As I stated in my previous letter after I saw this "imam" walking through the crowd sticking his hands out so that people could kiss them, my friend and I went to our room and prayed. This character through out the convention would appear somewhere in the building just a grinning and nodding his head as if he were to pope or shayton being pleased with the number of people that were being lead astray. Also his picture was being sold at one of the bizzare tables. It was horrible watching this charade and the non-muslims at other conventions laughing about our religion because if this misguided behavior.

On the second day the Egyptian speaker that I have seen on ISS tapes (sorry I forgot his name) spoke out against the non-sense that we were witnessing. Dr. Israr Ahmed also let it be known that he was disgusted with what was going on (open shirk). Also there was an Imam from the L.A. area stated that he disapproved of the deception that had been used to supposedly bring people in Islam.

During one of the lectures about the athenticity of hadith they stated that the Salafi didn't believe in the hadith and the sponsors of this convention proceeded to show how the hadith were authentic (in other words, "we are God fearing Muslims that follow the teachings of the Prophet (s.a.w.) and they aren't". I knew that this was an open lie for if one checks the definition of Salafi at www.qss.org they will immediately find that they strictly adhere the hadith and sunnah of the Prophet (s.a.w.). When I left that lecture they were giving out a book called "The Doctrine of Ahl al-Sunna versus the "Salafi" Movement". But what was more stricking at that time were the people that were leaving another lecture. The summation of that lecture was the speaker had informed the people how they should thank Allah (s.w.t.) that they lived in the United States. It wasn't that the people did not appreciate the "freedoms and rights" that this country has to offer in opposition to some of the countries that they had came from, it was the godlike praise that was given to this country, while ignoring the attrocities that this country has visited upon other nations.

I know there were other things that were equally appalling about this convention but Allah (s.w.t.) is merciful and I'm beginning to forget it. The book however that I mentioned earlier contains a little gem (and there are many others) that I would like to share with you

"One of the abominations of Ibn `Abd al-Wahhab was.. He would publicly declare a Muslim a disbeliever for requesting a prophet, angel or individual of saintly life to join his or her prayers to that person's own prayer expressing some intention whose fulfillment might be asked of God as, for example, when one supplicates the Creator for the sake of Muhammad, on him be peace, to accomplish such-and-such a need." Page 29 and 30.

Since I don't know enough about `Abd al-Wahhab to defend or disagree with the type of person he was I will quote form our one true source.

"And behold! ye come to Us bare and alone as We created you for the first time: Ye have left behind you all (the favors) which We bestowed on you: We see not with you your intercessors whom ye thought to be partners in your affairs: so now all relations between you have been cut off and your (pet) fancies have left you in the lurch!" (Surah Al-An'am 94)

"They worship beside Allah that which neither hurteth them nor profiteth them, and they say: These are our intercessors with Allah. Say: Would ye inform Allah of (something) that He knoweth not in the heavens or in the earth? Praised be He and high exalted above all that ye associate (with Him)!" (Surah Yunus 18)

I truly don't understand the word "saints" or the Prophet (s.a.w.) ever telling the Muslims to use intercessors when they pray to Allah (s.w.t.).

Wasalaam, Sr. Iman