A American convert Moves to tears by the of Holy Quran

The best tool of all is the Holy Quran.However, one drawback is that often,due to poor translation and certain Ayats(verses) being taken out of context,the effect can be the opposite from that whinch is desired.So, I guess it is time I pass on my story how Islam found me.(As I did not intentionally go out to seek Islam).

I went on search of religion in general when I was about 11 years old,but Islam was not one of the considerations.With a non-practicing jewish
mother and a non-practicing African American Christian (Bapist) father,both socialists,religion obviously didn't play a role in my upbringing.

Briefly exploring both Judaism and Christianity, While I felt inside me that there was a creator, I did have to agree with my parents about he unworthiness,inconsistency and explorationof organised religion.

Thus having thought organised religion was not for me, I went about life all the way through high school, collecting books about all religions as I found them, but is was more to add to my bookshelf coolecting items of interest about diverse cultures not religion.So, I found three used paperback books, one each on Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam. I read all three with only a passing interest and they all ended up my collection.

At 15, I was chosen to attend summer school at a community college. The teacher who chose me suggested that I take a class I could never find in High school.

I chose the Arabic language class,because it was most certainly something I could never find at my school, and partially out of an interest in African and Asian cultures that always held a fascination for me.

After taking six-week class with teacher who was an Italian Catholic, on the last day he passed out pamphlet to all the students, and asked me to read it loud.All he said about what I was about to read, that although he was Catholic he had no doubts that all those words in that pamphlet to be written by God and it was the most inspiring poetry that has never been duplicated in Arabic or any language for that matter.

I read it in the original Arabic and half way through I was trembling. By the time I had finished the reading I was moved by its meaning so completly that I was in tears.

To this day, since religion was never brought up in the class, I dont know who was muslim and who was not muslim, bur everyone in the class was as moved as I was and many others were also in tears.

As it turned out what I had read was surah Al-Hamd, which bean my journey on the right and straight path where I have now travelled on for almost 40 years.

The teacher said as he left the class, well looks like another Muslim has emerged out of my classes.

As soon as I reached home, I grabbed a telephone book and bean looking up anything that might be muslim. Moslem(the spelling in those days), Islam mosque-but found nothing.

Then  by chance in the residence directory I came across a name that sounded as if it could be Muslim.Like an impetuous 15 year old I called this person who turned out be a palestinian. Fortunately, for me he guided me to a small group of Muslims meeting every friday night in a rented storefront in East Los Angeles.

Now 39 years later Muslims make up an estimated one million and there are atleast 100 centers all over southern California.

I still recall those early days with tears streaming down my face. I still get emotional every time I read Quran. I am moved by its beauty: its flowing rhythm: its thought-provoking wisdom which has become my guided life.