How I embraced Islam. CRAZY STORY YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS

The Initial Encounter and Growing Curiosity [00:32]

• The speaker's conversion story began around 2016-2017 while working at Starbucks.
• He observed a coworker who would take breaks to pray, even using cardboard boxes for prayer, a practice that was clean and orderly.
• The coworker's pronouncements of "Allah Akbar" initially evoked nervousness due to negative Western propaganda, though he later learned it means "Allah is greater."
• Witnessing this structured worship sparked a desire in the speaker, who was Christian, for similar devotion and a direct connection with a creator.

"So, logically speaking, you know, I I chose to believe the people that actually practice the religion rather than the people that are trying to make the religion look bad because, you know, you hear one side of the story and you hear these people that are trying to go and make Muslims look bad, but then you go to actual Muslims and you talk to them and you see that it's a peaceful religion."

Exploring Faith and Encountering Doubts [03:35]

• The speaker began reading the Bible, particularly the Gospels, seeking structure and a connection with God.
• He adopted some practices like washing before reading the Bible, inspired by his Muslim friend's ablution before prayer.
• A significant doubt arose concerning the Christian doctrine of the Trinity, specifically a biblical verse where Jesus states only the Father knows the hour, questioning how this aligns with Jesus being God and one with the Father.
• These intellectual doubts were often dismissed as "mystery" within his faith.

"So the thing that always stuck out to me that didn't make sense was in regards to the trinity in the verse of the Bible um where Jesus has asked about the hour and he says that not the angels in heaven nor the son know only the father knows the hour."

The Turning Point and Reconnection [05:23]

• After moving and experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic, the speaker's thoughts returned to Islam.
• He reconnected with the former Starbucks coworker via text, expressing his interest in learning about Islam.
• A profound moment occurred when the coworker revealed that just five minutes before receiving the speaker's text, he had been discussing with his wife how he wished the speaker would become Muslim.
• The speaker interpreted this synchronicity as a divine sign, reinforcing his conviction to explore Islam further.

"He said, 'Five minutes before you texted me asking to meet to talk about Islam, I was talking with my wife about how I wish you, Mike, me, would become a Muslim.'"

Embracing Islam and Facing Internal Struggles [07:00]

• The speaker engaged in further research and conversations, noting that people would often get goosebumps hearing about his consideration of Islam.
• He was hesitant to immediately take the Shahada, wanting more time to learn about the religion.
• His friend emphasized the urgency, stating, "you never know when your time is going to end here on this earth, and you don't want to end upon disbelief."
• Due to concerns about life's unpredictability, the speaker ultimately took his Shahada over the phone with a sheikh from another country, and then again in person the following day.

"You know, Islam is the truth and as it says in the Quran, do not die but in a state of submission. So we don't die except for in a state of Islam."

Strengthening Faith Through Learning and Resilience [08:41]

• Despite converting, the speaker experienced lingering doubts and fears, particularly about his family's reaction.
• He described experiencing the "whispers of Shayan" (Satan) which he hadn't felt before converting, attributing this to Shayan's attempt to pull him back.
• Doubts manifested as thoughts about not fitting the cultural image of a Muslim (e.g., not being Arab or Pakistani).
• However, the more he learned about the Quran's divinity and miracles, the Prophet Muhammad's character (honesty, good character), and the peace he felt at the mosque, the firmer his faith became.

"The more I learned about the Quran, the divinity of it, the miraculous nature of it, the preservation of it, the more I learned about the prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and his life, his character."

The Power of Learning and Encouragement to Others [10:20]

• The speaker dedicated significant time to listening to Islamic podcasts and lectures while driving for work, which further strengthened his faith.
• He encourages anyone considering Islam to research, read the Quran, and speak with Muslims.
• He highlights a YouTube video where a man described the Quran as a book of science, history, self-help, and a tool for self-improvement, beneficial even for non-Muslims.
• The speaker stresses the importance of accepting Islam promptly, even if one struggles to be a perfect Muslim initially, as dying upon disbelief is considered final.

"It's only of your benefit, you know. Um, I was listening to this uh the Muslim lantern recently on YouTube and he had this man come on. Um, I'm sorry. It was a debate for uh Shehman and he was trying to bring on some people that didn't show up. But they had this one man come at the end and he was genuine. He was sincere. He he said that he believes the Quran should be read by everybody because it's a book of science."

Islam as the Rational Choice and Invitation [12:30]

• The speaker asserts that Islam is the fastest-growing religion because it is reasonable, makes sense, and is rational.
• He believes that when presented with the evidence of the Quran and Prophet Muhammad, Islam becomes the only logical option.
• He defines Islam as submission to the creator and mentions that Muslims believe in all prophets and messengers.
• The video concludes with an invitation for anyone interested in taking their Shahada, reading the Quran, or who benefited from the video, to reach out.

"When you present the evidence of the Quran and Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasallam, you see that there's no other option out there except Islam."