He read about Salahuddin Ayubi then read the Quran then THIS HAPPENED!

That was my reaction. And in there were times that I when I would read the Quran, I will cry literally based on data. Latinos are the fastest growing ethnic group. I saw the Muslims bowing and prostrating on their faces, immediately clear up the light bulb in my head. And I said, Man, I love this. But two years into my journey, I'm learning that Latino and Latina Muslims like me, are not as uncommon as I once thought, especially you guys up there in the back, referring to the Arab guys, as in John 17. Three, and this is life eternal. So they may know You, the only true God and your teacher gives you a book on Salahuddin that is right. Tell us about that. Now, as a Muslim,

I can understand that what the words of Jesus even watch better than when I was a Catholic, you also you're on the radio,

just like muscleman

your lesser Conseco

that was corral Islam, Islamic brothers and sisters. As you can see, Alhamdulillah we've gotten a property we're getting right to work we're not officially open so you guys come in to help us to officially open to accomplish the goal of opening the first Mega Dawa center and Masjid phase two. Here. Go ahead and do your part. Donate right now so we can accomplish this goal. I sit down and I sit on the computer for use. Welcome to the deen Show. I'm your host Did you know that Latinos continue to be the fastest minority group coming to Islam. And I have one of those Latinos here with me today from Honduras. He was born in a Catholic family went on to study many with many different

Christian denominations even sat with many study circles with Jehovah's Witnesses played a

in a play the role of Jesus was so dear to his heart. He also went on to join the Navy ROTC somewhere in the midst of all this, he got to hate in Islam. And later on, he ended up meeting some Muslims what happened from there that he's on the D show, to share his wonderful story on how he went from being someone who hated Islam and Muslims to being here onto the shores.

May

we have Ron God His name?

And his final messengers, Muhammad peace be upon him. This is our religion, Islam. Islam. This is the deal.

We're ready to talk about I would only talk to you explaining how much respect I have for the faith of Islam. Show. Welcome to the deen Show. The show

I still only come late. Come on Salam wa rahmatullahi wa barakaatuh. So Neal, Fernando Castro, correct? Yes. But you go by Abdul Rahman of the Rama which means the the servant of the Most Merciful. Beautiful. And you're from Honduras? That is correct. And this is Central America. Yes. What are the we have surrounding what like what Amala? And El Salvador, Salvador and Nicaragua? Yes. And you were telling me that this area here is a very small population of Muslims. That is correct. That is, until this day, probably about 1%. Still of the entire population. Let's get into this news clip because I opened up and I said amongst the Latinos Islam is the fastest growing religion. And I

want to get your take on this. Sure. Oh, when I first heard the call to Islam as a Chicano, I thought I was alone. But two years into my journey. I'm learning that Latino and Latina Muslims like me, are not as uncommon as I once thought based on data. Latinos are the fastest growing ethnic group embracing Islam in America. Hi, may Mujahid Fletcher is a Colombian American who embraced Islam 21 years ago soon his father also wanted to learn about the religion and hi man had a hard time finding educational material that was written in Spanish. That effort grew into Islam and Spanish and Islamic center that doesn't convert Latinos and Latinos but provides educational

information about the religion and Spanish high Miss says they've seen an explosion of Latino and Latina converts, people just show up and they said, Hey, we're coming here to embrace Islam. So what do you think about this report here?

It's uh, do you see that happening? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Do you? Do you see these numbers this morning? This is more in America or are you seeing this also in your home country where you were originally from Honduras and these other in Central America. I see.

It is mostly here in the United States.

Is that why? Because there's more exposure to Islam? Yes, yeah. Yes. Because here in this country, you know, there's more liberalism, there's more freedom.

And so the people,

they have the freedom, you know, to basically to, to choose and get exposed to many different types of, you know, isms and religions. How about Honduras? How is that it's primarily Catholic, the majority is Catholic, and then it's divided into subgroups of Christianity, such as Protestantism, and other subgroups. Islam is considered one of the minority groups recognized

amongst you know, a few

so but your your background is also from your your parents both practicing Christians, Catholicism. That is correct. Yeah. You are also practicing. Practicing. Yes, yeah. Can you kind of outline some of the daily rituals? We know in Islam we have the five pillars and pray five times a day minimum fasting Ramadan Hodge, you know, so you know, the break that was kind of a breakdown for Christian living in,

in Central America was practicing Christianity, what does it look like? Is it for everyone is kind of different? Or is the same for Muslim is pretty straight, straightforward is pretty straight is the same? Right? Right. But how was it for in Central America with the Catholics? Well, mainly for Catholics since I was a practicing one.

Catholics will basically go to church, yeah, mainly on Sunday Mass, in the morning and in the night.

Apart from the dose, other rituals such as Easter when it would come at the be in the month of March or so, I will partake in Easter in the past what is called the Passion of Christ, the dramatization of the crucifixion of Christ and the death and all of these things. And the resurrection, I will be part of those things.

as well. As, you know, study

groups and worship groups that we would hold, because I grew up very close, you know, through my female relatives, my aunt, my grandmother, my great grandmother, these were real, you know, they were religious people at that time. And there they are. Yeah. And so, by watching them, that's how I grew up very close to Catholicism.

Okay, so then at what age you actually did you come to America. When I first came to America, I was about probably between eight and 10 years old. Yeah. Was that role that you played as Jesus? Was that back in in Honduras? Yes, but that was when I was about 13 years old. Okay. So you really had an affinity or really a connection with your at that time with your religion? Yes. And even playing the role of Jesus and so you you would go to church, you would go through the communion the communion, you were baptized what? I was six years old, I was baptized six years old, six years old. Wow. All right. So then you come here to America. And at what you even worse at some you are going

to different denominations at the same time sitting with Vendula locals and even set with some some Jehovah's canines going on your door one time that is correct. Yeah. Especially because they were Latin and Latin American Spanish speaking. So

at that time I was living with I was still living with my parents in their home. And I would invite them

and I will sit down with them read the Bible, and study with them, their, you know, with their, their magazines and stuff, which is in English is called watchtower, in Spanish school at Elia. And so I will I spent a good amount of time with them, and rereading and trying to understand, but I never, you know, they never tried to convince me to become a Jehovah Witness, even though I was still a Catholic, and they knew it.

And what, what was it when you would sit with other denominations and whatnot, what what was everything? What was your What were you inspiring to? To learn more? Did you have doubts at that time that you had to go and sit with other other denominations or other sects of Christianity? Was there something missing? No, in fact, that's a very good question that you ask, because

is prior way prior to my Islam to ever finding Islam?

I never, never encountered any doubts. I never questioned the Trinity. Or never question whether Jesus why Jesus is God, or why people think so or why the Virgin Mary is considered the Mother of God, or these sorts of things. Yeah, I never had any

That's concerning it.

No, not at all. Not at all.

So then you're going on through life, you're here. And then how did you end up with this? Because you didn't know anything about Islam? That is correct. Yeah. But then you somehow ended then you ended up hating it. You didn't know anything. Like a lot. Most people they end up when you talk to them, they know nothing except what the media usually tells them are some hate preachers, some personal poisons their minds. Yeah. And then you fell into that into that trap. Now you ended up hating Islam, but you didn't know nothing about it exactly out of ignorance out of ignorance. I saw, like you say, you know, the media outlets, portraying hatred towards these people towards this

religion that are associated with terrorism.

Yeah, so tell me this.

went on for some time you had a an incident where you gave up you got in front of the class, your class, is that correct? That is correct. Tell us about? This was right. Right after? After high school. Yeah. After high school. Yeah. And then you were 18. That's kind of when the hatred really It slipped into my heart. Yeah. Yeah. What happened in 2001?

Right, when 911 actually happened, I was in, in community college. And

I entered in the morning, right into the cafeteria, always, that was my routine, go to the cafeteria, grab a snack, grab a soda to drink, and then go to class to my first class. So as soon as I enter, I see a television. And the first thing I see is breaking news, America under terrorist attack,

the Twin Towers were burning.

I stood there, just paying attention looking at it. And I said,

went to get my things to the machines went to my class.

Later that day, I mean, afternoon, I went to English class. My English teacher is the one who broke the news, everybody, you know, if you're aware, you know what's going on right now in New York, in Washington, DC, you know, two airplanes crash into New York City. And there's a terrorist attack, if any one of you knows anyone

on those towers, or have any family members or friends.

And if you would like to come up and say something you can please do. So.

That's how that was a very emotional shaking the

girls in the class, they were very emotional, very, you know, they were tears crying and everything.

At that time, right after, because I've graduated high school.

I have that patriotism in my heart. Because I was in the Navy ROTC in high school for years. And I loved it. And I wanted to join the real name.

So when everybody had finished doing, you know, they're expressing their emotions, you know, and their feelings. My teacher says, anybody else would like to come up and say something. I raised my hand.

Neil, do you have any relatives? Do you know anybody in the Twin Towers? I said, No.

We'd like to come up. And I said, Yes. I went up to the front.

And before I was about to make my impromptu speech,

for guys, for Muslim guys, Arab guys come in into the class, they go straight to the back of the classroom, they start talking to each other, you know, in their language. And so I said, basically, I know that I had no idea that this is going on. I saw it on the TV, but I had no idea what's going on, man, until you know, our teacher exposes the new stores. Now I have an understanding what's what's happening to us. So I said, Whatever I'm going to say.

It's not to offend anybody, especially you guys up there in the back, referring to the Arab guys here.

So my impromptu speech was,

whoever did this was, is going to pay.

That was my impromptu speech and my short words to the point, whoever did this to us is going to pay because I felt the patriotism and the love for you know, for America.

And from that moment on this one that you know, the hatred for these people, these terrorists, or this religion, they're associated with, enter into my heart. Yeah. I felt like I became an enemy to this religion.

out of ignorance, out of ignorance, yeah. Wow.

Even though obviously, Islam has nothing to do with such evil actions, nor does anyone who's practicing Islam as a as a Muslim. Yeah. And it's it's amazing that so many people, they ended up from this sad and tragic event that happened. You

You had so many people

fall into this hate? Yeah, like you fell into? Yeah. But then what's interesting, you ended up in a humanities class. And your teacher gives you a book on Salahuddin. That is right. Tell us about that. But so basically, that was the novel that she gave us. My teacher was from Chile. I remember her, or I forget her name. And she was a very intelligent woman. And she was so this is the book that she gives us all, every student in the class. So this is the novel that we're going to read and I see the title Salah Odine, by Tariq Ramadan, Professor Tariq Ramadan, everybody is aware of him. I believe he you interviewed him as well. I think he recites either in France or in the UK. And so we

went through this novel, you know, written by him, and

they're interesting. And, you know, it was a novel, of course, but of the details that I really, you know, can remember, you know,

isn't that much, but

I remember thinking she will give us a chapter in we were supposed to, you know, explain what we read and everything. I actually embarrassed myself and that day, because I forgot to do my reading.

And, but anyways, it was, other than that, it was just enjoyable. It was an enjoyable thing. And I got exposed to Islam through this. And as I mentioned, you know, I came to Islam through stages.

And Allah I didn't know Allah was preparing me, then was showing me the way that this thing had to do with Islam. This particular people had to do with Islam.

In the back of my mind, in my subconscious, I had no idea that anything of this has to do with this religion called Islam.

So then Salah Deena up I mean, this is a very historic figure. And you see him there's actually Hollywood even made a movie, right? What was it? Called? Again? It's called the kingdom of heaven, the kingdom of heaven. Did you see that movie? Yes, I did. That wasn't Sinead actually portrayed it properly? Yeah, somewhat where he actually do you remember, you want to share what what happened in that movie? Do you remember that? So basically, in the movie, Salahuddin is the one who more will mobilize the Muslims to open Jerusalem again and to retake it from the Christians who basically have established you know, their kings and in the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

And so Salahuddin is basically considered the hero, one of the greatest heroes, after

I will say, the companion of the Prophet, Khaled. Eventually the who was called the sword of Allah, who is considering even by the non Muslims, the most one of the most successful generals in history. They study his life. Yeah, yes. Never.

He never failed. He never he never lost a battle, as far as I'm concerned, throughout his life.

So then Salahuddin, he ends up retaking, that was, what was the the magnanimous thing about this conquest now that he when he came in, he could have just destroyed everybody. Right? Yeah, that is correct. And then what happened? So So when Salahuddin basically he Oh, finally opened Jerusalem under Krisztian defenders of Jerusalem.

They basically agreed to a truce, a pact of peace with Salahuddin

that they will give up the city

at the exchange of them, letting them live. The soldiers that were there, and the Christians living in the city,

and sallahu Deniro his you know, greatness and magnanimity, as a ruler as a warrior. He agreed that he will give safety and safe passage to all the Christians, they wanted to leave the city into the Christian lands. Yeah. And this is following the example of how Muhammad peace and blessings be upon him who at that time in the pagans, they had tortured, they had done all sorts of evil towards the Muslims. And those who were worshipping one and only one God when He came and conquered in Mecca over 10,000 strong. This also was a chance for him to take revenge. But he didn't take revenge. He spread the pee spread the food. And this law Dean following that same example, probably Muhammad

peace and blessings upon them, correct. Yeah. So nobody was terrorizing the people were actually they were the ones terrorized. But when they had a chance now to come back and inflict suffering and torment and terrorize people, because they were terrorized and they were oppressed and all sorts of evil was done to them. They chose the way of mercy, right forgiveness, right, exactly. And this is what I read as

Well, when in my year, my two one and a half year or so,

between 2013 2014 My learning before becoming a muslim, when I read about, you know, Islamic history particularly. And this has to do also with my name of the Rahman that I chose that, you know, Salahuddin, according to the historians of his time, Salahuddin he loved to follow the Prophet in two things sallallahu alayhi wa sallam in the peace and blessings of Allah be upon the Prophet Muhammad, and his family and companions. One of those things was Salahuddin, he would spend his wealth in charity.

And number two,

he would also seek knowledge be around the scholars. And number three, the third point we're going to have to add

here loves to follow the Prophet in jihad.

For those who do not know the word jihad doesn't mean holy war.

Jihad simply means in English, to strive and to struggle for those for the sake of Allah in the path of Allah, and what is good. And so Salahuddin, he used to know these three things, and follow the Prophet very keenly on these three things. So you started to get to know all these things, you start with a Muslim at one point, so you came to Islam in stages, things were just brought to you here, there. And then you had this Allahu Deen book that was one stage. And now you end up meeting a Muslim, and he's actually going over the six articles of faith, he's explaining the fire pit, he's explaining Islam removing some of the misconceptions that you had tell us about this stage. Okay,

that happened further down into somewhere in 2003, when I began doing valet parking in downtown Chicago.

And so, the brother's name is Damir. And until this day, I am communication with him. And I will always greet him. So, anyways, when I the

I was acquainted with him through a period of time. So at this time, I really didn't reach to, you know, the point where, hey, I'm interested in Islam, What is Islam?

Know, at that time? 2003? I mean, 2000 Yeah, 2003.

I don't want to accumulate myself.

The terrorism, the topic of terrorism, and Islam. And anything that had to be related with so called terrorism was still a hot topic in the minds of people, unfortunately.

And

how I came to that point was that

I heard another co worker of mine, two co workers of mine, one Muslim, who joined us later on. And he was talking to another guy and Mexican guy who looked like Jay Leno. So the guy Mexican guy was against, you know, this Muslims, this terrorist and all of this and all of that.

And the thing that stuck in my mind was the word terrorism.

So one point of time I was with, you know, with the other, the other Muslim guy, who's his name was Khan. And I asked him,

can, I overheard you speak with Javier, and he was mentioning the word terrorism. So I overheard you and Javier and he was saying this Muslim, terrorist terrorism, and this is the only word that stuck in my mind.

I said, Can you please explain to me what is terrorism? Because I don't know. So the guy, unfortunately, as smart as he was, he couldn't give me a clear definition of what terrorism is. So he said, Let's go to the mirror when we go back. And so we did. We went to the mirror. So that time, all three of us were very acquainted now. And so he said, the mirror here is this young man, Neil, he has a question for you.

And the mirror Being the nice guy that he is. He says, Neil, what is your question? I said, Damir. And I told him the story. And so I said, Can you please tell me what is terrorism?

I don't know.

So he said, Sure. So he brought the definition by Nico beloved, who is a

Israeli Palestinian activist, advocating Palestinians. And so he gave me the definition as terrorism is the weapon of the week.

I said how?

He said, When powerful nations enter the the other nations, we get donations and they attack them, and they destroy everything. And they take

no, whatever they have the people in order to fight back. They only take the means that they have what is available to them. And so they use that as a weapon

to fight back and this is how terrorism is the weapon of the week.

I said okay.

I guess it makes sense to me. And so that made

It says, Neil, are you interested? What do you know about Islam? Are you interested in learning about Islam? I said, Yeah. Because I was an open minded person. Now that he had given me this explanation. And so from there my journey with him started.

Yeah, so I mean, it's interesting point, because obviously, anyone who now studies Islam sees that, you know, the killing of innocent human beings, this is something that is against Islam. So even if somebody is in a situation, that now they are weak, it doesn't justify because some people, some people do that.

It doesn't justify for someone to go ahead and take innocent life, right non combat and so what I got, right, right, but in combat, you have the just war theory. This is something that even before this term even came about, just for theory, you had it in Islam, right and right, we're Prophet Muhammad, he was sent out his, his holiday and what leads and others and they will have a list of what the do's and don'ts, how to engage exactly in combat, right. It's never to leave the innocent non combatants people into places of worship, houses of worship, all these things were were safeguarded. Exactly, exactly. It's amazing that you're pointing that out, because these things that

the Prophet instituted to his companions, to his armies, came 1400 years,

even way before the so called Geneva Convention.

Norms ever came into existence, Islam through a prophet they will already instituted

in the commands in the constitution of the Prophet of the do's and don'ts that Muslims should and should not do. So then now you're learning these things? And you're saying what? That they make sense, like, so you were telling me that finally, like, Okay, after these things are explained to you? You're thinking like, okay, it's,

it's time should I accept Islam? Should I take my Shahada? When am I going to take it because pretty much everything that was explained to you, you already believe that anyway, exactly, exactly.

When the mirror was explaining to me about the pillars of Islam, about the articles of faith, particularly and especially,

he told me about the belief in one God, Allah, the belief in the angels, the belief in the Scriptures, the belief in the prophets and messengers, that they have judgment,

and the decree of the good and the bad.

I said to the mirror, the mirror, I already believe in all of these things, you know, I believe in it already, exactly. Automatically. From my Catholic upbringing, upbringing, I already had it in me. Yeah. And I really believed in these articles. So that itself, made my entry to Islam, even much faster and easier. But what about now in Catholicism, you have all the saints let a saint worship, worship of Jesus Trinity crucifixion. What about those things? Yeah, those those things, you know,

they are still there very commonly until this very day, unfortunately.

And it's very sad that

the people unfortunately, they are being led, like ignorant lambs blindfolded,

as it says, In the Gospels, dumb, deaf and blind.

And it is the reality sadly, but Alhamdulillah, Allah opened the opportunity for me to learn about Islam, and get my all my misunderstandings cleared out. But did you at that point, did you believe Jesus was God? I was still believing it. But when the mill clarified all of these points that Jesus, there is no trinity of God is only one. Jesus is not God, or the Son of God,

or the Holy Spirit is not God. Yeah. But rather, you know, is the angel Gabriel, a messenger that administer all the prophets in the Old Testament, that Mary herself also the mother of Jesus, is not the mother of a god or a goddess herself, or as they call her, the goddess of the universe. When all these things were cleared out, you know, it made sense.

I always I've always believed as a Catholic that there is one God only. But however, he was mixed with the Trinity.

And Jesus was a prophet as well, as is in the gospels very clearly. I already believed that because I used to read the Bible. And I could understand that very clearly in my language. It clearly says it is the gospel that this is a prophet. Exactly. Jesus of Nazareth. Yes. A prophet. Yes. And the Gospel of Matthew particularly, yeah, it is all over the place that the people believed that this was a new prophet being sent to the, to the people of Israel. Yeah. So then now, Prophet Mohammed comes with the Quran to set things right because now people even the earlier Christians, then believe that he was a part of a Trinity

He or many of the things that I had developed over time that we have today, costs on a car that know the council and all these things, people, you know, trying to figure out is he divine, isn't he? And then the schism and all these things handwriting. So now here comes the last and final master problem, Muhammad peace be upon him. We didn't call people to worship himself, he called people to worship the God that Jesus worshipped. Exactly. And to clear things up about Jesus. Exactly. So now that message is coming to you. There had to be some confusion at that time, because now this has made clear you like that makes sense. Um, with this? Exactly. And you know what, I'm glad that

you're mentioning that because when the mill gave me the Quran in English, and I began reading it,

it began making sense immediately to me. It's as if the book was speaking to me directly, and connecting with me. And remember, I mentioned to you that Jesus was, and his mother, are two of the most important pillars of faith in Catholicism. For every Catholic Yeah.

And so when I found Jesus and his mother, peace be upon them both in the Quran

it was like,

a an explosion in my mind. Wow, that, wow, this book mentions what I believe already. Jesus being a prophet, his Blessed Mother, being a righteous virgin, who gave birth and he was born Miraculously, he did all the miracles, wow, I said, I recognize that this was the truth.

The whole was my reaction. And in there were times that I, when I would read the Quran, I will cry, literally, I would cry because my heart and my senses,

they recognize the truth in this book. And that made me make the Quran part of myself. Part of my being

even more, just as the Bible it, you know, was part of me as well, as well as the teachings of Jesus.

And this is very digestible, this is very, because it goes with what we call the fitrah. You know, the fitrah nests, thus the innate human disposition, it just when something comes now, it just makes sense with your heart, mind body, with your with every limb, your DNA, everything that in you the truth comes, it just connects with its that's why it's no coincidence that you have amongst Latinos, those who are exposed to Islam, yeah, it is the fastest growing way of life. Yeah, it's connecting with their fitrah. So do you. Do you believe if more people in Honduras, Central America, if now they got to get exposure to Islam? They would also because there's these commonalities? Yes. Yes.

They will also, yes, I strongly believe it because I have seen it in my travels back to back home. Yeah. The people are ready. They believe that there is one God, yes. They love Jesus. They love the Bible. They love the Virgin Mary, they love at all. They express it very clearly.

It is natural to them.

Unfortunately, more Dawa work. More more of that work is really needed in Central American countries.

In comparison to other countries in South America with which is well, Dominus Islam is growing fast over there, as well as in Mexico as well, but Islam is I believe that Islam is really, really needed for my people. Because I strongly believe that Islam is the only way for people to truly to be guided to a to the right course, the right direction, to truly worship the one true God that Jesus worshipped. And he believed and he praised, and he glorified, as in John 17, three, and this is life eternal. So they may know You, the only true God

and Jesus whom you have sent that in itself, you know, Harry, just this powerful verse in Psalm 73. And in many other instances in the intro, the Gospels

made me realize that now as a Muslim Arey,

I can understand that what the worst of Jesus even much better than when I was a Catholic,

and I believe that every revert to Islam, particularly that whether it be Latino or English speaking or and other than that, I believe that they they will all share something similar to what I am saying that we understand the Bible better than the Christians themselves.

And this is a fact. Wow, this is powerful. Yeah. So then John 17 Three, this is life eternal, that they may know you the only true God and Jesus who you sent exactly mean Jesus is the messenger, the one who was sent by the one true God and Jesus very

Clearly exemplified this idea that he was sent, that he didn't do things out of his own will. But rather he did, by what he heard from above, while he was commanded to do. He did the will of the one true God, the sender is the one sending. So the sender and the ones sent are not the same, exactly the two complete different different individuals. And then this always this verse from the Bible reminds me of the Shahada. Exactly, right. Because La ilaha illa. Allah and this is what you had to say to, to accept Islam. Yes. So let's move on to that. So now this is very, very similar to John 17. Three, that you bear witness that there's no nothing worthy of worship except the one true God.

And Jesus is saying here, there is that you are the only true God, and shahada, you're testifying that there's no nothing worthy of worship except the one true God. And Muhammad is the final messenger at Jesus's time, you would have declared that Jesus is the most he's the messenger. So that makes sense. Yeah, it makes total sense. Yeah. So then what did it finally you said it was like Christmas Eve or something? Yeah. So in 2004, yeah, throw throughout that time for 2003 When I started reading with the mirror, and he started teaching me and I was educating myself and through the Quran as well. And he invited me to the masjid as well. And I loved the experience of it, it

reminded me how Jesus worshipped as well. And as I told you, I saw the Muslims bowing and prostrating on their faces. Immediately, it cleared up the light bulb in my head, and I said, Man, I love this, because it gave me so much peace. When you saw the Muslims praying, exactly. They reminded you of how Jesus prayed, and from what you read in the Bible, exactly how he prostrated himself on his face, on the ground, calling to the to his Lord, the one he worship. So

all of many things happen. And so when this time came in December, I already had enough sufficient understanding that this Quran is the truth, that there is only one god but Allah. And I believe that, in reality, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, as stated in the Quran, very loud and clear. It couldn't be no more ambiguous than that. Just as Jesus said that, God, there is only one God and he is the messenger of God. So, one week before Christmas Eve.

I was sitting in bed, and I was I began to reflect and brainstorm. When should I become Muslim? And I kept on thinking, and I remember all the 24 is gonna be Christmas Eve. Midnight, we celebrate the Catholics also make maths at midnight, celebrating Christmas on the turnover of the clock at midnight. And so I said, I'm going to become I'm gonna take my Shahada in this day. And I looked at the calendar, and it came to be there in 2004, December, the 24th, fell on Friday.

And immediately, I made my decision. When I went back to work. I met the mayor and I told him the meal. I want to take my Shahada. The mayor was perplexed and surprised. He said, Neil, are you okay? Are you sure? You want to take more time to study and think about I said, No.

I'm sure this is the truth. I said to him, I want to take my Shahada and I want to do it on the on the 24th on Friday on Juma.

He said, Okay, so let's meet on Friday, he said, and we met when Friday came.

And when we went to the masjid anyways, I'll cut it short.

We went for the Friday prayer.

And

I enjoyed it.

And the Imam was about to leave. I remember that. When we came before the hood BA. We went to the fourth floor, and I tell we tell the brother in sitting in the office. This brother wants to take shahada pointing at me in the blood said, okay, okay, I'll tell him. Anyways, when we were done, the man was about to walk away from the member and everybody was ready to walk down. And the mill realized, Neil, come on, let's go. This guy forgot to tell them what did he tell him? Come on, let's go. We stopped the Imam before he left and we told him they admitted this brother wants to take shahada Okay. Imam called everybody back on the floor and says brothers brothers, please.

Stop, come back. There's a brother who wants to take shahada, everybody came back.

So the Imam

he told me, you know, you're taking a great step. You're making a big decision in your life or becoming a muslim. But I want to ask you

that anybody can, you know, convinced you or brainwashed you to become a Muslim? I said no. The anybody offer you money. I said no.

Are you doing this out of your own will? I said yes. Because I believe it's

through okay, then we're gonna say it in Arabic. And then we will say it in English. At the head of head of the mom I told him I shadow Allah, Allah, Allah Allah. Muhammad Rasul Allah. So Hema laughed at me and he said, Okay, you know it, you already had practiced and memorize the Dasha Halima. Yes, yes. Wow. Yes, I already know, testimonial faith already. And so, we went through it, both of us in Arabic. And then we went in English through it, and someone in the audience in the floor, they they shot it be very loud, and the whole floor shoot with one, Allahu Akbar, three times Takbeer Allahu Akbar, Akbar, Allahu Akbar, it was so powerful for God is the greatest, exactly, to testify that God

is the greatest indeed. And that's a powerful call in reality.

And so, at that moment,

I felt that I had reached the peak of a mountain.

That's the feeling that I had immediately after I do that testimonial faith.

And I feel that I was victorious.

That was that feeling. And in my heart, I felt like flame was burning inside of my head ferociously.

I told the mirror after the mirror, I feel like I will I live in Islam. I feel like I work in Islam. I feel like I sleep in Islam. Like I sleep in Islam, everything in Islam. And that was my, my Shahada right there. And then

and that was 18 years ago. Yes. 18 years ago. Yeah. Wow. Amazing. You gave it thank you for sharing that with us. Inshallah, this can be a benefit for so many other Latinos and just people in general, who are searching to know the purpose of life, why they've been created, why they're here, clear up somebody's misconceptions, especially around Jesus, those who love Jesus. And they find that we as Muslims, we have a deep, profound love for him and his mother. And this whole, all the misconceptions that revolve around him is cleared up in Islam, who he really was His mission of calling people to worship the Creator, not the creation, not himself, but the one who he prostrated

to as Muslims do. All of that's in Islam. Yeah, they can have it just like you found it. And hopefully what your story can inspire more people to read the Quran. Yeah. What advice would you give for someone out there from Honduras, Central America, they're tuning in and they want to know why they've been created there. Their life is in shambles and they're on you know, the services or whatever the case and it's just like upside down. They're searching for more, what would you tell them? Okay, I will say it in Spanish, because you're referring to my people. Yes, my Spanish speaking people.

The first thing that I will tell them as

only hint they they under us.

You also yonder, Daniel just say musulman

yo, Lisa Conseco.

They will Sqrl Islam

the investigar case al Islam

per kill Islam member, the elderly, that is loggia that oh they're awesome.

Yes, Luna Korea

yes Torres. Lucas im emerald Avila Sol Bara

your last Jamal Islam or McEntee yet all of the mass Latinos.

Gathering alone Nicodemus is so meta il unicamente. You can crowning perfetta Mohammed.

So basically what I said in summary to my people is that i Sa men from from their folk from Honduras, I am a Muslim, and I am calling them, inviting them to Islam, to research about Islam, find out about Islam, because Islam indeed,

is the true way. It is the true religion. And this is what will guide them and what will give them safety and salvation in the next life by worshipping and submitting to the one true God Allah, and to testify and believe that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.

And this is any Spanish speaking people can be Puerto Rican, be Mexican, he could be water Mala. And they all understand what you just said. Exactly. They all understand because we want beautiful thing. Everything about all of us Latin Americans, whether it be from Mexico, from the Caribbean, from Central America, from South America,

is that we all consider ourselves brothers.

Because we speak the same language because we relate. Yeah, because we understand each other

because deep well and shallow they take heed to your beautiful message and for those watching if you'd like a copy of the verbatim Word of God Almighty law, this is in English, we might have one in Spanish go to the deen show.com We'll get this sent to you as a gift from me to you. And if you have any questions, don't be shy. Call

Tom that Edie sent me at one 806 Six to Islam call the number right now and ask your questions for you get caught up in all the other worldly things out there. There's a deep desire Your heart is yearning and what he's talked about the story you know it makes sense that connects with your feet that are also your innate disposition. So before the time what time comes the time of death when you depart this life then it's too late. You can't go back to retake the test. No, you're being tested right now. What are you going to do? So go ahead and take the opportunity get yourself a free copy of the Quran and call us ask your questions tell him that he sent you I will see you next time until

then subscribe if you haven't already hit that notification bell Peace be with you as salaam alaikum

Allah

takes me aside give a tour of the D center

transforming this from people worshipping the creation to worshiping the Creator i love bless your efforts Eddie

are You doing

all right so you can see we're getting to work and we need your support. So go ahead and help us to get this where it's top notch inshallah