My name is Ian, and I'm new to this forum. This is my story and how I came to look at Islam.
A few years ago, I ended up in the hospital with a very serious condition; I was told by the ER doctors that I would likely not survive.
This near-death medical crisis stirred within me a need to find God, to find faith. I spent the next two years reading and searching. During that time, I read the Bible, Torah, Tibetan Book of the Dead, Hindu Rig Vedas as well as some parts of the Holy Qu'ran. After that, I decided to be Catholic, but something about the Catholic Church just didn't agree with me. Somehow it just seemed... incomplete.
Finally I decided to re-examine Islam after meeting Sheik Yusuf Estes on the campus of the Ohio State University. Islam has always been confusing to me: as a white American westerner, I must confess my prejudices. During my childhood I was taught by our American society and media that Islam is a religion of hate and violence. At the same time, I have had Muslim friends, all of whom have been extremely honest, compassionate, fair and righteous people.
So at this point in time, I'm continuing to read the Holy Qu'ran and learn as much as I can before considering making shahada. I am here on this forum to look for some answers and perhaps a better understanding of what Islam truly is.
Allah blessed you by meeting Sh Yusuf. if you didn't get his number, you should contact someone who has it and talk to him. the Shiekh is a beautiful guy and he is really good at talking with Christians and former Christians. he has a ton of stuff on youtube, especially this series:
i recommend Dr Bilal Philips and Dr Jamal Zarabozo for concise/correct interpretations of Islamic matters as neither is a born Arab speaker. they use English properly.
another of my favorite lecturers is Mufti Ismail Menk of Zimbabwe. you may notice an odd use of English here or there, but he is a really inspirational speaker. he has TONS of stuff on youtube. this is one of my favorite lecture, but i like almost everything he does:
i'm a north easterner now situated in the NW. raised Catholic, but non trinitarian since my early 20s. i have explored christian religions and especially the history of it and the history/textual criticism of the "Bible".
if i may be of any assistance, feel free to ask.
May Allah guide us all to the straight way!
peace,
Sam
Had the non-believer known of all the Mercy which is in the Hands of Allah, he would not lose hope of entering Paradise, and had the believer known of all the punishment which is present with Allah, he would not consider himself safe from the Hell-Fire http://www.muftimenk.co.za/Downloads.html
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