In 1971 I purchased the Mohammed Marmaduke Pickthall paperback edition of the Qur'an ("The Meaning of The Glorious Qur'an"). On and off over the years, I read it.

In 1980 I ended a one week fast in a middle eastern restaurant. I concluded that the people that prepared the delicious food had prayed while they made the food as I had a "spiritual high" for three days afterwards. I learned on another visit to the restaurant that it was indeed true that prayers were said or thought during the food preparation. Praise be to Allah (s).

In 1990 on a flight to Europe, the passenger beside me was a Muslim. We chatted and what he told me made me think. I remembered what he said and thought about it many times.

In the spring of 2001, by chance (?) I met a man whom I had gone to high school with. We were close friends in the '60's and I hadn't seen him in many years. He asked for my email address, which I gave him. Shortly, came awful, hate-filled letters against Muslims. I wrote back that I am a person who tries to understand all sides of a problem. I told him not to send such garbage to me. It stopped for a few months and started again in July 2001. I just trashed the letters as they came in.

In August 2001 I was having my car tuned-up in East Longmeadow. Since I had an hour or so to wait, I walked to the nearby library. In the non-fiction section I spotted the book: "A Muslim Primer", written by the American theologian: Ira G. Zepp Jr., with a forward written by Sayyid Muhammad Syeed (Secretary General of the Islamic Society of North America). The book is available in both the East Longmeadow Library and the Springfield Central Branch Library, (State St--downtown). ISBN: 1-55728-595-0. It is published by The University of Arkansas Press. Although professor Zepp is not a Muslim, it is such an excellent book, I eventually bought a copy of it at Barnes & Noble. Through it, I found Islam speaks to my heart.

Upon reading that the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) meditated in a cave, I knew I was onto something good as I have meditated too (different than contemplation). When I found that muslims prayed to Allah (God), not a person, I thought I must be a muslim as that is what I do also. In fact, over the years I would ask--outwardly, in my mind: "Ok God, who should I pray to...you or Jesus?"

The answer or feeling was: "Pray to God."

On September 8, 2001 I sent an email to Mr. Hate as I shall call this real infidel (an atheist). I hoped to enlighten him with the following which I called:

A Little Story:

Let's say that the relatives of "King Phillip" (the name the settlers of the 1600's gave the American Indian chief of Western Mass) came to town and demanded the land that you live on now. Plus, these direct descendants physically tossed you out of your house and said you must live in an encampment a few miles from here. The original relatives who roamed this land for thousands of years before you bought your home, were united in religion and much more that The Great Spirit [Indian term for God] gave them. The Great Spirit said they were his chosen ones.

But, a government commenced a genocidal campaign to eliminate them. They were persecuted; killed because they were different. Now, they need a nation; a land of their own. And, you just happen to be living on it! You have the deed to your home & property which you have toiled over and worked the soil to have the best garden of anyone around. You've improved things. But, out you go to the refugee camp. You fight, throw rocks and the landholders shoot back with their modern weapons some get killed. Anger, hatred and revenge fester in the hearts and minds of both sides which causes many years of conflict....and so forth. Do you see the other side of the story Mr..........?"

Mr. Hate responded with more hate letters as he never will see the other side of the story.

On Saturday, Oct 13th, while shopping in the fruits and vegetables section of Costco Wholesale, in West Springfield MA, I saw a man with a cap on. I asked him if he was a muslim. He said yes, and that he was the Imam of the local mosque. Our conversation lead to tears from both of us. Finally, I said, "Let's pray." We held hands and both prayed right there in Costco! He prayed vocally in Arabic and I prayed silently in English.

Imam invited me to the Interfaith meeting at the mosque on Friday evening October 19th. I went and after sitting in a chair for a minute or so, in the basement of the masjid, I began to feel an energy in my head...like I had a cap on. I knew this energy to be a sign of a spiritual place as I had felt it before in a few other spiritual locations. Afterwards, we went upstairs to pray. There, the energy was so strong I felt it throughout my body. I knew for sure, that this masjid had very spiritual people close to God. I returned for another interfaith meeting and prayers on Friday, Nov.2nd. Again, the energy & peace was strong. I should add that this energy is a healing energy. I know what I am talking about as I was healed of an "incurable disease" 28 years ago. The energy is from Allah (s). By the time Ramadan came I was attending almost every night. When I went to a Ramadan dinner in Connecticut I described what I was experiencing to some sisters. They responded that they had felt the same energy and it is called "Sakeena." And, that some people felt it simply as "the peace that passes all understanding." I think that if the Christians knew what healing there is in our masjid, they would come mighty fast.

On Nov.21, 2001 after prayers, I said the Shahadah with four brothers present. Unfortunately, my mentor, Omar Yacteen, was not present. I felt anguish that he was not there and decided I wanted to repeat the Shahadah with all my brothers and sisters present. On Saturday, Nov. 24th I repeated it again. One of the brothers, Mohammed Sheikh, took his cap off and put it on my head. As I write this now, to think of the friendliness, kindness and generosity shown by ALL brothers and sisters, brings tears to my eyes. The Islam that I see and experience is peace.

Thanks be to Allah (s).

Sincerely,

Yahya