Seeking of knowledge for Muslim reverts

[merline]

Sms. I am a recent revert to Islam. I apologise therefore if I seem brusque or uneducated but I want some advice if possible.

My reversion was totally unexpected - for me. I have been interested in Spirituality however for as long as I can remember. I was Christened when younger and my religion was important to me; although I became disillusioned in my teens when people would tell me what I should be doing, without doing it themselves!

I have had a series of dreams over the last 18 months which have left quite an impression on me, I have been reading a lot incl. the Quran and have had some very strange sensations also experiences.

I live in the Leicester area and have tried speaking to many Muslims, I've also been to a few talks and am taking instruction on the basics from some muslim sisters. But the women do not or cannot answer my questions. At the talks women do not seem to be allowed to speak, I think that they should be just as entitled to learn and benefit as any man; after all we have free will too.

Everytime I try to speak to someone, I'm simply told to ask a muslim women and to seek refuge from the Shaytan with prayer. This is not helpful as I already do these things.

If I say that I read a lot and browse the net, I'm told that this is not helpful; I should not try acquiring information in this way because as a revert I cannot possibly know what is right and what is wrong!

I know Allah knows best. But, I was under the impression that the seeking of ILM was a duty for every Muslim. Surely, we as Muslims are therefore supposed to help one another in this respect; pass on whatever we know to educate others?

How are we going to help other people and guide them to the Path if we cannot do this? This closing of the ranks or pulling up of the draw bridge I find very unhelpful.

If there is anybody living in the Leicester Area of the United kingdom who can help me, I would be extremely grateful. In anticipation......................ty

[merline]

Islamic Information Centre launches Free Course for New Muslim Sisters and New Muslim Brothers
Venue: Islam Information Centre, 45 Highfield Street, Leicester, LE2 1AD

Course Timings
Mon - Thur 11.00 am to 12.30 pm (4 days) - Women's Classes
Mon - Fri 7.45 pm to 9.00 pm (5 days) - Men's Classes
Every Sunday at 2.00pm - Get together for New Muslim Sisters and lectures on Hadith (Sayings of the Prophet Muhummad SAW)

Course Details-Learning the Holy Qu'ran with Tajweed (correct pronunciation)
-Classical Arabic
-Fiqh Lessons (Islamic Jurisprudence)
-Seerah (Biography) of our Beloved Prophet Muhummad SAW
-Practical explanation of the obligatory tenants of Islam e.g. Salaah, Wudhu
-Islamic Beliefs

Course NotesEvery student will be given special and individual attention tailored to the individuals needs. The courses are conducted at our purpose built information centre at 45 Highfield Street in a warm, friendly and non sectarian environment. The organisation is set up to promote the beautiful and noble character of the beloved Prophet Muhummad (peace be upon him) in it’s pristine purity Provide full and part-time Islamic education courses for reverts to Islam Provide an Islam Resource Centre containing Islamic Journals, Books, Video, Audio, and Islamic literature to Introduce Islam to non Muslims to promote Islam to non Muslims through various channels such as Exhibitions, Islam Information Stalls at major events and functions, In house seminars and Islam awareness events well as propagating Islam.
The centre also provides help, support and counselling for convert/reverts wishing to embrace Islam.
In today’s challenging environment monitor media coverage and provide accurate and professional written and spoken responses to promote an accurate and just view of Islam Raise Islam awareness and the needs of Muslim’s through engaging Public, Private and Voluntary Organisations locally and nationally.

Contact us on 0116 255 4991 to book your place or for more details visit
http://www.masjid-umar.org/iic/
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List of reading materials

Deen of Islam is Fitra (a natural disposition of man). Knowldge of islam aids one to inculcate this natural state with ease. Hence what and when we learn is part of our natural growth as a muslim. Keeping this in mind and after consultation with the scholars, the following list of books are recomeneded for the education of a new muslim. Please note: The study material will vary from scholar to scholar but the following books are deemed most suitable due to high standard of English tranlsation and scholarly input and at the same time sensitive to the fresh mind of a convert/new muslim.


1. Essential Islamic Knowledge Author: Qadi Thanaullah Panipati ISBN: 1-872531-34-2 IslamicFoundation – Lecister http://sitecreator.siteberry.com/App...&W_ID=1&P_ID=3
OR
The Absolute Essentials of Islam (9780972835848)by Shaikh Faraz Rabbani
Used for new muslim in Sunnipath Online course
http://www.azharacademy.com/scripts/...idProduct=1350
One of the two book listed in red above is a must for new muslim before any other book.
--------------------------------------------------
3. The Compendium Of Knowledge AndWisdom by Ibn Rajab Hambali (RAH), Commentery of Imam Nawayis 40+ hadith, Turath Publsihing
http://www.azharacademy.com/scripts/...idproduct=1828

4. Ash Shifa (Muhammad: Messenger of Allah) by Qadi 'Iyad, translated by Aisha Bewley
http://kitaabun.com/shopping3/index....acturers_id=31
and
Muhammad His Life based on the Earliest Sources by Martin Lings
http://kitaabun.com/shopping3/produc...roducts_id=280

5.Manners In Islam (Al-Adabal-Mufrad) (11-HAD0017) by Imam Buhari (RAH)
http://www.azharacademy.com/scripts/...idproduct=1318

6.Hisnul Muslim
Compiled and referenced by: Sa'eed Ibn Wahf Al-Qahtaani.
Pocket size Dua book for all occasions. Contains the basic duas that every Muslim should know.
http://www.azharacademy.com/scripts/...?idproduct=130

Other additonal books one may like to refer to are as follows to develop ones understnading

1. Aqaid at Tahawhiyaa - The Creed Of Imam Al-Tahawi,
translated by Shyakh Hamza Yusuf, Zaytuna Institute
http://www.azharacademy.com/scripts/...idproduct=1884

2.Prayers For Forgiveness (PB)(9780972835817) Small Classical compilation of supplication, translated by Mufti Abdur Rahman Ibn Yusuf
http://www.azharacademy.com/scripts/...?idProduct=865

3.Differences of Imams
Codification of fiqh in simple terms and relation to the hadith.
http://www.azharacademy.com/scripts/...?idProduct=398

4.Bidah & The Salaf's Worship
authored by Maulana Abu al-Hasanat Abd al-Hayy Lucknawi (RH) and edited by
Shaikh Abd al-Fattah Abu Ghuddah (RH)
http://www.azharacademy.com/scripts/...p?idproduct=92
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In absence of qualified scholars to learn from, try the online base courses

The online courses are designed for New Muslim in mind.
NMP recomends in absense of suitable venue, learned teacher or facility to utilise the following internet based learning method which combines traditional methodolgy with modern tecnology.
http://seekersguidance.org/
http://www.shariahprogram.ca/
http://blog.sunnipath.com/2008/01/27...r-new-muslims/
----------------------------------------------------------------------
On line Islamic Articles -
www.seekersdigest.org
www.albalgh.net
http://web.mac.com/jawziyyah/The_Jaw...Blog/Blog.html
www.zaytuna.org
----------------------------------------
Final Word: Always turn to the Most Sublime, the Most beneficent, The Most Merciful who guided you when in need and pray for guidance in every step of the way. It is due to Allah's mercy alone that we are guided.

Sms and thankyou for this. However, I have already been there. I attended a talk there on Sunday about Isa.

I also have read all of their material that I can get my hands on.

I was having lessons too, but the Molana could not answer the questions that I had.

Another teacher whom I am led to believe has travelled and indeed is often abroad, often asks me about the meaning of certain things and I am able to advise. Surely this cannot be right? Is it not supposed to be the other way round?

I wanted to go deeper into things if that makes sense.....

I had another dream on friday, it showed me that being interested in the material wealth of this life is an illusion, it's transient. Things are not quite as they seem. People are not interested in things that are important and they are led astray....I do not want to be that person.

[layman]

You could try contacting the Al Kawthar academy:

http://www.akacademy.eu/

They're based in Leicester and very good.

[merline]

Sms. Thankyou for that. I have tried every other avenue I can think of I'll let you know how I get on

[Al Sayf]

Salaam merline,

What kind of answers are you seeking ?

[pluto]

Sw.

Arent' their any Muslim sisters on Sf who live in Leicester who can help sis Merline? I think perhaps sis Sudoku can help with this...

[merline]

Salaam merline,

What kind of answers are you seeking ?

Sms. I'm not too sure. If I knew exactly what they were, I would know where to look I think......

It's more to do what's happeneing to me in a physiological sense and why?

My Husband does tell me I read too much, but that's just me. If I'm interested then naturally I tend to try and find out as much as I can....

I do have one practical question however concerning namaz...

I do my fajr prayer before the sun rises at the moment, over the last few days I have woken a little later and was going to do them the other day before 8AM. My husband said that was too late and I should be doing them by 6.30AM latest.

Also my Magrib prayer I was doing before 5.30PM which I think maybe too late now.

Isha I do before I go to bed, for me that seems to work better. I like to offer my prayers as soon as I get up and straight before I go to bed. I find it focuses my mind from the time I get up until I go to sleep.

I live in the Leicester area.

.

[not known]

Sms. I'm not too sure. If I knew exactly what they were, I would know where to look I think......

It's more to do what's happeneing to me in a physiological sense and why?

My Husband does tell me I read too much, but that's just me. If I'm interested then naturally I tend to try and find out as much as I can....

I do have one practical question however concerning namaz...

I do my fajr prayer before the sun rises at the moment, over the last few days I have woken a little later and was going to do them the other day before 8AM. My husband said that was too late and I should be doing them by 6.30AM latest.

Also my Magrib prayer I was doing before 5.30PM which I think maybe too late now.

Isha I do before I go to bed, for me that seems to work better. I like to offer my prayers as soon as I get up and straight before I go to bed. I find it focuses my mind from the time I get up until I go to sleep.

I live in the Leicester area.

.

I think you can get the prayers timings from the nearest mosque or an islamic store. This will have a clear timing of when the time ends for a particular prayer

[meelash]

السلام عليكم،
Your questions about dreams and psychological feelings are best addressed to a qualified, reliable shaikh. You can contact by email at yunuspatel.co.za (look for ask an islahi question). For long term progress in this area, you should have someone local if possible, but hazrat can help you with finding someone local as well .

For taking your knowledge of Islam to the next level, I can recommend without reservation shariahprogram.ca. You will begin with learning the Arabic to truly appreciate the quran and then you will study some of the classical sciences. There is easy equal access for sisters.

[Sinner#1]

Sms. I'm not too sure. If I knew exactly what they were, I would know where to look I think......

It's more to do what's happeneing to me in a physiological sense and why?

My Husband does tell me I read too much, but that's just me. If I'm interested then naturally I tend to try and find out as much as I can....

I do have one practical question however concerning namaz...

I do my fajr prayer before the sun rises at the moment, over the last few days I have woken a little later and was going to do them the other day before 8AM. My husband said that was too late and I should be doing them by 6.30AM latest.

Also my Magrib prayer I was doing before 5.30PM which I think maybe too late now.

Isha I do before I go to bed, for me that seems to work better. I like to offer my prayers as soon as I get up and straight before I go to bed. I find it focuses my mind from the time I get up until I go to sleep.

I live in the Leicester area.

.

Please find and download the Namaz (Salaat) time table for Leicester HERE

Do not refer the site for reference. As it contains some rubbish materials