Alhamdulillah, what a beautiful start to the blessed month of ramadan. indeed for me, but i am talking about the 18 year old white american who took shahada after the friday prayers, a day before the start of ramadan, with me and hundred more people witnessing it. Imagine that all your sins are forgiven and whatever you earn from now onwards will be multiplied 70 times for a month. can anyone dream of a better deal than this! but this doesnt come for free. May Allah keep him intact on the path he has chosen. he has a very tough life ahead, being a freshmen who just entered the college, living in dorms with all kind of distraction and being independent in his thoughts and decisions, having passed the 18 yr barrier. living in such a society and keeping oneself steadfast is the true Jihad a person can go for.
On a personal note, i too was really excited to welcome the blessed month this year. being involved with the masjid, knowing more people, gaining more respect is Alhamdulillah helping me in improving myself as a muslim. i am utilizing my time in a more efficient ways now. if you give a chance to the devil to overcome your mind, then you got to dance on his tunes, and if you walk towards Allah SWT, then Allah SWT will run towards you with his mercy. the decision is upto the wise men, what he choses.
Another american who took shahada couple years back has also moved to our community. he is exactly of my age. he was given a chance to share his journey towards islam, and after listening to that i felt that he had lived double the life than me, or may be much more. just for instance, he travelled to france, south africa, senegal and reached even till kashmir in his quest to learn about the true religion. he spent time with jewish community, he participated in the meditation activities by hindus to understand their religion, but Alhamdulillah got to a conclusion that only Islam makes sense and can be the only religion for a man. he says being a muslim he is more clean, systematic in his activities and overall a good person now.
Being born as a muslim is the greatest thing that happens to us. we understand its importance only when we see struggles from others. its not at all easy to go against your parents, your society, leaving the 'heaven' like atmosphere created around you, and then believing in the unseen. Indeed there can't be more justice then this, when Allah SWT promises to forgive all their sins they perform before entering the path to true 'heaven'.
`Subhan-Allahi wa bihamdihi, Subhan-Allahil-Azeem [Glory be to Allah and His is the praise, (and) Allah, the Greatest is free from imperfection]'
