New Shahada

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nfnmcmd said:
Being raised in the US, I thought I had to be christian. I researched the beliefs of different churches for years. None of them shared the beliefs I had in me from a very young age. I had come to think there was something wrong with my way of thinking. A year ago I met a Muslim. Being the curious person I am, I went online and read what Islam was about. As I read I found beliefs that had been in my heart since I was a child. I couldnt stop reading. My belief in Islam is not something that just happened recently. I shared belief in One God and modesty from a very young age. I was raised in a small white community. Islam was not something I was familiar with. It was a religion of people in other countries.

Now I struggle. Not with my faith, that is strong. I struggle to find my place in the Ummah. Sisters ask where I am from. I tell them I was born here in the US. They smile and say Alhamdulillah then walk away. I learn the best I can by studying books and online. I have no one to speak to. I tend to be a little shy when around people, so that is part of the problem. It is difficult to be alone all the time. Is there a place for white Sisters in the Muslim community?
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:sl:

don't worry about the sisters too much, they may be jealous. you'll find more than a few non-American "brothers" eager for a Caucasian bride. of course, most of them already have 1 wife. ;D

have patience.

since you are new, you'll gain a lot of knowledge from this set of lectures on Al Fatihah:

Muslims have been commanded by Allah to recite Soorah Al-Fatihah a minimum of seventeen times a day. This fact, in itself, should alert the Muslim to the extreme importance of this concise but deep soorah. Indeed, the Prophet (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) referred to it as Umm al-Qur’an or “the foundation of the Quran itself.” Its teachings aptly touch upon and summarize the entire spectrum of Islamic teachings. As a Muslim grows in his understanding of Soorah al-fatihah, the quality of his daily prayers can be greatly affected and improved. When the quality of his daily prayers are improved, in reality, his entire being can be transformed into a true and blessed servant of Allah, one who fulfills the pact he is making with Allah when he says, “You alone do we worship.”
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http://www.kalamullah.com/al-fatihah.html

the life of Muhammad, pbuh, is of particular value as it contains the history of the Qur'an as well. this brother here, Dr Bashar Shala has an amazing speaking style; his lectures are interesting and beneficial:

http://www.pleasantviewschool.com/media/default.asp?q=f&f=/Seerah_an_Nabawi (saw)

http://www.pleasantviewschool.com/media/default.asp?q=f&f=/Seerah of the Prophet (pbuh)

http://www.pleasantviewschool.com/media/default.asp?q=f&f=/Reflections on the Stories of Quran

Mufti Ismail Menk is one of my favorite lecturers:

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLC466F1D802E87A7E&feature=plcp

http://www.youtube.com/results?sear...l=37088l37088l0l38198l1l1l0l0l0l0l91l91l1l1l0

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

Dr Bilal Philips is a most learned scholar:

http://www.kalamullah.com/bilal-philips.html

this is a 21 part series of lectures by the good Doctor called The Foundation of Islamic Studies, it's a great starting point:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MG7rNevw3fE

hope you find this useful,

:wa:

Sam
 
Asalaamualaikum. Thank you for the supportive words Brother. I am familiar with many who have more than one wife, not a problem. I appreciate the links.
 
Asalaamualaikum. Why do you delay Shahada? You dont know what will happen in the next day, hour or minute! If you delay because there is just one more thing you want to do before it is not allowed, you make a mistake. Please follow what you know is right
 
Allahu akbar, welcome to Islam. I too am a Caucasian American Muslim and had difficulty adjusting to being a Muslim, but I have been cosistently practicing Islam since June 2001. I had volunteered the message below for the British Museum Hajj Exhibit http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/exhibitions/hajj/hajj_stories.aspx BTW I lived in Chandler, AZ from 1993 to 1996.

My most memorable moment of Hajj 2010 was on the 12th of Dhul-Hijjah at the time of Asr prayer when a rare thunderstorm came in the Saudi desert. I was praying in Masjid al-Haram at the time and I distinctly remember thinking this rain was symbolic that Hajj is a means of cleansing one's sins. What I enjoyed most was being able to offer prayer with Muslims from all over the world within sight of the Ka’ba. When I first became a Muslim I had psychological difficulty in being the only Caucasian Muslim in the mosque, but during Hajj I felt completely welcome and at peace with my fellow Hajjis. I felt like I was one of the colors of the rainbow and that I was exactly where I belonged.
 
Thank you for your message Brother. I browse some of the conversations on here, there is much dislike for white Muslims. This does not affect my faith. They are not correct. If anything, it makes me stronger. But, it can be lonely out here, so I do appreciate hearing from others like you.

It is a shame that people judge a whole race by the way they see non-believers act. We are Muslim. We believe in the same thing. I see people who are raised in Muslim countries who act badly, but I do not judge all the same as that person. People are good and bad. This has nothing to do with the color of their skin or where they were born.

Islam is my home, my life. I may be new but this is where my life has been leading me for years.

I pray to do Hajj one day. Your experience was truly wonderful. Alhamduilillah.
 
Assalamu alaikum, Sister. I can empathize with some of what you must be feeling. I became a Muslim in 1982 and then stopped practicing in 1985 due to the conflict with family and coworkers, association in the media between Islam and terrorism, and not being able to find a Muslim wife. I married a Christian and stpped practicing Islam. I then decided to practice Islam again in 2001 after I turned 40. I knew that I must die one day, stand before Allah and give an account for my life realizing that I couldn't use the excuse that someone blew up himself and innocent people in the name of Islam as the reason why I did not worship Him in the manner He has prescribed. Insha'Allah, you will not wander as I had done for so many years.
 
Did you stop practicing because of her? Are you still married? Sorry if this is to personal, I am just curious as to how men can be married to someone who doesnt live as Muslima
 
nfnmcmd said:
Did you stop practicing because of her? Are you still married? Sorry if this is to personal, I am just curious as to how men can be married to someone who doesnt live as Muslima
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No, I had stopped practicing before I met her. I had several false starts of trying to practice Islam after we got married, but she never said a negative word to discourage me. She became a Muslim in 2003 and, yes, we are still married after 26 years.
 
Asalaamu Alaikum,

Mashallah to hear you found Islam. May Allah keep you strong and steadfast on deen.

As for knowledge, instead of using Google, I would recommend using this search for Islamic content - http://searching-islam.com
 
Asalaamu Aleikum sister,

I am a also a revert and white, and I am very shy too. I find that I relate to a lot of sisters who are my age, and you might too. Allah<3 said "Color does not matter, sister. We are all brother and sisters in Islam regardless of color/race." (I dont know how to do the quote) which I agree with. Even if this time is a bit lonely, Insha'Allah you will make new friends from your Mosque and keep in touch with any friends from where you lived previously!

Salaam :)
 
w salam

I feel sad that you are feeling lonely because of your skin color while in the Muslim community.

I have noticed that it depends on where the non-White Muslims grow up. If they grew up back home in relatively conservative households, they see the crimes done by Israel and US and all other kaafir nations, and they see all of them are white, and they wrongly start to associate the color with the crime, or the hedonism we see on MTV or such crap. It just becomes subconscious, the racism that is. "you will marry a white woman? Astagfirullah ... how can you think of marrying loose women, dont you see their culture" were the words of my friend's mom, a friend who confided in me, a friend who had given dawah to this white sister (its a separate discussion if this act was halal or haram). Sad but true. I think the majority can have deep impact on psyche of humans, and it is hard to get rid of it. On the other hand, I know of a practicing Muslim pakistani man, he flew in to LA, met a white convert wife, married her, brought her back to Canada and now they are living their life trying to please Allah.

I hope and pray that you find Muslims who can see you beyond your skin color (something over which you had no choice). There are many good members on these forums willing to help you if you are in their locality or something. Just ask us. :)

salam
 
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I will not abandon the faith I have searched for my entire life. I found where my beliefs belong. But, I have to face the fact that in the Muslim community there is not much to offer for me. I have almost no chance of marrying and I dont fit in with the single women who modernize Islam. The hardest thing to deal with is knowing I may always live alone.
 
I think that is hoplessness speaking. As hard as it may sound, a believer is never hopeless. I kinda feel like a hypocrite saying that because many a times I've lost hope and still continue to do so in the adversities that life throws at me but I do believe that this is one principle I have to aspire to if I am to find some peace of mind. Never be hopeless. You were able to find the faith that you were always looking for, what makes you think you cannot do other things that you aspire to such as marriage etc? Your job is to work hard and rely on Allah, Allah swt will open doors from which you had never imagined.
 
You are right. Im not completely in control of my emotions right now. I am homeless. I lost everything 2 years ago. Everything that I thought was important. In the streets, I found Islam. I have to admit, I have more now. But, being not a young woman, is why I say my chances of marriage are not there. I am used to having many friends, now I have none. So coupled with the fact that I never know where I will be sleeping next week, I have my weak moments. I understand that I must be patient, and for the most part I am. If I didnt have my faith, I would still be lost. I thank Allah everyday for giving me life. Alhamdulillah
 
please approach the main masjid in your area and ask the imam there if they can provide you any assisstance fe sabeelillah in terms of your acute problems.
 
I have a hard time asking for help. I have always taken care of myself. But I am going to have to do what you say soon, my money is almost gone.
 
Sister, your situation sounds really precarious. I am sure that I would be very discouraged to be in your circumstances. It would be much better for you to have patience and hold on to your faith than to do as I did so many years ago.

I agree with the suggestion to approach the imam of the local masjid. Perhaps, you could also contact Islamic Relief USA.
 
salamz sis, may Allah keep you guided and strengthened further on this blessed journey of life, it really is uplifting to see the people, small though the number may be, trickling in.
may Allah bring guidance to the hearts of humanity and keep us firm on the path of thruth.

nfnmcmd said:
I have almost no chance of marrying
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truthseeker just told u he was interested in a white muslimah :p
y not look into it further,

salamz,
your brother Abz
 

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