The Guard Who Found Islam

By Dan Ephron - NEWSWEEK
From the magazine issue dated Mar 30, 2009

Army specialist Terry Holdbrooks had been a guard at Guantanamo for about six months the night he had his life-altering conversation with detainee 590, a Moroccan also known as "the General." This was early 2004, about halfway through Holdbrooks's stint at Guantanamo with the 463rd Military Police Company. Until then, he'd spent most of his day shifts just doing his duty. He'd escort prisoners to interrogations or walk up and down the cellblock making sure they weren't passing notes. But the midnight shifts were slow. "The only thing you really had to do was mop the center floor," he says. So Holdbrooks began spending part of the night sitting cross-legged on the ground, talking to detainees through the metal mesh of their cell doors.

He developed a strong relationship with the General, whose real name is Ahmed Errachidi. Their late-night conversations led Holdbrooks to be more skeptical about the prison, he says, and made him think harder about his own life. Soon, Holdbrooks was ordering books on Arabic and Islam. During an evening talk with Errachidi in early 2004, the conversation turned to the shahada, the one-line statement of faith that marks the single requirement for converting to Islam ("There is no God but God and Muhammad is his prophet"). Holdbrooks pushed a pen and an index card through the mesh, and asked Errachidi to write out the shahada in English and transliterated Arabic. He then uttered the words aloud and, there on the floor of Guantanamo's Camp Delta, became a Muslim.

Nadia Muslimaah

Taken From FB group
I Love Hijaab's Page

Yvonne Ridley converted to Islam after being captured by the Taliban

British journalist Yvonne Ridley, who converted to Islam after being captured by the Taliban, tells Asma Hanif that oppression of women has to do with traditions rather than with Islam and explains why she became a Muslim.

It was Yvonne’s camera that betrayed her to the Taliban in September 2001, landing her in an Afghan cell for ten days and starting a long process in her life.

In front of a Taliban soldier, it slipped from her shoulder when, disguised as an Afghan woman with a head-to-toe burka, she entered the country without her passport on the brink of the US-led invasion. The Sunday Express reporter wanted to talk to ordinary Afghans and write a human interest feature.

But the Taliban suspected Yvonne of being a spy for the Americans at a time when Afghans flew by thousands to secure their lives outside their country’s borders. Yvonne, then 42, replied to them: “If I was to be an American spy, then God help the Americans.” Mullah Omar eventually ordered her release on “humanitarian grounds”. But the camera was never to be returned to her.

“I’m sorry, the Taliban confiscated my camera when I was arrested, so I have no picture from that period,” reads her email to me when I asked her if she has a photo of her cell to illustrate this feature.

Yvonne describes the prison as “very basic, with no running water”, although the staff treated her with respect, which she, the feisty British journalist, brutally rejected. “I spat at my captors, I threw things at them,” she now confesses. “I don’t know who was happier when I crossed the border to freedom, they or me – they just wanted to get rid of me.”

With the fall of the Taliban, the cellmates were exchanged. When Yvonne returned to Afghanistan after her release and visited the cell in the women’s section of a Kabul prison, she was surprised.

“It was packed with young girls aged 12-16 whose only crime was that they had run away from home because they didn’t want to be second and third wives for men twice their ages,” says Yvonne, who is a campaigning feminist. “The whole thing of selling a girl, which was forbidden and stamped out by the Taliban, is now widely practiced.”

Comparing the women’s situation under both, the former and the current Afghan regimes, she observes: “There are no career women coming out in Afghanistan except a few individuals who saw their lives improving,” adding, “some women told me they missed the security they had under the Taliban.”

The first Afghan Minister of women’s affairs to work after the fall of the Taliban, Dr Sima Samar, did not even have her own office, Yvonne realized when she met her in March 2002. “In the end she was hounded out of office,” she says.

“Being a woman in Afghanistan is a tough life,” Yvonne concludes. “But it has been for centuries – it has to do with customs and traditions.” Even if women are often subjugated in Muslim societies, Islam stands far from these traditions, claims the Muslim feminist.

It was Yvonne’s capture by the Taliban that sparked the process switching her from a wine and cigarette admirer into a devout Muslim who prays five times a day.

Rejecting people’s initial rumors which suggested that she suffers from the Stockholm syndrome, Yvonne says she made the step by pure conviction.

“To suffer from that disease, you have to bond with your captors over a long period of time,” she explains. “I was there for only 10 days. I did not bond with the Taliban. The only people I bonded with in this very short time were six amazing Christian fundamentalist women whom I shared a cell with. So, if I were suffering from any syndrome, it would have been with my cellmates, and I should be in Texas now, running a tambourine and going halleluiah.”

Yvonne’s passage to Islam started with the promise she made to the Taliban that, once freed, she would read the Quran (the book Muslims believe to be God’s word). “The fulfillment of this promise turned very soon to a spiritual journey for me,” she says, “because, after having finished reading this book, I started an academic exercise and read the supporting literature.”

When initially reading the Quran, Yvonne recalls, she intended to find out “how it teaches men to beat their wives”. But she emerged entranced. “The Quran makes it crystal clear that women are equal to men in spirituality, worth and education,” she realized.

Gradually, she began adopting Islamic practices and cutting out un-Islamic customs like alcohol and cigarettes. “I had a battle with cigarettes which I finally won – at last,” she jokes.

Yvonne also began covering her head, finding it “liberating not to be judged by the size of her legs”.

But then it was her own society that she felt oppressed by. “I’ve always been outspoken,” she says, referring, for instance, to her critical views against the way detainees in the war on terror are held captive without charge, and often tortured. “I have been a trade unionist all my live; I’ve been passionate against the war; I’ve spoken on anti-war platforms, on Muslim and non-Muslim events. But as soon as I put on a hijab (the Arabic word for the Muslim veil), I was called an extremist for my views.”

Yvonne finds that interesting. “You can’t win,” she fiercely says. “You’re criticized one minute for being silent, subjugated, oppressed and not saying anything. And when you do say something, they say: ‘Oh, she’s an extremist.’”

Although, before her conversion, she recalls looking at veiled women as ‘silent, oppressed creatures’, she now wears her veil as a means to show her Muslim identity, and to be respected as a Muslim who does not want to be offered a glass of wine.

Now that she has ‘seen the veil from both sides’, as she describes herself, Yvonne knows what she defends – Islam purely and simply.

The grades used – largely by Western media – to measure the levels of Islam such as ‘moderate Muslim’ and ‘Islamist’, are nonsense in her eyes. “What is a moderate and what is an extremist? I really don’t know,” she says. “I am a simple Muslim. I follow no scholars or sects. I merely follow the Prophet Mohammad and the Sunnah (the Arabic word for Prophet Muhammad’s tradition). Does that make me an extremist?

“I once said being a Muslim is a bit like being pregnant. You are or you are not. Whoever heard of anyone being moderately or extremely pregnant?”

Yvonne strongly opposes distortions and manipulations about Islam. 

REJECTED OFFER OF MOVIE : WHY READ BELOW....

She once declined an offer by a Hollywood producer who, after having read her book, In the hands of the Taliban, expressed an interest in making a film, but had misinterpreted the Taliban as “dirty, filthy, stinking Arabs”.

“First of all, the Taliban are not dirty filthy stinking Arabs as you call them,” Yvonne replied her. “They’re largely from Afghanistan and Pakistan. Furthermore, they were all very handsome young men.”

When her agent then insisted on Yvonne to agree for producing the story, she said, “I never had money in my life, so I don’t know what I’m missing, but there is no way I am going to allow somebody with such a narrow vision to do that story, because it would be totally distorted.”

It seems that, if not confiscated, Yvonne’s camera would have pictured the Afghans from a different perspective than many others’. But her pen did.

source : 

http://islamgreatreligion.wordpress.com/2009/03/31/in-the-company-of-taliban-a-must-read-true-story/

Muhammad Asad (formerly Leopold Weiss)

Muhammad Asad (formerly Leopold Weiss) (1900--1992), was an Austrian Jew who converted to Islam, and a 20th century journalist, traveler, writer, social critic, linguist, thinker, reformer, diplomat, political theorist, translator and scholar. Asad was one of the 20th century's most influential European Muslims.

 In 1947, Asad was given Pakistani citizenship by the newly established Muslim state of Pakistan and appointed the Director of the Department of Islamic Reconstruction by the Government of Pakistan, where he made recommendations on the drafting of Pakistan's first Constitution. In 1949, Asad joined Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs as head of the Middle East Division and, in 1952, was appointed Pakistan's Minister Plenipotentiary to the United Nations in New York.

 Muhammad Asad is famously known for his two publications - "The Road to Mecca", a biographical account of his life up to the age of 32, his conversion to Islam from Judaism and his journey to Mecca and his magnum opus, "The Message of the Qur'an", a translation and commentary of the sacred book of Islam, the Qur'an.

                           

An Interview with Muhammad Ali

The following incident took place during an interview with the world famous boxer, Muhammad Ali.

It all started with an innocent question: You have beaten some of the toughest men in the world in the ring. What scares you the most?

Ali: [Points to his wife, to much laughter]

Lonnie Ali: Come on, Muhammad, joking aside, tell them what really scares you.

Ali: Nothing.

Lonnie Ali: Nothing on this earth maybe, but ... tell them Muhammad.
[There is a long pause]

Ali: Not going to heaven.
  [Everyone present became silent. Sister Lonnie Ali had tears flowing down her cheeks. Others present were also shaken and silent. A few wiping their eyes. Br. Malik Mujahid broke the silence, patting Muhammad Ali on his arm.]

 Malik Mujahid: "No, Insha Allah, you will enter Jannah because you have helped so many people."

Ali: [Muhammad Ali turned his face towards Br. Malik Mujahid, looking at him as though asking: Are you sure? Are you sure about yourself?]

Malik Mujahid: "The Mumin lives between hope and fear."

Where as the toughest man in the world is wondering about his place in Jannah, what do you think about yourself. Will you go to Jannah? Its a question which everyone must ask himself and herself. A good answer may help us focus on the everlasting life.

 We pray to Allah for the best of both worlds. If we want Allah to give us the best, we will have to strive for it.

 Source: Extracted from the article "Will Muhammad Ali go to Jannah?" by Soundvision.com

How could it be possible for Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) to get this medical information from over 1400years ago??

How could it be possible for Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) to get this medical information from over 1400years ago??

 At the seventh medical miracle CONFERENCE of the Quran in 1982 the Thai scientist (Tajas) the specialized knowledge of the embryos has heard these verses from

Quran Surat Al-Mu'minūn (The Believers) - سورة المؤمنون 
12… And certainly did We create man from an extract of clay.
13… Then We placed him as a sperm-drop in a firm lodging.
14… Then We made the sperm-drop into a clinging clot, and We made the clot into a lump [of flesh], and We made [from] the lump, bones, and We covered the bones with flesh; then We developed him into another creation. So blessed is Allah , the best of creators...

 So the scientist has declared on the spot without hesitation an open testimony that "THERE IS NO GOD BUT ALLAH AND MUHAMMED IS HIS MESSENGER."

 Also attended the conference the famous professor (Keith Moore), a great master in the U.S. and Canadian universities and the most famous scientists of anatomy and embryology in the world and head of this department at the University of Toronto, Canada

He said "(it is impossible for your prophet to know all these details and the information's are accurate in all phases of the creation of human and have the same perception of the fetus and he must have been in contact with CREATOR of the world" and he Has declared his conversion to Islam at the conference which was held in 1983 and he wrote of the miracles of the Quran in Arabic in his book at the university's famous book, which was taught to medical students in the colleges of the United States and Canada ....

It remains to know that in the first scientific miracles conference of the Holy Quran and Sunnah, which was held in Cairo in 1986 stand Dr. Keith Moore (Keith Moore)) in his lecture, saying(I can testify to scientific miracles of God in creation in every stage of the Koran, and I do not think that Muhammad peace be upon him, or any other person could possibly know what is happening in the development of the fetus because these developments have not discovered except in the latter part of the twentieth century, and I want to confirm that everything I read in the Qur'an for the emergence of the fetus and its development in the womb applies (match) to all I know as a scientist of prominent scientists embryos).

The answer to the question: How do you believe in Muhammad and believe in Christ?
 Answered: I think they were from one school.

                                
                                       

Professor Keith Moore Testifying the same

                        

Women & Islam: The rise and rise of the convert

Women & Islam: The rise and rise of the convert

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/women--islam-the-rise-and-rise-of-the-convert-6258015.html

Nicole Queen's Story From Christianity to Islam

Nicole Queen's Story From Christianity to Islam

I was born in Houston, Texas to some very young parents. My grandparents are devout Baptist Christians who raised us close to this religion. Our parents didn't really follow any religion, so I used to ride the bus to church alone. When I got my license I drove myself there each Sunday. I stopped attending church after I graduated high school and began life as an adult. I spent some time in college and began working as a photography studio manager. I came back to Dallas from New York and, after managing for five years, began my own photography company.

I scored a few huge jobs shooting celebrity events for Ghost Bar, inside the infamous W Hotel in Dallas. Only the most beautiful and successful people partied at this place. I shot everyone from Justin Timberlake to Owen Wilson and Kate Hudson, and lots of other sports and pop stars that graced our doors.

With this job came lots of other restaurant openings, and every other main street night club had me shooting their private parties. My work then went into all the Dallas magazines, sometimes even in People and Paper City. I got to hang out with publicists from Vogue and worked with the best in the media business. It was simple and glamorous and along came with it lots of glam friends. I could walk into any party and it seemed I couldn't go anywhere at night without spotting friends.

I even had to look the part while working. I had to wear sexy clothes, loads of makeup, and "fohawk" style hair — it was popular at the time. I often found that I had fans. People actually came up and wanted to have their picture with me, on their own cameras. Later I would see it posted on Myspace or Facebook. I partied, and drank, and only cared about one person: me.

Deep down inside though, this life and the people in it started to wear down on my soul. It's a wicked life. I remember standing next to Justin Timberlake and all the flashes from the crowd going off, and we could barely see five feet in front of us. I only took about three shots of him, so I wouldn't get fired and then I slid my lens to the side. I couldn't do it more. It felt horrible all these people screaming, flashing, body guards around him, managers yelling — and this was after he had finished a three-hour concert. What kind of life was that?

I felt dirty that I was part of the reason he couldn't have a normal life. I started wondering what was so great about my life, what was I doing to better anything around me. Nothing, just shooting pictures of people partying and drinking and wow, "Here is my contribution America. I'm here to make the world a more materialistic and vain place!" Not exactly something that would make my grandmother proud.

So here it came, the overwhelming sensation of doubt about who I was and what I was doing with my life. I couldn't sleep. I began having nightmares with people screaming out to help them. I also couldn't escape the thought of the most important question that I had ever asked myself, "What will you say when you must explain your life to God?" OMG, what do you say, "Umm sorry God I am too busy drinking and hanging out with cool people to think about You or to help others."

This is definitely a defining moment in my life where I knew it was time for some changes. I talked with friends about what I was feeling. They tried so hard to help. One friend recommended that I watch a few lectures on YouTube. One of which from a guy named Yusuf Estes, a Muslim convert who used to be a Christian pastor. The best part was he was from Texas! I watched the lectures and when I got to his I heard a bearded man explain everything I was going through right to me as though he was reading my mind.

He told the story of his conversion to Islam from Christianity. Said he needed a greater purpose in life, a better reason to wake up in the morning. Oh how nice this sounded to me. To wake up without thinking, "What did I do last night, and how did I get home alive?"

I became obsessed with learning more about his religion. I would come home from shooting around 2:30 a.m. and get online till the sun came up. It was so relieving to listen to other converts too! Holy cow I found some help! Of course when studying and believing in this religion, you start to look at yourself differently. It's like you see yourself from outside your body!

I remember a friend of mine (who is now my husband) said to me, "Who is it that thinks your so glamorous and cool? What kind of people are they. They are just like you only caring about themselves and living for nothing better." Ouch, those words drove straight through me. He became my biggest supporter in my transition.

I remember one day I wanted to start going to the New Muslim classes at the local masjid and I went into my huge closet to find something suitable to wear. Ha! Good luck! This day I went crazy I think. I teared up as I thrashed through the hangers of sexy tops and tight jeans and pants — not one single thing that I could wear to a holy place. Most of the tops had to be taped on to avoid the loose fabric from exposing your chest! I began crying at myself. What kind of girl was I!

I tore through the clothes, throwing them behind me in a huge pile of slinky embarrassment. When I was done there was only a small rack of barely modest things left. I couldn't afford to replace them all so I slowly began the process of a new wardrobe. I started with looser pants, shirts with long sleeves, modest shoes instead of stilettos, and a low pony tail became my daily routine. Then it went from there, and slowly but surely God carved his way through my black heart and planted Himself deeply inside.

I said my Shahada in April of 2007 in the office of Dr. Yusuf Kavacki, the father of Elif Kavacki. My later husband Hassan was there supporting me, as well as a few new girlfriends I had made from the New Muslim classes. I have a slew of new friends now, who follow the same lifestyle as me. I didn't get rid of any of my old friends, but if your not down for meeting people at the bar, then they tend to stop calling as much, until it's just never at all. No problem for me. I am busy as I ever was and happily married with a wonderful family of in-laws not far away.

I asked Hassan if I could visit Jordan; he is from Amman and his parents and siblings live there. His family was so happy to have me. Muslims have the best sense of family and welcome guests as if they are blood. I stayed with his Mom and Dad for a month. I started wearing the hijab full-time there, it made being out in public easier for me, less men harassing you and people really respect you more. Wow, people respecting me for the way I dress and carry myself in public, that was a new and wonderful feeling.

When I came back to Dallas, I couldn't take off the scarf. I just couldn't stand the thought of going back to being just another "piece of meat" for men to glare at. I didn't want to go back to competing with women based on whose boobs look bigger, and what brand are you wearing and are you sexy enough to be my friend. No more of this life for me. I wanted to be free from those chains and wearing the hijab was the only answer for this. I wore it proud, wore it with style, and actually more men than ever in my life opened doors for me and showed me respect.

One day a man in his 40's came up to me at a store and said, "Where did you get these clothes, you look so classy and stylish. I wish my wife would start dressing this way." Why wouldn't men love this. They have a beautiful wife who shows her skin only to him and in public she covers demanding respect for herself and her religion with every public appearance she makes. I am currently working on designing new headpieces for hijab-wearing women to wear. Soon, Inshallah, I will have the first set completed.

I still do photography, but I keep it clean, you know. I don't shoot clubs or crazy parties anymore. I stick with charity functions, fundraisers, and my newly started wedding and bridal photography is going quite well. I also take part in MAS (Muslim American Society) and WCTI (Woman Converts to Islam). I speak sometimes to schools about Islam, and even to Muslim schools to the younger girls, I try to tell them to stay away from the wrong kind of life. I tell them from experience that it gets you nowhere, a vicious lonely circle where everyone is lonely and rich and it never gets any better.

I have a huge following on Myspace, thanks to the YouTube interview done on me (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khjtrIkYU5I&playnext=1&list=PLB416EA411764533F) . I use the page on Myspace to reach out to other "party girls" and show them that you can escape that life. Even if you don't wanna become a Muslim, just clean up your life and you will change forever for the best. Having God in your life is the best therapy you could ever hope for, and it's free!

I also love working with Sr. Elif Kavacki. She is a great woman and really trying to open doors for Muslim women everywhere. I am happily married, and we are hoping one day Allah will bless us with an addition to our new little family. My husband and I enjoy living in downtown and keeping each other close to our religion. We frequent trips to the masjid and enjoy nights with friends for dinner. We have picnics by the lake and watch the sunset, and attend a lot of functions with his career. This replaced all the late-night parties and people who don't really care about you. I think it's a pretty good trade, Hamidillah.

Nicole Queen

Irish Revert

Irish Revert

---

Asalamualaikum wa rahmatuallahi wa barakatuhu brothers and sisters of Islam, my name is Shamsideen. I reverted 2 years ago during the last 10 days of Ramadan.

I was adopted into a Roman Catholic Canadian family at age 8. My mother is very devout and taught my brother and I the Lord's Prayer. We attended church every weekend. During my teenage years, however, I rebelled like many western teenagers. I swore that God was not real and began to practice Buddhism. I was quite enamored by that religion. I practiced it devoutly for approximately 5 years. I meditated and read all the scriptures. Nevertheless, I never felt true comfort.

After applying for university, I experienced depression and even attempted suicide. Thankfully, Allah wasn't finished with me at the point. I survived the attempt and am now feeling extremely blessed.

My interest in Islam began during the horrible events of 9/11 ( I was in highschool at this time). Not because I thought Muslims were terrorists, like the media portrayed, but because I realized that Muslims are not terrorists and that, in reality, only a minor amount of the members of the religion actually participate in terrorism. To make others aware of this I researched in depth all aspects of Islam. During my research I realized the beauty of the Qur'an and the many miracles within it. I wasn't convinced of Islam at this time though. It just interested me. So, after finishing highschool I dropped the topic. Throughout my university years, I heavily researched Islam once again after noticing the many flaws in Christianity. I knew there was a God but Jesus was only a prophet to me and Christianity was completely corrupted. I began reciting the Qur'an and listening to major reciters like Mishary and Sa'ud. I thought it was the most beautiful thing. While listening to it, chills spread throughout my body. I even burst into tears on several accounts.

Alhamdouillah, while on University campus one evening, a couple of Muslim brothers, both revert and Muslim born, had a display. I felt an urge to walk over to them and talk. I was much too shy though. But a brother saw me, and after asking if I'd like to talk to them, of which I answered yes, he led me towards the display. I gave the revert brother, of five years, my number and my e-mail. The very next day I met with him to learn Arabic and Islamic pillars.

Ramadan was approaching at that time so, even before reverting, I began to fast and pray intensely. He picked me up one day and we headed to the mosque together. This was the first time I entered a mosque. I was amazed by the acceptance of the brothers I felt once I walked through the doors. They all said "salam" to me and shook my hand.

By the end of Ramadan, I called my Muslim born brother Majed and told him "I'm ready". He was so excited. That night I said my shahadah and took the name Shamsideen. That was two years ago now and I have never looked back. Islam is the perfect religion and I feel so blessed to be led on the straight path by our Lord, Allah.

Shokran!

Turn To Islam

The reason why I become Muslim by Hany Fann

The reason why I become Muslim

by Hany Fann on Monday, April 25, 2011 at 5:55pm

Lately, I was questioned by a lot of people (muslim and non-muslim) about the reason why I want to become Muslim. People who don't know me asked me because they are curious. People who know me well asked me because they care about me and happy for me. People who know me but not so well didn't even ask me and just immidiately judge me by their wrong perceptions. This note is to explain everything and to tell you my story truthfully. As I said on my banner, "You know my name, not my story".

First, I want to send a message to you before you read this note. To my friends who support me and understand me: thank you so much for always being there with me, respect my choice and support me. Without you, I can't be this strong to overcome everything. To people who judged me in a wrong perception: I know you have your own reason to judge me in your way. What I want to ask you is please put yourself in my shoes and think why I have to choose a tough way to go? Why a Vietnamese girl chose to become a Muslim right before she goes back to Vietnam, a non-muslim country? Why she chose to become a Muslim when she knows that her Vietnamese friends, her society will most likely treat her in a different way? After you have those questions settle in your mind, then please continue to read my story.

I'm a Vietnamese from Vietnam, a country where the perception about Islam is still very blur, only 0.075% of the population is Muslim. What Vietnamese know about Islam are through news: war in Afganistan, terrorist in Russia, USA, etc. All those things together created a very bad image of Islam in Vietnam. And no one wants to know more or wants to figure out the truth because they don't care. I used to be like that too, and I don't blame people who is thinking the way I did before because I understand how strong media can affect people's perception.

Then I came to Malaysia, a Muslim country to study for 2 years and I went to Indonesia to do my internship there for 2 months. My Muslim friends in these two countries more or less have changed my point of view about Islam. They are friendly, warm-hearted and kind people, there are nothing in them can be related to terrorists. But there were still some cultures and rules of Islam that I found it's hard to accept and understand. At this moment, I still thought if one day I decide to convert into any religion, Islam wouldn't be my priority.

Then I met a guy, a Muslim guy and we felt in love with each other (at this moment we didn't know bf/gf is not allowed in Islam). He was the one who showed me most beautiful things about Islam and answered all my questions about Islamic cultures and rules. For e.g: I finally understand why Muslim girls cover their body. I used to think they were forced to do so, now I know they do that for themselves to protect and save their beauties for the right man for their lives. I realized that Islam is a beautiful religion which wants to create a pure and beautiful world without any sins, that's also the answer for all the rules in Islam. The religion is beautiful itself, just bad people do bad things in the name of the religion. And that what is happening around the world right now. That moment is the moment I cleared my misunderstanding about Islam, but still I didn't see the necessary of becoming a Muslim.

Then one day, my bf (let's call him so even we r not bf/gf anymore :P) came back from a Friday pray, he cried and told me we can no longer talk to each other or see each other until we get married (if that happen) due to the religion's reasons. He felt guilty and upset about himself, and I understood that he would never do anything to break my heart, and I didn't want to see him bearing the sins because of me. So I agreed not to see him or talk to him anymore. But then I felt uncomfortable and I wanted a clearer answer. I started to do some research about Islam.

At first, I only googled about Islamic things which are related to boy and girl relationships to answer my questions. Until one day, I found a book called "The Holy Qur'an and Mordern Sciences", the book was so amazing that I read the whole book in 1 night. It explained how Mordern Science discovered things that were written in Qur'an 1,400 years ago, like the Big Bang, the fetus creation and development, etc. All those things, in my perception, can't be written by a normal person. How can a ancient person 1,400 years ago can probably know about the Big Bang? They didn't even know about whether the Earth is round or square. How can they wrote about the fetus creation and development at that time when only thousand years later, mordern people can see the whole process by the support of all the high-tech equipments? I was so amazed and that was the time when I started believe in God.

And I started to talked to God, asked him for some signal. And believe or not, those signals keeps coming to me. I know HE is there and I started to believe in The Day of Judgement. I believe that Islam is a true religion from God.

I talked to my mum about I want to convert to Muslim. She didn't agree at first since like I said, Vietnamese have a very wrong perception about Muslim. But then I opened the Qur'an, and also my Muslim friend told me that, God wants you to know that you should worship God alone and serve your parents. I looked back at my past and I felt so bad about myself. I wasn't a good daughter to my mum at all. I took her for granted and hurted her so many times. I thought loving me was her responsibility. Now I realized she has no responsibility to sacrify all her life for me nor love me with all her heart. Once I realized, I called her and ask about her health problem, care about her in the way that I should do for 21 years until now. Then she asked me why I'm so different. I told her because that's what God teaches me to do. I asked her to listen to me with an open-minded mind, to understand why I believe in Islam and why I want to become a Muslim that much. I asked her to give me a chance to prove that Islam will only can make me become a better person, a better daughter to her. And finally my mum agreed :).

After my mum agreed, my faith is so strong. I have nothing can stop me from believing in God. I learned how to pray, I read Qur'an in my free time and I even read Islam's stories as a way to release my study stress. And I planned to convert on 2nd of May (don't ask me why, just a date that I think it's beautiful :P). Then yesterday night, I used a facebook application called "Message from God" (this is also the one which delivered me so many amazing messages from God which always suitable for my current situations). The message said: "On this day, God wants you to know that decision is only wishful thinking until you take that first irreversible step. You can tell yourself that you have already decided, that nothing now can stop you, but if that step backwards is so much safer than step forwards, what will hold you true to your path when the going gets tough? Sometimes, the right thing to do is to take that first irreversible step, the one after which you cannot go back. And now, for you, is one of those times". I'm not gonna comment anything about this message anymore :)

That's also the reason why I decided to convert tomorow :). Some of you may ask me to think more, to check whether I'm ready for it or not. I would like to answer that, once you believe in God, there's nothing such as ready or not ready to be closer to God. Once I accept God and Islam in my life, I'm willing to obey every rules and cultures of Islam in order to be closer to God, to be forgiven by His Mercy.

So please come to the Masjid (Mosque) tomorrow at 7pm if you can to be with me in my most important turn of my life :).

Btw, my Islamic name is Aisha :)

Oh, another thing, some may think I'm converting because of the guy I love. I'm sorry to upset you, but I do this for the love of God. This is the biggest decision of my life which will affect my whole life. I won't make it because of anyone. And start from this moment we won't meet and talk to each other anymore. So please understand and respect my decision.

Thank you if you read the whole thing until this spot :P

P/S: Special thanks to Muhammad Iqbal, who showed me the right path to God and heaven, and Abeer Sadary who always be there and support me :). The "thanks" only can't describe enough how much I owed you.

Thanks everyone who is always there to support me in my big decision :)

Mailed to me by
Ahmer Ammar

I crept for 12 years to become Muslim:

I crept for 12 years to become Muslim

  
Assalam Alaikum: My Islamic Br's & Sis's.

I want to say one thing "Being a Muslim I have only benefited my own soul, towards salvation and None else. I really feel awkward/shy to hear appreciations from my Br's and Sis's. Their Du'aa indeed is a big reward for me."

"In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful"

My journey to Islam is a result of guidance offered to me by an Egyptian woman. She is my spiritual guide and sister.

I belong to an orthodox but progressive Hindu family. There are four sects in Hinduism. I come from the Brahmin sect, the most prestigious and educated category among the Hindus. I followed my parental faith in the learning phase of childhood. My approach to the Almighty started as a pagan with polytheistic devotion to our Hindus gods, and I was quite aware of the sectarian discrimination that prevailed in my society.

I always wondered about the originator of this universe, His strength, vastness, and many more things. All answers to my queries about the Almighty were not answered by my parent's ideology. We human beings have selected some of our masterpieces and called them the Seven Wonders of the World. However, indeed these Wonders of the World stand nowhere in comparison to the creation of the Almighty. A mere glimpse, not of things far but of things around us, makes me tend to believe in the existence of a Supreme Authority who must be their Designer.


Amazingly, my first active and realizable encounter with Islam was in 1989 (I was only 15) when my city fell into communal violence. The violence was widespread and killed innocent people. As a Hindu then, I was filled with anger toward Muslims. This wave of violence again struck my city in 1990 and 1992. I was a rigid Hindu then and took part in several anti-Muslim demonstrations in those tense years. When the situation calmed down, I developed some curiosity toward Muslims and Islam. Though I was not yet mature, indeed something from inside compelled me to begin to scrutinize Muslim society.
 

I belong to a society whose social infrastructure I have never respected, yet I have always noticed that a force unifies Muslim society. Initially I thought that, being a minority community in India, Muslims are bonded together for safety concerns. However, I soon realized that the unifying force is not driven by political or security measures. It is something else. With close scrutiny, I came to realize that this central force which bonds Muslims together is related to the first pillar of Islam, namely tawheed (the Oneness of God). Unlike my community where people are divided on account of their differences in rituals, ALL Muslims are unified by worshiping the same God, practicing the same `ibadat (acts of worship) — same salah (ritual prayer), fasting at the same time, etc. This exploration, though not driven by spirituality, indeed sowed the seeds of tawheed in my mind. I came to know the concept of monotheism. Until then, I never knew about the Oneness of God.

My mind was then caught between two ideologies: monotheism and polytheism. In 1994, I was preparing for my medical entrance exam. To study physics, I began to go to a Muslim professor. It was the month of Ramadan. One day I was there at the time of iftar (meal to break the fast), and heard the Adhan. A faint sound of the Adhan always crept to my house, but it was not understandable. For the first time then, I listened to an Adhan from a nearby mosque. The voice of the Adhan gave me gooseflesh. I felt in a state of mind like never before. It seemed to me as if the Adhan was rising from the mosque up to the heavens. I found myself in a sedative condition of utmost peace.


Driven by this realization of peace and spirituality, I bought a copy of the Qur'an, and I started reading it. With every word I read, my brain was being washed. By the grace of God, I went on smoothly to accept the word of God surah after surah. It was so simple, distinct, and clear. I wandered through the content of the Qur'an, from the way of dealing with your neighbor to the creation of universe. When I reached Surat Al-Ikhlas (Chapter 112), I literally lost my sense of equilibrium. Its four ayahs pierced my heart. Allah says what can be translated as:

[Say: He is Allah, the One and Only;
Allah, the Eternal, Absolute;
He begetteth not, nor is He begotten;
And there is none like unto Him.]

I can say for sure that such a clear concept of God is not found in any other religious scriptures. The question of what God is like has always disturbed me, and I wonder at how distinctly God has defined Himself in such four lines. As I read this surah, it seemed to me as if the Almighty was Himself explaining His own attributes in such simple language in front of my eyes. For the first time, I was able to know the Almighty, and I found myself on the doorstep of the religion of Allah. As a student of science, I was also stunned by the scientific facts mentioned in the Qur'an. My trust in the Qur'an and the prophethood of Muhammad (peace be upon him) was established.

However, I remained at the doorsteps of the religion of God for a long time. I was not able to free myself from the captivity of my inherited faith. Though I was not following it, a fear always overcast my mind of the repercussions of accepting Islam. Hence, my journey to Islam came to a halt for awhile. However, after this pause, Allah the All-Knower sent me a soul to guide me to my destination. She gave me a gentle push to enter the religion of God. In the month of Ramadan on my birthday (October 9, 2006), I accepted Islam upon her encouragement. That soul is now my spiritual sister. Allah guided me to realize His Oneness, to endorse the truth of the Qur'an as His authentic word, and to accept Prophet Muhammad as the Seal of the Prophets in my heart long before I practiced the pillars of Islam. However, I owe her credit for giving me the courage to eventually make my decision and be a true Muslim.


Though I expect a tough reaction from my father, my submission to Allah is firm.

I never felt myself close to God as a non-Muslim and never felt a sense of satisfaction through my acts of worship. With the acceptance of Islam, there has been an enhancement of my spirituality, as now I pray as a monotheist to the real Creator of the universe. Now I spend my late evening hours in the mosque instead of wasting them among friends. After offering my salah, I reach a state of mind that I can only describe as peaceful. I am trying to apply the word of Allah in every activity in my life. My dedication toward my wife has multiplied. The vulgarity that frequently overtook me now seems to have subsided. My family members say I have changed in many aspects. Above all now, I am committed and submitted to the real Lord of this universe.
Except my wife and mother, no one is aware of my Islamic identity. My wife is a simple woman who willingly accepted her Muslim husband. My mother does not comment on this issue except advising me to be fully devoted to whatever path I follow. Though I expect a tough reaction from my father, my submission to Allah is firm. My father and brothers are big critics of Islam, and the issue of jihad is their weapon. I am trying to teach Islam to my wife, and in fact, one of my goals is to be committed to da`wah after I enrich my knowledge of Islam.

Though I find myself amidst many problems related to my new identity, I am striving hard to dedicate myself spiritually to Allah. My spiritual sister tries endlessly to provide me with the knowledge I need about certain issues and to back me with spiritual strength.

Many times I wonder whether it is reality or fiction that I am now a submitter to Allah. Every individual is born as a Muslim. Therefore, I prefer to call my inclusion in the Ummah of Islam (nation of Muslims) as a reversion and not conversion. For me, being a Muslim is the greatest reward from the Almighty. Hereby, I pray that Allah enlightens the dwellers of dark.

Regards.
Abdullah.

22-2-11

Scholar Of Vedas reverted to Islam

ACHARYA SANJAY DWIVEDI REVERTED  TO ISLAM!

Last Thursday (12-Oct-2006) I was invited for a small event at the Residence of my colleague. (Mohsin Shabandri, http://www.bhatkallys.com). The event was organised to felicitate Mohammed Abdul Muneem, popularly known as Ahmed Pandit. He is a converted Muslim. Formerly known as Acharya Sanjay Dwivedi.

What is important about this person is he is a well educated person in Hindu Dharma/Vedas. He attained the status of "Acharya", The highest degree in the teaching of Hindu Vedas / dharma. There is no other degree above it. In the speech he mentioned that after that he could become one of the head of the 4 peets (Like kanchi sankaracharya). At the age of 15 he was appointed as head priest of Birla group of temples and also president of All India Brahmin's Association.

As far as the political influence of his family is concerned, his grand father is the current chief minister of Uttaranchal , N.D. Tiwari. His mother Shri Kamla Devi has served as education minister of Uttar Pradesh for over 9 years.

In the event he spoke in great detail about his life and his journey towards Islaam. The full video is available at http://www.urduaudio.com  (language Hindi). What turned him toward Islaam, Because of which he lost so many things in this world. (He told in the meeting that if he goes for a marriage as a priest, his fees will be around 51/- lakhs, yes 51 lakhs., such was his level among Hindus.) Now he is living the life of an ordinary Muslim. But nonetheless he has taken up the mission of spreading Islaam. Currently he is President, Al Hidayah, Hyderabad .

What initiated his journey to the truth? It is nothing but a strict observation of prayer by a fellow Muslim student at the school. (Ahmed Pandit used to attend regular school for a brief time to give the board exams). The school in which he was studying was a very strict one with rules. If anybody comes late for example for 5 minutes he will receive 5 beats. The fellow Muslim student called Imran used to be late for about 20 minutes in the afternoon and used to receive 20 beats daily.

When Ahmed Pandit enquired the teachers about this they told him that " He is a Muslim, he goes to prayer and always comes late, He will never improve. Taking pity on him Ahmed pundit asked him "why don't you pray to your God after returning from School or why don't you do that early at least. Imran replied "Excuse me Panditji, You are controlling your God, you keep him at house, office etc. and offer pooja at your convenient. For us we are controlled by God, if I don't offer prayer at the established time, I will be punished in the next world. The punishment, of this world is nothing for me compared to the punishment of the next world.

Ahmed Pandit said that this set a spark on him, which ultimately led him to Islaam.

He said on one occasion he visited Imran's house, there he saw Imran's father praying. (Imran's father was not a common man. He was chief justice of Bhopal . Ahmed Pandit said that despite his position where he can easily amass his wealth by bribery, that man led a simple life, staying in an ordinary one bedroom flat. He was also conducting Dars-E-Quran to his collegues, advocates and other professionals at his home) The conversation between them went on like this. Just keep in your mind that Ahmed Pandit was admitted to the Hindu university at the age of 4 and he was not much exposed to the outside world, hence he knew nothing about Islaam.

Ahmed Pandit:  " Uncle if you don't mind can I ask one question?"

Imran's father:  " Go ahead son."

Ahmed Pandit:  "What type of yoga you were doing?"

Imran's father: "I was not doing any yoga, I was praying to God."

Ahmed Pandit:  " Don't make fun of me uncle, if you are praying to God,  where is the God, there is nothing in front of you, it is just the wall. We used to pray in front of God, who is colorful and well decorated"

At this point Imran's father said nothing he asked Ahmed Pandit, "do you know Hindi well?", Ahmed Pandit replied that he is proficient in  Hindi and Sanskrit. Imran's father went inside his house and returned with a copy of Quran with Hindi translation. He handed it over to Ahmed Pandit and told him to go through it.

After the exams are over, Ahmed Pandit returned to his "Gurukul" and he said there is a private area which are only reserved for the student there. No one can enter there without permission. There he took his time and went through Quran.

He said While going through Quran many bell rang within him.

He came across many words which were exactly matching the Vedas he learned, specially the word "Mohammed, Ahmed". (He said that while teaching the Vedas his teachers said that Ahmed in the Veda refer to Krishna , a clear lie...)

He said the words of Imran "The punishment of this world is nothing in front of the punishment of the next world" keep on repeating in his mind. He decided to escape from the Gurukul and become a Muslim, which he ultimately did.

He talked in length the details of his becoming Muslim and the turmoil he underwent. Giving further details here will make this post more lengthy.  Full details are available in the audio and video format (in Hindi) at http://www.urduaudio.com. If anybody wants more from me (if they don't understand Hindi) Inshaa-Allaah I will write again as second part. He also noted that if Muslims are filled with the likes of Imran and his father, The whole world will be filled with Muslims.

Remember he was in such a position where every VIPs and VVIPs will visit him to get his blessing. He bared it all for the sake of Islaam. Now he is in a mission of inviting Hindu brothers towards Islaam.

Pray to Allaah  to give him success in his mission and make his life easy in this world and to grand him high position in the Paradise.

Coincidently this event was held on 20th of Ramadan and he told that he became Muslim on the same day (20th of Ramadan) in Mumbai. Also let us try to invite others to Islaam not only by our saying but also by our doing, We have a good example in Imran and his father.

To know more Read:
CONCEPT OF GOD IN HINDUISM by Dr. Zakir Naik

Ex Shankaracharya Sanjay Dwivedi now Ahmed Pandit explaining Real Teachings of Hinduism &Vedas