A growing religion in the United States

HOUSTON:Out side view of Masjid-e-Islam where hundreds people embraced Islam

HOUSTON (TEXAS): A US-based Pakistani religious scholar, Maulana Dilwar Shah who run a mosque and an Islamic, has said that Islam was the growing religion in the United States where thousands of people accept Islam during the last few years.

Maulana Dilwar Shah, 47, perform job as Imam in Masjid-e-Islam in Spring City of Houston district in Texas province. He told The News in an exclusive interview that individually and sometime whole family jointly accept Islam. He said numbers of Muslims in the Spring city gradually increasing. He said they have no big hall as they perform twice Jumma and Eid prayers on the same day.

 “During the last one and half year I recited Kalma-e-Shahadat to more than two hundred people who willingly accepted Islam”, said the scholar. He said those converted Muslism were the real face of Islam.   He said in the other parts of the country he knew that people coming to mosques to accept Islam.

Sheik Dilawar said when moved to US some fifteen years ago had one mosque in the city but now the numbers of mosques reached to six.

He said they try their best to keep Muslims community members attached with the Islamic and cultural practices to perform. He said they do their religious activities in mosque and let the non-Muslims also visit and get inspired.

The religious scholar said young man and women had their more attraction toward Islam.

  “Most of the converted are young both male and females who inspired by the Tableegh(Islamic preachings) I do every day in the mosque”, the Imam said.

Dilawar completed his religious education in Lahore said that they also run Islamic school in the mosque where more than three hundred children of the Muslims families were registered. He said they provide free education to the children seeking both Islamic and other subjects.

The interview was conducted after Nikka ceremony of a Pakistani man who married an Indian girl.

The scholar said that they were the Pakistani ambassadors always portray soft image of the Muslims in the United States.  

Dilawar was very optimistic about the Muslim community living in Houston said that either from Pakistan or from the other part of the world they contribute in the mosque. He said most of the Muslim families prefer to send their children to Islamic School rather to go to private educational institutions.   

The religious scholar said around two hundred persons in Spring city have so far accepted Islam during the last one year. He said all those converted were registered and voluntarily do their jobs in the mosque and in the Schools.

About the different schools of thoughts in Islam he said that there was no ban on anyone who perform his or her prayers in the mosque. He said everything in the mosque was being organized by the committee of senior Muslims who look after the whole system.

Regarding the converted Muslims he said that most of them told him that they found Islam as a religion of peace and harmony. He said he sees Islam as a growing religion in the United State of America.

Dilawar said those who accept Islam now persuade other relatives and friends toward Islam.

A 53-year-old Fonda, now Fatima Bibi, was a teacher in the “Islamic School” in Masjid-e-Islam said that it was a turning point when she converted to Islam. She said thirty years back her husband Jefferson first accept Islam as she inspired by the Islamic practices her husband does.

Fatima said her 27-year-old daughter Kaltoon, who teaches Islamic and other subjects to the children in the school born as Muslim. She said before coming to Islam her life was full of mental and physical stresses. She said the rest of her life she dedicated life to the services of Islam.

Kaltoon was also the in-charge of the mosque’ library where more than three thousands Islamic books had been placed for the visitors.

Kamran Zaman Yusufzai of Mardan, lives in Spring City of Texas, was an active member of the mosque committee told The News that he left Pakistan in 1998 and struggled a lot.

Kamran runs dry cleaning business where his wife also support him. He said his son and daughter regularly perform Jumma congregation in the mosque.

 Yusufzai did LLB from Pakistan but he did not find job as he shifted to the US. He said his son Humayun Yusufzai grown up in the US and did engineering bachelor degree. He said his son and daughter though do not want to live in Pakistan due to security reasons but they still love their country.

Nancie Smith, 55, works in a burger shop said that she converted into Islam a six years ago. Smith said she had no charm in her life as Christian as she accept Islam. She said now she was trying to help her daughter to accept Islam.

  “Though I  yet to change my name but perform all five times prayers and go to mosque for Jumma prayers”, Smith said. And added that she feel satisfaction in her life since she became Muslim.

Telling about her life as non-Muslim, Smith broke into tears said that she didn’t want to remind what she call it a dark period of her life.

Smith said she had everything in her life but missing inner satisfaction which she has now.

Saleem Farah Shah, 50, was a well-established business tycoon from Pabbi said that he was residing in the US since 1988. He said it hard to look after your teenager children in the US. He said they gave Azaan in his home and pray together with all family members.

Saleem, who was strong PTI supporter, said that they send money to Imran Khan as he was the last hope for Pakistan to bring about positive change.

Saleem had luxury life had a home worth 0.4 million US dollars said that he and his many other friends collect money every year and send it to the deserving students in Pakistan.

Saleem had billion of rupees business in Texas said though he not live in Pakistan but love his country. He said all his money and business he would shift but waiting to see completed security and protection for the businessmen in Pakistan.

Saleem applauded the Rangers’ actions in Karachi said the things gradually coming on the right track. He said Pakistan would be the attractive hub of business opportunities for the world when all feel security there.

Saleem was the co-head of the Islamic school in Spring City said that they collect funds and being spent on the religious obligations including funerals, burials, marriages and other religious and cultural ceremonies.

He said they have close contact with the local government in Texas while performing their religious activities in the town.