Hello

[radiyah]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Shaunee" data-cite="Shaunee" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="1933" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>I read the Quran, I study the Hadith, and I am currently learning how to do the prayers. 

Take that step and embrace Islam fully, you know you want to, life switches on and starts once your a Muslim. It's a very free feeling still brand new to me but there's nothing else. Life has started and i feel i'm at the highest level a human can get and i thank Allah everyday for showing me and having patience with me. Insh a Allah it wont be long for you, i can sense it.

</div></blockquote>

Alhamdullilah that u have that feeling brother, inasha'Allah Shaunee will be like u soon because she is sincere and has a noble cause


May Allah open your heart Shaunee and show u the right way


waslam

[Muslimah]

I think deep inside her she knows she must take the step, Shaunee is there anything hindering this decision, may be we can help. Like r u afraid of responsibilities? family and freinds reaction? point needs to be cleared. We can help Insh a Allah

[NewBeginning]

Take that step and embrace Islam fully, you know you want to, life switches on and starts once your a Muslim. It's a very free feeling still brand new to me but there's nothing else. Life has started and i feel i'm at the highest level a human can get and i thank Allah everyday for showing me and having patience with me. Insh a Allah it wont be long for you, i can sense it. 

Well, actually, I don't want to I believe that I can appreciate and recognize a religion as a valid one, and be able to stay in my own religion, as I believe my religion is just as valid. I believe all three abrahamic religions are legit... I just happen to be raised as a Christian, that's where my roots are, and that is what I feel comfortable with. I am happy for you that you feel so touched by your embrasing of Islam. To each his own.

Alhamdullilah that u have that feeling brother, inasha'Allah Shaunee will be like u soon because she is sincere and has a noble cause 
May Allah open your heart Shaunee and show u the right way

Well, personally, I feel that God has showed me the right way in the position I am now. I have grown so close to God lately, that I don't feel the need to change religions... He knows what's in my heart.... all I have to do is believe the way I do, pray the way I do, and live my life the way I do. If I was to change to a Muslim, or Jewish person, or anything.... no one would even know the difference. I would still feel that relationship with God grow strong, I would still be praying as hard and often as I do, and I would still care about other people. Islam, Christianity..... that's a label on the outside so other's know who you are, so that they can put you on their respect list or disrespect list. What I have in my heart is between me and God. Not the Pope, not an Emam, not a Rabbi.


I have to give you credit for your hopes of my conversion..... I feel it's out of concern, which is good that you'd have concern for a total stranger to be safe with God. That's cool. LOL. Peace to you


Peace,

[radiyah]

Peace to u Shaunee,


Thanku for your warm feelings, and now that u joined us here u r not a totla stranger u r a part of our community now, so we care about u and we hope that u will c the light one day, but I am sorry to tell u that I differ with u here, that not all relegions are the same, yes they are all from Allah but the Torah and Bible have been changed, while the Quran did not , c how many bibles there are, but there is only one Quran Shaunee that never changed a word since 1425 years ago. Allah sends prophets to show people the right way to worship Him, which they should abide to, we should not worship Him according to what we like or dislike, we are only slaves to Allah, His own creation, so He knows what is best for us and what is not. Being raised a christian and u happy with it okay I cannot blame u for that, it is your decision, but what u said as :

Islam, Christianity..... that's a label on the outside so other's know who you are, so that they can put you on their respect list or disrespect list. What I have in my heart is between me and God. Not the Pope, not an Emam, not a Rabbi.

Yes it is between u and God, u must know Shaunee that in Islam, we do not follow emams, like christians follow pope or jews a rabbi, no nor do emams take any money from us in order to grant us God's forgivness, when we pray we pray between us and Allah, we ask no1 but Him, we depend on no1 but Him, we seek forgivness from Him. we pray solely to Him Shaunee, it seems u still do not know what is true Islam, I hope u will learn more here, and u will then know what I mean.


Bismillah Al-Rahman Al-Raheem:


59. Verily, the likeness of 'Iesa (Jesus) before Allâh is the likeness of Adam. He created him from dust, then (He) said to him: "Be!" - and he was.



60. (This is) the truth from your Lord, so be not of those who doubt.


61. Then whoever disputes with you concerning him ['Iesa (Jesus)] after (all this) knowledge that has come to you, [i.e. 'Iesa (Jesus)] being a slave of Allâh, and having no share in Divinity) say: (O Muhammad ) "Come, let us call our sons and your sons, our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves - then we pray and invoke (sincerely) the Curse of Allâh upon those who lie."


62. Verily! This is the true narrative [about the story of 'Iesa (Jesus)], and, Lâ ilâha ill-Allâh (none has the right to be worshipped but Allâh, the One and the Only True God, Who has neither a wife nor a son). And indeed, Allâh is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.


63. And if they turn away (and do not accept these true proofs and evidences), then surely, Allâh is All-Aware of those who do mischief.


64. Say (O Muhammad ): "O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians): Come to a word that is just between us and you, that we worship none but Allâh, and that we associate no partners with Him, and that none of us shall take others as lords besides Allâh. Then, if they turn away, say: "Bear witness that we are Muslims."


65. O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Why do you dispute about Ibrâhim (Abraham), while the Taurât (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel) were not revealed till after him? Have you then no sense?


66. Verily, you are those who have disputed about that of which you have knowledge. Why do you then dispute concerning that which you have no knowledge? It is Allâh Who knows, and you know not.


67. Ibrâhim (Abraham) was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but he was a true Muslim Hanifa (Islâmic Monotheism - to worship none but Allâh Alone) and he was not of Al-Mushrikûn (See V.2:105). 3, Surat Al-Imran


Bismillah Al-Rahman Al-Raheem:


84. Say (O Muhammad ): "We believe in Allâh and in what has been sent down to us, and what was sent down to Ibrâhim (Abraham), Ismâ'il (Ishmael), Ishâque (Isaac), Ya'qûb (Jacob) and Al-Asbât [the twelve sons of Ya'qûb (Jacob)] and what was given to Mûsa (Moses), 'Iesa (Jesus) and the Prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between one another among them and to Him (Allâh) we have submitted (in Islâm)."



85. And whoever seeks a religion other than Islâm, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers.


86. How shall Allâh guide a people who disbelieved after their belief and after they bore witness that the Messenger (Muhammad ) is true and after clear proofs had come unto them? And Allâh guides not the people who are Zâlimûn (polytheists and wrong-doers). 2, Al-Imran


Read these verses carefully, these are the words of Allah, and not the words of any Emam or Scholar. Whoever put in your mind that we follow our Emams has given u a very wrong information. The Emams are only Sholars who have studied the Quran and have knowledge in the book more than we do, and still they do not claim to know everything nor do they claim to have the keys to the heavens. Now do u c the difference.


Bismillah Al-Rahman Al-Raheem:


7. It is He Who has sent down to you (Muhammad ) the Book (this Qur'ân). In it are Verses that are entirely clear, they are the foundations of the Book [and those are the Verses of Al-Ahkâm (commandments, etc.), Al-Farâ'id (obligatory duties) and Al-Hudud (legal laws for the punishment of thieves, adulterers, etc.)]; and others not entirely clear. So as for those in whose hearts there is a deviation (from the truth) they follow that which is not entirely clear thereof, seeking Al-Fitnah (polytheism and trials, etc.), and seeking for its hidden meanings, but none knows its hidden meanings save Allâh. And those who are firmly grounded in knowledge say: "We believe in it; the whole of it (clear and unclear Verses) are from our Lord." And none receive admonition except men of understanding. (Tafsir At-Tabarî).



8. (They say): "Our Lord! Let not our hearts deviate (from the truth) after You have guided us, and grant us mercy from You. Truly, You are the Bestower."


9. Our Lord! Verily, it is You Who will gather mankind together on the Day about which there is no doubt. Verily, Allâh never breaks His Promise". 2, Al-Imran


Now do u c the difference, our Emams are only teachers who teach us our relegion, but never do we go to them to ask forgivness, or to ask their blessings, we seek blessings only from Allah and no1 but Him.


I still think that by Will of Allah, u will be enlightened, after u understand and know what is the difference between Islam and other relegions.


Read the link below it will help u to understand why Islam, and Allah knows best:


http://www.islamsms.com/bb/index.php?showtopic=1842


The above is an informative thread, we will keep on adding to it by will of Allah, and I will pray for u to c the light , surely I will.


Peace

[Anyabwile]

Shaunee I hope i didnt come across rude, i was just going by what you wrote it seemed like you was close to embracing Islam now it's obvious you wasn't really, which was my mistake. Its cool though, when you say you are close to God through you and him, and not a pope, preacher etc i hear you 100% In fact I think like you do, there's no one beetween us and God, like some dude in a crowd sending the holy ghost through falling grannies etc, or someone claiming not to be a prophet but to be a little closer to god than the rest of us are and healing etc, no that's all garbage in my opinion. It's just us and God. But the only "religion" that is strong on there being only a relationship directly beetween God and the person praying, with no inbetween or other people to put closer in such a solid and convincing manner is Islam. So as far as the direct relationship to God thing, we both feel the same.


I didn't come to God through being raised in a Muslim household though, or through having blind faith, i used to be Agnostic, and eventually decided to look into why we are here, how we got here, and over time evidence, scientific and solid concrete facts, led me to creation with absouloutely no where else to go, all other avenues were closed. Then eventually to Islam, mainly because of the science in Islam and the untouched words of God. I wasn't trying to come at you on some "be one of us" kinda thing, i know how i used to feel about people who said that to me. And i know how i'd feel if you'd have done the same thing to me. I just came to the conclusion via science that God exists, now i needed to find out how to live as a beliver of God. I was pulled to Islam out of the blue for reasons i still can't explain but feel as strong as the first night i felt them. But the point i'm making is it wasn't a subtle push of being bought up in a Muslim envioronment that took me to Islam, it was Logic, Science and God himself.


I belive any unbiased person searching, who wasn't bought up in a Western or Eastern wherever envioronment, say a man who lived on the moon his entire life with no one else around him. I belive he would read the several thousand versions of Gods words or what people claim to be in some form or another, Bible, Torah, Buddhism, Confucius, Taoism scriptures etc and pick from all these hundreds, thousands of books, scriptures. I think this man on the moon who's never spoken to another person his entire life, after reading them all, would pick the one solid package of guidance for living from God that is the Quran as being the only true untouched and pure words of our creator, the lord of existance and all things we can ever possibly know. I don't say this as a mad Muslim running around cutting off heads, i say this as a former Athiest who researched science, became Agnostic, researched science more, Became sure of God but sat confused waiting, felt a pull toward Islam for various reasons and eventually reasearched more and became Muslim.


Anyway I thought you were a catholic but curious, but no i see you're not curious as your original post implied you were. Regardless we both belive in God so we're both one level elevated from those who don't in my opinion. To me it's more than belief its simple solid facts in front of our faces, creation, perception, the universe and it's origins. It just took me a long time to read through the stuff i needed to in science to get here. Please dont think i didn't respect your religion i just read you wrong. However In my opinion, if you weren't raised as a christian and you went searching off of your own back, i think you'd end up as Muslim, it's the natural way for a free thinking human to go. But of course there aren't many free thinkers, many are influenced by envioronement, situations, culture and before embracing Islam get knocked a little off course. Because the Christian household would probably have an influence on such things, or certain cultures etc.


I'm not saying i'm immune from influences because the sheer fact i was a solid athiest at one point was probably due to influences growing up, loving sci fi and aliens etc. I only say all this because i approached it fresh and was pulled to Islam, no influences besides the sci fi comics and stuff of that nature i was into. My girlfriend would probably have you belive i was brainwashed by mad terrorists...but i just looked at everything and in my opinion to the logical clear headed thinker, free of prejudice etc Allah will call you to Islam...as i belive he will call everybody curious, be it curious within their own religion, or curious as an athiest, agnostic or free thinker. Allah will call them all, then the choice is theirs. Thats why in my humble opinion, the natural way for souls living within the creation of life Allah has given us, is Islam.


But as you say each to their own, but i still feel one day you'll be called, that's just a feeling, not me being offensive or saying your beliefs are less, they're probably more in tune with mine than you'd think. But in all of this who am i <b>Allah knows best.</b> of course his will shall direct all.

[NewBeginning]

You know, I avoided responding to this post because I was afraid of coming off the wrong way. It's hard to understand a person through reading, and not seeing facial expression, body language, and to hear the tone of voice.


I thought for a good day and a half on how I should respond as politely as possible. Well, what you see above was the best that I could do. LOL.


I can relate to alot of what you said in your last post. I myself was not raised with a deep rooted belief system. My mother bounced to all kinds of different Christian churches.... all different denominations. I chose Catholisism because that's what I was baptised in. I had a Christian upbringing..... and I heard about Jesus all my life. It just wasn't a consistant teaching of Jesus.... but He was very present in my life, all my life. That was enough.


I did at one point go off on my own looking for the truth. And identicle to you, out of the blue.... I have no idea why..... but just typed "Islam" into the search engine. That was about two years ago. I've been reading on it and talking with Muslims ever since.


Currently I am married to a Catholic man. It is completely impossible for me to ever be a Muslim according to Sharia law. It is forbidden for a Muslim woman to be married to a kafr man. I would have to divorce him, break up a happy marriage, and ruin my children's life and childhood. My husband is good to me and my children, he loves us, and provides for us, and makes many sacrifices for us, and doesn't complain much over it either, and doesn't ask for much at all. How on earth could I throw that away. I believe God gave me such a good man to care for me and my family, why would God want me to throw him away? If I stay married to him, I worship the same..... if I divorce him..... I still worship the same........ only with a great pain inside. It's not right. I don't understand it, and I don't agree with it. I think that's wrong.


My husband would never ever in a million years convert to Islam. He practicaly hates all Muslims and Arabs. If I had ever mentioned it to him it would be disasterous. That's why I just do my own thing. Like I said.... God knows me..... He knew me before He created me..... and it's between Him and I. That's all I can do for now.


By the way.... I wasn't taken back by your post at all. I thought it was a really nice post. I haven't gotten a bad impression from anyone's post here.... everyone here seems really nice and I love visiting here and reading.


Peace.

[Anyabwile]

Currently I am married to a Catholic man.  It is completely impossible for me to ever be a Muslim according to Sharia law.  It is forbidden for a Muslim woman to be married to a kafr man.  I would have to divorce him, break up a happy marriage, and ruin my children's life and childhood.  My husband is good to me and my children, he loves us, and provides for us, and makes many sacrifices for us, and doesn't complain much over it either, and doesn't ask for much at all.  How on earth could I throw that away.  I believe God gave me such a good man to care for me and my family, why would God want me to throw him away?  If I stay married to him, I worship the same..... if I divorce him..... I still worship the same........ only with a great pain inside.  It's not right.  I don't understand it, and I don't agree with it.  I think that's wrong.


My husband would never ever in a million years convert to Islam.  He practicaly hates all Muslims and Arabs.  If I had ever mentioned it to him it would be disasterous.  That's why I just do my own thing.  Like I said.... God knows me..... He knew me before He created me..... and it's between Him and I.  That's all I can do for now.

I'm going through that very same family situation right now, except luckily my girlfriend isn't a racist. She just doesn't like religions, she doesnt understand how i can follow "a story written by some man" and of course now we must be married, plus we have a daughter together. Right now we're not living together but speak (with tension and arguments most of the time) but right now we're on hold while i'm trying to figure out the best option, and at the moment i'm banging my head on walls and not getting no where. Except becoming even more conviced that God exists and speaks through Islam as Allah. Once again all this gets strong through me reading Science and reading Allahs word. I havent read the Quran as a whole yet, but read verses everyday in the research that i do, and almost every verse or selected quote speaks directly to me. However, i see this all as a test from Allah, i think to myself what could be one of the biggest tests from Allah to me, it would involve my daughter and girlfriend.


I feel bad how your husband feels about Muslims and Arabs, especially since i read something like only 16% of Muslims in the world are actually Arab. I don't think it's good for someone to have strong views like that, i used to have them for certain people it's dangerous, converting to Islam helped rid me of that. As long as the hate for Arabs stays within his own mind i guess that's all one could ask for, luckily you don't think the same about Islam or "the arabs" or you wouldn't be here! And yeh we do like you don't go!


I personally see the difficult struggles as a test, life is the testing ground it is sooooo short, and God watches every single step and breath we make. The idea of Allah being pleased at me overcoming this test with my family is very very pleasurable to me. But that doesn't mean dumping my family in the street, it means working hard on ever so slightly convincing my girlfriend step by step...at the moment though i'm facing a brick wall with this. She will not budge and things are getting harder, however it's all working out for itself as well because we've never has a smooth relationship unlike you...so maybe this is the break i've been searching for. However we still have a child together which is the hardest part of it all as i love my daughter soooooo much, i don't like the idea of only seeing her a few days a week, and i want us to be a family. However this presents a clear as crystal test to me from Allah, which i'm handling slowly in my own way.


If i had to choose, then how could i not choose the one who gave me my daughter and girlfriend in the first place. Doesn't make sense not to, but Allah is so kind, i haven't been made to choose yet, i feel he's giving me time, which i am so humbly grateful for. But the right choice grows clearer in my mind everyday. Due to Allahs will i'm being given time. I must also say this forum has been the best thing for me, as i know no Muslims so felt very alone. Right now my only Muslim friends are those online, and i have no excuse i live near a big Muslim community, maybe i'm still locked in by the whole appearence thing. Most of the Muslims in my town are Asian (Arabs, Indian, Pakistani descent) and i don't know how they'd take to a big Black dude walking into their Mosque, as there's a little racial tension between African-British and Asian-British in my area right now but then i also think, if they are Muslim, and follow Allahs word and the word of the prophet, colour should not be something they use to judge me. Thats why the reports of racist Muslims against the Black soldiers in Iraq confuse me, as a Muslim you cannot be racist, it's against the word of god and the prophet. What do they do, read GODS WORD and choose the bits they want????


But you know how it is, we're all shy in our own silly way. But yeh i'm drifting, my point is being alone as a new Muslim is the hardest thing, even moreso for you i'd imagine, as i don't live in a religious household or community, i very much keep myself to myself. I see it as God made us, everything we know, he wouldn't test us like the situation me and you are in unless he had a purpose. To see which of his souls are enlightened enough to enter the gates of Paradise. We are all souls wrapped in this marvelous machine called a Human being that Allah has created for us, he has given us all, he is the lord of existance and all, everything in the end is Allah. We sometimes loose sight of this, that's why this whole family situation for me is a test. It could be for you too i don't know, only Allah/God does of course, but in my humble new Muslim opinion, i don't think Allah would look bad on you, your heart is so warm and open to speaking to all, i hope he wouldn't look bad on me as well. Sigh...only Allah knows and we never can or will.


God Bless.

[radiyah]

Hi Shaunee

My husband would never ever in a million years convert to Islam. He practicaly hates all Muslims and Arabs. If I had ever mentioned it to him it would be disasterous. That's why I just do my own thing. Like I said.... God knows me..... He knew me before He created me..... and it's between Him and I. That's all I can do for now.

Do not make assumptions being so sure, did u try to ask God to enlighten his heart, try slowly and peacfully talking to him about Islam and not arabs, u never know he might change, ask God for that as u r so close to him and u r so pure hearted, do not lose this oppurtunity shaunee that God is giving u. In Islam we have one thing that if we love Allah we will leave evertything that pleases our own ego to please him, since he is the reason for our creation, Allah puts people through tests just like brother Anya said, and u must pass this test to prove that u r a good slave to God alone, I am not asking u to leave your husband, just give it a try and try being closer to God than being close to a human being himself, u will feel the difference, I don't think yet in my own opinion that u r that close yet, get nearer, ask his aid, ask him to enlighten your husband heart since u love him that much, and beleive me if it is in your good will everything will be okay and if not then Allah knows best, not everything we like is good for us, and not everything we hate is bad for us, onlu Allah knows what is best and that is why we always seek his aid and assistance.


We have a saying in Islam, one who leaves something for the sake of Allah Allah will recompense him with what is better. And beleive me it is true, I have been through such things although I am a born muslim, but Allah tests muslims also becasue not all muslims are good muslims. Never did I leave anything for Allah's sake, than I was recompensated with what is better than what I left. Think of what I told u ask Allah to guide u more, but if u just sit being afraid of your life to collapse u will never get anywhere, try to help your husband and show him what is right. And Allah knows best.


Brother Anya, Masha'Allah u really touched my heart there for waht u r going through but do not worry, at the end u r the winner beleive me, it is enough that u won the love of Allah, he is your assistance and helper in every aspect and beleive me soon enough u will be strong and on your feet again. And u can go to masjid and pray I dont think u will find any racial discremenation there in the masjid, if u find that then these are weak muslims, pray for them brother to strengthen their eman.


and do not hold yourself from praying in Jama'a(in group with muslims) because praying 1 salat in masjid is equal to 27 prayers, and imagine how many good deeds and alms u will collect from that, in each alphabet u pronounce in salat u will get one good deed, and one good deed then is equal to 10 deeds, so imagine in one prayer how many deeds u get, then multiply that by 27 imagine , so do not let that fear stop u from that wonderful bounty, go ahead and go and do not worry, and at the end u r going to pray for Allah, and not for the people right


Wasalam

[Anyabwile]

Radiyah, just wanted to say thanks for the words. Plus Allahs warmth and kindness has grown stronger for me the last few days, and God Willing i'll pass this minor test. It's more my daughter i'm concerned about lately. I don't want her caught in the middle. I recently tried to tell a close friend, he thought i was joking, so i left it there, and am trying to work out another way to tell him and i've been Muslim now nearly a month. STEP-BY-STEP i know. But i don't know the meaning of step by step...everything must happen now!!! No time.

[radiyah]

Alsalam 'alaykom


why no time brother, only Allah knows if there is time or not, and if u r afraid of death, Allah forbidding, do not worry, by will of Allah all your sins are erased and u r newly born and Allah knows your intentions and Allah knows best. So what r u worrying about, just be at peace now that Allah lead u to the right path and then everything will come gradually don't worry:). And tell your friend y ar u afraid, u r afraid to lose him, if u lose him becasue he will think u r wrong and leaveu, then u will win because u won Allah's love and He will compensate u with a better friend. And why not try helping him(your friend) also, showing him the blessings and peace u r living in now may Allah bless u and strengthen u brother Anya Ameeeeeen.


wasalam


Smile Anya that was the Prophet's moral(PBUH) smile, with each smile in your brothers face(brother in islam) u get a reward and a reward is equal to 10 reward so one smile u get 10 rewards 10 smiles u get 100 imagine smile and put your trust in Allah and ask him to get u out of this by His Aid only.


Wasalam