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Assalamu alaikum

Dear Sister - thank you for your message, we are really pleased to hear from you. Firstly, I would like to offer our sincere condolences to you on the loss of your father. May Allah swt give him the best in the hereafter. Your efforts are really valuable as one thing that can help those who have passed on are the prayers and actions of the children performed in their name. This shows your sincerity and your actions are definitely of value, regardless of how small they may seem.

Please do not worry, you are not alone and we are here to help you. There are many people who are born to one or both Muslim parents who have never lived as Muslims and decide to return to the faith. We aim to help and support everyone who is 'New to Islam' regardless of their background.

Your husband sounds like a lovely man and his support is very valuable. We've found that often, the 'spirit of Islam' is in many people from other backgrounds in terms of the way that they interact with the worl and those around them. To us, this is a sign of the natural inclinations that the Creator gives us all and your husband's approach is mashAllah very admirable.

Please do not worry about being accepted - The Muslim community is quite diverse nowadays and we believe that everyone's journey is different. No-one knows your own situation or what is in your heart better than you and your husband. The most important thing for you is your relationship with Allah swt.

Can you please send us an email with your contact details at info@newtoislam.co.uk, or alternatively use the 'Contact' button at the top of the page? You can either use the online form or the contact numbers given there. I can then ask Sister Sasha to give you a call for a chat and to see how we can help. Perhaps you and your husband can come along to one of our meetings after Ramadhan. The next one is on Wed 7th Sept in Sumsa mosque - the details are available on our home page. Both you and your husband are very welcome and I think you would find the gathering very beneficial.

Thank you once again for contacting us and we look forward to hearing from you.

Abdul Azeem

Salam/Hi All.

Wa alaikum as salaam dear sister

Thank you for your contact - we are pleased to hear from you.

MashAllah - may Allah swt reward you for your efforts and make Ramadhan easy for you, both in terms of fasting and in gaining the blessings that this month brings.

I'm sorry to hear that those around you are not very understanding and that you are finding it hard. According to a hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon Him) the time when a Muslim is closest to his Lord is when we make sajdah - the prostration of the face to the floor during our prayers. At this point, we say Subhana Rabbiyal A'al - Glory to my Lord the most high. This is said when we are at our lowest point - lowering that part of ourselves that we love the most to the floor whilst we glorify our Lord. In the same way, when we fast we lower that which we love (ie the desire for food and drink) and glorify our Lord through our submission to Him and through our patience in our hardship. Please take heart - although this is hard for you (and for us all) fasting earns rewards that we will not be aware of until the next life. Ask Allah swt to help you in your fast and He will give you ease inshallah.

We usually meet every Wednesday however we have taken a break over Ramadhan due to the times of opening the fast etc. You are very welcome to come when we restart our meetings and your wee boy is also welcome to come along too. There are other kids that come with their parents - we don't have a childcare facility  but we just ask that the parent's supervise their own children whilst they are in the mosque. We may have an informal get together at some point however and we are always available to give some support, even if it just a chat or some encouragement. We are here to help you so don't feel that you have to do this alone.

I'll send you a personal message to give you details for Sr Sasha. She is the head sister and looks after the ladies in the group, so feel free to get in touch with her.

Br AbdulAzeem

< was christian attended churches when I lived in england but it wasnt for me.I have been muslim for a few years now but due to personal circumstances have only now decided to follow islam . I met with the IMAM of the mosque today for further advice . and he directed me to here. I would like to learn more and join in the sessions but as you i know i have missed the beginning of it. Many people dont understand why I converted or choose to accept my decisions but I have a muslim son too. But what i believe is not anything to do with any1 else. i respect their decisions and religions as shud they respect mine.  I am fasting this ramadan. 

Dear Sister Kirsty - Assalamu alaikum

Thank you for your message, we are really pleased to hear from you

Ramadhan is a very special time for Muslims and especially so for New Muslims. I recall my first Ramadhan very well and although it was definitely hard going, I was very aware of my drawing close to Allah Almighty and that helped me a lot at the time. Fasting is itself a very high form of worshipping Allah swt and brings special rewards which only Allah almighty can know. I've found that the best way to proceed is to only look to the end of the day and not think about the rest of the month - that way you can stay focussed without worrying about other days. 

Please don't worry about being a wee bit nervous or shy - this is very normal and we have all felt this way when we first came to Islam. The mosque seems a hard step to take however this is only really because its unfamiliar territory and it soon becomes that 'third place' in your life along with work and home. I think that this will be much easier for you if you approach this with friends who have perhaps travelled the same path - which is where insha'Allah we can help. Our group aims to help those who are new to Islam, considering becomg Muslim or who even just want to learn a bit more, so we are here for you and you don't have to feel alone. Good company is in fact quite important and we can help you take the steps you feel you want to take, when you are ready to take them.

I'll ask one of our sisters to get in touch insha'Allah - we are not having the usual Wednesday meetings in Ramadhan however we will be having some informal meetups so inshaAllah a sister can meet you and take care of you.

You may wish to take a Muslim name at some point, however our sister can discuss this with you. It's not usually mandatory as such unless your name has a meaning which is contrary to the spirit of Islam - again this can be discussed so don't worry for now.

Again, thank you for your message and please let us know if we can be of help or advice - it's never a problem

Wasalaam

Br AbdulAzeem

Allhumdulilah!
 

May Allah swt make your path an easy one!