[PaulCameron]

I am a non-Muslim, who was raised Roman Catholic. I have come to disagree with many things in the Catholic Church, and have become greatly interested in Islam.

I would love to hear what you personally think is most important in Islam, and if there are converts, why you converted. Feel free to contact me in another medium if you would like that better. Instant messengers and Skype names are in my profile.


Mainly, I tutor some Muslim boys, and one of them has offered to escort me to a mosque and buy me a hijab. He cannot go into the mosque with me, as it is a segregated mosque. I am extremely nervous about going, as I have never been and do not know protocol. That type of information would be very helpful.

I look forward to your insight and help, and hope that we can have a discussion so that I may further my knowledge.

hi there,
may ALLAH SWT guide you .
may ALLAH SWT guide us all.
i hope things become easy for you.

[LorencoLoricelli]

Peace,

Would highly recommend you read this article, I think it explains Islam and the beauty of it wonderfully.

edit I can't paste links so i'll just paste wat it says -

Thank you very much! It was very clear.

[Immusaatmonna]

In an earlier post (which describes Jibril's visit asking the Prophet about Islam, Iman and Ihsan), the word Ihsan is translated as "doing something that is beautiful". I admit this is the first time I saw the word translated like this, most reading materials don't even bother to translate Ihsan, or the other words. They take for granted that we Muslims can understand.

A bit more explanation would be most welcome. The Prophet explained in one line what Ihsan is, but surely there is more?

[Oxzzlvpg]

I am a non-Muslim, who was raised Roman Catholic. I have come to disagree with many things in the Catholic Church, and have become greatly interested in Islam.

I would love to hear what you personally think is most important in Islam, and if there are converts, why you converted. Feel free to contact me in another medium if you would like that better. Instant messengers and Skype names are in my profile.

Mainly, I tutor some Muslim boys, and one of them has offered to escort me to a mosque and buy me a hijab. He cannot go into the mosque with me, as it is a segregated mosque. I am extremely nervous about going, as I have never been and do not know protocol. That type of information would be very helpful.

I look forward to your insight and help, and hope that we can have a discussion so that I may further my knowledge.

Islam is about believing in one ALLAH and accepting Muhammad (S.A.W) as HIS last Prophet and having the belive that everything in this world happen by the order of GOD. He is the King of Kings. He is the most powerful and AL-MIGHTY and you should noot fell shy in going to mosque. Go there and concern the Imam of that mosque he will definitely guide you more than anyone here can ......................

[Brutton]

I know the food is good, I've eaten there quite a bit! I live right near there. It would be amazing to have a Sister to talk to, I know I'm going to have a lot of questions and things are slightly different with females (slightly actually meaning slightly here). Especially one who is near here that I could possibly actually get to know. How would that happen?

Go for the visit and then open a post "for my attention" and I will try to dig someone up for you and pass the contacts to you via the Mods/Admins.

No problemo!

[LorencoLoricelli]

In an earlier post (which describes Jibril's visit asking the Prophet about Islam, Iman and Ihsan), the word Ihsan is translated as "doing something that is beautiful". I admit this is the first time I saw the word translated like this, most reading materials don't even bother to translate Ihsan, or the other words. They take for granted that we Muslims can understand.

A bit more explanation would be most welcome. The Prophet explained in one line what Ihsan is, but surely there is more?

I do sometimes find it confusing when they do not add a translation for words at least the first time they are presented. I grew up near a lot of Arabic speakers, but never actually learned any until lately.

[LorencoLoricelli]

Go for the visit and then open a post "for my attention" and I will try to dig someone up for you and pass the contacts to you via the Mods/Admins.

No problemo!

I don't see somewhere to open a post "for my attention"... How do you do that? (I haven't used forums since I was about 12, and so much has changed).

[Brutton]

I don't see somewhere to open a post "for my attention"... How do you do that? (I haven't used forums since I was about 12, and so much has changed).

So let me understand your requirements.

You need to meet & talk with a Muslim Sister in Dearborn area. If that's correct please reply and I will try to track someone and the info will get to you through one of the Mods/Admins.



What you like an email contact for a Sister who can communicate with you in the meantime?

Thanks

[fabrizioitwloch]

Bismillah
Moderator need to watch out. Often people are overloaded with information. Someone interested or reverted simply need simple nugget of information. Not overload them!! This is not productive and it does not help the seeker. This is from experience.
Allahualam

Could not agree more brother.
Wassalam

[LorencoLoricelli]

So let me understand your requirements.

You need to meet & talk with a Muslim Sister in Dearborn area. If that's correct please reply and I will try to track someone and the info will get to you through one of the Mods/Admins.



What you like an email contact for a Sister who can communicate with you in the meantime?

Thanks

Yes, and I would love that.

[LorencoLoricelli]

Bismillah
Moderator need to watch out. Often people are overloaded with information. Someone interested or reverted simply need simple nugget of information. Not overload them!! This is not productive and it does not help the seeker. This is from experience.
Allahualam

In this case it's okay! I have done much reading and have a basic knowledge of Islam. I just want to refine it and learn more in-depth from actual people, not just general websites. Learning is a hobby of mine, I actually enjoy it. Though it is what destroyed my faith in my Family's religion... I think I may have stumbled upon something real (Islam).

Throw everything you want at me, I will soak it in like a sponge.

[LorencoLoricelli]

Bismillah
Please Go through the reading list in the link posted. It may also be a good idea for you to get hold of this book

Islam and the Destiny of Man by Le Gai Eaton
http://kitaabun.com/shopping3/produc...roducts_id=583

King of the Castle
Choice and Responsibility in the Modern World
http://kitaabun.com/shopping3/produc...roducts_id=249
Allahualam

I checked with my local library, and they do not have the book. Money is very tight for me right now, I am currently a college student attempting to fund my own education without going too far into debt (I hate the thought of being in debt, but it is near impossible in the United States without full family support).

[fashikn]

Welcome to the forum and hopefully to Islam. I'm a convert coming up on a decade in islam. My "story" is here and my recommended reads for converts is here. You can contact me via my blog from copy.

If I had to recommend one book to read, it would be Submission, Faith and Beauty. It is based on the hadith Jibreel mentioned earlier in the thread. I'd said for years that someone should develop a curiculumn for new muslims based on the hadith and alhamdulilah, someone wrote a book.

I'll also see if I can reach out to any contacts in that area for a mosque that has good intro to islam classes, or is potential convert friendly.

[Yinekol]

I am gonna recommend some books that I personally feel are more than enough to give you a firm grasp of sound Sunni Islam, while not overloading you with unnecessary diversions. I would recommend getting them in book form, but most of these documents can be found on the internet--they may not have sound Islamic scholars who provide commentary on them though:

Imam Nawawi's Al Maqasid: HIGHLY useful book that follows the Shafi'i madhab. Comparable books can be found, but they aren't as common or as inexpensive.
--http://www.amazon.com/Al-Maqasid-Naw.../dp/1590080114

Good Hanafi alternatives to Nawawi's book: http://www.islamicbookstore.com/b9530.html http://www.islamicbookstore.com/b9660.html

The translation of the Qur'an that I would recommend:
http://www.amazon.com/Quran-Oxford-W...ef=pd_sim_b_40

Biography of the Prophet that I would recommend; there are other good ones such as The Sealed Nectar, but they aren't written as well in my opinion:
http://www.amazon.com/Muhammad-Life-...ref=pd_sim_b_3

Great books on Tassawuf (Sufism); one is a manual, the other is more a spiritual advice book. Both are amazing: http://www.amazon.com/Treatise-Seeke...ref=pd_sim_b_4http://www.amazon.com/Book-Assistanc...ref=pd_sim_b_2


Oh, and one thing I think you should know: Avoid buying books from publishers such as Darussalam; most of these books are backed by the Saudi government and contain gross mistranslations or distortions in their texts from the originals. Even things you would think would remain relatively untouched such as books of hadith (saying of the Prophet ) have been altered.

[LorencoLoricelli]

I am gonna recommend some books that I personally feel are more than enough to give you a firm grasp of sound Sunni Islam, while not overloading you with unnecessary diversions. I would recommend getting them in book form, but most of these documents can be found on the internet--they may not have sound Islamic scholars who provide commentary on them though:

Imam Nawawi's Al Maqasid: HIGHLY useful book that follows the Shafi'i madhab. Comparable books can be found, but they aren't as common or as inexpensive.
--http://www.amazon.com/Al-Maqasid-Naw.../dp/1590080114

Good Hanafi alternatives to Nawawi's book: http://www.islamicbookstore.com/b9530.html http://www.islamicbookstore.com/b9660.html

The translation of the Qur'an that I would recommend:
http://www.amazon.com/Quran-Oxford-W...ef=pd_sim_b_40

Biography of the Prophet that I would recommend; there are other good ones such as The Sealed Nectar, but they aren't written as well in my opinion:
http://www.amazon.com/Muhammad-Life-...ref=pd_sim_b_3

Great books on Tassawuf (Sufism); one is a manual, the other is more a spiritual advice book. Both are amazing: http://www.amazon.com/Treatise-Seeke...ref=pd_sim_b_4http://www.amazon.com/Book-Assistanc...ref=pd_sim_b_2


Oh, and one thing I think you should know: Avoid buying books from publishers such as Darussalam; most of these books are backed by the Saudi government and contain gross mistranslations or distortions in their texts from the originals. Even things you would think would remain relatively untouched such as books of hadith (saying of the Prophet ) have been altered.

Thank you for that knowledge. I appreciate it. I will probably use the online versions, as I said previously money is a huge issue for me.

[fabrizioitwloch]

Thank you for that knowledge. I appreciate it. I will probably use the online versions, as I said previously money is a huge issue for me.

Sister,
I'll bring up the matter of Shahadah again. Please do it at the earliest. This is one decision that should be made in a hurry. We never know about our life.
Affection

[LorencoLoricelli]

Sister,
I'll bring up the matter of Shahadah again. Please do it at the earliest. This is one decision that should be made in a hurry. We never know about our life.
Affection

I just want to be certain. I'm one of those people who becomes educated on something before committing fully. I haven't converted to anything from Catholicism because I've always found error and contradiction in their teachings (even though I have found a lot in Catholicism also). I haven't found any in Islam yet... that is why I came here. Just to make certain I wasn't missing something. I think it will be soon, I feel it is right.

I will need someone to help me learn the prayers though, I don't know nearly enough Arabic. I'm working on that though.

[Impariclainna]

www.Islamreligion.com , You can live chat with a Muslim qualified in helping you understand Islam and ask any questions you want.

[fashikn]

Sister,
I'll bring up the matter of Shahadah again. Please do it at the earliest. This is one decision that should be made in a hurry. We never know about our life.
Affection

If one is certain of the deen, then yes, make shahada. But if one isn't, we shouldn't push them. Accepting Islam is a huge commitment, and one that is not lightly gone back on. To embrace islam before one is ready can cause a host of problems for the convert down the road. And oh do I know, having seen dozens of americans becoming muslim before they fully understood what the religion entails.


Sr. Searching, please do contact me via my blog. I'd like to send you something.

[Immonnaornach]

I just want to be certain. I'm one of those people who becomes educated on something before committing fully. I haven't converted to anything from Catholicism because I've always found error and contradiction in their teachings (even though I have found a lot in Catholicism also). I haven't found any in Islam yet... that is why I came here. Just to make certain I wasn't missing something. I think it will be soon, I feel it is right.

I will need someone to help me learn the prayers though, I don't know nearly enough Arabic. I'm working on that though.

Sister,

You see that there is a lot of enthusiasm about your interest in Islam, and I want to say that I think it is quite alright for you to take the time you need to investigate. I think it took me about one year for the testimony of the Shahada to feel right--because the only requirement is that you say it with conviction, so it is only natural to investigate Islam until one is truly convinced.

By the way, it is also quite alright, in Islam--if you fear serious difficulties may result from your conversion--for you to conceal your conversion from whomever you fear may cause you harm. There is indeed a lot of prejudice and ignorance about Islam, which I have also encountered personally, and it makes no sense to put oneself in the position of becoming a victim of it. So you can perform your prayers privately, and be patient until Allah makes a way for you to practice Islam openly.

Relax and enjoy the journey of your discovery of Islam. I pray that Allah (swt) grants you many blessings.