Brothers and Sisters, Praise be to Allah that I have been honored with the following message.
I wish only to share with you this message in hopes that others will see the rewards in presenting Islam as our Lord and His messenger has directed.
I have delete the personal information of this individual out of respect for his/her privacy.

salaal alaikom akhi

I do not have the islamonline mail so I have decided to send you a message this way.

Hello my brother. I used to talk more on this forum but have not for a while. I am wondering if you might like to e-mail me: my e-mail address is ****************

I now that I am at my fifty-fifth year of age in life have been trying to figure out just how I can now improve my knowlege of Religion. I'm writing a message to you
because I well remember how much time you had taken with 'Chas' way back when in 2004. I myself would say tht I am Muslim and of Muslim father and Muslim grandfather,
but here in America and my own family had come to the US actually from Brotain in 1879, a very long time ago. My father had always remembered the Islam linkage and had
spoken of a few Moslem things as I was small but we had never kept any degree of closeness with the Muslim things. That is, my mom is Irish and English and my fathers
mother the American born daughter of Iraland born (and Roman Catholic) parents. My father's family, yes the McRae, had been in some sort of maritime commercial business
in the eighteen hundreds and had a few boats with which they carried on trade by sea up from North Africa, Portugal, Galicia, France and Britain. The boats were kept moored
in Dornie Scotland and we had some Portugueese and North African family connection. That is simply that my father's family had always said that we were from Moslems. And, so,
is my self-identity.

My own father had been in Algeria and in Ismailiyah Egypt and he had taught to me a very small smattering of Arabic of what he knew. We never really went to masjeed, basically
were never really around any over the years.

I have been to masjeed, and I can do my two rakats in Arabic and yes I have a rendering of Quran in Spanish and before I went to the UK I HAD a large Yusuf Ali Arabic and English
Quran which I left in Pennsylvania when I went. I know a bit but I have not really gotten a good solid wisdom, knowlege, learning, that, now, that I am older, I want to built.

Yes I call myself a Muslim (; my dad and grandfather said the older usage 'Moslem' as this was the term used in Britain and America in earlier years).

I have written to the school in Leesburg - Ashburn Virginia : 'Corboda University - School of Islamic and Social Sciences' : but had not received any reply from them.
I have just mailed a second letter written to them, just today. I hope I hear back from them.

And I thought about you from the old 2004 2005 discussions on the Politics forum and thought I would try a shot at messaging you through islamonline.

I do not have a computer and have to walk to the public library to use a computer which I do not do often. I really would very much appreciate hearing your thoughts regard what I say.

:: You can write me at home if you please:

:: I am

Ed *******

**********************
************, PA *********** USA

or, e-mail through

**************l.com

Thanks Brother,

wa alaikom salaam

Dearest Brother Ed,
Assalamu 'Alaikum, and my the peace of Allah find you in your heart and mind as you reach out in search of the truth.
First I will say that I am both honored and humbled that you have chosen me to give you what little knowledge I have in Islam, to hopefully set you on the path of enlightenment.
As it is the duty of every Muslim to render assistance to any that seek Islam, I will do my very best to give you the guidance you seek.
First and foremost, you must understand there is ONE basic foundation to seeking Islam, to become a Muslim one must simply pronounce the Shahaadatayn (Declaration of Faith) with sincerity and conviction.

The Shahadah can be declared as follows:

"ASH-HADU ANLA ELAHA ILLA-ALLAH WA ASH-HADU ANNA MOHAMMADAN RASUL-ALLAH".

The English translation is:

"I bear witness that there is no deity worthy to be worshiped but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger."
This opens one's heart and mind to the calling of Allah.
The Shahadah  is the dividing line between unbelief (kufr) and Islam. It is also called the kalimah (word). Whoever says it with truthfulness will enter the Gardens of Paradise

It is [a kalimah] that Allah Himself has testified to, as have the angels and those who possess knowledge from amongst His creation. Allah the Most High said:

"Allah bears witness that none has the right to be worshiped except Him; as do the angels and those who possess knowledge. He maintains His creation upon justice. None has the right
to be worshiped except Him, the All-Mighty, All-Wise."
[Soorah Aal-Imraan 3:18]

 It is a concise declaration that contains few letters; light upon the tongue, yet heavy in the scales.

 Prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam, who said: "A person from my ummah will be summoned in front of everyone on the Day of Resurrection. Ninety-nine scrolls will be unfurled for him,
each scroll extending as far as the eye can see. Then it will be said: Do you deny any of this [i.e. your bad deeds]? So the man will reply: No, 0 Lord. Then it will be said: Do you have
any excuse or any good deed? The man, in a state of terror, will answer: No. It will then be said: Rather, you do have some good deeds and no injustice will befall you this Day. So a parchment
will be taken out for him, upon which there will be the testification of laa ilaaha illallaah and the testification that Muhammad is the Servant and Messenger of Allah. The man will say: 0h Lord,
what is this parchment in comparison to those scrolls! It will be said to him: No injustice shall befall you. The scrolls will then be placed in one of the scales and the parchment in the other;
the scrolls will be light in weight, whereas the parchment will be heavy."

A person does NOT need to do a course or obtain a certificate to become a Muslim.

If there are no Mosques or  Muslims were you live you can  declare  the Shahadah  to your self..   

 However, it is not sufficient for anyone to only utter this testimony orally either in private or in public; but rather, he or she should believe in it with a firm conviction and unshakable faith.
Once you have said the Shahadah  then you will be like a New Born Person. Free of any sins. Just like a child is born sinless.

Pronouncing the testimony of faith is sufficient to make one a convert to Islam. There are however, seven conditions that must be observed before it can effectively make one a Muslim. These are describe
as follows:

1  Knowledge (Al-ilm)

Knowledge (al-ilm) of its meaning, what it negates and affirms. If a person says it without knowing its meaning, nor what its requirements are, then he will not benefit by it, because he has not
believed in what it requires. Rather, he is like someone who speaks in a language that he does not understand.

2   Certainty (Al-Yaqeen)

The heart must be firmly certain of the meaning of Shahadah without a blemish of doubt.

Allah the Exalted says:" Verily, the believers are only those who truly believe in Allah and His Messenger, and then doubt not. (Quran 49:15).

The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: "I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I am the Messenger of Allah. No slave meets Allah with this testimony, having no doubt in it but
shall enter Jannah."( Muslim) :

3   Sincerity (Al-Ikhlaas)

Exclusively worshiping Allah,  which is contrary to shirk. This is what laa ilaaha illallaah points towards.

Allah, the Exalted, said:" And they were not commanded but to worship Allah, being sincere in devoting religion to Him." (Quran 98:5).

Abu Hurairah said:" I asked the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him: Messenger of Allah! Who will be most fortunate to enjoy your shafa'ah (intercession) on the Day of Resurrection?
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: I was certain that no one else would ask me about this other than you, because I have noticed your keenness for hadeeth. The most fortunate of men
who will enjoy my shafa'ah on the Day of Resurrection is the one who says: (La Ilaha Illa Allah) "None has the right to be worshiped except Allah", sincerely from his heart.."(Musnad al-Imam Ahmad.)

4   Truthfulness (As-Sidq)

Truthfulness (as-sidq), which prevents hypocrisy (nifaaq). Indeed, the hypocrites uttered it with their tongues, but did not inwardly believe in what it signified.

The Messenger of Allah said: "Anyone testifies that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, truthfully from his heart, Allah would forbid his admittance to the Fire."(Muslim)

5  Love and affection (Al-Mahabbah )

Love (al-mahabbah) for this kalimah and having love and pleasure for whatever it necessitates. This is contrary to the [state of the] hypocrites.

The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: "There are three (qualities), whoever possesses them, will taste the sweetness of Iman (belief): to love Allah and His Messenger more than
anyone else, to love the Muslim only for the sake of Allah, and to dread returning to kufr (apostasy) as he dreads being thrown in fire." ( Bukhari and Muslim.)

Allah says to His Messenger (peace be upon him)

Say (O Muhammad SAW to mankind): "If you (really) love Allah then follow me (i.e. accept Islamic Monotheism, follow the Quran and the Sunnah), Allah will love you and forgive you of your sins.
And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." (3:31)

Allah says: "Allah shall bring forth a people whom He loves and they love Him." (Quran 5:54)

The Prophet, peace be upon him, also said: "None of you shall (really) believe until I become dearer to him than his own father, and son and all mankind."  ( Bukhari and Muslim.)

6   Submission (Al-Inqiyaad) internally and externally

Submissive compliance (al-inqiyaad), by fulfilling its rights - which are the obligatory actions - with sincerity to Allah and seeking His good pleasure. This is its requirement.

Allah, the Exalted, says: "And he who submits himself to Allah, and does good, he has surely grasped a strong handle." ( Quran 31:22).

Allah also says:" And turn you to your Rabb, and submit yourselves to Him." (:Quran 39:54).

7  Acceptance and conformity (Al-Qubool )

Acceptance (al-qabool), which prevents rejection.

This is achieved by acting upon what Allah has commanded and abandoning whatever He has prohibited.

Abu Musa al-Ash'aree reported that the Prophet, peace be upon him said: "The parable of guidance and knowledge which Allah has sent me with is like a rain which fell on a land. A patch of that land

received the water and produced much herbage and grass. And a patch which was barren. The latter retained water wherewith Allah extended benefits to men: they drank from it, irrigated and planted
their vegetation. And a patch which was a sandy plain, it neither retained water nor produced herbage. This is parallel to the person who conceived the religion of Allah and benefited from the Message
with which Allah has sent me, whereby he learns and taught others. The other person turned away from it (from my Message), and rejected the guidance of Allah with which I am sent.."  Bukhari and Muslim.)

Allah says "Indeed in the Messenger of Allah (Muhammad  peace be upon him) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes in (the Meeting with) Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah much."(33:21)

And Allah also says in Surah Al-Hashr

....And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad peace be upon him) gives you, take it, and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it) , and fear Allah. Verily, Allah is Severe in punishment. (59:7)

Again Allah says:

O you who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger (Muhammad  peace be upon him), and those of you (Muslims) who are in authority. (And) if you differ in anything amongst yourselves,
refer it to Allah and His Messenger ( peace be upon him), if you believe in Allah and in the Last Day. That is better and more suitable for final determination.(4:59)

And Allah says:

But no, by your Lord, they can have no Faith, until they make you (O Muhammad  ) judge in all disputes between them, and find in themselves no resistance against your decisions, and accept (them)
with full submission.

In the next verse Allah again tells his Messenger

Say (O Muhammad  peace be upon him): "Obey Allah and the Messenger (Muhammad  peace be upon him)." But if they turn away, then Allah does not like the disbeliever's (3:32)

 Islam unites together people of different colours, languages, races. and nationalities into one brotherhood.

Allah says: "Indeed the Believers are but brothers." [Quran 4 9:10]

Before Islam  people in Arabia were dived into different tribes. Some of them were at constant war with each other, Islam came and Allah put peace and love in their hearts for each other.

Allah the Most High said: "And remember the favor of Allah upon you, for you were once enemies to one another but He joined your hearts together in love, so that by His Grace you became brothers."
[Soorah Aal-Imraan 3:103]

And Allah the Most High said: "He it is that has strengthened you with His help and with the Believers. And moreover, He has united their hearts with love and affection. If you had spent all that
is in the earth, you could not have united their hearts with love and affection. However, Allah has united them. Indeed Allah is the All-Mighty, All-Wise." [Soorah al-Anfaal 8:62- 63].

As for further assistance in Islam, I would refer you to seek out a knowlegable Iman in your area.
For it is the scholar of Islam that can decode the difficult things that every man, woman and child finds in day to day life.

How do you know that you've found the "right" Iman to guide you?

You will hear the sweet voice of Allah come ringing through his words and NO HATRID or POLITICAL doctrine will follow.
Only the words of Allah and His Messenger will enter your heart and mind.

I hope this has been of some help to you brother, and if you don't mind, I wish to paste this on Islam on line to show that there are those out there seeking understanding and help without the intrusion
of politics and hate.

Peace be with you brother and contact me anytime you need too.

Message was edited by: Moderators