Page 8 The Islamic Bulletin Volume XXIV No. 28 interested, especially when it says Isa was not crucified. This really shook me! I never heard a story of Jesus not being crucified. I decided to research on the role Jesus plays in Islam. I found that Jesus is not the son of God, he is not God himself, but a prophet just like any other prophet. I then came across the Prophet Muhammad and the revelation. I thought, “Why Prophet Muhammad, not any other prophet?” I looked at the lifestyle of Prophet Muhammad and I could see that someone like that deserves to be a prophet. At this point, I think I’m ready to become a Muslim. In my heart, I believe that I was a Muslim already. I remember once when I was in pharmacy school, the subject of religion came up. Students began asking each other which religion they belonged to. Some people replied that they were Buddhist; others answered Christian. I, on the other hand, remember saying proudly that I was Muslim. I was scared to say I was Muslim because if there was another Muslim in the room, they would have told me to prove it. One thing I did before I fully became a Muslim was that I made dua to Allah. “O Allah, if this is your revelation, if this is the true way of life, please guide me towards this way, do not let me turn to anywhere else and bring me happiness.” During this sole-searching time I had a job in the meat department. A man with the last name of Muhammad was transferred to my department. I thought to myself that this man has the same last name of the prophet. I did not know this man and was nervous to ask him. After working with him awhile I got to know him a little bit better. I told him that I was very interested in Islam and asked him if he could guide me toward the right direction or teach me about Islam. He told me that he was not the best Muslim but could guide me toward the right direction. He invited me to come over to his house, chill, take a bite to eat. I was a bit nervous, but I knew Allah was on my side. I met up with this brother. He said that Islam brings so much peace and tranquility, in addition to cleanliness. I did not know what he meant by cleanliness until I learned about wudu and ghusl later down the road. I asked him, “What do I have to do to become a Muslim?” He said he would take me to the place where Muslims pray. So he took me to the masjid in Vallejo; my intention was that I wanted to become Muslim. Whatever I had to do, I was determined to do them right away. I remember that it was almost time for the noon prayer and a brother was making adhan. When I heard the adhan, it was so powerful, it was something I never heard before. Although at that time I did not know what it meant, it still had so much meaning. It was so powerful, I could feel its booming message. It felt as though it could crumble a mountain! That’s how powerful it meant to me when I heard the adhan. I performed Salah with them, following what they were doing. One thing I noticed when performing Salah, even though I did not know anything about Salah, was something I remembered reading in the Bible which was the manner in which the prophets prayed. I thought, “We are praying just like Isa, Ibrahim and all the other prophets used to pray.” In the bible, it always occurred to me at a young age, as Christians we don’t pray like the prophets prayed. I remember reading passages that Jesus would go to the garden and prostate to his Lord. Musa and Haroon would prostate to their Lord on the mountain. After the Salah, I talked to the imam and he explained that Islam is a religion of peace that will bring total salvation. I remember asking the imam some questions which he answered. I asked, “Why are Christianity and Judaism so similar but different from Islam.” He gave me an explanation of how over 1000 years ago, people changed their religion for their own benefit. Or, sometimes religion was changed over politics and somewhere down the line the message was distorted. He further went on to explain that the Quran is just a confirmation of what the Bible and Torah also preached. He also told me about the five pillars of Islam. It sounded like a lot of work, but I was willing to do whatever it takes. God-willing I am ready. He asked, “Are you ready to become Muslim?” I answered, “Yes!” I told the Imam I would be willing to do anything right now, if I have to travel a thousand miles away, I will do that right now. He laughed. “You don’t have to go anywhere to become a Muslim.” “All you have to do is say two sentences and you are done.” So that is when I recited the Kalimah with him and took shahada on October 7, 2009. Alhamdullilah I have been Muslim ever since. Q: How did your family react to your conversion? At first, they thought it was a phase; my parents thought that this was another phase that I was going through. When I was young I had wanted to be a rock star and, later on, a basketball player. So they thought that this was something new that will eventually go away. After that, they started to notice that I began wearing different clothing and spent much time reading all the literature that I was bringing home. When they would ask about my whereabouts, I told them that I was spending my time at the masjid. A year passed and I continued to learn everything I could about Islam. Although my parents never told me directly, they would tell my brother and my uncles that there was a change in me. I would always try and speak to them about Islam, but it was still too new for them. Even though they felt Islam was not for them, they did help me with my new religion in other ways. For example, when my mother would go grocery shopping with my father, they would stop by a halal shop and buy me halal
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