08-11-2003, 12:15 PM
Bismillahir-rahmanir-raheem
As-salaamu alaykom wa rahmat-Allaahi wa barakaatuhu to my brothers and sisters in Islaam
[u:f0a9a501ea]My journey to Islaam[/u:f0a9a501ea]
How did an anglo-celtic man, who lived a regulation average life in the western world, whose knowledge of religion was gleaned from ‘Sunday school” as a kid, come to accept Islaam?
Al-hamdu lillaahi Rabbil-`Aalameen, All the praise is due to Allah, the Rabb of Aalamin - mankind, jinn and all that exists. It was completely the result of the great Mercy of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. This is my story, as a way of praise to Allah Most Gracious, Most Merciful, for His Love for me and His Mercy to me and setting me on a journey out of the darkness that is this world into the light that is Islaam. And hopefully a means by which other seekers, may come to realize Who it is that is missing in our lives.
And again and again and again, Al-hamdu lillaahi Rabbil-`Aalameen, All the praise is due to Allah, the Rabb of Alamin - mankind, jinn and all that exists, that Allah Subhaanahu wa Taalaa guided me to Islaam:
[b:f0a9a501ea]Whomever Allah wills to guide, He opens his chest to Islaam[/b:f0a9a501ea] Surat Al-An'am (The Cattle) 6:125
My life was the regular kafir fare - christian by birth certificate and ’sunday school’ only. Wife, kids, cat & a dog etc. But there came a point in my life I realised only God could make sense of this life for me. So I recited what I was taught in ‘sunday school’ - 'The Lord's Prayer' which I recited over and over with a special prayer thrown in: "If you are really real, please show me."
That was some ten years ago now. From that moment I spent seven long years peeking in every nook and cranny searching for God, searching for the secret of life. My search was an inward journey. I never discussed my quest nor religion with anyone, except my ex-family, who concurred that I was slowly going insane.
Not once in all that time did I notice the word, Islaam or Allah (Subhaanahu wa Taalaa) or Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihee Wassalam). Islaam was never considered. My search for God took me to many highs and many times of intense fear.
Then, one day, we finally got the internet at home. And I was introduced to a thing called a search engine. It had this small panel where you could type in some words and then click on a button called 'enter' and would search the whole world over for the answer to your question. Late that night when all were in bed;
>Power up computer
>select - 'search engine'
>type in biblical and religious parameters
>click on 'enter'
>and up comes page after page after page of -
>HUH ?? What ?? ISLAAM ??
>Picks a web-page
>HUH ?? What ?? The Holy Qur'an ??
>Sura Baqarah (The Cow) opens
>and all I read was;
>[b:f0a9a501ea]"This is the Book; in it is guidance sure without doubt to those who fear Allah."[/b:f0a9a501ea]
>I exclaimed.....ah-ha !!!
>Found you!!!
:::::::::::::::::::::
Seven long years and it finally was over, I had found the secret to life.
[b:f0a9a501ea]Ash-hadu ala ilaha illal-Lah wa-ash-hadu anna Muhammadur rasulullah.[/b:f0a9a501ea] (I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is the servant and messenger of Allah.)
[b:f0a9a501ea]Allah has revealed the most beautiful message, a Book consistent in its verses yet repeating its teachings in different ways. Those who fear their Rabb are filled with awe when they hear it, their skins and their hearts become pliant to the remembrance of Allah. Such is the guidance of Allah: He guides with it whom He pleases. But he to whom He confounds shall have none to guide him.[/b:f0a9a501ea] Az-Zumar 39:23
Al-hamdu lillaahi Rabbil-`Aalameen All the praise is due to Allah, the Rabb of Alamin - mankind, jinn and all that exists, I am muslim three full Islamic years a couple of days after next Eid, in shaa Allah. What a time that was. To enter into Islaam when every single muslim on the planet was filled to the brim with 'Deen'. Ramadan had just finished and everyone I met was 'high' on the spirit of Islaam. It seemed as if I was on another world, far, far away.
I announced to my ex-family that I had accepted Islaam. They would fly into a rage when I made wudu (washing for prayer) claiming it to be some satanic ritual, and especially when they would see me in sajud (kneeling on the floor with face on the ground). It wasn't long before I heard those words;
[b:f0a9a501ea]"Get out of our lives and take your precious Allah with you."[/b:f0a9a501ea]
I packed a small suitcase, grabbed my pillow and walked out of that nightmare world. I walked away with dignity from my ex-wife, my ex-children, my ex-house, my ex-business and my ex-life. But I still got me mum although she has said I am not to mention religion. May Allah Subhaanahu wa Taalaa open her heart one day. Make dua'a for her please.
I slept in the car for a couple of nights then walked into the House Rental Agency:
"I'm sorry." he said. "We have had a big rush over the last week. We only have three vacancies left in the whole town. Two are large houses and out of your price-range, so that leaves you with only a choice of one." I took the door-key and went to have a look.
Alhamdulillaahi Rabbil 'Aalameen -All thanks and praise is due to Allah, Rabb (Lord) of the worlds and all that exists.
When only one choice is available to you there is no way you can pick and choose your next-door neighbors. My new neighbors? Muslims, in large numbers and a beautiful green-domed masjid (mosque). And again, Alhamdulillaahi Rabbil 'Aalameen, All thanks and praise is due to Allah, Rabb (Lord) of the worlds and all that exists.
I spent my first year with Tableegh (islamic missionaries). They were the closest I could find to 'deen' at the time. Something was 'missing' still. I liked there stories and lessons in seerah and sunnah, it made my eman rise. The other parts though left me flat. Alhamdulillaahi Rabbil 'Aalameen, All thanks and praise is due to Allah, Rabb (Lord) of the worlds and all that exists, Allah Subhaanahu wa Taalaa opened a way for me to go to Hajj. In some ways it seemed a little early to go, I didn't understand the true signifcance of the event. Here's two short memories of Hajj:
In Haraam Shareef - I was sitting on the steps just before you step down into the open area around the Kaba. I was looking back towards the door watching people as they came in. Then way over in the distance three very elderly people caught my eye. Two women and a man. They were of tartar appearance and I imagined them to be husband, wife and sister. There's a story that when you enter Haraam shareef for the first time, one should avoid looking upon the Kaba until you get as close as you can. Then when you finally look up and see Kaba make Dua'a and it is said Allah will surely answer your prayer.
Now the sisters had their eyes shut tight and were trying to carry this through and the man was acting as a guide and helping them through the crowd while trying not to look up at Kaba. Closer and closer they came until they stood right in front of me! Imagine, they could have been praying for this moment for maybe sixty years. They looked terribly poor and probably spent their life savings to come. My eyes never left their faces. When they stopped in front of me they looked up for their first sight of the Kaba. What a magic moment. Tears flooded their eyes and rolled down their cheeks like rivers flowing and I cried with them. They were trying to make dua'a and clutched at their throats but only emotion came out.
The second memory from Hajj was my dua'a. "Allahumma; please bestow on me forgiveness, beneficial knowledge and a pious wife."
Three weeks back from Hajj and I was told, I have someone I want you to meet. Alhamdulillaahi Rabbil 'Aalameen All thanks and praise is due to Allah, Rabb (Lord) of the worlds and all that exists. I am married 18 months now. She is an Alim, Hafeez Qur'an (memorised Qur'an by heart), my teacher, my family, my wife, my lover, my mother and my best friend.
[b:f0a9a501ea]Whomever Allah wills to guide, He opens his chest to Islaam[/b:f0a9a501ea] Surat Al-An'am (The Cattle) 6:125
So let this be a reminder that anyone who truly seeks Allah sincerely from his heart, he will find Him and much, much more than he can ever imagine.
Anas bin Malik Al-Ansari (May Allah be pleased with him) the servant of the Messenger of Allah narrated: Messenger of Allah (Peace and blessing be upon him) said: [b:f0a9a501ea]"Verily, Allah is more pleased with the repentance of His slave than a person who has his camel in a waterless desert carrying his provision of food and drink and it is lost. He, having lost all hopes (to get that back), lies down in shade and is disappointed about his camel; when all of a sudden he finds that camel standing before him. He takes hold of its reins and then out of boundless joy blurts out: 'O Allah, You are my slave and I am Your Rabb'.He commits this mistake out of extreme joy".[/b:f0a9a501ea] - (Muslim)
[b:f0a9a501ea]And your Rabb says: "Call on Me, I will answer your prayers. Surely those who are too arrogant to worship Me shall soon enter hell in humiliation."[/b:f0a9a501ea] Surat Ghafir 40:60
[b:f0a9a501ea]The most beautiful names belong to Allah: so call on Him by them. [/b:f0a9a501ea] Surat Al-A'Raf 7:180
So as you see, he answered my prayer, "If you are really real, please show me."
And never despair of Allah's mercy.
[i:f0a9a501ea]WasSalaamu alaykom wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh to my brothers and sisters in Islaam[/i:f0a9a501ea]
[img:f0a9a501ea]http://www.alhouta.com/moshaaf5.gif[/img:f0a9a501ea] What do you know about Islaam ??? Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful - is known through knowledge:::[b:f0a9a501ea]So KNOW ![b:f0a9a501ea]that there is no God but Allah.[/size:f0a9a501ea][/b:f0a9a501ea] - Surat Muhammad 47:19
<span>Anything I post that is beneficial & correct is from Allah Azza wa Jalla & anything incorrect is from me & Shaitan.[/size:f0a9a501ea] </span>