U.S. Mayor Reverts to Islam...mashaallah!!!

Subject: U.S. Mayor Reverts to Islam...mashaallah!!! Thu Aug 21, 2008 9:54 pm

US Mayor Reverts to Islam
Date: February 2007
Source:IslamOnline.net & News Agencies
Category:Personalities/Nation
I went back to my roots I guess you could say," said Ellis.
MACON, Georgia - The mayor of Macon in the American state of Georgia, a practicing Christian, has reverted to Islam, saying he went back to his roots after years of soul-searching. "Why does one become a Christian? You do it because it feels right. . . . To me, it's no big deal. But people like to know what you believe in," Jack Ellis, who changed his name to Hakim Mansour Ellis, was quoted as saying Saturday, February 3, by the American Boston Herald newspaper.
Ellis noted that he studied the Noble Qur'an for years and found his destination in Islam following a trip to the African country of Senegal, saying that his new religion was practiced by his ancestors before they were brought to North America as slaves.
"I did revert to Islam in December of this past year in the country of Senegal," he said in statements carried Saturday by WMAZ-TV, a local television in the City of Columbia, South Carolina.
The father-of-five said he started praying five times a day and regularly frequents the Islamic Center on Bloomfield Road, proud of religious freedom in the United States.He said although he reverted to Islam, he does not rank religions.
"I'm not saying that one is better than the other," Ellis said."We do believe that the prophet Muhammad was the last prophet as well as we believe Moses was a prophet," Ellis added.Born on January 6, 1946 in Macon, Ellis holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from St. Leo College in Florida.
According to his website, Ellis served two years of combat duty in Vietnam as a paratrooper platoon sergeant with the 101st Airborne Division.
He was awarded three Bronze Stars, the Army Commendation Medal for Valor and Heroism, and the Purple Heart for wounds received in combat.
Ellis will complete his second consecutive four-year term, as a mayor of Macon, in December and isn't eligible for re-election. But he said he might run for Georgia's 8th District congressional seat in 2008.
Ellis was first sworn in as Mayor of Macon on December 14, 1999 becoming the first black Mayor in the city's 176-year history.He is the 40th mayor of Macon and currently serving his second term.
Ellis has made Macon one of the most viable cities across the United States.
Ellis said felt home when he accepted Islam."I went back to my roots I guess you could say," he said.
He said that although his reversion is a personnel affair, it is the right of voters, as long as he is a public figure, to know his decision."It's a personal decision, a private decision as to how one worships. But I do understand that I'm not a private person," Ellis said.
"But being the mayor of the city, I think people have a right to know what I believe in, that I am a man of faith, and the faith I'm now a part of is the faith of Islam," he added.
Voters reelected Ellis as he made Macon one of the most livable cities in America.He used his Federal and State grants to assist the youth in job training, mentoring, tutoring, after-school programs and crime reduction programs.He built over forty affordable houses marketed to first time homebuyers.
Ellish is presently constructing hundreds of affordable and market-rate houses in the Beall's Hill area, according to his website."Now, I'm sharing with my broader family, the Macon community who supported me when I was a Christian and trust that they will now," Ellis said."I'm the same person even though I'll be changing my name," he added.

bow

ALI-ZIAD NATCHER ALAM SALI bow

( aznas0429@yahoo.com )

Comments: The rise of Islam in the West, especially America, has been quite phenomenal in recent years, in spite of much negative media and bad examples of Muslim extremists. As more and more Muslims enter into mainstream politics across the West, the general awareness of Islam will increase in the general public and the rate of conversion will increase exponentially.
However, Muslims need to play a more active role in correcting the misinformation and islamophobia which is circulating in the West, by clearly expressing the correct beliefs of Islam and renouncing the activities of the extremist elements.Efforts like that of Brother Jack Mansour Ellis should be supported and encouraged. At the same time, Muslims do need to develop alternative institutions which uphold their principles and can demonstrate to the public the benefits of the Islamic way of life.

Fore more related videos about this topic, feel free to click the web link provided below:

[Video 1]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLFy16zyUbQ

[Video 2]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUA_G5-2KVI

[Video 3]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KF8yRIb79ok&feature=related

Reported on the authority of Jabir Ibn.Abdillah, that the Nabi Sallallahi alaihi wassallam said:

“LAA TA’ALLAMUL ‘ILMA LITUB-HUU BIHIL ‘ULAMA’, WA LAA LITUMAARU BIHIS-SUFAHA’ WA LAA THAKAY-YARUU BIHIL MAJAALISA, FAMAN FA’ALA DHALIKA FANNAA RANNAAR...”

WHICH MEANS: “DO NOT ACQUIRE KNOWLEDGE IN ORDER TO SHOW OFF TO THE SCHOLARS, NOR IN ORDER TO DISPUTE WITH THE FOOLISH PEOPLE, NOR CHOOSE SELECTED SEATS IN GATHERINGS, FOR WHOEVER DOES SO, THE FIRE.. THE FIRE…”

Allahu akbar..Allahu akbar..Allahu akbar...

in the service of islam,
ALI-ZIAD N.A. SALI
( aznas0429@yahoo.com )

» what is ISLAM ?
» ISLAM: A History of Haj
» ISLAM: A History of Haj
» CHRIST IN ISLAM - chapter 1-2-3
» CHRIST IN ISLAM - chapter 4