“...and those who fear ALLAH, He (ever) provides for them a way out. And He provides from (sources) he could never imagine…”

                                           {Holy Qur’an / 65:2-3}

ALLAH Guides whom HE Wills.                                         Given my birthplace, Religious background, and upbringing, I could never have imagined that through the blessings of Hidaayat, ALLAH would provide me with “a way out” from shirk and kufr, and favour me with Imaan.

Born in Chris Hani Baragwanath hospital in the year 1968, I spent my early years growing up in Kliptown, Soweto. Kliptown’s greatest claim to fame is that in the time of apartheid, it was the place where the Freedom Charter was drawn up and signed, by founding members of the ANC and its allies; the South African Indian Congress, the South African Congress of Democrats and the Coloured People’s Congress. After spending my early childhood in Kliptown, together with my family, I moved to close-by Eldorado Park, where I spent most of my youthful, adolescent years, into young adulthood.

In terms spirituality, I was raised in a Catholic home, educated in a Catholic school, and by default, adhered to the Catholic faith and practices. During my high school years, I attended a Catholic boarding school, where the Catholic church, with it’s tenets of faith, doctrines, and practices, featured prominently in my life, to the extent that I played an active, participatory role in weekly church ceremonies, as an altar boy. Altar boys are the ceremonial assistants to the priest, during church (mass) proceedings. Even though the school had a secular curriculum, attending mass (the ritualistic church ceremony) was mandatory, even mid-week, for day scholars and boarders alike. For boarders, like myself, there was an extra “double dose”, benediction on a Saturday afternoon, and for the chosen, like myself (again), there was choir practice, culminating with mass on Sunday. All this changed most significantly when “school was out”.

After completing high school, I was selected for training in the engineering department of a large multi-national company, as an apprentice, on an earn-as-you-learn basis. Training included enrolment and study in the engineering faculty of a Technikon. I signed a 4-year government sanctioned contract, but by the Fadhl (Grace) of ALLAH, I qualified in my chosen field of Industrial Instrumentation ( Process control systems), within 3 years.  Some time around my second year of training, with everything seemingly on track in terms of materialism and worldly ambition, I felt a certain void with regards to my spirituality.

Now that I was more independent minded, free from “institutionalized worship”, attending church had become less of a priority in my life. In retrospect, with me not having been totally given to Catholic beliefs and doctrines, more than missing the church, I was missing having God (ALLAH) in my life. In what could best be describe as contemplative yearning, I had develop a deep desire for spiritual truth at the very core of my being. I was sincerely seeking ALLAH/God, Who is AL-HAQ (the Truthful). The Ultimate Truth. 

The inherent manifestation of ALLAH/God’s truth is entrenched within the self- propagatory nature of Islam, whereby millions around the world, who were sincerely “seeking the truth”, have been guided to Islam, through natural inclination. My journey towards, and into Islam is a testament to this reality.
“Say, ‘O mankind,the truth has come to you from your Lord, so whoever is guided is
only guided for [the benefit] of his soul and whoever goes astray only goes astray [in
violation] against it. And I am not a custodian over your affairs”.
{Holy Qur’an/10:108}
It is broadly accepted in the science of childhood development, that an infant is weaned off the physical bond of breast feeding after about two years. It was as if my two year erratic attendance and absence from church was a weaning period, from the fluidity of the “Revised” and constantly altering doctrines of man, onto a more solid, yearning and seeking for ALLAH (God). I found Him in TAUHEED, the unambiguous (Islamic) belief that ALLAH (God) is One, without any partner.
“…whoever strives to acquire knowledge and Imaan (true faith), ALLAH will grant
them to him, just as He granted the Prophet Ibrahim (Alayhi Salaam), during times
when there was no knowledge and Imaan”. -Muaadh bin Jabal (RadhiyALLAHU Anhu)

My spiritual journey into Islam has been marked by so many motivating milestone moments, that I feel like ALLAH has been “personally” Facilitating my progression, every step of the way. I often express my gratitude for this bounty through my writing, whether it be motivational stories, quips or quotes. I have always had a passion for writing, even before Reverting to Islam. Since becoming Muslim, that passion is now fueled by purpose. A purpose driven desire that all Muslims should take inspiration from my work, to strengthen their bond with ALLAH. Insha-ALLAH.   

                        ( I. C. A. N.  - 23 Shabaan 1446 / 23 February 2025 )

PS: For a more detailed account of my journey into Islam, read the auto-biographical booklet;  “Catapulted…(That is my story, and I’m sticking to it)”.