New revert

[Abdul-Hadi]

As-salamu alaykum brothers and sisters,

I am a (very) new revert to Islam. I am also a Westerner, thoroughly raised in Western culture & a liturgical christian church. As a result, this is all quite new to me although very natural feeling when I pray or read the Quran.

I have already become much better at offering my five daily prayers, but I am wondering if there is anything else that I ought to be working on learning + practicing right now. I have ordered a set of tasbih because I used to say the rosary every night as a Christian and I want to continue to have that sort of "ritual" because it's familiar to me and quiets my soul when I am stressed or nervous, so I am going to learn to say zikr (in Arabic of course).

Any suggestions on ways to deepen my faith would be a huge help, especially with ways to memorize portions of the Quran (I have only committed Surah Ikhlas to memory thusfar for saying my prayers).

[Zainuu]

On 5/13/2020 at 9:28 PM, Abdul-Hadi said:

As-salamu alaykum brothers and sisters,

I am a (very) new revert to Islam. I am also a Westerner, thoroughly raised in Western culture & a liturgical christian church. As a result, this is all quite new to me although very natural feeling when I pray or read the Quran.

I have already become much better at offering my five daily prayers, but I am wondering if there is anything else that I ought to be working on learning + practicing right now. I have ordered a set of tasbih because I used to say the rosary every night as a Christian and I want to continue to have that sort of "ritual" because it's familiar to me and quiets my soul when I am stressed or nervous, so I am going to learn to say zikr (in Arabic of course).

Any suggestions on ways to deepen my faith would be a huge help, especially with ways to memorize portions of the Quran (I have only committed Surah Ikhlas to memory thusfar for saying my prayers).

Salam Brother, 

Mashallah. May Allah bless you and guide you towards the path of haq. May Allah make you firm in your belief. May Allah bless you with hapoiness and ease and grant you a company that makes you more closer towards Allah. 

I will give you some suggestions that have helped me a lot:

1. Recite Quran regularly. 10 verses a day or if you can do more than this then 20-25. But don't make it a burden. Recite with attention and contemplate on each verse. Praise Allah on the verses which talk about blessings and seek refuge of Allah from evil when reciting the verses that have strong words and talk about punishments.

2. As you are fond of tasbeeh, do tthis zikr:

'Astaghfirullah Rabbi wa Atubu ilah'

3. Memorising Quranic chapters: Memorise Chapter of Kausar, Chapter of al Qadr apart from Chapter of Hamd and Chapter of Tauheed. 

I will give you a method with which you will be able to learn the small Chapters easily with understanding. Read the chapter that you want to learn everyday (once while sleeping or during Fajr).

How? Listen to a qaari and follow him as he proceeds with recitation and read the translation simultaneously (Just like you watch a foreign language movie with subtitles). Read the translation and follow the recitation of Qaari in this way. If you do this everyday, that chapter's recitation will resonate in your brain in few days only and you will find that you have memorised it. Also, because you will read the translation, you will learn the meaning also. 

4. Whenever you do dhikr or pray, try to talk to Allah. Do munajaat (Talking with Allah).

Do this with consistency. Their are many more things but don't burden yourself as you are new. 

Lastly, feel free to talk to me if you need any help anytime. May Allah bless you and give me the opportunity to help you

Wassalam