International Revert Conference 2007

Assalaamu alaykum brothers and sisters,

The International Revert Conference registration is now set. This event is a first of its kind and has stirred a lot of interest. We are so pleased to hear of so many who wish to attend from so far away. Because of the interest and limited seats we recommend early registration so that your seat can be assured.

The conference is in English, and the lectures and workshops are structured in such a way as to allow for Muslims of all levels of knowledge to benefit from the information presented. We are focusing primarily on the newly reverted Muslims. The conference will also serve as a networking opportunity for Reverted and born Muslims. The theme for this year's conference is “Labbaik Ya Hujjatullah – “Preparing the foundation for Imam Mahdi (AS) eventual return.”

The conference will be held tentatively Friday, April 13th thru Saturday, April 14th 2007.

The location will be in Toronto, ON , Canada and will be announced once secured.Please visit the following link for updates and details regarding this wonderful event.

http://www.revertmuslims.com/IRC/

Look forward to seeing you there!

Masalaama
Sister Jennah

What is the Fast of the Month of Ramadan?

Every year in the ninth lunar month of the Islamic calendar, Muslims around the world abstain from food, drink, vain talk and certain other actions from before sunrise until after sunset. (starts 23rd of Sept 2006)

Fasting is prescribed in the Abrahamic faiths

The Jewish, Christian and Muslim religions all enjoin fasting. Moses observed a fast of forty days at Mount Sinai at the time of the revelation of the Ten Commandments. (Exodus 24:18) Although less common now, it is Jewish tradition to fast when mourning or when in danger. Most practicing Jews still fast on the Day of Atonement and for the one-week commemoration of the destruction of Jerusalem in 597 B.C. Jesus of Nazareth, peace be upon him, also fasted on the Day of Atonement and the forty days of Moses’ fast to ward off Satanic temptation.

“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.” (Matthew 4:2)

Many Christians observe a forty-day pre-Easter fast, although now it includes abstention from only certain food items rather than all food and drink. Muslims fast the month of Ramadan and may, optionally, fast on most other days of the year.

The One God prescribes fasting for the faithful; and it has many benefits. Material pleasures can be generalised into food and drink, sexual pleasures, and vanity. Fasting requires abstaining from these, going against the natural instinct of Man to observe the commandment of God. This builds and strengthens a person's self-control, nearing them to their Creator. Other benefits of fasting include:

· Fasting instills patience, teaches self control and discipline.
· Fasting increases compassion for the less fortunate.
· Fasting builds focus on spirituality and diminishes focus on materialism.
· Fasting has many health benefits.
· Fasting can be atonement for sin and can earn great reward.
· Fasting is part of a strong spiritual and physical renewal plan.
· Fasting commemorates important sacred religious events.

The Muslim fast of the month of Ramadan is a continuation of the long history of fasting in the Abrahamic faiths. The self-improvement benefits of fasting make it an important means of improving one’s faith and practice of religion.


“And men who fast and women who fast…God has prepared for them forgiveness and a vast reward.”
(Qur’an 33:35)


What does the fast of the month of Ramadan entail?

In short, the fast involves abstention from all food, drink, vain talk, and sexual intercourse for married couples from the time before dawn when the sky becomes light enough to distinguish a black thread from the white thread of the horizon, until after sunset when redness leaves the Eastern half of the sky. Some people are not to able to fast due to age, health, child-bearing conditions, etc., and instead give charity, and/or make up the days of fast they missed at a later time.

However, the true spirit of the fast of the month of Ramadan is more than just abstention from a few things. It is a time of sustained, amplified effort toward spiritual perfection.

“Thirst and hunger you undergo, feel and live through, here and now, to bring to your mind the severity and sharpness of the drought and starvation that will be the order of the day on the Day of Judgment.
· Give alms to the poor and destitute.
· Treat your parents and elders with respect.
· Be kind and loving to your children and juniors.
· Take care of and look after your relatives.
· Keep from giving tongue to that which should not even be whispered.
· Shut your eyes to that which is indecent to have an eye for.
· Turn a deaf ear to that which is too slanderous to be all ears to.
· Be compassionate, gentle and benign unto orphans so that after you, your children, if need be, receive the same treatment from others.
· Turn repentant to God and seek His nearness.
· Holy Prophet, peace be upon him and his family
In addition to fasting and aiming for excellent moral character, Muslims devote as much time and energy as possible in the month of Ramadan toward prayer and supplication to the One and Only God. During some of the nights of this month, Muslims will remain awake the whole night in worship.

After the last day of the month of Ramadan, Muslims celebrate Eid ul Fitr to commemorate the completion of the fast. They get together for prayer, food, and modest gift exchange (particularly for children). However, it is a day of mixed feelings, because the most blessed month of Ramadan with all of its opportunities for forgiveness and reward are gone for another year.

“I take refuge with Thy kindest disposition, O Lord, lest the dawn of this night breaks forth, or the month of Ramadan comes to an end, and I still stand as an accused (unforgiven) sinner, liable to be punished, on the Day I am presented before Thee.”

[From a prayer of the last night of the month of Ramadan, taught by Imam Jafar Al-Sadiq, peace be upon him]

Why is fasting prescribed particularly in the month of Ramadan for Muslims?

The month of Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic lunar calendar. Since a lunar year is about a week and a half shorter than a solar year, the month of Ramadan cycles backward through the seasons. It is a sacred month because God ordained it for the revelation of sacred texts. Imam Ja’far Al-Sadiq quotes the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him and his family, as saying,

“The Books of Abraham were revealed on the first night of the month of Ramadan; the Torah was revealed on the sixth of the month of Ramadan; the Gospel was revealed on the thirteenth of the month of Ramadan . . ., and the Holy Qur’an on the twenty-third of the month of Ramadan.”

It is also considered sacred because it contains the Night of Power (Laylatul Qadr). “Qadr” literally means destiny, and on this night God determines each and every event to occur during the next year to any and all of His creation.

Imam Al-Sadiq, peace be upon him, informs us that,

“During Laylatul Qadr, the angels, the spirit, and the trusted scribes all descend to the lower heavens and write down whatever God decrees that year, and if God wishes to advance something or postpone it or add thereto, He orders the angel to erase it and replace it with whatever He decrees.”

The Holy Prophet of Islam, peace be upon him and his family, tells us about the great blessings of the month of Ramadan.

“[The month of Ramadan is] overflowing with advantages, merciful, ready to put up your sins of omission and commission to God for obtaining his forgiveness. Its days, nights and hours, in the estimation of God, are more select, refined and important than the days, nights and hours of other months. It surpasses all months in merits and favours.…. So, sincerely, free from evil and sinful thoughts and actions, with clear conscience, pray and request that God may give you heart and confidence to observe fast… throughout this month...”

Conclusion:

Muslims observe fast, as in any act of devotion, to seek nearness to God, seek His pleasure and Forgiveness, and generate a spirit of piety in Man. Fasting in this month honours the revelation of God’s word and purifies one in preparation for the night of decrees and in hope of forgiveness. Fasting is a yearly spiritual renewal, given abundant reward in this month of God’s Mercy, which is part of the Islamic path to the ideal self.

The Birth of Islam and the Proclamation by Muhammad of his Mission

When Muhammad was 40 years old, he was commanded by God, through His angel, Gabriel, to declare His Oneness to the idolaters and polytheists of the whole world, and to deliver the message of peace to an embattled humanity. In response to this command of Heaven, Muhammad launched the momentous program called Islam which was to change the destiny of mankind forever.

Before the Call came to him to declare the Unity of the Creator, Muhammad was in the habit of spending much time in meditation and reflection. To be free from interference and extraneous distractions, he frequently went to a mountain cave called Hira, three miles in the north-east of Makkah, and spent the long summer days there. He was in Hira when one day the Archangel Gabriel appeared before him, and brought to him the tidings that God had chosen him to be His Last Messenger to this world, and had imposed upon him the duty of leading mankind out of the welter of sin, error and ignorance into the light of Guidance, Truth and Knowledge. Gabriel then bade Muhammad to "read" the following verses:

"Read in the name of thy lord and cherisher who created: Created man out of a clot of congealed blood. Read!And thy lord is most bountiful, He who taught the use of pen; Taught man that which he knew not".

These five verses were the earliest revelation, and they came to Muhammad on the "Night of Power" or the "Blessed Night" in the month of Ramadan (the ninth month of the Islamic calendar) of the 40th year of the Elephant. They are at the beginning of the 96th chapter of Al-Qur’an al-Majid. The name of the chapter is Iqraa (Read) or ‘Alaq (the Clot of Congealed Blood).
The Night of Power or the Blessed Night occurs, according to tradition, during the last ten days of the month of Ramadan, and could be the 21st or 23rd or 25th or 27th of the month.

In their respective accounts of the reception by Muhammad of the First Revelation, the Sunni and the Shia Muslims are not in agreement. According to the Sunni tradition, the appearance of Gabriel surprised Muhammad, and when the former ordered him to read, he said, "I cannot read." This happened thrice, and each time when Muhammad declared his inability to read, the angel pressed him hard to his bosom. Eventually, he was able to repeat the five verses whereupon the angel released him and disappeared When Archangel Gabriel disappeared, Muhammad, who was now "ordained" the Messenger of Allah, descended from the cliffs of Hira, and repaired to his home in a state of great trepidation. He was shivering with cold, and when he entered his house, he asked his wife, Khadija, to cover him with a blanket which she did. When he had sufficiently recovered from the shock, he recounted to her the story of his strange encounter with Archangel Gabriel in the cave of Hira.

The traditional Sunni account of this incident is given in an article written by Shaykh Ahmad Zaki Hammad, Ph.D., captioned Be Hopeful, published in the monthly magazine, Islamic Horizons, of the Islamic Society of North America, Plainfield, Indiana, May-June 1987, as follows:

"The Prophet (pbuh) in the early stages in Makkah, feared that the revelation experience was an evil touch preying upon him, playing with him mentally, upsetting his tranquillity and peace of mind. He was afraid that one of the jinn had touched him. He expressed this to Khadija. His fear increased to the point that – and please don't be surprised by an authentic report in Bukhari – the Prophet (pbuh) preferred to take his own life rather than to be touched by evil, to be tampered with, corrupted, or polluted."

But according to the accounts of the Shia Muslims, Muhammad Mustafa, far from being surprised or frightened by the appearance of Gabriel, welcomed him as if he had been expecting him. Gabriel brought the tidings that Allah had chosen him to be His Last Messenger to Mankind, and congratulated him on being selected to become the recipient of the greatest of all honors for a mortal in this world.

Muhammad had no hesitation in accepting the mission of prophethood nor he had any difficulty in repeating the verses of the First Revelation. He read them or repeated them effortlessly, spontaneously. Gabriel, in fact, was no stranger to him, and he also knew that his own raison d’être was to carry out the mission imposed upon him by God as His Messenger. He was "mission-oriented"even before Gabriel’s visit. Gabriel only gave him the signal to begin.
The Shia Muslims also say that one thing that Gabriel didn't have to do, was to apply physical pressure on Muhammad to read. If he did, it would truly be a bizarre mode of imparting to Muhammad the ability to read – by squeezing him or choking him. They further maintain that Muhammad Mustafa did not contemplate suicide at any time in his life, not even in its most desolate moments; and that it never occurred to him that he could ever be touched by "evil" or that he could be "corrupted" or "polluted."

Nevertheless, Muhammad felt alarm at the magnitude of the task ahead of him. He realized that in the execution of his duty, he would be confronted by the massive, formidable and determined opposition of the pagans of the whole world. The state of his anxiety was almost palpable. He was, therefore, in a somber frame of mind as he left the cave to return home. And he did ask Khadija to drape him in a blanket as he sat down to recapitulate the events in Hira to her.
When Khadija heard the story that Muhammad told her, she comforted him and reassured him by saying: "O son of my uncle, be of good cheer. Allah has chosen you to be His messenger. You are always kind to your neighbors, helpful to your kinsfolk, generous to the orphans, the widows and the poor, and friendly to the strangers. Allah will never forsake you."

It is possible that Muhammad was momentarily overweighed by the thought of his accountability to Allah in carrying the enormous burden of his new responsibilities, but when he heard Khadija's soothing words, he immediately felt the tensions within him decompressing. She reassured him and convinced him that with God's Hand on his shoulder, he would rise equal to his duties and would overcome all obstacles.

After a brief interval, Gabriel appeared once again before Muhammad when the latter was in the cave of Hira, and presented to him the second Revelation which reads as follows:

O Thou wrapped up (in a mantle)! Arise and deliver thy warning! And thy lord do thou magnify. (Chapter 74; verses 1,2,3)

The commandment from Heaven to "arise and warn" was the signal to Muhammad (the wrapped up in a blanket) to begin his work. Gabriel expounded to him his new duties the foremost of which was to destroy the worship of false gods, and to plant the banner of Tauheed – the doctrine of the Unity of the Creator – in the world; and he had to invite mankind to the True Faith – Islam. Islam means to surrender to Allah, and to acknowledge Muhammad as His slave and His messenger.

That evening Muhammad returned home conscious and conscientious of his new duty that he had to preach Islam, and that he had to begin from his own home – by preaching it to his wife.
Muhammad told Khadija about the second visit of Gabriel, and the duty imposed upon him by Allah to invite her to Islam. For Khadija, the antecedents and the moral integrity of her husband were an incontrovertible attestation that he was a divine messenger, and she readily accepted Islam. In fact, between her and Islam, an "ideological affinity" had pre-existed. Therefore, when Muhammad Mustafa presented Islam to her, she at once "recognized" it, and rosily embraced it. She believed that the Creator was One, and that Muhammad was His messenger, and she declared:

I bear witness that there is no god but Allah; and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and His Messenger.

Muhammad, the new messenger of God, had won his first convert - Khadija – his wife. She was the first one, the very first to affirm her faith in Tauheed (Oneness of the Creator), and she was the very first to acknowledge Muhammad as God's messenger to all mankind. She was the first Muslima.

Muhammad "introduced" Islam to Khadija. He explained to her its meaning, and he initiated her into it.

The honor to be the first individual in the whole world to bear witness to God's unity and to acknowledge Muhammad's prophethood, belongs to Khadija for all time.

Why Hijab?

Why Hijab?
By Jennah

Summary: The Non-Muslim Western Woman makes a judgment call out of ignorance towards an intelligent, well-informed and eager to express her opinion, Muslim/Hijabi woman.

Back story: The Muslim hijabi woman, born and raised in Ontario, Canada. A firm believer in women's rights in Islam and a strong advocate for hijab. This woman has lectured on the virtues of hijab and has been confronted many, many times about her veil and has prepared herself more each time she is confronted.

The western woman immigrated to Canada at the age of four. Grew up unhappy feeling pressured as a teenager to look a specific way but could not fit in. Eventually finding her womanhood and a new body she exploits herself regularly to vie for the attention of men everywhere she goes. She knows little about Islam and Muslims but she likes to think she knows it all. An outspoken woman willing to speak on matters she knows nothing about.

The scene: Non-Muslim woman meets Muslim woman on the streets of Toronto.

Facts: This type of confrontation, of 'Western Woman/man' meets 'Hijabi Woman, takes place by thousands around the world every day'. There are some westerners who feel comfortable with confronting a hijabi woman. However, some confrontations are combative and others are simple minded individuals who don't even understand their own ignorance and so they offer all the wrong advice with little time to listen or seek out the facts about hijab on their own. Women who wear hijab are scrutinized by the public and seem to be fair game for rude remarks and even harassment. It is my hope that this story, this scenerio enlightens.

The story begins...as the non-Muslim woman tells her tale...

The oppressed woman, rambling ignorant thoughts:

I was walking down the street on my way to grab some smokes at the convenient store when I happen to see a Muslim woman, she was wearing hijab (headscarf) .She was quiet and she had her head slightly down as she entered the convenient store to purchase a bottled water. I thought to myself what a shame look at her she's so oppressed. Here it is on a hot summer day and I'm enjoying life in a cut-off t-shirt and short-shorts not to mention getting the attention of every guy I walk by and here she's covered head to toe. She probably never takes it off, I wonder if she showers with it on? I thought to myself she must be so hot but yet she's likely got to dress like that or someone like her father or husband might beat her. She's probably just come over from Iraq or Afghanistan or something. As I walked by her to my surprise she smiled at me and so I felt as though I could say something to her. I didn't know if she even spoke English but I was going to try. Here was my chance to give her some real western wisdom tell her she doesn't have to put up with this crap. She's obviously oppressed and she needs to know that she shouldn't cover up like that we are in a new millennium. She has to know about women's rights, we have freedoms, equality and all that good stuff. I was feeling pumped.

The confrontation in the parking lot, unveiling the truth behind the veil:

I reached out and tapped her on the shoulder as she walked by me to exit the store. She turned to me and said, to my surprise with a very English Canadian accent 'Yes, can I help you?". I replied with a very confident voice, "Sorry to bother you miss but I wanted to ask you something" We continue walking slowly towards the parking lot adjacent to the convenient store. I continued.."why do you feel you have to cover yourself up like that, don't you realize you're being oppressed?" ,"It's because of my faith that I choose to wear hijab" she answered, choosing to bypass my comment on oppression I thought, not considering that she's really just being polite and attempting to avoid confrontation, then I continued to say, "Well, you should know that it's not necessary you don't have to cover up. You should be proud of what God gave you and show it off". "I am proud of what God has given me and so much so that I choose to share what God has given me with my husband only". It was a good comeback, I'll give her that, I wasn't sure how to reply. I wasn't expecting her to say that..hmm I thought it over and argued, "Oh, I see well that's nice but don't you think others should also be able to see you, how will anyone respect you, how can they judge who you really are? Miss, don't you hate that other's can't see your true beauty."

Feeling uncomfortable, swallowing pride:

OK, it wasn't much of a response but it was the best I could come up with. Thing is I was getting a bit nervous, she was so calm and polite and I was being so aggressive and even arrogant. We were standing in the parking lot and I could see people in the car next to me starring. I was on a mission I wanted to try to convince her she was wrong and I was right, she was oppressed and I wasn't. This is when she told me something that really made me think, and opened my mind about Islam and Muslims forever. She went on to say, "It is my belief based on what we learn from the Qur'an, which is the word of God, and the belief of many Muslim women who wear hijab that we do so expressing our freedom to be respected as human beings rather then being judged by our physical beauty. My true beauty is what I have to offer inside not out. I'm very familiar with western women, because I'm a born Canadian, (When I heard that I was totally blown away, she's Canadian??) in the western culture women wear barely any clothes or wear them so tight you can see every crevasse of their bodies and they relish the fact that they are having every man look their way as the men visualize themselves with her." I answer with a nod and a reassuring 'Yeah' in my mind I'm like.. daaa of course, who wouldn't love that?.

She had a very calm voice. Her eyes wide and clear. I noticed her face was glowing, she was really quite beautiful even though she had no make-up. I tried hard to find a hair that may have slipped out past her headscarf, as I studied her face, I was curious I wanted to know what colour her hair was, but I couldn't find one hair out of place. She seemed so sure of herself. I could see where she was going, as women we should be respected as human beings and not objects. I know she's right in that men look at our bodies and get turned on and maybe that causes problems in a society, but who cares about the hair? I interjected "Yeah, but who cares if your hair is showing, why wear the scarf? it's not like anyone's hair makes that much difference or turns on a guy.".She comes back with.. "Do you realize that every year western women spend billions on hair products and in salons, I have to ask you, if hair was not that important would all these products be selling? If you don't think your hair adds much to your beauty why do you not just shave it off?" I could not reply, she was right.When she said in her soft spoken but steady voice 'why don't you shave it off' I realized at that point how important my hair really was to my overall appearance.

The hijabi woman continues...

"Women are clamoring to buy diet-pills and spending billions on make-up and hair products each year in an attempt to look better then the girls on the magazine covers who are digitally enhanced and are far too underweight. They show their bodies for no other reason then to promote their sexuality in an attempt to turn on as many men as possible and become the envy of every woman. They are ruled by the fashion industry buying one pair of expensive jeans and shoes and tops after another. Don't get me wrong, it's important to enhance your beauty, it's Islamicaly practiced, but in our homes not for public viewing. You might be surprised to know that I dress quite differently in my home, for my husband, with my hair done up nicely, a little make-up and clothes that show the shape of my figure. I want my husband to love all my attributes. (I smile at her , give an inquisitive look and choose not to interrupt.) What's so sad is that many western girls sit at home crying themselves asleep at night because they can't fit into the 'glamour girl' persona and they fear they will never be pretty enough. You'll find 13-year-old girls selling themselves sexually through their provocative messenger profiles over the Internet all in the pursuit of popularity. It is my belief that to live an Islamic life and to choose to wear hijab helps to diminish these problems in society greatly. If more women were treated for who they are rather then what they are do you not think the world might be a better place?"

Feeling ashamed:

At this point, I'm standing there realizing my mouth had dropped open slightly, I closed it shut. Getting over the shock that she's totally normal at home, a born Canadian, well spoken and obviously well educated and I'm feeling ashamed at the fact that I immigrated to Canada from England at the age of four and I thought I was the Canadian here . I realize I look like an ignorant fool for having assumed so much about her simply because she chose to cover her head and wear unrevealing clothes. I felt a sense of real embarrassment come over me, feeling my cheeks getting flush as I began to really think about her point of view. Thoughts were racing through me, Was I wrong? I thought she was oppressed?, who really has the freedom here? I thought back on those chubby teenage years when I was horribly teased about my weight and the boys wouldn't look at me or talk to me. I remembered I was never appreciated for who I was. Only the pretty girls got the attention but I never really thought about what kind of attention. Now that I'm older and have a killer body I show it off and I love the attention it gets me. But why do I love it? Do I love that all these strange men go home having sexual thoughts about me? Is it really good that when a married man walks by me with his wife he takes three looks before he's hit on the back of the head? I callously walk on with a grin on my face. What happens when he goes home, is his wife upset, does she love him less, does he love her less, have I caused a problem in their marriage? Am I proud of the fact that the girls are all wishing they were me? Do I give it a second thought that after meeting me they go home and start skipping meals and escalade down a dangerous crash diet lifestyle that can harm their health? Am I proud of the fact that when I talk to men they aren't looking at me or even listening to me they're starring at my chest, is this something I want? I know why I got that administrative job. The day of my interview I purposely wore a low-cut blouse and a tight mini skirt knowing it could help my chances of getting in. After getting the job I realized I wasn't even qualified and it's been a stressor ever since. Thing is my boss doesn't seem to care that I don't get the work done. I feel bad that the other girls in the office have to do the work I never finish. I know they talk badly about me but I've been trying to ignore it. My boss hasn't even considered firing me instead he just keeps inviting me into his office to share lunch break with him while he watches my every bite of food. I feel as though my appearance may be having some kind of hurtful domino effect. I feel very naked all of a sudden.

This very informative Muslim woman finishes with "In Islam women are not oppressed we are viewed as special and precious, like pearls we are a gift to our husbands as they are to us and we are judged and respected for our good deeds, our manners, our piety and most importantly for our thoughts. We have freedom because we are not ruled by the fashion industry, the make-up industry, the magazine covers. In Gods eyes we are all treated equally and men look at our values before they look at our appearance. In Islam women have freedom in the western culture women are under the impression that they have freedom."

She then unlocked her car, which surprised me because I thought Muslim women weren't aloud to drive cars, she buckles herself in but before driving off she handed me a card. The card said: "Why Hijab?" and it gave a web address underneath www.revertmuslims.com/hijab . I went home jumped on my pc and searched the url. I learnt a lot that day and I realized how easy how quick we are to judge others and how ignorant I had been. I'm not a convert but I'm a non-Muslim that supports many of the Islamic values.

A new beginning:

To the dismay of my permanently frustrated, because he can't get his hands on me, boss; I quit my job and I started to dress a little more conservatively. I'm studying and looking forward to being hired on for my academic attributes rather then my physical ones. (end)

The story you just read is completely fictional but it is based on many, many similar stories. It is in response to the questions asked to , (Muslim women who wear hijab) on a regular basis, by non-Muslims. To wear hijab is an expression of belief, a way of life given to us by God and it is an expression of freedom. Muslim women have the right to be treated as human beings, to be viewed for their intellect and piety and not only for their physical attributes.

It's important that one does not confuse Islam with culture and the cultures and traditions of some Islamic countries who sometimes hold a very different view of women. Hijab is not a tradition it is a religious veiling that is necessary. There are women who wear the hijab, who wear it out of force and are treated poorly and are oppressed by the men in their country but Islam condemns this type of treatment towards women. Islam is a way of life for all humanity, a way for mankind to relate to one another and hijab plays a big role in maintaining this way of life.

In the end it is the woman's choice to wear hijab but it is obligatory in the faith of Islam. However, one must feel comfortable in their choices and know all the facts. It is well understood that when adorning the hijab, in the western world, you make a statement and sometimes you're then forced to stand-up for your beliefs and even concern yourself with physical confrontations. Not everyone's up for that.

To be a Muslim woman and to choose to wear hijab is to be strong and free.

Revert Muslims Blog

Assalaamu Álaykum,

Hello and welcome to ‘RevertMuslims.com’ online blog. My name is Jennah and I'm a revert. My journey to Islam has been most rewarding. InshAllah I will continue to help others find their path.

I created this space so that reverts can discuss their transformation into Islam and meet new friends on line.

Becoming a Muslim is quite a transformation and so we should offer our help to those newly reverted Muslims by giving out advice as well as our duas.

Inshallah our community at 'www.revertmuslims.com' will grow!

Please enjoy! :-)

Wa alaykumus salaam
___________________________My Revert Story:


Sister Jennah, A REVERT MUSLIM TEAM MEMBER (Trin, from shiachat)Founder of RMA
I’m a revert to Islam and I believe I was always a Muslim, I only needed to find my path. I was born, after all, with ‘fitrah’ (innate nature) and so it was natural for me to eventually find Islam if I could see the light of truth, which I did.

Assalaamu Álaykum

My Islamic name is Jennah and I am a Muslim.

My spiritual journey thus far has been a challenge but also very rewarding. My whole life I felt a building towards something until finally discovering Islam. The more I found out about Islam the more I knew I had found my path.

I was introduced to Islam while playing an on-line game over the net. I met a young Muslim man, from England, while playing this game. He was the first Muslim I had ever met in my life. I was so impressed by how polite and helpful he was. I was curious so I asked questions about his faith. He was very resourceful and he encouraged me to learn more. He provided me with links and audio and video files. He was always very kind and positive about my study.

To start I read about all the various Muslim sects. I bought/borrowed one book after another as I could not seem to quench my thirst for knowledge of Islam. I also read all about the Prophet(saw) and Khadija and all the decedents, the ahlulbayt. I read about the caliphs and the 14 infallibles. I spent time reading the history of Arabia, the tribes, the battles. I started an on-line Islamic study course. I absorbed as much as I could as often as I could.

My life began to change...I had an epiphany when I purchased my first English translated Qur’an. When I looked down at the Qur’an, time seemed to stand still; as I recalled a recurring dream I had my whole life. In the dream I'm reaching out for a large old book resting open on a table. When I reach the book I cannot read the pages and something seemed to always be pulling me back. The dream always left me frustrated. However, on this day when I looked down at the Qur'an I realized that the book I had dreamt about my whole life was the book I held in my hands and I knew this was a sign from the creator.

I became very focused. I knew I was on the verge of becoming a Muslim but the decision was difficult it was a complete changing of my life and for the non-Muslims in my life. After much contemplation and spiritual guidance I preformed my shahada at home.

Once I was a Muslim I knew that I was not only to submit to Allah(swt) but I must also give back to Islam in as many ways as possible. The more of Allah (swt) I found in my heart, the more life began to change for me and my involvement with Islam. New people were coming into my life and they were filled with hope for Islam as I was. I worked/work on Islamic web-sties doing web and graphic design and various art jobs . I am an artist so I have taken some study in Islamic artwork and I have begun to create series of artwork that Inshallah will help bring attention to Islam.

I study Islam as much as I can so that I can better articulate my views on the subject. I have even begun to try to learn to speak the Arabic language.

'Baseerah' is knowledge. So the caller is certain to face those who are scholars of misguidance, those who will attack him with doubts and futile arguments in order to rebut the truth.
Allah, the most high says:
and argue with them in a way that is better.
(soorah an-Nahl 16:125]

When researching I did not find a lot of sites that fit all of my needs as a revert. I wanted a place where I could find it all in one. This is when I began to think about creating ' 'RevertMuslims.com'. I felt there was a need for an uplifting and encouraging and resourceful site for new reverts. A place to learn the truth about Isalm in a comfortable setting. A place where you can learn the fundamentals of Islam, to learn how to pray, to live as a Muslim should live on a daily basis.

InshaAllah I will continue to meet the needs of reverts to Islam.

I do my best to be a good Muslim, a good human being. I do my best to give back as Allah(swt) has given me so much in my life. My goal is to work for Islam as much as possible in an effort to bring unity and understanding.

Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatu Allahi Wa Barakatoh

Sister Jennah