My First Ramadhan

[lifutushi]

<b>My first Ramadhan</b>


<i>Written by Muhammad Bilal </i>





Muhammad Bilal


Muhammad proclaimed the Islamic Declaration of Faith only three months ago and this will be his very first Ramadhan. Throughout the month Muhammad will keep us updated on his personal experiences.


<i>I was born in Elles Glen in Edinburgh to a Roman Catholic family in 1981 and brought up in Portobello in Scotland's capital. Yet, here I am in the city of Birmingham in 2004 looking forward to my very first Ramadhan as a Muslim. </i>


I decided to come to Birmingham for work reasons. I had been living in my native Edinburgh for 22 years but it was in England's second city that I first met a Muslim person. One of the first people I met was Mir Afzal who happened to be my flat mate and a Muslim.


Over a period of six months, he exposed me to a great deal of knowledge about the world's fastest growing faith, a lot of what he said was completely alien to me.


Despite Islam being such a prominent world religion and constantly in the media, I only knew that Muslims existed but didn't know much about their way of life or practices.


The day that changed my life ...


After learning more about the Islamic creed, I finally decided that Islam may be the direction that I would like to follow in life. I embraced Islam on the Thursday 22nd July 2004 at the Birmingham Central Mosque in Highgate.





Ahmed Ibrahim - The main Imam Ahmed of Birmingham Central Mosque


I proclaimed the Islamic Declaration of Faith in the presence of my friend and brother in faith, Mir Afzal and in the presence of the Imam Ahmed Ibrahim Patel who conducted the service.


Imam Ahmed Ibrahim is the main Imam at the Birmingham Central Mosque. Explaining the whole procedure to me was Muhammad Ali, the Office Incharge, whom I also remember very vividly from the day that changed my life.


On that day I also changed my name, which used to be Andrew Richard Tait, to Muhammad Bilal. 'Muhammad', which means praiseworthy, was chosen because it is the name of the final Prophet of God (pbuh). 'Bilal' was selected after the first Muedhin (announcer of the call to prayer), who was a companion of the Prophet (pbuh). Mir Afzal helped me to select the names.


Prayers at Central Mosque...





Birmingham Central Mosque


Since then, I have settled well in Birmingham and now perceive it as my new home. I am working not far from the Central Mosque and regularly attend prayers.


I also learnt a great deal more about the faith and worship from people at the mosque including Mohammed Saeed, the mosque's maintenance manager whom I met on my very first visit to the mosque.


I've never fasted before ...


As I have only been in the fold of Islam for nearly three months, this Ramadhan will be my very first. I am feeling very anxious and nervous as I don't really know what to expect.





Ramadhan prayers at Birmingham Central Mosque


I've never fasted before in my life so the idea of abstaining from food and drink for thirty days worries me a bit.


I have a few concerns as I've never gone hungry before but I think I'll cope. I hope to concentrate on the hunger of the poor and homeless of the world to help me get through the month. I also hope to excel in my prayers during the holy month.


In the next four weeks, I shall be maintaining an update about my Ramadhan experience and letting you all know about my very first Eid at the end of the month, Insha'Allah.