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Introduction
Yusuf
03/19/01 at 14:39:12
Like everybody, I was born in the state of submission to Allah, as a Muslim. However, I was raised in a non-Muslim society. My parents are Christians, but not because they believe in it or practice it, they claim it only because their parents and parents' parents were Christians. Sound familiar? Alhamdulillah, I never set one foot in a church and the first time I opened the Bible was at my own will, a little over 5 years. Christianity never interested me because I could easily tell that it wasn't the original message delivered by Prophet Issa (alahyi-salaam) and that the books in the Bible were not in the original condition it was when first revealed. My first experience with religion was with Far Eastern religion. If I remember correctly, the first religious book I read was the Tao Te Ching and Chuang Tzu. But there was a problem with Taoism. The religion itself wasn't the philosophical concepts that were in the Tao Te Ching or the collection of ironic stories that had deep themes and meanings behind them, it had instead become ancestor worship and paganism. I found no satisfaction in this and right away I could see that this was nothing like the authors of the two books even practiced, so I was done with studying the religion of Taoism. After Taoism, I began to study Buddhism. It seemed like an interesting religion and relatively all its followers seemed to be at peace with themselves. I read a few books on it, and the philosophical aspect stuck with me. But, I was only 13 or 14 at the time, and I couldn't be this age without doing things teenagers in the West do. So I stopped studying religion almost altogether. Then, in History class of the 10th grade of High School, it began. The teacher gave us the assignment of doing a report on a famous person that made a mark in history. I was at the very end of the list to announce who I was going to do, and for some reason I chose Malcolm X. What did I even know about Malcolm X? Me being a Caucasian in America, I was raised with the notion that Malcolm X was that guy that died saying that white people were devils and all of the other Nation of Islam stuff. I was pretty into the hiphop culture at the time time, and I always thought that the truth of Islam was just Nation of Islam and other stuff that was talked about in songs. But I was wrong. Very wrong. The life of Malcolm X was so fascinating to me. I never knew that he denounced the NOI and changed his position on white people! When I read the letter he wrote while in Makkah, I cried. This was the very first time I ever cried while reading a piece of paper, and it was when my first tear dropped that I knew Islam was the true religion. It was the fitrah that was deep within which made me cry. This was not only the first time I ever cried while reading something, it was the first time I ever cried out of happiness and joy. Immediately I went to the place where I figured I would get the quickest information about this religion called Islam, that I previously always skipped over and never noticed when studying world religions. Where did I go? The internet. Subhanallah, at this time the Munafeeq and Kaffirs had yet to pollute the World Wide Web with misinformation about Islam to the point they have today and the information I found was fascinating. I ordered a Qur'an and other free books that explained Islam from the Saudi Embassy. Months passed, and right when I stopped thinking about Islam, the package showed up on my doorstep! I couldn't put down the Qur'an and the other books. It felt so enlightening and refreshing at the same time. It didn't feel like a new, strange religion. It felt like the original nature of me, and the rest of creation. All of the beliefs felt completely correct. I always believed in the Prophet Issa (alahyi-salaam), and always knew that he was no son or partner of Allah, but never did I know that there was a religion that also taught this until I was led to Islam. Islam also said that the Books revelead to the Prophets of the past had been tampered with and were not in their original condition, just like I always believed! Well, little time passed and I had to move from Georgia to Florida because my father was in the military. I tried to read more about Islam, and came across misinformation about Islam ({missionary site deleted}and similar websites) on the Internet from Kaffirs. As I slowly drifted away from reading the Qur'an and the other Islamic books, I was rapidly being drawn to negative behavior. I was in the 11th grade now, and began doing what some  Western teenagers do: smoke marijuana. I got so into it that I was smoking almost every day and I even began to help sell it. This lasted for almost two years, and Shaytan basically made me forget completely about Islam, and during this period and looked into other religions again. I was convinced that perhaps Buddhism was a religion that was unchanged and had stuck to the original teachings of the Buddha. But, once again, I was mistaken. I soon found out that there were plenty of sects and different schools of thoughts within Buddhism. I thought it would be best to study the actual books of the Buddha, because I'm not the type of person that settles for the 'Easy 12-Step Guide' or 'For Dummies' type books. I want to see the original books that all these other "guides" are based on, so I can make the best decision for myself. I start reading the Middle Length and Long Discourses of the Buddha and various other books and I just had the feeling that these books had been tampered with because of the references to gods and I knew that the Buddha denounced idol worship. Come to find out, they were written after he died and theres much doubt to their authenticy. By this time, the Qur'an collected a good amount of dust. One day I decided it was enough dust and opened it. I told myself I would start reading from the beginning of the Qur'an at Surah al-Fatihah and see if I had made a mistake by putting it on the shelf the years before. It didn't take me long to find the ayat that hit me: Al-Qur'an (Al-Hilali and Khan translation), Surah al-Baqarah: 8. And of mankind, there are some (hypocrites) who say: "We believe in Allah and the Last Day" while in fact they believe not. 9. They (think to) deceive Allah and those who believe, while they only deceive themselves, and perceive (it) not! 10. In their hearts is a disease (of doubt a hypocrisy) and Allah has increased their disease. A painful torment is theirs because they used to tell lies. I broke down and began to cry, and anytime I even read these ayats I get emotional. These three ayats made me feel something I hadn't even felt when I read Brother El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz's letter from Makkah. After this, I repented to Allah and began to read about Islam again. It took awhile for me to build up the courage to go to the local Masjid and declare Shahadah, but Alhamdulillah I did it. I went on a Friday because I was certain that someone would be there, but when I went inside there was no one there. I looked around for a few minutes and then heard some noise come from the back. It was the Imam. We were both in a state of shock, because he had know idea who I was and thought maybe I was robbing the place since I had never been seen in there, and I was shocked because I knew that I had finally made it to the Masjid and it hit me inside. Well we sat down, and I explained my past to him and took my Shahadah. I was in tears, because I felt pure inside again and all my sins were wiped away. Alhamdulillah! I had finally returned home to my natural state, in submission to Allah. Insha Allah, I am now considering seeking knowledge and going to the Islamic University of Madinah. I love my life now and realize the mistakes of my past and the beauty of the true religion of Allah. I ask that Allah continues to guides me to the Straight Way and not the Way of those who have earned His Anger, nor those who have went astrayed. Amin! As salaamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh, Yusuf Abdus-Salaam

Re: Introduction
bhaloo
03/19/01 at 14:41:21
slm Subhan'Allah, what a beautiful story!  Thank you for sharing it.  Welcome to the board brother.  I enjoyed your Eid ul-Adha story as well. :)

Re: Introduction
se7en
03/19/01 at 14:44:16
wow.  what an introduction... welcome to the board :)  May Allah allow you to be a benefit to us and be benefitted by us.   wasalaam.

Re: Introduction
Learner
03/19/01 at 14:46:51
slm :) Marhaba ya akhi! That was some intro...indeed you'll benefit us greatly on this board. wlm :)

Re: Introduction
Arsalan
03/19/01 at 14:51:20
[slm] Subhan Allah!  You, brother, have made quite an entrance to the City!!! Welcome aboard.  I hope you enjoy your stay here, and may this board help you become a better Muslim.  Ameen. Two questions, if you don't mind: 1. Which translation of the Qur'an did you get in the mail, which moved you to tears? 2. How long have you been a Muslim?

Re: Introduction
Yusuf
03/19/01 at 14:59:40
slm I forgot to mention, that the day I took my Shahadah was the last Friday of Ramadan, Lailatul Qadr.

Re: Introduction
Yusuf
03/19/01 at 15:06:27
wlm Arsalan 1. They sent me the Yusuf Ali one. Real thick with his explanation in it. I actually requested another copy later on when I got back into Islam, which was the Al-Hilali and Khan one. I tend to use both along with other Tafseer though when reading so I can get a well-rounded approach to the English. Insha Allah, right now I am slowly learning the Arabic of Qur'an so I don't have to rely so heavily on translations. 2. Like I said above, I think the 26th of Ramadan 1421. It took me about a year to read alot and build up the courage and strength to go to the Masjid and declare Shahadah though.

Re: Introduction
Yusuf
03/19/01 at 15:16:17
Also, something else. Remember how I said the Imam came back? I forgot to explain that the reason no one was there is because he left the door unlocked. He told me out of the 5 years the Masjid had been there, never had he forgot to unlock it and that is another reason he thought I was maybe robbing it. He said on his way home he decided to turn around and check if he left it unlock because something within him told him that he did! Alhamdulillah!

Re: Introduction
Yusuf
03/19/01 at 15:21:40
Hahaha another correction! "never had he forgot to unlock it" = "never had he forgot to leave it unlocked" I'll have 200 posts in no time if I keep this up! ;-)

Re: Introduction
BrKhalid
03/19/01 at 17:16:45
Asalaamu Alaikum ;-) Wonderful story Br Yusuf ;-) May we benefit from your presence here. Beautiful name too.

Re: Introduction
meraj
03/19/01 at 19:10:04
as salaamu alaikum, welcome aboard br. yusuf... jazakallah for your very meaningful and inspiring intro... inshallah, may allah guide us all on the straight path :) and enjoy your stay too inshallah :) ma'salaam

Re: Introduction
Barr
03/19/01 at 22:56:16
MashaAllah...That is beautiful, akhi... Jazakallah for sharing :) "Our Lord, let not our hearts deviate after You have guided us, and grant us mercy from You. Truly, You are the Bestower" Surah Ali Imran: 8 Ukhtukum fillah

Re: Introduction
Al-Basha
03/20/01 at 01:14:57
[slm] bro Yusuf, a hearty welcome to the board, marhaba beek ya akhi :) So how did you pick your name? Heh actually my name is Yusuf as well, I actually know 4 other Yusuf's. Not many people name their kids Yusuf anymore, at least not here in the US.

Re: Introduction
Yusuf
03/20/01 at 09:54:26
wlm My middle name was Joseph, and Joseph in Arabic is Yusuf so that's how I chose it. I chose Abdus-Salaam because the one thing I was always searching for when studying religion was peace, and Allah is the Source of Peace.

Re: Introduction
Barr
03/20/01 at 10:54:20
Subhanallah...Akhi, Do U know how many Yusuf's I know? I mean, the ones who has come to Islam... Yusuf Pauls (first name is Joseph) Yousuf Gray (middle name is Joseph) Yusuf Islam :) Hamza Yusuf Hanson :) Yusuf something from Leeds Yusuf something who married this S'porean sister Yusuf Bernier (I'm sure I must have forgotten some other Yusufs) ...and you (Yusuf Abdus-Salam)! [And frankly, I thought U are one of the Yusufs that I know when I read your first few lines] ****It sure is a popular name to me, Al-Basha :-) and a beautiful one, as well... alhamdulillah.And the name Yusuf gives a nice flow to any names attached before it, mashaAlah...**** Just my thoughts...

Re: Introduction
PacificBreeze
03/20/01 at 12:27:15
yusuf's a lovely name, that's why... akh yusuf, wilkommen! masha'allah, incredible intro...have you shared your story elsewhere online? it seems somewhat familiar? beautiful, nevertheless, masha'allah.. :) p.s. since you've read books on tao/buddhism, have you come across any by Thomas Cleary? he's also written the Essential Koran..(i think he spelt it with a "K"?)

Re: Introduction
haaris
03/21/01 at 13:08:44
Asalaamu aleikoum brother. Subhana' Allah!  Your story is so moving brother.  My gob is truly smacked. So much so that I almost forgot to welcome you.  Sorry about that.  Welcome brother. Salaam

Re: Introduction
se7en
03/21/01 at 14:12:41
[quote]My gob is truly smacked.[/quote] what the..?  someone translate please. :)

Re: Introduction
Al-Basha
03/21/01 at 15:06:57
[slm] Hahaha oh man, okay okay, gob is another word for mouth. Have you heard of the candy called Gob stopper?

Re: Introduction
Saleema
03/25/01 at 17:47:51
Assalam ualykum, Welcome aboard. :)  :) ur story was nice. :) so ur still in high school? wassalam Saleema

Re: Introduction
haaris
03/29/01 at 12:13:42
Asalaamu aleikoum, Se7en, the word "gob-smacked" is another word (albeit a rather inelegant one) for "dumbfounded".  Thus, to be gob-smacked is to be speechless, usually with amazement, disbelief, etc. You youngsters don't have a monopoly on slang you know.  Nor on gibberish.  I'll try to be less coarse next time. Salaam

Re: Introduction
meraj
03/29/01 at 12:20:55
slm, [quote]You youngsters don't have a monopoly on slang you know.  Nor on gibberish.[/quote] say what? you trippin g :)
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