AFTER

I was looking for an escape route, too, from the isolating terms of a materialistic culture.  I wanted access to a spiritual dimension, but the conventional paths I had known as a boy were closed.  My father had been a Jew; my mother Christian.  Because of my mongrel background, I had a foot in two religious camps.  Both faiths were undoubtedly profound.  Yet the one that emphasizes a chosen people I found insupportable; while the other, based in a mystery, repelled me.  A century before, my maternal great-great-grandmother’s name had been set in stained glass at the high street Church of Christ in Hamilton, Ohio.  By the time I was twenty, this meant nothing to me.

These were the terms my early life provided.  The more I thought about it now, the more I returned to my experiences in Muslim Africa.  After two return trips to Morocco, in 1981 and 1985, I came to feel that Africa, the continent, had little to do with the balanced life I found there.  It was not, that is, a continent I was after, nor an institution, either.  I was looking for a framework I could live with, a vocabulary of spiritual concepts applicable to the life I was living now.  I did not want to “trade in” my culture.  I wanted access to new meanings.

After a mid-Atlantic dinner I went to wash up in the bathroom.  During my absence a quorum of Hasidim lined up to pray outside the door.  By the time I had finished, they were too immersed to notice me.  Emerging from the bathroom, I could barely work the handle.  Stepping into the aisle was out of the question.

I could only stand with my head thrust into the hallway, staring at the congregation’s backs.  Holding palm-size prayer books, they cut an impressive figure, tapping the texts on their breastbones as they divined.  Little by little the movements grew erratic, like a mild, bobbing form of rock and roll.  I watched from the bathroom door until they were finished, then slipped back down the aisle to my seat.

We landed together later that night in Brussels.  Reboarding, I found a discarded Yiddish newspaper on a food tray.  When the plane took off for Morocco, they were gone.

I do not mean to imply here that my life during this period conformed to any grand design.  In the beginning, around 1981, I was driven by curiosity and an appetite for travel.  My favorite place to go, when I had the money, was Morocco.  When I could not travel, there were books.  This fascination brought me into contact with a handful of writers driven to the exotic, authors capable of sentences like this, by Freya Stark:

“The perpetual charm of Arabia is that the traveler finds his level there simply as a human being; the people’s directness, deadly to the sentimental or the pedantic, like the less complicated virtues; and the pleasantness of being liked for oneself might, I think, be added to the five reasons for travel given me by Sayyid Abdulla, the watchmaker; “to leave one’s troubles behind one; to earn a living; to acquire learning; to practice good manners; and to meet honorable men”.

I could not have drawn up a list of demands, but I had a fair idea of what I was after.  The religion I wanted should be to metaphysics as metaphysics is to science.  It would not be confined by a narrow rationalism or traffic in mystery to please its priests.  There would be no priests, no separation between nature and things sacred.  There would be no war with the flesh, if I could help it.  Sex would be natural, not the seat of a curse upon the species.  Finally, I did want a ritual component, daily routine to sharpen the senses and discipline my mind.  Above all, I wanted clarity and freedom.  I did not want to trade away reason simply to be saddled with a dogma.

The more I learned about Islam, the more it appeared to conform to what I was after.

Most of the educated Westerners I knew around this time regarded any strong religious climate with suspicion.  They classified religion as political manipulation, or they dismissed it as a medieval concept, projecting upon it notions from their European past.

It was not hard to find a source for their opinions.  A thousand years of Western history had left us plenty of fine reasons to regret a path that led through so much ignorance and slaughter.  From the Children’s Crusade and the Inquisition to the transmogrified faiths of nazism and communism during our century, whole countries have been exhausted by belief.  Nietzsche’s fear, that the modern nation-state would become a substitute religion, has proved tragically accurate.  Our century, it seemed to me, was ending in an age beyond belief, which believers inhabited as much as agnostics.

Regardless of church affiliation, secular humanism is the air westerners breathe, the lens we gaze through.  Like any world view, this outlook is pervasive and transparent.  It forms the basis of our broad identification with democracy and with the pursuit of freedom in all its countless and beguiling forms.  Immersed in our shared preoccupations, one may easily forget that other ways of life exist on the same planet.

At the time of my trip, for instance, 650 million Muslims with a majority representation in forty-four countries adhered to the formal teachings of Islam.  In addition, about 400 million more were living as minorities in Europe, Asia and the Americas.  Assisted by postcolonial economics, Islam has become in a matter of thirty years a major faith in Western Europe.  Of the world’s great religions, Islam alone was adding to its fold.

My politicized friends were dismayed by my new interest.  They all but universally confused Islam with the machinations of half a dozen middle eastern tyrants.  The books they read, the new broadcasts they viewed depicted the faith as a set of political functions.  Almost nothing was said of its spiritual practice.  I liked to quote Mae West to them: “Anytime you take religion for a joke, the laugh’s on you.”

Historically, a Muslim sees Islam as the final, matured expression of an original religion reaching back to Adam.  It is as resolutely monotheistic as Judaism, whose major Prophets Islam reveres as links in a progressive chain, culminating in Jesus and Muhammad, may God praise them.  Essentially a message of renewal, Islam has done its part on the world stage to return the forgotten taste of life’s lost sweetness to millions of people.  Its book, the Quran, caused Goethe to remark, “You see, this teaching never fails; with all our systems, we cannot go, and generally speaking no man can go, further.

Traditional Islam is expressed through the practice of five pillars.  Declaring one’s faith, prayer, charity, and fasting are activities pursued repeatedly throughout one’s life.  Conditions permitting, each Muslim is additionally charged with undertaking a pilgrimage to Mecca once in a lifetime.  The Arabic term for this fifth rite is Hajj.  Scholars relate the word to the concept of ‘qasd’, “aspiration,” and to the notion of men and women as travelers on earth.  In Western religions, pilgrimage is a vestigial tradition, a quaint, folkloric concept commonly reduced to metaphor.  Among Muslims, on the other hand, the Hajj embodies a vital experience for millions of new pilgrims every year.  In spite of the modern content of their lives, it remains an act of obedience, a profession of belief, and the visible expression of a spiritual community.  For a majority of Muslims the Hajj is an ultimate goal, the trip of a lifetime.

As a convert, I felt obliged to go to Makkah.  As an addict to travel I could not imagine a more compelling goal.

The annual, month-long fast of Ramadan precedes the Hajj by about one hundred days.  These two rites form a period of intensified awareness in Muslim society.  I wanted to put this period to use.  I had read about Islam; I [attended] a Mosque near my home in California; I had started a practice.  Now I hoped to deepen what I was learning by submerging myself in a religion where Islam infuses every aspect of existence.

I planned to begin in Morocco, because I knew that country well and because it followed traditional Islam and was fairly stable.  The last place I wanted to start was in a backwater full of uproarious sectarians.  I wanted to paddle the mainstream, the broad, calm water.

Michael Wolfe (born 3 April 1945, United States) is a poet, author, and the President and Executive Producer of Unity Productions Foundation. He is also a frequent lecturer on Islamic issues at universities across the United States including Harvard, Georgetown, Stanford, SUNY Buffalo, and Princeton. He holds a degree in Classics from Wesleyan University.

KARACHI

The Central African Republic team coach, Mohamed Kalambaye said the six boxers had decided to convert to Islam after being impressed by the spirit of Islamic culture and friendly attitude of the locals.

‘All the six boxers are Christians and they had no intention of converting to Islam at all before coming to Pakistan. It is basically the unity and brotherhood in Islam which impressed them. But the most important thing is that there is no discrimination in Islam. Once you say Assalam u Alaikum, then you are accepted as a brother no matter what is the colour of your skin, or what is your cast or creed. And that’s what which impressed them a lot,’ said Kalambaye in an exclusive interview with Dawn.com on Monday.

Among the group of six who have chosen to convert to Islam are, Gbodo Ygor, Selebangue Bienvenu, Vomitiande Huges, Grassa Thibault, Niambongui Davy and Ngocko Martial. They will covert to Islam at a ceremony to be held on Tuesday at local hotel at 2.00pm. The boxers are in the city to participate in ongoing Benazir Bhutto international tournament.

Kalambaye, who is a Muslim, said the six pugilists did not decide to covert to Islam owing to any pressure or because of his instigation. Instead they have chosen to covert to the religion of peace on their own will.

‘There is no pressure on them at all. They know what they are doing. When we reached here, they saw how I was received and welcomed wherever I went and whoever I met by the local Muslims. Nobody cared about my black skin. I was greeted with warm hearts by the organisers or anybody who met me because of my faith.

‘They (the boxers) saw that even being Christians they were received with same respect. They were garlanded when they reached the Karachi airport. That’s why they want to join that religion which teaches such affection for human kind,’ said Kalambaye while speaking on behalf of the boxers who speak only their native language.

The coach said the apprehensions and negative images in the minds of the boxers about Pakistan and its society vanished when they reached and saw the hospitality and felt the warmth.

‘I think the West and its media should stop portraying all the Muslims in a negative manner. I agree if some people who called themselves Muslims are killing innocent people in the name of Islam, then it is certainly wrong. Word Islam actually means ‘peace’ and that is exactly what our religion teaches us.

‘I am a Muslim and have read the holy Quran. I know that these boys have made the right decision and it proves that Islam is a religion of peace. In fact every religion teaches peace. I don’t think these boxers will regret conversion to Islam although all the Muslims are being blamed for the terrorism and all these senseless killings,’ said the humble and soft-spoken coach.

The coach said in fact only Bienvenu had conversion in his mind since his visit to Lebanon in October 2009, adding that conversion to Islam by Central African boxers was not the first incident. The Central African boxers, he said, had converted to Islam while visiting Algeria and other Muslim countries in the past.

Kalambaye believed that although there might not be a negative reaction in the country on the boxers’ conversion, they might be rejected by their families.

‘In Central Africa everybody is free to choose his or her religion, but I fear that the boxers might be rejected by their own families. One of these boxers is a student, and another one has a small shop, while four of them have no jobs. I don’t know how they will survive if they are rejected by their families. But they are not small children, I guess they will manage somehow,’ he felt.

Kalambaye said conversion to Islam in Central Africa was not a new phenomenon and there were no less than 20 mosques in the capital city of Bangui.

‘And they are not small mosques. These are the mosques where one can offer Friday prayers also. Islam was not spreading in Central Africa in the past. But things are different now. Many people are converting to Islam.’

The coach had in fact told that six of his boxers wanted to convert to Islam first to head constable Mohammad Iqbal from Special Branch of police who has been deputed for the security of the foreign teams.

‘In fact he (Kalambaye) used to offer prayers along with us (police personnel) at the venue. Then recently he told me that six of his boxers wanted to convert to Islam. I then told this to the organisers,’ said the policeman.

Younus Pathan, who was deputed to receive the Central Africans at the airport, said the visitors were garlanded after he asked some of the pilgrims returning from Saudi Arabia to provide their garlands to welcome the guests.

‘As we were short of some garlands, I asked some of the pilgrims returning from Saudi Arabia to give their garlands so that we can welcome the guests. Maybe it was the blessings of those garlands of pilgrims, who were my relatives returning from holy places, after which the boxers chose to convert to Islam.’

AN

Mark Shaffer declared his Islam in Saudi Arabia on October 17, 2009. Mark was at that time on a holiday in Saudi Arabia to visit some famous cities like Riyadh , Abha and Jeddah for 10 days.

Mark is a well-known millionaire and also a practising lawyer in Los Angeles, specialising in cases of civil laws. The last big case he handled was the case of the famous American pop singer, Michael Jackson, a week before Jackson passed away.

A tourist guide who accompanied Mark for 10 days in Saudi Arabia, Dhawi Ben Nashir said: “Since he set foot for the first time in Saudi Arabia, Mark already started to ask questions about Islam and Salat. As soon as he arrived in Saudi, Mark stayed in Riyadh for two days. While in Riyadh, he was very much interested in Islam. After moving to Najran, we went to Abha and Al-Ula. There, his fascination on Islam grew more obvious, especially the time when we ventured out into the desert.

“Mark was amazed to see three Saudi youths who were in our group in Al-Ula, performing Salat in the expanse of the very wide desert. A very fantastic panorama indeed.

“After two days in Al-Ula, we went to Al-Juf. As soon as we arrived in Al-Juf, Mark asked if I could get him some books on Islam. I then obtained some books on Islam for him. Mark read all those books. The next morning, he asked me to teach him how to perform Salat. I then taught him how to pray and take wudhu (ablution). Then, he joined me and performed Salat beside me.

“After Salat, Mark told me that he felt peace in his soul. On Thursday afternoon, we left Al-Ula heading for Jeddah. He looked very serious throughout the journey reading those books about Islam. On Friday morning, we visited the old town of Jeddah. Before the time for the Friday prayer approached, we went back to the hotel and I excused myself to go for the Friday prayer. Then, Mark told me: I would like to join you for the Friday prayer so that I can witness myself how the Friday prayer is like. So I answered: welcome!

We then went to a masjid which was not far from the hotel where we stayed in Jeddah. Since we were quite late, we had to pray outside, as the number of jamaah was overflowing. I could see Mark observing the jamaah, especially after the Friday prayer was completed, when everybody was shaking hands and embracing each other with radiant and happy faces. Mark was very much impressed with what he saw.

When we returned to the hotel, Mark suddenly told me that he wanted to become a Muslim. So I said to him: Please have a shower first. After Mark took the shower, I guided him in saying the kalimah shahadah (declaration of faith) and then he prayed two rakaah. Later on, Mark expressed his desire to visit the Masjid al-Haram in Makkah and perform Salat there before leaving Saudi Arabia.

In order to fulfil his wish, we went to the Da’wah and Irshad office in the area of Al-Hamro’, Jeddah, to obtain a formal proof of his conversion to Islam, so that he would be allowed to enter the city of Makkah and Masjid al-Haram. Then, Mark was given a temporary certificate of his conversion to Islam. As a number of group members who participated in Mark’s visit to Saudi Arabia had to go back to America on Saturday afternoon, Al-Hamdulillah, Ustadz Muhammad Turkistani was willing to send Mark to the Holy Land of Makkah that same morning.

Regarding Mark’s visit to Masjid al-Haram, Ustadz Muhammad Turkistani narrated: After Mark obtained his temporary certificate, we straight away departed heading for the Holy Masjid al-Haram. When he witnessed the Masjid al-Haram, his face looked radiant and it emanated an extraordinary happiness. When we entered the Masjid al-Haram and witnessed the Ka’bah for ourselves, his happiness increased. By Allah, I could not express that scene in words. After performing the tawaf around the Holy Ka’bah, we performed the sunnah Salat and went out of Masjid al-Haram. I could see Mark very reluctantly wanting to leave Masjid al-Haram.

After Mark declared his Islamic faith, he had the chance to express his happiness in Al-Riyadh newspaper saying: I could not express my feeling at this time but I am being reborn and my life has just started… then he added: I am very happy. This happiness that I am feeling could not be expressed in words especially when I visited the Masjid al-Haram and Holy Ka’bah.

Regarding his next step after his conversion to Islam, Mark explained: I will learn more about Islam, I will delve deeper into this religion of Allah (Islam) and come back to Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj.

As to what impelled him into converting to Islam, Mark explained: I have already had information about Islam, but it was very limited. When I visited Saudi Arabia and personally witnessed the Muslims there, and saw how they performed the Salat, I felt a very strong drive to know more about Islam. When I read true information about Islam, I became confident that Islam is a religion of haque (truth).

Sunday morning, 18th October 2009, Mark left the Airport of King Abdul Aziz Jeddah heading for America. When filling in the immigration form before leaving Jeddah, Mark wrote ISLAM as his religion.

Carl Ross (Abdul Kareem)

CARL Ross found the straight path to meet his God 15 years ago in Toronto. “Islam has changed my life and gives Sakinah (peace and comfort) to my heart,” he said.

Carl Ross, new name Abdul Kareem,, a Caucasian man, migrated to Canada from Austria in 1960. He is 60 now and embraced Islam 15 years ago in Toronto.  His wife and 17-year-old daughter, living together, are also Muslimah. He recites and reads Quran with understanding daily in the morning with his family.

The most moving Ayah of Quran that changed his life is Surah Al-Hujrat (No. 49), Ayah 13:

“O mankind, we created you from one man and one woman, and then divided you into nations and tribes so that you may recognize one another. Indeed, the most honorable among you in the sight of Allah is he who is the most pious of you. Surely, Allah is All-knowing, All-Wise. (49:13).

Then he started reading the Quran where Allah invites thinking and scientific inquiry with the objective mind. “If anyone, particularly a learned person, intellectual, a person with wisdom, will read the Quran without prejudice, without presumption, without any biased notion, will definitely achieve the truth,” he said confidently.

“In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of night and day, there are many signs for the people of intellect, who, standing and sitting and lying down, remember Allah and reflect upon the (wonders) of the structure of the earth and the heavens.” (Al-Quran 3: 191-192)

“During the reading of Qur’an, I was continuously asking for guidance from God. And God has guided me on the Sirat-al-Mustaqeem (The Straight Path).” “As a matter of fact, the first chapter (Surah) of Quran starts (Al Fatiha) with the same words that I asked.

“In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful. Praise is only for Allah, the Lord of the Universe, the All-Compassionate, the All-Merciful, and Master of the Day of Judgment. Thee alone we worship, and to Thee alone we pray for help. Show us the straightway, the way of those whom Thou hast blessed, who have not incurred Thy wrath, nor gone astray.” ( Surah Al-Fatiha)

Abdul Kareem recites several Surahs and Ayahs of Quran in Arabic.

His first encounter with Islam was a Canadian Islamic weekly TV Show, “Reflection of Islam,” that appears every Sunday at 11 am on Vision TV, Channel 60. “I was watching the show regularly that starts with the recitation of Quran, and phoned the studio several times.”

However, the day of the embracement of Islam, and surrender to the truth came a day when his Muslim friend, Muhammad Arif, Pakistani Canadian, of Tableeghi Jamaat invited him to watch the Jumuah prayer in the Masjid.  “Muhammad Arif had invited me to watch the prayer in the Masjid at the time in my life when I was completely lost and confused about purpose of my life,” he said.

“I was watching the prayer, sitting in the back of all the lines of performers of the prayers (Musallees). A voice murmured in my ear. You have no choice. You must prostrate. And I could not control and stop myself to go to sajdah (prostrate on the ground with the forehead, the knees, the nose and palm of both hands touching the ground),” Abdul Kareem explained his first day of Islam.

He said, “It was the most natural way of prayer. Surprisingly, I was always praying at the direction of Qiblah (northeast from here). Some of the old churches, even today have the direction of prayer towards Qiblah (east). I got the natural religion (Deen), Islam, the deen of all prophets and messengers of Allah, including Jesus, son of Mary, a messenger and spirit of Allah.”

Born and raised in a Catholic Christian family, Abdul Kareem admits that “this deen (Islam) and its requirements was taught by our Muslim brothers, but mostly it was taught by Allah (S.W.T.).  No one has power to give the guidance. It is Allah’s mercy to the people that He provides the guidance.  Before going to the Masjid the first time, I was drinking alcohol and indulged in several sins. However, two weeks after the Sajdah in Masjid, I was reading Surah Fatiha of Al-Quran. And I was convinced, and I strengthened the relationship of Allah.”

“It was amazing to note that people of many different languages, cultures, nationality, and ethnicity join together in Islam. Diversity of the people gets a positive way in Islam,” he said.

“I learned how to pray, do wudu, and several other requirements and essentials in Islam by going to Jammah with Tableeghi people. I learned a lot from ICNA brothers and Halqas (weekly gatherings prevalent in Arab and African Muslim neighborhood Masajid). All these Jamaah and groups are doing wonderful work. Every organization is doing some right thing for Islam. We should help each other for Islam. We should work as Ummah. We should stop complaining, backbiting, negatively criticizing without knowing each other,” he said.

“I read about Seerah of Muhammad, s.a.w., directly from Quran, and I know him as Quran explained about him; how he was soft, kind, and merciful, and actively involved to replace bad thing with Hasnah (good deeds),” Abdul Kareem said.

“One continuous learning process includes how to defeat Shaytan who comes in different ways to distract from the right and straight path.”

“Quran taught me that don’t be grieved; don’t have fear; you will prevail if you are a Momin (practicing Muslim with strong attachment with Allah).”

“I will say that Islam is my life saving. It saved my life, the body and soul both. If the body will be destroyed, the soul will be protected from hellfire, and the soul will get a new body in the heaven.” Abdil Kareem showed his passion of Eiman (faith).

He has good time and memories with Muslim brothers. His best friend Zafar Shamsi from Lahore, Pakistan, is now not alive.  “He touched me deep. He shook hand, prolonged hug; this was his style, a way to show his passion and love. He is no more among us and not alive, but his soul is connected with me. I was planning to go to Lahore with him.”

Abdul Kareem has no affection with Duniya (this world) and his target is Jannah. “It is just like a movie for me. Duniya is a deceptive,” he said.

However, he admits that Shaytan will try his best to block your direction that led to Allah and paradise. “From the day one of life of Islam, every day Shaytan comes with waswasa (deceptive plans), and every day I do Jihad (struggle) with my Nafs (self esteem).”

Abdul Kareem now looks forward to be actively involved in the community affairs and Dawah works. He is a technical/skilled worker and has a technical diploma in Quality Control.

First time posted at DailyMuslims.com on January 24, 2008

I AM no scholar, and I am new to Islam (about a month).

But one of the biggest things that I like to discuss are in fact women's rights in Islam.

There are many questions I have received from friends and family members since my conversion and most of them have been related to this topic.

Some of the main questions from people who know little about Islam were: "Won't your husband be oppressive, and isn't the hijab oppressive? Won’t your husband beat you?"

Please, ladies, know your rights in Islam! Men are not allowed to beat women in Islam. In fact IF they DO touch you, they can't even leave a mark on your skin, there should not even be a red mark (you know, that fades away in seconds)

The hijab is a woman's choice, it is not forced upon them. Anyone that forces their women to wear it is ruled by culture, and not by Islam.
Most women make the choice to wear hijab because it FREES them from oppression. Do you truly think a half naked woman sitting on a car to SELL the car is not oppression? Women being used as sexual objects? A woman in Hijab is looked at with the highest respect, and for her mind, and not her beauty.

About men being allowed 4 wives.Do you think a woman would really want four husbands? Would YOU want 4 husbands to take care of at the end of the day?! Its hard enough caring for one! (laundry, dinner, ETC)
The whole reason behind men being allowed 4 wives is for social needs. In the times of the Prophet (peace be upon him) there was a lot of war. Men would leave their wives and kids and not return home. What were these women supposed to do to care for her family? there was no social support in those days. Everything about Islam is an answer to a problem. You don't see too many Muslim men taking more than one wife these days because he has to treat each one equally. That means, a house for each wife, he has to spend the same amount of time with each wife, therefore you have to be WELL OFF in order to do this. And in fact, while polygamy is allowed, even Allah SWT in the quran says one is better.

Another question I get is this " If a father dies, why does the son get more than the daughter?" In the Quran, it says that the son is to receive double of what the daughter would get. HOW IS THIS FAIR??? Well I will tell you how it is fair. The Quaran also says that the son must care for all the women in his family until his sisters are married, and if the mother doesn't remarry it is the son's responsibility to care for her entirely, just as his father did. That means, any money that he received, he will likely not see a penny of it for himself after he cares for his sisters and mother. ALSO the money the daughter receives is her in its entirety. While the son is paying for her living expenses and food, the money she gets, she may spend on whatever she likes, it is hers and nobody can touch it. Now does that seem fair?

How about women in Islam that don't have jobs and slave away at home. Well, that is the woman's choice. A woman can either work, or stay at home and care for her children. Since it is the man's duty to provide for his family, the woman usually prefers to watch her kids grow, then to have them in daycare while she makes money. If she does decide to work however, any of the money she makes is hers to spend on whatever she likes, and she does not have to put a single penny of it towards the household.

Women in Islam are seen as more precious then diamonds and pears. We are held high. Is is US that carry life inside of us for 9 months, it is us that raise the children.

Allah (SWT) gives men and women equality or rights. We as women however are not the same as men. Men were made to be able to provide for a family, to be strong in times of need, to be the king of the home. But as history tells this story, No king can run a country without a right hand. No palace can stand without a pillar. We my sister, are the pillars for our men.

I am sorry for going on like this, May Allah guide you to the truth. Aameen.