Tony Blair's sister-in-law embraces Islam

  

 Tony Blair's sister-in-law has converted to Islam after having what she describes as a "holy experience" during a visit to Iran.
Journalist and broadcaster Lauren Booth, 43 – Cherie Blair's sister – now wears a hijab whenever she leaves her home, prays five times a day and visits her local mosque whenever she can.
She decided to become a Muslim six weeks ago after visiting the shrine of Fatima al-Masumeh in the city of Qom.

"It was a Tuesday evening and I sat down and felt this shot of spiritual morphine, just absolute bliss and joy,"    she said in an interview today.

When she returned to Britain, she decided to convert immediately.
Booth – who works for Press TV, the English-language Iranian news channel – has stopped eating pork and reads the Qur'an every day. She is currently on page 60.
Booth has stopped drinking alcohol and says she has not wanted to drink since converting.
Before her spiritual awakening in Iran, she had been "sympathetic" to Islam and has spent considerable time working in Palestine, she said, adding that she hoped her conversion would help Blair change his presumptions about Islam.

Source :guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media Limited 2010

The Legacy of Marmaduke William Pickthall

Do you have any idea who is Marmaduke William Pickthall?For those who know nothing about him, this is the least that I can do to enlighten you. A brief introduction about Marmaduke William Pickthall.

Marmaduke William Pickthall or Muhammad Marmaduke William Pickthal, was born in 1875 London to Mary O'Brien and the Reverend Charles Grayson Pickthall . His father was a country gentleman, devoted to his religion. Two of his daughters (step-sisters of Marmaduke) were Anglican nuns. As Marmaduke‘s formative years were spent in rural Suffolk, he became a lover of the countryside and its way of life. He was admitted to in the prestigious school at Harrow where Winston Churchill was a contemporary.

Upon completion of his education, he appeared in the test for Lavant Consular service, but failed. Thereupon Marmaduke moved to Suffolk and began a literary career, writing novels with Suffolk settings. In 1894, he set out on a tour of Arabia and spent two years in Palestine, Lebanon and Syria, and learnt Arabic during this tour. Having gained proficiency in Arabic language, he returned to England, travelling through Turkey and Balkans. On his return, he began to publish novels that depicted Arab life and culture. Inspired with a romantic view of the Islamic east, he published his best known novel Knights of Araby in 1917, set in 11th century Yemen. These novels tend to show that Marmaduke’s initial interest in Islam and its culture grew with the passage of time.

The fact that a practicing English Christian would convert to Islam and become a renowned translator of the holiest of Muslim texts during years of volatile relations between Britain and the Ottoman Empire is itself exceptional. Yet, Pickthall was much more than an historical oddity or gifted translator: he was a novelist, journalist, political and religious leader.

He surprised the Christian world by declaring his conversion to Islam. He called himself Muhammad Marmaduke William Pickthal and assumed the role of a preacher of Islam in England. He began to lead a small band of converts to Islam and had a mosque built in Notting Hill in London, where he led the prayers. Among the European converts to Islam were Muhammad Marmaduke’s wife, Muriel, and his friend, Rex Ingram. The latter’s wife, Alice Terry, who happened to be renowned film-actress also followed her husband in embracing Islam. Rex Ingram himself was a pioneering film maker. Remarkably, Marmaduke and his friends entered the fold of Islam without the slightest reduction in their love and respect for Jesus Christ and Mother Mary; Muhammad Marmaduke was of the view that the original teachings of Jesus Christ were identical to that of Islam.

Impressed by the fame of Muhammad Marmaduke’s missionary zeal, Sir Akhbar Haidari and his ministerial colleagues at the court of Mir Osman Ali Khan, the Nizam of Hyderabad in Southern India invited him to work for the enlightenment of Muslims in India. Muhammad Marmaduke reached Hyderabad with his wife in 1920, and became a self proclaimed ‘Hyderabadi’ or a citizen of Hyderabad. In fact, he even established an English high school where English was the medium of instruction. Muhammad Marmaduke himself became its principle. Besides, he introduced modern journalism in Hyderabad and encouraged the elite to work for the cultural advancement of their community.

He contradicted the view held by Muslims in his time that Islamic education meant the teaching of Fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence). He wrote,” Islamic education was never confined to the teaching of Fiqh alone. In fact, every effort made by a Muslim to acquire learning was considered worthy of religious merit.Thus it was necessary for the rejuvenation of the Muslim community to the modern education and Islamize it. Islam stands for free thought. The mind of each one of us has to perform the functions of discrimination and decision, which in other religious communities are reserved to a closed priesthood".

He attributed the cultural stagnation in Islamic societies to a lack of will among later Muslims to carry forward the tradition of their ancestors. He observed that Muslims take pride in their history, but do not respond to the needs of the present time and are not preparing for future.

After 1931, Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthal became in charge of the Nizam’s information department as its director. Overburdened with heavy work as Pickthall was, he did find time to translate the Qur’an from Arabic into English for the benefit of Muslims who could not read Arabic. He considered the translation to be the most important achievement of his life. On its completion, Pickthal took it to Egypt for vetting by scholars at Al Azhar University. His translation of the Qur’an helped the progress of Islam in European countries. Today, in every European country, there is a sizeable community of white Muslims, who pray in their mosques and manage Islamic centres; it is attribute to the pioneering work of Muhammad Marmaduke William Pickthal in the 20th century.

In 1935, poor health and illness forced Pickthall to leave for England for medical treatment. He passed away on May 19, 1936. His death was considered a loss to the Islamic community. May Allah give blessings to his soul. Ameen

The Trinity Led Me to Islam-By Roger Hadden

>>>>The Story of An Irish Dentist Embracing Islam.
My name is Roger Hadden, and I am originally from Dungannon in Northern Ireland. I am a dentist currently working in England. I have lived in Northern Ireland and Scotland, and I am now based in England. I was raised as a Christian, and my parents are born-again Christians.

Although I was raised with the teachings of the Bible, I did not particularly adhere to its principles. I suppose I was like most British youth, in that I liked to have fun but maybe didn't know where the limits were set.

While I did not practice any religion, I always believed that there was a God. I was scientifically minded, but realized that acknowledging there was a Big Bang did not necessarily rule out the possibility of there being a God who controlled and planned this event.

We could not have come out of nothing, and we did not create ourselves, so we must have been created. I thought about God from time to time, but it never had a real impact on my heart. My first encounter with Islam I suppose was the media, but I tend not to judge people or things until I see or find out about them myself and hear both sides of the story.

When I went to university I met many Muslims. At that time we discussed religion a little, but I was not seriously thinking about becoming religious. My desires were too strong, so I just wanted to enjoy myself.

At that time, I knew that at some stage I would want to change my ways and become a Christian. I then would also want to find out about other religions and understand what makes people believe in them. When I was in final year at university, I made plans to reform myself and become as my parents, a "born-again Christian". So I started my research with reading the Bible.

The concept of the Trinity always bothered me, and it was my main aim to understand it. I remember as a child wanting to ask God for something. I was not sure whether to pray to God or to pray to Jesus. I decided to pray to God as I knew if He created everything, then He will hear me and help me.

I spoke to some ministers, and several attempts were made to explain the Trinity. None of them convinced me. I continued to read the Bible, searching for the truth.

Obviously I am not a scholar in the Christian religion but the Trinity issue bugged me. Why did the Old Testament prophets all pray to God and do righteous acts hoping for God's forgiveness? Who did Jesus pray to?

There was no mention of the Trinity in the Old Testament, and many argue none in the New Testament. I knew God did not change, so there was a problem somewhere. I spoke to my friends at University. Some were Sikhs, Catholics, atheists, and some were Muslims.

My conversion changed my life completely, and looking back I know I made the correct decision

When I found out that Islam commands the worship of One God, and not to make any partners with Him, I was very interested. I continued reading the Bible and Christian sources but also started reading some Islamic books.

I read that Muslims believe that God sent his message to mankind through different prophets since Adam the first man. All the prophets believed in only One God and they also believed that there was going to be a day of reckoning when everyone will be raised and judged.

I realized that this is what I believe, and what I thought the Bible was saying to me. I discussed things with my parents, and they were not too impressed. Within a couple of months by the grace of God I became a Muslim.

My conversion changed my life completely, and looking back, I know I made the correct decision, thank God. Instead of living my life in a selfish way pleasing my desires, I try now to help others and please my Lord. I have now been a Muslim for five years and I am still learning new and amazing things about the religion.

Every time I hear something "negative" about the religion, I get the issue explained to me and it turns out to be a very positive and beautiful thing. I am continuing to learn Arabic and the Quran.

In my career it has made me much more focused, and I now desire to do everything to my best ability. My friends at university are often surprised with regards to my change, especially relating to dentistry.

My parents believed I was brainwashed, and many of my friends thought, and still think, it is just a phase. As it has been over five years now, my parents know it is not just a phase.

I first told my parents that I was thinking of becoming a Muslim, and they told me that it was a "hate religion" and that I should not do it. We talked about it for a while, and as I was convinced, I was sure I had to do it. I did not want to be punished in the next life.

A few months later I took the best step and embraced Islam. The same day my Dad bought me a car, not as a conversion gift, rather, it was his kindness and it just happened to be on the same day.

Since university, I have always lived away from my parents but I try to visit them a couple of times a year. Overall though, I feel my relationship with my parents has improved, as I try to be good to them as God commands in the Quran.

I have moved on from university and lost contact with many of my friends, some I speak to now and again, but as with life, we keep moving on and old friends we see less of and new friends are made.

I am currently working as a dentist in the UK. I am working and doing a part time masters program. I am learning Arabic, and I regularly attend Islamic talks and seminars in order to increase my knowledge.

I am married to a very special lady and we have, by the grace of God a beautiful 1-year-
old boy named Ismael (Ishmael from the Bible). We are trying to improve as Muslims, and we would like to travel abroad to a Muslim country. Ideally we would both love to study Islam to a higher level, so we are looking for opportunities to fulfill this dream.
>>>>>Credit to:ReadingIslam.com

Islam Winning The Hearts Of the Youth In Europe

Subhanallah..may Allah bless all of these people =)

Napoleon : Once Leading A Fast Life but Then, What Triggered Him To Put A Break On It??

“I remember when I used to go to sleep at night by myself, I used to feel very depressed, how come I am not happy? I have money, I have houses, I have cars,…”

-Napoleon from the Outlawz-

“I would truly belief that if you don’t know why you’re created and you don’t know your Creator, you cannot be happy”

-Napoleon from theOutlawz-

An inspiring story from Dr Jerald F. Dirks(Abu Yahya)-A former Minister(deacon) of the United Methodist Church.

“There is some irony in the fact that the supposedly best, brightest and most idealistic of ministers to-be are selected for the very best of seminary education, e.g. that offered at that time at Harvard Divinity School. The irony is that, given such an education, the seminarian is exposed to…much…historical truth…As such, it is no real wonder that almost a majority of such seminary graduates leave seminary, not to “fill pulpits”, where they would be asked to preach that which they know is not true, but to enter the various counseling professions. Such was also the case for me, as I went on to earn a master’s and doctorate in clinical psychology”
"There is some irony in the fact that the supposedly best, brightest, and most idealistic of ministers-to-be are selected for the very best of seminary education

-Dr Jerald F.Dirks-
PART 1:

PART 2