Hosai Mojaddidi – The Prohibition of Drinking Alcohol Led Me To Islam Brendas Shahadah (Declaration of Faith)
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Hello, my name is Brenda.
I am a Mexican American.
My previous religion was capitalism.
There were so many doubts that I had with my previous religion that
just didn't really add up.
I was born and led to not asking questions. And it was a, it was a
sign for them for like disrespect. And I obviously did not want them
to disrespect my elders.
As far as finding Islam, I had very great friends that led me to
Islam. And
asking questions was not a bad thing.
The more I asked questions of my doubt that I had,
everything seemed like everything was clearing up. It made sense to
me.
There's one specific thing that I definitely knew that it was just
like, this is the right really definitely.
One of them is growing up at a Mexican household where alcohol
was
and capitalism
allow it to be allowed.
That being said, in that to have broken families.
And I just knew that if a religion allows it, it was just not the
right one.
And so Islam, I smoked as much I started
doing my research for over three years,
I was able to find out that all the things that I believe was
wrong and was
not leading me to do to be a better person.
Islam was doing the opposite it was leading to to being a better
person.
P definitely so much peace within me, like so many. And
I'm looking forward to many more everyday nationalists as I go
down. And we spoke briefly earlier. And Brenda, you were
talking about how during this past year in COVID, you were reading
from the Quran, right? And you had mentioned that certain things were
being revealed to you,
as well. Yes, definitely.
So previously, I would say, around three years ago,
I was attending Sonoma State I'm studying at Sonoma State. Last
year.
Before going back to LA,
I was going through a rough time with family and had to go back
home
to take care of my family.
And it was a very hard time for me.
I was given a run, as again, during those difficult times. And
every time that I was going through a difficult time, I would
just open it open, I would pray. And I will talk to God. And I will
open the Quran. And when I opened up
whatever page I opened into
that page, I would read and automatically I just got a message
from Allah.
It was it was crazy, because it was whatever I was feeling
whatever I was going through that page that landed on, it was
exactly what I needed to hear that.
And that there was just like, I have to come to
render for sharing your these words are so inspiring for all of
us. And they're reminders for all of us that it's a two way
conversation, right? As you said, you were in a need. And you asked
Allah some kind of data for guidance. And just by opening his
book, you found that in the Quran is absolutely a book that all of
us getting guidance from, and we should be reading it every single
day. So it's a really powerful reminder to never close that door
right to the I was communicating with us through His words, and
that we have to take that first step right. The first step is to
ask for guidance, which is what you did. And that's why you're
here. And we want to think of other machines here in the
background as well because much of it was his efforts that led you
right to this discovery that he was with you to providing you
resources, answering your questions, as you said, commercial
it was the sincerity in your heart, that after three years of
pursuing God that you're standing here before us and we're also
honored that you chose this community center and we hope that
you will be a part of this community. You are a part of this
community, as far as I'm concerned already. I just met you a few
minutes ago but mashallah, the hearts are connected
it and honestly this is this is ceremonial but your faith was
confirmed in the moment you accepted Allah in your heart and
the prophesy centum in your heart that was that's that was when your
firm was listening to me Your face was uniform in your heart. This is
more of just because this is what we do. But once you make the
testimony of faith, now it's a public display, but you're already
a Muslim, right? So what we're going to do, what we're going to
do now is we're going to I'm going to read the Arabic testimony of
faith in Arabic line word by word, and you just repeat after me,
we'll do it three times. And then I'll explain meaning in English
and
and then you welcome to the stage in a formal way here.
Alright, this will not apply to him. So first we say ash, Ash had
you had
the latter letter
IL, Allah, Allah
rasool
Allah
that's why
ash, Ash
ilaha
IL, Allah, Allah, what ash ash
Anna anna Muhammadan
rasul Allah, Allah, Allah my
ash ash
and I left La Ilaha ilaha IL Allah, Allah wa wa ash ash had you
had to Anna anna Muhammadan
rasul
Allah.
So, what did we just say? I testified, I testified that there
is no god that there's no god but God. And I've testified I testify
that Muhammad is the Messenger of God as the messenger of God.
Sister Brenda, we're so honored again to have you on