[Pateeffelty]

Salam

I would like to introduce myself, i am a brother from the midlands who a few years ago 'rediscovered' his islam...

as will be familiar with most people, being born into an asian/pakistani family i was sent to the local 'aunty' on the road to learn how to read 'arabic' (alif, beh, teh, seh) at the age of 7/8, completed 2 recitations of the Qur'an by the age of 11 and this was considered 'enough' alongside being taught to memorise a few short surah's and salaah... events happened over the following 8/9 years which i'd rather not go into but lets just say i was a little far removed from any islam, not being surrounded by much of an environment which was particularly 'islamic', and then when a few 'events' began to happen at a local 'large' mosque 5/6 years ago i was taken along by my father... now, i did not see any benefit to be derived from the events which took place as i did not understand a word of what was being spoken there (all talks were in urdu, of which i do not speak and can barely understand - let alone the type which is spoken at talks!) and a lot of the things which were taking place just did not seem to sit right with me...(i would rather not mention any particular 'madrassah' and/or 'sect' for i wish not to risk 'slander' nor risk triggering any such 'discussion')

following a few these i began to seek answers to questions... was told i shouldnt ask and that i should just follow - as an academic this didnt sit right with me either!... so i sought answers elsewhere which led me to the amazing institution of As-Suffa, some of my colleagues at college at the time were able to answer some of the very simple questions i had and put my mind at rest and made me realise that indeed what my family held beliefs in did not sit right with me - try as i might to discuss this with them, it did not help...

now, the gap of 8/9 years between finishing reciting the Qur'an meant a lot of things were forgotten, i was able to reteach myself how to read arabic with the help of a brother from As-Suffa, the internet and of course youtube. I have gone on to learn the basics of wudu and salah and I have been slowly trying to find literature which will allow me to gain an understanding of the basics further before i delve deeper...

this is where i humbly request the help of the members of sunniforum for any guidance on where I may begin with this endeavour as i feel i am not doing enough to advance my islamic knowledge with the necessary understanding.

JazakAllah Khayr

Ali

(If this is the wrong section then I apologise for I did not know which other section this would fall under...)