I am a Muslim!

Bismillah...

Asalamu Alaikum Waramatullahi Wabarakatuh!
(Peace and mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you)

Many of you know me, I was born a Muslim, we all were. My Family took me to church when I was quite young. I kept going when they stopped for a few reasons. First, I needed to belong, second I needed to feel loved, and finally, because I loved Allah. When I was in High school I stopped going to church. I got sick of looking out every Sunday morning and seeing the hypocrisy, I got sick of the way people treated me, There was not enough of Allah's love for me in that place to cover up the peoples ill manors. I studied religion and reasoned what religion I was best suited for. I liked ritual, I was raised around South Asian Culture, I felt at home in the Hindu culture. There were just a few problems with Hinduism. First, the community did not accept me, second, I got worn out defending the multiple gods, a theory I never could really defend in my own heart, and finally because I learned about the Truth.

At this point I was far from Islam, I had tried to kill myself many times, I had been hospitalized for the better part of a year or two, and had destroyed most of my friendships. But I was working hard, and trying to start over.

A woman came into the Wal-Mart where I worked, I asked her about her Hijab and undercap, she invited me to not only her interfaith meeting, but also her Halaka (Quran study group). It was there that I made friends that changed my life for the better, forever!

I started out in this group determined not to be converted, and although the Sisters I was with wer very passionate about their deen (faith), they never pushed me too hard. Over time their warmth, and the Truth they brought to me won me over. After attending their Halaka for about two months I said my Shahada (Muslim Proclamation of Faith) on the 26th of June 2008!

Since that time I have had many trials in my life, many things that would have almost killed me (literally) a year ago. I have fasted Ramadan, I have been blessed with some of the best friends of my life. I have stayed up praying all night, I have been able to go back to school. I have kept a steady job. I have helped others.I have read the Quran. I have grown closer to my mum. I have grown closer to Allah than I was ever able to in any other religion. Most importantly, I feel truly loved, because I do not put my trust in humans any more. I have friends, but I know, as much as I love them, they are human, they will let me down. I put my trust only in Allah, and it sees me through every day of my life.

So here are some of the best things I have learned in Islam...
Alhamduallah=Give all thanks and praises to Allah
Inshallah=If Allah wills
Everything happens for a reason
Everything is a blessing
I am here for a reason
I can grow
I need only fear Allah
Pray without ceasing
Keep my eyes lowered, and focused of Allah
Alahmduallah!

أشهد أن لا إله إلاَّ الله و أشهد أن محمد رسول الله
I testify that there is no god but God, And I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of God

CONSTANTINE IS HERE!!!

I wanted to let every one know...
That as of noon on the 18th of November, 2008 My nephew
CONSTANTINE
was born to my sister Stephanie!!!
He weighs 9 pounds and 12 ounces!
mashallah, I am so happy!!!
Alhamduallah!!!

Alhamduallah!

As'salaam Alikum!
I sometimes wonder if anyone reads this blog. Regardless, it is a way for me to attempt to share the musings of mine I feel are relevant for others to hear.

I have grown more than I think any person can possible understand in the last seven months, and even more in the past four. I have become so much more thankful and even more blessed than I feel I ever was before in my life. My life has been saved so many times, more than I, or any other probably even knows. That is probably the greatest blessing I ever received. Because I am a lover of life, and it took me till I was almost 21 to Tully figure it out. Often times now, with my life so bizzy, and so filled with blessing, I forget what life was like for me before seven months ago, when I almost lost everything. Once an awile though, the topic comes up, and I remeber things, like swollowing the fith handfull of tylonal, or a friend so dear to me and the look in his eyes, as he helped me to the hospital, and I thank Allah! Because to be saved from not only death, but from that life, is more then a blessing, it is pure mercy. After all I did to myself, and to other wonderfull people, it dosen't make sence for me to have this beautiful life that I have. Survival of the fitests says let me die, but Allah saw more. Because of utter mercy I am not only still here, but I am blessed with a beautiful life, and the oprutunity to share my blessing of life.

I hate to bring up the past, but with out it, I can not be fully gratefull, and I can not live my life to the absolute fullest. Please know, that as painful as my life was, it was nessary to give me the life I have now, and I am thankfull for every second of it!

AHAMDUALLAH!

Popps out!

As'salaam Alikum!
Because I have trouble putting them in and taking them out the original way I was taught (I have now found methods that work well for me)., I was looking online for alternative methods. This is the BEST way ever to take them out! it is very easy, and not hard at all to learn!

Women!

As'salaam Alikum!
I know it has been quite some time since I last posted, but I'm back!!!
Over Ramadan I was not using internet much, and over Eid I was traveling, but I am back now, so let's Blog! I sent out some Eid newsletters, you may have gotten one, and if so I hope you enjoyed it. School has been going well, and life is good. Also, I finaly got contacts, and I LOVE them. They take a bit practice to get in and out, but it's worth it!

Also in trying to tell my Women friends about the Instead softcup, and alternative to Tampons and Pads, I have learned how little Women seem to know about their own anatomy. I find this sad, Women need to know about their anatomy, in order to take proper care of themselves!
Also Women need to know their health responsibility, because it is very rare that people will tell you. For instance, there is a very simple test to detect Cervical cancer, that all women over the age of 25 should have done once a year, and you should defiantly have done after having a child. Most women do not know about it, and do not have it done!

Another way women have surprised me is in Islam. In Muslim women are completely equal to men. We have a lot of rights not found in Christianity and Judaism. Parents are told to rejoice over female children, and Women must be of age and connect before they are married. However many women allow their cultures to stripe them of their rights found in Islam. Women allow men to tell them what their rolls are in Islam, and a lot of the time the men are wrong. For instance, it is a common misconception that Eve was made from Adams rib, this may be true from the Bible, but it is NOT found in the Quran.

Too often Women do not take the initiative in learning about their rights and responsibilities. There are very few Women dominated societies left in the world. Because of this, no one is going to tell us what our rights our. No one is going to tell us how we can protect ourselves, our health, our spirit, and our faith. So as Women we MUST seek the truth and help others learn about it.

I would like to note though, that even though women need to learn what their options and rights are. One of their options IS to be traditional, and other women do NOT have the right to take that right away from other women.

Been forever!

As'salaam Alikum!

It has been such a long time, hasn't it? I apologize, with Ramadan, work, and school I had no time to spend online. All the same I am back, and I am now 21 years of age as of yesterday. My Ramadan went really well Alhamduallah! I didn't have too much trouble fasting from food at all. However I did have some trouble with behavior. During Ramada I was trying to keep my mouth shut and to be truely humble and submissive to Allah. This was hard, a lot of times feel like I have to something even when I dont need to.

Other than that I've bee erally bizzy with school. I am now in Roteract club, and president of Parkland MSA. Between my clubs, my asignments, and work things can get a little crazzy, but Alhamduallh, I'm handling it quite well I think.

Since it was my birthday and Eid weekend, I came up to Chicogo and am staying with some of my bestfriends from middle school. They are acctualy the one's that first exsposed me to reall South Asian culture. So I'm haveing a blast with that, We're acctually going to Devon today, and I can't wait. I also got to see Hanan this weekend, but we didn't have a lot of time, and I diden't have my skates, so skating was out of the picture sadly.

There's a lot of family drama going on, but I got to see my sister. We did a bit of shoping(she got me a new purse!), and she cooked me a great dinner! It was nice seeing her again, sometimes I think my famly is just too spread out, I never get to see anyone.

Eid ul-Fiter is the big celibation after Ramadan, it was lot's of fun. There was prayer and a Khutba (like a sermon). After that all the kids got gifts and we drove around to partys all over town. I did henna for a bunch of the sister's too, it was so much fun!

I'm also going to be sending out an Eid letter to Family and friends, so please either comment and give me your snail mail address, or e-mail me at rjacksonhcv@gmail.com

Love you all, peace out!

Snail Mail...

As'salaam Alikum!
If you read this can you please send your snail mail address to rjacksonhcv@gmail.com?
Thank you and Eid Mubarak!