Joshua Adam Charbonneau is an American Muslim. He was born in 1982 in Sumter, South Carolina. He is of French Canadian and American descent. He was born into a Christian family, and later chose to revert to Shi’a Islam at the age of 17, having studied both faiths. After reverting to Islam he chose the name Mateen which in Arabic means strong, firm and unshakable. His first language is English and he also learned Quranic Arabic. At age 26 he moved to Washington, DC area and has been an active part of the Muslim community.
Now he is currently continuing higher studies. Other activities include teaching classes for Imam Sadiq Howza, majalis, jumah services, weekly youth and adult classes in various communities throughout the United States.
He took part in a documentary entitled Journey of the Spirit where he narrated his incredible story on how he became a Shia Muslim. In 2012 he had the opportunity to travel to visit the Holy shrines of Imam Ali (as) and Imam Hussain (as) in Iraq for Ziyarat Arbaeen and again in 2015 and 2016 he had the opportunity to revisit Iraq for Arbaeen where he also had the privilege to visit Masjid al-Kufa and the shrines of Imam Kadhim (as) and Imam Jawad (as) in Kadhimiyya, Baghdad. Since March of 2013 he has been studying Howza (Islamic Seminary) classes under the esteemed scholars such as Sheikh Mustafa Akhound, Sheikh Mirza Abbas Shamsuddin, Sheikh Saed Kulayni and Sheikh Mohammad Baghernejad. Mateen has also compiled and published some very in-depth books entitled The Suffering of the Ahl ul Bayt and their Followers (Shia) throughout History, Christians who defended and died for Prophet Muhammad and his Family, Mystery of the Shia and a Study Guide for Logic. These titles are available at Amazon. In 2014 he co-founded a publication company entitled Yasin Publications and also a program to send free books to prisoners entitled 2nd Chance Books. Received his turban from the hand of Sheikh Ahmad al-Haeri on the martyrdom of Muslim ibn Aqil (ra) / Day of Arafat in 2016. He was also crowned with the turban from the respected and honorable marja’ Ayatollah Sayed Muhammad Taqi Modaressi on the 3rd of Shabaan / the birth anniversary of Imam Sajjad (as) in the Holy city of Karbala, Iraq. Now he is currently living in Virginia still continuing higher studies and also teaching classes for Imam Mahdi Howza.
- Converted to Shia Islam on July 2nd 1999 at the age of 17
- Learned Quranic Arabic in the year 2000
- Independently studied Islamic books full time from the year 1999-2007
- Filmed a documentary entitled The Journey of the Spirit in 2011
- Started studying Islamic Seminary classes (Howza) in March 2013 at Imam Ali Center in Springfield, Virginia and also studied abroad in Najaf al-Ashraf and Karbala. His teachers include Sheikh Mustafa Akhound, Sheikh Mirza Abbas Shamsudin, Sheikh Saed Ali Kulayni , Sheikh Muhammad BagherNejad, Sayed Ibn Abbas Naqvi, Sheikh Mohammad Jafar Danesh, Sayed Baqir Imrani, Sayed Raad al-Alawi, Sayed Muhammad Baqir Shirazi, Sayed Muhammad Baqir Qazwini, Sayed Murtadha Modarresi, Sayed Mohsen Modarresi, Sayed Sajjad Modarresi, Sheikh Abul Hassan Yemaani, Sheikh Haani al-Hakim and Sayyid Anvar Sajadi.
- Authored several books entitled; The Suffering of the Ahl ul Bayt and their Followers (Shia) throughout History, Christians who defended and died for Prophet Muhammad and his Family (English, Spanish, French), Mystery of the Shia, A Study Guide for Logic, an extensive book of narrations entitled Prophetic Gems, A Commentary to the Faith of Shia Islam (Aqaed Imamiyya) of Allama Muzaffar, Recalling the Sacrifices of Karbala and Esteemed Women of Islam.
- Founded an online library on Facebook in 2013 entitled; Shia Books for Free Download that now has 90,000+ members
- Founded a nonprofit organization to send free books to prisoners in March 2014 entitled; 2nd Chance Books which within the first 7 years has sent 20,000 Shia books inside the prisons throughout more than half of the country. The program has over 2,500 American Shia converts participating.
- Filmed a documentary for Ahlulbayt TV entitled Faith Behind Bars
- Achieved a certificate from Harvard University in Islamic Studies
- Had articles about my life published in magazines in America, Iran, China and Azerbaijan
- Was crowned with the turban from the hand of Sheikh Ahmad al-Haeri on the martyrdom of Muslim ibn Aqil (ra) / Day of Arafat in 2016
- Filmed an Autism Awareness workshop for Muslim communities
- 2017 started teaching online classes for Imam Sadiq Howza
- Was crowned with the turban from the respected and honorable marja’ Ayatollah Sayed Muhammad Taqi Modaressi on the 3rdof Shabaan / the birth anniversary of Imam Sajjad (as) in the Holy city of Karbala, Iraq 2018
- Was certified at the 17th annual conference of Shia scholars of N. America and Canada for Mediation training by the Northern Virginia Mediation Service (NVMS)
- 2019 Faculty Member of John the Martyr Seminary of Karbala
May 10 2023
Sheikh Mateen Charbonneau
Joshua Adam Charbonneau is an American Muslim. He was born in 1982 in Sumter, South Carolina. He is of French Canadian and American descent. He was born into a Christian family, and later chose to revert to Shi’a Islam at the age of 17, having studied both faiths. After reverting to Islam he chose the name Mateen which in Arabic means strong, firm and unshakable. His first language is English and he also learned Quranic Arabic. At age 26 he moved to Washington, DC area and has been an active part of the Muslim community.
Now he is currently continuing higher studies. Other activities include teaching classes for Imam Sadiq Howza, majalis, jumah services, weekly youth and adult classes in various communities throughout the United States.
He took part in a documentary entitled Journey of the Spirit where he narrated his incredible story on how he became a Shia Muslim. In 2012 he had the opportunity to travel to visit the Holy shrines of Imam Ali (as) and Imam Hussain (as) in Iraq for Ziyarat Arbaeen and again in 2015 and 2016 he had the opportunity to revisit Iraq for Arbaeen where he also had the privilege to visit Masjid al-Kufa and the shrines of Imam Kadhim (as) and Imam Jawad (as) in Kadhimiyya, Baghdad. Since March of 2013 he has been studying Howza (Islamic Seminary) classes under the esteemed scholars such as Sheikh Mustafa Akhound, Sheikh Mirza Abbas Shamsuddin, Sheikh Saed Kulayni and Sheikh Mohammad Baghernejad. Mateen has also compiled and published some very in-depth books entitled The Suffering of the Ahl ul Bayt and their Followers (Shia) throughout History, Christians who defended and died for Prophet Muhammad and his Family, Mystery of the Shia and a Study Guide for Logic. These titles are available at Amazon. In 2014 he co-founded a publication company entitled Yasin Publications and also a program to send free books to prisoners entitled 2nd Chance Books. Received his turban from the hand of Sheikh Ahmad al-Haeri on the martyrdom of Muslim ibn Aqil (ra) / Day of Arafat in 2016. He was also crowned with the turban from the respected and honorable marja’ Ayatollah Sayed Muhammad Taqi Modaressi on the 3rd of Shabaan / the birth anniversary of Imam Sajjad (as) in the Holy city of Karbala, Iraq. Now he is currently living in Virginia still continuing higher studies and also teaching classes for Imam Mahdi Howza.
By english • Autobiographies of converts(of those converted to Shiaism) • 0 • Tags: Converted story, Joshua Adam Charbonneau, Mostabserin, Sheikh Mateen Charbonneau