The American Muslim (TAM)

Resources for New Muslims - resource collection

compiled by Sheila Musaji

Posted Mar 23, 2008 •Permalink • Printer-Friendly Version

Resources for New Muslims (converts/reverts to Islam) - TAM article collection

by Sheila Musaji

I found a very interesting video “Becoming Muslim in Texas” and added it to the News section of TAM. I visited the site that had put the video online TurnToIslam.com and was pleased to see that they listed a section on how to perform the prayer step by step. I have been looking for an excellent resource on this subject to help new Muslims, and at first was excited that this might be what was needed. When I read through the text of this section I became very much saddened. The translation of the Qur’an that they have used to explain the prayer is obviously the Hilali-Khan translation about which I have written in the past. This is a very extreme translation which adds words that are not included in the Arabic giving the impression that they are part of the translation and not commentary. Surah Fatehah which is recited in every one of the 5 daily prayers is translated in this way on this site.

I also discovered that whoever these people are they are clever, a video that I found on youtube of a CNN program about converts to Islam had been put online by them and across the video appears a printed message that more videos about converts to Islam are available at the TurnTo Islam website. And, the very first screen of the video carries a warning to brothers that this video contains images of female converts without hijab. Whether that warning is so that they will lower their gaze or so they can look more intently, who knows.

I then began researching and found that there are many questionable sites, and decided that it might help to begin to put together a resource list for converts/reverts/new Muslims (whatever name you prefer).

There are obviously many sources of information about Islam, some of them excellent, some of them expressing a very limited point of view, and some of them simply extremist. Having myself realized that I was a Muslim 35 years ago, I know how difficult it can be to wade through all of this. It is important for new Muslims and those interested in Islam that they have access to mainstream Islamic sources, and therefore we are putting this collection online, and will update as we find out about other resources.

Here are some basic resources, personal stories, information, recommended books, etc.

first posted 3/23/07 last updated 3/22/2008

UPDATE 11/15/2012

I have just been informed that many of the articles originally listed here that were published on other sites, e.g. Islam for Today and MuslimWakeup are no longer online because the sites are no longer online. I will attempt to update this entire collection soon. In the meantime, I suggest that you type converts into the TAM search engine for a good list of articles.

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A Native American Muslims Story, Lois Stands Ali http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/a_native_american_muslims_story/

A Page From Islamic History: the ‘Other’ 1492, Aisha Brown http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/a_page_from_islamic_history_the_other_1492/

A Plea for Unity, Sheila Musaji http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/a_plea_for_unity/

A Time for Healing, Imam Ghayth Nur (Lonnie) Kashif http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/a_time_for_healing/

Advice for New Muslims or those considering Islam, Saraji Umm Zaid http://www.islamfortoday.com/ummzaid03.htm

Allah Came Knocking At My Heart, Giles Whitell http://www.sharif.org.uk/maqsood.htm

America Represents True Islamic Principles, Imam Tammam Adi http://www.islamfortoday.com/adi05.htm

American Muslims and ‘Integration’, Parvez Ahmed http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/american_muslims_and_integration/

American Muslims Struggle for the Soul of Islam, Hasan Zillur Rahim http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/american_muslims_struggle_for_the_soul_of_islam/

ARABIC - Every day Muslim expressions http://www.jamiat.org.za/isinfo/mtongue.html - Glossary of Islamic terms http://www.islamfortoday.com/glossary.htm - Longer glossary of Islamic terms http://cwis.usc.edu/dept/MSA/reference/glossary.html

Basics of Islam topic on the TAM site http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/tam/categories/C92/

Becoming Muslim, Nuh Ha Meem Keller http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/2003jan_comments.php?id=227_0_17_0_C

Becoming Muslim, Michael Wolfe http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/becoming_muslim1/

Beginners guide to performing Islamic prayers http://www.islam-usa.com/pray1.html

Beliefs and practices of Islam http://www.cie.org/ItemDetail.aspx?id=N&m_id=52&item_id=248&cat_id=104

BOOKS: The American Muslim has a recommended book list which is quite extensive, and very useful. Here are a few of particular interest to new Muslims:

- 99 Names of Allah, Shems Friedlander http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/ninety_nine_names_of_allah_shems_friedlander/
- 101 Questions and Answers on Islam, John Renard http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/101_questions_and_answers_on_islam_john_renard/
- A Bad Beginning: the path to Islam, Charles LeGai Eaton http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/book_announcement_a_bad_beginning_the_path_to_islam_charles_le_gai_eaton
- African American Islam, Aminah McCloud
- American Islam: Growing Up Muslim in America, Richard Wormser http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/american_islam_growing_up_muslm_in_america_richard_wormser/
- American Jihad, Steven Barbosa http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/american_jihad_islam_after_malcolm_x_steven_barboza/
- Autobiography of Malcolm X, Alex Haley http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/autobiography_of_malcolm_x_alex_haley/
- Becoming Muslim, Nuh Ha Mim Keller http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/becoming_muslim_nu_ha_mim_keller/
- Believing as Ourselves, J. Lynn Jones and Jeffrey Lang http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/believing_as_ourselves_jeffrey_lang/
- BIOGRAPHIES OF THE PROPHET - the best are by M.H. Haykal, Seyyed Hossein Nasr, and Martin Lings
- Case for Islamo-Christian Civilization, Richard Bulliett
- Daughters of Another Path, Carole Anway http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/daughters_of_another_path_carole_amway/
- Essentials of the Islamic Faith, M. Fethullah Gulen http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the_essentials_of_the_islamic_faith_m_fethullah_gulen/
- Even Angels Ask, Jeffrey Lang http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/even_angels_ask_jeffrey_lang/
- Finding Fran, Lois Banner http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/finding_fran_lois_banner/
- Girl in the Tangerine Scarf, Mohja Kahf
- Hadj: An American’s Pilgrimage to Mecca, Michael Wolfe http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the_hadj_an_americans_pilgrimage_to_mecca_michael_wolfe/
- Hajj: Reflections on Its Rituals, Ali Shariati http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/hajj_reflections_on_its_rituals_ali_shariat/
- Illuminated Prayer : The Five-Times Prayer of the Sufis, Coleman Barks, Michael Green http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the_illuminated_prayer_the_five_times_prayer_of_the_sufis_coleman_barks_mic/
- Islam: A Search for Meaning, Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/islam_a_search_for_meaning_feisal_abdul_rauf/
- Islam and the Blackamerican, Sherman Jackson http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/islam_and_the_blackamerican_shermn_a_jackson/
- Islam: Beliefs and Teachings, Ghulam Sarwar (one of the best introduction to practice, prayer, etc.) http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/islam_beliefs_and_teachings_ghulam_sarwar/
- Islam in Focus, Hammudah Abdalati http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/islam_in_focus_hammudah_abdalati/
- Islam, Our Choice, ed. Debra L. Dirks http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/islam_our_choice_debra_l_dirks/
- Islam : Religion, History, and Civilization, Seyyed Hossein Nasr http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/islam_religion_history_and_civilization_seyyed_hossein_nasr/
- Lawful and the Prohibited in Islam, Yusuf al Qaradawi (one of the best introductions to Sharia) http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the_lawful_and_the_prohibited_in_islam_yusuf_al_qaradawi/
- Losing My Religion, Jeffrey Lang http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/losing_my_religion_jeffrey_lang/
- Mecca to Mainstreet, Genevieve Abdo
- Road to Mecca, Muhammad Asad http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the_road_to_mecca_muhammad_asad/
- Struggling to Surrender, Jeffrey Lang http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/struggling_to_surrender_jeffrey_lang/
- Trialogue of the Abrahamic Faiths, Ismail al-Faruqi

Born in the USA, Miriam Lambert http://www.prospect.org/webfeatures/2000/12/lambert-m-12-08.html

British and Muslim, Abdal Hakim Murad http://www.masud.co.uk/ISLAM/ahm/british.htm

Building New Medinas In These Sceptered Isles, Jonathan Birt http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/building_new_medinas_in_these_sceptered_isles/

Caution for new Muslims, Imam Ghayth Nur Kashif http://www.islamfortoday.com/extremism.htm

Challenge is not to be perfect - it’s to be whole, Aishah Schwartz http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/wisdom_and_its_varying_sources

Challenges Facing American Muslim Women, Samer Hathout http://www.islamfortoday.com/americanmuslimwomen.htm

Chasm Between African Americans and Immigrant Muslims, Hasan Zillur Rahim http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/chasm_between_african_americans_and_immigrant_muslims1/

Convertitis - or the case of the insta-scholar, Saraji Umm Zaid http://www.islamfortoday.com/ummzaid02.htm

Converts: Islam Now or Never?, Dr. Hesham A. Hassaballa http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/converts_islam_now_or_never/

Criticism Strengthens CommUnity, Abdul Malik Mujahid http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/criticism_strengthens_community/

Cultural Identity: the New Religion, Svend White http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/cultural_identity_the_new_religion/

Dangers of Excess, Extremism among Muslims, Imam Ghayth Nur Kashif http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/dangers_of_excess_extremism_among_muslims/

Daring to be European Muslims, H. A. Hellyer http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/daring_to_be_european_muslims_2/

EID - The Fiqh of Eid ul Adha, Shaykh Firaz Rabbani http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the_fiqh_of_eid_al_adha/ - The Social Message of ‘Id Al-Adha
Imam A. Rashied Omar http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the_social_message_of_id_al_adha/

FASTING (sawm in Ramadan) rules and regulations http://www.islamfortoday.com/ramadan01.htm

Finding the Creamy Center: Challenges to Youth, by Karima Omar http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/finding_the_creamy_center_challenges_to_youth/

First family visit as a Muslim, Juan Galvan http://www.islamfortoday.com/galvan04.htm

From Drury Lane to Mecca, Abdal Hakim Murad http://www.islamfortoday.com/murad09.htm

Frustrations of a Muslim Convert, Michael Young http://www.islamfortoday.com/frustrations.htm

Growing Number of Germans Embracing Islam http://quickstart.clari.net/qs_se/webnews/wed/bt/Qramadan-germany.RVwe_DOP.html

Growing Presence of American Converts to Islam http://www.wrmea.com/backissues/0190/9001042.htm

HAJJ - Hajj Experience, Sheila Musaji http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/hajj_experience/ - Hajj and Umrah, the Cornerstone, Dr. Faiz A. Khan http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the_corner_stone/ - Hajj Information and Resources http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/hajj_information_and_resources_2005_2006/ - Universal Lessons of Hajj, Faisal Kutty http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the_universal_lessons_of_hajj/

How do I tell my family I’ve become a Muslim? http://www.islamfortoday.com/ummzaid01.htm

How Does It Feel, Michael Wolfe http://www.beliefnet.com/story/82/story_8281_1.html

How I came to Islam, Donald W. Flood http://www.islamfortoday.com/flood.htm

How I came to Islam, Khadija Evans http://www.islamfortoday.com/evans01.htm

How I came to Islam, James Farrell http://www.islamfortoday.com/farrell.htm

How to Become a Muslim, Brendan Bernhard http://news.ibn.net/newsframe.asp?url=http://www.laweekly.com/ink/05/02/features-bernhard.php

Increasing Numbers of Germans Converting to Islam http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=51396

Ingrid Mattson takes on leadership of ISNA http://www.csmonitor.com/2001/1213/p16s1-lire.html

Interview With Professor T.B. Irving, Sheila Musaji http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/2002feb_comments.php?id=156_0_6_0_C

Interview with Tariq Nelson on Surviving Salafism http://www.religionwriter.com/islam-in-america/surviving-salafism-an-american-muslim-recovers-from-radicalism-and-makes-a-difference/

Islam Growing Fast in America, Inayat Durrani http://www.islamfortoday.com/america01.htm
Islam in America and the West topic on the TAM site http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/tam/categories/C37/ - and Islam in America article collection http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/islam_in_america/

Islam Is Wonderful But I Can’t Stand Muslims, Michael A. Malik http://www.islamfortoday.com/malik01.htm

Islam Now or Never?, Dr. Hesham A. Hassaballa http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/converts_islam_now_or_never/

Islamic Funeral Practices http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/islamic_funeral_practices/

Latin American Indian Converts on Hajj Trip http://www.gulf-news.com/Articles/news.asp?ArticleID=10347

Muslim Community Dialogue Issues topic on TAM site http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/tam/categories/C45/

Muslim Names?: A Rose by Any Other Name…, Sheila Musaji http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/muslim_names_a_rose_by_any_other_name/0013650

My First Year As a Muslim, Ten Years Later, Jeremiah McAuliffe http://islam-usa.com/e60.htm

New Face of Islam, Nick Compton http://quickstart.clari.net/qs_se/webnews/wed/bt/Qramadan-germany.RVwe_DOP.html

No longer a convert, David Coolidge http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/no-longer-a-convert

Number of Hispanic Converts Growing http://www.gulf-news.com/Articles/news.asp?ArticleID=10347

ORGANIZATIONS - generation Islam U.S. http://www.generationislam.com/live/index.php The mission of generation Islam is to support the needs of Muslims born or raised in North America. We will fulfill this mission by providing a network of open dialogue, communication and support in order to ascertain and address their specific needs at the local, regional and national levels.
- Muslim Converts, Britain
- Muslim Converts Association, Singapore http://www.darul-arqam.org.sg/dqv2/web/cms/main.asp?dopop=&voteErr=&vtype=&topic=INTRO&aid=ART00008-2005&pn=1
- I Profess http://www.iprofess.com/
- Revert Muslims Association (Shia) http://www.revertmuslims.com/index.html

Patterns of Da’wa in America: By the Hand (Why I Am a Muslim), Dr. Robert D. Crane (Faruq Abd al Haqq) http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/patterns_of_dawa_in_america_by_the_hand/

Politicizing Religion as Ideology: The Case of the 10,000 Chinese Converts, Dr. Robert D. Crane http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/politicizing_religion_as_ideology_the_case_of_the_10000_chinese_converts/

PRAYER (salat) - Step by step instructions for performing prayers http://www.islam-usa.com/pray7.html - Step by step instructions for Shia http://www.revertmuslims.com/sala.html

Psychology of Religious Conversion, Vincent Rambo http://www.religiousfreedom.com/conference/Germany/rambo.htm

QUR’AN - Qur’an and hadith topic on the TAM site http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/tam/categories/C53/ - QURAN TRANSLATIONS - those most highly recommended are: Qur’an - Message of the Qur’an, Muhammad Asad, Qur’an - Majestic Quran, Abdal hakim Murad, Uthman Hutchinson, Qur’an - Thomas Cleary, Qur’an - Noble Qur’an, Abdal Haqq & Aisha Bewley, Qur’an - Thomas B. Irving, Qur’an - Abdullah Yusuf Ali (original version)

RAMADAN - Ramadan Resources http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/ramadan_resources/ - The Spiritual Essence of Ramadan, Louay Safi http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the_spiritual_essence_of_ramadan/

Refugees Attracting Americans to Islam http://www.geocities.com/WestHollywood/Park/6443/Fastest/refugees.html

Seeing With Both Eyes, Abdal Hakim Murad http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/seeing_with_both_eyes/

SHARIAH, Fiqh & Islamic Law topic on the TAM site http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/tam/categories/C63/

SUNNAH - The Spirit of the Sunnah, Ahmed Baki http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the_spirit_of_the_sunnah/

Symbolism and Allegory in the Qur’an, Muhammad Asad http://www.geocities.com/masad02/appendix1

There Is No One Kind of Muslim, Andrea Stone http://www.islamicbulletin.org/issues/apr94/Issue-Apr-94-America.html

Transformations: Why Are You a Muslim?, Aminah Huntress http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/transformations_why_are_you_a_muslim1/

Understanding Conversion: Bridging the Two Selves, Abdul Lateef Abdullah http://www.islamfortoday.com/abdullah06.htm

(Note: type VIDEO in the internal search engine on The American Muslim site for a long list of videos including music videos, and humor videos)

“What are the Special Issues and Needs of Converts within the Muslim Community?”, Sheila Musaji http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/a_hopeful_event/0013649

WEBSITES
- Embracing Islam http://www.embracingislam.com/

Western converts to Islam: finding the inner Muslim prince, Eric Walberg http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/western_converts_to_islam_finding_the_inner_muslim_prince

What Islam is to me, Faruq ‘Abd al Haqq http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/what-is-islam-to-me

Where have all the American Muslims gone, Sheila Musaji http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/something_to_think_about_where_have_all_the_american_muslims_gone

White, Weird and Wonderful http://www.muslimwakeup.com/mainarchive/000788.php#more

White privilege and white converts, Yusuf Smith http://www.blogistan.co.uk/blog/mt.php/2009/05/16/white_privilege_and_the_white_convert

Why Are You a Muslim?, Amina Huntress http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/transformations_why_are_you_a_muslim1/
Who Am I and How Did I Get Here? - Reflections From An American Muslim, Mustafa Davis http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/who-am-i-and-how-did-i-get-here

Michael Wolfe’s Story of Conversion http://www.islamfortoday.com/wolfe1.htm

Women Friendly Mosques brochure, CAIR http://www.cair-net.org/pdf/text.pdf - Unanswered Questions of Women Friendly Mosques brochure, Shahed Amanullah http://www.altmuslim.com/perm.php?id=1480_0_25_0_C18

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