http://forum.netmuslims.com/showthread.php?

s=4c6533772c9a34564f10ce12c9c78489&t=6114

Advice For New Muslims from Abdul-Lateef Abdullah (Steven Krauss)

Assalamualaikum new brother or sister!

Alhamdulillah that Allah has guided you to our blessed deen. Islam is truly a blessing and we should all feel overwhelmed
with gratitude to Allah for guiding us to the straight path, the path of real success and peace.

My advice to you as a new Muslim is to find a teacher. In my year and a half of being Muslim (I'm 28 years old), one of the
most important experiences for me has been the guidance and support of a very knowledgeable and pious teacher. Islam is
a not a religion of self-interpretation. It is a straight path based on knowledge that must be acquired. It is a lifestyle that has
to be adhered to, and is unfortunately being influenced by many negative elements, both within and outside Islam. Without a
guide, it is difficult to differentiate the truth of Islam from the created falsehoods that are being propogated as Islamic
teachings.

Although many new Muslims, especially in the US, choose to teach themselves Islam through books, lectures and videos,
there are many pitfalls to doing this that should be avoided. Without a teacher or a guide, one armed with the combination of
knowledge and experience, the pitfalls of the ego and desires can confuse and lead us astray quite easily. Self-teaching is a
western phenomenon, and because many of us are brought up in the west, we assume we can apply our cultural norms to
Islam as well. However, Islam is not of the west, thus, these western norms cannot be applied to it with much success.

For centuries, classical Islamic education was taught through direct contact with teachers. This is how wisdom, not just
knowledge, was acquired. You cannot gain wisdom just from reading. Anyone can read and parrot, but how many can read
and apply in the way Allah intends? One of the problems with the Muslim Ummah today is that there are too many of us
reading and parroting, but not enough applying in the way truly put forth by Allah and His Messenger (SAW). Put simply, we
have stopped learning from those with knowledge and wisdom. We have stopped becoming students. One of the first
attributes Jabril (AS) (archangel Gabriel) said he would take from the world by Allah's command toward the end of time
would be humility. This is a sign of what Jabril (AS) was talking about. It takes humility to be a student and to give our trust
over to someone to teach us, which is why fewer and fewer are willing to do it.
The easiest way to know the true akhlaq (character) of a teacher is to look at how he lives. How does he live his life? Does
he live the deen or just talk about it? Does he say one thing and do another? Does he invite you into his home and show
you how to practice Islam, not just tell you? Does he make five solats a day? These are some ways of knowing the
authenticity and genuineness of a teacher. Unfortunately, in this day and age, many people claim to be sheikhs and imams,
yet have very little knowledge or wisdom of Islam. So don't be fooled by titles in your search for a teacher.
I don't mean to put fear into anyone's heart on this matter. I have seen, however, the importance of having guidance and the
consequences of what happens without it. How we learn and are indoctrinated into Islam will greatly effect our appreciation
for it, our love of it, our devotion to it
just blindly follow it. So I urge you to go out and find a good teacher to help you along the path to Allah. May Allah bless you
and guide you further in your journey. Assalamualaikum!

Written by Abdul-Lateef Abdullah (Steven Krauss) , December 28, 2000 skrauss@community-impact.net

http://www.islamfortoday.com/krauss.htm

http://forum.netmuslims.com/showthread.php?s=4c6533772c9a34564f10ce12c9c78489&t=6114

Advice For New Muslims From A Sister

Assalaamu alaykum! Peace be upon you!

The joy, exhilaration, and lifetime importance of accepting Islam can often be accompanied by a sense of
being overwhelmed and unsure of how to best approach the new dimensions of one's life. So many details,
one might think, so many books, so many rules. Look again: Islam is not an obscure, complicated religion.
It is the natural religion, and as such, it is a way of life - there is no need to panic. There are, however,
several things that will greatly facilitate the transition to an Islamic lifestyle:

(1) Venture, boldly or meekly, into a nearby Muslim community so that you can enjoy the camaraderie and
guidance of practicing muslims. Introduce yourself as a new revert and insha'allah, with some give and take,
you will be welcomed into the ummah [muslim community]. If you find that you are uncomfortable amongst
these people even after some time, don't hesitate to try and locate other muslims at another mosque, if
such a luxury is available to you where you reside. Muslims are people, you will like some, love others, and
so on. Don't get discouraged if you don't find a Muslim soul mate immediately!

(2) Learn salat, the five-times-daily contact prayer. Learning the movements and Arabic words will be
challenging at first, but with *practice* you will master it eventually, I promise! It always helps to have a
friend to ask about the details, hence (1) above. There are numerous Muslim books and websites to guide
you through learning salat. Try to learn the basics first before you get caught up with trying to learn many
dua'as [supplications] or surahs [verses] from the Qur'an. Keep it simple and regular and your faith and
self-confidence will improve daily.

(3) Read the Qur'an. Try to get a widely accepted edition like the 'Abdullah Yusuf 'Ali Qur'an in Arabic with
English translation and commentary. Read slowly, savor the words, but read by all means. It is the most
important book you will ever come across.

As you are becoming settled in your new life as a Muslim, things that at first seemed daunting will become
simple, and you will soon be ready for new challenges. Read! Listen! Learn Arabic (if possible!) There is a
wealth of wisdom just waiting to be discovered by you. And you, too, are waiting for it. So progress and
enjoy!

Advice For New Muslims by Mona

Given that I have been having major problems with my parents regarding my reversion, the following
advice is particularly suitable for other new muslims having problems with their non-Muslim family
members:

(1) It is very helpful and comforting to have a few Muslim friends nearby in whom you can confide, ask
questions of, and spend time with during the formative and often tumultuous initial period as a new Muslim.
Born muslims are generally honored and pleased to help you improve your faith by showing you the details
that help you become a better Muslim.

(2) Before you decide to announce your reversion to loved ones who are non-Muslim, make sure you are
ready for their response, whether it is pleasant or horrible. Being ready means many things: understanding
the basics of practicing your faith, understanding the reasons behind actions demanded of you by Islam,
and being able to reconcile unfortunate world events that are attributed to muslims with your own
understanding of Islam and its inherent goodness, logic, and beauty.

(3) As hypocritical as it may be, many open-minded people cease to be open-minded when difficult issues
such as religious conversion "hit home." People who are ordinarily rational, educated, and worldly
unfortunately can swing 180 degrees when a person they love converts to a religion they do not appreciate
or understand. It may be in your best interest, and in theirs, to not discuss your reversion to Islam until a
year or two has passed and you feel comfortable in your faith. At that point, it would be obvious to them
that Islam has not made you a worse or lesser person, and has in fact (hopefully!) noticeably improved you!

(4) Most importantly, remember that the best teaching is by example. If you want to help others overcome
the stereotypes bound to Islam and lessen discrimination against Muslims, be a model Muslim! Remember
to be tolerant, patient, giving, helpful, and peaceful with those around you, be they Muslim or not. Be open
to questions regarding your new faith, but do not feel compelled to answer questions to which you do not
(yet) know the answers. Get involved in your ummah, mind your prayer, and with time, everything will
become easier for you.

Written by Mona August 5, 1998

Please drop Mona a line. Her e-mail address is: mona@physchem.ox.ac.uk

Impressed by Islamic Prayer.

http://www.islamonline.net/English/Discover_Islam/MyJourneytoIslam/ContemporaryStories/2006/06/01.shtml

Very Nice Website: http://www.turntoislam.com/forum/index.php?s=db324be25a7820e423fe2139b0e7e38e