My first time in a masjid

I'm posting this in "Halal Fun" because some people might find parts of this humorous.

Sheykh Yusuf Estes gave a talk at a masjid that was only (!) four hours from where I live. Though only Allah can bring us to Islam, this man definitely was helping Allah in bringing me to the Straight Path. It was through watching his television shows on Peace TV and listening to his lectures on Youtube that Islam became not just something to study, but a way of life for me. I took my shahada privately, in my own home, about three or four years ago, but I had never done it with witnesses. Now, I was determined that I was going to take my shahada from Yusuf Estes. He deserved the rewards for all he had done to bring me (and others, of course) to Islam.

Now, I had never been to a mosque, masjid, Islamic center, or anything like that, in my life. I had never even met another Muslim in person! I live in a city of 20,000 people in South Dakota - yes, we call that a city here, even though the whole city is only three square miles or so - and I am the only Muslim. The closest mosque is 45 minutes south, but they shut off their sister's section and it is men only. The next closest is an hour and a half away and when I called there once, I could not understand the imam at all, nor could he understand me. I think he was Somali (not that it makes a difference, just to explain the language barrier). So I never went there. But I figured this one four hours away, in Minneapolis, would probably be more multi-cultural.

I spent the whole morning TRYING to wear a hijab. It would fall off, the pins would scratch my head, it would slip down over my face . . . I do not own a cap of any type, nor had I ever worn hijab before, so it was a total failure. I ended up going with a scarf wrapped around my neck hoping some sisters could help me when I got there.

It was a long drive! But I made it, with about half an hour to spare before Maghrib. Only two other people were there before me (which floored me because I am chronically early everywhere and I never understand how others are not the same) and one nice gentleman directed me to the sister's section. I went into the wash area and began to make wudu and another sister came in and started talking to me! I was in shock, because to me wudu was always something you concentrated during. Granted, she was trying to help me since she knew I was new there and she was telling me a wonderful story about how where we wash for wudu will light up on Judgement Day, but I was still quite a bit freaked out. I have bad social anxiety anyway. But, I made my wudu, and she gave me some sandals to wear. There was my first mistake, I did not understand what the sandals were for and I wore them into the prayer area. She quickly corrected me (they were just for the washroom) but I still was mortified.

I met dozens of wonderful sisters from all over the world, and they made me feel very comfortable. It turned out many of them were from extended families that were there that night, so it was a bit surprising when I pieced together that of the 60 or so people that were there, most of them were relatives in about seven groups.

Finally it was time to pray. Keep in mind I have never had an individual teach me to pray, I had to learn from Youtube. On videos, every word is spoken aloud. I was caught very off guard when large parts of the prayer were silent. Thankfully I knew in general what to do, though I think I messed up the words quite a few times in my head.

And then, after that, Sheykh Yusuf Estes gave his talk. It was a WONDERFUL talk, but I was soooooooooo unprepared for what the sister's section was like. *laughs* Women texting. Women chatting. Kids running around EVERYWHERE. I could see into the men's section and they were all, for the better part, giving the Sheykh the attention he deserved. I kind of wished I was a brother at that point so I could be in a quieter area.

We prayed Isha', and then the Sheykh led my shahada. I wanted to cry because I had been waiting for that moment for such a long time, but I was just too happy to finally, publicly, dedicate my life to Allah. I've been suffering from low iman but by iman went over the moon in that moment. And of course, every sister had to hug me. And I had SOOO many phones shoved in my face because they all wanted my contact information. I spent the next 20 minutes just playing on cell phones putting my information in for them.

Oddly enough, I walked away with a souvenir of the night. The Sheykh was fundraising for GuideUs TV and he auctioned off two plush animals. I won a stuffed bear. I named it Shahada in honor of the evening.

Then it was time for the four hour drive home. I didn't get home until 1:30 in the morning, and I was so wound up that I stayed up for Fajr and then finally went to sleep. it was a wonderful night, and I just thought I would share it with everyone.