_ According to  Estebsar information center, my name is (Robert Carter) Muhammad Ali Carter. I chose this name after I became a Muslim. I am from England and I want to explain how I came to believe that Islam and Shia religion is the path of real truth.

_ At school I had Muslim classmates who were my close friends. And school was the place that I met Muslims and understood in more detail that Muslims believe in something. Every time  I saw a Muslim, I asked him/her about Islam. After a while, I realized that I would like to know more and more about Islam. I was impressed a lot by Islamic rituals like praying five times to God, chastity and modesty prescribed  in Islam, and fasting during the month of Ramadan and all of these brought me closer to God and gave me a special sense of satisfaction and peace. I understood that the behavior and character of Islam makes God pleased with me.

_ During the time I was  reading the Quran, I was deeply fascinated by its teachings. living  in a non Islamic environment  and comparing it with the verses of the Quran made me realize how much the life that surrounds me is worldly, materialistic and pointless. I understood that some of the issues that there are in our society like consuming alcohol, participating in the sinful parties, philandering with women, being attached to money and not caring about ‘your words, your food, your deeds’ are big mistake and cause abnormalities, wrong thinking and a polluted mind and even an inappropriate society. On the other hand, studying the Quran and paying attention to the lives of Muslims gave me a correct understanding of Islam. Although the Quran was revealed 1400 years ago by God’s messenger to improve human life, the need for it is still felt.  And all the moral and social issues that at the present time are not still resolved and are debated, were answered 1400 years ago. So , I felt I want to be closer to God.

_ After I embraced Islam and learned the basic principles of the Quran, perhaps the next step was to become a Shiite. Naturally, when you want to know the Prophet Muhammad you subconsciously associate with personalities such as Ali who was raised by the Prophet and also Fatima ,the Prophet’s daughter, and his Ahl_al Bait. I had two Muslim friends. One of them was Shia  and the other was Sunni. Both of them explained the history of Islam from their own ideological point of view. I had an opportunity to simply become a Sunni but I, in person, like history and when studying the history of Islam and examining its facts and events. I noticed the attention and love of the Prophet for Hazrat Ali and his family. Also, I understood that Imam Ali, without a doubt, was the most honest, loyal and closest person to the Prophet and He was also one of His family members. Imam Ali followed the Prophet better than anyone else and this is the reason why the Shiite follow Him and the rest of Imams after him. Because the Shiits know that Imams can  adapt the lives of the Muslims to the Teachings of the God and instructions of the Prophet at any time.

_ In the month of Muharram,  I stop my work and participate in conferences and meetings to know more about the incident of Ashura and what happened to the Prophet’s family. I was deeply sorry and saddened when becoming aware of the details of this incident and knowing how the Prophet’s grandchild  sacrificed himself and his family to save Islam and humanity. Even though, Muharram is a time of mourning but I feel happy since in this month I get to know more people who love Ahl_al Bait and I feel especially sense of brotherhood and intimacy with them. And also, in this month, I get to know the great personalities of the incident of Karbala and their sacrifices.

_ I was gradually introduced to the Teachings of Islam and Shiism by  a religious Lebanese family. They showed me the facts of the history of Islam and Imams and introduced me to their pure and correct beliefs. I learned that the culture of mourning for Imam Hussein and his companions and even shedding tears and beating one’s chest is so that we don’t forget that great incident. And Imam Hussein’s  great message of seeking Justice and being revolutionary reaches other Generations after Hazrat Zeinab.