Umrah 2025

Sister Seshatms (Suh-shot-miss) Maatnefert

بِسْمِ ٱللّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ 

bi-smi llāhi r-raḥmāni r-raḥīmi

(With the name of God Allah, The Beneficent Benefactor, The Beneficent Redeemer).

MY Story : Childhood & Teenage Years– Oneness in Allah/God Seed Planted

The Oneness of God has been with me since I can remember before I knew Islam. I vividly recall my father teaching me the Lord’s Prayer when I was around three years old. I continued to pray nightly and each day to God since I was three years old. Although my family attended church, I only knew the One God. The Trinity and Jesus/Isa as God taught in Sunday school never made sense to me. I could not accept it growing up. I questioned why praises and worship were given to the created being, Jesus/Isa instead of the Creator who created Jesus/Isa (Peace be upon him/Alayhis Salaam (AS)). My father, a Christian minister, and my mother, a deaconess, taught me that God did not have nor needed any intercessors or an intermediary (God is One without partners). My parents taught me to communicate and pray directly to the One God, the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth. In Sunday school, a young nun impressed me with her spiritual teachings and I wanted to become a nun when I was in high school. I visited the nun monastery, and it was not Allah’s (SWT) will for me to be a nun. 

Adulthood – Islamic Introduction

In college, I learned that the original Bible scriptures were changed for political reasons with clear documentation of what was changed, left out, and replaced such as the Trinity and Jesus/Isa (AS) as God were not in the original scriptures. Allah guided me through spiritual and cultural circles where I experienced the oneness in the common good in Christianity, eastern theologies, Indigenous and African cultures, and interfaith communities. I loved spiritual retreats and programs for peace and meditation as a young adult seeking closeness and understanding of God. I thought a monastic life was the answer, and it was not Allah’s (SWT) will for me to be a monk. 

In college, I was introduced to Islam by reading the “Autobiography of Malcolm X”. I was invited to attend a Nation of Islam (NOI) meeting on the college campus and eventually joined to become an active member for several years. I appreciated the spirituality for social justice and self-development but I did not believe in the NOI teaching about Allah being in a person. My father (May Allah God be pleased with him and grant him the highest in paradise. Ameen) spoke at a Nation of Islam meeting and taught the unity God in Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. In Islam/Arabic, God is Allah; in Christianity/Aramaic, God is Alaha; and in Judaism/Hebrew, God is Aloha/ Eloha. 

Adulthood – Beginning Again on the Straight Path (El Mustaqeem)

The healthcare work I do involves local and distance travel and I have connected with several beautiful Muslim communities that Allah guided me for reasons only Allah knows: Harlem Center of Al-Islam, Masjid Warithuddeen Mohammed,  Masjid Malcolm Shabazz, Masjid Muhammad, Islamic Center of Long Island, Eesa Ibn Maryam Masjid, and the Muslim American Society (MAS) Ibn Sina Masjid. My recent prayer and supplication was to fill a void with a national spiritual family that I could easily and seamlessly connect to 24/7 no matter where my travels led me. A structured holistic environment for continued growth and teachings for reverts. After my supplication this summer, Allah SWT connected me to Reverts Reconnect who are making the Umrah possible for me Al hamdulillah (All Praises are to Allah/God).

 I have volunteered to teach in Islamic schools and support mosque community programs. Currently, I volunteer on a food truck for the hungry, and attend, volunteer and support in classes, programs, and events. Listening daily to the MAS Qur’an Juz (1/30 of the Qur’an) readings and reflection is fortifying. I am grateful to Allah for allowing me to work full-time to aid our healthcare workers in healing the sick. I am also grateful to Allah for allowing me to attend school full time in a doctorate of education program where my research aims to serve the educational programs for children and adults in the masjid, homeschoolers, and private schools in our communities insha’Allah (Allah/God willing). I am duty-bound to follow Allah’s guidance. 

Jazak’Allahu Khair to the beloved organizers of the Umrah and sponsor program. I am truly grateful to Allah SWT for all of you supporting me from your hearts in prayer and or donations. Ameen.

Hadith by Sahi al-Bukhari 6414, Abdullah bin `Umar said, "Allah's Messenger took hold of my shoulder and said, 'Be in this world as if you were a stranger or a traveler." 

La Ilaha Illallah Muhammadur Rasulullah

لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ ٱللَّٰهِ

These are the three books at the beginning of my journey for knowledge and understanding of my life for peace, happiness, and service to my family, community, and the world.

Continuous right knowledge transformed into action from my trust in Allah God and qualified teachers and supportive sisters and brothers are key to my journey.

My Loving, Supportive, Spiritual, and Intelligent Mother and Grandmother who taught and modeled golden hearts and selfless service. My mother, father, siblings, and grandmother were ahead of their times for social and humanitarian justice and did not wait on the masses to do what was good.

2022 Jail Ain’t No Good - Walk-A-Thon & Juneteenth at Masjid Malcolm Shabazz, Harlem, NY

Muslim American Veteran Association, Masjid Muhammad, Newark NJ

Seerah (Life of Prophet Muhammad (SAW)) Conferences, Masjid Malcolm Shabazz

An award for developing and teaching an academic support curriculum for mathematics, science, and academic achievement for the Sister Clara Mohammed School of Masjid Malcolm Shabazz 

Self-trained for my first 5-K (2022) in six months starting from barely completing jogging a block.

Islamic Center Long Island, New York 

Eesa Ibn Maryam Masjid, Queens

2024 Deeper Meanings Principles of Tafsir, Shaykh Shakiel Humayun and Shaykh Zakareeya Baksh

Interfaith Prayer Room at my workplace for Salah/Prayer and Jumu’ah: 

Torah, Qur’an, Bible.

2024 MAS Reverts Reconnect Sister Picnic & Hike

A Pure Heart, Dr. Haifaa Younis

Al Maghrib Jewels of the Night, Edison, NJ

Ibn Sina Masjid, Queens, NY

MAS Ibn Sina Masjid Certificate 40 Hadith Gems

Gift & Impact the lives of New Muslims through the blessing of Umrah 

The best gift we have given to a new Muslim / Revert to Islam has been the opportunity to make Umrah and visit the house of Allah. These trips for these believers have been transformative and the very thing that has allowed them to take their faith and belief to the next level. Through these generous donations from donors like yourselves we have been able to completely or partially sponsor the umrah of more than 35 people and have take over 90 reverts / new Muslims to make Umrah. 

The Prophet has attached a spectacular reward for those who lead people to good wherein he stated: “Whoever guides someone to a virtuous action will be rewarded equivalent to him who practices that good action.“ (Muslim) 

Based on that great reward mentioned in the Hadith above, you as a donor, will have an Umrah written in your account, prayers worth 1000,000 and 1,000 based on the authentic narrations of the Prophet for those who pray at the Ka’ah and in the Masjid of our beloved Prophet and more. These rewards are unmatched in this life! This is an opportunity of a lifetime for all involved.