Maashallah, New Muslim

New Muslims are so enthusiastic, aren't they? They are just beaming, actually radiating with enthusiasm. They seem to be such model Muslims; changing their personalities and old habits over night, it seems. For example, they always pray as much as possible at the masjid. In fact, they practically live at the masjid. I remember trying to contact someone who had just embraced Islam at their home only to have their roommate or family member say to me, "Ah, Bill, I mean Rahim Abdullah Mustapha is not in. I think he's at the masjid."

At any gathering or community picnic they are always the first one there and practically the last one to leave. They always bring all the neat stuff to the picnics, too-badminton set, volleyball set, a half dozen Frisbees-everybody liked to come to the picnic if Rahim was going to be there. I can still remember the flyer:

Eid Picnic!

Brookfield Park Saturday, May 18 10:00 A.M.-6:00 P.M. RAHIM WILL BE THERE! Life was neat when Br. Rahim was around.

You ever notice how they are always quoting Quran and Sunnah to you? "Would you like jam or honey on your muffin, Rahim?" "Honey, of course. The Prophet used to say that, a person who eats honey-the fires of hell will not touch him on the Day of Judgment" "Oh, well that's nice. I didn't know that, Rahim."

"Hey, Rahim! You want to play a little basketball, shoot some hoops?" "Well, alright, but just a few. You know, the Quran says that, this world is nothing but play and amusement." "Oh..yeah..sure, Rahim-just a few shots then. I promise."

And the immigrant Muslim brothers provide further encouragement. They would always come up with things like, "You know Br Rahim, you are better than us. Allah gives you more reward than us, because we were born Muslims but you left your old ways and accepted Islam. Therefore, you are more worthy and pious in the eyes of Allah than us."

And speaking of new Muslims, how long do you have to have embraced Islam before you are no longer considered a new Muslim and you become just a Muslim. Now, let's see..I embraced Islam in November of 1991 soooo, I've been a Muslim for some time now! Well, I still feel new or consider myself a new Muslim. At any rate, I remember going through some of the same things that our example, Br. Rahim went though. So here are my observations and I guess food for thought for all you new Muslims, male or female. Let's get nostalgic, shall we?

I remember people are always having you over to their house and you were always meeting new people. "Assalam alikum. Brothers, I'd like you to meet a new Muslim, Br. Rahim Abdullah Mustapha. He's an American that just embraced Islam."

"Oh maashallah, Brother Rahim; welcome, welcome." Then it starts. "Brother can I ask you something? What madhab do you follow? When did you embrace Islam? Tell us brother, What dinner made you choose Islam? Oh, yes and also, brother, How did your family act toward you after you embraced Islam?" I thought, Well, let's see Brother Hakim, no one has asked me that before-at least not in the last 11 seconds! Let me get back with you on that.

Now to help all those new Muslims identify and cope with the maze of questions, I have some unsolicited advice I would like to give to all you upstarts. First, I think they should make new Muslims write down their answer to all these questions shortly after taking shahada. Then, they should print them on 3X5 cards. The first thing that he or she does when they are invited to a gathering is that the new Muslim takes a few minutes before they meet anyone and he or she just passes these cards out to everyone there.

And while they're at it, they might as well print the answer to those other questions most often asked. Questions like, Are you married? "You know Brother Rahim, the Holy Prophet said that marriage is half of our religion." (yes, and the other half is asking people about it.) If you are single then the quick follow up question is most appropriate, "What do you do?"

These two questions usually come from a wonderful sweet Pakistani couple. If you are single and are studying to be a doctor then, hey, you're in, pal! You can count on all the free biryani you can eat for the rest of your life or at least until there daughter gets married.

Sometimes the questions can become pretty intimidating. For example, if you are approached by a salafi group, Beware! They will test your knowledge of Islam. They will ask you the two most important Islamic questions that a new Muslim must know, according to them; What sources are you quoting? And, who's your sheik? Don't get nervous. Don't panic. Remain calm. Look at them straight in the eyes and say, with a firm clear voice, H.a.m.z.a Y.u.s.u.f. They'll leave you alone. Oh, and just to be politically correct, if you're ever in Khalifornia, I mean California, try to remember - the Raiders would have never left L.A. and gone back to Oakland if the Ottomans were still in power.

Now, brothers, before you write to me and get upset, try to remember two things. First, new Muslims do get asked many, if not all of these questions. Secondly, it is not necessarily wrong with you asking these questions, per say. It's just that every Muslim we meet for the next three years after we take shahada will ask the same questions. Oh, I know everyone is curious to a certain degree and wants to know these things. I have personally asked one or two of these questions on a couple of occasions to some new Muslim that I met. Some brothers have told me that they get spiritually uplifted when they hear the story of someone, let's say, an American that embraced Islam. If that is the case, then, asking such a question serves a good purpose.

Oh, one last bit of advice. If someone asks, tell them, yes, you do own a C.D. of The Life of the Last Prophet by Yusuf Islam and that you know all the words to Tala'a Al-Badru 'Alayna.

Rafael Narbaez is an American Muslim activist, speaker and writer for several Islamic publications. He is a member of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Michigan and Executive Director of the Muslim Speakers' Bureau Association of North America. He wrote this on January 27,1997.