Why a FILIPINO AMERICAN accepted Islam

			Please be with you. Welcome to the D show. Subscribe if you have not subscribed already. I'm
excited. And I'm sure you will, too, because I have an exciting guest here. You know, we made the
Filipino connection, you know, Manny Pacquiao, from the Filipinos. That's right. But this guy, this
brother, he actually accepted this Dean his way of life long time ago, and he's got an incredible
story when from hanging out at the White House now he's hanging out here at the D show. Don't go
anywhere. We'll be right back with this fascinating story.
		

			Please be with you as salaam aleikum wa rahmatullah. How are you? My brother? Feeling good? Now, you
heard me mentioned I was talking about Manny Pacquiao. The Filipino connection? Have you ever met
Manny? I have not. But he's from the same place. Where are you originally from? Your parents? Our
parents are from Yeah, Filipino. I know. So we got how's the community out there community
		

			predominantly is in the south. And this just a long story of oppression by the government. It's a
predominantly Christian country, predominantly Catholic, and the Muslims in the south that live in
Mindanao, and are actually called morals, which has a connection to the morals of North Africa. So
yeah, it's a there's about 5% it was much more before but because of politics, oppression and other
things. It's been very challenging for the Filipino Muslims
		

			in the south, but there's a big resurgence and a big movement where a lot of people are converting
to Islam, they're in the Philippines. So yeah, it's the natural way. I called you to do something
that's in your nature to worship the creator not the creation. It's simple to understand it's
logical makes sense? And that's what really captivated you that you actually went you went and
studied in the desert Yeah, you were out there for several years wanting to get close to the crater
you you accepted Islam I met one Filipino Muslim because i didn't know i mean i it's very scarce to
to find a Filipino Muslim was it product primarily is a predominant Christian Christian country and
		

			Catholic. So you had some influence also over Moses Musa Musa Musa went over to Vietnam also in what
city South Africa? He's now currently in Cleveland, how did in that So what happened? How did all
this start? So yeah, it's interesting we bring up Musa and like there's other people that are tied
to Southern California community or to the Filipino community and a lot of those converts actually
the you know and a lot howdy laws the one that guides and allows the one that makes people become
Muslim not the people right? And yeah, with Musa Ron all the other people that we've mentioned that
everyone pretty much converted after me so when I converted I got kicked out of my home went through
		

			some trials and tribulations and then Mashallah like everyone around me converted now you might get
we got you know, some not yet Muslims Filipino they're going to be excited you know? Oh, that's our
country. Men are tuned in Yeah, you said some Arabic words. actually speak Arabic also rise up speak
fluent. La. So you didn't you didn't become Arab. Did you know?
		

			Someone heard Muslim? Yeah, they heard a law kit. Can you tell us for the Filipinos? Oh, yeah. He
went somewhere else. Yeah. So Islam is you know, it stands for peace, the religion of peace. And
Muslim is someone who practices the religion of Islam. So it's like, you know, your Judaism. If you
practice Judaism, you're Jewish. If you practice religion of Islam, you're a Muslim. Allah is the
same as LDS it's the definitive article Allah is like LDS the God. So Allah LDS, the god, it's all
the same. So we all believe in the one true creator. He said, People get amazed when I tell people
that look, Mo, Moses, Abraham, Jesus, they were all Muslim. They submitted to the will of God as a
		

			creator. And that's what we're doing. That's it. So tell us now What took you on this journey? You
came from a hip hop culture music, this music? Yeah, you know, yeah. And your whole life was
probably around like most people, just materialism and you forgot about the soul, the heart mind,
there was just, you know, fulfilling what people want to fulfill. Yeah, it was temporary enjoyment.
Yeah, What had you come to a point where you got real serious in life. Um, there were some things
that occurred, you know, with
		

			a troubling times in my life before Islam, whether it was through
		

			particular deaths through violence. It was me always having a contemplate of soul in mind, of being
influenced by hip hop. That was conscious that made you think about politics, the effects of, you
know, politics, on finance, people's living standards, the disparity of poverty and wealth. And
these kinds of things made me think about my own soul and about my place in this world. So yes, I
live
		

			The very worldly life a very colorful experience before Islam. But always in the back of my mind, I
always used to always think like, I was created for something grander than this, something bigger
than this.
		

			On your way here, you mentioned that you said something to the to the cat, the Uber driver. Yeah.
What did you tell him? I told him that what Islam has done for you? Yeah, it was funny because it's
affected my whole entire life, like, the businesses I run of emotionally, financially, spiritually,
mentally. And I didn't know everything that I've done in my life would lead to this. And right
before I was going to say anything, he goes, it was the best decision you've made in your life. And
I said, it actually was, you know,
		

			tell us some some people looking out there they say, Look, why don't you just stick with worshiping
Jesus as the Son of God dying for yourself and staying a Christian What happened here? For me it was
God put me in a position where I was able, I don't know why, but I was able to take a step back from
religion, and just look at them all. So I studied, you know, Jews, you know, Judaism, Islam,
Christianity, Buddhism, Confucianism, Sikh, Jainism, and all of the different faiths. And it was to
put it succinctly, Islam was the most
		

			intellectually like, satiated me. And it, the idea of one true creator, was something that I could
easily swallow. Most people have a hard time with creation, worship, worshiping a man. You know,
most people don't know that we love Jesus, but as a mighty messenger, not as a god or literal Son of
God, but people loved his direct connection not going through an intermediary. Yeah. So this also
connects with the fitrah. Yeah, with the innate nature of the nature. And that was probably Eddie,
was that the radical departure and understanding of one true God, that Islam really, really drills
down was probably the most appealing thing to me, which is that wow, you know, that's what I always
		

			believed.
		

			before in my life, always in my life, that there was one true creative and Islamic take on it was
just so
		

			that was just it made most sense to me, it made the most sense to me. And it was very easy to
convert a lot more to talk about to mention the White House, you've been all over the world
traveling entrepreneur here on the dean show, my special guest, don't go anywhere, we'll be right
back. Okay, you put your dream home, and you've got your dream car, but you're gonna get old and
things are gonna happen to you in your life. And then what have you got at the end of the day is an
empty dream that has no real Foundation, we are going to die. And we're going to meet our Lord and
He is gonna judge us. Slump says level mankind. That's what we're sharing this message, because we
		

			want the best for you. And we want the best for all mankind. Please subscribe to the show. Follow us
on our official Facebook and Twitter pages in the links below. Please also help support the show by
making a donation in the link below.
		

			Back here on the D show now I mentioned the White House, you get a chance to get President Obama
somehow actually it was funny, we started talking but if I could take a step back, when people talk
about this, you know, people going to the White House people meeting the President, and all the
different ahadeeth and things from our tradition that talk about these kinds of interactions. For me
what was the compelling force was my mother.
		

			My mother, when I became Muslim, I got kicked out of my home, because they despised my religion, and
they hated it. And I did some things to actually make them really not like my faith. And 100 I went
overseas I studied for four years, came back home. And when I was overseas, it was my mother who was
the first one to convert to Islam. And after that my father became Muslim. You have to remember
these are people who kicked me out of my home because they did not they hated my religion. Then my
sister became my family became my best friend became Muslim, his family became Muslim, our friends
became Muslim, their friends became Muslim, people would meet become Muslim, their families become
		

			Muslim. So when I got the invitation, it was my mother who got it. And she was beside herself. She
was elated. And she was just couldn't believe that it was her son that did this. And she remembers
the, you know, the day before I was leaving to go to Africa to study. And, you know, when I
converted and all these memories were playing into her mind. And when she was just like, my baby's
going to the White House, he's gonna he's going to be having to it for me was something that to
honor my mother, because of everything she's there to for her to convert. It's such an old age, to
have the resiliency to practice, to have it affect my father and the rest of my family.
		

			It was my mother who like was the reason why I went and I went
		

			My mother went for my father. And I went for everything I stood for because it was just for my mom
and dad, it was just like one of the I'd never seen them so proud. And I've gotten degrees, and I've
done things with my life. But it was just like,
		

			wow, this is our son, and you did something that people just don't do. So yeah, I went there. And I
was actually I mean, I have to admit, I mean, President Obama's a really nice guy, as a man as a
human being, you know, aside from everything else, he's just a good man. And we were able to talk
about some funny things. And I'll just leave it at that. But it was it was pretty interesting. Now
all these people accepting Islam. God Almighty, Allah is the one who guys but are you able to have a
great influence and invite you down the White House to say slow down to dour?
		

			No, no, no, actually, from what I've been told him, you know, it, the fact that in our face,
sometimes it's, or even in the in the religion, that the pursuit of acquiring, you know, a good life
in the world is exclusive, or to the detriment of your afterlife. Or if you chase after your
afterlife, you're, you're doing your you know, your worldly life is going to be affected. And I
guess, people I don't know, God knows best. They see someone that has been able to,
		

			I guess, go down both paths and be balanced and not compromise one for the other. I don't know. God
knows best of why people, you know, think of me that way. But, yeah, it's affected the way I do
business. Islam permeates A lot of it right, in a lot of the foundations and the principles, and the
ethics that I practice is because of it. Now, why was your family so upset in the beginning, so
anger that they kicked you out? When, obviously, if people look, and they see, okay, he's a Muslim,
he's doing what Jesus did Moses, Abraham, he just submitted to God, he just wants to be a better
human being. And Islam helps you if you practice it right, to develop yourself to be the best human
		

			being better to your neighbor to your parents, and business. And everything. Yeah. So you know, why
did they have such a, a difficulty accepting this in the beginning, a lot of it has to do with
media.
		

			My parents are just, you know, they're the common American where they watch TV after they get home
from work. And whatever the media tells them, whatever the news is, there'll be like sun, we were
watching the news. And in Nigeria, this is what's happening. And why is this occurring in Saudi
Arabia? And why did they do that to women in Pakistan? And why is this going on in Egypt? And why is
religion so violent?
		

			And I can't blame them. Right, as people who are concerned with paying their bills, keeping the
lights on raising good children, they don't have the time to dig deep to do research to investigate.
People do right? People do have the time, if Allah was to take everything from your life, you still
have time.
		

			But I understand from the human perspective that people have some difficulties getting to those,
because they're so concerned with the affairs that bog them down, baby. So it was the media that did
that for my mother and father. So when they would see me going, actually deeper into my newfound
faith, they found it very troublesome. And also the way I was I was super, super hard on them. And I
was just telling them all kinds of things that were just very, you know, like, get rid of all the
alcohol in this house. And they're like, Who are you? Like we used, you know, we raised you. So who
are you to tell us what to do. So I had a hand in that too. But a lot of it had to do with the
		

			media. Right now people are seeing a statistic. And actually, this is just really way out there when
the media, purposely they go ahead and twist the truth and blow things out of proportion, people
have more of a chance of being killed by a shark by a dog bite their furniture than actually a
muslim terrorist. I mean, we know this is the antithesis to Islam, you know, it's, but imagine you
would give these examples, you know, if the media just played to all the violence that's happening,
we love our country here. But obviously, there's a lot of things that are going on in America, and
if people outside of the world were just, you know, focusing on all the violence here, it'd be a
		

			scary thing, right? People are like, why are you going over there? That's a warzone. Yeah. You know,
for me, I've come to realize, Eddie, through my travels and experiences in life, that
		

			every human being has an agenda. Every group has an agenda. Every company has an agenda. So for the
powers that be, I mean, I have an agenda, right? I want to please my parents, I want to be the best
son, I can be the best neighbor I can be. And I'm going to do what I need to do to achieve that. So
for companies, they have different goals, right? They have different people that they need to please
you
		

			in your life, you have different people, you need to please. So you do things. And when you do
things, it may not be liked by other people, right? So, what I've come to realize is that I'm here
to do my job sincerely for the sake of my Creator, and to the beat to be the best at it. And only
God can stop me. God willing, you know, like, I'm gonna try to be the best that I can be. Tell us
what was the turning board? How far down later after you accepted submission to the one of the
crater Islam? Did your parents? Did they end up accepting my mom converted? Probably? I want to say
232 or three years after me? Not too long later, Nah, not too long. That's such a blessing. Yeah,
		

			what was it for them also, they started they saw you they proven your character, because I would say
that was probably it. Like for a lot of people, it you know,
		

			appraisers due to God, like, as a man, as I've just been blessed that when I really want something,
and Alon, God knows, like in my heart what I want to do, and it's sincerity, to be the best that I
can be to be the best person I can be. I can make that change. And I think when people saw me change
from how I was to how I,
		

			you know, was how I became as a Muslim people really deeply affected by that my mother, my father,
my friends, people in my community, people from my neighborhood, were just like, Whoa, he really
changed, he'll change after six months, and six months, we can be here. And the year became two
years. So for a lot of the people that started questioning, it was what made him change. And what is
this piece that he currently has now this stability, and this outlook of life and this positivity?
Like how do I get that? And I think that was you know, God knows best. People saw the change in me
and
		

			wanted it for themselves. It was like a miracle. Hey, does he and people now your parents could
sleep at night? Probably from all the ruckus before us?
		

			We're gonna take you speak Filipino? No, I don't I understand Tagalog, which is the national
language but not to say hi, bye. We'll be right back. And actually, I don't. I will be right back
here to do a show with more don't go anyway. The question is about whether Muslims are not good
citizens. The Constitution defines what a good citizen is. And the preamble says we the people of
the United States, form a more perfect union, establish justice ensure domestic tranquility to the
most and I can say that as a good Muslim. And most Muslims can say that most of them to embrace that
most Muslims are good Americans.
		

			says love all mankind. That's why we're sharing this message. Because we want the best for you and
we want the best for all mankind. Please subscribe to the show. Follow us on our official Facebook
and Twitter pages in the links below. Please also help support the show by making a donation in the
link below.
		

			Back here on the D show, we made the Filipino connection to my Manny Pacquiao, I keep talking. I
keep thinking Filipino Manny Pacquiao. He's a big star with it. And he is Yeah, he's got hurt. He's
that you mentioned something. He's got a lot of Muslim friends. Yeah, he has some people in his
corner. Yeah, that are Muslim. But yeah, he's maybe known to be Catholic, I believe or I think
probably born again. Yeah, yeah. inshallah, the creator of Hamza who guides him to the way that
Jesus was upon, I mean, and all the prophets, because they were ones who connected their heart back
to their maker to their Creator, direct dial up, we talked about peace, and that's how you get it by
		

			living this way of life. Many people are on Prozac, antidepressants, every suicide epidemic every 40
seconds, somebody is taking their life. So they want some of this piece. But Money can't buy a six
pack a piece. So what advice do you give people who are struggling now to get off all this, these
drugs? People who are struggling?
		

			I don't know, man.
		

			As someone who, as someone who came from that lifestyle from that, and I know you got that piece.
Yeah. And now someone turned in late at night. You know, maybe they came back from the club. They
tuned in, and they're like, I want some of this.
		

			Just in the deepest, darkest hour of the night, just
		

			ask your Creator.
		

			Just ask your Creator.
		

			For the best. I mean, that's all I can say is just just pray to God. When I meet people who asked me
for money. You know, I tell them, I give him the money. My name is Mohammed. You know, pray to God
for yourself, pray to God for me. Because no one can give you happiness and no one can. Like wealth
is here, man. Wealth is here. And wealth is that connection. And once you have wealth of mine wealth
of body wealth of soul, it doesn't
		

			matter what kind of material you're surrounded with, if you have that wealth, you're good, man.
Good.
		

			Smile. Ah, this is so important. Because why do you think a lot of people even when you bring up
religion on a times, it's not a cool thing, a lot of neg negative things? Religion is the source of
all war evil. And, you know, a lot of esoteric mystical just doesn't make sense. But, I mean, how do
you get even to into the conversation now, today, it when I it, because for me personally,
especially, like, people know me a lot for Business and Commerce, and for my commercial endeavors,
		

			it just has to come out, because that's just what I do.
		

			For other people may be different. But for me, you know, it just, it's when I can, it's affected my
whole trajectory in life, every aspect of my life has been affected by it. So when I do speak to
someone on the airplane, or someone at an airport, or when I'm traveling, or when I'm here at a
restaurant, you know, from what I eat, to why I'm doing this, to why I'm doing that. It just has to
come out in the way that for me,
		

			you know, someone who wasn't Muslim, I know what goes on in the minds of individuals that are not
Muslim. So I know what their concerns are. And for a lot of human beings, not even Muslims
anonymous, it's just for a lot of human beings. It's how do I keep the lights on? How do I keep my
kids from not falling to the streets, from going into drugs and falling into this mayhem, where they
may lose them. And that's where their concern is. So for me, wanting goodness for the human being,
whether they're Muslim, non Muslim, atheist devil worshiper, that goodness, that has been, I don't
know,
		

			in place to my heart, I want that. And I speak to that person's concerns that person's needs. And
you know, Eddie, it ends up ends up becoming like, Why are you like this? or How did you become like
this? And I go, I don't know, man, like I
		

			you know, by that time, my name has been stated Muhammad, like, I do all these things that are, you
know, connected to my faith. So they've already built the association. And they may walk away back
man, that was a good man, mom is a really nice guy. And also, when I meet people, you know, someone
asked me for, my name is Mohammed min, please pray for me. And I'll pray for you. And please pray
for yourself. You know, and
		

			I don't know any, like, I they want some of that now they want they see the the peace, the light
resonating, and they they want some, then hopefully, that God Almighty, if they're sincere, that's
that's one of the best advice. You know, we should seek out what the purpose of life is why we're
here, you know, and the best one to ask is the one who created life, the one who created us, tell us
how do you feel? Because we know when we're out there in the real world, you know, dunya affects us,
you see things affect the heart. Yeah. And you went out? How do you compare being out there where
you was, like, 24, seven, like ibadah, you were just and that's how our life's supposed to be with
		

			that right? intention. But you went out there you were studying in the desert, and in different
parts of the world. You just, it's hard to compare that time where you were just like, spiritually
Now, how do you balance that? How was the feeling then and now,
		

			it's not about where you're from, it's about where you're at where you're at.
		

			And I can bring that back if I want to, because it's, it's all here, in the mind and in the heart.
		

			So living out there in the desert, living in West Africa, studying in the Middle East, was some of
the best and transformative days of my life period of my life. But I'm a person through the grace of
God and by the permission of God, that if I want to go through that transformation and change again,
I can do that. Whether it's in Chicago, whether it's in Mexico City, whether it's in London, whether
it's in Mecca, because God is always with me, and if I want it, and I'm sincere, and Alon knows me
better than I know myself, I'll have it. And if I don't have it, it's probably best I don't have it.
That's a great example. Because many people think, okay to be religious, you have to be somewhere in
		

			the desert. He just locked up in a mosque all day. No, you're you're a great living example, that
you're able to hold the balance, and you don't get to sucked up into this material world while being
also in it. Yeah, while striving for the pleasure of there were none of the religion of the middle
of the middle path. That's what we're known as people who, you know, are delicately delicately
balancing, you know, fear and hope. And that's what it's always been and every human being seeks
that balance. You know, I was coming over here someone was talking to me about work life balance,
and people wanting that way. And
		

			you know, you can have it anywhere. And it's all here. It's all here.
		

			Have you been connect
		

			and the divine connection to that just makes it that much better. Now, there are so many
similarities between Christianity and Islam we have the blessing mother of Jesus, a whole chapter is
named after her in the Koran Jesus, we love him as a mighty messenger. We leave you with sent by
God, but not God. And many people they resonate, you know, it connects with them, and people and
just in their nature believing in a supreme being the Creator. What What do you say before we leave
to someone now with this whole, you know, new atheism, you talk to someone said, Man Get out of here
with this religion God stuff? Yeah.
		

			Are you happy?
		

			it you know, Henry David Thoreau said that people live in a quiet desperation.
		

			And people don't like to be preached to a lot of us are suffering. A lot of us are feeling our own
unique,
		

			hurting feelings. And we're going through our own pains and anguishes that are only unique to us.
And people may not understand. So for me, someone who comes from the way of Muhammad Sallallahu,
Alayhi, wasallam.
		

			How can I help? How can I be of service to you? How can I make your life better? What can I do? Our
Prophet on that day?
		

			will say, Almighty Almighty Almighty, my community, my people, my people, it's not about himself.
This life is about being of service to the people, and being of service to your neighbor, being of
service to your parents, and just being of service to humanity. And when you do that, God knows your
intent. God knows your heart, and God will give you what you deserve. Mashallah, time is running
out. We gotta go for the Filipino connection that we made out there. They're tuning in a lot of
people blindly following the cultures, they're upon a, you know, stuck to tradition, you know, but
they like it resonates. You know, what you're saying? What advice would you have for someone out
		

			there, from the background, from the Filipino background like it was the way of our people in
history when you look at it, and there was a period of time where they, they had a choice, and
according to historians, like they chose Islam, me and that's a fact. Like, it's not anything that
I'm making up, they, they chose this small, amazing, thank you so much for being with us here. And
on the show, we started with peace, peace, I'm Nathan barley.
		

			And that was our special guest, Filipino macchiato connection. Here. We have this way of life
growing all over the world. It's amazing. And people it resonates that, that what's inside of us to
worship the Creator, not the creation, and many of our Christian Brothers out there. They also when
they see this deep love that we have for Jesus, who is a mighty messenger Islam and his Blessed
Mother, that just resonates. And also we touched upon when people accept his way of life, to see
that we live a moderate way of life balance between not to getting sucked up into the materialism
and the material world. And also not going off on the deep end on the other side. It's the middle
		

			way so many people who have accepted this way. We also learn from this story that coming off now,
many people have been just brainwashed with the media, take it easy, show them through your good
example. When a Muslim is being the best in society, developing yourself to be better each and every
day. And that's the blueprint that you have that will help you to achieve that peace. That money
can't buy. Subscribe if you haven't already. We also got a number one 806 six to Islam. It doesn't
have to stop there. Let's start a healthy dialogue and tune in every week to the deen show. Until
next time, peace be with you so much.