Here is the Story...I am an American, I was born and raised in Italy to American parents (Military Family in Italy for 13 years) , my sister is a roman catholic., When I was young I asked my father about religion and he said the basic truth is on the dollar " in GOD we trust" (la illaha il la lah) that had a less than Admirable life in the states before coming to Islam. in 1997,
I was in the hospital due to my drinking that nearly killed me. well two weeks later I was drunk again and got arrested, for being drunk in public... well the judge sentenced me to Rehabilitation ..I did the 12 steps but there was a hurtle about God.. Up until that time, I had worked successfully on yachts all over the world as crew, as a boat builder, and a Drunk...
well after rehab.. I decided to go to the country and work at a horse ranch tending to 150 horses and went to a local community college to finish my education, for the most part it was bits and pieces from one college to another, (I liked beer more than the books) During that time I got my engineering degree in applied science and some computer classes.
I was always approached by the Christian fundamental right, to join the church etc... so I turned my focus towards the study of religion. Since, I understood Christianity from Italy and being introduced to the Baptist church , I began to have a bad taste in my mouth about the falsehoods and contradictions they preached (the Baptist) I had met this man from the Nation of Islam, who told me I was the blue eyed devil …well I grew up knowing Muslims in Italy from Nigeria, Morocco, and Turkey . How can this be so full of hatred…
Therefore, I embarked up a study… First, I compared all the religions of Abraham, the Jews, the Christians and Islam; I read all the books and tried to interpret all the text… When I read the encyclopedia of Islam I was hooked and kept reading every book I could find on Islam,.
Having moved from the Ranch to Washington D.c. I becam involved in the Islamic community at the Masjid , Took classes, Studied in tafsir, and the mahad al deen funded by the Saudi Government.
My efforts were successful, I taught swimming and horseback riding for the Islamic community center, Doing the slaughter of sheep during EID, everything according to Sunnah, and operated my own boat building and repair business IN Washington D.C. I owned two boats a 37 foot sail boat I lived on and a 35 foot houseboat as my workshop…and I lived in the highest rent district of Washington D.C. and paid a fraction of the people who lived in condos across the street.
At Some point during My activities , My future wife (the Kuwait)who was visiting to the States attending some lectures at johns Hopkins University Medical school had seen(observed me in the community) me and asked a Kuwait Brother to get my information and my email , for she wanted to Know how I understood Islam. ETC…That was the year 2000, during that time I never talked to her, only corresponded by e-mail; our discussions were always about deen and Islam and the things I learned and what I was working on.
Well 9/11/2001 happened and I was ONE (1) Km from the pentagon at the Marina working on a boat for a customer, That is the first time I ever talked to my wife.. I could not call anywhere inside D.C. but she called me from Kuwait to ask how I was doing….we talked for 12 hours… at that point I knew she was the right woman for me….I Had never been married before nor did I have children..Nevertheless, I was a Pious, bearded Muslim American…
It is funny about the quadar of Allah; I started loosing in my business, people did not want me to work on their yachts BECAUSE I was a Muslim, I never kept it a secret and I never worked on Fridays…
I opted in Closing down my business because the lack of business and the bad taste the High profile politician customers I had left in my mouth. I asked my Future wife about Kuwait and the opportunities there. Then I asked to talk to her wali (her brother) I contacted him and expressed my interest in his sister for marriage… he explained the virtue and tradition, and that I needed to be in Kuwait. I discussed it with the Saudi Imam at the masjid, and how I thought I should move from America for a Hijri ,not for the sake of marriage but for the sake of my islam. I started selling all of my material assets, Boats tools business contracts, paid my debts off..and started looking for a job in Kuwait … well I found a job working for the Army base here in 2002, at the same time the Masjid gave me the best gift any man could receive..A free paid for in full trip to Hajj to mecca and medina, in 2002 I went to hajj then came directly to Kuwait, I worked at the Army base for three months until I could find a private sector job, I did then I went through all the traditions and customs to be able to marry my wife;
It was tough road but I put my iman and ibada in Allah. Since, I really had to prove I was a good Muslim , I purchased a Car , rented a Apartment and furnished all with my own money I brought from the Sale of my business, around 100,000.000 KDto her family I never met her without her brother or guardian. I studied hard so I could recite the whole SURA Baqarah from memory in Arabic; to show my Intentions were pure…I received the approval of her brothers and her father…. Even some of her distant relatives….
For our marriage I paid a 4000 KD mahar (dowry), we had the traditional wedding party…

Al hamdulah allah, now we have three beautiful children. Moreover, we live a good and halal life, we own land in Kuwait, America, and Oman. I have provided the best life I can for my family.