Transcript of the Talk Delivered by Dr. Munawar Haque on occasion of the ‘New Muslims Gathering’ at AMDA on Friday, March 16, 2018

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu. Peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon all of you.”  I am Munawar Haque, the Imam of this Masjid, and one of the members and servants of this community. I feel truly blessed to be a part of this gathering. I welcome all of you, especially our new Muslim brothers and sisters. By new Muslims I mean Muslims by choice and not by chance.  

Each person, as we know, is born in a circumstance which is not of his own choosing. The religion of his family or the ideology of the state is thrust upon him from the very beginning of his existence in this world. By the time he reaches his teens, he is usually fully brain-washed into believing that the beliefs of his particular family or society are the correct beliefs that everyone should have. Generally, he becomes a Jew, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist or follower of any other religion or creed because of his parents who were the vehicle for his coming into this world. He becomes so by chance—the chance of being born and raised in a particular family of a particular faith or creed.  

However, when some people mature and are exposed to other belief-systems, they begin to question the validity of their own beliefs. The seekers of truth often reach a point of confusion upon realizing that each and every religion, sect, ideology and philosophy claims to be the one and only correct way for man.

Indeed they all encourage people to good. So, which one is right? They cannot all be right since each claims all others to be wrong. Like every other religion or philosophy, Islam also claims to be the one and only true way to God. In this respect it is no different from other systems. It must always be kept in mind that we can only determine the true path by putting aside emotions and prejudices, which often blind us to reality. Then, and only then, will we be able to use our God-given intelligence and make a rational and correct decision.

Tonight’s event is meant to provide a platform for our new Muslim sisters and brothers who may like to share their stories and experiences with us. Most new Muslims face loneliness after declaring their testimony of faith or shahadah. Even those who are introverts and enjoy being alone may feel isolated after their conversion to Islam. Their life-long friends often distance themselves from them. Sometimes, their family members disown them. And many people in their life start looking at them differently and at times even question some of the things they do as a Muslim.

This loneliness is not something that should be ignored. The human being is a social being. You need other people to talk to, to make friends with, to seek advice from, to confide in, and so on. You need a family and a community, more so when all those around you that you had always relied upon distance themselves from you. But as a new Muslim, you have a huge community to take you in its fold, to assist you, and to take you as brothers and sisters in Islam and in humanity. Sometimes this community is not perfect for new Muslims, but there are still many Muslims who are more than willing to be the listening ear or the shoulder to lean on.

If you find some Muslims who are not responsive or sympathetic to your struggle, keep them in your life and supplication, but also know that you can keep looking for other fellow Muslims who may be more empathetic to your situation. This is a time for many new beginnings in your life. Do not shy away from reaching out to fellow Muslims. And in this day and age, this doesn’t even have to be in person at the local Masjid. You can find a lot of support from fellow Muslims and even fellow converts online.

With the greater involvement and presence of our new Muslim brothers and sisters at AMDA, we are trying to develop a "New Muslim Program." This is a long-term effort to develop a support-system in order to address the queries and concerns of new Muslims and to be ready and prepared to help them in any way we can. Other sub-programs in future inshaAllah will include holding "Islam 101 Classes for Beginners", learning Arabic to be able to read the Qur’an in its original script, and having periodical get-togethers.

Tonight’s event is the first step and a humble beginning in that direction. Hopefully, we may be able to host such an event every month or every other month here in this Masjid, where families can get together. The purpose is to interact with each, help each other, care for each other, and share with each other. 

Talking about the rich diversity found among humans, the Qur’an says, “O Humankind, We created you all from a single man and a single woman, and made you into races and tribes so that you should recognize one another. The noblest among you in God’s sight are those who are most conscious of Him. God is all knowing, all aware” (al-Hujurat, 49:13).

This is a reminder that diversity in unity and unity within diversity are possible. Humanity is like a bouquet of flowers in which each flower is beautiful in its own right, yet, the combination of all flowers and the rich diversity of their colors is more beautiful. This statement in the Qur’an about broad human brotherhood and sisterhood is a profound basis for promoting peace among all.

I cannot conclude without thanking Br. Shafeeq Bandagi and Br Obair Siddiqui who floated the idea of tonight’s event. Br Bandagi has conducted similar events at the Muslim Unity Center and other Masajid in the area. I also thank all the brothers and sisters who volunteered to make this event take place. They did this as an act of worship seeking the pleasure of the Lord Almighty – Allah (SWT). 

We have a limited number of gift bags (about 24) for our new Muslim and non-Muslim guests. Each bag has a translated copy of the Qur’an in English, a booklet on Islam, and a few pamphlets on topics covering the basics of Islam, the five pillars of Islam, Islamic beliefs, Sharia, misconceptions about Islam, the Islamic dress code, the status of women in Islam, the concept of wealth in Islam, Ramadan, Hajj…etc.

I pray and hope that all of us enjoy tonight’s get-together. May Allah (SWT) bless each and every one of us and be pleased with us.

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