My Conversion Story

Hassan Khalid Al-Deen

Salaam Alaikum!

My name is Hassan Khalid Al-Deen. I was born October 24th, 1979 as Joshua Aaron Stewart.

Throughout my life, religion made little sense to me and at the age of 11 or so, I decided to stop going to church. My mother wasn't very happy with this idea but for some reason she never forced it on me. Well I spent the next couple of years, not exactly as an atheist but rather I believed in my own thing. I dont think I ever accepted Jesus as God. The thought never really crossed my mind. I knew deep inside though that something just wasn't right. Well, closely around my 17th birthday (8 years later!!) I picked up a Quran. See I am very interested in Hip-Hop music and I heard a lot of artists talking about the Quran, Islam and Allah. Now I thought at first that you had to be black to a Muslim. I grew up in a predominantly white area and so I knew little about Islam. It did interest me. Well I still had my old "religious prejudices" in me and shortly after I picked up the Quran, I found the "Nation of Gods and Earths." Here they taught that Allah was Man, moreso actually the Black Man. They are an offshoot of the Nation of Islam. Hence, why I always thought Islam was only for black people. Here they fed into my stigma on religions claiming that they all "believed in a mystery God" when we ourselves are Allah. I fell for this doctrine because of my infintesimal knowledge of Al-Islam. I spent 3 years in this organization until one day, Allah opened my eyes.

I was studying the 120 (the lessons of the NGE) when all of a sudden I felt like watching the movie, Malcolm X. Now Malcolm X has always been a role model of mine because he went from a common street thug, drug dealer, thief to being one of the greatest Ministers for the Nation of Islam. Then he took a pilgrimage to Mecca. After returning he left the NOI and founded his own organization that dealt with Al-Islam. Well while watching this movie, I fell asleep. Keep in mind that it was like 3 o'clock and previously I was not tired. During my sleep, I had a dream. To this day I cannot tell you what it was but when I woke up I knew it had something to do with being a Muslim. Everytime I thought of the "feeling of the dream" I got internally at peace. I knew what was being chosen for me. I went that very day and started studying Al-Islam. It was a long time before I made it up to the Mosque in Pittsburgh (I live in Steubenville. Pittsburgh is 45 minutes away) and made it official. When I finally did, the brothers embraced me with open arms. They took me to their house and we talked for hours. They gave me many great gifts and I prayed in the Mosque with them. This was the first time in 9 years that I had even thought of praying! Alhumdulillah!

I went back to Ohio feeling great. I had chosen the name Hassan Omar Sayyid at the time. It meant Beautiful Long-Living Master. I practiced Islam everyday and became proficient in my knowledge. Then for some reason, Al-Shaitaan (Satan) pulled me off the path. This showed that the title Sayyid (master) did not befit me. I had mastered nothing. I spent my time reverting back to my old ways and even consorting with known members of the NGE. My life became a mess. One hardship after another.

Then, alhumdulillah, my eyes were reopened. I was watching a special on VH-1. There show Behind the Music was on and they interviewed Cat Stevens, former pop singer who embraced Islam and changed his name to Yusuf Islam. The feeling of that dream from months and months ago crept back into my heart. 2 days later (Oct 1st, 2000) I did Salat for the first time in months. I decided that from now on I must do my best as a Muslim for Allah (swt) has reopened my heart to Islam. My former name a shadow of itself, I decided to search for the perfect name to describe me and came up with Hassan Khalid Ad-Deen. Hassan has always been a favorite name of mine. My new name means Beautiful Everlasting Faith. I attribute myself with this, praying that Allah will be please and grant me that, everlasting faith! Insha'allah, I pray this reaches you in the best of health and may you learn something from my words!

Salaam Alaikum,

Hassan Khalid Al-Deen
the Islamic Poet

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