Please I need Guidance

sorry if the name offends anyone I dont know how to change it. could someone tell me,I am very sorry.When i came up with it .it was not ment for disrespect to allah or anyone else.

Edited by NewToAllah - 01 January 2009 at 8:04am

As Salamu ALaikum

Masha Allah! Welcome to Islam bro.  I also reverted to Islam on December 31, 5 years ago.  I actually joined this forum because of your comments and I wanted to give you some thoughts from my perspective and I am not a scholar.

I never heard that age of 40 thing before, but I do know that in Islam there is no original sin and it is believed that everyone is born in a state of submission to God.  You will often hear it said that we were all born Muslim.  To be a Muslim means to be in submission to God.  There are also hadith which express this.

When you are studying a religion it is important to disassociate attachments of race and culture from the text unless it is the sort of religion that pends on race and culture.  Although the Qur'an was sent in Arabic, it was sent for mankind, not solely for any race, culture, or specific tribe of people.  As you study Islam more and read the Qur'an insha Allah you will see the truth of the teachings.

If you had negative thoughts about Islam before you reverted, they may not automatically disappear, which may be why you are still having these thoughts.  It is understandable because the media makes so many parallels between Islam and negativity and many people who do not understand Islam use these sources to understand it instead of reading the texts for themselves.  As truth confronts these things insha Allah they will fade.

I see your comments about Satan and I think it would be good for you to read more on Satan's position according to Islam.  As you may or may not know Satan is not an angel, but a jinn:

Behold! We said to the angels, "Bow down to Adam": They bowed down except iblis. He was one of the Jinns, and he broke the Command of his Lord. Will ye then take him and his progeny as protectors rather than Me? And they are enemies to you! Evil would be the exchange for the wrong-doers!  
(  سورة الكهف  , Al-Kahf, Chapter #18, Verse #50)

((Allah)) said: "O iblis! What prevents thee from prostrating thyself to one whom I have created with my hands? Art thou haughty? Or art thou one of the high (and mighty) ones?"  
(  سورة ص  , Sad, Chapter #38, Verse #75)
(iblis) said: "I am better than he: thou createdst me from fire, and him thou createdst from clay."  
(  سورة ص  , Sad, Chapter #38, Verse #76)

Satan can whisper into the hearts of mankind, but we do not have to follow his suggestions and Allah does protect us.  I think it would be good for you to read Surah An Nas (114 the last Surah of the Qur'an)

In the name of God,
Most Gracious, Most Merciful

114:1	Say: I seek refuge with the Lord and Cherisher of Mankind,
114:2	The King (or Ruler) of Mankind,
114:3	The God (for judge) of Mankind,-
114:4	From the mischief of the Whisperer (of Evil), who withdraws (after his whisper),-
114:5	(The same) who whispers into the hearts of Mankind,-
114:6	Among Jinns and among men

and Surah Al Falaq (number 113)

In the name of God,
Most Gracious, Most Merciful

113:1	Say: I seek refuge with the Lord of the Dawn
113:2	From the mischief of created things;
113:3	From the mischief of Darkness as it overspreads;
113:4	From the mischief of those who practise secret arts;
113:5	And from the mischief of the envious one as he practises envy.

I used to read 112-114 every night before I went to sleep.

Don't worry bro, it is always good to ask questions and nothing is wrong with having doubts or questioning things.  In Islam it is encouraged to question things and ask for proof and evidence as you need to.  May Allah continue to guide you.

In the name of God,
Most Gracious, Most Merciful

1:1	In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
1:2	Praise be to God, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the world;
1:3	Most Gracious, Most Merciful;
1:4	Master of the Day of Judgment.
1:5	Thee do we worship, and Thine aid we seek.
1:6	Show us the straight way,
1:7	The way of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy Grace, those whose (portion) is not wrath, and who go not astray.

Edited by Sabira - 06 January 2009 at 6:18am