Assalaamu Alaykum (Peace be upon you) to all

I begin in the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

I was born from a Baptist mother and a Pentecostal father. My brother was a Catholic, and my aunts, uncles, and cousins are Jehovah's Witnesses.

I first entered Christianity simply because it was the only religion I was exposed to. I was a Jehovah's Witness due to my aunts, uncles, and cousins constant attempts at converting me. Being a young child at age 8, I was brainwashed and believed 100% that the Jehovah's Witnesses was the only correct form of Christianity, and thus the only correct religion in the world.

9/11 happened shortly afterwards. I was afraid, as was most Americans, of those "Muzlem Terrorists" (spelling intentional). I remember asking the substitute teacher shortly after 9/11: "Who is the God in Islam?"

The teacher responded "Muhammad" (this isn't true).

This was the first contact I had ever had with Islam. Little did I know that I would join this religion.

I reverted to Islam for less than an hour one day. I did not say the Shahadah, I did not read Al-Qur'an, I was just reverting because I hated Christianity. Common sense was trying to leak through, but I didn't let it. I joined Christianity once again an hour later.

I requested for Bible Studies with Jehovah's Witnesses. This went on for some time until I was 12 years old. Then, I was brainwashed into believing that the Jehovah's Witnesses were wrong.

I was brainwashed into believing the Trinity.

I thought that it was nonsense, but a 12 year old boy wouldn't focus too much on religion, would he? I pushed those questions to the back of my head and when I was 13, I became an Episcopalian (or Anglican, as the British know it).

I told my cousin a little before my becoming an Episcopalian that I was no longer a Jehovah's Witness. I then recieved a very long lecture on me being lost and such. Jehovah's Witnesses made no sense at all.

I was baptized that same year on June 4th.

Possibly the worst decision I have ever made in my life.

At the start of 8th grade that same year, I knew a lot about Islam. How remains a mystery even today. I knew their God, I knew their Book (though I'd never read it), and I knew nearly everything about that religion. It was as if I was a Muslim myself!

In History Class, a unit we studied was Islam. We studied how the Muslims made great contributions to science, math, astronomy, and such. We studied Muslim rituals such as the salat, wudhu (we didn't get into much detail about those), the Hajj, and other rituals. These interested me greatly, while it bored the rest of the class.

A substitute teacher came in while we were in the middle of studying Islam. The man was a Muslim. He explained Islam, the Pillars of Islam, the reason why some things are done the way they're done, and such.

All the while, I was thinking that this religion makes more sense than Christianity.

Jesus wasn't God, Al-Qur'an demands that people use reason when hearing about something, the Trinity doesn't exist, Constantine created the Bible, there is only One God in the simpliest sense...All these things I have heard and agree with.

I pushed back a lot of questions in my mind about Christianity. I had been exposed to websites such as http://answering-christianity.com and http://infidelguy.org. I was shaken so much about my religion, yet I stayed in it.

It was then that I saw a video called "Texans turning Muslim". I really wanted to join this religion, to revert to Islam. But, I didn't at the moment.

Why?

It wasn't because what they believed. No, Islam makes perfect sense and it relies on reason AND faith to support it's beliefs and not just "faith" (the Christian's only support). I didn't revert because I was afraid that my mother and brother would catch me doing salat and yell at me. I also did not want to give up dating (though giving up dating was the best decision in my life, save reverting to Islam).

I couldn't fight the urge anymore. I had listened to Al-Qur'an being recited beautifully in Arabic while reading the English translation. I had observed the common sense involved with Islam. I had memorized one Surah (or "Chapter") of Al-Qur'an. I had even learned how they prayed!

I reverted to Islam on October 28th, 2006 at 12:36 AM by saying: "Ash-hadu la ilaha illAllah. Wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan abaduhu wa RasulAllah" (translated as: "I testify that there is no God but Allah. And I testify that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger).

This time, it wasn't out of anger or because I wanted to be a "rebel". I wasn't "exploring new religions" (as my mother is hoping I'm doing). I was reverting to common sense from nonsense.

I was a Salafi as I entered Islam. Salafis reject all Madhabs (Schools of Thought), but are Sunnis. I then decided only recently to follow the Hanafi Madhab (School of Thought founded by Imam Abu Hanifa (may Allah have mercy on him and grant him Heaven).

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me. I will (Allah Willing) gladly answer the questions of anybody looking to leave their religion and/or revert to Islam, and I will NOT (Allah Willing) debate. Debating has no place in Islam, for it only leads to those participating in the debate to get angry at each other and nothing will be resolved most of the time.

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