 Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim. Alhamdulillah wa-as-salatu wa-as-salamu ala Ashraf al-Ambiai wa-al-Mursaleen Sayyidina wa-mawlana wa-habibina Muhammad. Salallahu alayhi wa-sallam wa-alayhi wa sahbihi wa-sallam tasreeman katira. As-salamu alaikum wa-rahmatullahi wa-barakatuh. Alhamdulillah, it is a blessed day here in the month of Rabia al-Awal. We are joined today with sister Simran and her four beautiful friends who are part of this journey with her. She has decided at the tender age of 15, mashallah, to make the move forward and take her Shahada today. It is really a very momentous occasion for all of us. We've all been very emotional just in these past few moments leading up to this. So we are really, really honored to have all of you here. I would love for myself and all of us here to hear about your journey. Simran, would you like to share some words about how you got to this point? Okay, so I was raised with Hinduism and then I went to a Christian school so I was taught Christianity and then when I changed schools, I was introduced to them and they started teaching me about Islam. So I started making more sense in Christianity. So then I was like, why should I believe in something that doesn't make sense to me when I should just convert to Islam? Which makes sense to me. And how long have you been studying it now with your friends? Maybe less than a year. Less than a year. And so who in this friends group, if I can ask one of you perhaps to also share who did you meet first or who met Simran first here? You want to share how this friendship came together and how did you start to introduce Islam to her? Yeah, so basically I had a friend who introduced me to her because I didn't really know her that much. But then I got to know her and find out that she's trying to convert to Islam. So I just tried to help. Wonderful. And then the rest of you all kind of just started hanging out together. So you know, today as you all know, religion isn't really a topic that I think adults anyway think teens are that interested in. So we're pretty, I think, blown away that you all felt so comfortable to talk about these topics. Now, did one of you initiate the conversation on religion or were you just curious? Did you ask questions? Yeah, I started asking questions. You started asking questions. And then you started to answer these questions. That's beautiful. Okay, wow. And so less than a year and you've been studying and so you know about the core beliefs of Islam. You know about the five pillars. Great. And you know the obvious differences between Islam and as you said, Christianity, which you were studying before, that we do not believe in a Triune God and we're a monotheistic situation. Very good. Okay. Well, I know that you are really eager for this moment. So I don't want to delay any longer. So the process to become a Muslim is really easy. Alhamdulillah. You just have to declare in front of witnesses that you believe and that you testify to the belief that is firmly in your heart. And so we actually always say that you're already Muslim because clearly even upon meeting you we could see the love in your presence. So it's already there. But this is just a formal process that we do. So I will read the phrase that or the declaration, the testimony in Arabic. And you can repeat after me and I'll go very slow so that I don't rush you through it. And then I'll read the translation and that will be a very simple process. Okay. All right. So we say, Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim, we say, Ash. Ash. Hadu. An. La. Ilaha. Ilaha. Il Allah. Il Allah. Wa. Wa. Ash. Hadu. An. La. Muhammadan. Muhammadan. Rasool Allah. Rasool Allah. Very good. Mashallah. Takbir. Muhammadan. Muhammadan. Muhammadan. Rasool Allah. Rasool Allah. Very good. Mashallah. Takbir. Muhammadan. Muhammadan. Muhammadan. So that is the phrase. You just said, I testify that there is no God with a small G, right? He is the most un- Christian. Many you are see, Newviiه Jesus. M- Mesalaam ala s- gram.. M- Mesalaam ala s- gamma.. Mass NH? S- S- S- S- M- S- S- Oh. M- S- And then we can ask some questions. Maybe they have some reflections to show. So go in for it, sisters. We can share some, some hugs. Mashallah. There are going to be a lot of tears today. And reflecting back on this beautiful day. Happy tears, of course. Tears of joy, of relief, of gratitude, immense gratitude. It's a beautiful reminder for all of us as well who have been gifted this deen to see how Allah Subh'anaHu Wa Ta'ala guides whomever He wills. And here we have someone at 15 who, masha'Allah, heard the call and is responding. And Alhamdulillah for a beautiful company. What a wonderful display to see these beautiful sisters on this journey together. You know, we sometimes underestimate our younger generation, but masha'Allah, this is a reminder for all of us. The power of beautiful gatherings, beautiful friendships, masha'Allah. Alhamdulillah. Thank you so much for sharing. May I also have a hug? I know there's going to be a line of people also after this, but I'd like to now just ask, would all of you maybe take a moment just because we want this memory to be preserved for our dear sister Simran? What reflections would you like to share for her? Any, just one advice maybe that you have based on your experience? I mean, clearly, masha'Allah, you all love this faith. Alhamdulillah. What advice would you like to impart? I know you've probably already been giving her, but anything that you want to tell her now? Very good. I'd like to say that, like, sometimes, like, in life, things happen where we get very stressed and our soul's finding peace. And we don't know where to look for that peace. And I remember a time in my life where I was very low and I was looking for peace. I'd go to people, friends and family to find that peace. I'd talk to them about my problem. And they'd try their best, but my soul didn't find what it was searching for. And even as a Muslim, you know, just because you're a Muslim doesn't mean you found being. You have to search for it. And through that hard time, when I really, like, I didn't know any other option, I decided to go to Umrah. And when I saw the Kaaba for the first time, that's when my soul got the peace it was looking for. And that was the day I realized that no matter where you look for peace, the peace is always with you. Allah is always with you. So when you turn to Allah, that's where you find your ultimate peace. So my advice to her is that don't ever look for peace in people or friends or anything but Allah, because that's where you're never going to get disappointed. It's a very overwhelming moment right now. So Masha'Allah, you guys will have plenty of time to talk about anything you'd like to share. I feel like the outside world is like, you know, they teach you the wrong things and stuff. And if you're sad and stuff, you talk to people about it. That's like the most important thing and person should talk to it a lot because no matter what, he's been with you and always will be with you. Sir, say a few words of wisdom really, Simran. Masha'Allah, thank you so much for sharing ladies. And thank you for also sharing your journey. Did you have any final words to share? Yeah, right now it's a lot. Masha'Allah. Well, thank you. I want to, on behalf of MCC, this community, thank you so much for choosing this message to take your shadow. It's your family. We are your family. You have these beautiful friends as, of course, your extended family, but you've just inherited a lot of more brothers and sisters, inshallah. We hope to see you here as often as possible. I do Halafas here. Dr. Rania has women's Halafas. There's also other wonderful programs throughout the month that you can participate in. And we also have a gift here for you that we curate for our new converts. Masha'Allah, it's got everything that you need as you continue to grow in your faith, inshallah. Again, thank you for the honor. This is just such a tremendous gift you've given us. You know, there's a lot of things people could be doing on a Tuesday morning, but I wouldn't be anywhere else. So thank you, Simran. May Allah make it easy for you, inshallah, and continue to open your path and bring you more and more beautiful souls like the friends that you have here. Thank you. Thank you as well, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you all. Alhamdulillah, Jazakumul Al Khair.