Need some advice

[Amna4]

Mabrook (congratulations) on your reversion, my brother! May Allah continue to guide you on the right path.

I face the difficulty of time/place restrictions on prayer as well. Brother, you can pray nearly anywhere! I often have had to excuse myself from class a few minutes early in order to make it to a place I could pray. Many of the brothers here will just stop right off on the side of a sidewalk to pray on their way to classes (There are woods that I use, as it offers more privacy), or we have all prayed in the library, offices, and various other places. People may see it as strange, but as they grow accustomed to it they will respect your devotion and dedication.

I also was raised Christian, and the majority of the people surrounding me are Christian (I live in the USA). My best advice is to do the best you can do, and continue onward. I also cannot avoid contact with men, so just remember to avoid physical contact. It is also beneficial if you can avoid eye contact as much as necessary, but I don't know if that would be considered rude in your area.

Being upfront to people you are in contact with daily about your religion is the easiest way for them to accept it. If a woman friend tries to give you a hug, gently remind her, "Sarah, I've reverted to Islam and in accordance to my religion it is no longer acceptable for us to have physical contact. We can sit down and talk about it if you'd like." This is your chance to offer her a chance to learn about Islam (as well as planting the seeds in her mind for a possible conversion!).

[Maripat]

Dear brother,
(1) Welcome to Islam.
(2) Welcome to Sunni Forum.
(3) Path to Jannah is our path. To avoid the path to Jahannum is our precaution.
(4) Path to Jannah is paved with difficulties. Every seeker of Jannah faces them. A seeker of Jannah is one who declares his Faith in Allah(SWT). A person who declares his faith in Allah(SWT) is tried and tested by Allah(SWT). This is what Allah(SWT) says himself, 'If you declare that you have faith/belief/iman then We shall test you".
(5) The difficulties that you'll face will, in general, be much more than the difficulties we born Muslims face. May Allah(SWT) give ample rewards to our forefathers who took their courageous steps to enter the fold of Islam. What be our lineage some one amongst our forefathers must have taken this bold step that you took about a week ago.
(6) This sinner too does not understand A-level and sixth form but from a vague guess I'll place you amongst teenagers. With this realization I can have nothing but affection for you. People like you are the coolness of the eyes of the Ummah. Ummah is the group who heard the worlds of our Lord Almighty and said that we completely surrender ourselves to your wishes our Lord.
(7) Please try to struck a telephonic relationship with some good scholar-there must be many by now in your country. I can not tell you how useful it is. I personally keep bothering many of them in my country.
Wassalam

[hayya]

Masha'allah ... congrats on your reversion!

Make plenty of dua for Allah swt to make it easy for you and keep you steadfast, insha'allah.

[James J]

Thanks for your help.

I think A levels are the British equivalent of Advanced Placement in the US (i hope that it is a qualification). I'm 16, and sixth form is the school based equivalent of college.

[davidovitch]

I converted to Islam on the Sunday just gone, so that would be 4 days ago now. I am currently studying for my A-levels in 6th form, and I've found a few things which have been bothering me.

Due to my age, and the fact I am currently studying, means that the Zohr and Asr prayers occur prayers are occurring during lesson times, which means that I can't pray those prayers, without causing disruption to my lessons. Furthermore, even if I could get out of lessons I wouldn't have anywhere to pray and the only place to perform wudhu would be the toilets and I'm not sure if that is appropriate.

I don't want to miss prayers but I don't see how I can find the opportunity to say them.

I was brought up a Christian and go to a Christian Sixth form, in a largely Christian/atheist community. There are very few Muslims, where I live, and I don't know anyone but myself who is a Muslim, excluding those I talk to over the internet.

Which leads me on to my next concerns. The nearest Mosque or Islamic centre is about 15 miles away, and there aren't any in the town I live in, so I have no way of performing the Congregational prayers on a Friday, and even if I could, it would during school time, so there wouldn't be time.

Also, what are the rules in regards to contact with the opposite sex?

I have contact with females almost everyday, and it is virtually impossible to go throughout my day without talking to a female my age without being impolite.
Having read some of the posts on this forum, I'm finding this topic difficult to grasp.

Any advice received would be much appreciated.
Thank you

Salaam,

At present, Zohr time starts around 12pm and finishes at 2pm.

Asr starts from around 2pm and finishes at 4pm.

if you find even 5 minutes during these periods, then just quickly pray your obligatory prayers and then go to class.

When i was in sixth form, we had a prayer room, but it was often locked, so we would go to the third floor (which was usually empty), put our coats on the floor, and perform our prayers on them. Some of us would wear leather socks and if there wudu broke, they would do the fard acts and wipe over the socks - so wudhu would be done in under a minute, and the fard prayers in under 5.

with respect to girls, just dont keep staring at them. look down and talk, smile, and don't flirt. you wouldn't cause offence then.

Also, be very helpful to your teachers, whatever gender or religion they are. Good manners will earn you respect, and people will appreciate your new faith.