Coming Out of the Proverbial Muslim Closet
Posted by Muslimness converting to Islam, ramadan diaries, reverts, the nura Sunday, August 30, 2009
In the name of God, compassionate & merciful بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ | السلام عليكم
Asalaamu Alaikum!
I hope that you've all had a wonderful day! My day has been somewhat boring but I'm happy nonetheless. I want to say thank you to Zaufishan for getting my Muslimness avatar up (Zaufishan says: You are welcome beautiful!) It looks wonderful and now I feel official!
I have been a bit weary of who I tell that I'm muslim, since my mom still makes me go to church. I know that things will be more difficult on me if I tell my youth group, but I hate the feeling of hiding it and don't feel that they should think any differently about me. It seems though, that people talk enough anyway so maybe I don't have to tell anyone.
I was minding my own business at lunch today when a kid from my youth group shouted "Hey Nura! Are you Muslim?" I didn't hesitate before saying that I was and have been for a little over three months now. He sort of nodded his head, but the effect my revelation had was clear. The people all around us stared as if I had declared that I had not reverted, but grown an extra head.
These kind of things irritate me. I have a horrible feeling that I will be treated as an outcast now, instead of the same person I've been for the past three months. The only difference is that they now have a better idea of who I am. If a friend of yours admits to being homosexual for six weeks, does that make him different then he was yesterday? No, he just expects you to be accepting of the person whom he has been. I think that instead of trying to disprove one anothers beliefs, we need to be sure that we're devoted to our own. How can you attack someone else and their beliefs, and claim that your religion practices love?
Anyways, just a thought and the highlight of my day. Day seven of Ramadan to be exact (Day 10 now). I fasted food all day today, except for three crackers throughout the day to rid myself of a headache. I'm doing better though, alhamdulillah. May Allah bless your efforts this Ramadan.
Asalaamu Alaikum!
I hope that you've all had a wonderful day! My day has been somewhat boring but I'm happy nonetheless. I want to say thank you to Zaufishan for getting my Muslimness avatar up (Zaufishan says: You are welcome beautiful!) It looks wonderful and now I feel official!
I have been a bit weary of who I tell that I'm muslim, since my mom still makes me go to church. I know that things will be more difficult on me if I tell my youth group, but I hate the feeling of hiding it and don't feel that they should think any differently about me. It seems though, that people talk enough anyway so maybe I don't have to tell anyone.
I was minding my own business at lunch today when a kid from my youth group shouted "Hey Nura! Are you Muslim?" I didn't hesitate before saying that I was and have been for a little over three months now. He sort of nodded his head, but the effect my revelation had was clear. The people all around us stared as if I had declared that I had not reverted, but grown an extra head.
These kind of things irritate me. I have a horrible feeling that I will be treated as an outcast now, instead of the same person I've been for the past three months. The only difference is that they now have a better idea of who I am. If a friend of yours admits to being homosexual for six weeks, does that make him different then he was yesterday? No, he just expects you to be accepting of the person whom he has been. I think that instead of trying to disprove one anothers beliefs, we need to be sure that we're devoted to our own. How can you attack someone else and their beliefs, and claim that your religion practices love?
Anyways, just a thought and the highlight of my day. Day seven of Ramadan to be exact (Day 10 now). I fasted food all day today, except for three crackers throughout the day to rid myself of a headache. I'm doing better though, alhamdulillah. May Allah bless your efforts this Ramadan.
Incredible Journey
Posted by Colleen converts, reverts, the canadian Sunday, August 23, 2009Ramadan Journal- Day 1 of The Nura
Posted by Muslimness converts, fasting, ramadan diaries, reverts, the nura Sunday, August 23, 2009
In the name of God, compassionate & merciful بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ Peace be with you السلام عليكم
I hope that everyone did their best to fast today (Saturday), and may Allah bless you for your self-control. Ameen. How was your day?
Peace & respect ★
I hope that everyone did their best to fast today (Saturday), and may Allah bless you for your self-control. Ameen. How was your day?
My first day of Ramadan was eeventful' to say the least. Before bed last night I had decided that I would wake up for Fajr, eat and drink, pray, then go back to sleep. I intended to fast from that time until Dhuhr (afternoon prayer) and work my way up each day. However, things didn’t go according to plan...
I get text updates five minutes before each of the five daily prayers, and the vibration from my phone generally wakes me for Fajr without disturbing my mom. Even though I didn’t manage to fall asleep until around 2 a.m. I didn’t wake up for prayer! For some unknown reason my text didn’t come through. Nonetheless, I held to my plan to fast until Dhuhr. When the time came around I retreated to the bathroom and performed ablution and then prayed. After which I drank a hearty glass of water and downed a bowl of chicken Ramen. I have, in the past, gone long periods of time without food, but you never realize just how much you need water, until you can’t have it.
Later, I dialed 1-877-WHY-ISLAM and talked to a Muslim man who helped me to recite the Shahadah in Arabic and started the process of sending me a large welcome package. In one to two weeks a package will come to my house with my very own Qur’an, a prayer rug, a hijab, a book to teach me Arabic, a book to teach me the prayers, and many other wonderful resources. Alhamdulillah, there are so many ways out there for young reverts to get help every step they take.
Alongside fasting food, I’m fasting warm water. I avoided the water this morning as I battled to shampoo my hair, but tonight, I embraced the water. Turns out, I REALLY like warm water.
My day came to a sad end when my mom informed me that I still have to go to church tomorrow. I don’t know what to do because Sunday School is on my favorite topic, Islam. I know I will get frustrated, so I need to make dua and ask Allah to help me keep my mouth shut. I don’t know my stuff well enough yet and I don’t want to look like an ill educated hot head.
I will wake up for Fajr this time, I will find something to eat before I begin fasting, and I will fast until Asr, Inshallah. I want to say that I admire those of you who keep the fast every day through the month of Ramadan. I hope that I can one day possess your strength. Ramadan Blessings Everyone.
The Nura
---Peace & respect ★
Experiencing Allah's Mercy - A conversion story (video)
Posted by Muslimness converts, iconic muslims, reverts, videos Wednesday, August 19, 2009In the name of God, compassionate & merciful بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ | Peace be with you السلام عليكم
A video made by Brother Shahraiz about sister Khadija's conversion story.
Check out his other YoutTube videos on Islam here.
Community during ramadan for new Muslims
Posted by Muslimness community, converts, guantanamo, muslim diaries, muslim family, reverts Friday, August 14, 2009
In the name of God, compassionate & merciful بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ | Peace be with you السلام عليكم
Finally our Brother Mustafa is in high spirits. All love comes from Allah and spreads through each of us; Brother Mustafa felt a smidgen of it when his OMC (Online Muslim Community) called him 'family'. Well, he is.
Unfortunately there is no visible Muslim community in Phoenix (where he lives) so he feels a little neglected. It's even more difficult when as a newbie to Islam there are no active Muslim members around to ask for how's and what's. This isn't good for our reputation as supporting, insightful people.
Give Brother Mustafa salam and love fellow brothers and sisters on his site.
(Muxlimers click here to watch the video.)
'Oh Islamophobe, you will never win.'
Posted by Muslimness australia, converts, islamophobia, labelling, reverts, social issue Wednesday, August 12, 2009In the name of God, compassionate & merciful بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ | Peace be with you السلام عليكم
By The Australian (Kimdonesia, therefore you'll probably read this twice on Muxlim)
'Each morning, the Islamophobe wakes with a frown. His fingers quiver and long for the keyboard and mouse, and he is drawn to the computer like a drug addict. He needs to feed his hunger, his desire.Pornography? No. Alcohol? No. He needs to fulfill his strong obsession with Islam. The chemical imbalance in his brain leads him to believe Islam is filled with hatred, when he fails to realize that HE is the one who is filled with hatred. HE is the one with the black heart. HE is the one who is diseased.
He turns on the computer, opens his web browser and accesses Youtube. When he types something into the search bar, such as "Islam is evil", he sighs with relief. This is all he needs to convince him that what he fears - Islam - is "wrong" and "the enemy". However, his heart tells him otherwise.
Within his heart is fear. Strong, sickening fear. A fear that will take over this person's life and occupy his days, leading him to dedicate much of his time to trying to eliminate this fear. This is the fear that Islam will dominate his own town someday. His own country. Or perhaps he fears that one of his family members, or close friends, will be drawn to this "hateful" religion. He tries to hide this fear by attacking a 17-year-old Muslim girl on her Youtube channel, trying to pull her away from Islam but her feet are in concrete. She will not budge.
The 17-year-old girl smells this fear. It amuses yet saddens her at the same time. It makes her smile yet frown. Smile because of the Islamophobe's failed attempt to conceal his strong fear of Islam, but frown because he is one of those who have possibly had their hearts shield and eyes covered forever from the Truth by God.
Oh Islamophobe, you will never win. You will never win.
“They intend to put out the Light of Allaah (i.e. the religion of Islam, this Qur’aan, and Prophet Muhammad) with their mouths. But Allah will bring His Light to perfection even though the disbelieves hate (it).” (Al-Qur'an, Surah al-Saff Ayah 8)'.
Peace & respect ★
Winning & Losing Spirituality
Posted by Muslimness converts, islam, practice, prayer, resolution, reverts, social issue, spirituality, the seeker Wednesday, August 12, 2009In the name of God, compassionate & merciful بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ | Peace be with you السلام عليكم
There are pros and cons of both. Both claim that if you do not believe 'our superior' way you will be damned forever; each has their own version of paradise; both have their own version of hell; both have many things in common and both have many things that are complete opposite of each other.
So which one is the true religion or truer way of life?
That depends on who you ask.
It is true that there are more Christians than Muslims in the world, BUT, Islam is by far, the fastest growing religion and/or way of life worldwide? Does that make it 'the truer religion' or way of life?
Again, it depends on who you ask.
As I write this, from a spiritual standpoint, I am in the middle of a crisis...
I was raised Christian, lived the Christian lifestyle, sang the songs, spread the message of Jesus Christ to everyone I met, was always full of life... Until I got cancer. I am today but a shell of what I once was; no longer the happy-go-lucky-person I was; no longer do I truly laugh or smile at or about anything... I tell you this NOT because I want your pity, but to explain where it is I am coming from.
I denounced Christianity a while back; I said the shahadah (muslim declaration of faith), I pray not the 5 times a day like Muhammad said we should, but I am constantly in a state of prayer. I may not always be in a prostrating position, but still I pray.
Do I believe that there is but one God & Muhammad was his messenger? Part of me really says yes, while another part of me says no.
As I said earlier, I am in spiritual crisis; the Catholics call it "A crisis in the faith". Why I quote the catholics I have no idea because I truly do not think very highly of them (just my personal oppinion, which is another topic for another day).
So am I muslim or am I Christian? THAT is the £64 billion question for which I have no answer.
All I can do at this point is pray... and I ask for your prayers as well.
Peace & respect ★
Converts to Islam
Posted by Muslimness converts, islam, newbies, reverts Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Coming soon insha'Allah!
