HOW DO I PRAY
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A Correction
Salamu ‘Alakum,
Thank you for the consideration of not embarrassing your old brother in a public post; however, I would not mind and hopefully you will post a similar post or thread.
I obviously did not make clear that the Insha Allah, thinking and saying were in the past about what was happening in the present into the future. I don’t know if this will illustrated it: “I had said” ,”had had”, in other words the Insha Allah was meant to be understood as something said in the past that was unfolding into the future.
It would be very much appreciate if you would be so kind as to post a thread explaining that Al Arabia can not precisely be translated except to some extent in Semitic Languages; therefore, There is no English Qur’aan and were it possible to translated Islam completely into another language than it would have been done; however, as we who are Muslims from/in any country would recited Al Qur’aan in that language and there would be no need for every Muslim to carry the intention to understand the Message delivered by The Prophet Muhammed (Salla Alahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallem). I just learned yesterday that a Muslim does not say “PBUH” about any of the prophets other than Muhammad (Salla Alahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam), but rather I should have posted ” May Allah Be Pleased With Him/Them”which I mistakenly had thought was an expression of respect used for The Companions of The Prophet.
I have very little ego. What I have would appreciate if you would in the beautiful Islamic way that you have shown that you know so much better than I (know), correct me in the thread in which you read my errors; so, that I do not have to answer for misstating Islamic Understanding to those, if there are any, who have less understanding than myself. I am also going to post this PM on my blog ,Insha Allah, (and with your permission-which is always the case with such a considerate brother as yourself and more accurately, All that is, was, and will be because Allah has Willed, but not always as this slave of Allah would have thought, felt, or in ego wanted to manifest.)
Again, I am impressed by the fact that you sent a PM instead of even risking offense to another Muslim. You have by that single action taught me many more lessons than, perhaps, you have realized.
If it is wrong for me to have had posted this PM which I have written on my blog (please, inform me so that I can remove it.) If only transliteration and the spelling of transliterations were consistent among us who are read by both Muslims and non-Muslim, understanding would be better.
Shukran, my brother
Salam
NOT YET TO ALHAMDULILLAH BUT AT INSHA ALLAH
As Salamu ‘Alaykum,
I am not yet at the point in my spiritual growth in Islam where I can say Alhamdulliah from the heart when pain or trials come; Alhamdullilah, I am at the point where I can say,” Insha Allah.”
I walked down to the library today which is only twelve blocks. A quarter of the way there my cracked vertebrae was really hurting. I realized that as I was continuing to walk I was focusing my heart on Allah and thinking,” Insha Allah.” I thought about this and realized that I have reached the point on the path where ,when blessing coming, I can say Alhamdulillah; however, I can only accept the trials and say Insha Allah. So, Alhamdulillah, I can honest say the above. I strive for when, Insha Allah, I reached the point where I can also praise Allah for the trials.
I understand the old Western Reverts can be trying because of our Cultural Memes and less than precise use of language, but, Min fudlak/fudlik, keep me in your dua. As a Revert my destination is the same; however, my initial departure point is vastly different from those who are born into Islamic Families. Neither is better than the other because each entered Islam as Allah Willed (not that anything could be otherwise), but different.
In my experience, I talk more than those who have enter Islam by way of Family (since really we all enter by way of birth initially). And, because of my life experiences and age, I am able to extrapolate what I learn elsewhere and through juxtaposition with the Truth of Islam, I am able to, over a short time, realize what was correct in my past knowledge and what was incorrect.
Please believe me ,when I seem like I am being egocentric or egoistic, it is just that I realize that you have no way of knowing who it is that is typing this and, therefore, out of a desire to convey who I am, I often talk to much about myself. If I daily had other Mulims to interact with perhaps I wouldn’t be trying to bond with you my Ummah (forgive me if I used that word incorrectly, or spell words incorrectly.) I am intelligent, Alhamdulillah, and university educated, Alhamdulillah, but I was initially a teenage high school drop-out in the military with not a very bright future outside of the military, Alhamdulillah, Allah allowed me through his blessing to me to receive a GED in the military as a Sargent, and then be excepted into on of the excellent Universities in The United States. Consequently, I had not been “tracked” (a technique used in the 50’s to 70’s of testing children early and based on IQ tests “tracked” from 1st grade into either a university education or a blue collar training. I, Insha Allah, initiallly,scored very low on my IQ tests because before it was administered the test the teacher said when we finished we could go play. I just filled in the oval spaces by A-E and finished in minutes and was the first one out to play. In the military, I scored much higher. And, because of my interaction with intelligent and educated medical professionals while in the military, I was able to score consistently over the top two percentile. Alhamdulillah. Allah effortlessly makes a way where humans see no way. Alhamdulillah. Islam and TTI has been such a blessing to me. Insha Allah, I have little “real world” contact with Muslims because of Insha Allah. But, I say Alhamdulillah for TTI where I can compensate for what must have been a real trial pre-PC age. I have a very long way to go and no idea how much time I have to get there, but I have come a long way.
Thank You for all of your wisdom, patience, knowledge, and Islamic Experience. It makes being a revert so much easier.
Was Sallem,”
Battle The Propaganda; Keep The Internet Free Of Censorship
Since I don’t have a television and spend very little time with the media of the Dunya, I wasn’t aware of the constant barrage of anti-Muslim Propaganda. Perhaps the governments have a drone computer that continually pull this information to the front of the Search Engines, perhaps those opposed to Islam have a massive campaign to “Spread The Word” about all the propaganda against Islam, or, perhaps, it is just the natural occurrence. Whatever the reason, Shaytan seems to be burying True Islam under Slander, Lies, and Propaganda.
Do a search on practically any Islamic Subject and see how many of the top search results seem to be legitimate Islamic Information Sites and then when you click on the links, it is filled with nothing but hate, filth, and misinformation. We can’t do much about the media controlled by big corporations and their puppet governments, but we can spend a little time, increasing the traffic to sites like this. I have decided to remove my favorite mark and Turn To Islam home page, and use a search engine every time I come here. If I have to leave for research of to check my email instead of hitting the back button or opening a second browser, I am going to use the search engine to return.
I am disgusted at what I see on sites that read like an Islamic Information or forum, only to find it contains nothing but slurs, libel , and falsehood. With all this misinformation is it any wonder that those whom Allah directs to Islam Shaytan Shouts at them lies about all that we cherish.
Lets try to keep the internet free from corporate, governmental, and shirk.
Was Sallem
WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A MUSLIMAH/MUSLIM
I was going to post a thread on what it means to be a Muslim man. And, I was going to post a thread on what it means to be a Mulim Woman. However, then I remembered the Words Of Al Qur’aan:
Al-Ahzab
Lo! men who surrender unto Allah, and women who surrender, and men who believe and women who believe, and men who obey and women who obey, and men who speak the truth and women who speak the truth, and men who persevere (in righteousness) and women who persevere, and men who are humble and women who are humble, and men who give alms and women who give alms, and men who fast and women who fast, and men who guard their modesty and women who guard (their modesty), and men who remember Allah much and women who remember – Allah hath prepared for them forgiveness and a vast reward. (35)
An-Nahl
Whosoever doeth right, whether male or female, and is a believer, him verily we shall quicken with good life, and We shall pay them a recompense in proportion to the best of what they used to do. (97)
The Prophet Muhammad (Salla Alayhu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallem) came to call the believers back to the true Path and to once again Perfect our Deen. I can’t find the original source, I am guessing Our Brothers and Sisters here can, that it is recorded The Prophet Muhammad (Salla Alayhu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallem) said: “Woman are twin halves of men. The rights of women are sacred. See that women maintain rights granted to them.”
Al-Room
And of His signs is this: He created for you helpmeets from yourselves that ye might find rest in them, and He ordained between you love and mercy. Lo! herein indeed are portents for folk who reflect. (21)
So, I decided to research both. First, I thought I would go to a sight called Islamic Women: regrettably, this was anti-Islamic Propaganda. Some naive individual saw the horrific images that are constantly propagated by the oppressors of Islam and failed to consider the source. I was very saddened that The Most Perfect Deen was portrayed in such a matter. Since whenever you go to a site, as some of the Brothers here at Turn To Islam explained to me it helps to move up the site in the search engines, I posted how I felt about the propaganda machine of the oppressors of Islam and Muslims and asked the question “After seeing the horrid photos of Gizmo, did you reach the conclusion that all Americans are sadistic, violent, heartless, torturers?
So, please don’t visit that site because non-Muslims are searching for what Islam has to offer and the enemies of Allah are trying to bury it under their propaganda; sorry, I digressed.
The Muslim is one who flees to Allah for shelter and refuge from Shaytan. The Reciter recites:
“A’udhu bi’llahi min ash-shaytani’r-rajim (‘I seek refuge with Allah from the Accursed Shaytan’).”
Significance and Importance of BismillahProphet Muhammad (S.A.W.) has said that on the day of judgement there will be some people who will have to go to Jahannam (Hell) because of their bad deeds.
However, from these people, there will be some who had the habit of saying Bismillahirrahmanirrahim (In the name of Allah, the beneficent the merciful) before they did anything or entered anywhere.
Thus, when they will be taken to Jahannam (Hell) by the angels, they will be very sad but they will say Bismillahirrahmanirrahim (In the name of Allah, the beneficent the merciful) Allah will tell the angels – “STOP”
Allah will tell them that He cannot let someone who says Bismillahirrahmanirrahim (In the name of Allah, the beneficent the merciful) calling Him Rahman and Rahim enter Jahannam (Hell).
A Muslim is straightforward in word and action:
AL Fussilat 41:30
Those who declare: “Our Lord is God,” and afterwards are candid, the angels descent upon them (Saying) “Fear not nor grieve, and good tidings to you of Paradise which you were promised” (41:30)
سُوۡرَةُ حٰمٓ السجدة / فُصّلَت
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُواْ رَبُّنَا ٱللَّهُ ثُمَّ ٱسۡتَقَـٰمُواْ تَتَنَزَّلُ عَلَيۡهِمُ ٱلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕڪَةُ أَلَّا تَخَافُواْ وَلَا تَحۡزَنُواْ وَأَبۡشِرُواْ بِٱلۡجَنَّةِ ٱلَّتِى كُنتُمۡ تُوعَدُونَ (?٣٠?)
The Prophet (Salla Alayhu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallem) the most straight forward of all people is reported to have said because of the difficulty of Sura Hud: ” Sura Hud and others similar to it have made me old”:
Al Hud
Be staightworward as you are commanded, (11:112)
The Muslim is Self-Supervisory in that he is always striving to eliminate anything that comes between the Heart and Allah.
Yunus
And thou (Muhammad) art not occupied with any business and thou recitest not a Lecture from this (Scripture), and ye (mankind) perform no act, but We are Witness of you when ye are engaged therein. And not an atom’s weight in the earth or in the sky escapeth your Lord, nor what is less than that or greater than that, but it is (written) in a clear Book. (61)
The Muslim is Pietous:
Al-Hujraat
O mankind! Lo! We have created you from male and female, and have made you nations and tribes that ye may know one another. Lo! the noblest of you, in the sight of Allah, is the best in conduct. Lo! Allah is Knower, Aware. (13)
The Muslim have hope:
Al-Araf
And ordain for us in this world that which is good, and in the Hereafter (that which is good), Lo! We have turned unto Thee. He said: I smite with My punishment whom I will, and My mercy embraceth all things, therefore I shall ordain it for those who ward off (evil) and pay the poor-due, and those who believe Our revelations; (156)
The Muslim is steadfast in Heart:
(7) Our Lord! Cause not our hearts to stray after Thou hast guided us, and bestow upon us mercy from Thy Presence. Lo! Thou, only Thou, art the Bestower.
The Muslim is reflective:
Al-E-Imran
Such as remember Allah, standing, sitting, and reclining, and consider the creation of the heavens and the earth, (and say): Our Lord! Thou createdst not this in vain. Glory be to Thee! Preserve us from the doom of Fire.(191)
The Muslim is self examining:
Al-Hashr
O ye who believe! Observe your duty to Allah. And let every soul look to that which it sendeth on before for the morrow. And observe your duty to Allah. Lo! Allah is Aware of what ye do. (18)
And, because Muslims are self examing, a Muslim is repentent:
At-Tahrim
O ye who believe! Turn unto Allah in sincere repentance! It may be that your Lord will remit from you your evil deeds and bring you into Gardens underneath which rivers flow, on the day when Allah will not abase the Prophet and those who believe with him. Their light will run before them and on their right hands; they will say: Our Lord! Perfect our light for us, and forgive us! Lo! Thou art Able to do all things. (8)
And this is what you have taught me in you threads here at Turn To Islam.com and I am trying to weave those threads into the fabric of my life.
And, another thing that I have learned from each of you who post here is that knowledge without wisdom is folly:
Al-Furqan
Al-Furqan
We verily gave Moses the Scripture and placed with him his brother Aaron as minister. (35) Then We said: Go together unto the folk who have denied Our revelations. Then We destroyed them, a complete destruction. (36) And Noah’s folk, when they denied the messengers, We drowned them and made of them a portent for mankind. We have prepared a painful doom for evil-doers. (37) And (the tribes of) A’ad and Thamud, and the dwellers in Ar-Rass, and many generations in between. (38) Each (of them) We warned by examples, and each (of them) We brought to utter ruin. (39)
And,
Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The similitude of His light is as a niche wherein is a lamp. The lamp is in a glass. The glass is as it were a shining star. (This lamp is) kindled from a blessed tree, an olive neither of the East nor of the West, whose oil would almost glow forth (of itself) though no fire touched it. Light upon light. Allah guideth unto His light whom He will. And Allah setteth forth for mankind similitudes, for Allah is Knower of all things. (35) (This lamp is found) in houses which Allah hath allowed to be exalted and that His name shall be remembered therein. Therein do offer praise to Him at morn and evening. (36) Men whom neither merchandise nor sale beguileth from remembrance of Allah and constancy in prayer and paying to the poor their due; who fear a day when hearts and eyeballs will be overturned; (37) That Allah may reward them with the best of what they did, and increase reward for them of His bounty. Allah giveth blessings without stint to whom He will. (38)
Was Sallem
__________________
A MUSLIM AMERICAN
“God is the Creator of everything. He is the guardian over everything. Unto Him belong the keys of the heavens and the earth.” (39:62, 63)
(112:1) Say:1 “He is Allah, *2 the One and Only.
THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE OPPRESSED
I was at a friend’s house yesterday watching the news and a story of an Elderly Muslim Man (about my age) who was given a symbol of a request for mercy and forgiveness in the form of a goat. The man had both of his grown sons murdered by United States Troops in Afghanistan along with their wives. Initially the report was that the American Military had killed to insurgents and found the women bound and murdered. Then it was discovered that they had raided the wrong house first killing one son who went out to ask them what was happening and then the second son when he ran out to his brothers body. The women were actually killed by the Soldiers. A General offered his apologies and asked for forgiveness. The Man forgave them and said he had no ill will in his heart anymore against them. This bought tears to my eyes. I have been in war and know how easy it is under the stress of adrenaline to act without perception from reflex. When I returned from Vietnam, my cousin, Janie and I were coming out of a store. She had purchased a six pack of soft drinks in glass bottles. The bottom of the cardboard carrier was wet and came loose. Without a thought, I dove to the sidewalk as the glass bottles broke with a bang bang bang sound. Janie asked me what I was doing. I was only home on leave and had to go back the second time. I told her what looks crazy in small town America can mean the difference between life and death. When that war ended, I thought America had finally learned its lesson. Then we started engaging in small little wars like Granada, and I thought with sadness (The Hawks are making resurrecting as the Doves sleep).
When that Muslim said he had no ill will toward them or America, I thought of the Prophet Muhammad (Salla Alahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallem) and that this was a man following in his footsteps. It honestly brought tears to my eyes. I was so proud to be a Muslim and so ashamed to be an American.
There is a poem by an Anonymous person with little knowledge of poetry that captures the feeling of a wrong that can’t be taken back:
I killed a man today
He was the enemy or so they say
After the bang, I watched him run toward the top of the hill
And, then, I killed him with my deadly skill.
And as the man turned and the gun fell from his hand
I saw it was a boy and not a man
I killed a boy today,
He was the enemy or so they say.
The same guy named Anonymous also wrote
Who will cry
When I die
Who will lay flowers on me
What will be said
After I am dead
What will they say about me
And who will be the next one to die for….
Peace Was Sallem
__________________
A MUSLIM AMERICAN
“God is the Creator of everything. He is the guardian over everything. Unto Him belong the keys of the heavens and the earth.” (39:62, 63)
(112:1) Say:1 “He is Allah, 2: The One and Only
Capatalism
I don’t own a television; however, I was visiting a friend today and on the television was Michael Moore’s New Movie:
- CAPATALISM: A Love Story
. I had heard all this before but to see and hear it put
all together in visual and auditory media was simply overwhelming. After the documentary, I was angry, sad, frustrated and dumbfounded. How could we let the one percent steal our Country from us in the other 99%?
Why are the Money Lenders being put in government positions to monitor the lending industry? Why are big business cutting jobs and demanding increased production when they were making record profits? How can employers take out Dead Peasant policies on their employees and than actually consider that as part of their profit scheme and complaint that the projected income from employees death is only 50 or75 percent? Why does an Airline Pilot have to be on food stamps and/or take odd jobs just to pay his or her bills? And, I have been asking this since Ronald Regan was elected: how does a B-movie star and corporate spokesman get elected president? I am not a fan of any of the presidents after the first four or five presidents of The United States of America (I am not including any of the presidents before Washington.). But, I think Jimmy Carter is and was a good and decent man. I hope President Obama keeps his words to the American People.
I am just an average American Muslim. I am not a political analyst, and economic theorist, or a movie critic. I just like when someone with a more influential voice than mine ask why is a 14 year old girl put in a privately run detention center for posting on a social network about her assistant principle in Wilkes Barre, PA? Of because the judges are now in prison themselves for taking millions from the private company that runs the juvenile detention center. I liked that Michael Moore asked the oversight committee on the bail out why CEOs were getting giant bonuses when they were claiming that they were on the verse of an economic collapse. I like it when the question was asked if free enterprise means you either succeed or fail on your own merits than why did the Lending Industry fail and then were bailed out. Early in the documentary it was explained that in the fifties and sixties the rich were paying 90% of their income out in taxes and were still able to enjoy living the rich life and now they pay less than half of that amount.
I expect the people of the country that has a government of the people, by the people, and for the people will eventually demand that their representatives represent them instead of the !%.
What we as Muslims can learn from the New Testament
Often in real life and in virtual reality, I am asked what Christianity teaches that is of value to Muslims. Here is some of what I found that I believe is in perfect harmony (sorry for the Musical reference) with Islam:
Rom 12:9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
Rom 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
Rom 12:11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
Rom 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
Rom 12:13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
Rom 12:14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
Rom 12:15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
Rom 12:16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
Rom 12:17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
Rom 12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
Rom 13:7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
Rom 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
Rom 14:13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.
Rom 14:19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
1Co 3:2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
1Co 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
1Co 3:4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
1Co 3:5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
1Co 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
1Co 3:7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
1Co 3:8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
1Co 3:9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.
1Co 3:10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
[B]In our case, The Foundation is Al Qur’aan.[/B]
1Co 12:14 For the body is not one member, but many.
1Co 12:15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
1Co 12:16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
1Co 12:17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
1Co 12:18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
1Co 12:19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?
1Co 12:20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.
1Co 12:21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
1Co 12:22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
1Co 12:23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
1Co 12:24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:
1Co 12:25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
1Co 12:26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
Gal 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
Gal 5:15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
Gal 6:2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Gal 6:3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
Gal 6:4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
Gal 6:5 For every man shall bear his own burden.
Eph 4:2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
Eph 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
Eph 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
Eph 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Eph 4:25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
Eph 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
Eph 4:27 Neither give place to the devil.
Eph 4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
Eph 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
Eph 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
Eph 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
1Th 3:12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:
1Th 4:9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
1Th 5:11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
Heb 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
Heb 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Jas 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
Jas 4:11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.
Jas 4:12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?
Jas 5:7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
Jas 5:8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
Jas 5:9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.
Jas 5:10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
Jas 5:11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
Jas 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
1Pe 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
1Pe 3:9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
1Pe 3:10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
1Pe 3:11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.
1Pe 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
1Pe 4:8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
1Pe 4:9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging.
1Pe 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
1Pe 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
1Pe 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
1Jn 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
1Jn 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
Mat 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Mat 6:22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
Mat 6:23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
Mat 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
SHOULD THAT WHICH WAS NOT FORBIDDEN BY ALLAH BE FORBIDDEN BY MAN?
One of the most frustrating aspects of Christianity for me were those who picked and chose which scriptures they would follow. Often I would here the phrase, “But preacher that doesn’t mean what it says.” When I asked a Trinitary Preacher why there wasn’t one instance of any believer being baptized in The Name of The Father, The Son, and The Holy Ghose recorded in Acts and that the verses Matthew 28:17-19 isn’t found in our earliest copies of the New Testament as is the case with Mark 16:18-20
Mat 28:17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.
Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Mar 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
Mar 16:18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
Mar 16:19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
Mar 16:20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
The Preacher replied to me, “Well, Brother, I would rather do what Jesus said that what the apostles said!”
I reminded him of 2 Tim. 3:16-17: 2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
When my wife read in the book of 1 Cor. 11: 1Co 11:13 Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?
1Co 11:14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?
1Co 11:15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.
1Co 11:16 But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.
Some of the woman in the Church told her “Sister, that doesn’t mean what it says.”
Well, to my disappointment it seems that when a prohibition can’t be found in AL Qur’aan or in Strong Hadith to Forbid that which Allah never Forbad, many go to weak hadith some of which have to be twisted by interpretation to support their premise.
Al Qur’aan is complete and perfect:
Say (O Muhammad): What thing is of most weight in testimony? Say: Allah is Witness between you and me. And this Qur’an hath been inspired in me, that I may warn therewith you and whomsoever it may reach. Do ye in sooth bear witness that there are gods beside Allah? Say: I bear no such witness. Say: He is only One Allah. Lo! I am innocent of that which ye associate (with Him). (19)
Al-Anaam
Shall I seek other than Allah for judge, when He it is Who hath revealed unto you (this) Scripture, fully explained? Those unto whom We gave the Scripture (aforetime) know that it is revealed from thy Lord in truth. So be not thou (O Muhammad) of the waverers. (114)
Al-Araf
Verily We have brought them a Scripture which We expounded with knowledge, a guidance and a mercy for a people who believe. (52)
Al-Isra
And We appoint the night and the day two portents. Then We effact the portent of the night, and We make the portent of the day sight-giving, that ye may seek bounty from your Lord, and that ye may know the computation of the years, and the reckoning; and everything have We expounded with a clear expounding. (12)
Hud
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
Alif. Lam. Ra. (This is) a Scripture the revelations whereof are perfected and then expounded. (It cometh) from One Wise, Aware, (1)
Fussilat
A Scripture whereof the verses are expounded, a Lecture in Arabic for people who have knowledge, (3)
Yusuf
In their history verily there is a lesson for men of understanding. It is no invented story but a confirmation of the existing (Scripture) and a detailed explanation of everything, and a guidance and a mercy for folk who believe. (111)
An-Nahl
And (bethink you of) the day when We raise in every nation a witness against them of their own folk, and We bring thee (Muhammad) as a witness against these. And We reveal the Scripture unto thee as an exposition of all things, and a guidance and a mercy and good tidings for those who have surrendered (to Allah). (89)
The Prophet Muhammad (Salla Alayhu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallem) lived by Al Qur’aan, ruled by Al Qur’aan, taught Al Qur’an , and admonished by Al Qur’aan alone, solely, explicitly.
Allaah (SAW) is the only source of law:
Al-Anaam
Shall I seek other than Allah for judge, when He it is Who hath revealed unto you (this) Scripture, fully explained? Those unto whom We gave the Scripture (aforetime) know that it is revealed from thy Lord in truth. So be not thou (O Muhammad) of the waverers. (114)
No one, not even our Prophet Muhammad (Salla Alayhu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam) can prohibit what Allaah has not prohibited:
-Tahrim
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
O Prophet! Why bannest thou that which Allah hath made lawful for thee, seeking to please thy wives? And Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. (1)
Al Qur’aan say Allaah does not forget. So isn’t it blasphemy to say that he forgot to prohibit music in The Old Testament.
Psa 150:1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.
Psa 150:2 Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.
Psa 150:3 Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.
Psa 150:4 Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
Psa 150:5 Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.
Psa 150:6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.
Psa 104:33 I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
Psa 146:2 While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.
Psa 92:1 A Psalm or Song for the sabbath day. It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High:
Psa 92:2 To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night,
Psa 92:3 Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound.
1Ch 9:33 And these are the singers, chief of the fathers of the Levites, who remaining in the chambers were free: for they were employed in that work day and night.
Psa 33:3 Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.
Psa 96:1 O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth.
Psa 98:1 A Psalm. O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.
Psa 144:9 I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.
Psa 149:1 Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints.
1Ch 15:22 And Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was for song: he instructed about the song, because he was skilful.
Mat 26:30 And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.
Act 16:25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
Eph 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
Jas 5:13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
1Ki 10:12 And the king made of the almug trees pillars for the house of the LORD, and for the king’s house, harps also and psalteries for singers: there came no such almug trees, nor were seen unto this day
1Ch 15:16 And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers with instruments of musick, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy.
Isa 38:20 The LORD was ready to save me: therefore we will sing my songs to the stringed instruments all the days of our life in the house of the LORD.
Mal 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
Luqman
And if all the trees in the earth were pens, and the sea, with seven more seas to help it, (were ink), the words of Allah could not be exhausted. Lo! Allah is Mighty, Wise. (27)
Al-Kahf
Say: Though the sea became ink for the Words of my Lord, verily the sea would be used up before the words of my Lord were exhausted, even though We brought the like thereof to help. (109)
An-Nahl
And speak not, concerning that which your own tongues qualify (as clean or unclean), the falsehood: “This is lawful, and this is forbidden,” so that ye invent a lie against Allah. Lo! those who invent a lie against Allah will not succeed. (116)
Al-Araf
O Children of Adam! Look to your adornment at every place of worship, and eat and drink, but be not prodigal. Lo! He loveth not the prodigals. (31) Say: Who hath forbidden the adornment of Allah which He hath brought forth for His bondmen, and the good things of His providing? Say: Such, on the Day of Resurrection, will be only for those who believed during the life of the world. Thus do we detail Our revelations for people who have knowledge. (32) Say: My Lord forbiddeth only indecencies, such of them as are apparent and such as are within, and sin and wrongful oppression, and that ye associate with Allah that for which no warrant hath been revealed, and that ye tell concerning Allah that which ye know not. (33)
Al-Araf
Have they not considered the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and what things Allah hath created, and that it may be that their own term draweth nigh? In what fact after this will they believe? (185)
Yunus
Most of them follow not but conjecture. Assuredly conjecture can by no means take the place of truth. Lo! Allah is Aware of what they do. (36)
Luqman
And of mankind is he who payeth for mere pastime of discourse, that he may mislead from Allah’s way without knowledge, and maketh it the butt of mockery. For such there is a shameful doom. (6)
Al-Jathiya
These are the portents of Allah which We recite unto thee (Muhammad) with truth. Then in what fact, after Allah and His portents, will they believe? (6)
At-Tur
Then let them produce speech the like thereof, if they are truthful. (34)
Al-Qalam
Leave Me (to deal) with those who give the lie to this pronouncement. We shall lead them on by steps from whence they know not. (44)
Az-Zumar
Allah coineth a similitude: A man in relation to whom are several part-owners, quarrelling, and a man belonging wholly to one man. Are the two equal in similitude? Praise be to Allah! But most of them know not. (29)
Every verse in Al Qur’aan that is used to prove Music is Haraam has to be twisted and wrestled to fit that premise. How does praising Allah, exhorting Muslims to hold fast to the faith, telling stories of the Prophet (Salla Alayhu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam) equal vain, foolish or deceiving the believer. How are these things vain. It seems to my mind that for each hadith that is used to forbid music there is a hadith that permits music. Statements are often made that all the scholars agree that music and singing are haraam. But that is not the case.
According to Wikiepedia there are many scholars who believe Music is permissible:
The question of permissibility of music in Islamic jurisprudence is historically disputed.
“Some jurists of the classical era of Muslim scholarship opined that music is forbidden both by the Qur’an and by the Hadith. They believe that Muhammad censured the use of musical instruments in the report from him: “There will be among my Ummah people who will regard as permissible adultery, silk, alcohol and musical instruments,”[1]; Some of the Islamic scholars of the past agreed upon this.[2] However others including Imam Nawawi permit music stating that the prohibition of music and instruments at the time of the Prophet related to the usage – at the time the polytheists would use music and musical instruments as part of their worships. The others who saw the permissibility of music include Qadhi Abu Bakr Ibn al-Arabi and Qadhi Iyyad from the Malikis, Imam Abu Hamid al-Ghazali and al-Izz ibn Abdesalam from the Shaafi’is, Mawlana Jalaluddeen Ar-Rumi from the Hanafis, and Ibn Hazm from the Dhahiris. Imam Ghazali also reports a narration from the saint al-Khidr, where he expressed a favourable opinion of music, provided it be within the usage limitation of virtous areas.
Furthermore many modern Muslim interpretations allow music and singing under certain conditions, mainly if they do not encourage committing sinful acts”
Could the praising of Allah, the encouraging of Muslims, and the singing of the exploits of The Prophet (Salla Alayhu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallem) be considered the ‘idle talk” of Lugman 6?
In his fatwa ” Does Islam Go against Laughter? “, Sheikh Yusuf `Abdullah Al-Qaradawi stated that when Abu Bakr As-Siddeeq (may Allah be pleased with him) tried to stop two young girls from singing in the Prophet’s house, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) told him: ‘Let it be, for we are now in the feast.’
In supporting their view that Music is Haraam, they cite the hadith narrated by Imam Al-Bukhari on the authority of Abu Malik or Abu `Amir Al-Ash`ari (doubt from the sub-narrator) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, ‘From among my followers there will be some people who will consider illegal sexual intercourse, the wearing of silk (clothes), the drinking of alcoholic drinks and the use of musical instruments, as lawful.’ Although this hadith is in Sahih Al-Bukhari, its chain of transmission is not connected to Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and this invalidates its authenticity. Ibn Hazm rejects it for that very reason. Moreover, the sub-narrator, Hisham Ibn `Ammar is declared ‘weak’ by many scholars of the Science of Hadith Methodology.
In his book, Al-Ahkam, Al-Qadi Abu Bakr Ibn Al-`Arabi says, “None of the hadiths maintaining that singing is prohibited are considered authentic (by the scholars of the Science of Hadith Methodology).” The same view is maintained by Al-Ghazali and Ibn An-Nahwi in Al-`Umdah. Ibn Tahir says, “Not even a single letter from all these Hadiths was proved to be authentic.”
Ibn Hazm says, “All the hadiths narrated in this respect were invented and falsified.”
However, a hadith which is strong states:
A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated: “Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him, came to my house while two girls were singing beside me the songs of Bu`ath (a story about the pre-Islamic war between the two tribes of the Ansar, the Khazraj and the Awus). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) laid down and turned his face to the other side. Then Abu Bakr came and spoke to me harshly saying, ‘Musical instruments of Satan near the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)?’ Thereupon, Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) turned his face towards him and said, ‘Leave them.’ When Abu Bakr became inattentive, I signaled to those girls to go out and they left.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari)
This indicates that these two girls were not so young as claimed by some scholars. If they were, Abu Bakr would not have been angry with them in such manner. In addition, in this hadith, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) wanted to teach the Jews that Islam has room for merriment and that he himself was sent with a moderate and flexible legislation. There is also another important lesson to learn here. It draws our attention to the fact that one needs to introduce Islam to others in a good fashion, along with displaying its moderateness and magnanimity.
Al-Araf
Those who follow the messenger, the Prophet who can neither read nor write, whom they will find described in the Torah and the Gospel (which are) with them. He will enjoin on them that which is right and forbid them that which is wrong. He will make lawful for them all good things and prohibit for them only the foul; and he will relieve them of their burden and the fetters that they used to wear. Then those who believe in him, and honour him, and help him, and follow the light which is sent down with him: they are the successful. (157)
Al-Maeda
They ask thee (O Muhammad) what is made lawful for them. Say: (all) good things are made lawful for you. And those beasts and birds of prey which ye have trained as hounds are trained, ye teach them that which Allah taught you; so eat of that which they catch for you and mention Allah’s name upon it, and observe your duty to Allah. Lo! Allah is swift to take account. (4)
Conditions and Terms:
There are some conditions and terms that should be observed regarding listening to singing, as follows:
1. Not all sorts of singing are permissible. Rather, the permissible song should comply with the Islamic teachings and ethics. Therefore, the songs praising the tyrants and corrupt rulers disagree with Islamic teachings. In fact, Islam stands against transgressors and their allies, and those who show indifference to their transgression. So, the same goes for those songs that imply giving praises to such attitude!
2. Also, the way the song is performed weighs so much. The theme of the song may be good, but the performance of the singer – through intending excitement and arousing others’ lusts and desires along with trying to seduce them – may move it to the area of prohibition, suspicion or even detest. The Glorious Qur’an addresses the wives of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) saying, “O you wives of the Prophet! You are not like any other women. If you keep your duty (to Allah), then be not soft of speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease aspire (to you), but utter customary speech.” (Al-Ahzab: 32) So, one has to show caution to music when there is softness of speech accompanied with rhyme, melody, and special effects!
3. Singing should not be accompanied with something that is prohibited such as alcohol, nakedness, mixing of men with women that is common in pubs and nightclubs, etc.
4. Islam has declared excessiveness as prohibited in everything. The same goes for excessiveness in leisure and recreation even though these things are permissible ! This indicates that the emptiness of the mind and heart has to be observed and tackled during man’s short-term life. One should know that Allah Almighty will ask every one about his life and his youth in particular.
There are some things in which one is to be his own judge and Mufti. If there is some kind of singing that arouses his own lust or desire, and takes him away from the real life, he should avoid it then and block that very gate from which the winds of trial and seduction may come and erase his religion, morals and heart. If he does this, he will live in peace and tranquility.
Warning against playing with the word “haram”
To conclude, we address the respectful scholars who tackle the word “haram” easily and set it free in their writings and fatwas that they should observe that Allah is watching over them in all that they say or do. They should also know that this word “haram” is very dangerous. It means that Allah’s Punishment is due on a certain act or saying, and should not be based upon guessing, whims, weak Hadiths, not even through an old book. It has to be supported by a clear, well-established text or valid consensus. If these last two are not found, then we revert the given act or saying to the original rule: “permissibility governing things”. We do have a good example to follow from one of our earlier pious scholars. Imam Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: “It was not the habit of those who preceded us, the early pious Muslims, who set good example for the following generations, to say, ‘This is halal, and this is haram. But, they would say, ‘I hate such-and-such, and maintain such-and-such, but as for halal and haram, this is what may be called inventing lies concerning Allah. Did not you hear Allah’s Statement that reads, ‘Say: Have you considered what provision Allah has sent down for you, how you have made of it lawful and unlawful? Say: Has Allah permitted you, or do you invent a lie concerning Allah?” (Yunus: 59) For, the halal is what Allah and His Messenger made lawful, and the haram is what Allah and His Messenger made unlawful.
The Conditions and Terms and the warnings and many of the Hadiths were used from http://www.islamonline.net
MY CONVERSION TO ISLAM
Unfortunately, this is going to be a long post because before I tell you about my conversion (reverting) to Islam, I have to tell you about my conversion to Christianity.
When I found out that there was no Santa Claus, I decided that “God” sounded a lot like Santa Claus. And, since my parents had lied to me about Santa Claus, The Easter Bunny, and The Tooth Fairy, they were probably lying about the elderly person with a long white beard sitting on a throne in a place in the sky called Heaven. So, I stopped praying and even though I was compelled to go to church, I stopped believing in God. This was about 1st or second grade.
And, yet I guess I still believed in a God, because when my friend explained the facts of life to me on our way to school in the sixth grade, I told him that may be how he came to be born, but I was put in my biological mother by God. And, he had put me there because my Aunt wanted a child and couldn’t have one; so, he knew that my biological mother would be more than willing to give me to my adopted Aunt and Uncle for a few hundred dollars.
In sixth grade I began studying the books of Bruce Tegnar and Mas Oyama, and in the eight grade I began my life long study and practice of the martial arts with John Korab. My entire family study at the Dillman Martial Arts Dojo under Jeff Driscoll . My Sifu/Guru in JKD and Kali certification goes through several well known martial artist to Dan Inosanto
When I was fifteen, I was showing off for some girls at the swimming pool and decided to do a back flip off the diving board. I struck the back of my head on the board and knocked myself out. One of my three buddies who were Vietnam Veterans saw me floating in the water and literally throw the lifeguard into the pool to get me. They ask me how many fingers were held in front of my face. I said three, and they said you’re fine; go home and rest.
On my way home, I realized that I didn’t know where I lived. I asked a lady on a porch if she knew where I lived and she asked me my name. I didn’t know that either. A friend from school ran up from behind and got me in a bear hug. I threw him to the ground and was about to stomp him in the face as I pulled on his arm when he yelled my name. I then recognized him and asked him if he knew where I lived. He asked me if I was drunk. I told him no and that I had struck the back of my head doing a back flip off the diving board. He told me that I lived right up the street from him and he walked me to my house. Upon seeing my house, I recognized it. I entered and was able to walk right to my bedroom. After falling asleep, I was awakened by a woman yelling at me and slapping me. It was at that point that I knew I had a mom and she was yelling that she was sick and tired of my getting in fights and I got blood all over my pillow. So, I got up and walked out. I soon met the same friend that helped me get home and we went to a block party. I was drinking beer when someone told me that my mom was there and looking for me. I threw a bunch of Hall’s cough drops in my mouth to hide the alcohol smell. She asked why I didn’t tell her that I had hit my head at the pool and that Ricky’s mom had called her to ask how I was. I told her that she was so busy slapping me that I didn’t think she cared. She took me to the hospital ER. The doctor held three fingers in front of my face and asked how many finger he was holding up. I said three and he told my mom that I would be fine and just needed seven stitches to close the wound.
Gradually over the next few days my memory came back as I saw friends and family and neighbors. But, my emotional connections didn’t come back. I knew who my parents were, but I didn’t feel any emotional tie to them. I asked weekly if they would sign the paper for me to join the Marines. Finally, when I turned 17, my dad and I had an argument and he said he would sign the papers.
We were having one of the biggest storms of the decade. I trudge down to the Military recruiting offices and went into the Marine office. (My cousin and my friend were all Marines who had served in Vietnam and were dating high school girls; so, I figured the best way to get a girlfriend was to join the Marines.
An Army Recruiter came into the office and I snapped to attention, then seen the word Army on his uniform and sat back down. “Can I help you,” he asked. “Naw, I’m here to join the Marines I said as my chest swelled out and I sat more erect.” “The Marines,” he said, “I was in the Marines for five years. Come on over to my office and I will tell you what you have to look forward in the Marines.” I told him I didn’t want to leave the Marine office because I wanted to be there when the Marine Recruiter came in to the office. It was about eight thirty AM and the snow was already a couple of feet deep. “This guy never gets in to after noon and if he comes in he always stops by my office.” So, I was lead to his office. “Do you want a cup of coffee”, he asked. “No, I don’t drink coffee.” “All Marines drink coffee!” he told me. “Well, OK, I’ll have a cup.” He gave me a cup of black coffee and asked why I wanted to join the Marines. I told him I wanted to go to Vietnam, win some medals, and come home and date high school girls. With a straight face he told me, “There aren’t any Marines in Vietnam any more.” “My cousin recently had his leg blown off and was shot three times by machine gun fire and three of my best friends just came back from Vietnam?” Well, he said without a pause, “They were probably some of the last Marines over there. If you want to go to Vietnam, if I were you, I would join the Army.” “Really?” I asked. “Well, what do you want to do in the Military?” I want to be a machine gunner.” “Why?” “Well,” I continued, “I want to win medals and then come home and get a girl friend.” “If you really want to go to Vietnam and win medals than you should be a medic, but the Marines don’t have Medics. But, I might be wasting my time. You may not even pass the test to get into the Army. We all use the same test so why don’t you come with me into the testing room and that way I can tell you if you qualify for the Military and if you foolishly want to still go into the Marines, the test will already be done.” He said as he set the hook. I took the test and nervously waited as he graded it. After grading it he came over shook my hand and told me “Good news, you qualify for any job the military has.” I have one spot left for medic, but you would have to sign up today because it may be filled by tomorrow. He told me as he began reeling in the line. “How old are you?” I am 17 but my dad said he will sign the papers!” “Well lets get started, fill out these papers while I call in that the medic spot is now taken by you and then I will give you some papers for your dad and the school to sign. He said handing me the papers and landing the fish.
I did well in all my training, but because I was still only seventeen I didn’t get to go to Vietnam immediately like all of my class mates in medical training. I was sent to Fort Knox. For the first few months I worked in the flight medical clinic. I drew blood, took blood pressures and pulses and urine samples. Then the doctor told me that the military was going to try a new program picking up accident victims in a helicopter and flying them to the hospital. He said he thought it would be a good opportunity for me to make rank. Now, I was clearing airways, ensuring respiration, stopping bleeding and starting IVs all why flying in a helicopter. I loved it. And, I had gotten a girl friend. Shortly after my promotion to E4 and my eighteenth birthday, my request for Vietnam was approved.
I was stationed at Camp Eagle (Home of the 101st Airborne) and I volunteered for ever mission into the bush. I was in firefights, rocket attacks, mortar attacks, and spent a lot of my time in the jungle on recon missions. I was promote to E5 and my request for R&R to my home was approved. I came in from the bush and as it was customary for the medics to have three days off after returning from the bush before doing aid station duty, I went to the NCO Club and got drunk. My friend from practically my home town was going home at the same time and had his hooch connect to the NCO club, I slept on the floor at his hooch. Two of the medics came banging on Gary’s door. Gary had seen plenty of combat and was as most of the guys from his town totally insane. He fired his 45 through the door and the medics started identifying themselves and saying I was in trouble with E6 Johnson. I went down to the aid station and asked Johnson what the problem was. He told me that I missed formation. I told him we hadn’t had a formation since I got there two months before him. He told me he was thinking about cancelling my leave and having me demoted to E4. I went down to my hooch, pulled the box of grenades I kept under my bed and took one out. I pulled the pin and started heading for Johnson’s hooch. Bob Hope was giving a performance for the USO and there wasn’t anyone around except Johnson, the Christian private, and me. The Christian asked what I was doing. I told him that I was on my way to blow up Johnson. He told me I couldn’t do that and I told him of course I could, I had the grenade and I had pulled the pin out. All I had to do is throw it in as I released the pressure handle and boom. He spent about an hour talking me into putting the pin back in the grenade. I finally did, and headed back down to my hooch. The Christian, Tom, came down and said Johnson wanted me. I hadn’t turned my M16 in so I went up to see Johnson with my rifle. He said he had decided to let me go on leave and keep my rank if I would fill up 500 sandbags. I told him no problem.
While home on leave, I found out that the Dear John Letter that I had received in The Ashau Valley was in fact a reality and “my girlfriend” was now someone else’s girlfriend. I got drunk and went to a dance where some college football players stood in my path. I said excuse me and when one of the bigger lads grinned, I placed my knife under his throat and said ,”excuse me means move big boy.” They moved and I found a friend to whom I could give the knife. Sure enough one of the security guards came at me from a 45 degree angle which is the best angle from which to attack someone. As he threw his punch, I caught his arm and threw him to the floor and pulled the lead weight glove off his hand. I got my back to the wall and there was now three security guards. They told me all they wanted to do was to take me into the back room and see if I had a knife. If I didn’t have a knife, I could leave. The head security guard was also the chief of police and was known for beating kids in the back room. I told him I would go in the back room, but if they started hitting me, I would be back the next night with a shotgun and kill them all since I had to return to Vietnam in a week. They searched me in the back room and told me to leave the property. I walked out the door and the football team plus twenty or so of their buddies were waiting. So, I challenged the original Big Boy to a fight if he was man enough to to up on the hill without his friends. He took the bait and we went up into some woods on a hill. For the first three or four minutes I was beating him like a punching bag. I had continued my karate training in Vietnam from Captain Chey a Korean ROK Captain. Then I heard people approaching from behind me and when I turned to look, big boy tackled me. Now I would never do such a foolish thing now, but back then no one in my part of the country knew Brazilian Ju Jitsu or Russian Sambo, so I rolled over onto my stomach and covered my head with my arms. He did manage to get two punches in on my face before I rolled over. Apparently one of my friends from my town came up behind Big Boy and wacked him with a wooden object. He fell off me and the guys from Big Boy’s town were fighting the guys from my town. I fought my way to my 1969 GTX and drove off.
I spent the rest of my leave in a mountain behind my parents house at a pond. I didn’t know if God existed, but that Christian Private sure made it seem real. I prayed, God if you exist, let me know. When Gary and I finally returned to Vietnam and arrived back at Camp Eagle the Captain asked how did we get back so quickly. He then said he thought the typhoon would have kept us in DaNang for another week or two. We told him we jumped on the first plane heading North because we wanted to get back since we had already been stranded for two extra weeks down South.
The Christian asked me if I wanted to come up to the chapel and listen to some gospel music that he and his friend were playing. I said yes and he looked like he was going to drop over. I had threatened to shoot him several times for witnessing to me about God. That night when we enter the Chapel, Tom asked me if I would open with a prayer. “I have prayed since I was in grade school.” I said. He told me to just talk to God like He was my friend and ask him to bless this singing. I managed to say “God when I was driven to my knees almost as if a mighty hand was pushing me down. I began thinking of all the wrong I had done in my life and was sobbing. Then, I felt like I was drenched in light and I began to speak in tongues. I had never read about, seen, or heard anything about the phenomena as my dad was Roman Catholic and my Mom was Protestant. Tom told me that he would show what was happening to me in the Bible and just keep talking to God even though I didn’t know what I was saying.
After that experience, I began to read the Bible constantly during my free time. I started with the Book of Acts, then the 4 Gospels, then the Epistles, then the Old Testament, and finally The Book of Revelation.
Once I returned from Vietnam, I would stand on the street corners on the weekend and pass out tracts. During the week, I worked in the ER at Walson Army Hospital, Fort Dix. I did procedures that many doctors never got to perform: Veinous Cutdowns, Inserting Chest Tubes, suturing faces, delivering babies (once twins) and treating every type of trauma you can imagine.
I had gotten married to a Merit Scholar who had a college education. I spend much of my free time in the library trying to figure out what she was talking about when she mentioned Van Gogh and Impressionism, Sartre and Existentialism, etc.
After my discharge from the Army, I was hired to work on a psychiatric ward and I sold alarm systems at night. My wife was close to delivery at the time of my discharge. When she went into labor two weeks early, I tried to bargain with God. I told Him that if he left my son live, I would serve him full time. I reminded Him how I was already preaching on Sunday Nights and how I passed out tracts. I told Him that I had faith that he would let my son live. My son died. Being a Vietnam Veteran, I was very stoic about the death. I would respond to people’s attempts at condolences with “Our finite minds can’t comprehend the Infinite and we had to just develop an Absolute relationship to The Absolute and a Relative relationship to The Relative. But inside I was furious with God. How could he take my son. I became successful in selling Alarms and had quit my hospital job after telling the two nurse who both believed they were the head nurse that they needed psychiatric help more than most of the patients.
I was offered my own franchise, but because I had never bought anything on credit I had to go to a loan shark. That didn’t work out well.
For the next twelve years, I didn’t think about God. I got an education at Penn State University where I maintained a 3:67 GPA. My wife and I got divorced while I was at college. I eventually went to work with my father. One Saturday, my dad called and said something had happened and their was a fire and my mom was burnt. I rushed to the hospital and saw that they were bandaging my dad’s hands which he had burned putting the fire out on my mother. I asked him what happen and he said he heard my mom scream for help and when he got out of bed and to the kitchen she was standing there totally engulfed in flames. The nurse asked if I wanted to see my mom. I asked where was she, upstairs in the operating room. She told me that I had walked right past her. My mother was so badly burned that I didn’t recognize her. I went up to her bed and said that there had been a fire and that she was okay but that I was having her sent to a hospital with better food so not to be frightened by the helicopter ride. The doctor asked the nurse if my mom was conscious to which the nurse replied, “Yes, Doctor, she is following him with her eyes.” Apparently, I was unconsciously moving back and forth. The Doctor ordered the nurse to give my mom more morphine and her eyes closed. I was told to drive my dad the thirty miles back home so he could get dressed. He was still in his pajamas and then drive to the other hospital and go to the burn unit.
We discovered that the butane lighter that my mother was using to light a cigarette exploded and she had thrown it into the sink. Her footprints were burned into the floor and above where she had been standing was a burn mark. My mother died two days later. I had dabbed the blood that pooled in her eyes with four by fours. I began having flashbacks of Vietnam which I am assuming was the result of the smell of burnt flesh. My father sued the company that manufactured the lighter and a year later when it was printed in The New York Times, The Local Newspaper, and run on several network news stations. My cousin decided that he would invite my dad over for a Sunday dinner. My cousin’s wife was there who was about my dad’s age and they started dating. The lawsuit was settled and I had remarried a beautiful woman with a even more beautiful personality. She and I bought a kennel in Florida where I trained personal protection dogs and breed Dogue De Bordeaux (Turner and Hooch dogs) . The business did poorly and finally I told my wife that she could do whatever she wanted but I was going back to church.
Shortly after returning to a Pentecostal Church, I was preaching again. Tom from Vietnam asked us to move to California. There I was ordained. I pastored a small congregation and had previously preached revivals. I left one church after another because of doctrinal differences. Finally, I left Christianity altogether. I re-read the Tao Te Ching, Guru Granth Sahib Ji, The Vedas, and several other religious texts. Finally, I started to read AL Qur’aan. I never accepted that Jesus was God and always felt that Christianity had somehow mistaken Messiah for God. I had never studied Islam and all that I ever heard about Muslims was negative. I started to visit Turn To Islam and began making friends with the people there. Although my wife was content in her Christian Beliefs she support me in my religious searching. Eventually, I was able to contact local Muslims and they invited me to a Masjid about 50 miles away. That night I did my public Shahada and have been studying Al Qur’aan, Ageedah, The Life of The Prophet (Salla Alayhu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallem), and Arabic ever since. I believe that Allah used Turn To Islam to help me accept Islam.
And, although it was a very long story with much left out, that is how I went from being an atheist, to agnostic, to Christian, to Muslim. There is a link to Turn To Islam in the link section.
A Muslim American's Blog 