It was like a dream and I was kind of
hesitating to do it because of how my
family and everybody was going to look
at me. But I feel great. You know, you
know how they used to say Jesus first
and Jesus take the word and then this,
you know,
direct confession box. No going through
a priest to forgive your sins just to
the one God Almighty.
I actually been been studying for four
years.
For years. Four years.
Somebody paid you, coerced you. Four
years investigating. I didn't even know
what to expect, you know. I was in my
car for like 20 minutes. I didn't even
know like I was shy to come in here. You
know, if Allah want to guide you here,
just follow him.
Alhamdulillah.
We have uh Ason Marina here from
Poniana, the brother here.
uh I we got in contact about a couple of
months ago and he's been coming uh
periodically here a few times about
Islam. He's been interested in Islam
quite a while now and uh matter of fact
about a month and a half, two months
ago. We were here throughout uh the
afternoon until uh evening until sun set
and uh
uh he was probably uh very uh convinced
to take the shahada but for some reason
Allah knows best. he was not certain and
we said take your time you know do some
more research until you see that you are
fully uh convinced and convicted about
this and then when couple of months went
by and we we chatted over over phones
and uh finally
yesterday he calls me and he tells me
you know he's ready to become a Muslim I
was very happy And alhamdulillah for him
because as we all know uh this moves us
greatly whenever we know someone to come
to Islam because uh this is something
that is no greater gift than Allah
reward some somebody with Islam.
So
today, inshallah, we decided
uh to meet after Juma tonight
uh here in the masjid in Davenport
in front of the brothers here and uh I
have here
uh quite a few brothers here in in our
presence and uh inshallah we will start
with a declaration of FA.
which states that is there is no God
worthy of worship except
the one true God which is Allah. And and
I bear witness that
Prophet Muhammad
is the
messenger of God.
And I bear witness also that Jesus the
son of Marion Jesus Christ is also the
messenger of God. This declaration is
that you enter the fold of Islam.
Now we're going to start this
ash
I bear witness
and
bear witness
there is no
true God
except Allah
I bear witness
bear witness
there is that Muhammad
that Muhammad
may peace be upon him
is the messenger of Allah
is
the messenger of Allah
messenger of Allah
of Allah
ashu
and
anda
and I bear witness
Jesus Christ
the son of Mary
is the messenger of God Allah Messenger
of God.
Congratulations.
Thank you, man.
How do you feel?
Feel great.
I'm Eddie. You're 80.
Yes, sir.
Eddie 80.
Pretty close, huh?
Yeah. Yeah.
So, tell me how how was it? What was it
that just in a few words, what was it
that led you to really contemplating and
thinking about the purpose of life that
led you actually from all the different
religions you chose Islam?
Man, to be honest, I was a born
Catholic. I was I was born into a
Catholic family. So, um, just growing
up, I wasn't really understanding what I
was praying to, you know. Uh, they was
telling me there was three gods, you
know, I wasn't really sure what I was
doing. So, you know, growing up, I was
just doing my research just myself. I
had a couple friends who used to take
the religion super serious, but you
know, I was a Catholic, so I didn't
really see it like that. So, after I got
into it, after I got into it and stuff,
you know, I just I just thought that it
was a reason for me to be here, you
know, cuz it was just it was just out of
nowhere that I was just like, you know
what? I want to I I want to practice the
the Islamic religion out of nowhere. I
just came here and like I said like I
was like it was like a dream literally
like a dream. I it just came to my head
just came to my head of becoming a
Muslim
you know and um now I'm here and I was
kind of hesitating to do it because of
how my family and everybody was going to
look at me. My family don't even know
I'm here, you know, and um but I feel
great and I and I'll feel like they'll
feel happy for me too for what I did.
So your your background is from the
Dominican Republic.
Yes, sir.
There's a lot of Spanish people from all
parts of uh the Latin community, Spanish
community that we're seeing. There's an
influx
of Hispanics coming to Islam for the
exactly the same reason. you know, they
having a hard time identifying with the
trinity, Jesus being God, part of a
trinity. But when they come to Islam,
the pure monotheism, it really connects
with their heart, the oneness, the pure
oneness of Allah. Was that was that
something that really captivated you?
Yes. And I want to be able to, you know,
um, you know, um, pray to my pray to my
God, you know, pray to my God only, not
just, you know, you know how they used
to say Jesus first, then Jesus take the
word to him, then this, you know,
That's
I want to I want to be directly towards
him, you know, pray to him so he can
hear me how I really feel.
No confession box, no going to a priest
to forgive your sins. Just to the one
God Almighty, Allah directly.
Yes, sir. Cuz what I'm concerned is we
we owe his his kids, we owe his uh
you know, daughters and sons. So why why
wouldn't we be able to pray to him, you
know, directly to like to him, you know?
I mean, metaphorically, yes. But we know
now you learn coming to Islam. That's
the beautiful thing when you for
instance you learn that God doesn't have
children, daughters, sons and he's he's
nothing like his creation and this is
the way of the fa the natural way. So we
want to congratulate you know for coming
uh except you know this is a beautiful
day taking your shahada. May God Allah
continue to bless you. Thank you
and you've been welcomed into the
community and uh a community not just
here but close to two billion all over
the world.
Yes sir. I'm super happy to be here man.
Like I said, I I actually been been
studying for four years,
but like for four years since I was like
15 years old,
I actually started, you know, doing some
research on it. But like I said, yes,
but like I said, um just never took the
step. Was kind of afraid of, you know,
you know, like the people around me and
stuff. How would they look at me? You
know, I was young, you know. So, but
thank God I'm here, you know, I didn't
get lost. Allah guided me here. You
know, so
somebody paid you, coerced you four
years investigating, using your mind,
praying directly to God Almighty. You
did your homework and you concluded that
indeed this is the way of life from the
creator of the heavens and the earth.
Yes, sir. And the way the way just how,
you know, the Muslim community just, you
know, maneuver, the way they uh they
take the religion so serious and and how
they always try to do uh like good like
good things, you know, like they avoid
bad things, you know what I mean?
Always. And um and I feel like that's
great, you know what I mean? And um
I mean I can't I can't wait to, you
know, actually learn everything. One
last thing. How did you feel from Chick
Sammy and the rest of the community, you
know, the the love, you know, the kind.
How did you feel being accepted into the
man? Since day one. Since day one, they
supported me since I came here. Like,
you can even ask them. I I was super shy
when I first came here. I was in the
corner over there. And I didn't even
know what to expect, you know. I was in
my car for like 20 minutes. I didn't
even know like I was shy to come in
here, you know. But when I came in, you
know, they grabbed me, come over here,
um, sit down with us. Since day one,
they show me love, man. And that's why
you guys are great people. All of you
guys. And, um, like I said, I can't
wait. I can't wait to really be really
come here and really uh, do what I have
to do and what I've been waiting for
cuz, you know, it's really a dream
coming true to be honest.
And I'm glad I was here to witness that.
Yes, sir.
All right. you guys also. And if you
like to read the book also that
convinced him that had all the evidences
and proofs, you can get your free copy
of the Quran at the deenshow.com. And if
you have any questions, you want to
learn, call us at 18006624752800
Islam. We'll see you next time.
Peace be with you. Thank you.
Thank you. And one more thing, can I say
one more thing to the videos?
Okay. So everybody, um, just do what
your heart tells you. Don't let nobody
tells you what to do.
Um if Allah want to guide you here, just
follow him. Like it won't be the wrong
like it'll probably be the best the best
decision you guys can make. Um don't let
people around you tell you what to do.
Um and make sure you know um you know
what you're doing. Meaning like uh you
make the right decision on what you're
doing and um just be safe guys. Thank
you.
All right. Thank you for sharing that
with us. Assalam alaikum.
Asalamikum brothers and sisters. This is
your brother Eddie from the Dan Show and
I have some amazing news for you. We
just made a down payment and are in
contract to purchase this 35,000q ft
facility with over 4 acres to make it
the Dean Center. Alhamdulillah, the
project includes a masid, an athletic
facility, a live studio for recording
the Dean Show and Da outreach programs.
And as you've known, I've been looking
for a no interest owner financing. And
alhamdulillah, I found this church
property for $2.5 million. That will do
all of it. I've given a $100,000 down
payment to enter into the contract. And
$1 million will be paid over 36 months,
inshallah, with no interest.
Alhamdulillah. But right now, we need
1.4 million to close on this property.
Brothers and sisters, help us purchase
this property to build the dean center.
Donate right now. May God Almighty Allah
reward all of you brothers and sisters.
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