Considering on converting

Hello All,

Well I will first say I am not muslim at this time. I am raised catholic, went to private school and I would say very knowledgeable about christianity. My fiance is muslim and never asked me to convert but always shares with me thoughts and feeling about islam. In august my fiance was rushed to the hospital as he was unconsious. We found out he had a brain infection, a stroke and 2 blood clots in his brain. He was in critical condition for 2 weeks and had a 50% chance of surviving. I became very close with his family and we spents hours praying, 2 different ways of praying as they are muslim and I am catholic but to the same God. My fiance pulled through against all odds was told he could be paralyzed, he is not, was told he may have major brain damage and serious problems because of his injuries. Ahmad ( my fiance) is my walking miracle. He is the same person, he is not paralyzed and no other problems with his day to day life. The doctors are amazed with his progress and I know in my heart that only God could have saved him and put him in the position he is in right now.

I have been thinking over the last few months that I want to learn more about islam and make a smart, well thought out decision if this is something I want to do. I would only do it for me not for anyone else. I have felt lost over the last few years and drifted from God because I have learned some things about my faith that has devastated me. If I went into those things this would get way to long. My question for you is where should I start. I was thinking about getting some books about islam off ebay but I dont know which books. I have looked all over the internet but it can be overwhelming. Does anyone have any suggestions? Your advice would be greatly appreciated.

Welcome to the forums and please look through the various sections, especially the ones for New Muslims.

Feel free to ask questions. If you have some specific questions it will make it easier to direct you to information sources that best suit your needs.

There are many free sources for free Islamic information books, booklet and pamphlets. I am certain many links will soon be posted for you.

Always remember one thing, do not revert to Islam except for one reason only, that reason being Allaah(swt).

My question for you is where should I start. I was thinking about getting some books about islam off ebay but I dont know which books. I have looked all over the internet but it can be overwhelming. Does anyone have any suggestions? Your advice would be greatly appreciated.

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as for Books, well a good "Translation" of the Qur'an. i recommend Muhammad Asad's The Message of The Qur'an, here:

http://www.amazon.com/Message-Quran-Muhammad-Asad/dp/1904510000

it WILL seem a little clunky and rough around the edges, but that is why i like it. the Brother is EXPLORING the Qur'an and often offers alternate and/or prior translations of certain ayats.

some will say the Abdullah Yusuf Ali is the best "literary" translation. i hated it by the time i got near the end. his notes referred to Shakespeare and Philosophy way too much for me. that plus alot of people have it and they think that it is a Qur'an; it IS not, it is ONLY a translation!

here's where i would actually start. watch the 1st 2 part's of Bilal Philips The Foundation of Islamic Studies, here:

http://www.bilalphilips.com/bilal_pages.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=288

it's way down at the bottom, it's 21 parts. the first 2 explain Tawheed; the "Oneness" of Allah. ther rest is part of a 3 day seminar taped in Toronto. some of his other videos are good as well. btw, you can stream them.


i am a HUGE fan of Mufti Ismail Menk. i find his lectures to be amazing in simplicity and beauty. here's a rare video of a lecture of hi [it's a short Tafseer of Al Fatiha, the Opening Surah of the Qur'an which is repeated AT LEAST 17 times a day by Muslims]:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2389926761126106509&hl=en

here's a site with some of his lectures, you can stream or download:

http://www.muftimenk.co.za/Downloads.html

the top 3 [not counting Ramadaan 1429 (2008) Port Elizabeth] are explanations of portions of the Qur'an given after Taraweh in Ramadhan. i find the VERY spiritual.

the General Lectures section has some quite good lectures and i recommend that you listen to a few, especially:

Abdud Dunyaa (Slave of the World)
http://www.nazirakoob.com/menk/Vol2.html#Part8

Muslim Women! Are they Oppressed?
http://www.nazirakoob.com/menk/Vol1.html#Part8

Examinations of Sabr...Pass or Fail
http://www.nazirakoob.com/menk/Vol1.html#Part4

and

Hopes in Your Aspirations for Jannah
http://www.nazirakoob.com/menk/Vol1.html#Part7

the rest are good as well but they have been renamed from the cds and it's hard to explain their content. those above are rather self exlanatory.

if you want to increase your knowledge of Islam once it starts to grow, the the Social Conduct of A Muslim series is excellant:
http://www.nazirakoob.com/menk/SocialConduct.html


one last VERY COOL website has a 28 cd explanation of Al Fatiha by Jamaal Zarabozo. i think everyone whose mother tongue isn't Arabic should listen to this lecture [again and again]! you can download it here:

http://www.kalamullah.com/al-fatihah.html

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some other helpful sights:

here's a site that offers side by side comparisons of Translations of the Qur'an:

http://quran.islamicnetwork.com/

here's a Qur'an that you can search:
http://quod.lib.umich.edu/k/koran/

here's one that shows you how to pronounce the Qur'an:
http://transliteration.org/quran/home.htm

btw, you ARE allowed to revert for your husband!

i hope you find these to be as helpful as i find them!



Yusuf

The simplest way to get introduced to Islam would be these 3 books:

1. The Quran ( of course)
2. Muhammad by Martin Lings ( best and easiest book to read about the life of the Prophet peace be upon him)
3. Misgoded ( Analysis of Christian, Jewish, and Islamic Doctrine)
4. God'ed ( continuation of Misgoded and helps draw a clear line from Christianity to Islam, in the chain of revelation)


These books will tell you what Islam is, and help you logically transition from Christianity to Islam. Reading the biography of the Prophet will explain to you what is means to be a Muslim because he was the living embodiment of the Quran's teachings. The other two books help you as a Christian, understand why Islam naturally follows Christianity.

Who says you cant follow your heart AND your brain?

Hey


Welcome to Islam.


Here's a good link on learning about Islam on the net;

http://islamreligion.com


And some Excellent resources on Islam listed HERE.