Assalamualaykum Wa Rahmatullah Wa Barakatuh
My name is Amir Shahid formerly known as Anthony Johnson. This is my story on how Allah SWT opened the doors of Islam for me.
I used to live a life of sin and pretty much everything I used to do was haram. From drugs and alcohol to other crime.
This began when I was 13 and continued until I was 38! I faced death sentence on more occasions than I can count along with 67 convictions for various crimes including drug possession and violence. After being convicted for a high profile robbery in my city I received a 6 year sentence to a Canadian penitentiary. Before being transported to the pen my cell mate at the pre-trial, who was a Kurdish Mujahadin, used to share stories about his time in combat and I wondered how he was still alive after all his experiences in war. He used to say Alhamdulillah, Allahu Akbar.
One day while we were locked in our box he turned to me and asked if I wanted to become Muslim. At the very same time a sunbeam streamed through our small window. I took that as a sign and without any further hesitation I said yes. I stumbled through saying the Shahada but managed to finally say with conviction. La ilaha il Allah Muhammadan RasulAllah SAW.
After a while my new brother gave me a Qur’an and was released. I felt very alone. So I began to ask for books from the prison chaplain and the first book I was given was a short biography about our beloved Prophet SAW. Then the knowledge came and it was as though a light was turned on. I finally saw the world through the eyes of Muslim.
I am out of prison and trying to live my life here in the West as a believer. I am ever grateful to Allah SWT for bringing out me from darkness into the light in a way only a Muslim can understand.
May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon all who read this and gain inspiration from my story. I was lost and Allah gave me Islam, even now while I tell this story I become emotional and all I can say is SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, Allahu Akbar.
Barak Allah Feek
Amir Shahid
8 comments
Allahu Akbar!
MashAllah,…may Allah bless you brother
This is a very inspiring story for me since iam also kurdish
Allahu Akbar!….
Alhamdudillah…
I am highly pleased that Almighty, The-God of Adam and Abraham (and all of us) gave you the key to the peace and prosperity by accepting your repentance and by entering you in Islam. Richness in moral values, behaviour and helping others make life in this world very rewarding in this world and the world Hereafter.
Sincerity of any intention depends on conviction in heart and such a conviction in Islam is based on truth, which is to abide, obey, and seek pleasure of Almighty The-God (Alloh) as directed in The-Qur’an and explained by The-Prophet (PBUH) available now in Ahadith Sahih. The-Qur’an and the The-Prophet (PBUH) testified about the purity of intention.
وَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ
مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ حُنَفَاءَ وَيُقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُوا
الزَّكَاةَ ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ دِينُ الْقَيِّمَةِ
“And they were not commanded except to worship The-God, (being intentionally) sincere to His (Almighty) in (his prescribed) religion, inclining to truth, and to establish prayers and to give Zakat (Obligatory Tax for the needy). And that is the correct religion” {The Qur’an – Surah Al Bayyinah (Chapter: The Clear Proof) 98: 05}.
The Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) said: “Verily, all actions are but driven by the intention and for everyone is what he/she intended” [Al-Bukharie and Muslim].
May Almighty God reward all those who recognize One-God and follow the path of The Last Messenger Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and help us convey the Message of truth with best of manners, tolerance and virtues (A’men).
Tears…I no what u mean!!
Congrats brother, welcome to the righteous path, may you be able to fulfill your duties of a Muslim by the new knowledge & strength given to you by Allah, InshAllah you will succeed.