Thanks for this link. That article was fascinating and thought-provoking.

You're welcome :)

Shokran for this article.....it was very raw and honest. I appreciate reading articles on converts regardless of orgin and ethnicity, it is good to see that their are people speaking good of their conversion. I am a convert as well. I hope that people read the entire article and not just a few paragraphs, not all of it is enlighting the aspect of muslim converts...hence, the author almost refers to the convert becoming radical and posing questions of testimony in sufism."Not all who follow sheep will jump off the mountain, and not all who follow tigers will lead creatures of the forest."= my own analogy of this article.:)

I totally agree with you.

It was great finding this article, as I too am really interested in reading about converts to Islam, so I thought I'd share it here with you all.

I'm happy you liked it :)

Another White liberal distressed that White Muslims exist and needing to put it in the framework of despair and extremism? Yawn. Love the way he slants the portrayal of Sheikh al Ya'qubi as well.

The Muslim Exodus from America

By James “Umar” McConnell

This position needs no debate or lengthy supposition.

The Muslim communities endless debating is only to distract themselves and others away from the truth.

It is presented in simple terms that everyone should easily understand.

Generally speaking, the only immigrant Muslims permitted in non-Muslim lands are those with pressing and temporary obligations. Making another million does not constitute a pressing obligation. Taking care of your dying Christian mother who wants to pass away in her homeland is a pressing and temporary obligation.

The immigration selection process all but insures that not a single sincere Muslim enters America’s shores. You know it is the truth. Muslims typically come to America for money and freedom – the kind of freedom that lets them enjoy the glitter of this world. If sincere, immigrant Muslims would stay in their own country and help “our” people.

I have recently returned from holy lands to address a clear and pressing issue, to help facilitate sincere Muslims to migrate to holy lands and to warn the American public to beware of those claiming to be Muslim who are only Muslim by identity. Wearing a white robe and stethoscope and claiming to be a doctor does not make you a doctor.

To say it in the simplest terms possible.

“I have never met a migrant Muslim in America that was genuinely here to help Americans.” “Have you?

Like the mafia kingpin who hands out hundred dollar bills to children in the street, migrant Muslim efforts to help Americans are for their own self-interests. Across the board their organizations and efforts are to empower themselves and make life easier for themselves.

In the fifteen years I have been Muslim I have not found one exception to this rule. I believed I had, I wanted to - But in the final analysis, not one. The only people sincerely helping American Muslims I have found have come for very short periods of time or do so from their own countries. These too are few and far between.

Immigrant Muslims have destroyed the image of Islam in America.

Once again,

Immigrant Muslims, no matter if they think themselves sincere or not, have destroyed the image of Islam in America and are doing more harm to their brethren back home by creating an atmosphere of hatred that is having devastating global consequences.

You do not side with fellow migrant Muslims who insist on making a spectacle of their belief by praying in the middle of an airport in a non-Muslim land. If understanding the genuine and justifiable fears of the American people you would never engage in such behavior. If an example is to be made it must be made by someone that is familiar with the people. Not alien and strange, even hostile.

You must be an authorized ambassador of Islam to represent Islam in a non-Muslim land. Who has authorized you - The Immigration and Naturalization Services working to find brainpower for the multi-national corporations?

Eighty percent of the American people disagree with current immigration policies? The 20 percent who do not are, guess what, immigrants. You are imposing yourselves upon Americans and unlike people from other nations and beliefs it is against your religion to migrate. They have every right to fear you. They have every right to ask what are you doing here?

My deepest concern is that this mounting hatred will begin to spill over into violence – evidence of which we are already seeing. Another 9/11 and migrant Muslims of all shapes and sizes will find themselves being rounded up and placed into camps or deported by the thousands. Unfortunately, converts to Islam will be rounded up as well.

Immigrant Muslims have no business coming to this non-Muslim land. They should return to their country, or, at the very least, stop representing themselves as leaders of Islam in America, for that matter representing themselves as Muslims. It is time to leave that to the indigenous American Muslim. If you are sincere you will support them with a hands off approach. This does not mean to imply that every indigenous Muslim is ready to be an ambassador of Islam. We will be fortunate to have a small handful ready for such a task, even one – but it is the American Muslims task, not the immigrant Muslims task.

If you stay, as many of you will, kindly call yourself Arab, Pakistani or whatever nationality you are. Muslims attest to the oneness of God. By creating a religion that suits your own needs and desire – serves your own selfish interests – you are placing yourself as a God next to Allah. The punishment on non-Muslims, once. The punishment on Muslims running after the West, seven times.

Muslims do not belong in non-Muslim lands.

If you are an American working for an American Embassy oversees for two years you may extend for two more years but then you must return to America for six months. The reasons are clear to anyone with a mind.

Those with pressing and temporary obligations need to be clear on the following point.

You are a guest in someone else’s home and you need to be very careful not to offend the host.

You do not enter someone else’s home and tell them where you are going to sit, what you are going to eat, what book you are going to swear an oath on, what subjects you will discuss and what rights you have in someone else’s home. You have two rights, to ask for water and to ask for salt. Nothing more.

Do not say there are no Muslim lands; this is your responsibility, not an excuse. Part of the reason there are no “Muslim lands” is the brain drain from Muslim lands that you fully supported by migrating.

Petition a government in traditionally Muslim lands to accept your exodus to their land. If not accepting your exodus, work to remove them! Seek assistance from America in your exodus from her shores – I am certain she will help. Pick a place on the globe, say Damascus, make that your land, make that your goal – turn your efforts towards establishing a place that permits you to be proud of who you are, not whimpering to be accepted.

Cries of having created problems for the Muslim communities in America for addressing these important issues will certainly follow. Allegations of racism are fully anticipated. Many Arabs, Pakistani’s and other Muslims are doing wonderful work in their own countries – striving to help their own. The hidden silent minority, going about their daily lives, pleasing their Lord Almighty. Generally poor and meek, mostly unheard and unseen. We are talking about the immigrant Muslim community.

I am not here to teach you to become something most of you have already decided to reject. I am here for the American people who want to be closer to their Lord Almighty. Moreover, I am here to warn my own people to be very wary of those portraying themselves as something they are not.

The American people are ready for this message even if you are not. When this message is heard I should like very much to return to holy lands and to be someone unknown. While here, I hope to return often and recharge my batteries with communities of believers who are living to please their Lord Almighty. They do exist, however hard they may be to find.

There are exceptions to the rule of migrating to non-Muslim lands, but they are few and far between. Your attempts to debate them are once again an effort to derail people from the truth so you can have your way and your say. As Muslims we want Allah’s way and what He says. Nothing more.

Indigenous Muslim status to stay in non-Muslim lands is beyond the scope of this article and will be addressed to the indigenous Muslim community in good time

For real holy people, all land, which they occupy, is holy. Don’t think yourself amongst these holy few. They are a very small handful.

Make your exodus before your exodus is made for you. You should think carefully about this point.

This is a message of hope for those who believe.