July 1996: Page 1, 2, 3, 4

Submitters Perspective

Page 3

A Voice From Behind Bars

As Salaam Alaikum,

Warm greetings of peace to the company of the true believers... and I come to you with a sincere heart in knowing the true practice of Islam. I’m so very tired of being fed these so-called doctrines of Islam that are not supported by the Quran. Here in this institution, if you do not follow the way in which you are taught (Sunni or traditional Islam), then you are often considered to be an outcast of some kind. My concept of this is that, no one should be punished in any sort of way for wanting to follow what the Quran and only the Quran states. I’m not looking for traditions, I’m looking for the proper way to submit my will to God only. I have had the chance to read some material by brother Rashad Khalifa (may God grant him peace) and it opened my eyes to the many things I have been taught which are all wrong.

I was played for a fool in the Christian religion and feed false doctrine of the Creator. And now those who call themselves Muslims are trying to feed me the same mass in a different shade of color. But all praise be to God, I have studied and I can see for myself what truth is all about. I refuse to worship a man under any circumstances, for God needs no partners of any kind and He surely doesn’t need anything to support or make His Book.

I was given your address because it is said that your organization has solid proof the Quran is God’s word and the things which you teach are supported by the Quran. This is what I am looking for and I come to you with a very

sincere heart for your guidance and teachings.

Due to my position of being in this institution of modern slavery, I have no means of funds to send you at this time, for any books and material of Islam and its true teachings. God willing, I will be out of this situation soon, and I will no doubt spread the truth which you give me. I want to be Quranic based so I can be among those who truly submit their will to God.

My quest is truly not alone for I have formed a study group called Students of Islam (SOI) which consists of at least a hundred to a hundred and fifty and growing rapidly. If there is anything you can do to help us in any way, please do. For we are truly seeking to find the true message in the Quran and not the traditions (Hadith). My goal and aim is to clear up most, if not all, the misconceptions of Islam that is being taught in all of the institutions here in Texas.

I would also like to receive any books and [translation of the] Quran you may have by Rashad Khalifa. Your help is very much needed and I don’t know where else to turn, for everything here is based on the teachings of W. D. Muhammad and Sunni Muslims. I’m the one who tries to practice submitting my will to God only. I want to help spread the truth and teach Islam from the Quran. I have learned to read Arabic but I have very limited material in which to study. The grammar part is very important, but this I am still trying to get. However, I can read and write Arabic well enough to go into the

Quran and find the truth to the best of my ability.

My last issue to you is a question. How can we make the students of Islam a legal organization in which we can truly continue to submit our wills to God without any views that we are not Muslims? And if we do not wish to follow the Sunni Muslims’ doctrine in this institution, can our right to services be stopped under law? My way of life is Islam and I’m a student of Islam and I strongly feel I have the right to teach it correctly and directly from the Quran.

If there is anything you can do to help me, it will truly be appreciated. And I truly apologize for the messy writing (smile), but I have never had good script. May God continue to shine His peace and mercy upon all of you and the true believers. God willing I will hear from you soon.

Your brother in Islam

Isma`il

[Editor’s note:
We have many incarcerated brothers who are in need of Islamic reading materials, especially the translation of the Quran. Many of these brothers do not have the resources to purchase the materials they want. We try to help them out as much as we can. However, our resources are limited. We often put the requests in a waiting list and send the materials to them when the resource is available. We encourage our readers to sponsor sending materials to these sincere and needy brothers.]