of my household. They all accepted Islam including my aunt Khalidah who was then an old lady. However, I advised them then to conceal our acceptance of Islam from the Jews until I gave them permission. They agreed.

Subsequently, I went back to the Prophet (peace be upon him), and said: "O Messenger of God! The Jews are a people (inclined to) slander and falsehood. I want you to invite their most prominent men to meet you. (During the meeting however), you should keep me concealed from them in one of your rooms. Ask them then about my status among them before they find out of my acceptance of Islam. Then invite them to Islam. If they were to know that I have become a Muslim, they would denounce me and accuse me of everything base and slander me."

The Prophet kept me in one of his rooms and invited the prominent Jewish personalities to visit him. He introduced Islam to them and urged them to have faith in God.

They began to dispute and argue with him about the Truth. When he realized that they were not inclined to accept Islam, he put the question to them:

"What is the status of Al-Husayn ibn Salam among you?"

"He is our sayyid (leader) and the son of our sayyid. He is our rabbi and our alim (scholar), the son of our rabbi and alim."

"If you come to know that he has accepted Islam, would you accept Islam also?" asked the Prophet.

"God forbid! He would not accept Islam. May God protect him from accepting Islam," they said, horrified.

At this point I came out in full view of them and announced: "O assembly of Jews! Be conscious of God and accept what Muhammad has brought. By God, you certainly know that he is the Messenger of God and you can find prophecies about him and mention of his name and characteristics in your Torah. I for my part declare that he is the Messenger of God. I have faith in him and believe that he is true. I know him."

"You are a liar," they shouted. "By God, you are evil and ignorant, the son of an evil and ignorant person." And they continued to heap every conceivable abuse on me.

Here ends his own narration.

Abdullah ibn Salam approached Islam with a soul thirsty for knowledge. He was passionately devoted to the Quran and spent much time reciting and studying its beautiful and sublime verses. He was deeply attached to the noble Prophet and was constantly in his company.

He spent much of his time in the masjid, engaged in worship, in learning and in teaching. He was known for his sweet, moving and effective way of teaching study circles of Sahabah who assembled regularly in the Prophet's mosque.

Abdullah ibn Salam was known among the Sahabah as a man from the people of Paradise. This was because of his determination on the advice of the Prophet to hold steadfastly to the 'most trustworthy handhold' that is belief in and total submission to God.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This article first appeared on www.jews-for-allah.org. It is published here with kind permission with slight editorial modifications.







http://www.readingislam.com/servlet/...am%2FDIELayout

Related Links

• From Judaism to Islam

• Shalom to Salam

• Ultra-Orthodox Jew Accepts Islam

• Live Dialogue of a Former Jewish Settler's Journey to Islam

[Muslim Woman]

:sl:


Adhan by Yusuf Islam's Voice ( oue revert bro )








Yusuf Islam.

Out of its magnificent effect on hearts and its harmonious tunes, all the Muslims, regardless of their nationalities and cultures, are eagerly waiting from time to time for the Adhan to ring out announcing the time for prayers.

The first Adhan was in the first Hijri year (corresponding to 622 CE) or, according to other sources, in the second Hijri year (623 CE). Bilal, whose voice was very sweet and strong, was the first Muslim to deliver the Adhan. It has since been an eternal melodic call, echoed by the world.

Listen to the Adhan by the voice of Yusuf Islam.
http://www.islamonline.net/English/M...08/06/03.shtml



The words of the Adhan:



Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar.


Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest.



Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar.


Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest.



Ash-hadu alla ilaha illa-llah.
I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah.



Ash-hadu alla ilaha illa-llah.
I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah.

Ash-hadu anna Muhammadar-Rasulullah.
I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah


Ash-hadu anna Muhammadar-Rasulullah.
I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah


Hayya ‘ala-s-Salah, hayya ‘ala-s-Salah.


Hasten to the Prayer, hasten to the Prayer.


Hayya ‘ala-l-falah, hayya ‘ala-l-falah.


Hasten to real success, hasten to real success



Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar.
Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest.


La ilaha illa-llah
There is none worthy of worship but Allah.




Bookmark content via:
Send content to your friend



Related Links


Bilal: The Sweet Caller to Islam
"I Look I See" by Yusuf Islam




http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/S...re%2FACELayout



revert story of Cat Stevens ( Yusuf Islam )

http://www.mountainoflight.com/

[miizcamel]

Salam Alakium Brothers and Sisters.

I am a Muslim revert for the past year. I became a Muslima when I was 16 going onto 17 I am now 18. My story is very short but to me has a ton of meaning.

I was born Cassandra Mae Pazdel. I come from a very diverse family as my dad is Persian and my mother being a White American. I grew up in a complicated house hold. My dad was not religious and neither was my mother. There wasn't much of "rules" in our house. When I was 6 years old my mother gave birth to my little brother and shortly after my parents had divorced. My dad was into doing illegal things and eventually his bad caught up with him and he landed himself in jail and then eventually prison. When I was about 8-10 years of age my mother was doing drugs and would neglect me and my two brothers. Eventually they took away my older brother to foster care and I at the age of 10 was taking care of my little brother who was only 4. We had drug users coming in and out of house non-stop. I remember wondering why my mother would be in the bathroom for 2 hours and I found a peek hole and I looked through and I was SHOCKED at what I seen, I was so very young and didnt know what to think so I shield myself and pretended I never seen a thing. My dad would write us letters and we would go to visit him with my grandpa and my uncle (my grandpa was never allowed to go in he was not an american citizen) so my uncle would walk with me and my little brother in. It was very sad not being able to see my father on a daily basis and having to conversate through letters. I hated going on the trips to see my father, and I hated the trips back to my mother. Eventually my dad was released and he came home to us. I became "daddys girl" .

This was about the time I had first head of ISLAM. My father said a lot of people in prison convert to Islam. And I said ISLAM? What is Islam? He said it's a religion of peace and beauty. I was so young I did not know much of it. Shortly after a day or two 9/11 struck! And all we seen over the news "terrorist attacks" "Muslim Terrorists" It was very confusing to me, if my dad says it is a religion of peace why would they hijack planes and kill people? Eventually as I grew older I found out the REAL story of 9/11. I had a friend named Rita, a beautiful Afghan girl who I became great friends with among my elementry school years. One day as I remember we were in the car her exact words were "do you believe in God?" I was stuck I couldn't answer I said "I dont know, Do You?" She replied "Of course how else did you come to earth?" lol. Eventually we went our seprat ways in middle school. I can honestly say I was very lost at this time. I was so confused as a child and had nobody to talk to that i was running to alcohol fight my depression. I eventually decided "enough is enough!" I quit going to public high school and went into private home study. I quit all my bad doing and stayed home out of trouble and far from the people I thought were my "friends". I kept a couple friends and they were ALLMuslim. It's funny how that works isnt it? I started to research on Islam and I found myself researching it DAY and NIGHT! I eventually asked my friend Taminah how do you become a Muslim and she told me I have to take my Shahada. I went to my grandpa and told him to tell me more about Islam and he told me to wait because I was still young and keep doing research and when I feel the time is right then I can convert.


Then a really shocking thing happend in my city Fremont, Cali. A Muslim woman who was walking with her daughter to go pick up her children from school was shot and killed in front of her own daughter only a block or two from the school. The man did not like her scarf/body covering. I was so shocked that someone so cruel could shoot and kill a woman in front of her child. I became scared to convert to Islam, my family was very concerned for my safety. I assured them after a week that everything will be fine. About 6-7 months later I finally told my friend Taminah and Nazi I wanted to take my Shahada. So January 21, 2007 I become a Muslima. I had asked my father if he would come and listen to me take my Shahada he cried and said NO. He feared that people would treat me differently. I cried that my own father would say no. He said "why Islam?!" I replied "your very words to me was that Islam is a peaceful religion, so why are you so worried?" He told me to take time and think about my decision and I said I have thought about it for the past 3 years. My dad had became a Christian and had been dating a Christian woman who had a big influence on his life and her family wouldn't be accepting to have a "step-daughter" as a Muslim. But he realized it is my life and my choices. I think Islam has changed my life completly. I am so thankful for those who have opened my eyes to Islam and I hope that one day Inshallah I can open someone elses eyes to Islam as well.


Islam is not what the media makes it out to be, If one non-Muslim person was to spend at least a day with a Muslim the world would see half as much hate towards Islam and its believers. I hope that one day we could all reach peace and happiness.





Thank you for taking your time to read my road to Islam.



*Azrah Pazdel.
:peace:
:Crescent:

[snakelegs]

wow - you have been through and survived an awful lot for a young person and you are obviously a very strong woman.
congratulations for turning your life around!
btw, i remember reading about that shooting in fremont - so sad to have survived aghanistan and then.... :cry:

[miizcamel]

wow - you have been through and survived an awful lot for a young person and you are obviously a very strong woman.
congratulations for turning your life around!
btw, i remember reading about that shooting in fremont - so sad to have survived aghanistan and then.... :cry:

Thank you, You are from the Bay Area? A lot of my friends were related to the woman. It was so sad.

[Souljette]

:sl:

Sis Miizcamel Mashallah You have been through a lot and Alhamdullah you have a found a better life now.May Allah (S.W.T) protect you in every step you take in the future ameen.

[snakelegs]

Thank you, You are from the Bay Area? A lot of my friends were related to the woman. It was so sad.

no, i'm in southern california, but i've been to fremont.
life is sometimes so ironic.

[ayan333]

Mashallah!!!!!Mashallah!!!!!Mashallah!!!!!Mashalla h!!!!!Mashallah!!!!!Mashallah!!!!!

Mashallah!!!!!Mashallah!!!!!Mashallah!!!!!Mashalla h!!!!!Mashallah!!!!!Mashallah!!!!!


Mashallah!!!!!Mashallah!!!!!Mashallah!!!!!Mashalla h Mashallah Mashallah!!!!!



Alahdulilah!!!Alahdulilah!!!Alahdulilah!!!Alahduli lah!!!Alahdulilah!!!Alahdulilah!!!


Subhanallah!!!!Subhanallah!!!!Subhanallah!!!!Subha nallah!!!!Subhanallah!!!!


ALLAHU Akbar!!!!!ALLAHU Akbar!!!!!ALLAHU Akbar!!!!!ALLAHU Akbar!!!!!ALLAHU Akbar!!!!!

[Muslim Woman]

:w:


Diving the Islam Ocean


By Ayman Qenawi, IOL Staff







Worshipers were supplicating and getting ready to leave the Islamic Center of Washington after the Friday prayer when the imam picked up the microphone to introduce a new "brother".


Dressed in a jeans and a shirt, Jefferson Pinder, Assistant Professor, Art Department, University of Maryland, slowly made his way to the front line of worshippers.



He sat by the imam who, after welcoming him to Islam, started to help him pronounce the Shahadah — testifying that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is His Messenger — in both English and Arabic.






The young African-American professional ended the process to cheers of Allah Akbar resonating across the famous Washington mosque and its outside yard, where hundreds of worshippers were attending the weekly prayer.



People, young and old, flocked to the first line of worshippers to greet and welcome him to the family of Islam.



"I was overwhelmed," Pinder told IslamOnline.net in the mosque yard where he was still getting greetings and congratulations from people he has never seen before.


"I think it is a wonderful thing to go into a place of worship and see all different kinds of people which has not been my experience growing up as a Christian."


Islam Ocean



Professor Pinder had quite a soul-searching journey in which he was touched by the values and discipline of Muslims he met.
"It was a long journey that began with a trip to Senegal," he recalls.



"I'm an artist. I have been in work with many artists who are of the Muslim faith. They motivated my actually. I saw the way they went with their lives and how they conducted their lives," explained Pinder.



"When I came here one of my students at the University of Maryland where I teach was a Muslim and her work dealt with Islam.


It moved me. I met her family and they kind of taken my in and guided me along the way."
He says he admires the values, discipline and kindness of Muslims who are nonetheless devout and serious about everything that they are connected to.



"A genuine sense of community that does not end with the [prayer] service but just goes beyond. It's the kind of community you always think about and want to be part of."



Pinder does not expect his decision to affect his family ties.



"My dad is a Catholic, a minister," he says.


"I guess he realizes that Islam can provide something that Christianity might not and at the sometime he also realizes that there are a lot of commonalities.



"This kind of commonalities, I think, can keep our relationship strong."



Learning


The arts professor sees his conversion as the beginning of a new phase in his life.



"I think it is a wonderful opportunity for me to define myself again because for years I have been just lost, as far as faith goes," he said.



"Sometimes I think we get messed up in our American culture that we do not think there is an alternative, other ways of learning and other ways of going about life," adds Pinder.
"So, today I came here and I'm slowly learning a new way of looking at life and hopefully it will make me a richer person."



Pinder sees good connections, legitimate relationships from one faith to the next.
"I see Islam as an evolution of my learning of Christianity and hopefully it can take me to a place that Christianity was never able to bring me to."



He recognizes he still has a lot to learn about his new faith.
"So far, I'm just beginning this process…its like jumping out into an ocean and figuring out how to swim."





Pinder intends to start by becoming a member of the community and learning to do his prayers.


"I have a couple of mentors who are going to be teaching me more the Arabic and how to conduct myself and how to say the prayers," he notes.

"I think I'm just a new born now."



Related Links

• US Blacks Find Roots in Islam
• Jew Finds Solace in Islam
• Diverse US Muslims
• Americans Meet Islam at Film Festival
• Open Houses Present Islam to Americans

http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/S...ws%2FNWELayout

[Muslim Woman]

:sl:


Finding Islam in Potsdam

By Reading Islam Team




Abdalhafiz Ullmannis a 27-year old German residing in Potsdam, Germany. Three years ago, he embraced Islam.


It all started when Abdalhafiz's wife read an ad in the newspaper, posted by a woman from the Muslim Community in Potsdam, that there was a need for a gymnastics teacher. Being one herself, she called them right way.



She got the job, and 2 years later, she seriously felt that this community could be something for her and Abdalhafiz. At first, he was angry, not knowing what to expect. However, he took the courageous step and went with her.



At that time it was Ramadan. Together with his wife and the Muslim community, Abdalhafiz fasted Ramadan. How was the experience? How did things roll on after that?


Watch Abdalhafiz sharing his experience with Islam in this short video

http://youtube.com/watch?v=-mojPFiGNv4





http://www.readingislam.com/servlet/...am%2FDIELayout

[Muslim Woman]

:sl:


When I Thought There Was No Way Out


.....I love Islam more than anything in my life. It has given me a peace and understanding, I never had before. Islam has taught me how to turn all the pain of the past over to Allah (SWT) and let it go.



Forgiveness was very hard for me to understand. I am a work in progress. Alhamdulilah!!



I thank my attorney, and everyone who had anything in their Myspace sites or blogs, for what they taught me about Islam.



I especially thank a beautiful sister from Pakistan who gave me a copy of the Holy Quran and some other wonderful books in a beautiful gift bag. I met her through the Islamic Center where I live.



All Praises be to Allah Most High, Most Gracious, Most Merciful, for guiding me to Islam…



Islam is my Life. Jihad is my Spirit. Paradise is my Goal.


http://www.readingislam.com/servlet/...am%2FDIELayout

[Muslim Woman]

:sl:

Contemporary Stories

Argentinean Mariano Discovers Islam



By Mariano Ricardo Calle
An Argentinean young man finds Islam through learning Arabic songs' lyrics.



My name is Mariano Ricardo Calle. I am fromBuenos Aires, Argentina, not from the capital but the province.




Before I embraced Islam, I was a Catholic Apostolic Roman. I was baptized, entered communion and confirmation.






Since my childhood, I was connected with religion through my mom and my grandmother (her mom).







I read the Bible since seven years old. I began reading the Bible for kids in Spanish. My heroes were David, Nuh and Job.

When I was eleven, I prayed every night. Sometimes, I cried while speaking to God. In my adolescence, I fell into drugs until a crisis at twenty one years of age. I have always been searching for the truth.

At twenty four years I began to pray more, so I was praying twenty four times a day, one for Our Father, Two Ave Maria, One Credo and One Glory; under the water in the shower bowing on my knees under cold water (that was because there was no warm water).



This I did for a whole year. But that didn't help me too much, but God knows better.



http://www.readingislam.com/servlet/...lam/DIESection

[TehzeebKhan]

Asalaam Waleikum....

I reverted about a year ago right before Ramadan, reasons I do not with to share...but other than that it has been a hard road. My parents are hindu disbelievers, we come from India, and if anyone knows there is a lot of hate between Hindus and Muslims there and hence my father is a strong opponent of Islam, when they found a copy of my Quran last year, i was ready for the worst but pulled a little and said i wanted to learn the truth and not what my family had told me about Islam. Me and my father fight on a daily basis as he ends up discriminating and saying degrading things about Islam. I have not told them yet of my reversion. I know that the minute my father finds out it is either the streets or death for me, neither one which i can afford. I am very lost in this world now, but very happy as i learn something everyday. i have found peace in Islam that i never found in Hinduism, a sense of direction and a strong focus in life. i read the Quran on a daily basis and pray as often as i can. hiding this from my family is hard, specially now during Ramadan, but i take it as a test, i need to pass. nothing comes easy in life is a lesson i have learned multiple times, but in the end the reward is sweet.

[coddles76]

Asalaam Waleikum....

I reverted about a year ago right before Ramadan, reasons I do not with to share...but other than that it has been a hard road. My parents are hindu disbelievers, we come from India, and if anyone knows there is a lot of hate between Hindus and Muslims there and hence my father is a strong opponent of Islam, when they found a copy of my Quran last year, i was ready for the worst but pulled a little and said i wanted to learn the truth and not what my family had told me about Islam. Me and my father fight on a daily basis as he ends up discriminating and saying degrading things about Islam. I have not told them yet of my reversion. I know that the minute my father finds out it is either the streets or death for me, neither one which i can afford. I am very lost in this world now, but very happy as i learn something everyday. i have found peace in Islam that i never found in Hinduism, a sense of direction and a strong focus in life. i read the Quran on a daily basis and pray as often as i can. hiding this from my family is hard, specially now during Ramadan, but i take it as a test, i need to pass. nothing comes easy in life is a lesson i have learned multiple times, but in the end the reward is sweet.

Wa Alykum Asalam Sister in Islam,

May Allah SWT make your path easy and inshAllah Allah SWT will lighten the hearts of your parents in order that they will not make it too difficult for you. I wish you all the best in your journey and remember there are always people around to help you. Islam's Sisterhood and Brotherhood is very strong so always look to help in your fellow sisters in islam.

[cute123]

Asalaam Waleikum....

I reverted about a year ago right before Ramadan, reasons I do not with to share...but other than that it has been a hard road. My parents are hindu disbelievers, we come from India, and if anyone knows there is a lot of hate between Hindus and Muslims there and hence my father is a strong opponent of Islam, when they found a copy of my Quran last year, i was ready for the worst but pulled a little and said i wanted to learn the truth and not what my family had told me about Islam. Me and my father fight on a daily basis as he ends up discriminating and saying degrading things about Islam. I have not told them yet of my reversion. I know that the minute my father finds out it is either the streets or death for me, neither one which i can afford. I am very lost in this world now, but very happy as i learn something everyday. i have found peace in Islam that i never found in Hinduism, a sense of direction and a strong focus in life. i read the Quran on a daily basis and pray as often as i can. hiding this from my family is hard, specially now during Ramadan, but i take it as a test, i need to pass. nothing comes easy in life is a lesson i have learned multiple times, but in the end the reward is sweet.

Mashallah , this is a very strong. To be a Muslim right in a hinduism environment. Alhamdulillah Rabbil Alamin. He guides whomsoever he wills. Never loose ur patience. Allah SWT will surely make a way out for you. Be steadfast.

[TehzeebKhan]

Wa Alykum Asalam Sister in Islam,

May Allah SWT make your path easy and inshAllah Allah SWT will lighten the hearts of your parents in order that they will not make it too difficult for you. I wish you all the best in your journey and remember there are always people around to help you. Islam's Sisterhood and Brotherhood is very strong so always look to help in your fellow sisters in islam.

i am very happy to be here among other people who believe in what i believe and i can turn to with questions, there are many on here who are also going through something similar to me....i know i am not alone

[TehzeebKhan]

Mashallah , this is a very strong. To be a Muslim right in a hinduism environment. Alhamdulillah Rabbil Alamin. He guides whomsoever he wills. Never loose ur patience. Allah SWT will surely make a way out for you. Be steadfast.

thank you, and yes my patience has been tested a lot of times, when i am praying someone comes knocking on my door, or now during ramadan, they force me to eat, its gets hard and frustrating, i try to get as many days i can to work, from 4-10 pm so i can go there right after school and then break my roza when i need to....but then i work in a restaurant and stand all day which is draining out my energy, its hard but all sacrifices are for Allah and Islam, and i am more than willing

[Muslim Woman]

My First Ramadan



For years, Jelly Panderias watched her Muslim friends, even those who are not very practicing, fast the holy month of Ramadan.


"I used to ask them about their feelings and why they were not eating or drinking as usual," she recalls.

This year, Panderias finally got her chance to experience the same feelings of her Muslim friends.

"This is my first Ramadan as a Muslim," the 22-year-old told IslamOnline.net.

Born to Catholic parents, she pronounced the Shahadah – testifying that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him) is his Messenger – at a mosque in northern France two months ago.

"Fasting Ramadan is the real embodiment of becoming a Muslim," she said proudly.

"I'm now living the same feelings of nearly one billion Muslims around the world."

Muslims worldwide began this week observing the holy fasting month of Ramadan.

Ramadan, the ninth month on the Islamic lunar calendar, began in France like in most world countries on Monday, September1.

During Ramadan, adult Muslims, save the sick and those traveling, abstain during daylight hours from food, drink, smoking and sex between dawn and sunset.

Muslims dedicate their time during the holy month to become closer to Allah through prayer, self-restraint and good deeds.

Special

Panderias spent her first Ramadan day with the family of a Moroccan friend.

"My friend invited me for iftar and after that we went together to perform Tarawih in the mosque," she added.

"I'm so excited about my Ramadan experience."

Tarawih is a special nightly prayer performed by Muslims in their thousands during Ramadan.

Panderias is not alone.

"Embracing Islam ahead of Ramadan has become very common," Sheikh Zuhir Bureik, the head of the French Council of Imams, told IOL.

He noted that three girls in their 20s and a man in his 30s came to his mosque in a Paris suburb a few days before Ramadan to pronounce the Shahadah.

"Ramadan was a central factor in their decision to embrace Islam," said Bureik.

"One of them told me that she used to fast Ramadan before becoming becoming a Muslim. She said that encouraged her become a Muslim."

French statistics suggest nearly 3,500 people convert to Islam every year in the European countries.

Unconfirmed statistics put the figure at nearly 50,000.

France is home to 6 million Muslims, the biggest Muslim minority in Europe.


http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/S...News/NWELayout

[cute123]

thank you, and yes my patience has been tested a lot of times, when i am praying someone comes knocking on my door, or now during ramadan, they force me to eat, its gets hard and frustrating, i try to get as many days i can to work, from 4-10 pm so i can go there right after school and then break my roza when i need to....but then i work in a restaurant and stand all day which is draining out my energy, its hard but all sacrifices are for Allah and Islam, and i am more than willing

Mashallah thats even more stonger. May Allah Tallah make your path easy sis.
*hugs*

[Khalil_Allah]

I want to tell my story. It was a few years ago that I reverted.

I went to a Christian college as a "devout" atheist. Astaghfirallah, I hate to say it, but I openly denied the existence of any God and argued that religion was a negative characteristic of humanity. I even went to church on Sundays with this girl just to make sure that I was correct. There, I just found all my justifications for believing this way. It all seemed so ridiculous to me. (but Christians, please know that I don't believe Christianity is ridiculous or that Christians are foolish for believing what they believe... this was ONE church, and ONE way of looking at the Bible and the Gospel)

I began to get jealous of one particular professor who I held in high esteem for his intelligence, but I could not explain his unbreakable faith. How can he be so smart, yet buy into this whole idea that some magical character came and died so that we can get into Heaven if we believe in him? I wanted to have faith and believe like all these other happy people, but it seemed my reasoning prohibited me from doing so. I went to his church to learn as much as I could, but I could not get the whole "christianty" thing, still. In addition to church, I was learning about several other religions through the school.

One day, I finally asked him how he did it: how do you, such a smart man, believe in all of this stuff, and what should I be doing to figure it all out? He simply told me to pray. It doesn't matter how I do it, just let God know that I am looking for Him. He said God does not hide from you if you are looking for Him.

So I did. I went home and looked up at my ceiling, and I told God that I was looking for Him and I would appreciate anything He could do to make the search easier for me. And I was serious too!

Well, there was this nail that stuck out of my bed and it would scratch my arm as I slept, sometimes. The next night, that nail clearly scratched what looked like a J and a C in my arm. Of course, I thought, "OMG, Jesus spoke to me!" So I started studying the Gospel in earnest. I went to church as often as I could and prayed to God a lot! Thank you for this, thank you for that, I'm sorry for this and sorry for that. Bless my family members, etc.

I didn't have anymore bursts of faith like that morning when I woke up, but I kept trying. Finally, after attending several other churches and talking to lots and lots of Christians, I became fed up with trying to be Christian. It just wasn't working and I couldn't make sense of this whole story that a magical Jesus/God was dead/alive so that I could get to Heaven simply by believing it all. Then I wasn't even sure that God did hear my prayers anymore.

So right at this time, alhamdulillah, we start studying Islam. Islam offered me new perspective to the story of Jesus. It seemed foolish to me, that if I am searching for God, to abandon Jesus entirely. After all, more than half of the world directly connects him in some way to God. So I figured if anything is true, then it is Islam, and I should learn about this Muhammad guy (saws).

Went to the mosque within about two months and gave Shahadah. When I gave shahadah, I had the same sort of feeling (the awareness of a religious experience) as when I woke up with that JC scratched in my arm.

So now I was trying to be a Muslim. I worked all day and went to school, and tried to make my prayers as best I could. But it always ended up that I would try to make all Fard and Sunnah prayers at night at about 2:00 am when I got home from work (I didn't know the Fiqh of it all). Let me tell you, this does not work for a normal white kid who doesn't know much about Islam. It left me wondering, how is Allah going to do this to me? Does He really want me to feel like I am suffering through prayer to Him? My reasoning told me that something was wrong. I knew it was something wrong with me and not the religion, and so I asked Allah to forgive me, but told Him that I would take some sort of hiatus from all religious inquiry until it made complete sense to me.

Fast forward through the worst year of my life, emotionally etc., and you come to about exactly a year after I gave shahadah. I won't go into details, but I find myself sitting on my couch depressed and wanting more things to occupy my time and keep me happy. I flip on the telly and, for some reason, turn to a Christian channel on which is a movie about Jesus.

I forgot the quote from the Bible, but Jesus is saying something about the temporary nature of worldly possessions and eternal nature of the Divine. It must have hit me at the right time, because that point changed my life forever.

I was so depressed and tired (i.e. what alcoholics call the feeling of rock-bottom) and it seemed that nothing in the world could satisfy me. When I heard the Jesus on television saying those things, I just knew that I had to abandon my habit of staking my claims of happiness on these temporary worldly possessions and put my happiness on something eternal, or Allah.

Now I didn't go monk-style and abandon all worldly things, or give up my life to go into Dawah, but I understood life in a totally new perspective. Then praying became easier and more natural. I could relate to other Muslims easier, and so with my parents and with other non-Muslims.

Now I am just like that professor. I don't just take religion on blind faith, but I studied and struggled through my beliefs so that I am both a freethinker and someone who will die without ever having questioned my shahadah. That is, I still seek wisdom and keep an open mind despite my own unbreakable faith.

Of course it is this struggle that shows Allah that you desire to please Him, and so He has blessed me more than I could ever begin to say here. On one level, I am engaged to a beautiful and devout muslimah, with plans for a family (inshAllah), and on another I walk around this world with the blissful serenity of knowing that Allah chose me out of all these people to know Islam and siratal mustaqim; to have a purpose that is based on divine guidance.


That is to some extent the story of my coming to Islam, and I mean it seriously, so I thought I should end with something kind of funny. Naturally, my friends and those around me who find out that I am Muslim are sort of shocked. People always ask me what made me become Muslim, and I tell them, with a slight sense of irony, that it was the teachings of Jesus Christ that made me certain of Islam. HAHA! SUBHANALLAH!:statisfie

[Woodrow]

That is to some extent the story of my coming to Islam, and I mean it seriously, so I thought I should end with something kind of funny. Naturally, my friends and those around me who find out that I am Muslim are sort of shocked. People always ask me what made me become Muslim, and I tell them, with a slight sense of irony, that it was the teachings of Jesus Christ that made me certain of Islam. HAHA! SUBHANALLAH!:statisfie

:w:

Many of us that had been devout Christians at one time, say the same. It is the teachings of Jesus(as) that led or helped us to Islam. Makes perfect sense. Isa(as) was a great and wonderful prophet.

[Uthman]

Mashaa'Allah, that's a beautiful story. :)

[islam lover]

ما شاء الله عليهم كلهم

الله يهدي الجميع ان شاء الله

[MARTYR]

jerusalem - joseph cohen moved from the united states to israel as a devout jew in 1998, but within three years he had converted to islam and become yosef mohammed khatib, a supporter of the militant hamas, according to a report broadcast thursday on israel tv.

Now he refuses to say the word israel, choosing instead to call the area "palestine." his four children study the quran, the muslim holy book, instead of the torah, its jewish counterpart.

It was while living in the desert town of netivot that khatib met a sheik from the united arab emirates through an internet chat about israel. Khatib said he spent hours corresponding with the sheik, discussing theology. Gradually he began to see judaism as racist and turned toward islam after reading the quran, he told channel 10 tv. The report did not say where he lived in the united states or give his age.

Last year he told his wife of 10 years, luna, also a devout jew from the united states, that he wanted to convert to islam.

"i said, `listen, i love you very much ... And i have to be honest with you,'" khatib said in the tv interview. "i read the quran and i agree with everything it says in the quran, and if i continue saying that i'm a religious jew, i would be a liar."

the family converted together and moved from netivot to an arab neighborhood in east jerusalem. The children went from being top in their classes on judaism studies to being well-versed in islam, he said.

Instead of supporting the israeli orthodox jewish political party shas, khatib now supports the radical islamic hamas and believes an islamic state should be set up where israel and the palestinian areas are now located.

He praised hamas for setting up social services for palestinians but dodged questions about the other side of the islamic group — suicide bombings and other attacks against israelis. The united states has declared hamas a terror group.

Khatib differed from most israelis and americans in his views about osama bin laden, the top suspect in the sept. 11 terror attacks in new york and washington.

"i think that he's number one, muslim number one," khatib said with a strong new york accent about bin laden. "but i don't think that he's responsible for the world trade center (attacks)."

wearing the white skullcap and robes of a religious muslim, khatib denied his jewish past, insisting that he is 100 percent muslim. He made a parody of a blessing that observant jews say every morning, in which they thank god for not making them gentiles.

"blessed are thou, lord our god," khatib began in the traditional jewish blessing, but ended it with, "for not making me a jew."

live dialogue here: http://www.islamonline.net/livedialo...guestid=kzi47i

inshallah

martyr
proud islamic revert

[ghengis]

One of the greatest stories has to be Napoleon form the Outlawz, coming back from all that happened to him to accept Islam.

"napolean i get my pleasure outa seein sin blah blah blah..."

tunage: made nigg*z.

nice

[ghengis]

ok... might as well...my revert story??? its a beauty. allah is a master strategist... his plans are perfect...

promise i'll be brief. :)


i was kind of present at an islamic exorcism when i was about 4yrs old. islamic iman doin the exorcism... hindu family in house, i was young hindu kid. hindu lady was gettin exorcised... ( sweet) it was my aunty... i was a lucky kid.

time went past and i hitt 22yrs old.

i was socially outcasted for "dossing" "chilling" "and being a naughty boy" " a rebel" i got suspended from university.... i drank, i smoked, and i was cool. :)

but i'd had enough of the unfulfilled meaningless fleeting life. the spark grew within...(cue drumrolls please....)

i ordered the koran, the torah, the bible and the bhagavad gita from amazon.co.uk.... (the multifaceted, mysterious ways of the revert ;) )

i read. i studied.... i fell in love ... the koran ... undeniable.....

i was a little arrogant at first... thought i was the best thing since sliced bread.... i rationalized myself verbally to unbelievers in the following ways... and i suppose to myself...

1) this is wat i felt and wat i told myself: " i'm better than my peers, these losers will never amount to anything, i'm gonna forge my way, i'm gonna lead these dumbfounded people with no clue to glory and beyond..... my mind is formiddable, (i told myself.... before fully reverted....arrogant i know but i new arrogance as a social trait seduced unbelievers very easily) my mind can handle anything! if god has wrote books i'm gonna read them cos i'm smart and clever, and i can do better!! so that was one way i introduced my theological exploits to the narrow minded... i'm goin up against god and gods books ...haha..look at me....i'm great, i'm a genius" anyway the koran soon set me straight and taught me a thing or two.

and i secretly converted... didnt have the courage to tell people for months though...

secretly i was the humble type...good natured and all that good stuff.... but once i was in the social environment... thats when sin gripped hold and turned me into mr arrogant man that the unbelieving ladies loved.... mr nice guy nobody wanted to talk too..... that is just the way it was....


anyway... today is 8 nov i think... i'm fully reverted.
my family knows, and they kicked me out the house.
(sweet... i'm a thrill seeker ;) reverting is fun.)
.....

and yeah this aint your regular revert story..... so wat? i was born on the other side of the fence in the land of unbelief.... to survive in that world i had to without a choice learn the ways of the unbeliever... lol.... the way of the shaolin fist.... and ultimately the ways of glorious islam.

so praise the lord... truly. allah is merciful...definately.

.... i just went thru a 6month test folks.... phew. i made it. i'm even more purified now. (deep sombre sigh as i sign off my note)

*praise the lord, the mighty the wise*

[AntiKarateKid]

Nice experience there GHengis!

God burdens people only with what they can bear. You are working through a great test.

[Pk_#2]

anyway... today is 8 nov i think... i'm fully reverted.
my family knows, and they kicked me out the house.
(sweet... i'm a thrill seeker ;) reverting is fun.)

ahahaha, best revert story so far. Welcome to Islam my dear brother. There were some that truly touched my heart, but yours is by far the most funniest on Li.

[Muslim Woman]

...my family knows, and they kicked me out the house.

:cry: InshaAllah you will rewarded for all your sufferings .

Welcome to Islam :)

[Muslim Woman]

South London Rapper Finds Islam


By Selma Cook



This article is based on an interview with Bilal Chin, who lives inLondon.


Bilal Chin was brought up in London but traveled to Egypt and stayed there for about one year. Now in his mid-twenties, he says that Egypt was good for him, as it helped him to get away from his surroundings and make a fresh start in his life.



He became a Muslim when he was nineteen years old. He admits that he had not really known what Islam was about. If he saw any women with scarfs and anyone who fasted, he thought he or she was an Asian or an Arab and that this was just part of their culture.



He didn't know it was a religion and no one tried to teach him about the religion. Later after, he embraced Islam, he remembered girls in school who used to wear a scarf and realized they were Muslims.

....Bilal's Muslim friend told him, "When you come to Islam, Islam will come running to you." Indeed, Bilal saw that Islam started knocking on his door. One day, he wanted to buy some trainers and left his bike with a man in the market and this man said he would keep an eye on his bike if Bilal read a certain book. This man was a Muslim.


When Bilal went into the shoe shop he heard the shop keeper say: "Salamu Alaikum" when we was talking on the phone. Bilal realized that he too was a Muslim. Islam started coming to him from every angle.


full story here

http://www.readingislam.com/servlet/...slam/DIELayout

[Muslim Woman]

:sl:


A Muslim at Thirteen!

Eesa was only thirteen years old when he became a Muslim. Before Islam, when he was still a ten-year-old child he had a normal life of going to school and...

http://www.readingislam.com/servlet/...lam/DIESection

[Aqeel Ahmed]

:sl:
These revert stories are amazing at a free time I am going to try to read as much as possible.
:sl:

[allahuakbar90]

Asalaamualekum brothers and sisters
I have been asked many times what made you convert to islam and I wud have luved to have told them the full sotry but no time and I feel like on here I can give good detail and hopefully people will forgive me for being long lol.

I always had a belief in God but I never really acted on it until I was in about year 8 and secondary school I knew there had to be something after death something has to happen in consequence of the way you lived. I became a christian to a kufar to a person that believed in god but no particular religion but then I read the bible extensivley and I felt at peace as I felt (then) Jesus (pbuh) was always with me. Further into my research about christianity I became confused. WHY SO MANY DIFFERENT TYPES? Catholics I thought should be the one because they were first, but they pray to others than Allah e.g. Mary (pbuh) etc. Which clearly contradicts the bible wear it says no shall bow down to anyone but God. I also didn't understand why the bible had been changed surley the word of god shouldn't be changed my mere people.
Christmas special on Jesus Christ channel 4 a christian man (may allah bless him for his research as it has helped guide me) researched the earliest records of jesus christ held in jeruslem by Christians, in the records was no word sayin Jesus (pbuh) was the son of God.
Along came my friend in year 11, we discussed islam in class, my ears belonged to him I lingered on everyword any question I had he had an answer for. I wanted to become a muslim but as I was only 16 (and white) I didn't feel brave enough to be a muslim yet it didnt seem right. Since then Allah (swt) guided me, I studied on the internet meanings, teachings and other things of islam, I wanted to convert. I started going onto an Islamic forum (a different one) and I asked about converting to Islam the brothers helped me so much mashallah and I took my shahada. The rest is history.
Here are a few points that helped me understand Islam is the truth.
Quran - never been changed
Mohammed - came as the last revelation and revealed God's true words again as the bible had become corrupt which makes sense.
No one is worthy of worship except Allah (swt), which islam follows.
It doesn't have different prophets from judaism and christianity only the truth about what they really did.

The day I became a muslim I was so happy I love Allah (swt) as he brings me peace during salaah. As he has provided me with the guide to happiness and paradise alhamdullilah, as he has protected me and provided me with great oppurtunities alhamdullilah.

Sorry for dragin on

ALLAHU AKBAR

salaam

[Muslim Woman]

:sl:

From Church Goer to Mosque Leader



Thirteen years ago Vicente Mota Alfaro was a devout Catholic who regularly attends Sunday masses and reads the Holy Bible daily.

Today, he is not just a new Muslim but the imam of the mosque of the Islamic Cultural Center of Valencia (CCIV).

He is the first ever convert to hold the post and lead the Muslim congregation in the mosque.

Related Links

* Islam Comforts Spanish Intellectuals
* Muslims Join Spanish Elite Force
* Ramadan Fast Colors Spain's La Liga
* Spanish Muslims Feel At Home: Poll
* Spain's Mosque Rarity





http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/S...News/NWELayout

[Revert to Peace]

Assalamu alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu

Brothers and Sisters in Islam..

The love inside me for Islam knows no end.. I cannot tell you how passionate I am about my deen and Islam, and how reading about others conversions just inspires me and makes me feel so proud of our Ummah.. alhamdulillah.

My conversion story is just simple compared to some.. but alhamdulillah, Allah swt, ya Rabb, found us and put us on the straight path, alhamdulillah.

It is a bit long, so my apologies!

For me, at the age of 42, ya Rabb's calling started about two year's ago. I had been to north Cyprus and during my travels there noticed the tall minarets reaching towards the skies... without even hearing the adhan I imagined the calling to prayer, the joining together in worship, the solidarity, the community, the surrendering and submission to Allah. The feeling that overcame me each time I noticed one was one a tugging at the heart and mind, and to something I had no real previous knowledge of. I was familiar with middle eastern culture and language through music and friends, but this wasn’t exactly relevant. At the time I was visiting a good friend and when I saw these minarets lumps would form in my throat but had no idea what was going on. I just knew I had to explore further when I returned home.

Being in London a short while, I made new friends and I remember them saying to me.. are you sure you’re not Muslim.. you eat like one, you talk like one, your ideas, principles.. they fit so well with Islam!?? I said I just did what came naturally to me.

I have to admit during this time I was going through some difficulties, and period of unsettlement, although I was relatively happy, I didn’t feel my life was on the right track.. and although not a particularly religious person, although I was capable of ‘belief’, I never followed any particular school of thought. However, I had always believed in a higher being, a power so huge that it was not necessary to see or hear it.. it would be FELT, that life was our biggest test, and was a fatalist to a certain degree..., easily able to accept what life threw at me because everything that happened in life was for a reason.. good or bad and we just had to deal with it the right and best way we could. So during this period I felt an incredible need to pray, but had no-one to pray to, and didn’t really know how. At no time in my life had I ever felt I needed guidance from anyone other than friends or family but now, for me, this wasn’t sufficient.. I wanted my thoughts to be heard by just one who knew me inside and out, someone who wouldn’t judge me, would forgive me, guide me to the straight path. I wasn’t in any ways a bad woman, I was just suffering a little emotionally, not quite sure where I was going in life, and needing some direction.

A couple of Muslim friends could sense my despair and started to unfold Islam. My curiosity started the snowball. I remember I was told about the young Muslim singer Sami Yusuf and bought his CD. The words touched me so deeply. One day stands out above all others at that time. I was on the tube, on my way to work in the city, it was a gloriously sunny day and I had Sami in both ears. Not only was his voice, the composition and orchestration so pleasing to hear, but the words.. “Try not to cry little one, you’re not alone, I’ll stand by you... “, the tears, and even now when I listen to that track, unashamedly just collected in my eyes and fell but at that same moment something physically struck at my heart and mentally, the jigsaw was complete. The feeling of peace, security and safety that washed over me was incredible. It was as if I had won the lottery! I had found the answer, I was on my way home. I went to work with a bounce in my step and a sense of being different, of finding the hidden treasure! As I achieved realisation I then wanted to learn everything about Islam (alongside other topics such as culture, history and politics of the countries Islam was part of). Of particular interest were stories from women converts, and it was surprising to read my experience wasn’t unusual.. Alhamdulillah, I was proud to be one of them, returning to our rightful place. Another book I read was ‘The Ideal Muslimah’. Although a 'western' woman with a strong personality, reading through the book I realised how much of what was written actually suited the heart of my personality, my characterisitics, values, morals and principles.. and this would be one of my goals in my new life - to aspire to be the ideal muslimah. The desire to convert was increasing each day however I procrastinated due to circumstances.. in one respect I wasn’t ‘ready’.. and also I wasn’t quite sure where and how to convert!

I was in Starbucks one day and saw a white Muslim woman.... and just blurted out.. I want to convert, can you help me?! She was so quiet, kind and gentle and after sitting down for a short while and talking to me, she gave me some literature to read (I didn’t need convincing! ) and saw her a few further times. She suggested I go to the masjid and take my shahadah, and she would come with me. Well, this didn’t quite work out as planned, she was not available at the time I was going but, almost a year later, I could not wait any longer. Even though I had said the shahadah with friends, for me this wasn’t enough. I had to do it the right way, in the right place – the masjid.

I felt I had to tell my family and a few friends, to prepare them for the changes. I travelled down to Wales to see my father (my mother is no longer living) and left London in my hijab, that I started wearing just at home or outside work, together with abayas, but just 5 mins away from arriving I was battling with whether to keep hijab on or take it off.. I stuck to my principles somewhat with trepidation as to how my father would take it. First reaction was not good, and he kept asking why, but more importantly, he wished I told him before to prepare him for the ‘shock’ but during the time with him he became positively curious, concerned for my happiness but nevertheless accepting my decision. Friends too were the same, simply happy for me to be happy. Alhamdulillah so far so good.

Now I had prepared the ground, the true and real time was ready.... I was ready. It happened the Sunday before Ramadan (2008) I have to say that although my shahadah was not exactly the experience I had been expecting, and there was little , if any, support for converts, which made me very frustrated and, I have to say, astaghfirallah, a bit angry, but I felt the weight lift from my shoulders. I did however find the support I needed, from friends, websites, books and Alhamdulillah Ramadan helped to be one of the best learning experiences for prayers, and again, Alhamdulillah, the prayers seemed to come easily to me. Every night during Ramadan, attending the local masjid, joining in with the other sisters, experiencing the joy, the anticipation, the dedication, it was, masha'Allah absolutely incredible. When I had to break my fasting, for ah hem, women's reasons, I was so sad!!! I couldn’t fast, I couldn’t pray, I couldn’t attend the masjid, and despite feeling a little annoyed.. I accepted that my lord was giving me a time to rest.

I called my father the day after I converted, he was concerned about the Desptatches programme, but I reassured him, explained my viewpoint, where I stood with my religion and each time we speak now, he’s pleased with my progress, interested in what I’m achieving, the new friends I’m making and actually said, it seems to have made you a calmer, more peaceful person.. as long as you are happy. Masha’Allah... I am so proud to have a father like this when I have heard the difficulties some people have experienced.

The next step was to broach my workplace – the reason for procrastinating about wearing hijab was due to a possible confliction of interest however I was feeling sad and uncomfortable without the hijab – it was part of me, it was my identity and seeing other women like myself I felt I wasn’t being true to me or obeying Allah.. I was told, just be patient, give it time. I did but then one day during Ramadan, when most of my colleagues knew I was fasting, although they never asked why..., I approaching my office manager and released everything. She was supportive, curious, didn't foresee any ‘problems’, and if it made me happy, then wear the hijab. I felt that I should just send a quick email to my co-workers to explain the different appearance and at the same time, chose what I considered to be the appropriate time. Then I wanted to tell my consultants.. all 12 of them so i composed an honest, sincere and open email to them all, explaining my decision, my feelings and asking for their support. Alhamdulillah.. I had so many words of praise for my courage, respect for my honesty that it was overwhelming. So, since October 2nd 2008, just one month after converting, I became a full time hijabi..

Finally everything started to come together, Alhamdulillah.

However presently, there is much more I still have to learn, many questions I still have to ask, and I am impatient because I am so eager to learn everything yet I have sabr.. I learned to accept and put my trust in Allah completely, I am at his mercy. Insha’Allah he will provide me with what I need when it is right for me. Allah knows best. Masha’Allah.. my happiness now knows no end with Allah part of my life. One of my wishes is to now take a couple of years off work and just to absorb myself with Islam, course after course. I have many years to make up for but realistically I will continue to work but not a day goes by when I do not have the intention to learn a little bit more, usually learning duas on the tube, to and from work, and from sites like these where I have to thank everyone who spends time reading these posts and who contributes and supports us all.

I have found that as time passes my deen is becoming the most important thing in my life, it takes priority. My life revolves around my 5 salat; I have taqwa alhamdulillah, I'm now trying, insha'Allah, to make my home as islamic as possible, no statues, paintings, etc., following the Sunni path, insha'Allah, just trying my hardest to do as Ya Rabb orders me to. Ah hem :embarrass, just need a pious husband to complete my deen! :D

I just wish there were more hours in the day to study Islam and worship, but have bills to pay and I know that despite what we know, it is never-ending Alhamdulillah!

On a current level, would love, insha'Allah, to meet other revert Sisters.. don't know many.

Well.. insha'Allah I haven't bored you with this humungus post :smile:, just to say, jazakAllah for reading and

Fi Aman Allah

Wa alaikum assalam

Stephanie
:muslimah:

القناعة تقيم في الأكواخ اكثر من القصور

[saba muslimah]

JazakAllah Sister..
May Allah give u reward in Jannah..
m on this way...just started couple of months...
also pray for me..
Thanx

[Revert to Peace]

JazakAllah Sister..
May Allah give u reward in Jannah..
m on this way...just started couple of months...
also pray for me..
Thanx

Assalamu alaikum Sister... jazakAllah khayan

May Allah guide you on the straight path and bring you home. I will remember you in my du'a insha'Allah.

Fi aman Allah

Stephanie
:muslimah:

[saba muslimah]

thanx dear

[allahuakbar79]

Allāhu Akbar

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh

I am a very recent revert to Islam. I have been searching for meaning, for answers in my life for a long time now. I was born into a protestant christian family and had the "normal" southeast american upbringing of going to church twice every Sunday and again Wednesday night. It wasn't until I ran away from home at the age of 17 that I knew there was something else other than life as I had known it. I looked into various forms of christianity including catholicism and found them all to come up seriously lacking. I have been non-religious for about a year now and have felt that something was still missing. I started learning about Islam on the Internet and instantly felt the connection. I can't speak Arabic yet, but that hasn't stopped me from saying the prayers anyway(in Arabic). I am still living with my parents and find it very difficult to talk to them about this because I know they will either tell me to pack and leave or ridicule me relentlessly. It wouldn't be such a big deal, but we live in New Mexico 120 miles from the nearest Masjid and there are no Muslims in the area that I know of. I would like to go somewhere and fully immerse myself in Islam and learn to read and speak arabic and really live a true Muslim life. I am still learning, but I know I am on the right path.

As-Salāmu `Alaykum

[BintAbee]

Wa alaikumus salaam

Congratulations to you and may Allah make it easy for you. All your efforts will be rewarded!

[ghengis]

wow.

[yasin ibn Ahmad]

Wa alaikumus salaam

Brother , may Allah help you.Inshallah you find a place to learn more about Islam.May Allah increase our knowledge of Islam.
As-Salāmu `Alaykum

[coddles76]

Allāhu Akbar

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh

I am a very recent revert to Islam. I have been searching for meaning, for answers in my life for a long time now. I was born into a protestant christian family and had the "normal" southeast american upbringing of going to church twice every Sunday and again Wednesday night. It wasn't until I ran away from home at the age of 17 that I knew there was something else other than life as I had known it. I looked into various forms of christianity including catholicism and found them all to come up seriously lacking. I have been non-religious for about a year now and have felt that something was still missing. I started learning about Islam on the Internet and instantly felt the connection. I can't speak Arabic yet, but that hasn't stopped me from saying the prayers anyway(in Arabic). I am still living with my parents and find it very difficult to talk to them about this because I know they will either tell me to pack and leave or ridicule me relentlessly. It wouldn't be such a big deal, but we live in New Mexico 120 miles from the nearest Masjid and there are no Muslims in the area that I know of. I would like to go somewhere and fully immerse myself in Islam and learn to read and speak arabic and really live a true Muslim life. I am still learning, but I know I am on the right path.

As-Salāmu `Alaykum

Wa Alykum Asalam
Allahu Akbar
May Allah SWT continue to strengthen you upon the righteous Deen of Islam, its beautiful to hear of your return to your creator. May Allah Bless you in all you do inshAllah.

Salam

[arsenal123]

Hi, Im currently looking in to Islam at the moment.. Was wondering if someone could give me some help/info?

[arsenal123]

Im a sister by the way

[coddles76]

Hi, Im currently looking in to Islam at the moment.. Was wondering if someone could give me some help/info?

Here is a good starting point.

I hope it helps

http://www.islam-guide.com/

[arsenal123]

Ive read quite a lot.. n looked in to it alot.. just wanted to talk to people that have maybe been in my position...

[arsenal123]

also i had this book :)

[coddles76]

Here is some really great info for you to research.

http://www.thisistruth.org/truth.php?f=WhatIsIslam

[arsenal123]

jazakallah :)

[coddles76]

Wa Aiykom

May Allah SWT lead you to righteousness inShAllah

[Yanal]

MashAllah so interesting to read them.

[Muslim Woman]

:sl:

The Guantánamo Guard Found Islam

http://www.newsweek.com/id/190357

http://informationclearinghouse.info/article22283.htm

[MuslimahBarb]

Assalamu alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu

Brothers and Sisters in Islam..

The love inside me for Islam knows no end.. I cannot tell you how passionate I am about my deen and Islam, and how reading about others conversions just inspires me and makes me feel so proud of our Ummah.. alhamdulillah.

My conversion story is just simple compared to some.. but alhamdulillah, Allah swt, ya Rabb, found us and put us on the straight path, alhamdulillah.



Well.. insha'Allah I haven't bored you with this humungus post :smile:, just to say, jazakAllah for reading and

Fi Aman Allah

Wa alaikum assalam

Stephanie
:muslimah:

القناعة تقيم في الأكواخ اكثر من القصور

:w:

Sister Stephanie

Thanks so much for sharing your reversion story, don't worry about the length of it. It always warms my heart to hear how others come to know Islam. I can certainly relate to the sense of peace that Islam brings you, it has certainly done that for me, mashallah.

[Muslim Woman]

In the name of Allah , Most Gracious, Most Merciful

American Youth Minister Converts


Paul's Teachings Startled Me



What triggered the Christian youth minister to read thoroughly the Old and New Testaments in an effort to compare and contrast between both teachings?


What was so startling about Paul's teachings that led Joshua to reconsider his blind faith in Christian theology? What instilled doubt in his heart and eventually led him to become a project director for an Islamic website?



Watch the 10-minute video to find out the answer.

http://www.readingislam.com/servlet/...am%2FDIELayout

[muslim soul]

Aslam alaykum
well I am not a new muslim ,but have been muslim for quite a few years
and always when i read storys of people who have reverts sends shivers down my spin and often tears subanallah ,softy i am lol
anyway here is a little story about me left some things out as to long to write

I wasnt raised in any religous backround all i knew was i was cathlic and had been baptised. i grew up in a single parent back round and went through quite alot of issues in my life which were down to my upbring sadley no bondary , no father and so on anyway i got introdued to islam round 18 years through mixing with arab students living in my area , before i knew it i was sharing ramadan with them , seeing them pray , fast and hearing the quran , subanallah for some reason i always felt comfortable around them
then life moved on and so did i were yet again my path crossed muslims and ened up marrying one but sadley he didnt pray wasnt a good example as i though ,but i stayed in the marrige and started to learn about islam myself and started to fast even when he didnt , the life for 5 years wasnt good but i stayed and my yearning to become muslim grew stronger as i learned more about islam , all my question about Allah were answered , the trinty to was an issues for me but islam made it clear for me and i knew while i was with this man i could not live my life as a muslim , as he had left the fold of islam
the pillars of faith . i wrote to yusuf islam for advice t my situation and it was clear to me this was a visa case subanallah anyway then i was pregant and had alot of problems with the husband and i made dua one day that i asked Allah to bless me with a boy and i will rasie him as a muslim , because at the time i knew thi smarrige wouldtn last ones papers arrive and if im going to be a single parent i had this idea it was easier to rasie a boy that girl in islam
which now isnt the case .

so finally we devoiced alahmduillah it really was a test and blessing for me those years and within a few weeks i had took my shahada , i couldnt wait any longer i knew the truth , the correct path i needed to take and was afraid i would die knowing the truth yet not submit to my creator.
And so spent my time as a single parent for a while and learning my deen and getting to grow as a muslima wasnt easy i felt on my face many times and got mixed up with some who were preaching the wrong islam which now our ummah are suffering because of those misguided muslims

Alhmduillah some years on i know im on the right path following the quran and sunnah and the way of the salaf

finally i advice all new to islam to beware who you take your knowledge from and not to blindy follow
thats my story all cut short lol
jazukallah khir for reading
walaykum aslam your sister in islam:)

[GreyKode]

^ beautiful story sis. May ALLAH strengthen you.

[syilla]

Aslam alaykum
well I am not a new muslim ,but have been muslim for quite a few years
and always when i read storys of people who have reverts sends shivers down my spin and often tears subanallah ,softy i am lol
anyway here is a little story about me left some things out as to long to write

I wasnt raised in any religous backround all i knew was i was cathlic and had been baptised. i grew up in a single parent back round and went through quite alot of issues in my life which were down to my upbring sadley no bondary , no father and so on anyway i got introdued to islam round 18 years through mixing with arab students living in my area , before i knew it i was sharing ramadan with them , seeing them pray , fast and hearing the quran , subanallah for some reason i always felt comfortable around them
then life moved on and so did i were yet again my path crossed muslims and ened up marrying one but sadley he didnt pray wasnt a good example as i though ,but i stayed in the marrige and started to learn about islam myself and started to fast even when he didnt , the life for 5 years wasnt good but i stayed and my yearning to become muslim grew stronger as i learned more about islam , all my question about Allah were answered , the trinty to was an issues for me but islam made it clear for me and i knew while i was with this man i could not live my life as a muslim , as he had left the fold of islam
the pillars of faith . i wrote to yusuf islam for advice t my situation and it was clear to me this was a visa case subanallah anyway then i was pregant and had alot of problems with the husband and i made dua one day that i asked Allah to bless me with a boy and i will rasie him as a muslim , because at the time i knew thi smarrige wouldtn last ones papers arrive and if im going to be a single parent i had this idea it was easier to rasie a boy that girl in islam
which now isnt the case .

so finally we devoiced alahmduillah it really was a test and blessing for me those years and within a few weeks i had took my shahada , i couldnt wait any longer i knew the truth , the correct path i needed to take and was afraid i would die knowing the truth yet not submit to my creator.
And so spent my time as a single parent for a while and learning my deen and getting to grow as a muslima wasnt easy i felt on my face many times and got mixed up with some who were preaching the wrong islam which now our ummah are suffering because of those misguided muslims

Alhmduillah some years on i know im on the right path following the quran and sunnah and the way of the salaf

finally i advice all new to islam to beware who you take your knowledge from and not to blindy follow
thats my story all cut short lol
jazukallah khir for reading
walaykum aslam your sister in islam:)

MashaAllah ukhtee... :) May Allah help you all the way Ameen...

[Muslim Woman]

Salaam/peace


Swedish Atheist Converts



Reading about Malcom X inspired Frederick to read about Islam.

Frederick is a Swede who comes from a Christian Protestant background, though he never had been religious himself. He had been an atheist as far as he can remember.



He made some heavy research online and he started reading the Swedish translation of the Quran. Though he did not understand much of what he was reading, he felt its immense power in his heart.



How did Frederick finally choose Islam? Why is it hard for Frederick to practice Islam in the West?
Why would finishing the military service as a Muslim be a challenge? Watch his 6 minute video.


Related Links

* A British Teen Embraces Islam at 15
* A British Neo-Nazi's Journey to Islam
* A Different Childhood
* A Canadian's Journey to Islam
* A German Teenager Discovers "Cool" Islam
* A Hindu's Journey to Islam
* The Moment of Awakening
* Abu Bakr: A Man Among Men (Part One)
* A Muslim Employee Led Me to Islam

http://www.readingislam.com/servlet/...am%2FDIELayout

[Muslim Woman]

:sl:


A Dutch Convert With Hopes and Plans



Nourdeen Wildeman is a 26-year-old Dutch Muslim who converted to Islam "officially" on the 9th of December 2007. In his short period as a Muslim, he managed to launch his ongoing project "Find the Mosque that Fits You Best."

We are interviewing Nourdeen not only on his project's experience, which gives useful information on Dutch mosques, but on his daily challenges and opportunities as a Dutch Muslim convert as well.
As a platform for European Muslims, we are presenting Nourdeen as one of the positive role models for European Muslim youths.

Invitation: Are you a European Muslim? We cordially invite you to share your positive experiences with IslamOnline.net (IOL)'s audience through sending them to euro_muslims@iolteam.comto be published on the IOL's European Muslims Page.



http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/S...ms%2FEMELayout

[Chains of Faith]

These are very inspiring stories, Mashallah.

They make me proud to be a Muslim.

[Muslim Woman]

:sl:

My Holy Quest (Video)

An Australian Man Converts ( Part 1)

By Reading Islam Team


Related Links

• A Tex-Mex Muslim - Part One
• A Tex-Mex Muslim - Part Two
• An Unfinished Journey
• "Are You Nuts?"
• Chatting My Way to Islam
• Could I Deal with God Directly?
• “Don’t Worship Me!” That’s What Buddha Said

He faced a tough year as his parents separated and his friend died. This made him

pause and think. He started questioning why he bothered waking up every morning.

Christianity was his first stop. He was confused between the Bible's words and the priests' interpretation of God's words. So he left Christianity in a quest to search for the truth.

Islam was the last in his long line of religious investigation, but what was his first visit to the mosque like? What was his first impression of Islam?

Watch the first part of this 8 minute video.

http://www.readingislam.com/servlet/...am%2FDIELayout

[love_quran]

:sl:
I really liked this story of a boy who converted at the age of 10 !!!!!
just read on :

WOW!! That is a great "testimony"!! I am just completely blown away:awesome:

[greenshirt]

well i tried writing up my revert story last night and it ended up being a long, long story. and i still felt i left out much info of my journey.

so i will summarize my story as short as possible this time!

basically, in 2003 i started getting more religious.(as a christian.) i started to like studying religion in general, and not just christianity. i one day saw some muslims on TV protesting the book "the davinci code" and i remember they were holding a picture of jesus.(i now know they were shia muslims, but at the time didnt know the difference.) so it made me interested into what muslims believe, and why they were protesting a book that mainly christians were against.

so i did a plain and simple google of "islam." i read a lot about it. and, it made complete sense.

but i was still an honest believing christian. so, i just read about both religions for fun. however i started coming across skeptical sites of christianity and after reading up, and looking at some of what they have to say, i eventually became disenchanted with christianity.(this took a few years by the way, not as quick as i am making it sound.)

so i left christianity but still wasnt a muslim. i didnt like islam to be honest because i disagreed with so many moral values of islam. keep in mind i was raised in a liberal environment where i was exposed to all kinds of diversity and i was very open minded.

so i tried to deny islam and find reasons why not to believe in it. but it didnt work. in my heart i knew it was true though i was denying it.

on christmas day of 2007, after christmas mass,(i was not a christian at this time but still went with the family), all of a sudden i just admitted to myself islam was true and i had to accept it.

but i still didnt for a few months, but finally i said my shahadah in mid 2008, alhumdullillah! and, i love my religion. though i did indeed have problems accepting some moral views of islam, i know that ALLAH KNOWS BEST! and none of these deny the authenticity of islam, they are just personal disagreements on issues like abortion and gay marriage.

it took me years before i accepted the religion but now i am a happy muslim. i love my religion and love allah(swt) and his messengers!(peace be upon them.)

[Muslim Woman]

:sl:

well i tried writing up my revert story last night

Thanks bro for sharing your story . Welcome to Islam :statisfie

May Allah bless you always, Ameen.

[Beardo]

Not a revert myself, but I find it so beautiful how people convert. It's such a huge sacrifice. It makes me feel guilty about how easily I take my faith. Reverts are always very good when it comes to religion and following it, proclaiming it. It's a huge step for them. Allah make it easy for them all! Ameen!

[Muslim Woman]

:sl:

A New Turning Point
A Latin-American Woman Converts (Part 2)







Sarah Paez Gonzalez and her two sons.

Related Links
God, Show Me the Way (Part 1)
Dreaming of Inner Peace
Helping Hands to Guide Me
When God Reached Out to Me

http://www.readingislam.com/servlet/...ayout&ref=body

[Muslimlearner]

I can't stop to cry..
I am so happy to be a muslim!Alhamdulilla!

Like brother greenshirt my iman didn't come at once:it was long jorney...
Only to understand what is tawheed,took me more then a year; I was an atheist,living in atheist family.
I didn't really know what Islam is,but I was certain I have to say the shahada-it was so strong felling!
Then is was the period:,,everything is haraam?''
a period of discovering.
Then the islamic school;understanding Kur'an and finally the peace and happiness come to me,alhamdulilla!
I know Allah SUT planed every step I made in the past and guide me to the right path,bcos He is The Best Planner!

[Muslim Woman]

:sl:

I can't stop to cry..
I am so happy to be a muslim!Alhamdulilla!

MashaAllah , may Allah bless you sis :)

[Muslim Woman]

:sl:


A Roman Catholic US Marine Discovers Islam


...

Catholicism, whatever else it was, was polytheistic. The realization was shattering to me. I knew at that point that I could not obey the laws of Allah and continue to praise Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) as his son.

I talked it over with my wife. She was concerned, to say the least. We spent hours discussing what it would do to our family. She went with me to the masjid where we spoke with a man named Muhammed. Not only was he able to sway her fears, she decided to convert as well.

Becoming Muslim was no doubt the right decision. My friends and family, save my parents, were very supportive. My father would not speak to me for the next three months. My wife's family, to this day is still unsupportive. I have no doubt that Allah will soften their hearts in the future.

Related Links

• Italian Catholic Finds Meaning in Islam
• My Holy Quest (Watch)
• Lost in the Woods (Part 1)
• Like a Butterfly Set Free

http://www.readingislam.com/servlet/...ayout&ref=body

[Muslimlearner]

:sl:



MashaAllah , may Allah bless you sis :)

May Allah bless all the ummah!

I've met a 10 year old boy from India.

His grand-mother accept Islam long time ago,but she have stayed married to her hindu husband and she make lots and lots of du'aa her children to come in Islam ..
They grew and and the son have got a job in Emirates and the sisters marry hindus in India.
The son took his mom there-she was old and alone-her husband have died..
One day,in may 2009, they invite one of the sisters, her 2 kids and husband to come to Dubai for a week .

They went to visit Dubai Museum and find some free books about Islam..
After they took a boat to see The Creek and in one moment the 10 years old say: ,,Mom,dad-we have to accept Islam-it will be good for the familly!''
(:cry:)
They were so surprised,looking to eachother!

After few days they come to the islamic center and say shahada in front of the studens!!!It was so tuching!!!
Alllah guide all the familly:son,wife and kids,his 2 sisters and kids,and one of the husbands.The other say he can't give up the hindu's public events,but he gave divorse to his wife.May Allah guide him too!

Isn't that amazing?! Allah fulfill the du'aa of the mother!Subhan-Allah!Subhan-Allah!
The boy memorise and recite Al-Fatiha after the shahada!

Make du'a for all of them!

[Muslim Woman]

:sl:

Make du'a for all of them!

InshaAllah rest of the family will come to Islam :)

thanks sis for sharing

[ducki]

these stories are so touching.. mashAllah...

[Ramadhan]

I love reading all these stories because they remind me again and again how fortunate I am to have been born in a muslim family, and these stories also motivate me to constantly maintain and increase my Imaan and to hold fast to the rope of Allah

[nasayem]

Ok,here's my story.
I had the traditional Christian upbringing.I went to a school in

Birmingham & on Sunday's,while the grown ups were in the big

church,I was attending Sunday School,reading the Bible

which,for a 7 year old girl (or boy) was confusing.
I remember when I went to visit family in Northern Ireland,I got

to become friends with a girl over the road,oh,I was what,12

ish,& I got beaten up by older girls who called me a 'Feinian

lover' because Cathy was Catholic.At the time I had no idea of the

religious hatred that existed over here.
Later,when I was about 15-16,I became a bit of a rebel against my

parents & hung out with in their eye's,the wrong crowd.I left

school & my family moved back to Ireland.Eventually I moved

out & got my own place when I got a job in a record store.
I lived for the weekends! Friday night would see me & a possy of

mates bopping away in the local clubs,getting hammered on

Vodka & Alcopops.
Saturday I'd often come too & it'd take the rest of the weekend to

recover but more often than not I'd be out on Saturday nite too,
Then one nite over a year ago,I was being chatted up in the disco

by some bloek inbetween dances.Next thing I remember is

kneeling in front of a toilet in a pool of vomit,vomit all down my

dress, being sick again.
One of the girls got me into a taxi eventually & I had to sit on a

plastic bag & was constantly getting the driver to pull over so I

could be sick.(I only remeber bits of it,it's what I've been told)
Anyway,it turns out someone had dropped an 'E' or 'Acid Tab'

into my drink so I'm told.(I have never done drugs!)
One of the women where I worked was a Muslim & I noticed she

used to sit in the canteen reading a book on her breaks.We got

chatting & one day,while she was in the loo,I sneaked a look at

the book,the Quoran.
She must've seen me so she began telling me about the Book.One

night I was invited to tea at her home.She cooked a simple but

nice meal.A few weeks later in the canteen she was'nt eating &

when I offered her a bit of my meal,she explained it was Ramadan

& I asked her what it was.
Later on I told her what'd happened that night in the club,which

was wierd cuz I'd sworn my other girlfriends to secrecy & here I

was telling a relative stranger!
At home I found myself going onto websites like Bebo less & less

& googling Islamic sites more.
I'm sure she got annoyed with my constant quesions!LOL
Eventually I asked what it was like to be Muslim & we went

out,both in Hijab,to the local oriental market.It felt wierd being in

Hijab but oddly comforting.When we got back I prayed for the

first time.
She witnessed my Shahada with her family & I was sooo happy!A

few days later l was shopping in town wearing Hijab & bumped

into some of my old friends.They were shocked,even more when I

told them I was now called Nasayem.In taking a new name,I have

left the past behind.
Sorry it's quite long but I feel it's better to know the full reason

why.If I had continued my old life,I dont know where I'd be.
My friend has now returned home with her family but we keep in

touch.
Nasayem.

[syilla]

^^^ Alhamdullilah you found islam...and May Allah protect and help you all the way..Ameen. Jazakallah khayr for sharing with us.

you deserve a reps.

[Mohamed_]

How I converted to Islam.

My dad was interesting about the Islam "world" and the muslim people. He met a muslim man and asked him how it is. Then the muslim man told him to go a mosque where he can feel free to ask anything.
So my mum and dad and me went there many times. I was 2 years old then, and it's all happened 13 years ago.

We converted to Islam, my dad choosen the name "Abdullah", my mum choosen the name "Emila" (or something like that, I can't really remember) and my parents choosen me the name "Mohamed".

I remember every muslim liked me there, they played a lot of with me, told me tales of Mohamed and stuff. And I also liked them. I was so excited when we were going to the mosque. I remember I always asked my parents "when do we meet Yahya?". Yahya is from Yemen. He teached my parents how to be good muslim, and teached them to write-, speak arabic.

Later the mosque is closed by some problem. And we didn't go there anymore. We didn't go there anymore. And I didn't see Yahya and the others anymore.

My mum started to dislike Islam, and she didn't/doesn't like it anymore. And my dad followed her, so they got out of Islam.
Later my parents separated I lived and still live with my mum.

Later my mum and me moved to another city, and I was a student at a christian grade school. I always felt like I can't be christian, God doesn't want me to be a christian. And I always was defending the Islam in school too.

I done the grade school, and went to a high school, they knew/know that I was a muslim and I followed/following the Islam rules. But there wasn't/isn't problem.

I done the first class of the high school, and on this summer. My dad was looking for the old muslim friends. He found Yahya! We were so happy to found him. And we met at a mosque once and talked to him, that was so awesome when I could again say "Salam aleiykum"! And I met arabic people and muslims again. And then we also prayed together twice in the mosque. And I was thinking a lot of I should be a muslim and it will be good for me.

I decided to be one, my dad teached me how to pray correctly. And I started to pray. And also started to read books, and started the big learning about Islam.

I'm a muslim since about a month, nowadays.

I'm really so happy to my dad he found Yahya. And I feel myself bless to be with you all, brothers and sisters.


I wish Allah guide me on the straight way -insallah.


So, this is my story!:p :statisfie :statisfie


Ps, sorry for my english, it isn't one of the best ones.

[crayon]

^MashaAllah brother, what a story! Alhamdullilah. And your English is great. :)

[Nσσя'υℓ Jαииαн]

MashaAllah brother, sweet story!
I have a question, is your dad Muslim again?
If I can understand your English then you've passed! At least for me lol.

Salaam Alaikum.

[Mohamed_]

Thank you very much sisters!
And yes, my dad is muslim again, he's also registered on this forum, his username is Muslim Hungary. But his english worse than mine, that's why he couldn't write anything yet, when I can get to him then I will teach him how to post. :D

But my mum isn't a muslim and she doesn't even want to be anymore... :S

[Nσσя'υℓ Jαииαн]

MashaAllah for your father and yes do get your father posting inshaAllah :D

May Allah guide your mother, Ameen.

:sl:

[Mohamed_]

MashaAllah for your father and yes do get your father posting inshaAllah :D

May Allah guide your mother, Ameen.

:sl:

Thanks :) And yea, I will get him, when I can go to visit him. :D

[Nσσя'υℓ Jαииαн]

You're welcome and InshaAllah :)

[Yusuf Saeed]

:salamext:

Here's my story.

I come from a very non-religious family. Unfortunately neither of my parents really believe in God though my dad goes to church usually once a year but he goes there just because of a christmas tradition people have here. But that mostly doesn't have much to do with religion anymore. Also all of my close relatives are mainly atheists. In fact I can't think of any relative of mine who I know to believe in God. When I was little I wasn't religious at all. Later I somehow started having some sense of God and hereafter. From there on there were several years I wasn't in any religion but then started feeling christianity to be a way that suited me. One thing I remember was that I started regretting that I was never baptized (though now being a muslim I'm glad I wasn't baptized).

Then a couple of years from there I started liking going to the church and especially to one certain church in another town I used to go sometimes. I seldom went there for sermons but I just loved it to go there and just sit and pray and talk to God there on my own. It wasn't very long time from there till I started seriously doubting the fact of Jesus(aleihi salam) being the son of God. I don't know how exactly I got to that but anyways from there on I was non-religious yet believing in one God. And it was last summer when - perhaps cause of the interest I have in the Middle-East - I started thinking about islam and started moving closer to it.

I got the Estonian translation of the Qur'an on the 6th of September but in the same evening just few hours later something came inbetween me getting into islam. I started liking one Indian girl I met on Skype that evening. I wasn't completely sure yet at that time about becoming a muslim so it was a very bad time of starting a relationship with a hindu girl. Anyways, this is what happened. I was supposed to go to Egypt in the end of December and by that time I had read the translation of the Qur'an and I was quite sure of becoming a muslim. I hoped that in Egypt I would learn how to pray but even though I prayed for God to show me the right thing to do I still cancelled the whole trip some 5 hours before the flight so that I could have money for going to India to meet the Indian girl in real. And in the end of January it happened, I made my biggest mistake ever and I went there to be with her. I was foolish to hope that maybe going there would make some difference and she would become a muslim as well but it was all in vain and instead I did a lot of wrong there with her that I still regret more than anything else.

After coming back home I discovered some things about her that left me with no other choice than putting an end to the whole thing. I was afraid it would be really difficult because I think I really loved her a lot and till the end tried my best to make the relationship work but fortunately Allah made my heart cold in the end and helped to make the end easier than I expected it to be. It all ended in March and that's why I consider April as the time I really became a muslim. And during the months since then I've become even closer and closer to islam and I still feel that my eman is getting stronger.

All in all I feel myself to be very blessed by Allah since Estonia is the most non-religious country(when people in many countries where asked a question if religion is important or not 84% here said "no") yet I've been guided to the most right way. Alhamdulillah for that.
What is more a week ago I had a great chance to go to an islamic seminar in Poland. There were some good lectures by some Saudi sheikhs but the most wonderful thing for me was to pray, eat and sleep in a masjid together with my brothers in islam during the days there. Surely these were the most beautiful days I've had so far.

The more I think about it the more I feel that we are all so very blessed to be in islam. May Allah's peace, mercy and blessings be upon all of you, brothers and sisters. :)

[Yusuf Saeed]

EDIT: I made a huge mistake by saying that I can't think of any relative believing in God. I don't know how I could forget this that my grandfather is very religious and have a strong faith in God.

[GreyKode]

EDIT: I made a huge mistake by saying that I can't think of any relative being in God. I don't know how I could forget this that my grandfather is very religious and have a strong faith in God.

Nice story brother, may ALLAH(swt) guide us all to the right path and keep us away from evil.

Insha'llah looking forward to your posts.

[Nσσя'υℓ Jαииαн]

:sl:

MashaAllah brother Yusuf :statisfie
Welcome to Islam. May Allah keep you guided and keep you safe from the wiswaas of shaytan, Ameen.

:w:

[NoorInaya]

Asalaamu Alaikam,

I actually made a video of my reversion story (I got tired of telling it over and over, heh heh).

Are we allowed to post links to videos on the forum?

Let me know, and if so, then inshAllah I will post it.

wasalaamz,

[Nσσя'υℓ Jαииαн]

Yes you can sister. I wana see your reversion vid! :D

:sl:

[Muslim Woman]

:sl:


A Glimpse of Paradise



An American Christian's Journey to Islam (Part 2)


Molly Ann Elian is a multicultural Muslim woman who reverted in 2005. She graduated from Arizona State University with a B.A. in Communication Studies and plans to pursue an MFA in Creative Writing. She currently lives in between the U.S. and Egypt with her Egyptian husband.





Related Links

• Dreaming of Inner Peace
• I Felt Home at Last
• When God Reached Out to Me
• From Catholicism to Islam
• She Felt Islam Deep Inside Her Heart

http://www.readingislam.com/servlet/...am%2FDIELayout

[syilla]

Asalaamu Alaikam,

I actually made a video of my reversion story (I got tired of telling it over and over, heh heh).

Are we allowed to post links to videos on the forum?

Let me know, and if so, then inshAllah I will post it.

wasalaamz,

ukhtee where is the video ? :p

p/s:- islamicboard always make me cry... i have to stop myself from coming here...huhuhu

[Misz_Muslimah]

Mashallah all these revert stories are fab..Its so great to hear about people reverting from all sorts of different religions..:)

[Muslim Woman]

:sl:

An Ex-Bad Boy Rapper Accepts Islam




By Reading Islam Team

He was part of P. Diddy's Bad Boy records, where he released his self-titled debut album. In 2004, He left Bad Boy to start his own label, Boss Up Entertainment.

He started his music career as a member of Mase's rap collective Harlem World (group). Along with his music, he has also been featured in two movies directed by Damon Dash: State Property 2, and Death of a Dynasty.

He converted to Islam while on a tour in Dubai in December 2008, and changed his name to Amir Junaid Muhadith. Watch this 6 minute video about Loon's conversion.



http://www.readingislam.com/servlet/...am%2FDIELayout

[pramudito]

I was a catholic when i joined this forum. Long story. The reason was like a cup of coffee, taste so bitter but yet so sweet. I would share that someday.

[Muslim Woman]

:sl:

I was a catholic when i joined this forum. Long story.

Salaam; Welcome to Islam bro :)

waiting to read your story . U may cut it short if don't have time for the long one :statisfie

[Humbler_359]

:sl:

Man, this revert stories are the best journals, I used to read alot alot of reverts information. I stopped reading it since 2006. imsad

I will definitely to follow up more these stories here, and let me subscribe thread. I will get to know some of your reverts brothers and sisters here. :D

Alhamdulillah!

[Muslim Woman]

:sl:

An Interview with Imam Zaid Shakir




Imam Zaid Shakir, one of the foremost Islamic scholars in the West, embraced Islam while in the Air Force in 1977 after a prolonged study of various faiths and practices.

After obtaining his BA in International Relations and his MA in Political Science, he traveled to Cairo, Egypt to study Arabic.

Upon returning to the United States, Imam Zaid served as imam of Masjid al-Islam in New Haven Connecticut from 1988 to 1994.

He then traveled to Syria and Morocco to further pursue studies in Arabic as well as in Islamic law, Quranic studies, and spirituality.

After graduating from Syria's prestigious Abu Noor University, he returned to Connecticut in 2001 and eventually moved to Hayward, California in 2003 to serve as a resident scholar and lecturer at Zaytuna Institute.

Imam Zaid is known within the Muslim community and beyond as a social activist, lecturer, and writer. He is one of the most influential scholars in articulating the American Muslim experience.




How did he learn about Islam? What were the challenges that he faced? What advice would he give new Muslims?

Recently Reading Islam spoke to Imam Zaid and asked him all these questions, and more.

Related Links

• Wandering Through Religions

• A Religion of Action and Practice

• Looking for the Truth About God

• When I Thought There Was No Way Out

• Paul's Teachings Startled Me

http://www.readingislam.com/servlet/...ayout&ref=body

[Muslim Woman]

:sl:

A Faith I Had Never Considered



An American Catholic Finds Islam





Ibrahim Long embraced Islam in 2005 and later obtained his BA in Humanities and Religious Studies in 2007. He has since then taught courses on Islam to the Muslim and interfaith community, and is currently an MA candidate in Islamic atudies and Muslim/Christian relations at Hartford Seminary, Connecticut.


http://www.readingislam.com/servlet/...ayout&ref=body

[Woodrow]

:sl:

A Faith I Had Never Considered



An American Catholic Finds Islam

Ibrahim Long embraced Islam in 2005 and later obtained his BA in Humanities and Religious Studies in 2007. He has since then taught courses on Islam to the Muslim and interfaith community, and is currently an MA candidate in Islamic atudies and Muslim/Christian relations at Hartford Seminary, Connecticut.


http://www.readingislam.com/servlet/...ayout&ref=body

Many years ago I attended Hartford Seminary as a young seminarian preparing for the Priesthood. I am very pleased that the seminary has now opened it's doors to a broader world of truth.

[gang4]

Many years ago I attended Hartford Seminary as a young seminarian preparing for the Priesthood. I am very pleased that the seminary has now opened it's doors to a broader world of truth.

I am sure I am not the only one here who love to read Woodrow's reversion story...

Would I find it if I search it?

[Muslim Woman]

:sl:

9/11 Sparked My Interest



An African American Finds Islam

By Justin L. Peyton


...If I had to identify one single event as the starting point for my journey to Islam, it would have to be the tragic events of 9/11. (Now before anyone gets spooked, thinking that I'm a radicalized American convert and forwards this story to the FBI, give me the benefit of the doubt and continue reading.)

After months of seeing very unflattering media coverage about Islam and Muslims, it occurred to me that the negative portrait being painted did not coincide with the experiences I had with Muslim classmates, neighbors and others, growing up in Philadelphia.

It also occurred to me that despite knowing Muslims, I had never actually bothered to take the time to learn about their faith.

So, with the open-mindedness instilled in me by my parents, I decided to research some facts about Islam in order to reconcile the apparent disparity between my personal experiences and media coverage.

.....The two years I spent as a part of the Philadelphia Muslim community and an employee of CAIR-PA was a tremendous learning experience that really spurred my development and whetted my appetite for more.

And that leads me to where I am now, an Islamic chaplaincy student at Hartford Seminary in Connecticut, pursuing its combined Masters of Arts in Islamic studies, Christian-Muslim relations and Graduate Certificate in Islamic chaplaincy.



http://www.readingislam.com/servlet/...ayout&ref=body

[Woodrow]

I am sure I am not the only one here who love to read Woodrow's reversion story...

Would I find it if I search it?

I will make it easier for the curious. Jazakallahu Khayran for your interest. It is far back in this very thread you are reading. Post #125

To make it easy here is the link to it.

http://www.islamicboard.com/new-musl...tml#post323571

That is the short condensed abstract of the whole story, at one point I did post a more complete one containg the events of what took place during the day I said the Shahadah at home and the Friday at the Masjid.

To add that part in as few words as possible;

Keep in mind I was living in a small country town in Texas. Tennessee Colony, Texas in Anderson County. Typical ranch country. I did not know of any Masjids in Texas and had not had any contact with any Muslims for at least 30 years. Except for my Children who I had not seen for nearly 20 years.

Anyhow after saying the shahadah I walked to the closest store to get a bite to eat. My car was dead, if memory serves me right the rear wheel bearings had given out. Anyhow when I got to the store there was a stranger in it. An Asian appearing gentleman whom I had never seen before. I greeted him with as-Salaamu Alaikum, he replied back and then asked "How long have you been Muslim?" I said "about 30 minutes." He then told me there was a Masjid in tyler 60 miles away. I told him my car was not running. From then until I moved in with him he drove out to Tennessee Colony and picked me up for Jummah every Friday. I ended up living with him several months and he was essentialy my first teacher of Islam.

[Muslim Woman]

:sl:

..From then until I moved in with him he drove out to Tennessee Colony and picked me up for Jummah every Friday..

May Allah reward him , Ameen.

bro Woodrow , don't remember now If read sis Abida's revert story. Do u have the link ??

[Woodrow]

:sl:



May Allah reward him , Ameen.

bro Woodrow , don't remember now If read sis Abida's revert story. Do u have the link ??

:wa:

So far she has not written it. I've been encouraging her to write it. But, she is quite shy. It is a very interesting story. Her Grandson led her to Islam.

[anatolian]

Asalaamu Alaikam,

I actually made a video of my reversion story (I got tired of telling it over and over,

You are unbelievable :)

[Muslim Woman]

:sl:

... she is quite shy. It is a very interesting story. Her Grandson led her to Islam.

sis abidah , don't be shy , don't be shy , share ur story with us pl. :statisfie

[Nur-ud-Dean]

I have published an account of an Australian's journey to Islam here: www.NewMuslimDhikr.co.uk

[Muslim Woman]

:sl:


My Name Made Me Muslim



An American Medical Student Finds Islam


My name is Tarik Preston. I embraced the religion of Islam in 1988 at the age of 19.

The story of how I came to embrace Islam is not a very long story, and in many respects, I think that the story of how Allah (God) continued to guide me after I entered Islam is more of an inspiring story.

Nevertheless, this story begins with my name. I was given the name Tarik at birth. In the 60s, the 70s, and even the 80s, it wasn't all that unusual for some Americans to give their children African names. Many times, the names they chose from Africa were actually Islamic names, which is what happened with my name.

Related Links

• Was This the Religion for Me?
• Its Rhyming Poetry Captured Me
• Its Amazing Simplicity
• Mysterious Beauty
• I Finally Figured It Out
• Falling For Islam

http://www.readingislam.com/servlet/...ayout&ref=body

[Esther462]

I've been a muslim for 2 years now. I was a Christan before I became Muslim.
The reson why I converted to Islam was I was seeing Jesus (pbuh) more as a prophet and that he didn't die on the cross. I watched a tv program about islam and I really wanted to find out more. I begain to read more into Islam and started to belive in what muslim belived in. I started to come on here to find out more about islam. I met a muslim on here that was from my town. We met up and she took me to my local mosque where I said my shahadah.
Since becoming muslim, life has been hard for me. My family hasn't excepted me being muslim and really want me to go back to Christanity. I stand out in my town as there are hardly any muslims here.

[Muslim Woman]

:sl:

Since becoming muslim, life has been hard for me. .

:cry:


may Allah bless u sis and make life easy for u .

[Proud of Islam]

Since becoming muslim, life has been hard for me. My family hasn't excepted me being muslim and really want me to go back to Christanity. I stand out in my town as there are hardly any muslims here.

Assalamu Alikom sis.. May Allah make it easy for you.. Just remember how the prophet Mohammad (pbuh) and his companions faced hard times at the beginning of their Islam. Their families didn't accept their Islam exactly as yours. Loving Allah (swt) is what they lived for, and they were ready to face any difficulty and prevail it in the sake of Allah. Be strong dear, you'll insha'Allah have rewards that we (as born Muslims) may not have. Remember that Allah has guided you to the light which many people are deprived of. Remember that when we daily make doa's for all Muslims, you'r included. So, more than a billion of people are making do'as for you in every minute of your day!
You are following the right path, so be patient sis.. The difficulty will eases by the time insha'Allah.. Remember sis that there are many people who are facing difficulties in different issues, but you're facing difficulty in the most honorable thing.. It is Islam..

----------------------------------------------------------------

Longing for the Paradise (Al-Jannah) where the endless happiness…

[Muslimlearner]

:sl:

Today an arabic woman say the shahada in my islamic center :statisfie.
Her story is short and unusual:
her mother is a Syrian Cristian ;her father is Druzi and her husband: Shiite.
She was not following any religion,but looking for the Truth...
And Subhan-Allah,she find it!
She is divorced now and join our big family :statisfie

Pls make du'a for her and her son,may Allah SUT guide him too!

[Caller الداعي]

Pls make du'a for her and her son,may Allah SUT guide him too!

aaameeenn!!!!!!!

[cat eyes]

I've been a muslim for 2 years now. I was a Christan before I became Muslim.
The reson why I converted to Islam was I was seeing Jesus (pbuh) more as a prophet and that he didn't die on the cross. I watched a tv program about islam and I really wanted to find out more. I begain to read more into Islam and started to belive in what muslim belived in. I started to come on here to find out more about islam. I met a muslim on here that was from my town. We met up and she took me to my local mosque where I said my shahadah.
Since becoming muslim, life has been hard for me. My family hasn't excepted me being muslim and really want me to go back to Christanity. I stand out in my town as there are hardly any muslims here.

sis i have the same problem. my dad would love nothing more if i reverted back i know its bad but i avoid going to see my family now because my dad has pictures of idols and pictures of jesus pbuh on the wall been in the family for 50years and i once told my father to take it down i mean he dose not worship it and has not been religious since my mum died and he will not take it down so i don't see the point of it at all. an old irish tradition i suppose. my brothers slang me off and call me extremist. my older brother has a friend who left islam and now his family want to kill him so he had to flee his country so thats why my brother hates islam...theres no talking to him at all. he absorbs everything on the internet whats been said bad bout islam and he believes it to be a very evil religion so i tryed to give him some dawah and showed him vids on utube from what brothers had uploaded. i have not seen my family now in a while as i am living far away

[Ramadhan]

^ I pray to Allah SWT to give you strength, increase your deen, and give you ease

[Arabiyah]

Thanks , al7amdulillah I was born as a Muslim

[OurIslamic]

It was nice reading these posts :)

[linuses]

Together lets spread the message of Islam. Tell your friends about this article - http://linuses.blogspot.com , if you have a blog/website, please create a link to it so that it will reach other people. May Allah reward you.

[Muslim Woman]

:sl:

From Cocktail Pub to Islam





By Hassan Isilow, IOL Correspondent

"Now I have a good relationship with my family, friends and Allhamdullilah I’m living a healthier life as a result of Islam," Laura told IOL.

http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/S...News/NWELayout

[linuses]

I've been a muslim for 2 years now. I was a Christan before I became Muslim.
The reson why I converted to Islam was I was seeing Jesus (pbuh) more as a prophet and that he didn't die on the cross. I watched a tv program about islam and I really wanted to find out more. I begain to read more into Islam and started to belive in what muslim belived in. I started to come on here to find out more about islam. I met a muslim on here that was from my town. We met up and she took me to my local mosque where I said my shahadah.
Since becoming muslim, life has been hard for me. My family hasn't excepted me being muslim and really want me to go back to Christanity. I stand out in my town as there are hardly any muslims here.

Salaam. May Allah show you mercy. There's an authentic hadeeth which says that when Allah wants to do good to a person, He gives them hardship to purify them so that on the day of judgment you will never have to experience hardship again. Meaning He hurries the hardship for you in this life so that on the day of judgment wherein a lot of people will experience hardship, you will be spared from it.

linus

http://linuses.blogspot.com

[Muslim Woman]

:sl:

A Have It Your Way Believer

The Story of an American Christian Convert

By Gabriel Eckerson

He liked to do things his own way. He practiced his own version of Christianity, then he ended up… Read more.


....A couple years ago, as a Christian, I decided not to pray or sing to Jesus anymore. I was still a Christian. But whenever a song at church was directed to praising or worshiping Jesus, my mouth was closed. Isn't this anti-Christian? No. It is pro-Christian!

Worshiping God, our Father, alone, was Jesus' directive. He led us to worship the Father. Never did he direct praise upon himself nor instruct anyone to pray to him. This is how I came to the conclusion to only worship the Father.

Another point was when Jesus said people's sins were forgiven. I couldn't find any spot where Jesus said that he himself forgave anyone of their sins. Even John the Baptist told people when their sins were forgiven.

full story here :

http://www.readingislam.com/servlet/...lam/DIESection

[muslimah_81]

:sl:

I know the reversion story below is a bit long but I really admire the sisters patience and thought I would share it.
(Really sorry if this story has already been posted) :hiding:

Aminah assilmi is a renowned female scholar of Islam she travels around the United States to give lectures , her personal story has admired hundreds of individuals ,she is also President of International Union of Muslim Women , the organization that has many achievements under its belt.

"I am so very glad that I am a Muslim. Islam is my life. Islam is the beat of my heart. Islam is the blood that courses through my veins. Islam is my strength. Islam is my life so wonderful and beautiful. Without Islam I am nothing, and should Allah ever turn His magnificent face from me, I could not survive." Aminah Assilmi

It all started with a computer glitch.

She was a Southern Baptist girl, a radical feminist, and a broadcast journalist. She was a girl with an unusual caliber, who excelled in school, received scholarships, ran her own business, and were competing with professionals and getting awards – all these while she was going to college. Then one day a computer error happened that made her take up a mission as a devout Christian. Eventually, however, it resulted into something opposite and changed her life completely around.

It was 1975 when for the first time computer was used to pre-register for a class in her college. She was working on her degree on Recreation. She pre-registered for a class and then went to Oklahoma City to take care of a business. Her return was delayed and she came back to college two weeks into the class. Making up the missed work was no problem for her, but she was surprised to find that the computer mistakenly registered her for a Theatre class, a class where students would be required to perform in front of others. She was a very reticent girl and she was horrified to think about performing in front of others. She could not drop the class for it was too late

Failing the class was also not a choice, for she was receiving a scholarship that was paying for her tuition and receiving an ‘F’ would have jeopardized it.

Advised by her husband, she went to her teacher to work out some other alternative to performing, such as preparing costumes, etc. Assured by the teacher that he would try to help her, she went to the next class and was shocked by what she saw. The class was full of Arabs and “camel jockeys”. That was enough for her. She came back home and decided not to go back to the class anymore. It was not possible for her to be in the middle of Arabs. “There was no way I was going to sit in a room full of dirty heathens!”

Her husband was calm as usual. He pointed out to her that God has a reason for everything and that she should think about more before quitting. Besides, there was the scholarship that was paying her tuition. She went behind locked doors for 2 days to think about. When she came out, she decided to continue the class. She felt that God gave her a task to convert the Arabs into Christianity.

Thus she found herself with a mission to accomplish. Throughout the class, she would be discussing Christianity with her Arab classmates. “I proceeded to explain to them how they would burn in the fires of hell for all eternity, if they did not accept Jesus as their personal savior. They were very polite, but did not convert. Then, I explained how Jesus loved them and had died on the cross to save them from their sins. All they had to do was accept him into their hearts.” They still did not convert, and so she decided to do something else: “I decided to read their own book to show to them that Islam was a false religion and Mohammed was a false Prophet”.

At her request, one student gave her a copy of the Qur’an and another book on Islam. With these two books she started on her research, which she was to continue for the next one and half years. She read the Qur’an fully and another fifteen books on Islam. Then she came back to the Qur’an and re-read it. During her research, she started taking notes that she found objectionable and which she would be able to use to prove that Islam was a false religion.

Unconsciously, however, she was changing from within which did not escape the attention of her husband. “I was changing, just in little ways but enough to bother him. We used to go to the bar every Friday and Saturday, or to a party, and I no longer wanted to go. I was quieter and more distant.” She stopped drinking and eating pork. Her husband suspected her of having an affair with another man, for “it was only for a man that a woman changes”. Ultimately, she was asked to leave, and she soon found herself living in a separate apartment

"When I first started to study Islam, I did not expect to find anything that I needed or wanted in my personal life. Little did I know that Islam would change my life. No human could have ever convinced me that I would finally be at peace and overflowing with love and joy because of Islam."

Throughout these times, she continued studying Islam and although she was changing subtly from within, she remained a devout Christian. Then one day, there was a knock on her door. It was a man in traditional Muslim robe, who appeared to her as a “man in a long white night gown with a red and white checkered table cloth on his head”. His name was Abdul-Aziz Al-Sheik and he was accompanied by three other men in similar dress. She was very offended by Muslim men coming to her in nightgowns and pajamas. She was further shocked when Abdul-Aziz told her that he understood that she waited to be a Muslim. She replied that she was a Christian and she did not have any plan to become a Muslim. However, she had some questions to ask if they had the time.

At her invitation, they came inside. She now brought up the questions and objections that she noted down while she was researching. “I will never forget his name”, she said of Abdul-Aziz who proved to be a very patient and soft-mannered person. “He was very patient and discussed every question with me. He never made me feel silly or that a question was stupid.” Abdul-Aziz listened to every question and objection and explained it within the proper context. “He explained that Allah had told us to seek knowledge and questions were one of the ways to accomplish that. When he explained something, it was like watching a rose open – petal by petal, until it reached its full glory. When I told him that I did not agree with something and why, he always said I was correct up to a point. Then he would show me how to look deeper and from different directions to reach a fuller understanding.”

It would not be long before she would externally submit to what she had already been submitting to internally during the last one and half years. Later in that same day, this Southern Baptist girl would declare in front of Abdul-Aziz and his companions: “I bear witness that there is no god but God and Mohammed is His Messenger.” It was May 21, 1977.

Conversion to Islam, or to any other religion for that matter, is not always a simple thing to do. Except for a few fortunate ones, a new Muslim usually face consequences. The convert may face isolation from family and friends, if not pressure to go back to the family faith. Sometimes, a convert may even face sever economic hardship, as in the case of those who are asked to leave the house because of converting to Islam. Some converts are fortunate to continue to be well respected by family and friends, but most of them face minor to severe hardship especially during the first few years after the conversion.

But the difficulty that Aminah Assilimi had to go through and the sacrifice that she had to make for the sake of her conviction and faith is almost unheard of. There are few who could rely so much on Allah as she did, standing firm and meeting the challenges, making sacrifices, and yet maintaining a positive posture and influencing people around with the beauty of what she found and believed in.

She lost most of her friends, for she was “no fun anymore”. Her mother did not accept her becoming a Muslim and hoped that it was a temporary zeal and that she would soon grow out of it. Her “mental health expert” sister thought that she lost her mind. She attempted to put her in a mental health institution.

Her father was a calm and wise man. People would come to him for advice and he could comfort anyone in distress. But when he heard that his daughter became a Muslim, he loaded his double-barrel shotgun and started on his way to kill her. “It is better that she be dead rather than suffering in the deepest of Hell”, he said.

She was now without friends and without family.

She soon started wearing hijab. The day she put it on, she was denied her job. She was now without family, friends, and job. But her greatest sacrifice was yet to come.

She and her husband both loved each other very much. But while she was studying Islam, her husband misunderstood her for her apparent changes. She became quieter and stopped going to the bar. Her changes were visible to him and he suspected her of having affair with another man, for whom she must have been changing. She could not explain to him what was happening. “There was no way to make him understand what was changing me because I did not know.” Eventually he asked her to leave and she started living separately.

After she openly accepted Islam, it went worse. A divorce was now inevitable. This was a time when Islam was little known, much less understood for what it is. She had two little children whom she loved dearly and whose custody should have rightfully be given to her. But in a grave violation of justice, she was denied their custody just because she became a Muslim. Before giving the formal verdict, the judge offered her a harsh choice: either renounce Islam and get custody of the children, or keep Islam and leave the children. She was given 20 minutes to make a decision.

She loved her children very dearly. It is perhaps the worst nightmare that a mother can have: asked to willfully leave her child - not for one day, month, or year, but forever. On the other hand, how could she keep the Truth away from her children and live as a hypocrite? “It was the most painful 20 minutes in my life”, she said in an interview. Those of us who are mothers and fathers, especially of young children, little imagination is needed to feel the pain and torment that she must have passed every second in those 20 minutes. What added further to her pain was that according to doctors, she could never bear another child because of certain complications. “I prayed like I had never done before … I knew that there was no safer place for my children to be than in the hands of Allah. If I denied Him, there would be no way in the future to show my children the wonders of being with Allah.”

She decided to retain Islam. Her two dear children – one little boy and one little girl – were taken away from her and given to her ex-husband.

For a mother, is there a sacrifice greater than this – a sacrifice that is done for no material reason but only for faith and conviction?

“I left the court knowing that life without my babies would be very difficult. My heart bled, even though I knew, inside, I had done the right thing” . She found comfort in the following verse of the Qur'an:

There is no god but He,-the Living, the Self-subsisting, Eternal. No slumber can seize Him nor sleep. His are all things in the heavens and on earth. Who is there can intercede in His presence except as He permitteth? He knoweth what (appeareth to His creatures as) before or after or behind them. Nor shall they compass aught of His knowledge except as He willeth. His Throne doth extend over the heavens and the earth, and He feeleth no fatigue in guarding and preserving them for He is the Most High, the Supreme (in glory). (Quran 2: 255)

Perhaps the air of Colorado was too thin for justice. Or perhaps there was a plan in Allah’s greater scheme of affairs. Aminah Assilimi later fought back and took her case to the media. Although she did not get custody of her children again, a change was made in the Colorado law that one cannot be denied child custody on the basis of his or her religion.

Indeed Allah’s love and mercy engulfed her so much that, as if, she has been granted the touchstone of Islam. Wherever she goes, people are touched by her beautiful words and Islamic manners and become Muslim.

By accepting Islam, she became a changed person, and a much better person. So much so that her family, relatives, and people around her started appreciating her mannerism and the faith that brought about such changes in her. Despite her family’s initial reaction, she remained in touch with them and addressed them with respect and humility, just as the Qur’an enjoins the Muslims to do. She would send cards to her parents on different occasions, but she would always write down a verse from the Qur’an or the Hadith without mentioning the source of such beautiful words of wisdom. It was not long before she started making a positive influence among her family members.

The first to become Muslim was her grand mother. She was over 100 years old. Soon after accepting Islam, she died. “The day she pronounced Shahada, all her misdeeds had been erased, while her good deeds were preserved. She died so soon after accepting Islam that I knew her “book” was bound to be heavy on the good side. It fills me with such a joy!”

Next to become Muslim was her father, the one who wanted to kill her after she became Muslim. Thus he brought alive the story of Umar ibn Khattab. Umar was a companion of the Prophet who persecuted the early Muslims before he converted to Islam. When he heard one day that his sister became a Muslim, he went out with an open sword to kill her. But upon hearing some of the verses from the Qur’an that his sister was reciting, he recognized the truth and went straight to the Prophet and accepted Islam.

Two years after she (Assilmi) accepted Islam, her mother called and said that she appreciated her faith and hoped that she would keep it. Couple of years later, she called again and asked her about what one would need to do to become a Muslim. Assilmi replied that one had to believe that there is only One God and Muhammad was his Messenger. “Any fool knows that. But what do you have to do?”, she asked again. She replied that if that is what she believed, then she was already a Muslim! At this, her mother said, “Well … OK. But let’s not tell your father just yet”.

She was not aware that her husband (Assilmi’s step father) had the same conversation with her a few weeks earlier. Thus the two lived together as Muslims for years in secret without knowing that the other was also a Muslim. Her sister who wanted to put her in mental institution accepted Islam as well. She must have realized that becoming Muslim is indeed the most healthy and sound thing to do.

Her son, upon becoming adult, accepted Islam. When he turned 21, he called her and said that he wanted to become a Muslim.

Sixteen years after the divorce, her ex-husband also accepted Islam. He said that he had been watching her for sixteen years and wanted his daughter to have the same religion that she had. He came to her and apologized for what he had done. He was a very nice gentlemen and Assilimi had forgiven him long ago.

Perhaps the greatest reward for her was yet to come. Assilmi later married another person, and despite the doctors’ verdict that she could never conceive another child, Allah blessed her with a beautiful boy. If Allah (swt) makes a gift to someone, who can prevent Him? It was truly a wonderful blessing from Allah (swt), and so she named him “Barakah

The sacrifice that Assilmi made for the sake of Allah (swt) was tremendous. And so Allah (swt) turned in mercy to her and rewarded her with enormous blessings. Her family discarded her after she accepted Islam, and now by Allah’s mercy, most of them are Muslim. She lost her friends because of Islam, and now she is being loved by so many. “Friends who loved came out of nowhere”, she said. Allah’s blessings came upon her so much that wherever she goes people are touched by the beauty of Islam and accept the Truth. Both Muslims and non-Muslims now come to her for advice and counseling.

She lost her job because of wearing hijab, and now she is the President of the International Union of Muslim Women. She delivers lectures nationwide and is on high demand. It was her organization that successfully lobbied for the “Eid Stamp” and had it approved by the United States Postal Service, but it took many years of work. She is now working on making the Eid Day as a national holiday.

She has tremendous trust on Allah’s love and mercy and she never looses faith on Him. She was once diagnosed with cancer some years ago. Doctors said that it was in an advanced stage and that she would live for another year. But her faith in Allah (swt) remained strong. “We must all die. I was confident that the pain I was experiencing contained blessings.” As a brilliant example of how much one can love Allah, she mentions about a friend of her named Kareem Al-Misawi who died of cancer when he was in his 20’s:

"Shortly before he died, he told me that Allah was truly Merciful. This man was in unbelievable anguish and was radiating with Allah’s love. He said: “Allah intends that I should enter heaven with a clean book.” His death experience gave me something to think about. He taught me of Allah’s love and mercy."

All praise is due to Allah, she continues to live in good health. She now thinks that having cancer was the greatest blessing that she ever had.

[IAmZamzam]

For the first seventeen years of my life, give or take a crisis of faith here and a definitely temporary period of apostasy there, I was a die hard Christian. It peaked starting when I was fifteen. I transferred to a Christian high school and there I excelled in my theology classes the whole way through, getting invariable straight A’s in all of my theology classes and, to the best of my knowledge and memory, never ceasing to be at the top of them at any time during my three odd years at that school for longer than the duration of about a week or two—and even then only once or twice that I knew of. I even got a special award at one of the year end annual dinners for my eschatology. I went to church every week and was in the church’s youth group. Often I read from the Bible for my own pleasure and I just couldn’t get enough of C.S. Lewis’s theology and William Barclay’s exegesis.

And then one day I literally just woke up knowing I didn’t want to be a Christian anymore. I awakened with the profound, out-of-the-blue desire to convert to Islam (or revert, if you will—I always feel like groaning at that inconsequential, purely semantic squabble). I had no idea what had happened, and it was all so shockingly sudden and contrary to everything I thought I could be certain of regarding myself that I was, quite frankly, fairly terrified. Well, wouldn’t you be? I couldn’t begin to fathom what had happened or especially how it had happened in such a bushwhacking manner. It’s not like I’d had a visionary dream the night before or anything: I think I would have remembered it. I just woke up one day and found I was feeling almost irresistibly drawn to abandon my religion for another I knew virtually nothing about and had not previously felt any real attraction to. I had read a few surahs out of Rashad Khalifa’s translation of the Koran (this was before I had read enough of Khalifa’s irrational teachings to result in my losing my interest in him), and while it had struck me that there was something fascinating about them (for want of a better word), they had not really enticed me, let alone tempted me. I hadn’t even been thinking about them much. What on earth was going on?!

While I still cannot explain where the seemingly spontaneously generated pull toward Islam I found myself waking up with that morning came from (apart from the obvious explanation that I was inspired), in retrospect I see that at least the “losing my faith in Christianity” part doesn’t seem so surprising or implausible as it did at the time. It may have been inevitable that I’d become surely disillusioned by Christianity eventually—but who’d have thought it would have happened like that?? Not that I’d then had any real inkling--at least consciously--that anything of the sort was going during all that time. Every layer of my faith in Christianity had sort of been gradually eroding all at once for many months, though slowly enough and/or easily enough to suppress that I wouldn’t know it until it was too late that the structure atop the foundation was already starting to crumble, let alone come crashing down all at once with another structure materializing, pretty much out of nowhere, to rise in its place. (The reasons for my rejecting Christianity will be the subject of a future article, God willing, and I’ve already written much about them in other articles, both at my site and on message boards. Even to summarize it all would derail this article too much, and this article is already bound to end up longer than I’d like for it to be.)

On the day that I woke up finding that I wanted to be a Muslim, I obtained a copy of A.J. Arberry’s highly renowned translation The Koran Interpreted (which I still prefer and use to this very day). What wonders this Book had! In fact, it seemed to have a little bit of everything. That in it which did not match my existing theological theories only replaced them with something more logical, and alone amongst all the world’s scriptures it actually concerned itself, most all the way through, with establishing its doctrines logically. I didn’t just follow the usual “because I said so” rationale of most supposed religious revelations. It offered sound arguments for why you should believe the things it said. It even had an air of scholarliness about it, citing sources, referring you to external sources, discouraging baseless conjecture, anticipating and refuting arguments, detailing everything to a tee…I had never seen anything like it, nor anticipated that there ever could be anything like it. And above all it seemed so complete somehow, as though it covered every base and subject in such a short amount of text. Divine conciseness (if that doesn’t sound silly). Everything under the sun squeezed into a thimble. What else would one expect from a revelation by a perfect being?

I was dazzled by it all. I didn’t think this book could be anything other than what it claimed to be: the real word of God.

Unfortunately for me, when after a while practicing Islam doubts started forming in my head (most of them silly or ignorant on retrospect), there wasn’t a whole lot I could do about it—or rather, it would probably be more honest or accurate to say that I was at a relative disadvantage in terms of doing anything about it compared to most Muslims but didn’t bother to take the necessary extra steps to ensure the loss of my faith. At the time there wasn’t much of a Muslim community where I live (Arkansas, which is known as “the buckle of the Bible belt”—here in Little Rock you can’t swing your head without seeing a Baptist church). The only mosque in the area was a small one run mostly by an explosive, unpleasant, closed-minded, and (even when not giving a sermon) infuriatingly long-winded imam. I didn’t yet know what I needed to look for on the internet either. I didn’t personally know any fellow Muslims. (I was still going to the Christian high school.) So I went about with these things stewing in my head. How could people be sent to hell forever over a matter of what they believed, as if incorrectness were a vice, let alone a ****able one? How could people be sent to hell forever period? Burning someone forever is giving them an infinite punishment for a finite crime. Why does a woman only get half the amount of inheritance as a man? And so on.

The magnificent voice speaking throughout the Koran turned sour somehow in my head when I read now, by this point merely seeming nothing more than the whining voice of a spoiled brat, complaining about how people didn’t appreciate him and how sorry they would be when he gave lollipops to his friends but not to them. I became an apostate yet again, this time from a religion never even thought I’d join in the first place.

All right, I figured, Christianity was down and Islam was down. Were there any religions out there I could believe in? I started looking into various ones in an attempt to find the answer. First I looked at Taoism, but was not impressed by the Tao Te Ching one little bit. It seemed pointlessly dense, the kind of thing people found meaning and wisdom in only because they were looking for it and read it subjectively into the total nonsense of the text, much like with Nostradamus’s prophecies. Next I looked into Buddhism, and even went so far as to briefly try it out, sort of, though I never truly joined, and within months if not weeks gave up even bothering. I had meditated and gone vegetarian, read The Dhammapada and other scriptural bits and pieces, read many books on Buddhism, and visited many websites of the same ilk…and all to no avail, because the very underlying premises of the religion were what didn’t jibe with me. All life is depicted using a negative description in the very first part of the very first of the religions’ central tenets. To focus a whole religion on devoting our efforts to escaping or advancing beyond the good world we live in struck—and still strikes—me as unrealistically pessimistic about this world. It’s a place to be enjoyed and appreciated, not a springboard for your personal advancement. And worst of all, for me, was the religion’s strict denial (or at best, horridly erroneous redefinition and re-evaluated significance) of good and evil.

By this point I was getting tired of religion altogether, so I gave it up completely. (I was jumping the gun again, I know, but what can I say? What’s done is done.) I was starting to observe that the world’s religions, it seemed, grew out of and into each other like hedge animals on opposite sides of a yard with no fence. They shouldn’t have been allowed to grow so wild, and apart from taking different shapes they were all essentially the same, the only significance to said shapes being what people saw in them from their own individual perspective, when in reality the hedges were each just one more of the world’s natural growths. And now that I thought of it, shouldn’t I be wondering whether even any of the seeds of ideas out of which they grew were genuine, the underlying ideas like the existence of God? I looked at some atheistic websites and found that their arguments and counter-arguments regarding God’s existence looked pretty sound. They have an unusual amount of sophistry to many people, and somehow I had become one of them, though on reflection all I can do is wonder how it happened. For instance, atheistic spokesperson Michael Martin seemed to me at the time a paragon of human reasoning whose faculties I could probably never hope to aspire to. Now I look at his writings and I can’t figure out what I ever saw in them. Perhaps I wasn’t thinking deeply enough and let my cynicism with religion motivate me to intellectual sloth; perhaps my own reasoning faculties were either temporarily blinded or less developed than they are now…oh well. Whatever it was, it’s gone now.

The sophistry (lucky for me) wore off after a while, though gradually: the more I actually studied and thought about the atheistic writings I’d read in the atheism vs. theism debate, the flimsier and flimsier I started to realize that their arguments and counter-arguments were. In fact, most of the counter-argumentation to arguments for God’s existence consist either of horrendously shameful and obvious straw man depictions of the theistic arguments in question (for instance, the brazen, insulting claim that people positing the teleological argument from natural law for God’s existence are somehow dumb enough to be confusing the two blatantly distinct meanings of “lawgiver” just because we may be happening to be using that already existing word) or else mere diversions posing as real arguments like the classic ploy of answering a question with another question (like “if God created the world, what created God?”), which even if they did work still did diddley squat in terms of actually addressing the issue of God’s existence. And most of the arguments against God’s existence tended to be of the same nature. What almost all of them boil down to in the end, from the classic Argument from Evil/Suffering to the more recent atheistic cosmological arguments, is the mere question, “Why would God do/not do that?” It’s all but impossible to know for certain why another human being, or often even our own selves, does something, so how on earth can they expect the theist to know the motives of a being like God? And of course any admitted failure to answer will often get the label “mystery appeal” slapped on it, a stunning case of the pot calling the kettle black.

At first the full import of all these fallacies did not strike me. I just left it that most atheistic scholars were incompetent (not to mention how so many of them were nasty and childish, tending to replace argumentation with insults and mockery—why atheists wonder why there are such terrible stereotypes about them when so many of them are perpetuating those unfortunate stereotypes themselves with their behavior, often in the very same breath?). They certainly seemed to me somehow to always miss what I thought were the more obvious and valid responses to theists in their debates and go for the more predictable route instead. (Then again, atheistic scholars and spokespeople are, I was discovering, often by and large possibly the most predictable group of people in all of intellectualism.) Eventually I would come to realize that the rebuttals I had in my own head weren’t all that much better.

The thought process that really started to take me out of my blinded atheistic state, though, began upon my reflection of something I read in Nietzsche’s Beyond Good and Evil. That book, as I interpreted it (so far as I ended up reading) seemed to be envisaging a world wherein nothing was totally predictable and there were no true opposites or absolutes—in short, a world of hidden yet still somehow evident chaos. Could the virtual nihilism, I wondered, have anything to it? After all, my faith in just about everything I’d once believed in was gone, and on some level I was already doubting even my atheism. I pondered the matter and found that no matter how one looked at it, the world was built on apparent absolutes, some of which—the mathematical ones—basic sense itself confirmed must be real. But what were these mathematical and physical “forces” and “principles” and “properties” really? After all, those are all just words, and it seems quite impossible to come up with a definition for them which is both non-circular and full enough to be at all satisfactory or illuminating.

As a matter of fact, I thought, weren’t these “forces” (quotation marks seem only proper, if you think about it) of nature and all too close to the old time “gods” for comfort? Both were, it seemed evident, meaningless terms that supposedly described nebulous,
transcendental things which controlled everything even though they seemed nowhere to be found in physical reality itself. In olden times when someone dropped a rock and it automatically fell to the earth, people might have, say, explained the gravity as “the spirits” carrying it down; now they say it’s “a force of nature” carrying it down. Wasn’t it just the substitution of one cop-out disguised as a real answer for another? Was there any substantial difference between the so-called rational explanations for natural phenomena which science, as seen through the lens of atheism or hard materialism, proposed, and supernatural ones, or for that matter, no actual explanation at all?

Well, then, could we at least define these “forces” operationally, in terms of actual definition and explanation as opposed to mere scientific description? They were, of course, a select few implements by which patterns emerged and things were organized and took shape, and out of those patterns greater patterns of the same sort yet arose, and out of those more, and so on. Much like the twelve possible musical notes when made into a symphony. It was like the world is a great arabesque and its laws were the shaping tools through which it was formed. The structure, organization, mechanism, and intricacy of the world could hardly be denied, regardless of what Nietzsche or others may have thought. And when you consider the question of where these shaping principles come from, why and how they exist, it’s not unreasonable to think that they do that for a greater and higher reason.

No wonder the atheists failed more in refuting teleological arguments for God’s existence, most particularly and spectacularly with their failures at refuting the argument from natural law, than with any other theistic argument. No wonder they argued so poorly in debates, even in those which some might say they’d won. No wonder all that I thought I knew about atheism’s supposedly rational stances on things was proving to be all smoke and mirrors in my head (and often, objectively as well). These people simply didn’t have a single leg to stand on. It was quite likely after all that a higher power had designed the world.

So by this point I still rejected all religion yet saw that the universe had a cosmic designer who seemed to make the laws of the universe and kick-start the Big Bang or whatever with them to guide it—basically, as in the old “clockmaker” idea of the founding fathers. This, it quickly enough occurred to me, was deism writ large. So I fairly avidly took up the mantle of a deist for many months, often thinking with amazement how many if not most of my fellow Americans were deists even though they don’t even know what the word—and how so many of them also believed the popular lie, spread all too much by politicians, certain prominent Christian apologists, and other dishonest or ignorant folks, that America was founded by Christians even though most of the founding fathers were deists (though, to be fair, a rather large minority were Presbyterians, or so I’ve heard).

As the months I spent in my deism went by, a pattern slowly began to emerge in my views and my discussions about religion: I started to find, surprisingly, that I still had relatively very few bad things to say about Islam even though I despised religion in general. For a while this didn’t really bother me. Then one day, bored and brooding in anti-religious frustration I decided to write a long paper going over the flaws I perceived to exist in all the major religions, especially the ones which seemed to be unanimous among all of them. I still had my old copy of Arberry’s translation handy (which I still do, and I still read from it to this day) so I started with Islam.

I remember there’s a line from that terrible sequel to The Neverending Story which goes something like, “Books change when you read them for a second time.” That had often been the case with me, yet never like this. It was though the Koran I now in my hands was somehow not the same book I remembered at all. There were all sorts of things in it I found which it seemed I hadn’t known were even there despite my having read the whole thing in its entirety during my first time as a Muslim. I mean, confound it, the thing even gave teleological arguments like the argument from natural law (Koran 16:79, 6:95-99, etc.)!

This book was no petulant, bossy, bullying rant indeed; rather it was dry, intellectual, sophisticated, yet still passionate and emotive. It even criticized the problems infesting so many other religions as well as those of wrong-thinking religious folk of any stripe—including that great bane of religion—and, really, of all human life and culture—that is the ingrained, unthinking parroting of the beliefs you were brought up with at the behest of reason and reasonability. I also started to discover (and would continue to discover, long after I reverted) that when it came to all the tough abstract theological or philosophical questions which the very people of most religions have trouble answering satisfactorily, the Koran always seemed to be a source for the dead-on answer to all of them. What is the precise definition of God and His nature? He’s defined in detail by ninety-nine sensible descriptive titles. Where are heaven and hell? They are nowhere because they don’t exist yet, and won’t until God tears down the world and remakes it come Judgment Day. Why are we here? To serve God. An answer so simple, obvious, and obviously right—downright self-evident by definition, when you consider the question, and from a theistic point of view—that all the great minds which have approached the question through the ages were put to shame. It’s the cosmological equivalent of, “Why did the chicken cross the road?” “To get to the other side.”

And somehow, even now that I no longer believed in the Koran’s descriptions of heaven and hell, they still managed to captivate my emotions like I never would have thought possible—descriptively, they were the most joyful, comforting, inspired poetic radiance, and the most fundamentally disturbing depictions of torture, agony, and horror ever communicated. As if by the perfect poet. The kind of thing you would only expect from a God-inspired text….

At around the same time as my aborted attempt to write that paper (a little afterward, I think, though it could conceivably have happened beforehand), I ended up writing another one for real, though this time not for my own reasons. A friend of mine made a proposition to me in one of our instant messaging conversations. He had to write a three-page paper on Islam for one of his classes, the assignment was due the next day, and he knew zilch about the religion but remembered that I had been a practitioner years before. If I would write his paper for him, he said, he’d give me some of his marijuana in exchange. Although even then I wasn’t ordinarily a dishonest fellow I took the deal so as to help out a pal and get my hands on some weed free of charge. (By that point I had been experimenting with drugs for a few months.) I wrote the paper for him, and in doing so I naturally had found the subject of Islam once more in my thoughts. It didn’t help either that afterward I kept hearing references to the religion. I wanted to stop thinking about it. By this time I was a little paranoid about changing my stance on religion and adopting a new belief about it again, especially if it involved actually sinking so low (as I still thought of it) as to join or rejoin one of those awful religions of the world. I had changed my mind on these matters far too many times already and feared that if it happened again there would perhaps be no hope for permanent consistency for me left for the remainder of my days. Besides, hadn’t I learned from my mistakes? Shouldn’t I?

I wanted to settle things once and for all so I wrote down a list of objections to Islam and decided to take them to the religion’s practitioners and apologists. I acted as though I thought there was a serious chance that they could persuade me to come back to the religion though in my heart of hearts my only real reason was because I fully expected to be met with only the flimsy rationalizations—pardon me, “harmonizations”—and fallacy-drenched thought I had come to expect of all religious apologetics, perhaps partly just because that’s how Christian apologetics tend to go, but also because since I was convinced that no religion was correct, therefore only fallacies and poor excuses and explanations were even possible, just as a corollary. I was positively flabbergasted when I found that some of the answers I received were perfectly rational explanations supported by scriptural doctrine, common sense, and even ethics. (The Koran itself tells you outright in certain verses like 2:286 that God does not punish people just for making mistakes; hell is not, in Islamic doctrine, necessarily eternal; the women in the laws set by the Koranic code for the people at the time were never the providers of their family (as tradition and our own male/female biological instincts support anyway) and so their inheritance was free spending money whereas their husbands as the providers would naturally need more; and so on.) The rest of it I kind of managed to figure out on my own when I scrutinized my objections and their responses in desperation. I had nothing left to stand on but my own stubborn insistence not to jump the gun again.

I stuck around on some of the Islamic message boards on which I had been talking to people and after a while, despite my reluctance to come back to the religion, I found myself already behaving like I was always on Islam’s side already and taking up defense of it against the non-Muslims at the site who criticized or attacked it. This was too much for me, so as one last desperate ploy I decided to go through the Koran methodically from the book’s start to its finish re-assessing everything I saw in it. I had decided to be fair in my approach, but I was still really looking for a flaw more than anything else. When I reread the first surah, I saw no flaws but instead only the perfect prayer it was. When I reread the second surah and remarked on how shrewd and fitting its laws were. By the time I’d finished the ninth surah, well, that was certainly enough. I didn’t think I even had to finish rereading the whole thing. (And after reverting I would find yet more reasons still to believe.)

It culminated late one night in October 2003, I think around 4:00 A.M. I had been sitting at the computer desk, struggling in a sort of pre-Islamic jihad to make the right decision. I’d already typed out my announcement of re-reversion or whatever you’d like to call it, the cursor was over the “send message” icon, and all I had to do was click the mouse button. When I made the decision to go ahead and do it, finally accepting fully that this the only self-honest option left to me, something happened which shocked me and I think even made me quite flinch. It was the most profound experience of my life, and I still wish I could have it over again. At the very infinitesimal instant after I’d made up my mind, well before my brain had time to send the nerve impulse to my fingers to click the mouse button, I felt something I can only attempt to describe. It wasn’t a “religious experience” in the same sense that everyone always means by it, where they see a vision or feel something intuitively and/or emotionally. It wasn’t something I even felt at all in any existing sense of the word, unless it was the spiritual equivalent, at a billion times the speed, of feeling the pus ooze out of you when you’re draining it from a wound in warm water. The best way I can put, or even understand, what happened, is to say that whenever we commit a sin it leaves in your soul a…I don’t know what word would be best and none really fit…stain? Tarnish? Gunk? Residue? Corruption? Tumor? Filth? Grit? I could go on, but maybe the simple term “impurity” is best…and the instant I decided to embrace Islam, this time for good and all, all that spiritual gunk got…once again, I don’t know how to put it…yanked? Ripped? Sucked? Plucked? “Yanked” seems best, I suppose….

All of the sin-stains in my soul got YANKED out of me with a suddenness, quickness, completeness and perfection, and above all PURE FORCE that could only be called unimaginably superhuman. It left me feeling deliriously, deliciously pristine and emptied. Purified and relieved like I can’t tell you. It does seem to connect to certain Islamic doctrines—the belief that when you sincerely convert, all of your past sins are immediately forgiven; Koranic mentionings of purification of the elect being one of God’s big prizes and of sin “rusting on the heart”, so it may come as no surprise to you that I’m far from the only Muslim who’s had this exact same experience. What is definitely surprising is that I didn’t yet know anyone else ever had, and later heard of many other completely independent cases of the same thing. We Muslims don’t know it’s happened to anyone else yet it still sometimes happens to us, and this phenomenon doesn’t seem to exist with any other religion. I dare anyone to explain that.

Anyway, out of penance for my apostasy as well as simple justice (I could never really pay back God for bringing me back home from of my quite possibly ****ing inexcusable apostasy when I had unfairly abandoned Him, so I can only do all I can in exchange for as long as I remain), I pledged to Allah that for the rest of my life I would do what I could, if He willed, to help guide people to come to or stay on the true path of His religion, as He had guided me. That’s about all there is to say and my prediction of this turning out to be a longer article than I would have liked has come true, so I guess that’s all she wrote (or maybe I should say the rest is yet to be history).

[syilla]

Jazakallah khayr for sharing thats very inspiring :)

[syilla]

This book was no petulant, bossy, bullying rant indeed; rather it was dry, intellectual, sophisticated, yet still passionate and emotive. It even criticized the problems infesting so many other religions as well as those of wrong-thinking religious folk of any stripe—including that great bane of religion—and, really, of all human life and culture—that is the ingrained, unthinking parroting of the beliefs you were brought up with at the behest of reason and reasonability. I also started to discover (and would continue to discover, long after I reverted) that when it came to all the tough abstract theological or philosophical questions which the very people of most religions have trouble answering satisfactorily, the Koran always seemed to be a source for the dead-on answer to all of them. What is the precise definition of God and His nature? He’s defined in detail by ninety-nine sensible descriptive titles. Where are heaven and hell? They are nowhere because they don’t exist yet, and won’t until God tears down the world and remakes it come Judgment Day. Why are we here? To serve God. An answer so simple, obvious, and obviously right—downright self-evident by definition, when you consider the question, and from a theistic point of view—that all the great minds which have approached the question through the ages were put to shame. It’s the cosmological equivalent of, “Why did the chicken cross the road?” “To get to the other side.”

Are you any how a novelist? you don't have to answer this akhee... I was just wondering :)

[IAmZamzam]

Actually, I'm outlining a novel as we speak. I'm also writing a book promoting Islam.

[Somaiyah]

Salam,
This is my conversion video, instead of writing it all. It's just very bad sound so you might need to have highest sound and headset on (the sound becomes louder then) and I am sorry for that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tR2rHuWxdvU

[syilla]

Actually, I'm outlining a novel as we speak. I'm also writing a book promoting Islam.

Then don't forget to advertise here in LI after you finished you book.

Salam,
This is my conversion video, instead of writing it all. It's just very bad sound so you might need to have highest sound and headset on (the sound becomes louder then) and I am sorry for that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tR2rHuWxdvU

i think i've to change my headset because i could not here anything... imsad

[Somaiyah]

Then don't forget to advertise here in LI after you finished you book.



i think i've to change my headset because i could not here anything... imsad

Salam,
No sister, it's nothing wrong with your headset. The problem was in my recording. I made a new today and it is uploading right now at this moment so after a few hours I will put the link up here inshallah :)

[Somaiyah]

Salam,
Here we go, my conversion video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5A2NT2aPIME

[aadil77]

Salam,
Here we go, my conversion video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5A2NT2aPIME

Sis could you type it up aswell, for some reason it feels a bit awkward watching that vid lol

[desert winds]

im not a revrt but i started practicing recently- may i contribute if you dont mind?

[Ramadhan]

im not a revrt but i started practicing recently- may i contribute if you dont mind?

What do you mean by this?

I don't know how you can be practicing but not a revert.
If you already perform shalah, you must have said the kalimah shahadah already, because in the tashahud akhir, we testify the shahadah

[desert winds]

what i mean is im a born muslima, so i was a msulim by name not my actions and recently i have embraced the true religion....

[Predator]

I liked Dr. Gary Miller ( now Abdul-Ahad Omar) story of reversion from a Christian missionary to a Muslim

http://islam.thetruecall.com/modules...rticle&sid=215

[Ramadhan]

what i mean is im a born muslima, so i was a msulim by name not my actions and recently i have embraced the true religion....

aahh.. I got it. I was confused temporarily.
I was also born muslim, but was practically living non-muslim life for many years, before Allah SWT gave me hidayah and Alhamdulillah I've been practicing and trying to increase my imaan and deen.

[Muslim Woman]

:sl:

famous footballer embraces Islam in Dubai

DUBAI (Al Arabiya)



Abel Xavier leaves football as he finds "comfort" in IslamWorld





Football star Abel Xavier embraced Islam on a trip to the UAE city of Dubai last week and said he will now quit football at the age of 38 to pursue a career in humanitarian work, press reports revealed.

Former Portuguese international, Abel, who will now go by the name of Faisal Xavier, said he regretted leaving the sport but said he was happy to enter a new phase in his life.

"While it's an emotional farewell, I hope to participate in something very special as I enter a new stage of my life," press reports quoted Xavier, who also once played for Liverpool and Everton, as saying.

"In times of trouble, I have found comfort in Islam. Gradually I learned of a religion that professes peace, equality, freedom and hope. These are extremely important," Xavier said.

The footballer said he would now work with the United Nations on various humanitarian projects.

Xavier was born in Mozambique and previously played for the Los Angeles Galaxy, following a career in Portugal, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, England, Turkey, Germany, and the USA.

http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2009/12/26/95386.html

[Muslim Woman]

:sl:


African Boxers Find Islam in Pakistan



Hundreds cheered with vociferous Allah-o-Akbar when the nine boxers took the shahada


http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/S...News/NWELayout

[Rabi Mansur]

:sl:

Salam,
Here we go, my conversion video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5A2NT2aPIME

I had kind of a hard time hearing your story, but what I heard was interesting. Did you keep your conversion from your parents? I couldn't hear that part.

شكرا

:wa:

[tw009]

wow, that story on the first page about the boy converting at the age of 10 made me so sad :(, it was a really good read.

"With every hardship, comes ease. Verily, with hardship comes ease." (94:5-6)

[Asiyaah]

Salam,
Here we go, my conversion video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5A2NT2aPIME

MashAllah sister, I really enjoyed your video. Very inspiring. :statisfie Thank you for sharing this with us.

[Muslim Woman]

:sl:


Comedian Preacher Moss's Journey to Islam




Founder of "Allah Made Me Funny" Comedy Group
Interviewed By Dilshad D. Ali




Preacher Moss

Related Links
An Ex-Bad Boy Rapper Accepts Islam
An Interview with Dawud Wharnsby
How Muhammad Ali's Former Bodyguard Accepted Islam (Watch)



If you've ever seen Preacher Moss of the "Allah Made Me Funny" comedy trio perform, then you've heard this joke. "If it were legally possible, I'd change my name to 'Allahu Akbar,'" Preacher says. Then he goes into a bit on how great it would sound at the airport to hear security officials to read off his passport, "Allahu Akbar."

But that's not the best part of the joke. "Meet my children," Preacher says. "'Mashallah' and 'Inshallah.'" And that's when the laughter really starts flowing. But the final stomach-hurting guffaws come at the very end of the routine: "And then my third child will say, 'That's not Daddy's name.' So I'll point to him and say, 'You'll have to pardon my youngest. He's named 'Astaghfirullah' (I seek Allah's forgiveness)."




Read more: http://www.readingislam.com/servlet/...#ixzz0gwsx3Ege
http://www.readingislam.com/servlet/...&ssbinary=true

[Muslim Woman]

:sl:

I met a Canadian revert sis online in other forum . I / We requested her to write her story , here it is :statisfie


Salam alaykum...

When i was 18 years old... I was same as most of the young adult in the west... Feeling to going into club, drinking, meeting man , having fun with my friends , etc...

One night, my friends and me goes for to dance... I was wearing tight cloths and hill shoes, make up to look nice... I start dancing and suddenly one man come beside me and ask if he can dance with me... He was nice looking and full of charm... lol... I saw he wasn't from Canada... He was having an accent and something i never saw with no man around me... End of the night we exchange our phone number...

I call him as i promess him few days after... And he ask me for to take a ride in downtown... I arrives there with my flat shoes... and a long skirt and long shirt... Totally different style as was he saw the day we meet... The first thing he tell me its : You look better like this then the way you was dress the other day.

I got little surprised... But feel more confortable... We pass the whole day in talking and walking... No kiss, no touch, nothing... I was thinking something wrong at the beginning but more the time was passing more i realize , he was having respect for me... He took me to the subway and we left... I was thinking he never will call again... Was sad... But i got suprised , he called me few days after and offering me another ride in downtown...

More i was knowing about him, his religion and his family more i was feeling good... My friends ask me to go in the club and i didn't felt the same way... I asked him if he wanted to come with us and he tell me : Only if you dress yourself nicely as what i saw you when we go for walk. This was unusual for me... Going in club like this ??? OMG ... Finally i accepted...

The time as passed and slowly i stop going in the club and start passing lot of time with him and his family... His mom were expecting us to get married, his sisters also... Even his father was very nice with me and treating me as one of them... They included me as their family members and treated me as it is... They invited me to all the holidays, party... Slowly me and him found we were only very good friend on who we can count on each other... He left for his country and leave me with his sisters... They tooked care of me so much nicely... I was feeling so lonely after he left... But his sisters make me to stay with them and start teaching me more about religion and Islam...

Everyone around me was seeing me changing and being happy... The beginning of my life was starting... Alhumdullilah... Then my convertion to islam as start..

Few months after all this, I was working in a computer store and one day a group of man come in the store to buy a computer... It was my husband and is friends ...I knew it right at the moment what was my destiny... He was muslim and it was the most important part for me ...

Today we have 5 kids together and we do enjoy our life...

The hardest part i had was to include my father, sister and brothers into my life... The time as pass but many part they don't understand about islam because of what the media telling... I have always to make a concession between both side...

This is not the easiest life i was expecting but i hope one day I will be able to show myself to everyone (including my family) the way i am really... But still have a long ride to do before it...

http://myislamweb.com/forum/index.ph...0122#msg150122

[barney]

Always find these stories facinating. thanks all for sharing 'em.

[Nσσя'υℓ Jαииαн]

Salam,
Here we go, my conversion video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5A2NT2aPIME

MashaAllah sis, loved it :statisfie

Btw I love your accent :D:D lol.

:sl:

[Sawdah]

i liked this one :

Media Tags are no longer supported

[Muslim Woman]

:sl:

Let me share another revert story :)


I Wondered Why Muslims Are So Proud


My name is Aysha, and I am from North Hungary. I heard about Islam when I was in secondary school in the history lessons, because Hungary was under occupation by Turkey for 150 years.

After that I went to university to study molecular biology, where I met many Muslim foreign students.

I was always curious why Muslims are so proud that they are Muslims.

I was Catholic, a good one, but I always had doubts and I didn't agree with some parts of my religion: for example, how can God have a son and the concept of the Trinity was also not believable for me.

Related Links
Captivated By the Call to Prayer
From Pork to Islam
Through Love She Found Her Way to Islam




Read more: http://www.readingislam.com/servlet/...#ixzz0hv5SYZJ5

[tw009]

one of my favorite threads on here!

[Rabi Mansur]

one of my favorite threads on here!

Yes definitely. It really struck a chord for me too.

:Alhumdill


:wa:

[Brenzy]

all these give me so much inspiration
thanks for sharing them :)

[Muslim Woman]

:sl:


KIWI MUSLIM

It was on Television during the evening News that I witnessed Cat Stevens (Yusuf Islam) leave his singing career, giving it all up for Islam, this was my very first encounter of Islam and Muslims, in no way was I ever to know what Allah (SWT) had install for me.

As time passed and life became complicated through adulthood, I would always wonder what life was and why I was put here, what was my part in this vast World and would I pass the test put to each and every one of us in time or at least before I was laid to rest, where would I take myself and would I hurt anyone alone the way, if so, how would I repair what I broke?

Many questions continued to haunt me throughout my youthful years until I could take it no more, I needed answers and fast.

Here are some questions that were confronting me when I was younger and before I had any idea I was to be chosen to be a Practicing Muslim, Alhumdulillah...”All praises go to Allah (SWT) alone for Granting me this chance to repent and show my honest love for Him”

Whilst growing up on Easter eggs and Christmas puddings, (usually drenched in cherry…this being the sponge pudding) I used to sit and wonder why we are always sitting there each year scoffing our mouths until we can eat no more, in remembrance of what Isa (Jesus) did for us.

Why should we be eating? Shouldn’t we be Fasting instead to show our compassion for this Holy Man called Isa? (Jesus)

Every year, I thought more and more about this and many more questions that were confronting me constantly came into my head, with the need for the answers.

Never did I ever truly believe that “God” had a son or anything connected to Him, I never agreed with this term, why would God belittle Himself be Creating something the same as Him in us, He has given us life and if Jesus was God, then why was he Praying to God? Thinking about this one must be positive with insight in itself to consider and respect through devotional Prayer to Allah (SWT) alone.

http://www.islamicteachings.org/

http://rapidshare.com/files/35653573...slam_Story.doc

[¤ ιмαи ¤]

Salam,
Here we go, my conversion video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5A2NT2aPIME

Masha'Allah :):muslimah:

MashaAllah sis, loved it :statisfie

Btw I love your accent :D:D lol.

:sl:

Haha, me too, loved the accent :wub:

[Khadijah84]

My jounrey to Islam was quite long. Before i became muslim i didn't like Islam because of the media propaganda against the religion. Then i met some muslim women who i begun to debate Islam with, they started to ask me to really study Islam before i critized it which i satrted do, i started to study aspects of Islam more and more and the more i read the more chocked i becamse because contrary to what i believed it all seemed so logical and true. I became more and more convinced rhat Islam was the truth and then i started to see many more women who had reverted to Islam and i asked myself. If Islam was so oppressive to women why do so many women revert to Islam? Then i reverted to Islam and i have never looked back at this point on. Islam is the true religion and Muhammed is the prophet of Allah, the only God.

[Mr. Domino]

Today, I made it as official as I know how. I'm not sure whether the right verb is 'took', 'recited' or what (and I wouldn't want to seem offensive using the wrong term), but I will simply say I, after a long time of dodging Islam (as I did over the years, for various reasons, despite my attraction to the path), I said (that seems like a nice and concise verb) the Shahada. I'm feeling happy with this, and though I have things to learn (mostly in regards to prayer and how to go about handling Ramadan if dehydration is an issue, as was stated to me in my introduction), but I feel life is too unpredictable and potentially short to put off something this important to me for any longer.

I did change the 'religion' option in my profile to Muslim, but I left 'brother in humanity' as it was due to lack of reason to specify otherwise if my religion status is set to Muslim, because that doesn't mean one isn't human.

Anyway, I first really learned about Islam in specific details back in Highschool (Humanities class) in one of the many videos we had to watch, since our teacher seemed only to participate in class activities when he was managing the school's choir. I developed an interest in it right then, despite having been an Atheist and a bit of a full and complete Anti-Theist for the majority of my life (not counting before, when the concept of having a religion never really crossed my mind enough to say I was one or another), and having heard all sorts of negativity from the media in regards to Islam, which I came to discover was a load of stereotyping and bigotry (partly out of American xenophobia which is always around in some form and partly because the media needed to hype the efforts to gather more oil in a way people would like). After that, I went on living and found an online game which I played for a time (by played, I mean tolerated, it was nothing more than a half-finished chat room featuring rpg gameplay and few to no moderators), and after awhile of that I met a person who turned out to be Muslim. I spoke to this person for awhile and that really got me thinking again about what I had learned already.

For awhile (beginning a couple of months back, I think), I began randomly studying religions. I had a pretty big gap in me I needed to fill and I wasn't going to start drinking or something, so I went in pursuit of something that felt right (while trying to dodge the one that had most caught my eye). After giving it serious thought and doing some research specifically on Islam (which I had been doing a reading up on here and there between other belief systems that caught my eye) and that last stretch brought me here with a question of health concerns. The rest, a brief time, involved telling my grandmother, who was raised a Baptist, about my decision (since she lives here with me and I take care of her, I figured she would inevitably find out and I didn't want it to shock her) and she was very accepting.

Again, though, I don't know everything and I plan to learn all I can and need as I go along. Well, here I am, reporting live from my home, with the story of how I came to this point (which I hope I didn't rant or drone too much during, lol).

My gratitude goes out to those who responded to my post with answers and warmth, and to all the people and events which have helped me get to this point. Now, there are some things around the house I need to finish dealing with (though pretty much all of the flood damage I had from the storms we had awhile back is taken care of). Oh, I hope the longish, textblocky nature of this post isn't too annoying, lol

[Muslim Woman]

Salaam Alaykum

Today, I made it as official

Alhamdulillah . You are like a sinless angel now . All ur sins are forgiven and turned in to good deeds . I am jealous of u :)

[Ramadhan]

Today, I made it as official as I know how.

:sl:

Alhamdulillah!
Congratulation brother for Allah SWT has guided you to the straight path.

As the sister above wrote, you are sinless now like a baby just born insya Allah
Please make lots and lots of d'uas to make Allah SWT to keep strengthen your iman and grant you jannah as sincere du'a of a newly revert is most likely to be accepted Insya Allah.

[Muslim Woman]

Salaam Alaykum ;

I want to translate some convert stories for our local daily. if get publisher , then InshaAllah will try to publish a book on new Muslims.

What's the rule here ? Is it allowed for me to translate or I need to take indivual's permission ?

[جوري]

Allah Akbar.. Allah Akbar, Allah Akbar..

Jazaka Allah khyran for sharing your story you've warmed my heart.. May Allah swt accompany you on this journey, make you steadfast, keep you safe from all harm and make you an instrument to do good and represent Islam as a devout faithful..

ameen

:w:

[Muslim Woman]

Salaam

My jounrey to Islam was quite long. Before i became muslim i didn't like Islam because of the media propaganda against the religion. .

Sis, welcome to Islam :)

[aadil77]

Great story I came across, the brother proper talks about how alot of the haraam pleasures non-muslims enjoy are fake and only bring temporary happiness

[Rabi Mansur]

My jounrey to Islam was quite long. Before i became muslim i didn't like Islam because of the media propaganda against the religion.

That is one of the big stumbling blocks. I had a terrible bias against Islam before I began to study it objectively. I just associated it with terrorists and extremist nutjobs. It seemed like a religion of violence and hate. The media only give one side of Islam and it is always slanted.

My family is very much against Islam and I have to keep quiet about it. I try to quietly defend it when I can but mostly have to stay silent. It will be a long process overcoming the damage done to this religion by the terrorists and media propaganda.

:wa:

[Khadijah84]

Thanks sis i am thankful for everything alhamdullilah :)

[Danah]

:sl:


Catherine Heseltine
Nursery school teacher, 31, North London

“If you’d asked me at the age of 16 if I’d like to become a Muslim, I would have said, ‘No thanks.’ I was quite happy drinking, partying and fitting in with my friends.

“Growing up in North London, we never practised religion at home; I always thought it was slightly old-fashioned and irrelevant. But when I met my future husband, Syed, in the sixth form, he challenged all my preconceptions. He was young, Muslim, believed in God – and yet he was normal. The only difference was that, unlike most teenage boys, he never drank.

“A year later, we were head over heels in love, but we quickly realised: how could we be together if he was a Muslim and I wasn’t?

“Before meeting Syed, I’d never actually questioned what I believed in; I’d just picked up my casual agnosticism through osmosis. So I started reading a few books on Islam out of curiosity.

“In the beginning, the Koran appealed to me on an intellectual level; the emotional and spiritual side didn’t come until later. I loved its explanations of the natural world and discovered that 1,500 years ago, Islam gave women rights that they didn’t have here in the West until relatively recently. It was a revelation.

“Religion wasn’t exactly a ‘cool’ thing to talk about, so for three years I kept my interest in Islam to myself. But in my first year at university, Syed and I decided to get married – and I knew it was time to tell my parents. My mum’s initial reaction was, ‘Couldn’t you just live together first?’ She had concerns about me rushing into marriage and the role of women in Muslim households – but no one realised how seriously I was taking my religious conversion. I remember going out for dinner with my dad and him saying, ‘Go on, have a glass of wine. I won’t tell Syed!’ A lot of people assumed I was only converting to Islam to keep his family happy, not because I believed in it.

“Later that year, we had an enormous Bengali wedding, and moved into a flat together – but I certainly wasn’t chained to the kitchen sink. I didn’t even wear the hijab at all to start with, and wore a bandana or a hat instead.

“I was used to getting a certain amount of attention from guys when I went out to clubs and bars, but I had to let that go. I gradually adopted the Islamic way of thinking: I wanted people to judge me for my intelligence and my character – not for the way I looked. It was empowering.

“I’d never been part of a religious minority before, so that was a big adjustment, but my friends were very accepting. Some of them were a bit shocked: ‘What, no drink, no drugs, no men? I couldn’t do that!’ And it took a while for my male friends at university to remember things like not kissing me hello on the cheek any more. I’d have to say, ‘Sorry, it’s a Muslim thing.’

“Over time, I actually became more religious than my husband. We started growing apart in other ways, too. In the end, I think the responsibility of marriage was too much for him; he became distant and disengaged. After seven years together, I decided to get a divorce.

“When I moved back in with my parents, people were surprised I was still wandering around in a headscarf. But if anything, being on my own strengthened my faith: I began to gain a sense of myself as a Muslim, independent of him.

“Islam has given me a sense of direction and purpose. I’m involved with the Muslim Public Affairs Committee, and lead campaigns against Islamophobia, discrimination against women in mosques, poverty and the situation in Palestine. When people call us ‘extremists’ or ‘the dark underbelly of British politics’, I just think it’s ridiculous. There are a lot of problems in the Muslim community, but when people feel under siege it makes progress even more difficult.

“I still feel very much part of white British society, but I am also a Muslim. It has taken a while to fit those two identities together, but now I feel very confident being who I am. I’m part of both worlds and no one can take that away from me.”



http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/com...cle7135026.ece

[Muslimeen]

Very touching stories, may allah bring the masses into the fold of islam and save them from a chastisement that is sure to come. Ameen

[Raziah]

Alsalam alikum,

Such a nice story,Danah. Thank you so much for sharing it with us.
May Allah bless your life..

[yasin ibn Ahmad]

assalaam alaikoum all
long time no write,
I just want to ask if these stories are copyrighted.May I translate some of them in my mother lang and maybe one day press them?

[Muslim Woman]

Walaykum as Salaam

assalaam alaikoum all
long time no write,
I just want to ask if these stories are copyrighted.May I translate some of them in my mother lang and maybe one day press them?

I also asked this question few days back , did not get any reply :(

[Rabi Mansur]

:sl:

I am a little bit apprehensive about this, but thought I would post my story here. It definitely is not one of your average revert stories. This is a condensed version.

First, a little about my religious background. I was born Mormon in a devout family in the Northwest USA. The heart of Mormon country is Utah, and I was born and raised there. If you are familiar with Mormons you will understand my upbringing. It was a pretty conservative lifestyle, and we attended church every Sunday, read the scriptures, etc. When I was out of high school I went on a mission for the church. Young men are expected at age 19 to serve a 2 year mission for the church and try and convert other people. I was sent to Japan for 2 years and actually baptized a few people. A mission can be a very challenging experience as you are expected to read and study the scriptures daily, learn the language, keep the strict mission rules, go door to door seeking converts, etc. Japan is mostly Buddhist but actually atheist IMO so it was a constant challenge for me, less than 1 percent of the population is Christian. By the end of my two years, even though I actually had a hand in converting some people to Mormonism, I began to have doubts about my own religion. Much of Mormonism is based on a prophet (Joseph Smith) who supposedly restored scripture and the true christian church to the earth. I learned enough on my mission from constant study of the bible and other scriptures that it was doubtful that he was actually a true prophet. I also figured out that the leadership of the Mormon church had withheld a lot of negative information about Joseph Smith. This was very disturbing to me and caused me to begin to lose my faith.

Anyway, after serving two years in Japan I came home, went to college, got married and started a family. I tried to keep up appearances that I believed in Mormonism but eventually it just got too difficult. It was just so obvious that the Mormon church started as a fraud that I couldn't keep attending. There was a mountain of evidence I found on the internet that prove it was false. I started to drift away and then I started an intensive study of other religions. I studied the bible in the original languages, considered Judaism, Catholicism, etc. I even spent time studying Hinduism, and about everything else I could. In 2000 I started to read the Quran and actually felt good about Islam. It made a certain amount of sense to me. Then 9/11 happened. I had such a negative reaction to Islam at that point that I stopped studying altogether. I wondered how anyone could consider themselves to be religious and then turn around and commit such evil.

For a few years I drifted. The only thing that made sense to me was science. And I guess you could say I was an agnostic. I didn't really believe in anything. I couldn't say one way or another whether God existed.

Then a few things began to happen to me that were somewhat serendipitous. I met a couple of Muslims who impressed me. I couldn't get them out of my mind. I had a spiritual experience concerning them. I found out I had some Arab ancestors. I had a chance to learn some basic Arabic. Something was coming alive inside of me. I went back and began to study the Quran again and learned that there is a big difference between true Islam and what is portrayed in the media. Muslims are not terrorists. I started posting on Islamicboard and learning more about Islam. It all came together. I slowly felt that something was unfolding inside of me. I just realized one day that I was a Muslim and always had been. I believed in one God. I believed that Muhammad really was a prophet. I loved Jesus and all of the scriptures and didn't have to reject what I knew to be true. It all opened up to me and I just surrendered to it.

I found a site online and did Shahadah on April 9, 2010. I learned how to do Salat. I memorized the opening of the Quran.

So now I am a new revert. But I have to remain somewhat secret from my family. They hate Islam. I am in the middle of a very conservative, Republican region and all of my friends hate Muslims. They don't understand it. I have to practice in secret. I live hundreds of miles from a Masjid. But I am okay. I love my new faith. I love my new life.

:inshallah everything will be okay.

Peace and love.

P.S. The Muslim name I have adopted is Rabi Mansur. Mansur means one helped by God or victorious. I think that is appropriate for what I have been through. Rabi means something like gentle wind, but it is close to my given name so when I put them together it made sense to me.

[Muslim Woman]

Salaam


[QUOTE=Rabi Mansur;1346884So now I am a new revert..[/QUOTE]


Welcoem to Islam , brother . May Allah bless you always and guide your family members .

[syilla]

MashaAllah akheee....... Thank you soo much for sharing with us your story. You have truly inspired us. Please make dua for us too since you're new revert and have less sins than us huhu

[Insaanah]

:sl:

I am a little bit apprehensive about this, but thought I would post my story here. It definitely is not one of your average revert stories. This is a condensed version.

First, a little about my religious background. I was born Mormon in a devout family in the Northwest USA. The heart of Mormon country is Utah, and I was born and raised there. If you are familiar with Mormons you will understand my upbringing. It was a pretty conservative lifestyle, and we attended church every Sunday, read the scriptures, etc. When I was out of high school I went on a mission for the church. Young men are expected at age 19 to serve a 2 year mission for the church and try and convert other people. I was sent to Japan for 2 years and actually baptized a few people. A mission can be a very challenging experience as you are expected to read and study the scriptures daily, learn the language, keep the strict mission rules, go door to door seeking converts, etc. Japan is mostly Buddhist but actually atheist IMO so it was a constant challenge for me, less than 1 percent of the population is Christian. By the end of my two years, even though I actually had a hand in converting some people to Mormonism, I began to have doubts about my own religion. Much of Mormonism is based on a prophet (Joseph Smith) who supposedly restored scripture and the true christian church to the earth. I learned enough on my mission from constant study of the bible and other scriptures that it was doubtful that he was actually a true prophet. I also figured out that the leadership of the Mormon church had withheld a lot of negative information about Joseph Smith. This was very disturbing to me and caused me to begin to lose my faith.

Anyway, after serving two years in Japan I came home, went to college, got married and started a family. I tried to keep up appearances that I believed in Mormonism but eventually it just got too difficult. It was just so obvious that the Mormon church started as a fraud that I couldn't keep attending. There was a mountain of evidence I found on the internet that prove it was false. I started to drift away and then I started an intensive study of other religions. I studied the bible in the original languages, considered Judaism, Catholicism, etc. I even spent time studying Hinduism, and about everything else I could. In 2000 I started to read the Quran and actually felt good about Islam. It made a certain amount of sense to me. Then 9/11 happened. I had such a negative reaction to Islam at that point that I stopped studying altogether. I wondered how anyone could consider themselves to be religious and then turn around and commit such evil.

For a few years I drifted. The only thing that made sense to me was science. And I guess you could say I was an agnostic. I didn't really believe in anything. I couldn't say one way or another whether God existed.

Then a few things began to happen to me that were somewhat serendipitous. I met a couple of Muslims who impressed me. I couldn't get them out of my mind. I had a spiritual experience concerning them. I found out I had some Arab ancestors. I had a chance to learn some basic Arabic. Something was coming alive inside of me. I went back and began to study the Quran again and learned that there is a big difference between true Islam and what is portrayed in the media. Muslims are not terrorists. I started posting on Islamicboard and learning more about Islam. It all came together. I slowly felt that something was unfolding inside of me. I just realized one day that I was a Muslim and always had been. I believed in one God. I believed that Muhammad really was a prophet. I loved Jesus and all of the scriptures and didn't have to reject what I knew to be true. It all opened up to me and I just surrendered to it.

I found a site online and did Shahadah on April 9, 2010. I learned how to do Salat. I memorized the opening of the Quran.

So now I am a new revert. But I have to remain somewhat secret from my family. They hate Islam. I am in the middle of a very conservative, Republican region and all of my friends hate Muslims. They don't understand it. I have to practice in secret. I live hundreds of miles from a Masjid. But I am okay. I love my new faith. I love my new life.

:inshallah everything will be okay.

Peace and love.

P.S. The Muslim name I have adopted is Rabi Mansur. Mansur means one helped by God or victorious. I think that is appropriate for what I have been through. Rabi means something like gentle wind, but it is close to my given name so when I put them together it made sense to me.

:wa: brother,

What a beautiful story and jazaakallah khair for sharing it with us. All praise be to Allah who guided you to the right path, and may He make things easy for you, guide your family also, and keep you steadfast. Ameen.

:sl:

[Rabi Mansur]

MashaAllah akheee....... Thank you soo much for sharing with us your story. You have truly inspired us. Please make dua for us too since you're new revert and have less sins than us huhu

:sl:

I will make dua for all of you. This board has had a profound impact on me. My heart is full when I think of how you all have helped me over the past months.

:wub:

[Muslim Woman]

As-Salaam Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakatuhu

A Journey Towards the Light!


...I was born and raised up in a Christian – catholic family, and had a much uncomplicated childhood, living in Denmark.

...I searched for books, and began to read more often, even went to a Mosque, and was invited to come back as much I liked.

..For quit some years, I was Shia, and worked with dawah and other Islamic things, to teach others and to help the new, coming to Islam, with prayers and much more, I was making fundraising, site's on the net and translating books, even I made Islamic movies and traveled around talking about Islam in public.

My time, as Shia, was doubtful, and for me a time, when I discovered mistakes, and uncorrected teachings of Islam.

Sure, I was, at a time, so very convinced, that being shia was the right way, and the right path. But deep inside, I had the doubt, and kept turning back to my books, when I was following Sunnah of the Prophet, salallahu alaihi wasallam, and the Qur'an. Because deep inside, I felt lost, which was right? In the end, I had to realize, that being Shia was not the correct way, of traveling towards Paradise.

So after a long time, of thinking, and waving between the differences, I made the choice, to follow The Sunnah, as being righteous and best way to be a true and sincere Muslim. I know, that for many new coming to Islam, it is difficult, as today so much different information is to find out there. But one should remain towards Qur'an and the Sunnah of the Prophet, salallahu alaihi wa sallam, then nothing can go wrong, and then you are on the right path


..I can proudly say: how lucky I am, because I am a Muslim.

Aminah Naila Johansen.


***
I know this convert sis from other forum . She is very active in dawah. Sadly her computer is out of order and she does not have money to repair it anymore or buy a new one. So , she is just sitting
idle at home

So , if anyone wants to help the convert sis to continue her dawah works , pl. do it and may Allah reward u abundanly .

If you have an active PayPal account please send any amount of money to Daddys_Love@hotmail.com and it needs to be in $USD (United States Of America Currency)

If you do not have a PayPal account then go to http://www.PayPal.com/ now and join up as it is free and then send what you can into the forums account: Daddys_Love@hotmail.com

[جوري]

Masha'Allah.. beautiful story Rabi, and may Allah swt always make you victorious .. funny how 911 had such a negative impact on me too as a Muslim and I wasn't practicing much before that either, it really helped me have a second look at my faith and in a strange way I think if it hadn't happened I'd have kept being a mediocre Muslim and only so in name only..

Sob7an Allah..

:w:

[souhaib]

Mach'Allah ..., i got touched by your story good luck for every thing i may allah help you for what you are doing for the Islam

-

[souhaib]

Mach'Allah ..., i got touched by your story good luck for every thing i may allah help you for what you are doing for the Islam

[Danah]

:sl:

I am a little bit apprehensive about this, but thought I would post my story here. It definitely is not one of your average revert stories. This is a condensed version.

First, a little about my religious background. I was born Mormon in a devout family in the Northwest USA. The heart of Mormon country is Utah, and I was born and raised there. If you are familiar with Mormons you will understand my upbringing. It was a pretty conservative lifestyle, and we attended church every Sunday, read the scriptures, etc. When I was out of high school I went on a mission for the church. Young men are expected at age 19 to serve a 2 year mission for the church and try and convert other people. I was sent to Japan for 2 years and actually baptized a few people. A mission can be a very challenging experience as you are expected to read and study the scriptures daily, learn the language, keep the strict mission rules, go door to door seeking converts, etc. Japan is mostly Buddhist but actually atheist IMO so it was a constant challenge for me, less than 1 percent of the population is Christian. By the end of my two years, even though I actually had a hand in converting some people to Mormonism, I began to have doubts about my own religion. Much of Mormonism is based on a prophet (Joseph Smith) who supposedly restored scripture and the true christian church to the earth. I learned enough on my mission from constant study of the bible and other scriptures that it was doubtful that he was actually a true prophet. I also figured out that the leadership of the Mormon church had withheld a lot of negative information about Joseph Smith. This was very disturbing to me and caused me to begin to lose my faith.

Anyway, after serving two years in Japan I came home, went to college, got married and started a family. I tried to keep up appearances that I believed in Mormonism but eventually it just got too difficult. It was just so obvious that the Mormon church started as a fraud that I couldn't keep attending. There was a mountain of evidence I found on the internet that prove it was false. I started to drift away and then I started an intensive study of other religions. I studied the bible in the original languages, considered Judaism, Catholicism, etc. I even spent time studying Hinduism, and about everything else I could. In 2000 I started to read the Quran and actually felt good about Islam. It made a certain amount of sense to me. Then 9/11 happened. I had such a negative reaction to Islam at that point that I stopped studying altogether. I wondered how anyone could consider themselves to be religious and then turn around and commit such evil.

For a few years I drifted. The only thing that made sense to me was science. And I guess you could say I was an agnostic. I didn't really believe in anything. I couldn't say one way or another whether God existed.

Then a few things began to happen to me that were somewhat serendipitous. I met a couple of Muslims who impressed me. I couldn't get them out of my mind. I had a spiritual experience concerning them. I found out I had some Arab ancestors. I had a chance to learn some basic Arabic. Something was coming alive inside of me. I went back and began to study the Quran again and learned that there is a big difference between true Islam and what is portrayed in the media. Muslims are not terrorists. I started posting on Islamicboard and learning more about Islam. It all came together. I slowly felt that something was unfolding inside of me. I just realized one day that I was a Muslim and always had been. I believed in one God. I believed that Muhammad really was a prophet. I loved Jesus and all of the scriptures and didn't have to reject what I knew to be true. It all opened up to me and I just surrendered to it.

I found a site online and did Shahadah on April 9, 2010. I learned how to do Salat. I memorized the opening of the Quran.

So now I am a new revert. But I have to remain somewhat secret from my family. They hate Islam. I am in the middle of a very conservative, Republican region and all of my friends hate Muslims. They don't understand it. I have to practice in secret. I live hundreds of miles from a Masjid. But I am okay. I love my new faith. I love my new life.

:inshallah everything will be okay.

Peace and love.

P.S. The Muslim name I have adopted is Rabi Mansur. Mansur means one helped by God or victorious. I think that is appropriate for what I have been through. Rabi means something like gentle wind, but it is close to my given name so when I put them together it made sense to me.

When I firstly notice your name I was wondering if I noticed you in LI before being a non-Muslim..After I read your story I remembered that you are a member here and just changed your username a bit.

Alhumdulilah that Allah guided you to Islam, your story inspired me indeed. May Allah keep you and us steadfast on the right path. Can I post your story in my website?

[nawaz254]

Dear Brother,
Congratulation ..
IF you want to Learn more Register with us .
Insha Allah we will help you in this regard.
Assalam-o-alaikum
www dot QuranMaster dot Com

[Amoeba]

Just reading these increases my... uh... what's that word... means something like faith. But it feels nice. :)

I do have a revert story but it's not very interesting to an outsider. But I'm going to post it anyway because it helps me:

A little background on me. I was born into an unstable family. They weren't bad people but the relations were frayed. They were loving but very negative most of the time, looking on the cloudier side of life, glass was always half empty to them, that kind of thing. My parents were teenagers and split up when I was three. Mum worked a lot after we moved out of my grandparents' house. Being unable to see my dad I can remember broke my heart, I wailed and sobbed for a long time for him. But I was that quiet, non-aggressive type who eventually just gave in to whatever happened, I developed coping mechanisms such as immersion in fantasy, drawing animals, masturbation (yes, as early as five years old) and talking to myself a lot. I was also a very sensitive child in a rough neighbourhood and didn't make any real friends. I also love(d) animals and cried when someone squished a bug.

I never at any point had any concept of God until primary school when a very vague version of Christianity was forced upon is. We were expected to pray and sing hymns. I did it, but my heart wasn't into it. I couldn't grasp what or who this "God" was so I just decided it was another fantasy, one I didn't take any notion to. At that age dragons and dinosaurs were far more interesting to me. That and drawing. By this stage drawing animals was the only real skill I had and it's one I totally focused all my attention on. Fictional worlds were my home, I didn't live in the real world.

Teenage years were more troublesome. Over my early school years I had developed behavioural problems and couldn't adjust to socialising with children my own age. I just did and said a lot of strange things, things that seemed strange to everyone else but perfectly normal to me. So when I entered high school I was in for a wee bit of a shock. Needless to say, in a western public school in a low-income area in a school that's renowned for being really bad, I did not have friends. I could have had friends if I had adjusted, but I couldn't adjust no matter how hard I tried. I was too sensitive and unwilling to hurt people, and in that school being a jerk was the only way to score friends. So I started just being scary. I decided if I wasn't going to have friends I at least wanted to prevent people from picking on me. So I started dressing scary and acting scary and I became very much a typical teenage brat. I liked baggy jeans and baggy tops and lots and lots of baggy things. People steered away from me in the corridors, but I still got picked on. I tried putting on this tough-guy(girl) façade but it didn't work too well. Still, I had a lot of dark twisted thoughts and said some really frightening things that still scare me to this day. I cursed God a lot, I cursed life, I cursed everything good. I was so, so ungrateful. And at the same time still very much (or even more so) out of touch with reality as I was before entering school.

I was very angry at the western system because I couldn't accept that it was the be-all and end-all of life like I was taught it was. My family were a very typical atheist western family and I hated the fact that I just didn't fit in. I had a lot of moral values back then that I didn't share with my family. I frequently judged them (I know I shouldn't have) by what they watched on TV, the way they talked to one another and the way they were much like big children that never grew up (I still think this in some ways, but a lot has changed and they're different now). Same goes for the teachers. I couldn't put my finger on what was wrong with the system, it just was wrong to me. It lacked morals, lacked humanity, lacked something that felt real. So, as ever, I was further immersed in fantasy but for the first time I was beginning to want to see beyond fantasy and see the reality. I became angry and frustrated that I couldn't see the reality because I didn't know where to look.

There was this one friend I had that didn't abandon me even though my other so-called friends did. After high school we stayed in touch and became the closest friends. What drew me to this person was that he was patient and kind, didn't judge me, gentle, and seemed to think on a much deeper level than most of the other kids. I was much like that too, thinking on much deeper levels and always wondering how others could get on with their lives without touching upon these depths, the tough questions nobody wants to ask. Yeah, that's right, I was a pseudo-philosophical pot-smoking brat after high school, lol. Though, like my friend, I would rather agonize over questions regarding life and reality than sleep easy. That's just the way my brain worked. I guess I kind of knew I was missing something important and there was this urgency to find it...

I was still pretty messed up. I think probably because I was still very socially immature despite my age! I was like an eight-year-old trapped in a seventeen-year-old's body, except I felt I had destroyed my own innocence with drugs and sex and alcohol. So immature, so ungrateful, and so naive.

After getting my thoughts together I decided to follow my friend and explore college courses and try and "make something of myself" as the saying goes. Despite my failure in high school I was still orientated for academia and (not to brag) quite intelligent, teachers had always said how intelligent I was, even ones who hated my guts. So I felt it was my only option. By this point I was still drawing lots and lots but figured "what good am I going to do for the world by drawing animals?" (yeah I was ambitious), and felt going back to school was my only real option. Then my friend told me he was a muslim. I didn't really care to be honest, he was still my best friend, but I really, really didn't care. So I was just like "... okay. So?" He was just relieved that I didn't take it badly so it was all good.

Over time Islam became a topic of conversation with increasing frequency. But rather than moving towards it I was moving away from it, but at the same time I was drawing to it... if that makes any sense? Like something inside me was fighting against it. I was at the stage where I was becoming quite set in what I believed, no God, only nature and only survival of the fittest. I guess that's why my self confidence was so low, I didn't see myself as very "fit". Then about a year or so ago I joined an internet community that was generally about spirituality but it was quite corrupt too. Why? I was desperate. I felt like I was going mad. I needed guidance and I wasn't finding any anywhere. Little voices in my head told me that this CANNOT be all there is to reality. It just COULDN'T BE. I started to remember my childhood again and how I felt and little things were clicking into place. I quit the forum because it was really dodgy and there was some really dark stuff on it, but it gave me an initial boost. It made me feel more receptive to what my best friend said, I began to feel there really was something special to this "Islam". Nothing had made any sense in my whole life but Islam... it made sense. And it was something I could wholeheartedly agree with without ifs or buts. Yet still I denied Allah (subhana wa ta'ala, His mercy is limitless)! By this point I was just getting plain foolish about my rejection...

So recently we visited another city. While we were there we stayed in a mostly ethnic minority area, largely of muslims and hindus (I'd still say muslim dominant). It was like being on a whole other planet. We met some very special brothers and sisters there. They changed my outlook forever. I will never forget the generosity and kindness that these people had for complete strangers such as ourselves! Some of them taking us into their home even. I won't forget the sheer amount of faith that seemed to just radiate off of them like a light. I can't really describe it in any words. It makes me cry just to think about it... trying to avoid crying so close to bed time, I have to sleep after typing this. I read a lot of pamphlets, booklets and books on Islam on the train ride and just after getting home.

Needless to say I took my shahada when I got back home. I couldn't live in denial any longer because I felt that the teachings of Islam and the followers of Islam were more real than anything or anyone I had ever come across. The whole thing was perfection to me, and thus could only have been brought down by a perfect being. Who is more perfect than Allah? Nobody.

(yay I didn't cry this time)

[IAmZamzam]

Just reading these increases my... uh... what's that word... means something like faith. But it feels nice. :)

I believe the word you're trying to think of is "iman".

[Insaanah]

Just reading these increases my... uh... what's that word... means something like faith. But it feels nice. :)

I do have a revert story but it's not very interesting to an outsider. But I'm going to post it anyway because it helps me:

A little background on me. I was born into an unstable family. They weren't bad people but the relations were frayed. They were loving but very negative most of the time, looking on the cloudier side of life, glass was always half empty to them, that kind of thing. My parents were teenagers and split up when I was three. Mum worked a lot after we moved out of my grandparents' house. Being unable to see my dad I can remember broke my heart, I wailed and sobbed for a long time for him. But I was that quiet, non-aggressive type who eventually just gave in to whatever happened, I developed coping mechanisms such as immersion in fantasy, drawing animals, masturbation (yes, as early as five years old) and talking to myself a lot. I was also a very sensitive child in a rough neighbourhood and didn't make any real friends. I also love(d) animals and cried when someone squished a bug.

I never at any point had any concept of God until primary school when a very vague version of Christianity was forced upon is. We were expected to pray and sing hymns. I did it, but my heart wasn't into it. I couldn't grasp what or who this "God" was so I just decided it was another fantasy, one I didn't take any notion to. At that age dragons and dinosaurs were far more interesting to me. That and drawing. By this stage drawing animals was the only real skill I had and it's one I totally focused all my attention on. Fictional worlds were my home, I didn't live in the real world.

Teenage years were more troublesome. Over my early school years I had developed behavioural problems and couldn't adjust to socialising with children my own age. I just did and said a lot of strange things, things that seemed strange to everyone else but perfectly normal to me. So when I entered high school I was in for a wee bit of a shock. Needless to say, in a western public school in a low-income area in a school that's renowned for being really bad, I did not have friends. I could have had friends if I had adjusted, but I couldn't adjust no matter how hard I tried. I was too sensitive and unwilling to hurt people, and in that school being a jerk was the only way to score friends. So I started just being scary. I decided if I wasn't going to have friends I at least wanted to prevent people from picking on me. So I started dressing scary and acting scary and I became very much a typical teenage brat. I liked baggy jeans and baggy tops and lots and lots of baggy things. People steered away from me in the corridors, but I still got picked on. I tried putting on this tough-guy(girl) façade but it didn't work too well. Still, I had a lot of dark twisted thoughts and said some really frightening things that still scare me to this day. I cursed God a lot, I cursed life, I cursed everything good. I was so, so ungrateful. And at the same time still very much (or even more so) out of touch with reality as I was before entering school.

I was very angry at the western system because I couldn't accept that it was the be-all and end-all of life like I was taught it was. My family were a very typical atheist western family and I hated the fact that I just didn't fit in. I had a lot of moral values back then that I didn't share with my family. I frequently judged them (I know I shouldn't have) by what they watched on TV, the way they talked to one another and the way they were much like big children that never grew up (I still think this in some ways, but a lot has changed and they're different now). Same goes for the teachers. I couldn't put my finger on what was wrong with the system, it just was wrong to me. It lacked morals, lacked humanity, lacked something that felt real. So, as ever, I was further immersed in fantasy but for the first time I was beginning to want to see beyond fantasy and see the reality. I became angry and frustrated that I couldn't see the reality because I didn't know where to look.

There was this one friend I had that didn't abandon me even though my other so-called friends did. After high school we stayed in touch and became the closest friends. What drew me to this person was that he was patient and kind, didn't judge me, gentle, and seemed to think on a much deeper level than most of the other kids. I was much like that too, thinking on much deeper levels and always wondering how others could get on with their lives without touching upon these depths, the tough questions nobody wants to ask. Yeah, that's right, I was a pseudo-philosophical pot-smoking brat after high school, lol. Though, like my friend, I would rather agonize over questions regarding life and reality than sleep easy. That's just the way my brain worked. I guess I kind of knew I was missing something important and there was this urgency to find it...

I was still pretty messed up. I think probably because I was still very socially immature despite my age! I was like an eight-year-old trapped in a seventeen-year-old's body, except I felt I had destroyed my own innocence with drugs and sex and alcohol. So immature, so ungrateful, and so naive.

After getting my thoughts together I decided to follow my friend and explore college courses and try and "make something of myself" as the saying goes. Despite my failure in high school I was still orientated for academia and (not to brag) quite intelligent, teachers had always said how intelligent I was, even ones who hated my guts. So I felt it was my only option. By this point I was still drawing lots and lots but figured "what good am I going to do for the world by drawing animals?" (yeah I was ambitious), and felt going back to school was my only real option. Then my friend told me he was a muslim. I didn't really care to be honest, he was still my best friend, but I really, really didn't care. So I was just like "... okay. So?" He was just relieved that I didn't take it badly so it was all good.

Over time Islam became a topic of conversation with increasing frequency. But rather than moving towards it I was moving away from it, but at the same time I was drawing to it... if that makes any sense? Like something inside me was fighting against it. I was at the stage where I was becoming quite set in what I believed, no God, only nature and only survival of the fittest. I guess that's why my self confidence was so low, I didn't see myself as very "fit". Then about a year or so ago I joined an internet community that was generally about spirituality but it was quite corrupt too. Why? I was desperate. I felt like I was going mad. I needed guidance and I wasn't finding any anywhere. Little voices in my head told me that this CANNOT be all there is to reality. It just COULDN'T BE. I started to remember my childhood again and how I felt and little things were clicking into place. I quit the forum because it was really dodgy and there was some really dark stuff on it, but it gave me an initial boost. It made me feel more receptive to what my best friend said, I began to feel there really was something special to this "Islam". Nothing had made any sense in my whole life but Islam... it made sense. And it was something I could wholeheartedly agree with without ifs or buts. Yet still I denied Allah (subhana wa ta'ala, His mercy is limitless)! By this point I was just getting plain foolish about my rejection...

So recently we visited another city. While we were there we stayed in a mostly ethnic minority area, largely of muslims and hindus (I'd still say muslim dominant). It was like being on a whole other planet. We met some very special brothers and sisters there. They changed my outlook forever. I will never forget the generosity and kindness that these people had for complete strangers such as ourselves! Some of them taking us into their home even. I won't forget the sheer amount of faith that seemed to just radiate off of them like a light. I can't really describe it in any words. It makes me cry just to think about it... trying to avoid crying so close to bed time, I have to sleep after typing this. I read a lot of pamphlets, booklets and books on Islam on the train ride and just after getting home.

Needless to say I took my shahada when I got back home. I couldn't live in denial any longer because I felt that the teachings of Islam and the followers of Islam were more real than anything or anyone I had ever come across. The whole thing was perfection to me, and thus could only have been brought down by a perfect being. Who is more perfect than Allah? Nobody.

(yay I didn't cry this time)

Assalaamu alaikum,

Thank you for sharing your story with us, sister Amoeba.

And all praise be to Allah who guided you to Islam.

[Muslim Woman]

Salaam


The first Convert Woman to Make Hajj


February 28, 2010 at 8:39 pm by Hadeer Nagah



From Mayfair to Mecca, the Life of Lady Evelyn Cobbold.


I found the book in a station of King Abd Al Aziz library at Riyadh airport. My whole trip to participate in the second annual conference of the Saudi Association of Languages and Translation was fantastic, yet finding this book made it exceptionally joyful.



I saw the elegant stands that are full with newly published books , translated and originals in different languages, targeting different groups of readers, they can be borrowed to kill the long hours of waiting at the airport. It is an interesting initiative to promote reading at all ages. I wasn’t really in the mood of reading after a three days conference of academic papers and presentations, but this book in particular caught my eyes and it turned out to be one of my dream books.



Lady Evelyn Cobbold Pilgrimage to Mecca, for some time I was looking for a travel book by a woman that records her observations from Western eyes about Islamic culture and countries, I finally found it, unexpectedly. I spoke with the person in charge explaining to him how important the book to my researches about the intersection between Islam and the West and he gave it to me as a gift from the library with my promises to keep him in my prayers at Al Haram ( the holy mosque at Al Medina), ( al Medina has its charm even on Saudis). It was only a few days before my birthday so I considered it one of my most precious birthday gifts.



The book is a history treasure, it is an autobiography and a collection of letters and photos of Lady Evelyn Cobbold who was a world traveler and who performed Hajj as a British convert 1933. It is not only a republication of her original Pilgrimage to Mecca 1934,as a substantial biographical introduction, notes and a map were added in this publication.


It was her childhood winters spent in North Africa and a chance meeting with the Pope that led her to declare that she had always been ” unconsciously Moslem at heart”, and that Islam is the religion of ” common sense”. Her determination to draw her faith on her own terms that drew her to the holy cities of Mecca and Al Medina. The quote at the back cover of the book impressed me, especially the fact that believing in Islam comes naturally to people:


” I am often asked when and why I became a Moslem. I can only reply that I do not know a precise moment when the truth of Islam dawned on me. It seems that I have always been a Moslem . This is not so strange when one remembers that Islam is the natural religion that a child left to itself would develop. Indeed , as a Western critic once described it , ” Islam is the religion of common sense”.
Besides the significant importance her trip to Mecca and Medina, as the first to be recorded by a woman, lady Cobbold accomplished a remarkable collection of “firsts”:

- The first British woman on record having performed Hajj
- The first foreign pilgrim to make pilgrimage by car.
- The first person to report the new pilgrimage buses on 1933.
- The first to report a trip by a car between Mina and Arafat.
- She enjoyed the reputation as the first- class angler, rifle shot and deerstalker
- The first British woman to shoot a 14-point stag.
- She also claimed to be the first woman to travel by air to Africa, on a flying boat in 1935.
Wow, impressive record, I only read through the first chapter during my stay and the airport and the flight, I can’t wait to finish the whole book and know her impression about Saudi and Muslim women in general, hope my teaching load allows enough time for this.

More to come about this interesting story!

p://blog.timesunion.com/muslimwomen/the-first-convert-woman-to-make-hajj/840/

[Muslim Woman]

:sl:

Blair's sister-in-law converts to Islam


The Guardian

By Tom Peck

Monday, 25 October 2010

Lauren Booth said she converted to Islam during a visit to a shrine in Qom, Iran


Tony Blair's sister-in-law, Lauren Booth, has become the latest in a long line of Western Islamic converts. From Chris Eubank to Jermaine Jackson to Alexander Litvinenko, she joins an eclectic list, yet she is markedly different from most of its names, for one key reason – she is female.

Ms Booth, who works for the Iranian state news channel Press TV, said she decided to become a Muslim after being overwhelmed during a visit to a shrine in the city of Qom, Iran.
"I felt this shot of spiritual morphine: just absolute bliss and joy," she said. When she returned to Britain six weeks ago, she decided to convert. "Now I don't eat pork, and read the Koran every day," she said.
She is now on page 60. Though women in the public eye are generally not shy of a religious conversion (Demi Moore, Kabbalah; Tina Turner, Buddhism), Islam is rarely their go-to faith. For Catherine Heseltine, CEO of MPACUK which was set up to address a perceived under-representation of Muslims in British politics, and herself a convert, this is not hugely surprising.
She said: "Islam requires women to cover their hair and hide the shape of the body. If you think of the areas where women typically achieve a high profile – singing, acting, modelling – these things tend not to be compatible with these requirements.
"Converting to Islam is a different proposition for women than from men. They are instantly asked: 'Why do you want to be oppressed?' There have been problems in the Muslim community with sexism, but these are attributable to culture, rather than religion itself and the two have become very mixed-up in the public's perception."
But the shortage of Islamic women converts in the public eye in fact conceals a trend in the public at large that is in the very opposite. Sheikh Imam Ibrahim Mogra from Leicester said: "I receive many more inquiries from women. It is quite surprising, given the negative publicity in terms of the mistreatment of women. But women say it was all the negative things that first stimulated their interest."
Though the group she joins as woman convert is small, it is a vocal one. Ms Booth's colleague at Press TV, former war correspondent Yvonne Ridley, converted to Islam in 2003 after being captured by the Taliban in Afghanistan.

There is of course one challenging liturgical requirement. Ms Booth said: "I haven't had a drink in 45 days," she said. "And I was someone who craved a glass of wine or two."

[S.Belle]

My conversion to Islam

A lot of people have asked me how I became Muslim and they expect and very long, spirtual, and emotional story about how I found the truth. But my "story" is rather simple.

I grew up a minister's daugther but was never really into the church to be quite honest I absolutely hated going to church and thought the whole Trinity thing was a scam. And that the members of the church were not worshipping God but rather the pastor. Its like when ever a problem came up it was always oh i have to go tell this to the paster or oh i have to ask the pastor for help. This made no sense to me because if God is so powerful why must I go thru the pastor/or even church to have my prayers answered.

So I basically was always physically in church but never mentally there. I felt this way all the way up until my teens years and I finally started to verbally express my desire not to go to church and how I thought Christianity made no sense at all. I started asking my mom questions about the bible that did not make sense and she could not give me an answer to all the questions I had. My mom then went to the pastor and asked him the same questions that I did and he could not give her an answer and told her somethings are just meant to not be understood. My mom like me did not like the answers we were getting so she quit her job as minister and started to do some research on the Bible and other religions. During this time my mom got married and he ( my step dad) started telling her about Islam and after looking into it she converted. She never told me about her conversion to another religion but I knew something was up because all the bacon and pork in the house disappeared and she just had a different demeanor about her. So one day I go to her and say why are you acting so weird. Is there something I should know?

Thats when she told me about Islam and how peaceful it was and how it answers any question you have and more. Her and my step dad told me more about Islam but my mom wanted me to be absolutely sure that I was ready to convert because it was no going back to disbelief after accepting Islam. She then told me about a girl at my school and how here family was muslim. I was shocked mostly because she did not wear hijab and I never would have thought that there were any muslims were we lived ( i lived in a very racist small town at the time that is mainly the reason behind her not wearing hijab it was just too dangerous). So the next day at school I went up to her and asked her did she belive in Allah (swt) and she looked at me so shocked and nervously said yes. Then I told her cool could you teach me about Islam and since then every day at lunch she would teach me. It was in the middle of ramadan at the time and she explained to me why muslims fast and about the Prophet (pbuh).
We became attached at the hip and within the end of the week I became muslim. I would say she helped me to understand Islam more (i know my parents were telling me about it but its just so different when your are 13 and a peer tells you about it).

And now when I go to masjid LOVE it i fell so spiritually connected with God and its just so peaceful and nothing like how i felt when I was Christain.

[Rabi Mansur]

My conversion to Islam

A lot of people have asked me how I became Muslim and they expect and very long, spirtual, and emotional story about how I found the truth. But my "story" is rather simple.

I grew up a minister's daugther but was never really into the church to be quite honest I absolutely hated going to church and thought the whole Trinity thing was a scam. And that the members of the church were not worshipping God but rather the pastor. Its like when ever a problem came up it was always oh i have to go tell this to the paster or oh i have to ask the pastor for help. This made no sense to me because if God is so powerful why must I go thru the pastor/or even church to have my prayers answered.

So I basically was always physically in church but never mentally there. I felt this way all the way up until my teens years and I finally started to verbally express my desire not to go to church and how I thought Christianity made no sense at all. I started asking my mom questions about the bible that did not make sense and she could not give me an answer to all the questions I had. My mom then went to the pastor and asked him the same questions that I did and he could not give her an answer and told her somethings are just meant to not be understood. My mom like me did not like the answers we were getting so she quit her job as minister and started to do some research on the Bible and other religions. During this time my mom got married and he ( my step dad) started telling her about Islam and after looking into it she converted. She never told me about her conversion to another religion but I knew something was up because all the bacon and pork in the house disappeared and she just had a different demeanor about her. So one day I go to her and say why are you acting so weird. Is there something I should know?

Thats when she told me about Islam and how peaceful it was and how it answers any question you have and more. Her and my step dad told me more about Islam but my mom wanted me to be absolutely sure that I was ready to convert because it was no going back to disbelief after accepting Islam. She then told me about a girl at my school and how here family was muslim. I was shocked mostly because she did not wear hijab and I never would have thought that there were any muslims were we lived ( i lived in a very racist small town at the time that is mainly the reason behind her not wearing hijab it was just too dangerous). So the next day at school I went up to her and asked her did she belive in Allah (swt) and she looked at me so shocked and nervously said yes. Then I told her cool could you teach me about Islam and since then every day at lunch she would teach me. It was in the middle of ramadan at the time and she explained to me why muslims fast and about the Prophet (pbuh).
We became attached at the hip and within the end of the week I became muslim. I would say she helped me to understand Islam more (i know my parents were telling me about it but its just so different when your are 13 and a peer tells you about it).

And now when I go to masjid LOVE it i fell so spiritually connected with God and its just so peaceful and nothing like how i felt when I was Christain.

شكرا Ukhti. Very nice. I'm happy that you have found peace and a spiritual connection.
Islam really can bring peace. All the best on your journey.

:Alhumdill

[Insaanah]

My conversion to Islam

A lot of people have asked me how I became Muslim and they expect and very long, spirtual, and emotional story about how I found the truth. But my "story" is rather simple.

I grew up a minister's daugther but was never really into the church to be quite honest I absolutely hated going to church and thought the whole Trinity thing was a scam. And that the members of the church were not worshipping God but rather the pastor. Its like when ever a problem came up it was always oh i have to go tell this to the paster or oh i have to ask the pastor for help. This made no sense to me because if God is so powerful why must I go thru the pastor/or even church to have my prayers answered.

So I basically was always physically in church but never mentally there. I felt this way all the way up until my teens years and I finally started to verbally express my desire not to go to church and how I thought Christianity made no sense at all. I started asking my mom questions about the bible that did not make sense and she could not give me an answer to all the questions I had. My mom then went to the pastor and asked him the same questions that I did and he could not give her an answer and told her somethings are just meant to not be understood. My mom like me did not like the answers we were getting so she quit her job as minister and started to do some research on the Bible and other religions. During this time my mom got married and he ( my step dad) started telling her about Islam and after looking into it she converted. She never told me about her conversion to another religion but I knew something was up because all the bacon and pork in the house disappeared and she just had a different demeanor about her. So one day I go to her and say why are you acting so weird. Is there something I should know?

Thats when she told me about Islam and how peaceful it was and how it answers any question you have and more. Her and my step dad told me more about Islam but my mom wanted me to be absolutely sure that I was ready to convert because it was no going back to disbelief after accepting Islam. She then told me about a girl at my school and how here family was muslim. I was shocked mostly because she did not wear hijab and I never would have thought that there were any muslims were we lived ( i lived in a very racist small town at the time that is mainly the reason behind her not wearing hijab it was just too dangerous). So the next day at school I went up to her and asked her did she belive in Allah (swt) and she looked at me so shocked and nervously said yes. Then I told her cool could you teach me about Islam and since then every day at lunch she would teach me. It was in the middle of ramadan at the time and she explained to me why muslims fast and about the Prophet (pbuh).
We became attached at the hip and within the end of the week I became muslim. I would say she helped me to understand Islam more (i know my parents were telling me about it but its just so different when your are 13 and a peer tells you about it).

And now when I go to masjid LOVE it i fell so spiritually connected with God and its just so peaceful and nothing like how i felt when I was Christain.

:sl: dear sister Mila,

What a beautiful story, maashaAllah.

JazaakiAllah khayr for sharing, and all praise be to Allah who guided you back home to Islam.

Assalaamu alaikum.

[fahim kamran]

there to much inspiring stories to here and its a delightful fealing to read them and feel them also loved all my new muslims and there inspiring stories

[Muslim Woman]

Salaam

Blair's sister-in-law converts to Islam


The Guardian

"

some funny and interesting comments I saw online on her convert to Islam

They are fuming

Ariel Sharon has been so shocked he has awoken from his coma.



I wonder if she will declare holy war on Tony Blair, him being a catholic, a kuffar

That's an amazing phenomenon ....... you guys need to scratch your head and wonder, that despite so much publicity against islam that islam treats women poorly , don't give them freedom, let men dominate them ....... still educated women are attracted to Islam .

[جوري]

some funny and interesting comments I saw online on her convert to Islam They are fuming Ariel Sharon has been so shocked he has awoken from his coma. I wonder if she will declare holy war on Tony Blair, him being a catholic, a kuffar That's an amazing phenomenon ....... you guys need to scratch your head and wonder, that despite so much publicity against islam that islam treats women poorly , don't give them freedom, let men dominate them ....... still educated women are attracted to Islam .

al7mdlillah may Allah swt make her sincere in her conversion and enable her to do good..
I am not surprised this is the age of the great schism.. many will enter into Islam many will leave.. Allah swt didn't give us the gift of Islam with a particular people in mind.. it is for all of man kind.. so whereas the arabs are squandering their money on high class prostitutes, educated individuals enter into Islam and they enter with reason and reflection..

Allah Akbar..

:w:

[sur]

-

-

-
Toney Blair's sister in law converted

[Muslimman]

There's a short film on youtube named: The_Absolute_Truth_About_Muhammad_in_the_Bible. It talks about how the name of the Prophet SWS is mentioned in Torah and I thought it may help some people on here.

[Muslim Woman]

Salaam

full story:

talks about her conversion to Islam.

Lauren Booth in addtion to being the sister of Tony Blair's wife, is a broadcaster, journalist and - a Muslim.
How is this possible? What is the reason behind all of this?

Get the facts from the source - herself. Here in her own words, she tells us about how she feels in coming to Islam..


"It is the most peculiar journey of my life. The carriage is warm and my fellow passengers unexpectedly welcoming. We are progressing ­rapidly and without delay. Rain, snow, rail unions, these things make no difference to the forward rush.


Yet I have no idea how I came to be on board nor, stranger still, quite where the train is heading, apart from this: the destination, wherever it might be, is the most important place I can imagine.


I know this all seems gloriously far-fetched, but really it is how I feel about my conversion, announced last week, to Islam.


Although the means and ­mechanisms that brought me to this point remain mysterious, the decision will determine every aspect of my life to come as firmly as the twin rails beneath that exhilarating express.


Asked for a simple explanation of how I, an English hack journalist, a ­single working mother, signed up to the Western media’s least-favourite religion, I suppose I would point to an intensely spiritual experience in an Iranian mosque just over a month ago.


But it makes more sense to go back to January 2005, when I arrived alone in the West Bank to cover the elections there for The Mail on Sunday. It is safe to say that before that visit I had never spent any time with Arabs, or Muslims.


The whole experience was a shock, but not for the reasons I might have expected. So much of what we know about this part of the world and the people who follow Mohammed the Prophet is based on ­disturbing - some would say biased - news bulletins.


So, as I flew towards the Middle East, my mind was full of the usual 10pm buzz­words: radical extremists, fanatics, forced marriages, suicide bombers and jihad. Not much of a travel brochure.


My very first experience, though, could hardly have been more positive. I had arrived on the West Bank without a coat, as the Israeli airport authorities had kept my suitcase.
Walking around the centre of Ramallah, I was shivering, whereupon an old lady grabbed my hand.


Talking rapidly in Arabic, she took me into a house on a side street. Was I being kidnapped by a rather elderly terrorist? For several confusing minutes I watched her going through her daughter’s wardrobe until she pulled out a coat, a hat and a scarf.


I was then taken back to the street where I had been walking, given a kiss and sent warmly on my way. There had been not a single comprehensible word exchanged between us.


Warmth of spirit
It was an act of generosity I have never forgotten, and one which, in various guises, I have seen repeated a hundred times. Yet this warmth of spirit is so rarely represented in what we read and see in the news.


Over the course of the next three years I made numerous journeys to the occupied lands which were once historic Palestine. At first I went on ­assignments; as time went by, I started travelling in solidarity with charities and pro-Palestinian groups.
I felt challenged by the hardships ­suffered by Palestinians of all creeds. It is important to remember there have been Christians in the Holy Land for 2000 years and that they too are suffering under Israel’s illegal occupation.


Gradually I found expressions such as ‘Mashallah!’ (a phrase of gratitude meaning ‘God has willed it’) and ‘Al Hamd­illilah!’ (akin to ‘Halle­lujah’) creeping into my everyday speech. These are exclamations of delight derived from the 100 names of God, or Allah. Far from being nervous of Muslim groups, I started looking forward to meeting them. It was an opportunity to be with people of intelligence, wit and, above all else, kindness and generosity.


I’m going to take a break here to pray for 10 minutes as it’s 1.30pm. (There are five prayers each day, the times varying throughout the year depending on the rising and setting of the sun.)


I was in no doubt that I had embarked on a change of political understanding, one in which Palestinians became families rather than terror suspects, and Muslim cities communities rather than ‘collateral damage’.
But a religious journey? This would never have occurred to me. Although I have always liked to pray and, since childhood, have enjoyed the stories of Jesus and the more ancient prophets that I had picked up at school and at the Brownies, I was brought up in a very secular household.


Bold Muslim women


It was probably an appreciation of Muslim culture, in partic­ular that of Muslim women, that first drew me towards a broader appreciation of Islam.


How strange Muslim women seem to English eyes, all covered up from head to toe, sometimes walking behind their husbands (although this is far from universally the case), with their children around their long skirts.


By contrast, professional women in Europe are happy to make the most of their appearance. I, for example, have always been proud of my lovely blonde hair and, yes, my cleavage.


It was common working practice to have this on display at all times because so much of what we sell these days has to do with our appearance.


Yet whenever I have been invited to broadcast on television, I have sat watching in wonder as the female presenters spend up to an hour on their hair and make- up, before giving the serious ­topics under discussion less than 15 minutes’ attention. Is this liber­ation? I began to wonder just how much true respect girls and women get in our ‘free’ society.


In 2007 I went to Lebanon. I spent four days with female ­university students, all of whom wore the full hijab: belted shirts over dark trousers or jeans, with no hair on show. They were charming, independent and outspoken company. They were not at all the timid, soon-to-be-forced-into-marriage girls I would have imagined from what we often read in the West.


At one point they accompanied me to interview a sheikh who was also a commander with the Hezbollah militia. I was pleasantly surprised by his attitude to the girls. As Sheikh Nabil, in turban and brown flowing robes, talked intriguingly of a prisoner swap, they started butting in. They felt free to talk over him, to put a hand up for him to pause while they translated.


In fact, the bossiness of Muslim women is something of a joke that rings true in so many homes in the community. You want to see men under the thumb? Look at many Muslim husbands more than other kinds.


Indeed, just yesterday, the Grand Mufti of Bosnia rang me and only half-jokingly introduced himself as ‘my wife’s husband’.


Something else was changing, too. The more time I spent in the Middle East, the more I asked to be taken into mosques. Just for touristy reasons, I told myself. In fact I found them fascinating.


Mosques 'fascinating'


Free of statues and with rugs instead of pews, I saw them rather like a big sitting room where ­children play, women feed their families pitta bread and milk and grandmothers sit and read the Koran in wheelchairs. They take their lives into their place of worship and bring their worship into their homes.


Then came the night in the Iran­ian city of Qom, beneath the golden dome of the shrine of Fatima Mesumah (the revered ‘Learned Lady’). Like the other women pilgrims, I said Allah’s name several times while holding on to the bars of Fatima’s tomb.


When I sat down, a pulse of sheer spiritual joy shot through me. Not the joy that lifts you off the ground, but the joy that gives you complete peace and contentment. I sat for a long time. Young women gathered around me talking of the ‘amazing thing happening to you’.


I knew then I was no longer a tourist in Islam but a traveller inside the Ummah, the community of Islam that links all believers.


At first I wanted the feeling to go, and for several reasons. Was I ready to convert? What on earth would friends and family think? Was I ready to moderate my behaviour in many ways?


And here’s the really strange thing. I needn’t have worried about any of these things, because somehow becoming a Muslim is really easy – although the prac­ticalities are a very different ­matter, of course.


For a start, Islam demands a great deal of study, yet I am mother to two children and work full-time. You are expected to read the Koran from beginning to end, plus the thoughts and findings of imams and all manner of spiritually enlightened people. Most people would spend months, if not years of study before making their declaration.
People ask me how much of the Koran I’ve read, and my answer is that I’ve only covered 100 pages or so to date, and in translation. But before anyone sneers, the verses of the Koran should be read ten lines at a time, and they should be recited, considered and, if possible, committed to memory. It’s not like OK! magazine.
This is a serious text that I am going to know for life. It would help to learn Arabic and I would like to, but that will also take time.
I have a relationship with a ­couple of mosques in North London, and I am hoping to make a routine of going at least once a week. I would never say, by the way, whether I will take a Sunni or a Shia path. For me, there is one Islam and one Allah.
Adopting modest dress, however, is rather less troublesome than you might think. Wearing a headscarf means I’m ready to go out more quickly than before. I was blushing the first time I wore it loosely over my hair just a few weeks ago.
Luckily it was cold outside, so few people paid attention. Going out in the sunshine was more of a challenge, but this is a tolerant country and no one has looked askance so far.
A veil, by the way, is not for me, let alone something more substantial like a burka. I’m making no criticism of women who choose that level of modesty. But Islam has no expectation that I will adopt a more severe form of dress.
Predictably, some areas of the Press have had a field day with my conversion, unleashing a torrent of abuse that is not really aimed at me but a false idea of Islam.


But I have ignored the more negative comments. Some people don’t understand spirituality and any discussion of it makes them frightened. It raises awkward questions about the meaning of their own lives and they lash out.


One of my concerns is professional. It is easy to get pigeonholed, particularly if I continue to wear a headscarf. In fact, based on the experience of other female converts, I’m wondering if I will be treated as though I have lost my mind.


I’ve been political all my life, and that will continue. I’ve been involved in pro-Palestinian activism for a number of years, and don’t expect to stop. Yet Britain is a more tolerant country than, say, France or Germany.


I’m well aware that there are plenty of Muslim women who have great success on television and in the Press, and wear modest but decidedly Western dress.
This is hardly a choice for me, though. I am a newcomer, still getting to grips with the basic tenets. My relationship with Islam is different. I am in no position to say that some bits of my new-found faith suit me and that some bits I’ll ignore.


There is a more profound uncertainty about the future, too. I feel changes going on in me every day – that I’m becoming a different person. I wonder where that will end up. Who will I be?
I am fortunate in that my most important relationships remain strong. The reaction from my non-Muslim friends has been more curious than hostile. "Will it change you?" they ask. "Can we still be your friend? Can we go out drinking?"
The answer to the first two of those questions is yes. The last is a big happy no.
As for my mother, I think she is happy if I’m happy. And if, coming from a background of my father’s alcoholism, I’m going to avoid the stuff, then what could be better?


Alcoholic household


Growing up in an alcoholic household with a dad who was violent, has left a great gap in my life. It is a wound that will never heal and his remarks about me are very hurtful.
We haven’t seen each other for years, so how can he know anything about me or have any valid views about my conversion? I just feel sorry for him. The rest of my family is very supportive.



My mum and I had a difficult relationship when I was growing up, but we have built bridges and she’s a great support to me and the girls.
When I told her I had converted, she did say: "Not to those nutters. I thought you said Buddhism!" But she understand now and accepts it.
And, as it happens, giving up alcohol was a breeze. In fact I can’t imagine tasting alcohol ever again. I simply don’t want to.


This is not the time for me to be thinking about relationships with men, either. I’m recovering from the breakdown of my marriage and am now going through a divorce.
So I’m not looking and am under no pressure to look.
If, when the time came, I did consider remarrying, then, in accordance with my adopted faith, the husband would need to be Muslim.


I’m asked: "Will my daughters be Muslim?" I don’t know, that is up to them. You can’t change someone’s heart. But they’re certainly not hostile and their reaction to my surprising conversion was perhaps the most telling of all.
I sat in the kitchen and called them in. "Girls, I have some news for you," I began. "I am now a Muslim." They went into a ­huddle, with the eldest, Alex, saying: "We have some questions, we’ll be right back."
They made a list and returned. Alex cleared her throat. "Will you drink alcohol any more?"



Answer: No. The response - a rather worrying "Yay!"
"Will you smoke cigarettes any more?" Smoking isn’t haram (for­bidden) but it is harmful, so I answered: "No."


Again, this was met with puritanical approval.

Their final question, though, took me aback. "‘Will you have your breasts out in public now you are a Muslim?"
What??


It seems they’d both been embarrassed by my plunging shirts and tops and had cringed on the school run at my pallid cleavage. Perhaps in hindsight I should have cringed as well.
"Now that I’m Muslim," I said, "I will never have my breasts out in public again."
"We love Islam!" they cheered and went off to play. And I love Islam too."
Lauren Booth, 43, the sixth daughter of actor Tony Booth, now works for Press TV, the English-language news channel of the Islamic Republic of Iran
http://www.islamnewsroom.com/news-we...aw-loves-islam

[aadil77]

^MashAllah bless her, I can see her becoming another yvonne ridley

hope she doesn't veer off into shiism though

[Muslim Woman]

Salaam

she wrote : I would never say, by the way, whether I will take a Sunni or a Shia path. For me, there is one Islam and one Allah.

[Sicilian Muslim]

Born and raised in new york,raised catholic but never truly practiced,my life was hectic,into the whole rap scene that brought only misery and betrayal,life was only about money,drugs & women,a true hedonistic lifestyle,i was betrayed by my "friends",i thank Allah for taking me out of that area.moved to Tampa,Florida in the summer of 2002 my whole life was turned upside down,from knowing everyone my age to not knowing a soul,and being 16..still in "rebellion" mode,i hated the schools here and eventually dropped out,at home all day with no friends i eventually developed a deep depression,and i had tons of time to Contemplate...wich led me to search for answers,for a while i called myself "Christian" after seeing the film "Passion of the Christ" but i still felt Hollow and Empty inside because many questions were left unanswered...what i knew about Islam was very bias,and not based on truth..mostly from the media and the film/tv industry..i thought Islam was like Hinduism..boy,was i wrong..after reading about TRUE Islam it amazed me..Tawheed,the Arabic term for God's ULTIMATE ONENESS was like nothing ive heard before and instantly it clicked! ,this is the way of life of ALL PROPHETS AND MESSENGERS OF GOD! they all were brothers and followed ONE faith! WORSHIP ONLY GOD THE CREATOR ALONE AND NO OTHER DIETY BESIDE HIM! Noah,Abraham,Moses,Jesus and Muhammed (Peace be upon them all) taught the SAME MESSAGE..Men have corrupted the previous messages of old (Torah,Gospel etc..) but GOD ALMIGHTY has Sworn to keep the Qur'an and TRUE Islam protected! wich has been true to this day! the same Qu'ran we have is the same Qu'ran the Prophet Muhammeds (peace be upon him) Companions read and recited! ,how many Different bibles are theyre?? with NO ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT..Hmmm...GOD IS NOT THE AUTHOR OF CONFUSION! ...Men have tampered with the revelations of GOD ALMIGHTY...Cursed be those who write the book and say "this is from God!" only to sell at a miserable gain! Cursed be them! Again! Cursed be Them!...After reading about TRUE Islam (Islam means to Surrender ones free will/ones self to God Almighty ,the Creator,in Arabic we say Allaah,wich is the Arabic word/term for God Almighty,the Creator) i took my Shahada (Islamic Declaration of Faith) La ilaha illAllaah! (there is no diety worship of worship except God Almighty) Muhammed rasul-allaah (Muhammed is the Messenger of God),Alhamdulillah! (Praise be to God) who has guided me to his way of life ordained for his creatures..the road has been bumpy with Shaytaan (Satan) never taking a break 24/7 365...Be Strong OH MUSLIM! :statisfie

[Ğħαrєєвαħ]

Aslaamu`alaaykum

Masha`Allaah great story Sicilian Muslim , Allaah is the greatest and Islaam is the truth!

May Allaah SWT increase the Ummaah in emaan and grant them happiness in this life and the akhirah Ameen

Jazakallahu khaayr for sharing.

Wa`alaaykum salaam

[Insecured soul]

Be Strong OH MUSLIM!

May allah be with us all. insha allah, ameen

Good story, well no matter how the revert story is but most important is that your muslim and worship the creator and not the creation.

PS: try increasing the font next time :D

walaikum salaam

[جوري]

.Be Strong OH MUSLIM!

Masha'Allah Masha'Allah.. decided to take a quick break and come here and boy am I glad I did... how heartwarming and inspirational indeed..

Allah Akbar.. Allah Akbar, Allah Akbar..
la illa illa Allah

[Sicilian Muslim]

Walaykum asalaam warahmatullahi wabarakatu ,Thank you all so very much :) , Allahumma Ameen thumma Ameen!

[tigerkhan]

:sl:
its so nice. JZK for sharing ur story.

[Revert 2010]

as salaamu alaykum Brothers and sisters I reverted after a while am from a mixed Italian/Scots background after doing a lot of background reading and deciding it was the faith for me. At first it may have been for the wrong reason I had really deep feelings for this sister but in the end I had to distance myself and find my own path to Allah In which I found Islam. I was looking to fill my spiritual void and have found a faith which encompasses my everyday day life from dusk to Dawn.

[جوري]

:welcome: aboard akhi-- Allah Akbar & al7mdlillah

[Ansariyah]

I thought some of u will enjoy listening to this InshaAllah, as I did.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJ_T70W-BJA

[sur]