First Day

La Isla

in Ocala demon, Burger King.

So today, I thought, I'll take the opportunity of meeting you again.

And I didn't have a clue what we were going to discuss, because, you know, we've been busy and everything. But so Paula, you had a good idea to speak about your publication from the IOU, which is a joint venture from a notice quite a few of your

colleagues. And you've come up with this book called The first day.

So what was your idea behind the show? Well, the idea was that, you know, you have so many data centers around the world, you know, everybody's hustling and bustling, trying to figure out what to teach the new Muslims when they come in, you know, and there have been things written and, and comment books that are in circulation that people are using bits from here, bits from there, you know, and people reinventing the wheel backwards and forwards. And you know, so I felt that we need to develop a specific book for the new Muslim with its new Muslim invite in mind, it's not a book, which can be used for new Muslims, but a book for specifically for new Muslims. So from the get go,

the intention is clearly for the new Muslim. So I figured that

the way I would like to develop it would be according to the needs of the new Muslim, on the very first day of his or her Islam.

They've come into your office, they've come into your center, whatever, you know, you've taught your they came to your home, whatever, you gave them the dollar, they accepted Islam, what do you need to give them before they leave? In case you never see them? Again, you have at least have conveyed the message correctly, as much as you can. And that one?

opportunity. So I sat with a group of, of bladt from the Qatar gas center, here in Qatar.

I was in charge of the draft at that time, when did you do the show? How long? How long ago was this? Ah, it was maybe

I think it was about 20 2006. Wow. Yeah. About 13 years ago.

And the idea, having done it, was to send it out to Tao centers around the world.

But and this was agreed upon and everything, but later on, there was a change of administration and the new people came in, they weren't that concerned about the dollar around the world. That thing was that lets us focus on here. So it was squashed. But hopefully, inshallah, we will find a way to get this out, you know, as a manual, I mean, of course, people, different circumstances, different people, you know, different countries, you know, they may modify it, add to it, remove from it. We're not saying this is the final word. Yeah. You know, we're just saying this is a version. Yeah. Which, which is specifically designed. And I don't know of any other versions. I didn't know of any

other. I mean, that's written specifically for new Muslim. I didn't know you done the book. I mean, I came across your online course for new Muslims. About seven years ago, I was I used to invite new Muslims to my house, you know, we'd have tea and coffee, and we would actually show your video because that's a part of the your website as well. The numerous in training, you would give a lecture and then you'd have like a multiple choice, q&a, and it's very beneficial. But I didn't know you had this. Well, you know, I wrote the book first. Then, we gathered a group of about 30 new Muslims in Ramadan. And I taught it to them Mashallah, you know, implemented it.

We had a brother by the name of septillion tilian,

who was Filipino in charge of recording and menar here in Qatar, and he

you

Was his equipment and recorded the class for the first day, the series of classes that made it up. And also we did the second level, which was called the first week, you know, but of course, even the first week, though we call it the first week,

this in terms of use in a data center may vary that may be the first month for somebody else, depending on how many days a week they can come to the center. You know, if they're able to come every day, then

you know, use it there. But otherwise, it could be for two months, you're only able to come come one day a week. I think the important the important thing about it is that there is another step after the Shahada

because a lot of the dour finishes with the Shahada. Yeah, that is a big mistake. And immediately, you have to pray.

The Salah should begin then. Yeah. And then because of this law, as you mentioned, here, point one will do, you know, being you know, being in the state of purity, or cleanliness, you know, to begin that journey.

And these are things that people don't actually think of, I've seen many people, they don't

mention the Salah, so people become a Muslim, and then when it's time to pray, we go, we're going to pray and they'll leave the numerous him behind. Instead of bringing him along, taking him doing what do go to the Salah. Sure, and that is the important part of new Muslims who have been a new Muslim for a year, two years, they still did not mix a lot.

Because no importance was given to it from the very beginning. And the people would always say, okay, you know, you're a new Muslim, don't worry about it, you know, you can learn it eventually whenever you get the chance.

So it was like downplayed was our thing was the next salaat

you need to take them to that salah and pray it with them, right next to them, and let them follow you let them understand that this Salah is so important, you need to learn it right away, know, at least as much as you can.

And he's teaching the new Muslim that lucky you have a responsibility now. It's not just believe, yeah, it's great. You know, it is academically and you know, it keeps you motivated, it keeps you entertained. You know, you have an obligation now to worship Allah. This is what a Muslim is somebody who submits and worships to Allah. So the first and second point is the widow and the Salah. You know, you've got that from the very beginning. Well, actually, before that.

We do ask the person, huh, this is back to the tauheed itself. Okay. I'm just saying that we have to make sure that

this is a precursor to that. Yeah. So we make sure, you know, why are you accepting his law? You know,

so it's clear, you know, so we can advise them, I missed

that I should have known better. Yeah. There has to be

a check. Right? Because one of the things that we ask them, you know, if they're coming from a Christian background, No, I'm saying we will ask them like questions, which are like,

in terms of your understanding?

What is the difference between

Jesus and Christianity? And Mohammed in Islam? You know, what do you think?

Now, okay, or may ask them? Or who? Are you obliged to worship in Islam? You know, are you still obliged to worship Jesus? Hmm? Or is it God alone? Or when you become a Muslim? Are you obliged now to worship Muhammad? Yeah. Is it to give them a check and understanding check? Have they understood what it is they're actually accepting that this is to worship god alone? No, we don't worship Mohammed instead of Jesus to just switching one with the other. This is what a lot of people come in, I think, and this people might think, Oh, well, that's obvious, but I'm sure if it's not obvious enough, you know, I'm a man

in Manchester once

as on our table, and he said, I accepted Islam with you guys, meaning you Muslims yesterday. So I thought, Okay, let me just test him. So I said

What does God look like?

You know, he said he has a gray beard. And he sits on the cloud.

And he was being honest. He was not pulling back. And then I said, Who is Jesus is that God said?

So I know this, there's some people who maybe they're not involved in dour, or, you know, they don't know. I know, it sounds like

plain and obvious, you know, but it's not, you know, you really do need to tell people this needs to check.

So we'll see here, you've got, you know, you're confirming the Islamic perspective of tawheed. And Jesus ACLs on specifically, of course, because obviously, most of the people are coming from a background where they were worshipping Jesus. Yeah. And Jesus was God, and they felt they were worshipping God, but it was Jesus they were worshipping. So we have to make sure that that idea is clearly rejected. in their minds. they've understood that no more Jesus, not that you wipe Jesus out. No, of course, Jesus was a prophet of God, as Muhammad, may God regarding peace and blessings be upon both of them were prophets of God, you know, he was a prophet of God also. So before the

Shahada, we need to ask them a few questions, make sure they've understood, understand what they're getting into, either it's before the Shahada, or if somebody brings somebody with them and says, this brother has just taken Shahada, um, you know, cuz it could come both ways. Right. So, sometimes, you know, when I used to give the hookah in the masjid, you know, they afterwards they would bring people who are taking Shahada, you know, normally they're the practice was just to bring them lining them up, and then they all raise their fingers. And they say,

let me ask,

did you understand? Do you understand what this is? Have you understood somebody explain to you know, God is, you know, you know, I would always, you know, stop it, and, and try to change that approach, because it was more, they were using it more as a, you know, a

stunt, or you could say, to give that new Muslim, you know, a sense of the whole people saying,

you know,

they come up

afterwards.

And then he realizes, well, it's good.

But, you know, I, I have witnessed this as well, you know, I remember, I went to a village in Malawi,

as within an organization, and was only there 10 minutes, and the truck was full of clothes, and food, you know, gifts, and everyone's got their eye on this truck, you know, and I was sort of in this, they said, you know, who wants to become a Muslim? Everyone.

I said, Guys, relax, you know, let's spread the message. You know, it's not about numbers. It's about how many you've conveyed the message to, that's where you're, you know, when you know, that's what you should be counting how many people you successfully conveyed the message to.

And, sure enough, they all became, well, they all took Shahada. I was not happy with it. And from what I know, I've heard that village is no longer Muslim, or were they ever Muslim. I'm not gonna say the left Islam. I know, for certain they didn't know what Islam was.

You know, and that's the fault of the Muslims. Sure, you know.

And so I think this is really important. You know, so yeah, thanks for taking me back to that. So, the first part is making sure, you know, educating them on on the Shahada, even if they've already taught the Shahada, you know, make sure they did it. Yeah. Because, you know, they could be repeating the Shahada, you know, without understanding what it actually means, you know, an interesting point here as well, shall I want to clarify that?

You know, some brothers, they kind of tell he checked the new Muslims.

So, they might ask you a question.

And they might not know the answer, but they're sincere. I, for instance, I say, where's Allah? And the numerous and will say everywhere that I'll look for, you know, whatever, they write him off, instead of the same. That's another Yeah. You know, instead of just saying, you know, educating the Brother, don't, you know, you don't have to understand you don't have to hear that the the key is, understand it's a long ways to be worshipped, but even when it is

deep understanding this guy's on a journey. You know, he's a new Muslim. You know, he doesn't know everything in the beginning, but it doesn't mean because you got the answer wrong. It doesn't care. You know, they're still sincere. So that's that's important. But it's got to be moderate. Yeah, you're dealing with a person who newly has entered Islam or is about to newly enter Islam, then you only need to check on the basics. Yeah. What is the basics? You know, do they understand that it is a law alone to be worshipped? Yeah. That's the key. They understood. It's just a law alone. Yeah.

He is not

visible.

That we can see him with our eyes in this life. You know? So there's nobody who come around and tell you well, I'm a law.

Nobody tell you that. No, he is not a law. He can't be a law. You know, no difference between that kind of belief and believe that Jesus was God. Yeah. And then you go straight into will do Salah. Yeah, yeah, no, no, because we do need to proceed solo, yeah, we need to show them go through the, the process with them, don't just tell them go make we'll do. Some other people are doing it, you see what they're doing? Just do it, like they do it, you know, you know, give them something of an understanding? Like, why are we making wood Do you know, at least the core idea of purification from sin, that we are purifying ourselves, you know, before going to worship a law. And also, that, this

is also preparation for the prayer itself, you know, that, if you don't do Your will do properly, then that's going to affect your prayer. You know, when the prophet SAW Selim went to the point of having a man repeat, his whole will do because he had, you know, just a spot on the back of his foot. And he was a big enough spot, you know, on the back of his foot, which was dry, didn't wash it, he flashed it. And so we let him know that no, you need to do it completely, your fleet will do, and that this makes sense, psychologically, you know, spiritually, mentally, that you are preparing yourself to worship Allah, so that when they actually come in now for the prayer, they're coming in

with that frame of mind, you know, so that it is the precursor there for so long.

Yeah, so we tried to give them that understanding that whatever we're teaching them, yeah, we know, we have to teach them the ritual, but we need to teach them the understanding behind the ritual preparation. So they don't just afterwards question themselves. Yeah. You know,

a lot of rituals in it. Yeah. Do it, you have to do this. You have to do it this way. After doing that way, there's wisdom.

There's no connection. Because they said, okay, you pass wind make will do. What's the connection between the missing when making what do you know, cuz i in the church, you just go positive, nobody knows.

It was, you know, problem doesn't affect your worship. But know, hey, this is really a whole nother level, you know, because even in the army, when people all stand up, you know, you're doing your thing, you know, people pass wind all the time. But hey, this is like a whole nother level. You know, so, we need to let them understand why why do we need this other level? Because worshiping Allah, you know, it is self pride of self control. You know,

we control ourselves during this period. Yeah. So, so, that was very, there was very, yeah, you know, so many benefits to it. You know, not just passing wind, but intercourse, everything. You're planning your whole day in life around the Salah. subpanel. You know, and then what I like about your second point, is prayer in the masjid. Yeah. Because when I first became a Muslim, that's how I learned how to pray.

Go into the masjid and praying in the congregation.

You know, getting into the habit of praying with, you know, following people, because when I was at home, I was like this, you know, I have the book in one hand, you know, and I've got the laptop there. I've tried it. But when I was going to the masjid, you follow, you know, you follow and you learned you learn much more rapidly than trying to do it on your own. Yeah, so Pamela, so even if if the machine is, you know,

A bit of a distance from your house, you should still try to make the effort to go, you know, because it's gonna, you know, especially as a new Muslim, it's important that you're in that Islamic environment with the Muslim cetera. The next the next one, you've got pairing the Convert. Yeah, this is the concept of the muhajir rune and the answer the prophet SAW Salaam, when he came to Medina, he paired the Muslims muhajir would be become a brother, actually, who would actually inherit, of course, later a lot corrected that, you know, change that. But initially, that was his, he had promised us items he had, that they were paired,

you know, and even some of the, the,

the unsolved, you know, of Medina, who had, you know, wives, they were, they even offered to divorce some of their wives so that the mahadji rule who are coming to them could have a wife to marry, you know, they reach that kind of a level.

You know, so the point is that the pairing, because that new Muslim, you know, if you just leave him on, or leave her on their own,

then shaytaan of course, this is the time when they're the most vulnerable, you know, so she thought we'll be coming at them really full strength, because they failed. And these people have actually accepted Islam shaytaan, they just lost some money, you know, so they're gonna have to

die before it becomes, you know, me coming at them left, and they need to have somebody there who will be ready to help them answer any questions they have, you know, go with your financial, your finances, if you're able, yeah, you know, they should try to help in this situation is help them out. Because, you know, you know, when someone accepts Islam ship,

I use the example that most new Muslims have been on the sinking ship.

That, you know, the losses there on the, in the seed or the sheet, this, they've got to that stage, where they're, they've hit rock, rock bottom.

And they've called out to Allah for help. And you find a lot of new Muslims, the ones who have had difficulty in life,

you know, they've, they've reached that stage where they've got nothing else. And they asked Allah, you know, is, of course, we do have, we do find rich people that accept Islam as well. Or for the majority of people, people who have had a struggle in life. And you find a lot of them do need financial help, as well. An example was, you know, someone offered, you know, Cipolla, the story of when he accepted Islam, where the Prophet some encouraged Well, all the companions to help free him financially helping, you know, bring the date palms and so upon Allah. So that's an important point, as well. So it's not just spiritually and,

you know, showing them the supplies, in their companion as well. Yeah, yeah, looking out for them, checking up on them, you know, calling up, you know, how are you doing? How are things going? having any problems? Can I help you? Yeah, you know, like this, you know, getting them to the masjid.

I shall not shake the next one, you've got letter to the Imam. Well, letter to the Imam. You know, what happens? Oftentimes, when a new Muslim accepts Islam, and this is gonna be we're talking about males, especially in the countries where women don't normally go to the masjid and things like this, right? In other countries where they do, it could apply to them also. But then, generally, the men, when you as a new Muslim, you come into the match.

You know, there are all these people that you don't know them, completely unrelated to you, you have no connection with them, you know, you come in here a little shaky, you know, and then, you know, of course, when you walk in, oftentimes people turn and look at you, you think, oh, boy, what have I done wrong?

I guess I'm getting scared. And, you know, these kinds of things. So the idea is, you go to the amount my head, we write a letter to the mom, which says, you know, this is a new Muslim, please help him out, you know, help him to get accustom to settle into the Gema the community, it's such a such so that becomes the responsibility of that Imam to help introduce him to the other people that are there, the new Muslim brother, you know, so and so she can help him help him and so now like this, yeah, so he feels the comfort and support of the community from the beginning. You know, that makes a big difference.

For a lot of people, so

important for them to feel comfortable going into the master because we tell them Yes, praying the medicine, you take them with you and make that first prayer in the masjid. But, you know, after you leave them on their own, they have to go back in that master all by themselves. Yeah. You know, for people who have not experienced that, they might think I

can walk into any master. But

you know, I didn't go I I fasted Ramadan on my own. I've not even took Shahada. I was scared to go in the masjid.

I didn't know what to expect. And I took showers in Egypt. So when I came back, I went to this Masjid, but I only went there because I thought it was a school.

If I knew as a Masjid, I never would have gone. Because as a non Muslim, you hear all these stories, you have all these misconceptions. And it's not easy. It's hard, especially when you don't look like everyone else. You know, as much as I do, you know, you go into a certain mosque, and, you know, they're looking at you as a stranger. So I like this one letter to the man, because this could also be like going around and educating the Muslims about helping the Muslims as well, you know, doing courses talks, for trying to kind of create awareness about about this, I like that.

Check, then you move on to listen.

So you, you know, let's go into the next step of clarify, because some people they say, Well, no, they have to make also before they even take Shahada. Yeah, I've seen this. Yeah. And it's a position held some scholars held that, like the born again, Christians when they don't come in the

baptism, yeah.

equivalent, but no, it's not a requirement. So and, you know, you don't need to delay things with the issue of the whistle. But you do need to teach them about the whistle. You know, because once once they enter Islam, you know, everything before is cut off. So will do is enough for them to go and pray. But now after that, if they have sexual relations, then you have to tell them about also. So now the next thing you need to teach them, right, is how to make also, you know, in the simplest form, because that's an issue. A lot of times people don't tell them about this, you know, they don't inform them about the whistle. So they may go and pray with just will do, yeah, when they

needed a whistle. So then the next one you have and ever have a story about this, which is covering the aura.

Now, it sounds so obvious. But I had a new Muslim funnily enough, as I said, I used to have these weekly classes on my house. We used to go through your online program. And one of the new Muslims came, is not a new Muslim. It's been Muslim, my 15 years.

And at this point, he told me a story.

when he'd been Muslim for three years, and he was working.

And the his boss came to pick him up from work. It's a Muslim guy. He's beeping the horn. So he's rushing out the house, he came out. And he said to his boss, his boss said, What are you doing? He said, Well, I got up. I got out of bed. I had a shower. I prayed and I got dressed. And I can't

say he said, say that again. He said, You know, I woke up, I had a shower, I prayed and I got dressed like, I come Sorry, I'm late.

He said, Did you do it in the order?

You know, you know, did you pray with no closer? He said, Oh, yeah. You know, that's how I pray in the morning.

Because he didn't know, he thought, you know, natural and suppiler.

If you pray naked, naked,

I forgive him. It'd be accepted inshallah. So Paula, you know, a lot of these things sound so obvious. As a non Muslim, you don't know. Sure. You have no idea. And you know, our, of course, involves so many factors from both females and males, you know, that if you don't give them the basics, you know, then it's very easy for them not to do the basics, because the whole society around them is a permissive society, which encourages nudity and exposure of the hour. So then, how do you expect them to realize this?

You know, for the seventh one, you have the dimension in the prohibitions, you know, the major prohibitions of Islam. So educating them more.

Yeah, of course, basic ones.

Alcohol, you know, if you don't tell them they're gonna be a Muslim and still be drinking alcohol. Yeah. And if you just tell them in general, you know, we must have don't drink alcohol, they will say, well, they will think because I've heard, you know, numerous them say, Well, you know, we know we just have a glass of wine, you know, on Sunday, you know, with our Sunday meal. Yeah, but I'm not drinking, you know, hard liquor. I'm not drinking scotch and whiskey. And you know, this thing. I've given all that up. But I still, you know, keep with the

this is included and knock our friend and girlfriends as well. So, yeah, these dilations Yeah.

Yeah. So Pamela, the next one, a good one. Marshall, family advice. You know, because the new Muslim, as you said, Showtime has just declared war on him.

And it's going to come from every direction. You know, being able to cope with the family. Yeah, I'm sure you have many stories.

People have been told, I remember one brother, Jewish brother, who accepted Islam there and in London. And, you know, I was discussing with him. And, you know, he told me that, you know, his parents after he accepted Islam, his parents called him up, he informed them, they got together, and they met the family. And then they call him up and said,

last night, we prayed

the funeral prayer for you Salatu janazah should

finish, and don't even call us don't even, you know, finish.

People can get to that extreme. That will be

like a classic. Yeah, you know, all kinds of problems that can get with it. Have with the family, you know, sometimes people even delay their Islam, you know, because their wives or their husbands, you know, so you have to help them work that out. For someone who's in that situation? And would you advise them not to tell their family?

Well, if they tell if they say, Well, if my family find out, they're gonna kick me out, and all these other kind of things, and I don't have any place to go, and

you can hide it, you don't have to inform them, you know, you're in a position to inform them, you can you can take care of yourself, or, you know, you got married or whatever, you know, so you have a means. Sure, yeah, we advise that. And, you know, also you don't need to go into, you know, Okay, listen, you just got you just accepted Islam, your husband, who you've been married to, for the last 15 years, and you've got a 10 kids with, you know, you are now he is haram to you?

This is something, it is a major issue. Yeah, you know, you you can feel it out with the person. Because if that's going to stop them from accepting Islam, then it's better to let it go for you know, let them build their mind strength, because better, yeah, that they commit fornication? Yeah. They're not as a Muslim, then to not commit fornication.

And, and be a non Muslim? You know, you know, because, of course, it's a non Muslim, you know, having sex with your husband is an

indication. Yeah, so it is better for them to have accepted Islam and be breaking that rule

than for them not so. So just to clarify, for those who might not know, you know, if somebody does, if a woman should say, comes into Islam, and her husband is not a Muslim, the general rule is that they would have to, eventually will they should, that marriage, marriage is stopped. Yeah, but as you're saying, Now, just for those who don't know,

that you have to weigh up, you have to use wisdom, you know, because the main thing is that they become a Muslim. And you say, and if that's going to prevent them, then you know, you have to leave me alone after their marriage. You know, it's put on hold, you know, because if the husband accepts Islam afterwards, then yeah, they don't have to read an article Some people think okay, yeah, I've done that. You have to go remarry now on Salama, you know, she saw Yes. Yeah. She then later he.

She came to Medina, and he was still keen. And then she said, okay, you know, I'll make the Mahatma, your acceptance of Islam. Yeah. So when he accepted Islam, and then they carried on as husband and wife, they didn't do any damage. They just carried on. And that's when you have is the seasonal app.

of worship.

What do you mean by this seasonal acts of worship? Meaning?

Hajj.

Ramadan? You know, these are seasons around the Earth should let them be aware of these. It's likely that when they accept Islam, either one is coming up, you know, or they're in the middle of one, you know, or they just came out of one. Yeah. So just to inform them, give them an understanding of what those were about, especially if it's one, they're just going into, right. That they may be taking part either it's trusting, or it could be for Hajj, if they have the means financial means etc. Go for the Hajj. Yeah. Yeah. So again, if somebody accepts Islam at the start of Ramadan,

they should fast they have to fast Yes. Some people say, Oh, no, don't worry. Yeah, eventually.

You need to fast.

And then you have the gift, gift package, you've got a big list of different things. You know, there's different things of gifts that you could possibly This is for centers. Yeah, for Islamic centers. And it could be for you as an individual. Yeah, you know, the new Muslim gives them a set Giada. You know, for women, prayer ground, you know, how what the prayer, so they have something simple that can be put on to cover them up, right, in their prey in an acceptable way? I mean, of course, you've explained to them about our robot, you know, they're not gonna just change their wardrobe overnight, all of a sudden, you know, they were half naked. No, they're completely covered.

Okay, you explained the thing to them, but just didn't allow them time to so what are they gonna do in between? So what is it can they should they go and print these things? No, give them a prayer gum, you know, they have this one piece that they put over and everything except for the ncse, when they can put that on, easy for them to put it on for prayer. And for the men is e. m, between the navel and the knee? Yeah, there's a lot, a lot of people trying to get you where to wear certain attire. Yeah, same clothes, you know, change your name? Well, you don't need to, these are two different things. But in terms of the dress for the man,

we should make it clear that for the man is out as between the navel and the knee.

And for that hour to be covered, it's only considered covered if the garment is loose. So Western pants, which were designed to expose the hour and

for the most part are not acceptable for prayer. So at least this area should be loose. And if it's not loose, then at least for your prayer purposes, you know, you have you know, a sarong, or longji, or whatever that you put on at the time of prayer, you know, to at least fulfill that basic requirement. And then you should look about changing your wardrobe to more loosely fitting garments, which will not expose your hour, you know, how many times you go in the masjid. And these guys make a record in front of you and I wasn't

even a bigger calamity.

You know, besides what they're, you know, doing to the people behind them, you know, what they do to their own setup? You know, one of the one of the conditions for the acceptability of Soa, is cetera, our covering the hour? Yeah, yeah. Yeah, just left for her. She found it. It's very good. hamdulillah and as you said, you know, there's a lot of you, you've actually played a big role

in many data centers. So pallab everywhere I go, seem to be you know, following Dr. Bill. Ah, so

I went to UAE, Saudi, Qatar, you know, different places, places in UK, Canada, wherever, Africa, you know,

and hamdullah you've played, you know, you've always

focused and helped the new Muslims, you know, especially in our senses, you know, and it's upon will be a new Muslim myself. Yeah. You know, I feel for them. Yeah. I mean, it's natural that I'm going to have a greater care and concern to ensure that they are helped in one way or another. So that is always, you know, in the back of my mind whenever I'm writing, you know, whenever I'm lecturing, you know, do to always look out for

potential new Muslims or to help the new Muslims of any different area because I know the struggle that it was to gain enough knowledge to be able to practice Islam properly, etc. So naturally, I'm going to be particularly concerned about them. Yeah. I mean, I guess alongside this, you know, because this is really I you said the first day, you know, and then if we speak about,

you know, the first month, or the beginning of a new Muslim, I mean, what, how can we start to teach them about the beliefs of Islam? What, what would you recommend? Well, I did another program this year, it wasn't published in book form like this, but it's also available on the Islamic online University website, in the free Diploma in our campus, you know, where you can take the course it's called the first week. So in that, we now start to introduce some of the basic teachings, you know, of Islam, you know, in more in depth, that they can study systematically, something or makeda, something of Quran, you know, with Tafseer, something Hadees you know, with interpretation plus,

also, the fit, you know, the application now of the Quran, and the Sunnah, in our life in a very basic, yeah, and then serum, you know, and some Arabic, yes, you know, our basic Arabic enough to have to be able to start to read the Koran, you know, to be able to say what you need to say in the prayers, you know, so the the first week goes into some of those very basic things. And then after that, then the third level would be the first month, you know, which is, and this is assuming that people are able to come there every day, a week, you know, otherwise the first day,

you know, they may only be able to come to you for an hour, no, you can't fit all of this into an hour. So maybe they're only coming once a week, in that hour. So this first day may end up being your first month because you're only seeing them for one hour, you know, one day a week. So, so you have to go in given these numbers, this is the ideal. Yeah, if the person is able to come with you and sit with you that for they see now with technology, people could actually listen to this in their car on the way to work. Yeah, on the bus. You know, so all that time, which would be wasted driving to work, but, you know, you could actually listen to it anyway. So, so that way, and

eventually they could also you have your books as well, which, which maybe a bit later on, you know, the Islamic Studies series. Yeah, you know, I have one Oh, yeah. foundations of Islam. For books, right? Yes, forbidden series that expands on on all the basic information. The only thing missing from it is the Syrah section. And in the book,

one book, which I edited, called, I think it's it is all level

level preparation for all level Islam, those who can do the old level exams, so we put together there a Syrah

section, near which is very brief and simplified for the new Muslim. Mashallah. And then you have your book on Tao, heat and evolution effect, you know, maybe a bit later on as well. Yeah. So, Mashallah, this did we have? Everything is available? Yeah. I mean, when I when I accepted Islam back in 1972, yeah, there was nothing. Yeah, there were no books upon actually the only books that were available. Were comedy, you know, qadiani books. You know, that's the I've met the Koran aficionado. molana was his name.

Muhammad, Muhammad Ali. Ahmed Ali was the English

translation, first English translation by Sunni Muslim. But this is another I forgot his name. But his name is it's something Ali also, I think, but

that was the one which is available, you know, and

one, a book for a thick book called The religion of Islam, a thick book, truth asmodee, which explains all the Hadith and the Tafseer and all that. That's what I initially was available for me to read. You know,

check. I want to thank you for your work.

I mean, you know, it's really for me, especially me, I mean, I you know, relied a lot on your work as a new

Muslim, you know, because it just having authored in English

is so important

because the translations of classical books.

I mean, they're a bit better now. But even even when I first weekend to 10 books written by a native speaker, yes, because you can't just say

no, but the person is not a native speaker of English. Um, he'll be here, he'll be writing things his writing is conveying ideas, he's writing it, you know, in English. But you know, what did he mean? Yeah, what is he trying to say, you know, so, I mean, I remember that probably the greatest,

you know, calamity, in translation that I've come across. I remember, in the, in the outcome center there in Singapore, I went in, and I and I saw this book, you know, they, they showed me their syllabus, what they're teaching Muslims. And for new Muslims, I saw this book is gone. Something like the religion of Islam, something like that, you know, medium size, 100 pages, unlimited pages.

And I was flipping through, and I went to tauheed.

belief.

And what they had there was Greek philosophy. So complex and complicated, I couldn't understand it. And my major was aqidah.

This was my area of specialization. I couldn't understand it. Because I asked even the brother was in charge of the center that that was it. What did you understand from this? I could not understand too much either. Rather, you don't need to be giving you Muslims. And I went on further. And I found in the book, they were talking about things, you know, which it's common in the subcontinent, you know, they were talking about,

for example, with with diagrams, how to wipe your behind according to the Sunnah. You know, after deprecating, you know, that, you know, his visuals. Well, they didn't get to the actual details, but they showed the direction they said, you know, in the winter, you should, you should do it counter clockwise, when you're wiping your behind. And in the summer, you do it clockwise.

said

please, brother,

this book, and then they went further when they're talking about, you know, things which will break your will do and you'd have to make ghosts or, you know, we'll do for it. They talked about if you have sex with a fish

having sex with a fish

these Muslims, some really crazy stuff.

Check, you know, but you know, where it came from, you know, where it came from, these are from classical books, which were written from Hanafi Fiqh,

where they do, in fact, discuss these matters. You're there, you know, I did they went into this, this is speculative, fake, you know, scholars speculating, in order to work out issues and problems before they occur. This is their approach right there. Especially the Hanafi Yeah, so they so amongst the, the points of discussion, the thing was, okay, what happens if you have sex with a fish, you know, when your will do still be good?

Okay, they were doing it for spec, you know, for fit contents and things like this, but it's not this is not suitable for a new Muslim or for regular practicing Muslim to have to read this stuff, you know, so, I thought Brother, please, this book, you need to burn it.

Don't let any, you know, a new Muslim or non Muslim come and see this book. She was going to really put a bad you know, understanding people's minds. You know, I had one that was sent. I'm not gonna name the Dow sensibilities in the Middle East.

So they put this book together

and add up.

So they said, Can you just have a look at it? We've already printed half a million of them. But we want you to check it. We're sure it is. Okay. That's a little

I checked it. He said when you go into recall, you put your hands on the ankles, on your ankles. what they meant the knees, knees, but

you know what that could do to come

You can't put it out.

You know, of course, when you told them that Listen, you need to recall all of the Yeah, they didn't they didn't give any Alhamdulillah Oh, it's a waste. No, but yeah, I've just got a sticker, which says, you know, that ankles, knees and then just stick it in place, probably cheaper and easier, just, you know, revenue plays or just, you know, and they're not short of money. This particular organization 100 law book, this is outlining the importance of having a native speaker who's writing for a particular audience, like your work, or you say this is for a particular audience, brand new Muslim, your study books are for the middle step, you know, and then your other books like tauheed

and other ones maybe a bit more, someone who's getting a bit more advanced. But you have an intention before you start. You know who you're writing for. And it really does show

Yeah, it really shows. So just

it's been a long journey. Yeah. And thank you for your work and

I'm gonna I just

I'm going to ask you publicly because otherwise we might not get it off you but we want it to finish or sort of fit and then and then your collection is finished.

So shall I yeah, it's a shell in mind and we just put it down for a long time, but inshallah inshallah inshallah

maybe we can leave it there. And

just so please join us next time for another episode of a young smirks and we'll see you next time

in

Ashburn,