Chris' Shahadah (Declaration of Faith) | Qari Tayeb Bouamama

Duration: 5:33 1001 transcript words EN summary

Video summary

The speaker, Chris, recounts his transformative journey that began in 2024 when he sold all his possessions in Texas to hitchhike to Tennessee and assist victims of Hurricane Helene for three months. This period of service was guided by Allah, leading him to meet his wife online while living in Massachusetts; after praying for direction on how to reach her, a stranger he had never met drove him there the same day. Following years of traveling across the United States covering 7,000 miles primarily on foot with only the Quran, the couple eventually separated, leaving Chris stranded in the woods where another divine intervention guided him to Zaytuna College in Berkeley for further study. Chris explains that he had been studying Islam since 2022 after being incarcerated, during which time he read the entire Quran twice and was profoundly moved by its message. Having been raised Catholic and having studied Judaism, he found that every inquiry into truth consistently led him back to Islam regardless of his circumstances. His deepening faith culminated in his desire to formally declare his belief through the Shahadah, a process facilitated by the host who urged immediate action due to the unpredictability of life. The ceremony involved Chris repeating the declaration three times in Arabic and English, affirming that there is no god worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is His final messenger. Following the formal conversion, the speaker reflects on the spiritual significance of his new status as a Muslim, noting that his past sins are wiped clean like a white sheet of paper while his previous good deeds remain intact. He shares a poignant detail about finding a pure white feather just outside the room before entering, which he interprets as a positive sign from Allah. The host adds that Chris's sins will not only be forgiven but transformed into good deeds, emphasizing that his prayers are now highly valued and go directly to God without the burden of past transgressions weighing him down. The video concludes with a warm welcome to the global Muslim community, where Chris is now considered one of two billion brothers and sisters in faith. The atmosphere remains filled with gratitude and spiritual encouragement as both men express joy over this new beginning. The narrative underscores themes of divine guidance, the power of sincere repentance, and the welcoming nature of the Islamic community toward those seeking truth and conversion.

Read the full video transcript

Um, I've been traveling since 2024. I sold everything I owned in Texas and I hitchhiked to Tennessee to go help with the Hurricane Helene victims. I stayed out there for about 3 months. This was all because Allah guided me to to do this just get rid of everything and and go help and be be of service to anyone that needed help. And I was out there for a few months. That's when I met my wife online. She lived in Massachusetts. I had no way to get there and I she said come up here. I stopped and I prayed and I said how do I get there? And then a person I've never met picked me up and drove me all the way there the same day and her and I were together for years. We traveled all over the country 7,000 miles mainly on foot just with the Quran and just every every stop we stop and pray. We open the Quran and you know, whatever inspiration whatever thought or direction that came to me from that moment is where we went and we did all the way to California and unfortunately my wife and I have separated and I found myself just in the middle of the woods in a tent and with nothing to do and I just stopped and I prayed. I said where do you want me to go and he's somehow Zaytuna College popped up on my phone and I ended up in Berkeley and they sent me here. So I've been I've been studying Islam since 20 22 I went to I went to prison. I got locked up and I read the whole thing twice cover to cover and I was just completely blown away. I was raised Catholic. I've studied Judaism. I've studied everything. It always comes back to Islam every single time. No matter what happens I always end up back with Islam. So I wanted to come here make my shahada and just completely convert and just continue to give my life up to Allah. Alhamdulillah. Welcome. Masha Allah. It was really really great. Like he said, I also came here for something else and he asked me to do the shahada. >> [laughter] >> Alhamdulillah, I'm so honored here. And I I talked to him, he already took shahada. And the reason I want to mention these, it's when somebody come to you said he's ready to take shahada, don't wait. You never know. It can be an earthquake and if he died at that time or I die, I'll be responsible for him, right? So, I already asked him to do shahada outside and then we're doing it here formally. So, he's just going to repeat after me like we did there with Arabic and then we say it in English, insha'Allah. And that's that's all. There is nothing to, you know. >> Okay. >> Okay, insha'Allah. Ashhadu >> Ashhadu >> an la ilaha >> illallah >> wa ashhadu >> anna >> Muhammadan >> rasulullah >> Ra rasulullah >> rasulullah >> Let's do it three times. Ashhadu >> Ashhadu >> an la ilaha >> illallah >> wa ashhadu >> anna >> Muhammadan >> rasulullah >> Ashhadu >> an la ilaha >> illallah >> wa ashhadu >> anna >> Muhammadan >> rasulullah >> Takbir, Allahu Akbar, masha'Allah. Give me a hug and we can do it. Can do it in English, insha'Allah. I bear witness >> I bear witness >> that there is no god >> uh worthy of worship >> worthy of worship >> except Allah >> and I bear witness >> that Muhammad >> is his final messenger >> Masha'Allah, you're you're Muslim right now. You You know all the other things, right? All the prayers and so, alhamdulillah, that that's good. Masha'Allah. It's really a pleasure to have him, insha'Allah. Yeah, if you need to say something again, I don't know. It's up to you. >> No, that's that's all. >> I'm doing >> If you want to check out my story, Yes, and if you need any you need to you know start maybe already did some but you have to memorize the Fatiha to do your prayers and all this stuff and I think Alhamdulillah and MCC that here they have program for the new Muslims and then you can benefit from that in sha Allah. Okay, welcome again. Alhamdulillah you have now what 2 billion brothers and sisters in sha Allah. Alhamdulillah salaam alaikum. >> And brother Chris as as you did this any sins that you've done in your life and I can tell by your brave presence there's not a lot but anything that you did have it's there is okay. >> [laughter] >> But it's been wiped clean. It's It's like you're like a white paper. It's just clean. Any good deeds you've had they all stay with you and on this day your prayers are so valuable because they go straight to God. All of us were weighed down by the sins that we've committed. So yours is very clear. >> Actually I can add something since you mentioned these. All your sins not just going to be wiped out is going to be turned to a good deeds which is you but the law of say you had to him has an eye. This is in the Quran. So some people they say I wish I did more things so [laughter] I can get more so in sha Allah but anyway so in sha Allah you you will have more more goods and that's why we ask that you make supplication for us because he's you're like brand new. >> Do you know what I found right outside right before I walked in here? Pure white feather. Just a solid white feather just laying on the ground. >> That's a good sign. >> Literally around the corner. >> Alhamdulillah. Welcome again. >> Thank you.