I normally visit an Islamic forum and a brother posted his story there: As salamualikum I have been logging on for a few days now and am happy to tell people about my journey to Islam. As a kid i was raised mainly by my grandparents. My dad was a drug addicted alchoholic and mum passed away when i was only a few months old. My grandparents were fairly old fashioned as a result of this parenting i grew up with very similar values that an everyday born muslim may have for example - i never drank alcohol ( a combination of not wanting to be like my father and not wanting to upset the grandparents). My grandparents were very strong catholics, i on the other hand was never really comfortable with certain things in the bible. My main issue with catholism was trinity, it never really made sense to me - i believed in one god and i couldnt understand why if god is so powerful cant we go directly to him and pray? why do we have to pray to him through another person? For several years i struggled with these issues and didnt really associate with any religion. I knew i believed in one god but that was it. When i was in my last year of high school a new girl came to our school. At first we didnt really talk or anything but she was friends with my friends and i would see her at social occasions outside of school. This is when i really bagan to notice her. She never drank, was always modest and respectful and seemed to have similar values to me. Fast forward a few months and high school was almost finised. I dont know what you guys call it in other counties but in australia we have a "leavers" week after high schhol finishes - this basically means everyone gets together and goes away for a week and gets really drunk, parties - celebrates the end of high school/exams. So i asked this particular girl if she was coming to "leavers" she said no. when i insisted that she come she told me that she is a muslim and that it was ramadan and she didnt really drink or go to parties. Well i was suprised!! for the next few months i oftern thought about this conversation. I started questioning my own beliefs and searching for answers in other religions. I talked to a mormon friend and he gave me his bible - after reading it i still had the same issues as before - when i told my mormon friend this he laughed and said " you should be a muslim" he then gave me a copy of the quran. That was the turning point in my life - i started reading the quran and i couldnt put it down, it was the most incredible amazing scripture i had ever read. All my questions were answered without even having to speak to a muslim! After i finised reading the quran i decided to try and contact the muslim sister from high school to see if she could help me. She was the only muslim i knew! So i called her and she invited me over and introduced me to her brothers and father. For a few months i tried to learn as much as i could by going to the Masjid, asking questions and reading. A little while later i took my shahada - that was almost 5 years ago and i never looked back ( ps- the girl from high shool became my wife a couple of years after i said my shahada) My familes reaction is another long story that i will talk about on another day inshallah. Jazzakallah for reading my post. In a second post he wrote As salamualaykum My grandparents were initally very worried about me when i accepted Islam, i gave then a few phamplets to read just so the knew the basic belief/lifestyle of muslims and also about the common aspects of Islam & christianity. After reading these articles they were happy and accepting of my decision to embrace Islam. They felt that we all believe in one god we just do it in diffrent ways. ( They also said they had talked to the local priest and he had assured them that i could still go into heaven as long as they prayed extra hard for me! for real! ) I became a muslim a few months after 9/11 so the rest of my family was convinced that i was going to run off and join the taliban! they were extremely hostile. I am the youngest of my siblings by many years so its not often that i am taken very seriously. They thought id was a phase i was going through. It was an extremely difficult time - most of my friends didnt understand either. My father was disgusted that i had "turned my back on my fore fathers". So funnily enough the religious members of my family (grandparents) accepted it straight away and the athiests (siblings and father) hated it. This behaviour continued over a 2 year period and i wont lie it was an extremly testing time alhumdulilah my faith in Allah got me through. During ramadan they would constantly beg me to eat despite my many attempts to explain the reasoning behind it. My brother even got my grandmother to beg me to eat everyday!! imagine brothers and sister! the lady who not only raised my mother but me too! crying and begging me to eat when i was fasting. I was kicked out of the family home for trying to practise Islam Due to the negative behaviour of my family i decided for every ones peace of mind not to talk to them about religion anymore. I still practised the same just not in front of them. At least this way i would not loose them totally. The turning point came when i decided to marry. Upon meeting my wifes family my family became understanding about Islam. They saw how real muslims behave and that they are really good people so alhumdulilah they began to look past thier steretypes about muslims. My father even admitted to my wife that when he was young he had fallen for a muslimah who had rejected him and this was part of the reason for his hostility! These days relations with my siblings remain akward and fake at best but thigns have come a long way since 5 years ago and inshallah Allah will soften thier hearts in years to come.

Isnt that the bloke hiding his marriage? There are a lot of that about.

That is sign of you not being ready for marriage. So we shall leave it for few years, no? I am sure waad is celin intaa = waad is dhowri

GD-oow Arrane similar event in your village. Nowadays gabdho waa tubeeytaano.

and that is your excuse J?

real ones? lol I dont fancy being mauled by bengal tigers when all i am after is few calalo. All i really wanna do is walk along the beach. It is once every 2 years I get to see a sea.

lool I rather eat pigs' feet than try.

Jac I read somewhere that you ate at MacD in Paris? Did you make sure it was halaal? Serenity Congrats. Now make sure you dont get the wrong side of the law for 2 yrs or you'd have to redo the whole thing ago. I nearly cried when I almost jumped red and the camera flashed within the first 2 years. Luckily it was dummy camera.

No why would i wanna win a bloke's heart? Never got anyone anywhere!

I wonder where br ameen is. Havent seen Paragon, unless he has another nick. Anyway..hope they are well.

Cadaanow How do you figure you know me? You know who I imagine you be? One of the Canadian nasheed band "Sound of Reason". If you are, pls let me know as I know a girl who would be interested. As for the even above, nothing is wrong with it. I might attend, for research purposes SOL singles should look into it. Nothing desperate about it. Just making your life easier.

We sure will see everything Inshallah. In fact we plan to get on the open top busses and be tourists.

Taking of Dubai, There was this Iranian (I think) restaurant I was taken to when I was there but I cant remember the name of it. It has many branches and they have all you can eat menu. There is a porter to take away your car but the food is reasonable cheap. Delicious stuff though. Anyone knows? I am about to visit the place next week.

Talow meherkee buu ahee? Labo ayaan tagay wiiggii soo dhaafey. Nice bariis all in all. Congrats to NinBrown. Make sure you become raalliyo for the lucky lady.

When I read it first, I thought it was a matrimonial event where you get introduced to a potential partner. But now reading back, it could mean entirely different thing.

Islamic Circles presents SOMALI MUSLIM MARRIAGE EVENT Date: Saturday 23rd Feburuary 2008 Time: 5pm - 8pm Venue: Birkbeck College, University of London, Malet Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7HX DEADLINE FOR BOOKING: WEDNESDAY 20TH FEBRUARY 2008 A matrimonial event especially geared towards to Muslims of Somali origin. People of all statuses are welcome. Non-Somali Muslims are also welcome to take part if they are open to marrying Muslims from a Somali background. Light refreshments will be provided. This event is for sincere and serious people only. Time wasters and people with bad attitudes are strongly requested not to come. Registration begins from 5pm and latecomers are to be penalised. Prior registration is compulsory so please book online. For more information please contact: Tel: 07504 336 911 / 07956 983 609 E-mail: marriage@islamiccircles.org Website: www.muslimmarriageevents.org

Do we get replacement? if so, which kind?

Salaam Mr B Pls explain your signiture.

lol@abdiladiif That is a good one. It is like " Ugaasoow calal ma ii noqon"

Dream on dreamer. Why on earth men do this? When they get their freedom and it is perfect time for him and xaajiyadda for alone time together, they go off and marry, bringing more kids to this already populated world. Somali men and retiring gracefully are strangers to each other.

Congrats Ghanima. Just imagine, that little baby brother will drive you around when you run errands. They are just helpful that way. Babies are adorable till they need nappy changing or scream for no reason. No amount of sweets or toys would keep them quiet. That is when i panic.

Naa aan isku weyso dhowrano is always fave of mine.

First time i bought my 2yr old nephew a present. He hugged me and wanted to be around me. It pays to spend on the little ones when they can recognise you and remember that it was you who bought them stuff.

What is with the glasses? Anyway, Allah-Ubaahne was one off character. Seen/read to be believed.

Why do I get the image of Ngonge as the drum beater of zaar parties? I only went once and aunt (by marriage) and her family believe in it so much that when they get headache, it is time to feed the jinns. Markey soo dagaan jinka, the possessed doesnt even know their kids as that aunt once demonstrated. She wanted to flung her baby down the stairs. Truly scary experience.