Assalamu Alaikum brother and sisters, In today's video, we have the story of former rapper Ashley Belal's conversion story to Islam. Enjoy Watching.
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00:00In the dream, I was sweating and I was panicking that I got shot.
00:05Shots fired! Shots fired!
00:07I'm in the back of an ambulance. The paramedics are trying to hold me down.
00:10And they're saying,
00:11Don't worry, Mr Chin. We'll be at the hospital soon. Don't worry.
00:17I don't care if I die. I just want to go and take my Shahada first.
00:19I can't die unless I'm a Muslim.
00:23And they're saying,
00:24Stay down, stay down. We'll be there soon.
00:25I'm saying, look.
00:26They say, we'll be there first.
00:27I'm saying, you can't hear me.
00:30Because in the back of my head, I'm hearing,
00:32Don't die unless you die in the state of Islam.
00:39As-salamu alaykum, Brother Bilal.
00:40Thank you for accepting our invitation.
00:42We are really happy to have you with us.
00:43I want to start by asking,
00:45Who is Ashley Bilal Chin?
00:46And can you tell us briefly about your life?
00:48Well, Ashley Chin is my birth name.
00:50I was born and raised in London, the United Kingdom.
00:52And I was raised as a Christian.
00:54Spent most of my childhood in South London on a council estate.
00:57And then I converted to Islam when I was 19.
01:00And that's when I chose the name Bilal.
01:02Growing up, I was always into music.
01:03And then I ended up building a career out of that.
01:06I found myself on stage from the age of 14, winning competitions on the mic.
01:10But now I find myself on stage talking about my life and my experiences.
01:13The things I went through as a youngster.
01:15I say that I turned all my mess into my message.
01:18So I'm on stage all around the world now talking about my life and my experiences.
01:22With the hope to not teach anyone anything.
01:24But inspire people who can relate to my journey.
01:27Yeah, and I'm a spoken word poet.
01:29Can you tell us about your previous life?
01:31Your life before Islam.
01:32How was that?
01:33Life in the streets as you will.
01:34So life before Islam on the streets is sadness.
01:37This is my earliest experience of sadness.
01:40Like, why don't we have this?
01:41Why don't we have that?
01:42Why is my mum crying?
01:43Why is my mum so angry and upset?
01:46How are we going to get out of this mess?
01:48And I remember, and this is one of my most unique stories from my childhood.
01:52There was a guy, major mental health, called Glenn.
01:55And we used to call him Mad Glenn.
01:56And he used to smell funny.
01:57His clothes were bad.
01:58And he used to come through my estate.
02:00And all the kids used to run when he was coming.
02:02Like, oh, Mad Glenn's coming.
02:03We used to run off.
02:04Because he just looked crazy like he was on medication.
02:07But my mum, as poor as she was, she always used to invite him in our house.
02:11And she used to invite him in the house and she used to offer him like,
02:14Oh, do you want some dinner?
02:16And she would tell him.
02:17My mum was very straight to the point.
02:18Glenn, you smell bad.
02:19Have you had a bath today?
02:20Have you showered?
02:21Are the people not giving you?
02:22Because he lived in a mental home.
02:23And my friends used to wind me up and laugh at me and say,
02:26Oh, why is Mad Glenn in your house?
02:28Is that your stepdad?
02:29Is that your mum's boyfriend?
02:30And I used to get angry.
02:31Like, no, it's not other than that.
02:32So I used to get angry at my mum.
02:33Why do you keep letting Mad Glenn in the house?
02:35Until every time he's leaving, he used to say to my mum,
02:38Oh, have you got any money?
02:39Can I have ÂŁ2 to just buy a drink?
02:41Can I have ÂŁ1 for this?
02:42Can I have ÂŁ5?
02:43And my mum, as broke as she was, she used to always be like,
02:46Ah, Glenn, look down the side of the sofa,
02:48see if there's any change.
02:49And she'd give him whatever she can.
02:51Anyway, there was a day when our electricity ran out.
02:54And my mum was in the house months later.
02:56She's crying.
02:57She's drinking.
02:58She's slamming the cupboards.
02:59And I used to get scared when she's like that,
03:01because she's drunk.
03:02And I remember she said,
03:03Only God can help us.
03:04You better pray to God,
03:05because I don't know how you're going to school tomorrow.
03:07We ain't got no money for dinner.
03:09You better pray, because only God can help us.
03:11Like, we're going to die like this.
03:12I'd rather we just died.
03:13And I'm like, Mum, why is she saying she wants to die?
03:16So at that point, I started praying.
03:17And I remember praying for my mum,
03:19like, help my mum, God.
03:20Like, just help her not be like this.
03:22Help us have some money.
03:23And then the door knocked.
03:24And when the door knocked,
03:25my mum used to say like,
03:26Don't answer the door straight away,
03:28because she owes people money.
03:29It could be anyone.
03:30So I used to go to the window,
03:31and I'd have a look.
03:32And then I'd see who it is first,
03:33and tell her like,
03:34Oh, it's this person.
03:35So I looked.
03:36I said, Mum, it's Glen.
03:38It's mad Glen.
03:39She's like, not today.
03:40So you don't owe him anything.
03:41So she's opened the door.
03:42She's like, Glen, I ain't got time today.
03:43I've got no food in the house.
03:44Nothing.
03:45I got nothing to give you.
03:46And he said, no, wait.
03:47She went to shut the door.
03:48She said, wait, I want to give you something.
03:49And he's like, what?
03:50She goes, I got money.
03:51I got money.
03:52They gave me ÂŁ80.
03:53And you remember he always helped me.
03:54I wanted to give you ÂŁ20.
03:55And my mum was like,
03:56Oh, Glen, give me a hug.
03:58And she gave him a hug.
03:59And he gave my mum ÂŁ20.
04:01But I remember thinking, I just prayed.
04:03I said, God, help my mum.
04:04Give us money.
04:05And then the door knocked.
04:06And I wrote one of my poems called Signs,
04:09where I said, we was broke, prayed for money.
04:11Then the door knocked.
04:12We were scared, prayed for safety.
04:13And the car stopped.
04:14There's so much weight behind it.
04:16I'm thinking about that time.
04:17Like that was the first time I experienced
04:19where I prayed and the door knocked
04:21and we got money.
04:22That was the answer.
04:23So I had a tight relationship with God from then on.
04:26I used to talk to him all the time as a youngster,
04:28but I wasn't a Muslim.
04:29But I knew God exists.
04:30I went to the church.
04:31Did you know anything about Christianity
04:33or you were praying directly to God, to one God?
04:36So as a Christian, going to the church every week.
04:39At Friday prayer, I never forget.
04:41We used to take it in turns to lead the prayer before we eat.
04:44She used to feed us.
04:45And I was like 11 years old.
04:47I used to like breaking rules.
04:48So when it was my turn to lead the prayer once,
04:50instead of doing an exact prayer the way we're meant to,
04:53I done like a little rap or rhyme.
04:56And just, you know, being silly as a kid,
04:58I'm trying to make people laugh.
04:59So I'm like, thank you, God, for the chips.
05:01Thank you, God, for the beans.
05:02Thank you, God, for that.
05:03And I'm trying to make people laugh.
05:04And then I got told off.
05:05But when I got told off, I tried to be cheeky and say,
05:08what's wrong with that?
05:09I said, thank you, God, for the food, the chips, the beans.
05:12She said, we're meant to say for what we're about to receive
05:14in Jesus's name.
05:16And I said, yeah, but I thanked God for everything.
05:18So it's the same thing.
05:20And that's when I realized she's arguing saying in Jesus's name.
05:23I said, why? But I thank God.
05:24And I think I said something silly trying to be smart.
05:27But then I started thinking I've got a point because I said,
05:29OK, but is God not?
05:31And I said, all right, so you made the food,
05:33but I'm going to thank the other lady for it.
05:35How does that make sense?
05:36I'm just going to go straight to the lady and say thank you to her.
05:38Why do I have to go to you?
05:39And I told my mum about this.
05:40And it was like, you know, Jesus, the Trinity.
05:43And I started saying, I don't know, I just believe in God.
05:46So I left the church from young, 13 or something.
05:49And I was in a place where I don't know.
05:51I just believe there's a God.
05:53That's one thing I don't need convincing about.
05:55There was uncertainties around everything else.
05:58I was going to ask that.
05:59So you didn't know about Islam back then.
06:01So how did your journey to Islam begin?
06:02There was a guy in that conversation,
06:04that guy I had the conversation with.
06:06He's someone I used to look up to on the streets when I was on that estate.
06:09And we didn't have much.
06:10This is that guy that used to drive a convertible with the big chain and the gold teeth.
06:14And he used to come on a motorbike doing wheelies.
06:16And as kids, we'd be like so surprised.
06:18Like that guy is the coolest.
06:20I used to even lie and say, yo, that's my cousin.
06:22That's my cousin.
06:23And everyone's looking like, don't lie.
06:24He's not my cousin, but he was so cool.
06:25I wanted him to be my cousin.
06:27Now I started my music studio with his younger brother.
06:30So we've got a studio in the, like the loft of his mum's house.
06:34Now I hadn't seen the older brother,
06:37the one who used to drive the motorbike in the cars for years.
06:40And one day we're in the studio.
06:41We're older now.
06:42We're 18 years old.
06:43We've got motorbikes now.
06:44We fulfilled our dream.
06:45But where's your older brother?
06:46I haven't seen him for years.
06:47And it was one day he said, my brother's downstairs.
06:49And then he comes upstairs and he comes, knocks on the door, opens the door.
06:53And he's like, he looks at us and I'm expecting him to say, yo, you look all right.
06:57Who's motorbikes?
06:58The outside.
06:59But he just says to his younger bro, turn down the music, please.
07:02Five minutes and leaves.
07:03Then he comes back in and he's like, yo, turn down the music.
07:05Five minutes, please.
07:06And leave.
07:07And he does that a few times throughout the day, but he doesn't come in and address us much.
07:10He's distant.
07:11I didn't know what he was doing, but now years later, I know why he was telling us to turn
07:15down the music.
07:16His older brother had become a Muslim.
07:17He's downstairs praying.
07:18And he don't want to hear the do, do, do while he's praying his salah.
07:21And then one day, how I know he's a Muslim, he comes in the room and he addresses us.
07:25And now we're young men and there's a transitional period.
07:28The early stage of our life is ignorance, but we get to a stage where we have to decide,
07:32what are we doing?
07:33Like, why are we here?
07:35What are we living for?
07:36So he's saying, what are you lot doing?
07:38What is your purpose of life?
07:39So I took that question quite serious.
07:41And he says, you lot not believe in God.
07:42I believe in God.
07:43I'm saying, yeah, I believe in God.
07:44Of course.
07:45He says, you come from a God.
07:46When you die, what do you think happens?
07:48I said, you won't know.
07:49It will be black.
07:50He says, you come from a God.
07:51And after you die, you're going to return to that God.
07:54And you're going to have to stand and account for everything which you've done while you was here.
07:58So right now, while you're here, you're being judged.
08:01You're being tested.
08:02So it's like the angels are writing down everything.
08:05And when he was telling us that, I'll never forget this part when he's saying the angels are writing down everything you do.
08:10What you do in public, what you do in private.
08:12So what's your day of judgment going to be like when you're called to account for that which you've done?
08:16You've done this, you've done that, you've done this, you've done that.
08:20I'm saying, boy, my day is going to be mad.
08:23I just wanted to clean it up a bit.
08:25And that was the beginning of my journey to Islam.
08:28Then how did you come closer to Islam and accept it finally?
08:31The guy said to me, now that you're taking these steps towards Allah, Allah is going to come running to you.
08:36I didn't understand what you meant at the time.
08:38But over the next few months of my life, everything he said made sense.
08:42I said, I just believe in God.
08:44He just said to me, look in a dictionary what a Muslim is.
08:47You sound like a Muslim.
08:48Just believe in God.
08:49The final message from Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam is go back to the original state.
08:54Worshipping God alone.
08:55And if you accept that as your religion, you are Muslim.
08:58So I realized that's what I'm closest to.
09:01A religion I knew nothing about was now everywhere all around me.
09:05Everywhere I turned, I was just seeing Islam, Islam, Islam.
09:08It's like the signs were just coming to me.
09:10I'd go to park my motorbike.
09:12I used to ride a motorbike sometimes outside a shop.
09:14And I'd say to the guy that I always see there, can you watch my bike for me?
09:17I'm just going through the market.
09:18But today he says to me, yeah, I'll watch your bike, but do me a favor.
09:21Take this.
09:22And he gives me a pamphlet.
09:23What do you know about Islam?
09:24I was like, what's this?
09:25Are you Muslim?
09:26He says, yeah, but I'm here all the time.
09:28I thought he just sold those sticks that smell nice.
09:31But he had a whole dawah storm my first time I engaged with him.
09:34So I took it and I said, yeah, I'm learning about this.
09:36I'm interested.
09:37I was driving in my car and there was music I used to listen to.
09:40And these MCs that used to rap.
09:42I used to listen to them all the time.
09:43But now I heard one of them was saying things differently.
09:46He was saying, inshallah, we've reached the Jannah.
09:48Never drive right in the devil's car.
09:50As-salamu alaykum, rahmatullah.
09:51And I started saying, oh, I've heard this so many times,
09:53but I didn't know what he was saying.
09:55But now that I've been speaking to a Muslim, so now I'm driving and I'm listening.
09:58I'm going, oh, he's speaking like, so now I realize he's a Muslim.
10:02So now I'm starting, it's like it was everywhere.
10:04It was all around me, this religion.
10:06And then I started to research it more and more.
10:09And I would go back to that same guy and speak to him.
10:12And to be honest with you, I didn't need much convincing.
10:15Because as soon as I understood that I was created by God and I accept that,
10:19I also accepted that whoever created me must know what's best for me.
10:23It's very simple.
10:24Like if we have a camera here, I just think I buy that camera.
10:28So I own it.
10:29But it doesn't mean I know better than the person who made it.
10:31So even though I own it, I might be like, yes, mine.
10:34I'm going to do whatever I want with it, of course.
10:36But if I don't follow the instructions, I'm not going to get the best out of that camera.
10:39It's due to break.
10:40Now, the worst I see in life is we're breaking down.
10:43We're all breaking as humans, but we're complaining.
10:45Why am I going through this?
10:46Why am I going through that?
10:47But we're not following the instructions of the person who created us.
10:50So I'm saying if God created me, he's instructing me on how to live my life.
10:54I don't see these as rules.
10:55I see these as instructions that I should follow if I want to get the best out of this life.
11:01Because I don't make God any greater.
11:03I don't make Allah greater by following these rules.
11:06It's for myself.
11:07It's for my own benefit.
11:08He's saying, do this.
11:09I'm saying, you know what?
11:10If I was created by Allah, how I worship Allah is by following these instructions.
11:14It's better for myself.
11:15And then I get the best of this life and the best of the next life.
11:18And every rule, I see the benefit in.
11:20Whether it's to sleep on your right side, you see the benefits.
11:23Whether it's to eat with your right hand, you understand.
11:25Pray five times a day.
11:27Fast in the month of Ramadan.
11:28They're not a burden.
11:29They're actually things that are better for you.
11:31So some of them I found hard.
11:32But I realized, you know what?
11:34If God created me and he's saying this is the best.
11:36Our way is not working.
11:37My way is not working.
11:38I made money.
11:39I've done films.
11:40I've done this.
11:41There's an emptiness inside.
11:43Something's missing.
11:44Everyone.
11:45I look at humans.
11:46Everyone's carrying this emptiness.
11:47I saw a quote that says, we're a nation of sad people with happy pictures.
11:51And I see that's true.
11:52It's like everyone's sad.
11:54Why?
11:55Because we're all trying to figure out life ourselves.
11:57So these type of things after reading the books made me say, I want to become a Muslim.
12:01I want to submit to the will of Allah.
12:03What was the last thing that happened that you finally decided to take the shahada and how was your shahada?
12:08As-salamu alaykum brothers and sisters.
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12:21Here we try to educate ourselves and the youth islamically.
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12:31Now let's click the like and the subscribe buttons and let's together walk towards eternity.
12:35What was the last thing that happened that you finally decided to take the shahada and how was your shahada?
12:40So I believe that Islam was a true religion, but I was like scared to become a Muslim.
12:45I know now shaytan was whispering in my ears.
12:47I was thinking maybe I'm not ready. Do I know enough?
12:50Maybe I'll become a Muslim and not be a good Muslim.
12:53Like I don't want to do it and not do it properly.
12:55So I was taking long, but I knew it was a true religion.
12:58My brother used to always see me and say, you ready? I say soon inshaAllah.
13:01No, I'd say soon and he'd say, say inshaAllah.
13:04I say inshaAllah, inshaAllah. He goes, that means if Allah will.
13:07And then he kept saying, death comes anytime.
13:09Angel of death could visit you every day.
13:11And one of those times Allah is going to say be and it will be.
13:14So this is scaring me and he goes, do not die unless you die in a state of submission.
13:18Don't die unless you die as a Muslim.
13:20This is a surah Imran. So I'm saying, no, I'm going to do it soon.
13:23I'm going to do it soon. I'm going to do it soon.
13:24And then I got some big reminders that studio we was at.
13:27Our manager got killed and she's not even involved in crime.
13:30I think death was so close to home.
13:32I remember having a dream that I got shot and it was like in the dream.
13:37I was sweating. I was panicking. I thought it was so real.
13:40I'm in the back of an ambulance.
13:41The paramedics are trying to hold me down and they're saying, don't worry, Mr. Chin.
13:44We'll be at the hospital soon. Don't worry. Stay with us.
13:47But I remember in the dream saying, I don't care if I die.
13:49I just want to go and take my Shahada first.
13:51I can't die unless I'm a Muslim.
13:53And they're saying, stay down. Stay down. We'll be there soon.
13:55I'm saying, look, can you hear me? I need to become a Muslim first.
13:58Can we go there before we go hospital?
14:00They say, we'll be there first.
14:01I'm saying, you can't hear me. I need to become a Muslim.
14:04Because in the back of my head, I'm hearing, don't die unless you die in a state of Islam.
14:07And I'm thinking, no, I'm going to die.
14:09But I haven't done it yet. I haven't done it yet. I've been waiting too long.
14:11I'm going to die. So I woke up.
14:14And when I woke up from the dream, you know, you have that moment where you're like, it's just a dream.
14:18That felt so real.
14:20I'm sweating.
14:21And I'm so relieved that I'm OK.
14:23I never got sure it was a dream.
14:25And then I had a shower and I got on with my day driving in my car.
14:29But I remember I went to my studio and I spoke to the older brother.
14:33I said, I had a dream, you know, I got shot mad.
14:36And I was telling him about it.
14:37And he said, when you was in that dream, you was panicking.
14:40You were sweating.
14:41You thought everything was on the line.
14:44I said, yeah, a hundred percent.
14:45And he said, when you woke up, you just thought, ah, it was just a dream.
14:48Yeah, just shower. You got on with your day.
14:49I said, yeah, exactly that.
14:51He said, that is how this life is.
14:53He said, right now, when you're in this life, all the things you're worried about,
14:56you're panicking about, you're stressed about,
14:58you're getting all worked up about, depressed about.
15:01You know, when you go to the grave, an angel is going to come to you and ask,
15:04how long was you in that life?
15:05I'll say a day, part of a day.
15:07That's it.
15:08He says the person in the grave looks back at this life,
15:11the same way the person who wakes from a dream looks at a dream.
15:13He said, this life is nothing.
15:15I said, you know what?
15:16Why am I taking so long?
15:17I'm ready to become Muslim now.
15:18I want to do it today.
15:19I want to take my Shahada today.
15:20And he said, what today?
15:21I said, yeah, today I'm ready.
15:22He said, let's go.
15:23Yasa's house is always open.
15:25Let's go there.
15:26And we can take the Shahada there.
15:27So he phoned brother Yasa.
15:28And he said, Uncle Yasa, Assalamu alaikum.
15:30I have a new guy who wants to take Shahada.
15:32He says, bring him, bring him.
15:33So we go there and they were all excited to have me there.
15:36And they brought this food and all these little experiences of,
15:39I'm sitting next to her brother and they bought this big silver tray of food
15:42and they said, come closer, let's eat, let's eat.
15:44They wanted to share the same place.
15:46They wanted to eat together.
15:48They wanted to like be one after we ate and say, you ready now?
15:52And the brother sat opposite me like this.
15:54And he's like, give me your hand.
15:55And I repeated after him.
15:57And I just remember the look on everyone's eyes when I said those words.
16:00It was like, I've done something amazing.
16:03They stood up and they all hugged me.
16:05And like, I never hugged a man before that.
16:08He was like hugging guys.
16:09One of them, Yasa, I remember he hugged me and kissed me on the cheek.
16:13It's like, love.
16:14Welcome.
16:15Allahu Akbar.
16:16You're now a Muslim.
16:18And my brother said, how do you feel?
16:19I said, you know what?
16:20I feel different.
16:22I feel like so different.
16:24I feel pure, like fresh.
16:26So go home, take a shower.
16:28And they were like, so this is what you have to do.
16:30You have to start praying five times every day.
16:32Do you know how to pray here?
16:33And it was like, everything was coming at me.
16:34I was just so overwhelmed.
16:36So I was learning.
16:37And then one brother was writing it down for me.
16:39So I've got it on paper.
16:41And I remember carrying that paper around for a week,
16:44taking it in bathrooms, putting it on the side,
16:46looking at it, hands and eye.
16:48And it had a water on it.
16:49The ink was smudging.
16:51And I remember writing out how to pray.
16:53And I'd draw stick men next to the ring.
16:56And I used to pull it on the floor.
16:57And I'd read it and go, raise hands to air.
17:00Allahu Akbar.
17:01Put arms across the chest.
17:02Say.
17:03Alhamdulillah.
17:04And I used to read it.
17:05And then after about five days,
17:07I realized I don't need the paper anymore.
17:09I know it.
17:10Because I was doing it.
17:11They said you have to pray five times every day.
17:13And maybe sometimes we're too limited.
17:15But because they said you have to,
17:16I didn't see it as an option.
17:17You know, like sometimes today I spoke to people and they say,
17:20I don't pray.
17:21Or I miss my prayers.
17:22And I say, oh, you say it like it's an option.
17:24Can't do that with prayer.
17:25Many, none of us are perfect.
17:27No one is perfect.
17:28But one thing I say, you see prayer, that's going to save us.
17:31That's the one where we're asking Allah to guide us to the right path.
17:34Don't see that as an option.
17:35So how was your family's reaction?
17:37And since you're so grateful to Allah for guiding you,
17:39did you try to preach Islam to them as well?
17:42I think naturally when you find religion,
17:44it's like you've won the lottery.
17:46So I was happy.
17:47First thing I've done is I went to the Islamic shop.
17:49I bought a head wrap.
17:50Tied my hair.
17:51I bought the gown.
17:52Six months into my shahada,
17:54I'm walking around like I just graduated from Medina University.
17:57Walking in my house, my mum's looking at me,
17:59saying he's dressing like he's from Afghanistan now.
18:03And I'm talking to my mum.
18:04By the way, did you know there was a person and this happened?
18:07And that drink that you're drinking is going to take you to the fire and blah, blah, blah.
18:10And I'm even speaking with an accent because it is like I've been listening to so many talks.
18:15I'm putting on this Arab accent and my mum's speaking.
18:18Why are you speaking like that?
18:19Like you're fresh from abroad.
18:21I think sometimes you lose your identity and you just go in.
18:25It weren't working.
18:26I think my mum was probably a bit scared and it was like,
18:29what's he doing?
18:30And I think when you don't know so much, you like to speak too much.
18:34I don't know anything.
18:35I'm new.
18:36I've just had a few classes and I'm acting like I know everything.
18:39And I'm giving everybody dawah.
18:41And I'm correcting everyone when they're doing something wrong.
18:43And I'm telling everyone on this is bad.
18:45This is right.
18:46And my knowledge is so small.
18:47But it's like you can tell how much knowledge someone has by their character,
18:51by their manners, by their wisdom.
18:53So my manners was all over the place.
18:55I've almost got an ego.
18:56I'm acting like I'm better than people because I've got this.
18:59And I'm almost speaking down to people.
19:01It doesn't work at all.
19:02So to be honest, my mum wasn't interested.
19:05My sister weren't interested.
19:07And then the more you learn is the less you say.
19:10And the better your character becomes.
19:12So I hardly teach my mum anything.
19:14I hardly try to correct her wrong.
19:16Now I've got a conscience.
19:18How's that going to make her feel if I say that?
19:20So I was less.
19:21I learnt more, said less.
19:22And it was at that point where my mum was more interested.
19:25I'm more curious because the best dower is in your actions.
19:28So she's seeing the type of boy I'm becoming.
19:30And she's saying, I remember we used to clean the house every Sunday.
19:33And it would be like reggae music playing.
19:35But now I'm playing an Islamic talk in my room.
19:38But my mum was downstairs cleaning.
19:40And she could hear the talk.
19:41And she said, ah, what's that?
19:42I said, Islamic talk.
19:44And she goes, but I heard him talk about Jesus.
19:46I said, yeah.
19:47So they talk about Jesus in Islam?
19:49I said, yeah.
19:50Like all these stories from the Bible are in the Quran as well, you know.
19:54She goes, ah, let me listen to that one then.
19:56Bring it down there when you finish.
19:57She said, alright.
19:58So I gave it to my mum.
19:59And I used to hear her always listening to this tape.
20:01The one tape I gave her every time I come home.
20:04My mum's got the tape on.
20:05You alright?
20:06And then sometimes she's cooking.
20:07She's playing the tape.
20:08I said, you're playing that tape again?
20:09Yeah, I like it.
20:10It's really interesting what he's saying.
20:12I said, ah, okay.
20:13I've got another one if you want.
20:15And I was thinking of a tape that I wanted her to watch.
20:17I said, yeah, it's one you can watch.
20:19And I went and got it.
20:20There's Ahmadi that is debating with a Christian.
20:24Is the Bible the true word of God?
20:26But the way the debate was, I remember letting my mum watch it.
20:29And she's watching it, watching it, watching it.
20:31And she's like, yeah, she's just getting her Bible out and listening.
20:35And she's saying, wait, no.
20:36Yeah, he's right.
20:37He's right.
20:38And she's getting angry at the TV.
20:39No, he didn't say yes, yes.
20:41I remember I see my mum crying.
20:42She's talking to God.
20:43Talking to God.
20:44Crying.
20:45My mum's got a lot of pain in her.
20:46A lot of pain.
20:47Things she went through in her life.
20:48She was abandoned as a child.
20:50No family.
20:51And she's saying he's right.
20:52And I could just...
20:53I see her.
20:54She's just agreeing with the Muslim.
20:55It's true.
20:56Went upstairs to my room.
20:57Prayed.
20:58Made the art to Allah.
20:59Allah.
21:00Just guide her.
21:01I could see her.
21:02She's coming.
21:03Please.
21:04I'll guide her.
21:05And you know what?
21:06I'll be honest.
21:07I remember I went to the office.
21:08And my teacher is the one who gave them shahada.
21:09His teacher in private.
21:10And I honestly believe.
21:11You see when Allah says remember me.
21:13And I will remember you.
21:14When really and truly.
21:15If I just focus on my relationship with Allah.
21:17Allah will take care of all your affairs.
21:19Now through these classes.
21:20We were doing them.
21:21We were doing them.
21:22He's the one who said.
21:23You learn well in this room.
21:24But I feel like you're distracted outside.
21:25Why don't you go to Egypt?
21:26That's where I'm from.
21:27And I can get you a teacher there.
21:28And you'll have no distractions.
21:30So that's how it came about.
21:31That I'm going to go to Egypt to study.
21:33So when I feel like.
21:35For being on that path.
21:36And going there.
21:37And studying.
21:38And learning.
21:39And then making that big step.
21:40To say you know Allah.
21:41I'm going to go to Egypt.
21:42And study.
21:43And leave everything.
21:44I feel like it was a reward.
21:45Like.
21:46I haven't even been speaking to my mom.
21:47Where it was just like.
21:48Yeah.
21:49They both want to take shahada.
21:50I'm sitting in that same office.
21:51With that teacher.
21:52And he's saying.
21:53Are you booked for Egypt tomorrow?
21:54I'm saying.
21:55Yeah.
21:56But here's my mom.
21:57Here's my sister.
21:58And he gives them shahada.
21:59And they're sitting there.
22:00With headscarves on.
22:01It's like.
22:02It's like.
22:03There's.
22:04They both took their shahadas.
22:05They both took their shahada.
22:06Subhanallah.
22:07Alhamdulillah.
22:08Subhanallah.
22:09So why did you choose to rap?
22:10The rap in the poetry wasn't planned.
22:13When I was living in Egypt.
22:14It's my first time traveling.
22:16So I felt so far away from everything.
22:18I knew.
22:19And everything I was comfortable with.
22:20And I remember standing on my balcony.
22:22Of this cheap apartment.
22:23Just thinking.
22:24Wow.
22:25I'm in Africa.
22:26How did I end up here?
22:27And I'm learning Arabic.
22:28And I just felt like.
22:29Quite emotional.
22:30Like I'm so far from my mom.
22:32I don't have a mobile phone.
22:34I'm just alone.
22:35But.
22:36I feel at peace.
22:37And when you feel like that.
22:38Sometimes.
22:39You feel like all you have is Allah.
22:40And I remember.
22:41Like I said.
22:42When we was on the streets.
22:43And we're doing stuff.
22:44Writing is like our therapy.
22:46That's how we let out what we're feeling.
22:48So it was when I was there.
22:49I didn't write it in order to perform it.
22:51I was just saying it.
22:53I found myself in the other side of this world.
22:55All for this religion.
22:56All for what Allah revealed.
22:58Look at Bilal in a small flat by myself.
23:00Quran in between my knees.
23:02Books piled up on my shelf.
23:03As I read memories flash me in my day.
23:05Everything looks different.
23:07So many things have changed.
23:08To Bilal now.
23:09This world doesn't look the same.
23:10All the things I used to like.
23:12I can't even like again.
23:13So this is what I started doing.
23:15I'm just doing it in the flat.
23:16You know.
23:17Like in my spare time.
23:18And it's like I'm just going through my feelings.
23:20And my journey.
23:21So anyway.
23:22Fast forward.
23:23When I came back to London.
23:24We went to the masjid in Lewisham on Eid.
23:26And the Imam there.
23:27And he said.
23:28You went to Egypt.
23:29How was it?
23:30Like.
23:31You should share your story.
23:32In the mosque.
23:33I said.
23:34No way.
23:35No, no, no, no.
23:36He says.
23:37Come, come, come, come, come.
23:38I'm going to bring you to the front.
23:39And I'm thinking.
23:40No way.
23:41I go to the front of the mosque.
23:42And talk.
23:43Takes my arms.
23:44Salaam Alaikum everyone.
23:45You know mother of Muslim Bilal?
23:46He's going to now tell his story in a nice poem and stuff.
23:48So I was on the spot.
23:49And I was like.
23:50I found myself in the other side of this world.
23:54And I told my story.
23:55I remembered it.
23:56I rhymed it.
23:57And I kept going.
23:58And I remember how engaged everyone was.
24:00And honestly.
24:01That's just how it happened.
24:02I never really had a plan.
24:04Like.
24:05Oh.
24:06I want to be a nasheed artist.
24:07Or a poet.
24:08It was more personal.
24:09And if someone asks me to do it.
24:10I'd go and do it.
24:11And I'm still the same now.
24:12That's why I always say to Allah.
24:13If it's good for me.
24:14Just keep it coming.
24:15If it's bad for me.
24:16Stop the phone from ringing.
24:17And that's it.
24:18Can you share your favourite lines.
24:20Rhyming.
24:21And can you explain it to us.
24:23Whatever it means.
24:24I was actually in Malaysia.
24:25Performing.
24:26And I'd been there a few times to perform.
24:29So.
24:30I performed a track called Brother.
24:31And it's like.
24:32Brother.
24:33Do you want for me.
24:34What you want for yourself.
24:35Brother.
24:36Do you pray Allah.
24:37Gives me strength and health.
24:38Brother.
24:39Do you gossip about me.
24:40Like I'm a star.
24:41Brother.
24:42Do you love me.
24:43Brother.
24:44Do you want.
24:45Because I was thinking.
24:46Only the true believers.
24:47Will enter paradise.
24:48And you're not a true believer.
24:49Unless you love for your brother.
24:50What you love for yourself.
24:51So.
24:52We're true.
24:53I see amongst brothers.
24:54Is.
24:55Do we really love each other.
24:56Do we really want for each other.
24:58What we want for ourselves.
24:59Or do we enjoy.
25:00Like.
25:01Yeah.
25:02Pointing the finger at each other.
25:03Putting each other down.
25:04Is this the real love.
25:05Are we the true believers.
25:06That want paradise.
25:07Or are we caught up in the bubble.
25:08The world.
25:09Do you understand.
25:10So I made that one.
25:11Brother.
25:12Do you want for me.
25:13What you want for yourself.
25:14And it went quite well.
25:15And then I heard someone shout.
25:16What about the sister.
25:17Sister.
25:18So I said.
25:19I was on the spot.
25:20I was like.
25:21The sisters.
25:22What can I say.
25:23And I remembered a post.
25:24An argument.
25:25That I witnessed on Facebook.
25:26And a sister.
25:27Who.
25:28Like.
25:29You can't see their picture.
25:30Said something like.
25:31All you brothers.
25:32Are so interested in.
25:33The girls.
25:34Who show everything.
25:35I remember thinking.
25:36No.
25:37That's not the truth.
25:38That's not how.
25:39So I was like.
25:40Sister.
25:41I can't even see your face.
25:42Sister.
25:43I don't even hear your voice.
25:44Sister.
25:45I don't even smell your scent.
25:46You must be the one.
25:47A last scent.
25:48Pious sister.
25:49I don't even.
25:50So I just went into that.
25:51Straight after.
25:52And what that was.
25:53Is to give.
25:54Upliftment.
25:55To say look.
25:56Don't ever feel.
25:57Just because you're like.
25:58Oh.
25:59They prefer that.
26:00You don't want.
26:01You're pious.
26:02Like.
26:03Be comfortable.
26:04With what you're.
26:05Where you're at.
26:06Don't ever feel.
26:07I have to do.
26:08More.
26:09To fit in with that.
26:10You know.
26:11So lastly.
26:12If there was a chance.
26:13To speak to all the non-Muslims.
26:14In the world.
26:15What would you like to say to them.
26:16I would say.
26:17As a people.
26:18We need to.
26:19Learn how to think.
26:20So we get so caught up.
26:21In living.
26:22That we don't think much.
26:23Like.
26:24What are we living for.
26:25And why are we living.
26:26And sometimes.
26:27You have to pause life.
26:28And stop and think.
26:29That's my heritage.
26:30It's like.
26:31Because I'm born in England.
26:32The church of England.
26:33I'm going to be a Christian.
26:34And that means.
26:35If I was born in.
26:36Israel.
26:37I would have been a Jew.
26:38So it's not about.
26:39What's the truth.
26:40It's just about.
26:41What I inherit.
26:42Religion should be an inheritance.
26:43We should search for the truth.
26:45Like.
26:46And we should research.
26:47It's about.
26:48Whether it takes Herod.
26:49To The Church of Thengo.
26:50And we should be.
26:52In he �no.
26:53And rest.
26:54If you never attend.
26:55In the city.
26:56Uh-oh.
26:57Hope school has died.
26:59Oh.
27:00I was given them.
27:01We should have fell.
27:03Wait a minute.
27:04Peace.
27:05This.
27:06This.
27:07This is my status.
27:08What is a рад that opened?
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