Prison Outreach - Student Profile
"My name is Rodney Eugene Thomas. I accepted Islam in the summer of 1986. Upon taking my shahadah I practiced Islam without fear of Allah, or the presence of Allah in my deeds and actions. Without proper guidance Islam to me was an abstract in black and white. There was little or no personal attachment in what I was doing. I was simply going through the motions. There was a point in time when if I felt like praying I prayed and if I didn't feel like it I didn't. It was like having a garden for many years taking pride in turning its soil, straightening its rows but never planting a seed nor watering its fertile soil. There was no color, taste or smell. But there was something about it that kept me wanting to turn the soil knowing that there was a seed and water was not far off. I then came to a point where my simply going through the motions had a greater impact on me than I knew. I began to strengthen in faith. Now simply going through the motions became a life's need that if I did not fulfill it, I didn't feel complete. I began to do a lot of my prayers in cells alone. Doing this helped me to understand many things about myself. First and foremost that I wasn't simply going through the motions anymore just to be seen by others. I was now truly praying for the blessings of my Lord.
In November 2002 at Avenal State Prison I met a brother who carried with him an abundance of water and seeds and shared them with me. The first of these seeds blossomed into the text of Imam al-Tahawi's "Belief Ahl al-sunnah Wa al- Jama'a, the second The Book of Imam al-Akhdari transl: Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, third Purification of the Heart Shaykh Muhammad Maulud transl: Shaykh Hamza Yusuf. Before knowledge of traditional Islam I simply had a plot of land barren and desolate. With traditional Islam I have begun to cultivate a garden of beauty. I feel now an attachment that was not felt before. I see a beauty the likes of which I have never imagined before. The garden that I began to cultivate so many years ago is now a thing of beauty for which I am eternally grateful. Thanks to my brothers and teachers in traditional Islam: Ustadh Rami Nsour, Ustadh Nabil Afifi, Ustadh Yusuf ibn Wiley, and to all of the Brothers and Sisters at the Tayba Foundation who support and understand the need of the Muslims free or incarcerated.
In my opinion the work being done by the Tayba Foundation, it's teachers and students, is a work needed by many Muslims, including myself. For those who utilize the Tayba Foundation and its services Allah will benefit them with knowledge and understanding. I thank you all!"
Rodney Abdul-Hakim Thomas