Accepting Islam and Seeking Knowledge

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and the next part of the Hadith and the besides them says about wha hoo you have with any he Oh, you know, sit on he or you met giussani and the Prophet so why is that um said, but that the the idea or the upbringing of that individual may vary depending on his situation in his household. So depending on the situation in that person's household, even though they're born with a natural inclination or natural disposition to believe in Eliza, just the upbringing could change the way or the trajectory of their beliefs. So the profits of license said, for example, here, it may be that the parents meet that person, or that child to become Jewish or Christian, or a polytheist, or a Buddhist or a Hindu,

it just all depends about the upbringing of that child. Some people have been loving, they are born into Muslim families, they've been blessed with with that upbringing, and others are traversing down other paths other than Islam, and they have to find their way back. And if Allah azza wa jal sees in that person, that, that clear that goodness, that willingness and desire to find a way to find the truth, Eliza, Jen will extend that branch of guidance to that person and it will be on that person to accept or reject now, and Allah azza wa jal tells us in the Quran, what if buka mean Benny adema min votary him the reata home? Well, I had him either and foresee him and that's to be a lot be cool

call to Bella shahidullah. Allah azza wa jal says in the Quran that he took a knee sack, he took a contract or a tree from the children of Adam, all the progeny, all the children of Adam, Allah azza wa jal before we our physical bodies were created, Allah azzawajal took a contract from us. It's called an Arabic mythique. It's a firm binding contract between two parties, okay? And this contract, what is it? It's between us and our Creator, Eliza. Okay. And the contract is as follows. It has very clear clauses in this contract. A law is our Creator, we are his sleeves, He created us and we worship Him. And a lot as a job promises us that if we worship Him, and single him out in

worship, because this is the reason we were created, Elijah just says, Well Matt cannot put agenda would insert into the Abu Dune. Allah says, I did not create the jinn unkind and the mankind except that the worship me. So this contract between us and the lives of a job, if we worship Him, and single him out in worship, and give our thanks and,

and and ask Allah for forgiveness, allow interest into paradise. This is the this is the deal that we have with Eliza Joe. And we testify to this

Eliza gel and there's many heavy scenes of the Prophet sallallahu it was sent him that confirm this as well that Allah azza wa jal he created Adam,

it he said on me, peace be upon him. And he extracted from Adams backbone or soul, the progeny of Adam, all the Ottawa, all the souls of anyone that would ever be created from humanity from the time of Adam until the until the day of judgment. And we bore witness to a lot as a job being our Creator. That's why Allah says in the Quran, unless to be Rob become allies who just says, Am I not your master? Am I not your Lord? So this is a rhetorical question a lot as a joke didn't say, I am your Lord informing us, okay? He didn't say I am your first I am your Lord. This is a teaching mechanism to teach somebody something they don't know. Okay, so But, but we know at this time that

Allah azza wa jal extracted the souls of all of humanity from Adam and Eve cinema. He, Eliza just says, Am I not your Lord? So how is it that we already knew Allah is our Lord? If we were just extracted from Adam it set up how is it it's it's simply like this that it is ingrained in the fabric.

of our souls, the fifth law, it's called fifth on Arabic the natural disposition, it's ingrained in our souls that we believe in the law as xojo. We believe in our Creator, our Harlock. Right. So that, that is why that in every human being they have that natural inclination to believe in Allah subhanho wa Taala either now, so we thank Allah subhana wa Taala for for guiding us to Islam, even if it's a Muslim person or they come from a Muslim family, maybe they still, that's not a free ticket to get into paradise, just because your name is Mohamed Ahmed or Ayesha and you're from a Muslim family, you don't get an automatic ticket to an agenda. You have to choose Islam, even if

you're from a Muslim family. sure you're, you're you're brought up into the environment, but ultimately you choose, you choose that direction and your heart. And you have that Nia towards Allah Subhana Allah to Allah to worship Him. And for those of us that were not brought up in Muslim families, and Hamdulillah, Allah azza wa jal guided us, we have, we have a different we had a different road to travel. And, you know, it's very touching for me to see and hear from all of you. Because I see myself in all of you here this evening, because it was that you were me just yesterday, you were me just yesterday, so it's very touching. And I'm very pleased to be here

tonight. Time to lead this is my one of my only lectures I've given that I've never had to prepare for it, because it's just a story about my journey to Islam. Um, but I will try I'll try to, you know, summarize

as quick as possible inshallah. So just to give you a background about myself, I was born in Vancouver in 1978. So you don't have to do the quick math or is I'm 42 years old now attempted it up. Last ask Allah subhana wa tada to bless us all with a long, healthy life in obedience to Him alone. I mean, so I was born here in Vancouver, Canada. And I moved around a lot when I when I was younger, throughout this part of Canada. And eventually, my parents and I, we moved to England to the UK. And I lived there for a couple of years, or just over a couple of years. This is when I was small. And I ended up heading back to Canada, to Eastern Canada to London, Ontario. With my English

accent, I had a little English accent back then, that I quickly lost because I was so young. And then I was in eastern Canada for a little bit. And then I ultimately returned back to home base here in Vancouver. And, you know, went through elementary school and middle school or high school, middle school or junior high and, and high school, went through the public school system. And, you know, my parents, my dad was raised by Catholics, nuns, and my mom is Anglican.

It's a dumb, dumb denomination of Christianity. But they don't practice.

I wasn't never brought up with religion, or it was just just the title.

Though, I attended church here in there through if we if we met family, friends, or we stayed with family, friends, and they were church goers, or something, I remember going to church the odd time or or for the wedding. And so panela for some reason, I just my heart never felt content being in that atmosphere. I really wasn't sure why. But I just didn't feel that was a place I really wanted to be. And this was this was actually from a young age. So But anyways, like I said, we never really went anyways. Um, so through through my high school years or junior high school years, I started

pondering about the creation. More, more and more as I kept growing older and older, I would ponder more and reflect on life and question why we were here, and things like this. And I remember one instance, when I was about 18 or 19 years old, I was with a friend of mine.

And we were on this dock. By this leak. It was like two or three in the morning, we were camping.

And I was we're just laying with our backs on the dock. And I was like, you know, like, why are we here because we're looking

If the stars want to like what, like, it just seemed ridiculous that we were, we were just here to live our lives like eat sleep, go to work, you know, have hobbies, and then just die. Like, you know, I asked my friend that this this guy, Chris, I remember him. And he's like, you know, that's deep, you know, like, you know, why are we here? That's crazy. You know, if you think about it, you know, this is, so I always had this question, you know, and, and this desire to learn the truth. And I remember when I was in high school,

there was this girl that was in my class, and she's like, you know, I'm gonna remember, I'm coming from someone with no religious background at all. And this girl's like, you know, we're just bacteria that evolved, you know? And I was like, how, like, how is that possible? How can we just how can we evolve into this perfect human being? And she's like, Well, you know, think about it's like, a millions and millions of years. And I was like, I'm like, I don't think, you know, even in millions and millions of years, if we're like, this little worm, or something, or a little piece of bacteria, and then all of a sudden, we evolved into this. I'm like, I don't think that could happen,

you know? And, and she's like, Well, you know, think about it, you know, this, this is one of the ways that,

you know, throughout evolution, you could have evolved and stuff. And I was like, Yeah, I don't know about that. And then, one thing, my English teacher, my grade 12 English teacher said, That scared me. He's like, God, and religion is just all made up to cope with death. And I was like, that really affected me. I was like, that actually started giving me like hypochondria, where I was, like, I thought stuff was wrong with me, because I was like, because that put this dark cloud over me. I was like, so we just live and die. And then, you know,

our family cries over us for a couple of weeks, and then we're forgotten. And then that's it, just, that's just the cycle of life. Like how, like, you know, morbid is that, you know, and, and that really, actually, you know, made me feel depressed inside, because I was like, like, it just almost life just felt pointless after I heard that statement. And, um, and then I had, I had some Muslim friends, I didn't actually know they were Muslim. And this is actually something to this day, when I mentioned it to my friends or my colleagues. Like, I actually, for some reason, never heard the word Muslim or Islam my entire life, until I just started getting introduced to it just before I became

Muslim. So I was I always thought about that, like, maybe a lot protected my heart from something because you know, how, like, you know, the media is, or some, maybe somebody that mistreated me in my, in my younger years, if I knew they were Muslim, or something, maybe that would have caused me to, like, reject the religion or something. I'm not sure. That was my kind of

reasoning, thinking about it. Why Eliza will protect protect me from

hearing about Islam and Muslims, until

one of my neighbors just lives actually just down the street from me.

A friend of mine knows I was going to school with his father was a mowlana.

From from India, and we used to talk all the time and stuff and he started telling me stories about jinn, you know, and I thought that was fascinating. Because I was always fascinated with like, you know,

supernatural stuff. And, you know, cuz, you know, you know, how you have those shows, like unsolved mysteries, or, or whatever, you know, you know, how haunted houses and things are moving, and there's no explanation for it or whatever. So he was telling me, he's like, yeah, you know, like, there's, there's the, there's the world of the jinn, this other creation that God created, and we can't see them, and this could explain some supernatural occurrences. I was like, wow, that's actually that could make sense. You know, like, because he explained to me the idea of somebody dying, and then just roaming around this earth, their soul, he's like, that doesn't make any sense.

And I agreed with him. And I thought that was interesting. And he gave me some books about like, stories like this. And so I read some of that and, and then I ended up reconnecting with an old friend from high school. So I have graduated by this point.

And I was about, about 20. And I reconnected with an old friend from high school.

He had a close friend that was Muslim. And

we got close together. And we, I mean, the Muslim guy end up getting close together, where we would end up meeting up without my friend for nine school. And then we would go on, like long walks, you know, like, five, six hours, we just have long conversations over coffee or tea or something. And I had tons of questions about life. And for some reason, this guy had the answer everything I asked him, he was able to answer it. Well, he wasn't a scholar, or anything like that. But he just had the answers to all of my questions. And it just totally made sense to me, like, you know,

you know, a lot is our Creator, we only have one God, he sent he sent prophets to mankind with the same universal message from the time of Adam, to Mohammed, civil law, why are you sending them with this scene, universal message, La Ilaha, Illa LA, there is no god worthy of worship in truth except a law.

And it just totally made sense to me. And he gave me a book called the brief Illustrated Guide to Understanding Islam.

And I had a really, you know, questionable job at the time. A friend of mine, his his uncle worked at a government, it was called the BC liquor store, warehouse.

The warehouse the most though they're like the storage center for alcohol, and for the government, and my friend's uncle worked there. And my friend told me, he's like, you know, like, you know, even if you don't drink, you know, just like, you can work there, you know, and I was like, Yeah, I was like, government job. Like, that sounds pretty good. And so he's like, let's both apply, my uncle said he can get us in. So

it was funny. And we laugh about this to this day, I still have contact with that. That friend of mine, and I actually got the job. He didn't get the job, his uncle vouched for both of us, and his own nephew didn't get the job, but I ended up getting a job. So I was, I was working there for about two weeks. And I was taking my brief Illustrated Guide to Understanding Islam with me. So on my break, or if I got to work early, I would be I would be reading it. And eventually, I went back to the mowlana.

My friend's father that's like, the scholar. And I asked him, I said, you know, like, I read, like, in a slum, like you're not supposed to, like drink and, and stuff like that. And I'm like, I don't, I don't drink. So, but I am working at this place. So I'm like, but I'm just moving it around. And like, you know, like, it's, it's okay, right? He said, Well, actually, in Islam, you shouldn't have anything to do with it. You shouldn't be buying it for people handling it. and stuff, stuff like this. So I was like, Oh, wow. Because but because I was convinced of Islam being the truth. I found it, like, easy to, to leave that job. And I did. And it was a really good paying job that time was,

this is going back 20 years, or more than 20 years. And it was starting at 16 to 15 an hour, like government jobs. So it was really good money, my family thought it was absolutely bonkers for for leaving that job.

And I could understand their their line of thinking as well. But I just couldn't move forward knowing the blessing that I could feel was coming. And and finding Islam, then I knew that I had to I had to leave this and start fresh and start in a way that was pleasing to Allah. And this and I gave up this job before it became Muslim. And so the brother that gave me the book, he gave me another like, Islamic library, and I was reading it. He's like, so like, are you ready to become Muslim? And, and I was like, you know, like, I want to, I want to get to know the religion where I mean, like, I want to learn how to practice it better. So like, when I do go to the messages or the

mosques, that I know, like, I look like, I know what I'm doing. You know, I don't want to look like a rookie. When I go there. It'll be embarrassing. And he's like, No, no, no, he's like, don't worry about it. He's like, I'll go with you. And

you shouldn't stall it. You shouldn't wait, like if you feel like you want to do it now. Don't like delay it six months from now because because you don't know what can happen from now until then. And I was like, Yeah, that's true. Because that's what I was seeing. I was like, you know, give me like six months, I'll read this whole library and I'll, you know, get get my Islam down real good, you know, and then I'll then I'll enter, you know, so

I ended up he ended up taking me to this little Muslim law.

Little prayer place in our, in one of the surrounding areas and I went there and I was just there to attend the lecture and just listen in the back. And then I ended up taking my Shahada that night. And yeah, it was it was really amazing it was unbelievable to to enter and everybody was giving me hugs I felt so welcomed and

and then that's when my then that's when my journey

really began I became Muslim and then my my family handed in law, well, my parents the were very accepting of it because the saw the improvement in my character, not that not that I was, you know, behaving poorly before but it just enhanced my my way of dealing with them. And all of the values and manners that Islam promotes that we learn from the Quran and from Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. So they were very

welcoming of it. And,

you know, some of my family members are okay with it. And I'm actually haven't spoken to the other half of my family in quite some time, even though I'm constantly trying to reach out to them. But because of my Islam, they don't be they don't speak to me, which is unfortunate. But I told I told them the last time I talked to them, I said, my doors are always open. I love you guys. And I'm here for you guys, always, I'll never, I'll never cut you guys off. And I hope that we can, we can see each other and talk more. You know, so you just have to try in those situations, because Islam encourages us to, to to keep those ties of kinship solid, like the ties with our families solid and

connected. Because cutting them off, you know, as we know, in Islam is not allowed cutting the family members off. So but these are the some of the type of struggles that

people that become Muslim face. And even even people that come from Muslim families, once they start to practice, they may find some opposition from family members like oh, like you're looking, you know, to religious now, like, you know, slow down, you know, we are Muslim, but we're not, you know, that type, you know. So you so you, you know, practicing the deen in general, practicing religion in general sometimes can,

you know, create some tension between you and you know, others in your, in your circle or in your family, but as long as you carry yourself with, with good manners, and just know that this is a testament to loss of penalty to Allah, then you'll definitely be able to get through that with keys in sha Allah. So

after after he became Muslim, and I was kind of I was actually became Muslim a year, sorry, the night before Ramadan. And I ended up having dinner, I ended up fasting all of Ramadan, I was really, I came in really, you know, a guns blazing, you know, into the, into the religion hamdulillah. And they ended up fasting Ramadan, I was, I was very happy that I was able to. And I met up with a chef, a scholar, he could come from Saudi Arabia, and he was visiting. And I had my friends translate for me, I'm like, I'm like, hey, I want to I want to go to the university, I want to go, I want to go study, like, Can you get me in and, and he was he was telling them to translate to me, he said, you

know, you just came out of a storm, you know, the storm of, you know, disbelief and the storm of not being a Muslim. And then you've just, you know, you just got into, like, smooth sailing now. Like, you know, take some time for yourself to for everything to settle. And then and then try to to go overseas and do those things. And there was wisdom behind that. Because, you know, I was fresh, I was fresh, and I was just learning a lot of things and I was very green. So, you know, maybe had I traveled and maybe I would have met somebody and had a bad experience that would have put a bad taste in my mouth. So every every step has to be, you know,

taken with wisdom, you know, so I just I just basically, you know, took that advice and I just tried studying at home and studying from people locally around here. And I remember this one night, we were at the masjid there was it was thought all we was thought Oh, we prayers and

Ramadan

msgid in there, I was praying and then the brother beside me was crying. He was crying his eyes out. And um, I was like, wow, like what's he experiencing like he he understands what's being recited here. I'm like, I really got to learn this Arabic. And

that's when I started taking Arabic classes locally. And eventually I ended up saving my money. And going over to Egypt to Cairo. And I need my Nia my intention to go for a one year. So when I went to Cairo for one year and feast, some situations there the school I started at that closed after two weeks because of licensing issues. And, and then I then I sat in my house and they sent me private teachers and I went to another school, and then they ended up closing down for the same reason. And I kept moving around. And so by the time I really got into the groove of, of studying the year was up that I intended on,

going out for, and I was like, You know what, I got to stay for one more year, because I just felt like I was starting to get somewhere in the language. And so I ended up staying for two years in Cairo. And that was an amazing experience. The first time I ever like left home

without my family, I went to Cairo was there for two years straight. And then I came back. And I thought, you know, that would probably be I guess, be it That was my, you know, my effort, I put it in two years. But then after nine months of being back in Vancouver, I was like, you know, I really miss Egypt, I really miss Egypt and Allah subhanaw taala blessed me with getting a scholarship to go to Alexandria. So which is a different part of Egypt by the water this time, which was more appealing, I was like, oh, wow, like before, it was like the, this polluted city, you know, the outskirts of this polluted city.

But it was still, I was still an amazing experience Cairo, but then that was, you know, the appeal of the ocean,

of Alexandria. And I was like, wow, you know, I do want to go back. And here's a scholarship that just fell into my lap. So I ended up going back

to Alexandria, Alexandria, and a few brothers here from from my area actually was able to go to, which was comforting to have, like, you know, friends from home nearby. And that's where she added adage mentioned earlier, that's where we crossed paths. And it was honored to meet him and all the brothers that came with him as well. And so I stayed in Alexandria for

about a year and a half. And, and then before I made my way back to Vancouver again, so now at this point, have had about three and a half years of Arabic, under my belt. And so hamdulillah I was, I was pleased with the results. And and if you if you make an intention, and you're sincere in that tension, and make it for ally, so as your ally makes it easy for you, even though you may find difficulty in at first, as long as you persevere and ask Allah for help, alone will make it easy for you. And he made it easy for me at hamdulillah.

So when I when I returned back to Vancouver, I started teaching Arabic

at a number or two colleges, and then some private classes and for an Islamic school. And then the itch came again, to leave again. This time, it was four years later. And I need my way to Malaysia,

which is actually the same university that I graduated from online. When we connected in Alexandria. I told him about the Medina International University in Malaysia, and given a bunch of information and I never thought he followed up with it, or I didn't know what became of that information. until years later, he told me, I actually completed the university there and received a bachelor's and I was I was amazed. So panel, I just gave him the information totally forgot about it lived my life and he continued and graduated SubhanAllah. So I ended up four years later, after returning from Alexandria, I ended up going to Malaysia. I enrolled in the University, the same university but I

actually attended on campus, and I was there for

just over a year, almost a year and a half.

Was there and before I went to Malaysia, I applied for the University of

Medina in in Medina and munawwara in Saudi Arabia. in Medina, I applied for university there and I had I had applied. I don't know how many times over the years to that university, and I just, I just would never see my late name on the acceptance list. It was

it was always usually people from Eastern Canada, we used to always get frustrated that brothers here in Vancouver, like I was like, you know, 20 guys from Toronto on the list. There's nobody from Vancouver, like, when are they going to select somebody from here. And so I, before I left, to go to Malaysia, I submitted my documents, again, to Medina, in Saudi Arabia. And

in the midst of my studies in Malaysia, the names got released to go to Saudi. And I saw their acceptance list of the Canadians and it was, I think it was like six or seven names, and my name wasn't on there. And I, I really was just fed up at that point. I said, so Pamela, like, I don't think I'm gonna bother applying again, it's like, I'm like, I was getting so frustrated, because I really wanted to go, but I just like, you know, it's just, I guess, it's just not meant to me, you know, like, so. And then I didn't realize they had released a second list. And about two or three months after the receipt of a release that second list, one of my teachers here from, from

Vancouver, he we're exchanging emails, he said, Oh, you know, you're, you're, you're accepted into the University of Medina. And I said, I said, No, I'm attending el Medina, International University in Malaysia, not the Medina in Saudi Arabia. And he said, No, you got accepted to the Medina, in Saudi Arabia, your name is on a list of accepted students. And I was like, no way. And he's like, let me let me send you the list. So he sent me the list. And I was like, oh, my goodness, I'm like, I can't believe I was accepted. And I was so happy. And it really like, you know, turned my world upside down, but in a good way, because I just established myself in, in Malaysia, and I was there

with my family. And so I had established myself in Malaysia, and I didn't know what to do now. Like, like, it's going to be like really challenging to pack up everything and leave but hamdulillah allowed me to easy I left my family in Malaysia. And I took a I took a plane from directly from Malaysia to to Medina. And a lot made it easy for me there as well, because one of my friends from my, my city here in Vancouver, was teaching English there and he had his own apartment, everything like that. So how did I didn't have to pay anything. He just took me in and I live with him for three months. He showed me Medina Mecca did the show me all over. So the and I really got to like

studies, Saudi when I was there, and I wasn't studying because I, I had just arrived and it was already mid semester. And I just spent that time trying to figure out how I could get my family to come over. Because that's not always easy for university students to to bring their families over right away. But at hamdulillah that was made easy for me 200 I think a lot for that because my friend that was teaching English there. He ended up knowing somebody who worked for a Princess's office upon the royal family members. So I got this document for my university, requesting that I would be allowed to bring my family over like immediately and handed a lot I couldn't believe how

fast that my family was able to come over. And so I attended the University in Medina, I was there. Because I did a year in Malaysia, of university and then I was there for

for just over two and a half years. And then I came back to Vancouver. And that was in 2017. So hamdulillah I've spent about Yeah, three, probably about six and a half, seven years

out of Vancouver studying away from my family. But those were definitely the best seven years of my life that that to be able to experience those, those cultures, those Muslim cultures and the values and the hospitality and the atmosphere the Islamic atmosphere.

It was it's, it's priceless. It was absolutely priceless. And it really helps you get in tuned with, you know, with, with your brothers and sisters from all over the world and, you know, especially when you go to

Medina, because that's, that's a hub for Muslims to go to and Mecca, you know from all over the world Muslims you meet your Muslim brothers and sisters from every from every background, you know from Africa, from Sweden, from Russia, from from China, from Japan, you know, you meet all your brothers and sisters there and when I was going to the university in Medina, I you know, just like seeing like a Chinese guy speak fluent Arabic and, you know, Swedish guys speak fluent Arabic. And, you know, it was really an amazing sight. And, you know, I'm thankful to Allah subhanaw taala for all the blessings he's given me. And, you know, this is, you know, basically my, my journey in a

nutshell. And like I said at the beginning, you know, so Pamela, just to see all of you in here, it just reminds me of, you know, like, when I first started, you know, and but it's, it's a really great initiative, the shift adage is started here with a convert Holika we get a lotta because it's, it's really important that we, we connect, and we and especially when you're I know how it is when you when you become Muslim, having that, that bond with other Muslims, and especially people that have become Muslim as well. And you have that in common, you can relate because maybe we have gone through different things that maybe other Muslims haven't gone through, because we weren't Muslim

our whole lives. So to share those stories, and to relate and to be kind of, you know, raw in front of those people and just break down the walls and just just talk about stuff. It's really important. And you know, one thing that this is probably one of the most important sentences that I've ever heard in my life, and when I became Muslim, the person that one of the people that helped me become Muslim. He said to me, when I became Muslim, he's like, he's, like, always remember, Judge, a Muslim by Islam, and not Islam by a Muslim. And that statement has saved me so much heartache, because you are going to run into people. that

me being Muslim, I mean, call themselves Muslim, and they may treat you bad. But you knowing that that's not Islam, that action is not Islam, maybe, maybe you need a Muslim person, and they swear at you or they steal at you and they see they're Muslim, but that those actions are not from Islam, and they're not allowed and they're not pleasing to Allah. So when you can separate those two, because I have met people that have become Muslim, and they didn't have this way of thinking in their mind. And they were mistreated, unfortunately, and that really shook shook them shook their faith really hard because they can't understand like, oh, like we're supposed to all be Muslims. Like why are you

treating me like that? But I can tell you the the most beautiful people I've met in my life have have been Muslims. The beautiful manners and hospitality and kindness and generosity have been Muslims. But you know, sometimes we'll run into people that may not be representing Islam the way it should be. But as long as you bear in mind that sentence judge unless Islam by Islam, not Islam by a Muslim, because right away you'll be able to identify things, you'd be like, oh, that guy's you know, or that that brother that sister is not acting like Muhammad Sallallahu Sallam taught us to actor that's against the poor and not that you go around accusing people of things, but that helps

you separate what the religion of a lot is, and what the the actions of human beings are. So

that that's that's my advice for you guys. It's golden advice that I received that I definitely wanted to pass on to you and

this is my my journey to Islam.

summarize the cut version.

But I thank you for allowing me to be here and tell my story. And I definitely would like to stay in touch with all of you it's, it's really touching to me to to see you all here tonight. And I'm, I'm your brother in Islam, and you can reach out to me anytime I have an option.

With that, I'd love to, you know, hear your stories connect with you. And if you have any questions you want to touch base with me regularly. I would love I would love to help because you are me and I am you. So we're all one we're all one body. We're all one oma one nation. We're all believers of a lot as Elijah. So panicle, I'll be humbucker should have either enter Stoker work to be

said on Monday come to LA hear about account.

sound that was really awesome how the lab was really nice to hear their story. Very, very touching on the law. I'm sure all of us felt that.

The VA, the power of your words, and you know, the journey is very inspiring. You kept

going to, firstly how you accept Islam? And then how can you build on that? I feel it's okay, I'll ask the first question. And everybody else if you're, you're free to unmute and ask questions, or type questions into the chat if that's okay. Hassan Yes. Questions about what you just hear? No. So yeah, one of the things I wanted to ask you is that what kept like, you know, you mentioned about how you wanted to learn Arabic, right? Like, and, you know, you saw this person crying, and you you said to yourself, you need to understand the Quran. And this is one thing you have to do. How, like, you know, there's one thing to kind of feel that way, um, we talk a little bit about just this

aspect of our faith, particularly from like, like your vantage point as a, as a convert, right? Someone who didn't grow up ethically, you know, in a environment where they were exposed to a lot of, you know, the practices of Islam, the vernacular of Islam, right.

Like, you come from that vantage point and say, you know, what, I'm going to dedicate three and a half years of my life To this end, right? What was the driving force there?

Well, like I said, from when I, when I was next to that brother in prayer, and I knew he was experiencing the core and a different way than I was, that mean me, that sparked the fire that I really wanted to learn the Arabic language, and what kept me going, it's like, it's like, a puzzle, you know, like, you, you learn a little bit, and you're starting to understand some of it, and then you're like, but I'm not there yet. I haven't completed the whole picture yet. So I gotta keep going. So it was always, you know, you know, just, you know, kind of like picking your way through the, through the ice, or through the mind trying to get to the gold, you know, and that and I knew,

if I just kept staying the course, that eventually I would be able to

understand the core and, and really experience it, like when it's being recited. And because this is this is, this is a change I made in my life, this is the biggest change I've ever made in my life. And, and it's a very serious change, because it has to do with your Africa has to do with your, your hereafter. So it's, it's like,

this blessing that I've been granted is just, it's just a motivation to try in Excel. And that is as much as I can, you know, we all have our weak moments and our ups and downs, but, you know, also studying over there and then finding good companionship when I was when I was abroad, and just enjoying the culture and enjoying travel. Just everything was just, you know, meshing together.

Well, for me, to the point, like I said, when I, when I came back from Cairo after the two years, like nine months later, I had the itch to like, save up money and leave again, I wanted to go back, I just, I just missed Egypt, and I missed being in the classroom and studying and,

you know, so So basically, yeah, what motivated me was just to keep, you know, climbing at that, that wall until I got to the prize was to, to try to understand the poor Anna's as best as possible. And every day, you know, every day we are trying to still improve doesn't mean just because I went away for that period of time. And now I'm, you know, mastered everything. No, it's it's all a process. You know, we're all on different levels of knowledge. You know, some of you have just become Muslim so recently and you look at me like wow, like, he just went over there, but I'm looking at somebody else.

Wow, that guy was I know people that have been like abroad for like 2025 years studying and that like that I'm like, I'm nobody to them, you know, like in comparison, but we're all try to

do as best as we can and put put whatever an effort we can in.

So awesome. Other questions from from the audience?

Please, please feel free to type them in or unmute your mic and ask them.

No Assalamu

alaikum salam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh I have some, like, not really a question, but some comments or some reflections. I made sure some discussions like you will discuss about, like, you firmly say that you become a better person after you converted to exam. And you also say yes, you may you may say Muslims doing bad things. So I mean, yeah. Because, like, this is one of my problems as well. Like, I want to become a better person. But I still I think I'm a bad Muslim. So, but like, this somehow affected my relationship with God. And, yeah, but like, gradually, I kind of like adapted to this, but I don't snow. I mean, I still cannot make myself better, like, sometimes is

difficult to keep away from the sense that Islam like finances, and it's, like, sometimes really difficult to, to do things like, I don't know how to cope with this.

Right? You know, the sister, you know, martial arts about a cola, you this is a good sign the way how you're asking this right now is that you're concerned about being a better Muslim. So that's already a good sign there, you're worried that you're not doing enough. And that is actually a good sign. Because it shows you that shows you how he man you have faith. And and that's really important. You know, it's it's dangerous for somebody to feel secure, like, Oh, yeah, I'm Muslim. Now. I'm like, I'm, I got a ticket to Agenda no problem. No, that's not the attitude that's very dangerous. But for us to have a concern that we're not doing enough. I have a concern sister that

I'm not doing enough. I I'm trying to better myself personally, every day. I have shortcomings. You know, but that concern of yours is a very good sign. And what happens a lot when like you're especially when you're new Muslim, you have a lot of information, you're trying to digest everything. You know what it is, you know what you do, you just break it down. Islam is so incredibly easy. It our Creator revealed Islam for us, and it's in our imprinted in our souls. It's an easy way of life. Islam, our Creator who designed us, gave us this religion gave us this way of life. So we should never find difficulty in practicing it. And if there's any difficulty that's due

to maybe our lack of understanding or trying to do too much, or maybe some negative influences, but

practice your Islam, just go to the basics. Keep keep the five pillars of Islam, in your mind, keep to the basics, keep you keep making your five daily prayers, maybe pick up a small little book to read on Islam, and take it step by step slowly, slowly, and then you will build up. I remember when I became Muslim, everybody was giving me books. I had so many books to read, and I wasn't really a reader before Islam, I wasn't really that interested in reading. And so when I became Muslim, I had to wheel barrels of books all over and I felt overwhelmed because I was like, I got it, you know, I got to read all these and when am I gonna find time, and then I ended up not reading a lot of them

because there was just too many to read. So you just have to, you know, you have your core and your translation of the meanings of the end. And you know, and another little basic book on Islam and just, you know, uphold your five daily prayers, and then just try to be the best human being as you can try to involve yourself

doing some good deeds, some voluntary voluntarily, voluntary work,

these type of things and especially having good companionship good sisters around you that had that that support system because I know as from being a new Muslim to even just going for a coffee with

The new Muslim goes a long way you don't have to, you know, have the, like a lot of new Muslims that I was meeting up with here in Vancouver, we would just hang out, just hang out and have you know, just be just be friends, you don't, you don't have to, you know, every time you meet up a new with a new Muslim and sit there and like, you know, drill them about all these different rules in Islam that they have to uphold. No, it's more about having that companionship, and that that bond with one another and having somebody that supports you, and understands you. So, keeping good companionship, you know, some sisters and some good sisters to be around, you will be very helpful. sha Allah.

Thank you. Thank you. You're welcome. You're welcome. You're welcome. I really, I really feel like this is one of the things that you know, new Muslims really need to have to have have to have support, you know, like, can never, I've, you know, like, I've been in messages before, and people have become Muslim. And then I've, you know,

asked like, hey, like, Where's brother Steve? Like, where is he? Like, couple weeks there? Oh, I don't know, I don't have his number. And nobody knows. It was just like, he was just the number somebody came in, and they became Muslim and don't hear from them again. But that's not right, that that person is needing support. So I want that's why I said, because I understand this point, because I was there. And any of you any of you guys need to reach out to me personally talk you're not going to bother me in any way. Please. You can talk to Schiff hostage, he can give you my my contact information. And we can talk we can have discussions. Whatever I'm here for I'm here for you

guys. 100 100%.

Does that sound Yeah, that's so nice of you. And I will share your email address with those who want to reach out to you through email. If you're not sure

if your WhatsApp is back or not, right? No, if you are back, it crashed for some reason. And but I'm on telegram. I'm on telegram right now.

Okay, okay. All right. Because we have just that we have a whatsapp group for all the people who have accepted Islam and a few others will not convert just as like

me, and it would be nice to have you on it too. Even though I now learned you were in London for a little bit. So you know,

I'm your people and new people.

Even though even if you weren't you were always of course more than welcome by the left now even even extra

since you were

inshallah, if I get my WhatsApp back working inshallah I will be honored to join with you guys. Yep.

That's awesome. Thank you. I had a question that was asked by a couple of people. There's a couple questions in the chat. There's a question by Devin. No, welcome. Nice to see you.

There's a question that was said to me to ask you, which is before you became Muslim, you find yourself ever asking God for help, or have a relationship with him?

Sorry, I was I was actually reading Devon's

question when you said that, could you repeat that, please? Yeah. Sure. I'll repeat that. Before you became Muslim. Did you find yourself ever asked God for help? Or to have a relationship? Yes, yes, definitely.

I was in I was in a period of my life. Before just before Islam probably about six months or eight months before I was, you know, like I said, I was feeling a bit of like hypochondria from like, what my, my English teacher said, like seeing God and religion as a way to cope with death. It was, you know, a baseless statement. But for some reason it you know, weighed heavy on me and it was it was I was very depressed at times because it's, it's if you actually believe that I don't even know how people continue living. Like even people that are atheist that don't believe in God, I don't understand. Being someone that hamdulillah that has the has the faith and belief in my Creator,

Allah subhana wa Taala. And then thinking about somebody that doesn't have that and are living their life thinking there's no God. It's such an empty feeling. So when I was when I did believe in God, when I, when I was growing up, I had that belief, like when something would happen in my life or something, I'd be like, Oh, God, you know, please help me like, help me. Like I would actually say that and

And I was I was going through a tough time dealing with things in that period. And I did ask God for help. I do remember that. And he did help. He did help. And he guided me to Islam.

And brother, Devin, I think I was just advising sister. How do you see your name? z?

z, z wave, right? Can I? Can I read the question out loud? If you don't mind? Sure, sure. Just so that it is for the benefit of those who are not able to? We're not reading the question. Right? So the question is

Islam migrant sisters, well, Nick, Do you ever feel like you aren't developing strengthening your faith at the right pace? That is, you're learning to slowly in comparison to other Muslims reverts? Or not? If you do, how do you reconcile these feelings? And reassure yourself that your intentions and rate of progress are still? Okay?

Um, yeah, I was, I was just touching on this with with a sister, but I can, I can repeat no problem.

Everybody, you shouldn't ever compare yourself to anybody else.

You learn at your own pace, you know, learn at a pace that's comfortable with you. Yes, it's good to, you know, look at people that are above you and say, Oh, you know, I would like to, you know, a team, the knowledge that I believe this person has one day.

But that knowledge is of no benefit. Unless there's sincerity behind seeking it, we would never want our goal to be to attain the knowledge of somebody else. And that's the goal, it's got to be sincerely for the sake of Allah subhanho wa Taala. And

you just go at your own pace, that's really, that's really the easiest way to put it, don't put any pressure on yourself, whatever you're comfortable with reading, you shouldn't beat yourself up by looking at somebody else that, you know, is ahead of you that can recite more or and than you.

or whatever, if it's good in one sense to help motivate you, but it shouldn't be a thing where it starts making you feel bad, you know, because there's also people, I'm not really sure how long you've been Muslim for. But there's also people that are probably fresher Muslims than you are. And, and they don't know, some of the stuff that you know, so you're, you're actually above them in knowledge, you know, so not everybody is that at different levels. So, and the fact that you're concerned about it is a good sign. It's a good sign that you have EMA, and you have belief in Allah Subhana, Allah to Allah, and you're concerned about perfecting your Islam. And that's a really

beautiful thing that you have there. So slowly build on it. Ask a lot for help. ask Allah to make it easy for you ask a lot to make you sincere in what you're learning that is, that's that the purpose behind it is to get closer to him. Because Because the best of deeds are the ones that you do continuously, even though they're small in number, you know, even if you're like, you see some brother or sister that's praying, like 20 units of voluntary prayers at night or something like that. And you're like, wow, like, I can't keep up with this, like, how does this person do this? You just go You know what, I'm just gonna give a lot to two extra, two extra units of prayer a night.

That's, that's my, that's what I I'm going to do for now. And then you can build on that because as you're a man, as your faith grows stronger, and stronger, you can carry more and more, and you'll, you'll, you'll feel it easier to do more and more deeds, and read more books, and those type of things. So, so just just take, just take it easy, and go slowly, and, and just focus on yourself. Whatever you're doing right now, as long as you're doing something. Slowly step by step. That's good enough. That's good enough, and you will slowly build on that and Sharla

Oh, that's awesome. Thank you very much. There was somebody who had their hand up. Was it brother? I want?

Yes, Salaam Alaikum. Brother.

And thank you very much for the

law. And brother.

We thank Allah subhanaw taala and you set the good examples for for us as Muslims on for the by sharing your story.

And that's really a touching story and this is how

from the day of the starting of the the time, the companion like so heavy blood. So a barroom salmaan and Pharisees all these great companions, Prophet Muhammad wa salam, how they gathered, how their when they started to do these things now with this pandemic, it reminded me the data out of them.

Now our hearts are so connected, even when we have seen Muslims country are turning away from Allah subhanaw taala. By stop practicing Islam, and we see here we are in Canada, we see the fairness and the justice and we see the opportunities for the freedom of religion.

And this is how Allah subhanaw taala

give us give us the freedom to choose

and how to worship and ensure us by setting a good examples of sending the shield Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him as a perfection of manners. When I see you, brother, I feel very proud the way you talk. I

I hope I was born a Muslim and Mr. Muslim aldri but I have a lot of shortcomings. I have a lot of challenge.

You live in peace, because you know Allah subhanho wa Taala

you are satisfied

and a lot give you this chances to be come to have companion righteous people and that's the best way. So they come together these hearts

gathered in the sake of Allah and separated on the sacral last vannatta Allah.

Allah you learn to have bought your lunch time it was minister of Allah in Islam, Allah Subhana Allah, Allah is Allah He Oh my lovely love that

you are, you are we I hope and I pray to Allah to be among those people.

That is wonderful.

The message is delivered.

It is proven, Islam is the best Islam is a solution.

And we have to be like one buddy, we have to feel

and now we are happy we feel happiness because we have the great hope and trust in Allah subhanaw taala to tide our heart and to make us to help us

bust this pandemic Embassy's challenge and the best thing is to stick with good companion and the Quran

Yes, this Orion will come to your heart No matter what even if you don't understand Arabic I know it is easy for you and you can weep and cry. But but the meaning will get there it is it is like like the filter you have set this up or arm of Allah is he speaks all the language.

If you have the good intention and if you have open heart open mind you will get it

yeah the lady here have one

one, Rama who is Shiva this war and he will cure all the sickness of the ship. All the sickness of envy all the sickness of gradients.

Why is he does it mean in the Hazara goes oh printer, you will see them now. How they are losing.

We pray Allah keep us together

and show us the truth. And we are brother Please believe me. Truly. You are my brother. We love you the sake of Allah well life better than my my like biological problem. You are my

allies Eliza judge says in the mean wanna?

Yeah, Allah Isaiah just says the brothers and brothers and the sisters are are the believers our brothers and sisters, and if what in Arabic actually means blood brothers. So our our relationship our bond of, of our the faith that we share as Muslim brothers and sisters is so strong that our Creator calls it up like a blood, blood blood

to bond like bread, blood brothers and sisters in law, so that's the that's the that's how we should care for one another in Islam. And is that a lucky brother for your very kind words I asked lots of panel data to make me better than you think I am. And to forgive me for things that you don't know. This is this is what you should see when somebody says some good things about you. It's, it's beautiful. That you know, we're always striving to be better and we if anybody ever praises you or says something good about you always say you know, me alarm me can be better than than what you think of me. So it's a good a good supplication to say does that come along here? Your take you as

my dear brother as well, all of you, my dear brothers and sisters.

Thank you very much for that one question. And last question, inshallah. We'll ask them that will we'll call it a night inshallah. Is it Can you recommend this is from sister Isabel, can you recommend podcast slash YouTube videos or scholars? For I'm assuming here for education purposes and whatnot. Share, sir. Um, yeah, I mean, there's there's many Mashallah beautiful speakers out there.

You know, people that, you know, jump jump out

in my mind right now that are, you know, famous. I mean, you know, there's like, Mufti menk you know, he's, he's a, I've had the pleasure of attending his nephews. nephew's wedding in Medina. He's a very beautiful brother Mashallah subotica law him and his family

I could, I could, maybe could provide some links to some videos of different scholars and different people you could learn from you know, to learn especially to learn the basics because especially when you're you're becoming Muslim, or you're you're just fresh to Islam and a new Muslim you want to you want to stick to the basics and and have ease in the way and in the format that you're learning the religion and you don't want to be bombarded with too many different topics and, and stuff like that because Islam is a religion of knowledge. The The first is that was revealed the first verse that was revealed to Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Sallam was upcloud if caught up, okay

was is to read read that was that was the first

first verse that was revealed to Muhammad Sallallahu it was sent him so our religion is based on knowledge and authentic knowledge. So every everything we do and Islam has

a be basis for it has proof behind why we're doing it. We're not doing things based on no knowledge. Like you know, other religions may be doing that but in Islam, we don't everything is revealed by Allah azza wa jal, every movement every action we do in Islam is from the guidance of Mohammed civil law IV he was send them now.

Hello, hello and thank you very much sugar sand is really really awesome to, to hear it from you and to,

to learn from you and thank you everybody for joining us for this this session this gathering, we pray to Allah that He gives us all the karma which is strength, and and he gives us all the dolphy the divine guidance to continue on this path as brothers and sisters in faith, HR law and it really really awesome to keep in touch this way. Alhamdulillah Shall we will conclude with that and I will see you all next month. Next month in sha Allah we have on February the ninth in Sharla February the ninth the second Tuesday of each month is what we're aiming for inshallah and share us on the your your messages actually coming to me if you want to like that's okay. You were you were sending all

these like beautiful replies. I was responding to everybody I wanted didn't think I wasn't responding to the synonyms and they're seeing

because everybody that said Salaam and you're most welcome to everybody that said thank you that

is our beloved Elsa shacks and will be joining us in next month. Next month inshallah for the youth conference. Even if you're not a youth inshallah come by you're young at heart

and

It'll be really nice to see you all then. Just last thing is sister Alice. Do you know her from? She's the sister who's the lead for the new Muslim care program. She's actually very ill. So please remember her and your prayers. May Allah give her Shiva that's why she's not here today with us he's usually hear every time. So we pray to Allah Almighty that he hears her fully leaving behind no trace of any sickness or any ailment and gives her full recovery. I mean, eurobodalla mean, thank you very much everybody. So Hanukkah lahoma Hamza Ganesha de la ilaha illa. And Estelle forgot to wear like a Solomonic saramonic amatola he got

a cat