Answered by Ustadha Zaynab Ansari, SunniPath Academy Teacher
In the Name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful.
Dear Questioner,
I pray this message finds you in good health and spirits.
Thank you for your question.
You have chosen to study a very beautiful way of life, and I pray you have much success in your journey.
The best way to study this way of life is with a guide, so I suggest that you locate an Imam or a knowledgeable Muslim to help you along this path.
It may be helpful to meet people who came to Islam from other backgrounds. Their stories are a constant source of inspiration for people who are searching.
Many people who converted to Islam began their journeys by reading the Qur'an, my own parents included. I suggest that you obtain an English translation of the Qur'an. You might want to try A J Arberry's The Koran Interpreted: A Translation, available at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0684825074/qid=1136814446/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/102-4760942-0631312?n=507846&s=books&v=glance.
Another good translation is Marmaduke Pickthall's The Glorious Qur'an, available at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1879402513/qid=1136814602/sr=2-3/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_3/102-4760942-0631312?s=books&v=glance&n=283155.
I also suggest that you read about the life of the last prophet, Muhammad, Allah bless him and give him peace. You might want to try Yusuf Islam's Life of the Last Prophet, available athttp://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1900675005/qid=1136814976/sr=8-12/ref=pd_bbs_12/102-4760942-0631312?n=507846&s=books&v=glance. Make sure you check out the accompanying cd.
For a good introduction to Islam's beliefs and practices, try Suzanne Haneef's What Everyone Should Know About Islam and Muslims, available at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1900675005/qid=1136814976/sr=8-12/ref=pd_bbs_12/102-4760942-0631312?n=507846&s=books&v=glance.
For something more current, check out Yahya Emerick's The Complete Idiot's Guide to Understanding Islam. Don't worry about the title. It's a highly readable introduction to Islam. You can find it at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0028642333/qid=1136815661/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/102-4760942-0631312?s=books&v=glance&n=283155.
I hope this is helpful. Please feel free to contact the scholars at SunniPath if you have any more questions.
Last, but not least, if you are in North America, I suggest a visit to Shaykh Hamza Yusuf's Zaytuna Institute in California. Shaykh Hamza himself is a convert to Islam and one of the most highly respected Islamic scholars in the world. I've heard a lot of good things about his introduction to Islam courses. For more information, visit http://www.zaytuna.org/classSchedule.asp.
MMVIII © SunniPath.
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The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "Knowledge is only through study." While some knowledge can be gained from reading or casually listening to lectures, the best means to gain knowledge is through finding a qualified teacher and then setting up a systematic program of learning. Picking up a book or reading an article and trying to figure things out on our own is no substitute for learning from someone who has a direct link to our living tradition.
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