Muslims in Texas - Islam in America

Mabsoot · 06-03-2006, 07:59 PM

Turning Muslim in Texas Documentary

George W Bush may be backed by Christian fundamentalists but in his home state of Texas, Islam is the latest big draw.

Eric was a Baptist preacher before he became a Muslim 14 years ago. Now he prays five times a day – even in the middle of watching a football game. His wife, Karen, also a convert, is covered from head to toe in the traditional Muslim Clothes. Islam, says Eric, ‘is everything I wanted Christianty to be’. His mother has found it hard to come to terms with her son’s conversion and believes he will return to the Christan faith: ‘Then he will be a dynamic preacher.’ Eric says: ‘Maybe some day she’ll embrace Islam.’

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Women are also becoming followers of Islam. Yasmine (previously Mindy) arranged a marriage for herself and has three children. Islam, she says is ‘the solution to a lot of the prevailing evils: drugs, adultery, fornication…’ Converts often see the religious laws more clearly than those who have been brought up as Muslims and Yasmine can spot a mistake at 20 paces. She believes that she has a unique opportunity to help people who are born into the religion get back to the fundamentals.

Catherine has been a Muslim for two weeks. She came from a privileged background – private school followed by a career in PR. Now the established Muslim women guide her through the purification rituals as she washes before prayer and removes her nail varnish.
David is the only white Muslim in his little town on Route 66. He believes his new religion makes him a better American and, far from undermining liberties, gives the individual more rights. He had an arranged marriage and his wife, who was born a Muslim, was shocked by the strictness with which he insists they live their lives. His family – a white man with his wife and daughter dressed in their hijabs (headscarves) –are stared in the streets and supermarkets of their one-horse town.
There are 400,000 Muslims in Texas alone and Islam is the fastest growing religion in the USA. Since 9/11 there have been more converts to Islam than ever. Eric believes that people are trying to understand Muslims and want to learn about their religion. Yasmine says: ‘America should not be afraid. If it would be better Muslims were the majority. If a child asks me: “Who made this leaf?” I say, “Allah. Allah made everything.”’

Mabsoot · 06-15-2006, 01:39 PM

MORE INFO:
Five months before their marriage, Karen Meek's fiancé told her that he was becoming a Muslim. Ms. Meek, an atheist, was taken aback.
"I thought he was being brainwashed into something," she said. "All of a sudden he stopped drinking alcohol. He wanted to pray every day. He stopped eating pork."
For months, Eric Meek, a lapsed Baptist, had studied Islam without telling her. Now, when he went to work, Ms. Meek poured over his books and videos, trying to understand his faith.
She never expected to be attracted to Islam.
"I grew up thinking religion was ridiculous," said Ms. Meek, 33, of Lewisville. "I didn't believe in God. I had no idea how the universe was created and, frankly, didn't care."
She said Islam had a logic to it that she couldn't resist.
"Coming from an atheist background, I had an easier time accepting Islam than a Christian because I didn't have to unlearn or give up any beliefs," she said.
After getting married, she prayed for the first time while her husband was at work. She learned how from a book.
"Until this point, I had done everything privately, without telling him," she said. "I did not want to join a religion just because he did. I wanted to discover it on my own."
She and her husband began meeting with other Muslims to study the Quran, the holy book of Islam. Eventually, she made her profession of faith.
Her choice of religions stunned her parents.
"One day she came and she wearing a scarf and a dress down to her ankles," said her father, Ray Allred of Carrollton. "I was shocked."
He said he was estranged from his daughter for a time because of her religion. They're close now, though he fears for her safety since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
"You want to love your child, but when they do something so foreign to you, it's very difficult," he said. "I'd give anything if she hadn't adopted this religion."
Those comments were echoed by Jane Barrett of Flower Mound, who's Ms. Meek's mother. She said she especially dislikes the hijab, or head covering, that her daughter wears.
"Karen is such a pretty girl with beautiful hair," she said.
Ms. Meek said she understands. After becoming a Muslim, it took her many months to adopt Islamic dress.
"I would wear the hijab places where people didn't know me," she said and laughed. Now, she wears it all the time -- even to work, where she is an accounting clerk for a restaurant chain.
She said embracing Islam has caused her to see life in a new way.
"Going from not believing in God to believing in God is amazing," she said. "Islam opened my eyes to so many things I had taken for granted, mostly that life is a gift."

rashid · 06-30-2006, 12:38 AM

Assalam-o-Alaikum

This is a very useful link for those who want to learn Islam.

Regards

Rashid

fudhla_kausar · 06-30-2006, 07:58 AM

Assalamu'alaikum,
I am Faizul Abu Bakar from Malaysia. How are you?

I am amazed to see that many there are so many Muslims in US. Is there anything that I can help you to learn about Islam, please let me know. Perhaps I can learn from you too.

Dreamy92 · 07-01-2006, 08:37 PM

Assalam-o-Alaikum

It's really interesting that more and more ppl are converting to Islam day by day.

MashaAllah.

Ayep · 07-02-2006, 07:38 AM

Assalamu alaikum,
Peace be upon u all

As many Americans do not know much about Islam and Muslims, tha same can b said of Muslims in Asia not aware about Islam in the US. Stories like these breaks barriers and links the East and West. No more media blackout now. :smile: Alhamdullilah.

Mabsoot · 07-02-2006, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ayep

Assalamu alaikum,
Peace be upon u all

As many Americans do not know much about Islam and Muslims, tha same can b said of Muslims in Asia not aware about Islam in the US. Stories like these breaks barriers and links the East and West. No more media blackout now. :smile: Alhamdullilah.

wa alaykum salam, inshaAllah that is true. This sites primary goal is to build awareness. To get someone who thought bad about Muslims to think again and perhaps make them read Quran, try to learn more.

wasalam

sammy · 07-02-2006, 10:01 PM

Hello everyone ,
I do appriciate your web site.
Thank you for all the hard work and effort put in making this web site, I am sure it will help lots of people turn their life around and make them better human beings
sammy

Anssam12 · 07-05-2006, 10:55 AM

Allah (SWT) did not create this world randomly, every thing in it has an orbit or a path, and this path should lead us to Allah (SWT) (The Noor). Thanks for Allah (SWT) for sending us The Map (The Noble Quraan), & Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) as an explainer & guider in this world, to show us the right path (his Sunnah) that leads to wide & deep ocean of Noor (ALLAH) SWT, which is full of precious & valuable things of this world & hereafter.

mkrahman · 07-08-2006, 07:27 PM

Hi everyone! Big Salam to all!

This is Katherine from the video.

Well after 3 years of this video being made, I have the courage to come out and correct the media's portrayal of me. They so misrepresented me. When I did this video I was was a muslim for about 5 months. They started filming in August 2003 and again another shoot in October 2003. I converted to islam in June 2003. I just started to desire to cover then in public in October. So when they filmed me in the first rounds, I was not covered. So please forgive me for that.

Also I would like to say, I said alot more important things they the way they portrayed me. I actually come from a middle class family...not upper class as they said. I did go to a nice college but only because my dad was smart enough to save money for his daughter. I had a special talent in art so there were not very many good christian schools in the USA I could go to. So I ended up going to TCU....and this is also where I learned about islam from my religion professor, Dr. Saddique (he was a muslim too).

Oh and those tennis lessons....I paid for that...just because I was trying to find a fun way to lose weight....I did not have tennis lessons all my life! My sisters was doing it also for exercise and she encouraged me to do the same. SINCE THEN, I have lost weight, about 30 pounds, humduallah! All that bowing and praying helps your weight too! I was really upset when they did the part with me about the finger nail polish. It made me looks so like stupid...I mean that is just a minor thing about wudu in Islam for women...but I wish they showed the other stuff I talked about in my journey...like where I learned about islam and the first mosque I went to.

Currently, what is going on with me is I am just now finishing my second degree in education. I hope inshallah I will be teaching next year. I am married now for 2.5 years. No Children yet...but I and my husband are up for them now...please make dua for us to allow allah to grant us good children! My husband and I are involved in plenty of dawa activities at our mosque and the public. Please don't hesitate to post a message to me if you have any questions about islam. I currently work directly with all the new muslims in dallas.

Sincerely,
Katherine

Mabsoot · 07-08-2006, 08:32 PM

Wa alaykum Salam Wa RAhmatullah,

Dont wory sister, Im sure nobody thought bad of you for anything. Alhamdulilah, infact we are proud of you and it is great that you came to Islam. The video is great alhamdulilah, and it is good way for people to see how Muslims live.

The tennis lessons and your background etc as mentioned in the video did not make any difference. I guess because it is about yourself you see it in a different light! You came across as down to earth and humble, as the rest of the Muslims in the video did. Walhamadulilah.

Anyway, welcome to the site sister, may Allah bless you and the rest of your family.

Wasalam

omar · 07-12-2006, 12:44 AM

assallaamu alleykum!

iam very much impressed about these video's of american's and europeans turning to islam at significant numbers that are raising yearly monthly and ofcourse daily. insha allah this will help to correct the global misunderstanding of the faith and enable islam to be back on earth as a role model for not only muslims but all humanity's, since allah states in the quran!

Wammaa arsalnaaka illaa rahmatan lil aa'lammiin.

faroukmacabuat · 07-12-2006, 02:02 PM

to all my brother and sister in Islam,im Farouk a muslim filipino,im so very thankful to Almighty Allah that i found this site...it will help me insha Allah in my search for more knowledge about Islam and muslims around the world...

umm maryam2 · 07-15-2006, 02:39 AM

assalam alaikum
i just like to say that the video on the american reverts was wonderful ALLAMDUILLAH.I became muslim 7 years ago and think that sister yasmin is a very good example of the way we should be as muslims i sometimes lack in my deen but watching sister yasmin as made me think about the way i should be and inshALLAH become more pious, may ALLAH grant u all jannat inshALLAH

B.H. · 07-15-2006, 04:25 AM

I am a new convert and live in Texas as well. I hope that the brother in the film and his family continue to prosper.

hussain_ahmed04 · 07-16-2006, 06:54 AM

Assalamualaikum To All My Muslim Brothers And Sistes,

I Am Very Much Immpressed By Seeing The Vidios Of People Embracing Islam In America And Europe.. So Me And My Mother Are Looking For A Converted Muslim Girl From Usa/uk For My Brother,mohammed Ather Hussain.he Is 25 Yrs Of Age.his Ht.is 5ft.8inch(172cms).he Is A Bachelor Of Coomerce.he Is V.religious,handsome And V.fair.he Worked Previously In Kuwait And In Dubai As An Accountant.now He Is Residing In Hyderabad(india).inerested May Contacr Me At *********************** Or At 123-456-789 (india) For Futher Details (******).
Allah-hafiz

This message has been edited to remove personal information such as emails, addresses and phone numbers. Please understand that this is an Islamic Forum, to increase our knowledge of Islam and shall only serve that purpose.

3assal

islam1972 · 08-11-2006, 04:36 PM

assalam alaykoum
je suis vraiment heureuse de voir qu'il ya des musulams qui aime l'islam comme ca je suis très touchée par cette vidéo et je peis alah tout puissant qu'il leurs acordes la paix intérieur la bonne foi et le bonheur
amine

Ahmed-bashiir · 08-17-2006, 02:59 PM

Dear Brothers and Sisters

Asalamu alaykum warahmatulah

Dear Brothers and Sisters

I am here with my best webside of Turntoislam jazakumulahu Qair.
I have some friends those we r working together and when every i give them som I dea of islam this wenbside help me so much,and i hope they will be an islam as soon as posible if ALLAH says.
Wasalamu alaykum Warahmatulahi wabarakatuh:

Ayda87 · 09-11-2006, 05:18 PM

WOW!!! I’m new to this website.

I’m so impressed and speechless by the videos. May Allah bless you and your family Katherine- You should be proud of yourself (as we are proud of you).

west · 09-22-2006, 08:30 AM

A very interesting video. What I find suprising is how many converts in the US wear Niqaab -

To anyone who watches this video and is not Muslim - please note the lady prays with her face covered - this is only because she is been filmed and men will watch the documentary. When she normally prays, her face will be uncovered

Ahmedkaafi · 09-26-2006, 06:10 PM

sister katherine.
After best greeting of Islam,Sister Katherine, we all making dua to u and ur Husband to have good kids those r doing or following the words of god, Allah told as in surah Al Isra
Ayah 23 and 24 Subhanahu Wata,ala said And your Lord has decreed that your worship none but him.And that you be dutiful to your parents.If one of them or both of them atain old age in Your Life.say not to them a word of disrespect,nor shout at them but address them in terms of honour.
And lower unto them the wing of submission and humility through mercy ,and say:"My Lord!Bestow on them your mercy as the did bring me up when i was young Sadakalahu adeem.
Dear sister all of us we make for u Dua in this holly Months to have a nice children those are follwing that Ayah, give the greeting to all my Brothers and sisters In Dallas.

ummulkheir_3 · 10-02-2006, 08:54 AM

it's a very good video

azuwin · 10-04-2006, 04:01 AM

salam, katherine.

aicha-moslima · 10-15-2006, 08:44 PM

Salaam alaykoum wa rahmatulahi wa barakatuhoe,

Dear Eric, David, Yasmine and Katherine,

Insha'Allah all of you are with good imaan and health conditions.

I just watched the video....macha'Allah. I'm really glad that all of you are my brothers and sisters. May Allah (Subhana wa ta'alla) guide you all on the straight path and provide you with all the knowledge to go on and help others on the straight path insha'Allah...ameen.
I hope that your families accept and maybe even embrace islam insha'Allah. I really feel blessed having so many brothers and sister all over the world.
Djazak Allahoe Ghair for sharing all of your stories with us.
May Allah (Subhana wa ta'alla) reward us with the most beautiful world ever...Paradise..insha'Allah.....ameen.

Wa salaamoe alaykoum wa rahmatulahi wa barakatuhoe
Your sister in Islam, Aicha

janat · 11-16-2006, 11:00 PM

assalam alaykom dear brothers and sisters

thank u all for this video, i like it a lot, and i am very happy to see people converting into islam it makes me proud of them allah, all what i can tell them is that i love them and my allah gathers us the day of judgement in the highest paradis with the prophet muhammad salla allah allayh wa salam

and dear sister catherine

i am really happy of u and may allah gives u so sweet babies i will make special doa for u may allah guides u to his right way

assalam alaykom

bassmajaved · 11-18-2006, 03:44 PM

Assalamualaikum,

May Allah keep us steadfast on his deen. Ameen.

Allah Hafiz.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkrahman

Hi everyone! Big Salam to all!

This is Katherine from the video.

Well after 3 years of this video being made, I have the courage to come out and correct the media's portrayal of me. They so misrepresented me. When I did this video I was was a muslim for about 5 months. They started filming in August 2003 and again another shoot in October 2003. I converted to islam in June 2003. I just started to desire to cover then in public in October. So when they filmed me in the first rounds, I was not covered. So please forgive me for that.

Also I would like to say, I said alot more important things they the way they portrayed me. I actually come from a middle class family...not upper class as they said. I did go to a nice college but only because my dad was smart enough to save money for his daughter. I had a special talent in art so there were not very many good christian schools in the USA I could go to. So I ended up going to TCU....and this is also where I learned about islam from my religion professor, Dr. Saddique (he was a muslim too).

Oh and those tennis lessons....I paid for that...just because I was trying to find a fun way to lose weight....I did not have tennis lessons all my life! My sisters was doing it also for exercise and she encouraged me to do the same. SINCE THEN, I have lost weight, about 30 pounds, humduallah! All that bowing and praying helps your weight too! I was really upset when they did the part with me about the finger nail polish. It made me looks so like stupid...I mean that is just a minor thing about wudu in Islam for women...but I wish they showed the other stuff I talked about in my journey...like where I learned about islam and the first mosque I went to.

Currently, what is going on with me is I am just now finishing my second degree in education. I hope inshallah I will be teaching next year. I am married now for 2.5 years. No Children yet...but I and my husband are up for them now...please make dua for us to allow allah to grant us good children! My husband and I are involved in plenty of dawa activities at our mosque and the public. Please don't hesitate to post a message to me if you have any questions about islam. I currently work directly with all the new muslims in dallas.

Sincerely,
Katherine

muslim_proud · 11-21-2006, 11:45 AM

allah akabr wa llah el hammed

Mohammad Toseef · 12-05-2006, 01:59 AM

Asalam Alaikum
I just joined the website's community but i have been visitng it for quite a while though. this video-about texan mulsims-in my opinion is pretty effective and i have watched it for more than 4 times now...Masshallah the convert brothers and sisters are definitely an example for all of the muslims that how did they changed their beliefs and now are steadfast in Islam
Im really inspired
May Allah give all of us the hidaya to follow on islam

Ali M Hamidy · 12-14-2006, 09:01 AM

My everlasting congratulations to these folks from texas. It is pretty amazing that these folks found the right way to reach their Allah. Just want to know if there is a friendly preaching system to help my friends with questions. thank you

sky_012 · 12-14-2006, 12:22 PM

Mashallah i'm so happy for all three of them; it's like feeling a fresh air coming from America, Jazak Allah for this excellent video

sisiter mkrahman , i 'm so glad you replied here to tell more about you , Mashallah to read about was so nice , May Allah SWT Bless you Ameen and i hope the projects you have will all be successfull Inshallah

:wassalam:

Hassan Greepaly · 12-20-2006, 06:51 AM

hello kathrine,

how are you,,hope your doing great,thanks for the correcting,and mayALLaH bless your family and give your children a bright future

YOU and your blessed family made islam stronger,
islam gets stronger with each person when converting to islam,i feel that

soon a day will come when all shall realise and accept the truth and its all because of beautiful people like you

and also i believe people who convert to muslim are better than many people who are born muslims

takecare and have a nice day
bye

allmuslimsrequal · 12-24-2006, 11:41 PM

salaam alikoum sister Katherine. I am so happy that you stayed with Islam- you found the true path-humduallah! Congragulations on getting married.

may peace and blessings be on you and your husband.
--Sister Sara.

jaguar90210_25 · 01-01-2007, 10:30 PM

salam im jayson 22 yrs old a muslim from phillipines, i have watched the video about the american muslims in texas, for me the americans have realized that islam is the true religion in the world, it really structed me most, nshallah!

jaguar90210_25 · 01-01-2007, 10:49 PM

im very proud to david,katherine and yasmine
im sure islam will guide you to the right path and get closer to subhana taallah, islam will protect ur family against forbidden acts! allah akbar............................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. ........

Imraan · 01-05-2007, 03:09 AM

asalaamualaykum warahmatulaahi wabarakatu.

Manshalahh Iam very glad to see you
vidio. and my name is Imraan, your sister in islam.

mourad · 01-08-2007, 09:36 PM

salama lekom
how r u im new one today it is my first day im happy for get this site i hope every thing will be ok
mourad from libya 25 male ty so much

seeker33 · 01-11-2007, 06:21 AM

Salam wa alikom brother. How are you doing? I was looking in the net and then I come cross this website, what great website specially those videos about new people converting to Islam machaa Allah.
If you can do me a favor to provide me with email of Brother Eric from Texas he was in the video or you can lat him know and give him my email if he wants that I will appreciated for the rest of my life.
***REmoved***
Thank you a gain
Salam wa alakom

Abderezak

badru · 01-15-2007, 02:47 PM

i am happy for the family tha turns islam every minutes thank you who ever laft this video may allah give you and all of us that are muslims heaven

Abass1 · 01-16-2007, 06:22 PM

dear sister katherine

we are all making plenty of dua for you,your husband and all your family
and may god almighty bless you with beutiful and healthy children.
ameeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen

your brother Abass1

ismaelon · 01-16-2007, 10:16 PM

thank you for all this, merci beaucoup qu'Allah preserve tous les musulmans en islam et nous fait heureux dans la vie bas et la vie derniere