Brother Harold

Introducing myself

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My devotion to God, such as praying, studying and working in the community has helped me to clean myself up. It has helped me do better with my life. It has helped me to develop a clear vision for my life. It also has helped me to also take the necessary steps in changing my life, such as stop drinking, smoking cigarettes and doing drugs. My faith in God and in myself gave me the strength to overcome those obstacles and impediments that held me back all my life and made self-improvement almost impossible. I don’t know where I’d be without Allah and the Nation of Islam.          

Why did I join a gang? Family issues. I didn’t get along too well with my family. I was insecure. I didn’t feel respected. I felt a sense of respect when I was with my homies. We didn’t have any high expectations for one another. We just accepted each other for who we were.

I don’t regret ever being in a gang, but the lifestyle that came with it became a burden. At least it did for me.

Being shot at, jumped, in and out of jail and ultimately prison. For years I didn’t care if I died or not, so the fear of death didn’t cross my mind. Prison slowed me down and gave me plenty of time to think. Prison gave me time to think about my life.

I would ask myself, “Is this how I want to spend the rest of my life?” I felt lost. I searched very hard for an answer. I started reading the Bible looking for answers.

I was still hanging with gang members in prison. My cellmate took notice and started talking to me. He started talking to me about Islam.

He would give me reading materials that I wouldn’t read. I would still hang out with gang members and smoke weed. He wouldn’t give up.

He invited me to one of their meetings where the Muslims gathered to study. Some of the older brothers that he had told about me would talk to me. They would try to teach me about Islam, but I was stubborn.

Stubborn as I was, my cellmate wouldn’t give up. Eventually, I started reading the material that he gave me. I kept going to the meetings, and when I got out of prison, I joined the Nation of Islam.

I enjoy being part of something that does not involve getting into trouble or getting high.  I left gang banging, alcohol and drugs behind. I now devote my life striving to help others to find and create a better life for themselves.

I got so tired of hangovers and feeling drained the day after. Many times, I would desire to quit, but felt that I could not function without it. I tried many times to quit but was unsuccessful.

First, I had a desire to quit. So, I prayed. Then I made up my mind and I separated myself from friends and family. I moved out of state with nothing but faith and a few dollars in my pocket. I was determined. I knew that I would be successful, but I knew that I had to separate myself first. I knew that I had to put myself in another environment and around people that didn’t drink. I knew that if I didn’t, I would never stop.

Being in the Nation of Islam is the best thing that has ever happened to me. It has given me purpose and a new sense of being. By being a part of something that’s bigger than myself, helps me to stay focused, inspired and motivated. There is no greater joy than going back into our community and back to my family as a better version of myself.   

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (King James Version Romans 12:2)

Our mind’s are the sum of everything that you and I are.

So, what does it mean to renew the mind? And how, or by what means, method or process is this done?

Can we renew our own minds?

If you and I are the sum of our thoughts, experiences, education and environmental influences, then wouldn’t we need a source other than ourselves to facilitate or aid in that process?

And wouldn’t that source have to be reliable? Or, Divine?

Are our educators or religious institutions reliable sources?

We need Divine help.

We need a source greater than the educational and religious institutions that we have.

We need someone Divinely Guided and sent by God Himself.

Who are our religious leaders ordained or licensed by?

Whose signature is on their licenses.

What Prophet or any man raised by God in the scriptures do we find ordained or licensed by man?

Since when does anyone called or raised by God require the approval of man?

So, we need a trusted source, someone independent of man’s approval but dependent on God’s.

And how shall they preach, except they be sent? (KJV Romans 10:15)

Sent by whom? Sent by God.

If we need our mind’s renewed, then we need a source that is independent of this world and the systems of this world.

The world is corrupted. And the world is the product of the systems of this world. The systems of this world are the product of the minds of the rulers of this world.

And the religious institutions that receive faith-based initiatives and tax exemptions are not going to teach us anything that doesn’t support this system.

The system of this world produces after its kind after its own likeness.

The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan teaches us that, he who gives us the diameter of our knowledge prescribes the circumference of our activity.

What that means is that your actions are determined by the source of your knowledge.

   But in keeping with God’s promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells (KJV 2 Peter 3:13)