Stories Of New Muslims

1.          Mr. David Pradarelli

February 25, 1997. Assalam-aleikum wa rahmatullah!

I
came to Islam pretty much on my own. I was born and raised Roman Catholic, but
I always had a deep fascination with the spiritualities of other cultures. My
Journey started when I desired to have a relationship with my Creator. I wanted
to find my spirituality, and not the one I was born with. I spent some time in
the Catholic religious order known as the Franciscans. I had many friends and I
enjoyed prayer times, but it just seemed to relaxed in its faith, and there
was, in my opinion, too much arrogance and hypocrisy. When I had returned back
from the order into secular living again, I once again was searching for my way
to reach God (Allah). One night I was watching the news on television, and of
course they were continuing their one-sided half-truth reports on Muslims
(always in a negative light instead of balancing it by showing the positive
side as well) with images of violence and terrorism. I decided long ago that
the news media has no morals whatsoever and will trash anyone for that
"juicy story", and I pretty much refused to believe anything they
said. I decided to research Islam for myself and draw my own conclusions.

What I found paled all the negative images that the
satanic media spewed forth. I found a religion deep in love and spiritual
truth, and constant God-mindfulness. What may be fanaticism to one person may
be devotion to another. I picked up a small paperback Qur'an and began
devouring everything I could. It opened my eyes to the wonder and mercy of
ALLAH, and I found the fascination growing every day...it was all I could think
about. No other religion including Catholicism impacted me in such a powerful
way...I actually found myself in God-awareness 24 hours a day 7 days a
week...each time I went to my five daily prayers, I went with
anticipation...finally! What I have been searching for all of my life.

I finally got enough courage to go to a mosque and
profess the Shahadah before my Muslim brothers and sisters. I now am a
practicing Muslim and I thank ALLAH for leading me to this place: Ashhahdu
anna la ilaha ilallah wa Muhammadur rasul ALLAH! This means: "I
believe in the oneness and totalness of ALLAH and that Muhammad (peace and
blessings be upon him) is the Messenger of ALLAH." I now also accept Jesus
as no longer equal with ALLAH, but sent as Muhammad was sent ...to bring all of
mankind to submission to the will of ALLAH! May all of mankind find the light
and truth of ALLAH.