{"title":"Tarik Preston","author":{"id":2250,"name":"Tarik Preston","slug":"tarik_preston","image":"\/uploads\/users\/non-profile.jpg","role":"Author","about":"","promote":0,"status":1,"created_at":"2014-08-25T08:00:00.000000Z","updated_at":"2014-08-25T08:00:00.000000Z","language_id":1,"parent_id":null,"i18ns":[],"image_asset":"http:\/\/www.islamland.com\/uploads\/users\/non-profile.jpg","get_name":"Tarik Preston"},"books":{"current_page":1,"data":[],"first_page_url":"http:\/\/www.islamland.com\/mac\/api\/authors\/2250?books_page=1","from":null,"last_page":1,"last_page_url":"http:\/\/www.islamland.com\/mac\/api\/authors\/2250?books_page=1","links":[{"url":null,"label":"« Previous","page":null,"active":false},{"url":"http:\/\/www.islamland.com\/mac\/api\/authors\/2250?books_page=1","label":"1","page":1,"active":true},{"url":null,"label":"Next »","page":null,"active":false}],"next_page_url":null,"path":"http:\/\/www.islamland.com\/mac\/api\/authors\/2250","per_page":25,"prev_page_url":null,"to":null,"total":0},"videos":{"current_page":1,"data":[],"first_page_url":"http:\/\/www.islamland.com\/mac\/api\/authors\/2250?videos_page=1","from":null,"last_page":1,"last_page_url":"http:\/\/www.islamland.com\/mac\/api\/authors\/2250?videos_page=1","links":[{"url":null,"label":"« Previous","page":null,"active":false},{"url":"http:\/\/www.islamland.com\/mac\/api\/authors\/2250?videos_page=1","label":"1","page":1,"active":true},{"url":null,"label":"Next »","page":null,"active":false}],"next_page_url":null,"path":"http:\/\/www.islamland.com\/mac\/api\/authors\/2250","per_page":25,"prev_page_url":null,"to":null,"total":0},"audios":{"current_page":1,"data":[],"first_page_url":"http:\/\/www.islamland.com\/mac\/api\/authors\/2250?audios_page=1","from":null,"last_page":1,"last_page_url":"http:\/\/www.islamland.com\/mac\/api\/authors\/2250?audios_page=1","links":[{"url":null,"label":"« Previous","page":null,"active":false},{"url":"http:\/\/www.islamland.com\/mac\/api\/authors\/2250?audios_page=1","label":"1","page":1,"active":true},{"url":null,"label":"Next »","page":null,"active":false}],"next_page_url":null,"path":"http:\/\/www.islamland.com\/mac\/api\/authors\/2250","per_page":25,"prev_page_url":null,"to":null,"total":0},"articles":{"current_page":1,"data":[{"id":1538,"title":"Tarik Preston, Ex-Christian, USA","slug":"tarik-preston-ex-christian-usa","word":"\/uploads\/articles\/en-Tarik Preston, Ex-Christian, USA.docx","pdf":"\/uploads\/articles\/en-Tarik Preston, Ex-Christian, USA.pdf","mime_type":null,"type":"node","path":"\/nodes\/view\/type:article\/slug:tarik-preston-ex-christian-usa","hint":"","body":"

Tarik Preston, Ex-Christian, USA<\/span><\/h1>\r\n

\"\"
<\/span><\/h1>\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n

My name is Tarik Preston.  I embraced the religion of Islam in 1988 at the age of 19. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

The story of how I came to embrace Islam is not a very long story, and in many respects, I think that the story of how Allah (God) continued to guide me after I entered Islam is more of an inspiring story.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Nevertheless, this story begins with my name.  I was given the name Tarik at birth.  In the 60s, the 70s, and even the 80s, it wasn’t all that unusual for some Americans to give their children African names.  Many times, the names they chose from Africa were actually Islamic names, which is what happened with my name.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Throughout my life before Islam I periodically met other people named Tarik, or someone who knew the significance of my name and they would ask me, “Do you know what your name means?” I would reply proudly as I had been taught: “It means ‘star of piercing brightness.’“<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Sometimes I would add the story of the famous Tariq ibn Ziyad who conquered Spain in the year 711 A.D.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Ironically, despite knowing those important facts about the meaning of my name, I did not know the Islamic significance of my name until later, when I was a student in college. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

I started college at the age of 16 majoring in pre-med\/biology with the intent, at that time, of becoming a doctor.  I knew that if I was going to have such an important responsibility, I would need a good methodology to follow in my life.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

During my freshman year, I attempted to read the Bible, but Christianity had begun not to make sense to me.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

While studying the marvelous complexity of cell biology that year, several of my classmates and I reaffirmed our belief in the Creator and that creation was not an accident as some scientists speculated. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

During spring break, I had a theological discussion with my grandmother, with whom I was very close.  And she, despite being a Christian, made a remarkable statement that I paid close attention to.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

She said: “I worship God and I don’t worship Jesus, because I feel safer worshipping God!” She advised me not to pray in the name of Jesus anymore and to just pray to God!<\/span><\/p>\r\n

When I returned to college after that conversation, I continued to pray every night before sleeping as I had been taught.  But I decided that I would no longer pray in the name of Jesus, and to direct my prayers only to God.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Once I made that decision, I started to feel guilty about praying lying down in bed.  So I began to pray kneeling at the side of my bed, which felt better to me.    <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Still searching for something that would guide me safely through life, one day I asked God to guide me while walking across campus.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

During my junior year in college, a fellow student who I knew embraced Islam saw me walking across campus and he greeted me with “as-salamu alaykum<\/em>” (peace be upon you)! Having grown up in the 1970s in Chicago, I had heard this greeting many times, so I replied: “Wa alaikum us salaam<\/em>!”<\/span><\/p>\r\n

He then asked me if I was a Muslim, to which I replied (at that time), “No.  I am United Methodist.” He replied: “Oh! I thought you were a Muslim because your name is Tarik!”.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Not long after that encounter, he came to a study session that I and a few classmates were having, and he attempted to inform us about Islam.  He was very young and very new to Islam himself, so he didn’t know very much.  But he did warn us about the dangers of worshipping Jesus, the son of Mary.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Of course that was a familiar statement, but I still didn’t know much about Islam, but I did learn what Muslims looked like because my friend had a very distinct appearance and demeanor after his conversion.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

When I returned home that summer, I took a summer job as a telemarketer where I met a Muslim named Ahmed.  Despite being a Puerto Rican convert to Islam, he had the same distinct look and demeanor as my friend from college, so I asked him, “Are you a Muslim?”<\/span><\/p>\r\n

He smiled and replied: “Yes Tarik.  Are you?”<\/span><\/p>\r\n

I answered, “No.  I am a United Methodist.”<\/span><\/p>\r\n

He smiled and said wryly: “With a name like Tarik you should be a Muslim.”<\/span><\/p>\r\n

He began talking to me about tawheed<\/em> (the oneness of God).  I was impressed with the concept of Islamic monotheism.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Eventually, he invited me over to his house and showed me a copy of the English translation of the Quran.  I was very impressed by the respect that he had for this Book, and I asked him if I could borrow it in order to read it.  He reluctantly agreed, saying that it was his only copy of the Quran, and he sternly advised me to respect the Book and keep it clean and in a place of respect in my home.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

I couldn’t wait to read it! <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Two weeks later, I invited Ahmed to my house and we sat and talked again about Islam.  I informed him that I believed the Quran was the truth and that I wanted to become a Muslim.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The very next day we went together to the Islamic Center in Washington D.C.  and I embraced Islam.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

A few years after my conversion, Allah blessed me to be able to study Islam at the Islamic University of Medina where I earned an Associate’s degree in Arabic language and a Bachelor’s degree in Hadith Sciences.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

I hope the story of how I came to Islam encourages others to embrace Islam.  I also hope that my story encourages my fellow Muslim brothers and sisters to share the true message of Islam with those around them in word and deed.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>","excerpt":"","terms":null,"visibility_roles":"","comment_status":1,"comment_count":0,"read_counter":10850,"lft":2855,"rght":2858,"promote":1,"sticky":0,"status":1,"publish_start":null,"publish_end":null,"created_at":"2014-08-25T18:59:00.000000Z","updated_at":"2026-05-07T01:08:57.000000Z","language_id":1,"user_id":7,"author_id":2250,"publisher_id":0,"category_id":10,"parent_id":null,"author_name":"Tarik Preston","category_name":"Why I became a Muslim!","category_slug":"Why-I-became-a-Muslim!","get_date":"2014-08-25","pdf_asset":"http:\/\/www.islamland.com\/uploads\/articles\/en-Tarik Preston, Ex-Christian, USA.pdf","word_asset":"http:\/\/www.islamland.com\/uploads\/articles\/en-Tarik Preston, Ex-Christian, USA.docx"},{"id":1539,"title":"Tarik Preston, Excristiano, Estados Unidos","slug":"tarik-preston-excristiano-estados-unidos","word":"\/uploads\/articles\/sp-Tarik Preston, Ex-Christian, USA.docx","pdf":"\/uploads\/articles\/sp-Tarik Preston, Ex-Christian, USA.pdf","mime_type":null,"type":"node","path":"\/nodes\/view\/type:article\/slug:tarik-preston-excristiano-estados-unidos","hint":"","body":"

Tarik Preston, Excristiano, Estados Unidos<\/span><\/h1>\r\n

\"\"<\/span><\/h1>\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n

Mi nombre es Tarik Preston. Abracé la religión del Islam en 1988 a la edad de 19 años.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

La historia de cómo abracé el Islam no es muy larga, y en muchos aspectos, creo que la historia de cómo Allah (Dios) continuó guiándome después que entré al Islam es una historia más inspiradora.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Sin embargo, esta historia comienza con mi nombre. Me dieron el nombre Tarik al nacer. En los años 60, los 70, e incluso los 80, no era inusual que algunos estadounidenses dieran a sus hijos nombres africanos. Muchas veces, los nombres que elegían de África eran realmente nombres islámicos, que es lo que ocurrió en el caso de mi nombre.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

A lo largo de mi vida antes del Islam, periódicamente conocí a otras personas llamadas Tarik, o a alguien que sabía el significado de mi nombre y me preguntaba: “¿Quieres saber qué significa tu nombre?” Yo respondía con orgullo lo que me habían enseñado: “Significa ‘estrella de luz penetrante’”.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

A veces añadía la historia del famoso Tarik ibn Ziyad que conquistó España en el año 711 d.C.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Irónicamente, a pesar de conocer estos hechos importantes sobre el significado de mi nombre, no supe el significado islámico de mi nombre hasta después, cuando era estudiante universitario.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Comencé la universidad a la edad de 16 años con especialización en premédico\/biología, con la intención en ese momento, de llegar a ser doctor. Sabía que si iba a tener una responsabilidad tan importante, iba a necesitar una buena metodología a seguir en mi vida.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Durante mi primer año, intenté leer la Biblia, pero el Cristianismo comenzó a no tener sentido para mí.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Mientras estudiaba la complejidad maravillosa de la célula biológica ese año, muchos de mis compañeros de clase y yo reafirmamos nuestra creencia en el Creador, y que la creación no fue un accidente como especulan algunos científicos.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Durante las vacaciones de primavera, tuve una discusión teológica con mi abuela, con quien era muy cercano. Y ella, a pesar de ser cristiana, hizo una declaración extraordinaria a la que puse mucha atención.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Ella dijo: “Yo adoro a Dios y no adoro a Jesús, porque siento que es más seguro adorar a Dios.” ¡Ella me aconsejó no orar en el nombre de Jesús nunca más, y solo rezarle a Dios!<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Cuando regresé a la universidad después de esa conversación, continué rezando todas las noches antes de dormir, como me habían enseñado. Pero decidí que ya no haría las oraciones en el nombre de Jesús, y dirigí mis plegarias solo a Dios.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Una vez tomé esa decisión, comencé a sentirme culpable por orar acostado en mi cama. Así que comencé a rezar de rodillas al lado de mi cama, lo que me hacía sentir mejor.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Buscando aún algo que me guiara con seguridad a través de la vida, le pedí a Dios un día que me guiara, mientras caminaba por el campus.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Durante mi primer año en la universidad, un compañero de estudios que yo sabía había abrazado el Islam, me vio caminando por el campus y me saludó con “¡as salamu alaikum!<\/em>” (la paz sea contigo). Habiendo crecido en el Chicago de la década de 1970, estuché este saludo muchas veces, así que le respondí: “¡Wa alaikum salam!<\/em>”<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Luego me preguntó si yo era musulmán, a lo que le respondí (en ese momento): “No. Soy metodista unido.” Me dijo: “¡Ah! Pensé que eras musulmán porque tu nombre es Tarik”.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

No mucho después de ese encuentro, él llegó a una sesión de estudios que unos compañeros y yo estábamos teniendo, y trató de informarnos sobre el Islam. Él era muy joven y muy nuevo en el Islam, así que no sabía mucho. Pero nos advirtió de los peligros de adorar a Jesús, el hijo de María.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Por supuesto que fue una declaración con la que estaba familiarizado, pero aún no sabía mucho sobre el Islam, sin embargo aprendí cómo se veían los musulmanes porque mi amigo tenía una apariencia y un comportamiento muy distintos después de su conversión.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Cuando volví a casa ese verano, tomé un trabajo de verano como vendedor por teléfono, donde conocí a un musulmán llamado Ahmed. A pesar de ser un puertorriqueño converso al Islam, tenía el mismo aspecto y comportamiento distintivo de mi amigo de la universidad, así que le pregunté: “¿Eres musulmán?”<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Me sonrió y respondió: “Sí, Tarik. ¿Y tú?”<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Le respondí: “No. Soy metodista unido.”<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Me sonrió y dijo con ironía: “Con un nombre como Tarik deberías ser musulmán.”<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Comenzó a hablarme sobre tawhid<\/em> (la unicidad de Dios). Quedé impresionado con el concepto de monoteísmo islámico.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Con el tiempo, me invitó a su casa y me mostró una copia de la traducción al inglés del Corán. Quedé muy impresionado con el respeto que le tenía a este Libro, y le pregunté si podía prestármelo para leerlo. Él accedió de mala gana, diciendo que era su única copia del Corán, y me advirtió seriamente que respetara el Libro y lo mantuviera limpio y en un lugar de respeto en mi casa.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

¡No podía esperar a leerlo!<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Dos semanas después, invité a Ahmed a mi casa y nos sentamos y hablamos de nuevo sobre Islam. Le informé que creía que el Corán era la verdad y que quería hacerme musulmán.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Al día siguiente fuimos juntos al Centro Islámico en Washington D.C. y abracé el Islam.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Pocos años después de mi conversión, Allah me bendijo con la posibilidad de estudiar en la Universidad Islámica de Medina donde obtuve un título asociado en idioma árabe y un título profesional en ciencias del Hadiz.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Espero que la historia de cómo llegué al Islam anime a otros a abrazar el Islam. También espero que mi historia anime a mis hermanos y hermanas musulmanes a compartir el verdadero mensaje del Islam con aquellos que los rodean, con palabras y con hechos.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>","excerpt":"","terms":null,"visibility_roles":"","comment_status":1,"comment_count":0,"read_counter":8676,"lft":2856,"rght":2857,"promote":1,"sticky":0,"status":1,"publish_start":null,"publish_end":null,"created_at":"2014-08-25T18:59:00.000000Z","updated_at":"2026-05-07T07:58:26.000000Z","language_id":12,"user_id":7,"author_id":2250,"publisher_id":0,"category_id":10,"parent_id":1538,"author_name":"Tarik Preston","category_name":"Why I became a Muslim!","category_slug":"Why-I-became-a-Muslim!","get_date":"2014-08-25","pdf_asset":"http:\/\/www.islamland.com\/uploads\/articles\/sp-Tarik Preston, Ex-Christian, USA.pdf","word_asset":"http:\/\/www.islamland.com\/uploads\/articles\/sp-Tarik Preston, Ex-Christian, USA.docx"}],"first_page_url":"http:\/\/www.islamland.com\/mac\/api\/authors\/2250?articles_page=1","from":1,"last_page":1,"last_page_url":"http:\/\/www.islamland.com\/mac\/api\/authors\/2250?articles_page=1","links":[{"url":null,"label":"« Previous","page":null,"active":false},{"url":"http:\/\/www.islamland.com\/mac\/api\/authors\/2250?articles_page=1","label":"1","page":1,"active":true},{"url":null,"label":"Next »","page":null,"active":false}],"next_page_url":null,"path":"http:\/\/www.islamland.com\/mac\/api\/authors\/2250","per_page":25,"prev_page_url":null,"to":2,"total":2},"fatawas":{"current_page":1,"data":[],"first_page_url":"http:\/\/www.islamland.com\/mac\/api\/authors\/2250?fatawas_page=1","from":null,"last_page":1,"last_page_url":"http:\/\/www.islamland.com\/mac\/api\/authors\/2250?fatawas_page=1","links":[{"url":null,"label":"« Previous","page":null,"active":false},{"url":"http:\/\/www.islamland.com\/mac\/api\/authors\/2250?fatawas_page=1","label":"1","page":1,"active":true},{"url":null,"label":"Next »","page":null,"active":false}],"next_page_url":null,"path":"http:\/\/www.islamland.com\/mac\/api\/authors\/2250","per_page":25,"prev_page_url":null,"to":null,"total":0},"books_total":0,"videos_total":0,"audios_total":0,"fatawas_total":0,"articles_total":2,"q":"","count":2}