Converts' Stories: Jihad Mujahid Abdul Salam's Testimony

Jihad Mujahid Abdul Salam's Testimony

Assalamu 'Alaikum wa Rahmatullah wa Barakatu!

As the calender passes and Ramadan quickly approaches, I am reminded of my first Ramadan, but more importantly, the day and the reason I took Shahadatain. As a great majority of Americans, I was raised by my family as a Christian, but could not and did not find it satisfying. Too many questions were left unanswered, especially after "church services" on Sunday when I would see the deacons and the "seniors" coming out of the liquor store with "brown bags" wrapped tight in their hands.

when I was old enough to make choices for myself, I stopped going to church altogether. This left me with a spiritual void which I wallowed in for many, many years. I joined the Army and spent 15 years there. while serving, i was introduced to "Freemasonry" and though it would assist in filing my spiritual void. Need I give the results? After i was honorably discharged from the military, I moved to California where a chain of events transpired that changed my entire outlook on life. For some reason, I made the decision to revert to my childhood ways and began to take drugs and run with the wrong crowd. This decision took me to the wretched bowels of this society. I became addicted to drugs and alcohol, the evil ways of the street life and homeless. I even ended up in the county jail quite a few times for crimes I committed to "support" this wicked way of life. Due to the Mercy of Allah (swt)[and at that time i did not know it was His mercy, i thought it was the "god' wearing the black robe sitting above all in he courtroom] I survived those treacherous years in the LA county jail. But that was not ENOUGH of a wake up call for me to change my suicidal ways. I "graduated" to more serious crimes which ended me in state prison for quite a few years collectively. My last sentence (1994-1999) was the Blessing from Allah (swt) i recognized!!!! You see, I qualified for the 3 strikes law: 25 to life. The Public defender the court assigned to me negotiated a deal with the prosecutor for a 18 year sentence, which i would have to serve 80 % of. I COULD NOT see myself serving 16-17 Years for shop lifting two tee-shirts ($48.00 total), so i fired the attorney and exercised my right to represent myself (Pro-Per). When I returned from court to the county jail, i walked into the cell block and observed a brother performing Salah. I was immobilized, i could not move. I stood there and watched this brother until he completed his salah. I then approached him and asked about what he was was doing. We talked for almost 4 hours!!!! the more this brother spoke the more hungry I became, until finally I asked how do you become Muslim!?!?! The guard was making his rounds and ordered us to shut up.

The very next morning I was awakened by the guard and transferred to the Pro-Per module in order to prepare for my case. when i arrived a brother named Siyeed welcomed me and told me Dawud (the brother who was doing salah) had informed him of my interest in Al-Islam. Brother Siyeed gave me a Qur'an and a book entitled: "The Beliefs and teachings of Islam". I studied these books during my free moments, for I had my life to fight for, not knowing that Allah (swt) had taken over it. Then one day I hear brother Siyeed, in a loud voice ask another brother to Call the Azahn. I heard the most beautiful sound come from this brother's mouth!!! After the azahn, Bro. Siyeed informed all on the cell block that it was time for the muslims to do their prayers and we would appreciate if the non-muslims would lower their voices and noise until we finished. Not being a stranger to convicts way of life, I just knew there was going to be a fight. HOW WRONG I WAS!!!!!! they all said: Go ahead brothers!!! it was then I was introduced to the community. Mind you we were locked in one man cells and had no way to see or touch each other. The Iqama was called and Bro. siyeed lead this most moving prayer I ever heard, in Arabic.
After chow , I sent a not to Siyeed and told him I was ready to be Muslim. If words like he spoke during prayer could make tears come from my eyes, then I wanted to cry forever!!! I declared my faith and became a member of the jam'at, but most importantly of the umm'ah. This story continues with more hardships (trials), but as i studied and prayed, Allah (swt) paved the way for me to fight my case for six months and reduce 2 of the strikes, i was sentenced to 5 years!!! Allah (swt) blessed me with the ability to represent myself and the results were to my favor. It really was never a question as to my guilt or innocence, it was a question of the punishment equaling the crime. I spent those years in some of the most horrendous, violent and corrupted prison in this state. i was, along with all the other muslims, oppressed by the guards became the object of blame for anything that happened. But "They plot,Allah plans, and Allah is the best of all Planners".

I will end this story by saying, from the day Allah(swt) blessed me to represent myself, Up to the writing of this letter, He has continued to shower me and my family with blessings!! Alhamdulillah!!! I am out of prison, working a very very good job, supporting my family and clean and sober for 5 years, inshallah , forever! My grandfather used to tell me when I was young: Don;t ever bite the hand that feeds you! well needless to say I beg Allah(swt) to continue to feed me! and i have not looked back since!!! Alhamdulillah!!! because Allahu Akbar!!!!!!!
Wassalam

Jihad Mujahid Abdul Salaam ( My name is another story!!!)