A Muslim Convert Once Before

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ   Ustadz Adam Daniel Kelwick said, “After one of the lectures I gave in the Netherlands, I was approached by a young man who took me to one side and asked me a question: ‘Is it allowed to go and fight in Syria or Iraq?’   ‘Who would you be going to fight?’   The young man said, ‘It is not me going, but it is some people who I know.’   ‘So, who exactly are they fighting?’   ‘Those who are oppressing the Muslims there.’   I said, ‘The problem is, many of those who claim they are fighting the oppressors are actually those who are oppressing Muslims themselves.   Things are very confusing there, lots of political agendas at play and Muslims are killing each other ‘ fi sabil lillah .’   Each side is saying, ‘ Bismillah Allahu Akbar ,’ before firing the bullets to kill their enemies.   It is a very dangerous situation.   It is fitnah .’   The young man asked, ‘So, you do not think it is ...

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Ustadz Adam Daniel Kelwick said, “If you can find seventy excuses for an abuser, but not a single excuse for a victim, you need to recheck your understanding of the ‘ sunnah ’.”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Ustadz Adam Daniel Kelwick advises the new convert, “After becoming Muslim, do not blank out your past or pretend to be somebody else.   Do not forget the good elements that exist in your culture, your people, your family, your country and your own self.   The Prophet Muhammad ( s.a.w. ) said, ‘The best of you in Jahiliyyah are the best of you in Islam, if they gain understanding.’”   “ Jahiliyyah ” refers to the time of ignorance, before the enlightenment of Islam.

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Ustadz Adam Daniel Kelwick said, “After embracing Islam, I learnt pretty quickly that as beautiful as growing a beard, wearing a gown and carrying prayer beads may be, it is treating your neighbours well, respecting your parents and bringing benefit to the people around you is what your faith should really lead to.”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Ustadz Adam Daniel Kelwick said, referring to Sayyidina al-Julanda ibn Mas’ud ( r.a. ), “When al-Julanda, the King of Oman, heard that the Messenger of Allah ( s.a.w. ) had called him to Islam, he said, ‘By Allah Who has Guided me to this Unlettered Prophet, if he commands something good, he is the first to do it; if he forbids something, he is the first to leave it.   He conquers and is not proud.   He is defeated and is not grieved.   He fulfills the contract and carries out the promise.   I testify that he is a prophet.’”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Ustadz Adam Daniel Kelwick said, “Do not blame women when they go and build their own mosques and start leading prayers, because of the rooms and spaces the men have provided for years are dingy, dirty and smelly, if any at all.   We know that the best place for a woman to pray is at home, but do not forget the Prophet Muhammad ( s.a.w. ) said, ‘Do not prevent female worshippers of Allah ( s.w.t. ) from the houses of Allah ( s.w.t. ).’”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Ustadz Adam Daniel Kelwick said, “Some of the most spiritually enlightened people I have met, have been businessmen, other professionals or just seemed like regular people.   Some of the most spiritually dead, however, have been wearing religious clothing and looked like the Prince of Believers.”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Ustadz Adam Daniel Kelwick advises the Muslim convert, “Many groups of people will see you as a ‘trophy’, and will feel validated by your allegiance to them, their shaykh , or their methodology.   Remember that Islam is vast, and do not rush into something you might regret down the line.”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Ustadz Adam Daniel Kelwick advises the Muslim convert, “After you join the global Muslim community, you might be introduced to 1,001 different political causes, many of which will be good, and worthy of concern.   Do not, however, let those issues distract you from the priority of learning the basics of your new faith, and how to interact with those closest to you.”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Ustadz Adam Daniel Kelwick advises the Muslim converts., “Try not to be overwhelmed by the vast amounts of knowledge of Islam that you have not yet learned.   Even scholars, who have devoted years of their lives learning, realise there is so much yet to study.   As long as you are continuously learning, step by step, even if in small amounts, then you are on the right path.”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Ustadz Adam Daniel Kelwick advises Muslim converts, “Find a suitable mentor who understands the issues faced by those who embrace Islam.   Although they will not be able to solve all your problems, many specific projects and individuals exist who have experience working with converts, and will be a huge source of support and benefit.”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Ustadz Adam Daniel Kelwick advised converts, “Many people will ask you about Islam now that you have embraced the faith.   Do not be afraid to admit not knowing everything, for it is said that ‘I do not know’ is half of knowledge.”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Ustadz Adam Daniel Kelwick advises Muslim converts, “You might want to consider writing down the main elements of your journey to Islam, and have the website link ready to pass on to people whenever they ask.   Otherwise, you will be telling your story again and again and again and again and again for the rest of your life.”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Ustadz Adam Daniel Kelwick said, “Your family not being Muslim does not reduce anything from the fact that they are still your family.   However, you being Muslim means you have to increase your effort in keeping links with them, and offer them due love and respect like never before.”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Ustadz Adam Daniel Kelwick advises new converts, “People may tell you that marriage is ‘half of religion’.   Focus on the other half first, and avoid speeding into a relationship which is not well thought out.”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Ustadz Adam Daniel Kelwick said, “When you find yourself the subject of gossip, backbiting, and false accusations; know that it is the howling wolves who have issues, and not the full Moon.”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Ustadz Adam Daniel Kelwick said, “Information, and beneficial knowledge, are two completely different things.   A person could memorise a cookbook full of recipes, but not even know where to get the ingredients from.”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Ustadz Adam Daniel Kelwick advises the Muslim convert, “A great potential opportunity awaits you to be a bridge between the Muslim community and the rest of society.   But also bear in mind you might not be fully accepted by either.”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Ustadz Adam Daniel Kelwick advises Muslim converts, “Make sure you compile a list of the positive elements of your identity which you should keep before making a list of things you think you should get rid of.”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Ustadz Adam Daniel Kelwick said, “If you ever decide to be a bridge between people, do not forget that bridges get walked all over, and quickly burned down if anything goes wrong.”