Re: I want to become a Muslim but I am fearful about meeting new people
I want to become a Muslim but I am fearful about meeting new people I want to make Friends with Muslims and socialize but I am a shy person I would love to go to my local Mosque and learn I have Asperger Syndrome and am viewed as Disabled or Handicapped by the State I want to know how a handicapped/disabled person is viewed in Islam I am a White Male with some American Indian/Native American Anestry not that my Anestry matters I am 23 years old and I tried being a Christian but Christianity is too hard to believe and Judaism is not right for me since the Jews reject Prophet/Messiah Jesus peace be upon him and Prophet/Messenger Muhammad peace be upon him what should I do ?
My friend there is nothing to be fearful about for this is an exciting time for you. Allah guides who he wants and out of so many he has opened your heart to the truth.
Surely it is Satan who is trying to make you feel fearful for he is your enemy and does not want you to accept the truth.
Therefore you must reject your enemy satan and know put ALL of your trust, faith and hope in Allah and know that he is there ALL of the way with you on this exciting and wonderful journey.
You will come across many wonderful people who will be more than willing to help you and make you feel welcomed and even honoured. There is good and bad everywhere and no doubt you will come across bad people just like you come across bad people in any aspect of life but know that if you put your full faith, trust, hopes and reliance in Allah then NOTHING will have a negative affect on you.
You should not think about "what if" just go for it. You will see that is is so different to how you ever imagined it to be. You will think to yourself "why did i ever worry?"
So take the step putting your full faith and trust in Allah and know that you will be most welcomed and you will make many new friends for life inshallah.
Also with regards to your disability then know that Allah has created people in different races, colors and having various abilities. While some of them are given certain gifts, others are deprived of these gifts and thus are disabled. This is the nature of life, according to the Divine Wisdom through which Allah governs everything.
Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi states the following regarding the Islamic perspective on disability:
In fact, man’s life is a full record of hardships and tribulations. In this sense, Allah says:
“ We create man from a drop of thickened fluid to test him” (Al-Insaan:2) When man looks upon these tribulations and afflictions as being a test from Almighty Allah to see his true colors, he will come to know that there is a great Divine wisdom behind all these tests. This is surely an absolute fact, whether we know it or not.
It is also a great thing that Almighty Allah, when depriving a person of a certain ability or gift, compensates him for it, by bestowing upon him/her other gift, whith which he excels others. That is why we see that those people who are deprived of sight, have very sensitive ears that they can hear very low beats or movements around them. They are given excellence in many other abilities to compensate their imperfection.
If a person adopts this view, he will surely find rest and get contented with the test posed on him by Almighty Allah. Every person should bear in mind that he can never change his inability or escape Allah’s fate and thus he should try his best to make his life better and turn this sore lemon into sweet honey. This inability should be a motive to creativity and excellence in any field of life. A disabled person should make his condition an impetus towards being distinguished and prominent in the society.
Islamic history has a shining record of many examples of people who, while having some kind of disability, occupied very excellent positions and prominent status in the society. `Atta Ibn Abi Rabah, who was known of being black, lame and paralyzed person, was the greatest Mufti (very learned scholar)in Makkah. He was highly honored by `Abdul-Malik Ibn Marawan, the Muslim caliph of that time. His vast knowledge earned this prestige.
Almighty Allah guides all Muslims not to leave those disabled in isolation lest they fall a prey to despair and psychological ailments. They should be welcomed to the open society and be dealt with in the kindest way.
The Duty of the Society towards the Disabled:
It must be clearly borne in mind that there are things that happen out of man’s control and there are things that happen to man out of his own negligence, To make this matter clear, we may quote the following example. An infant gets paralyzed. This may occur due to his mother’s negligence of giving her child the due vaccination. So such disability is out of man’s negligence.
Now, it is the duty of the whole society to establish schools for those persons and secure them due care so that they become good members of the society and that they benefit themselves and their families.
In the West, great care is shown to the disabled. It is duty of we Muslims to shoulder the responsibility of showing the utmost care to those people, for, according to the teachings of our religion, those persons are sources of Divine mercy and blessings being showered on us now and then. They are the weak for whose sake we are given sustenance and made victorious.
In his Hadith, our Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
“You are given sustenance and victory for the virtue of those who are weak amongst you.” We, should show mercy and care to the disabled out of both human and religious motives. In Islam, we are commanded to show mercy to everything in this world.
In the Hadith: “Show mercy to those on earth so that He Who is in the heavens (i.e. Allah) bestow mercy to you.”
Source: http://www.ukim.org/imam.asp?CatID=17.
So my friend do not worry about aything else just put your FULL trust and faith in Allah and know that nothing will affect you in a negative way and everything only happens by the will of Allah.
If you believe in his oneness and the finality of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) then you should not hesitate to proclaim the Shahada as life is short and death is awaiting us and so we should acknowledge the oneness of our lord without hesitation:
Ash hadu Allaah ilaaha illallaahu Wa ash hadu annaa Muhammadan Abduhoo wara sooloo
I bear witness that there is NO worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the slave and Messenger of Allah
If you need any help with finding a Masjid or getting in touch with local Muslims or with anything else at all then please do not hesitate to ask.
Islam teaches its followers to be kind to all people, whether black or white, male or female, fat or thin, disabled or not. Allah (s.w.t.) loves all of his creation and you included, regardless of your challenges. There is no reason to fear; Islam emphasizes the Ummah, or the brotherhood that all Muslims share. I understand what it is like to live with Asperger's Syndrome as both of my brothers have it. Don't push yourself to socialize if it makes you uncomfortable, just take it one step at a time. You could try bringing a trusted companion to the mosque with you. The other brothers will be very pleased that you are interested in Islam, as are the brothers and sisters on IB. Be sure to let us know how you are doing, I will keep you in my duaas. 
