How the daughter of Baptize Minister
embraced Islam.
By Amirah
I was born in
Arkansas, USA to Christian parents, who were also born
in Arkansas. In fact as far back as I can trace all
of my family has come from the Southern states here in
the United States. I was raised here all my life on a
farm, where you get up in the morning, milk cows, feed
the chickens and do the rest of the chores. My father
was a Baptist minister, which is just a sect of
Christianity, such as Catholics, Methodist, etc.
These are all
"Christian" religions, but with different doctrines.
It could be best explained to a Muslim as the
differences between the Sunni and the Shiite. I am
Sunni by the way. The town that I lived in was
completely white raced and all Christians. In fact
this was the scenario in a 300 mile radius of me. So
I had never been exposed to any other cultures or
religions. But I had always been taught that we were
all created equal in the eyes of God, and that there
was no difference in race, color, culture or religious
practices. Later I discovered that this was easy for
them to preach and teach as long as they stayed closed
minded and these other people did not invade their
world.
The first time I
saw a Muslim was while I was in college at the
University of Arkansas. I will admit at first I
stared at the women in their "different clothing" and
the men with the towels wrapped around their heads and
wearing "night gowns". Nonetheless, when I felt
comfortable enough to ask about Islam, it started a
‘chain reaction', a non-ending quest to seek knowledge
that will not be quenched. Alhamdulillah (all
praise is due to Allah)!
I met a woman
from Palestine, who I will never forget. She would
talk to me about her country and culture. I was
especially fascinated by what she would tell me about
Islam. It was amazing; I had never seen a person with
such a sense of inner peace! Even though I had never
voiced this to anyone, I had always questioned in my
mind the concept of what Christians called the
"Trinity" and why we had to pray to Jesus, may God
praise him, and not to God directly, and why so much
emphasis was put on "Christ" and not God.
My friend did
everything she could do to convince me that Islam was
the only religion that would take me to heaven, and
that it was not just another religion; it was a way of
life. My friend graduated six months later and
returned to Palestine. She was killed two weeks later
outside of her home. I was devastated; it was like a
part of me had died with her. We knew that when she
returned home our chances of ever seeing each other
again in this life was very unlikely, but she told me
that what was most important to her was that she
wanted to see me in the Hereafter in "Paradise".
During this time
I had met and made friends with a lot of people from
the Middle East. They also helped me deal with the
loss of my friend. This was also when I came to love
the Arabic language. It was beautiful.
I would listen
to tapes of the Qur'an for hours, even though I didn't
have any idea what was being said. Even today, I love
to have someone read to me from the Qur'an, and I
still can't understand what is being said, but it
still touches my heart and soul. I didn't have time
to really learn any Arabic in college, I was lucky to
remember my homework assignment. But I am trying very
hard now to learn how to speak and read it,
Insha'Allah (by the will of Allah). And for those
who have ever listened to me speak Arabic or type in
"Arabic English", they can tell you I have along way
to go. And I thank them for their patience and
tutoring.
After I left
college and returned to my community, I didn't have
the honor to be around Muslims any longer. But the
thirst for acquiring knowledge had never left nor had
my love and desire for the Arabic language. Which I
might add infuriated my parents and other friends.
This confused me, because I had always been taught
that we were all equal in God's eyes. I guess there
were a few exceptions to this concept for my friends
and family.
Then in the
spring of 1995, God brought someone into my life.
This person was such a wonderful example of what a
Muslim should be and what Islam was about that once
again, I began to ask questions. I was even taken to
my first mosque. That will be a memory that shall
forever be etched into my memory.
For 8 months I
studied everything he could possibly find me and read
and listened to tapes continuously. Then on February
15th,1996, I officially embraced Islam.
ALHAMDULILLAH!!!!!!!! [All praises and thanks are due
to God].
Our engagement
was broken because his parents were against the idea
of him marrying an American. Even though we are no
longer engaged, I respect and admire him greatly. And
I would never give up my Islam.
Since February
15th my life has taken many turns. When I
became engaged to an "Arabian" or "foreigner", my
family was in shock, they rarely spoke to me. I also
lost most of my American friends. But when I embraced
Islam, my family first tried to have me committed to a
mental hospital, when that didn't work, they
completely disowned me. They called me up every so
often to express their desires that I rot in Hell. I
also received calls from my so-called friends who
would state the same. Yes this hurt, even though my
family and I had many differences, I still loved them
deeply.
Alhamdulillah wa
"Subhanaallah" my Eeman (faith in Islam) was strong.
The last time I
spoke to my family was two days after the bombing in
Saudi Arabia. My uncle and cousin were killed in the
bombing...my family called again to tell me of the
news and to "assure" me that my family members that
were killed in the bombing loved me. BUT their blood
was on my head and all my terrorist friends. I cried
for days, but once again, my Eeman stood strong and I
continued.
The next turn in
my life was when I returned home one afternoon four
days after the bombing to find that someone had shot
at windows of my home, and spray painted "TERRORIST
LOVER" down the side of one of my vehicles. The
police were no help to me at all. That same night
while chatting in the "Muslim Chat" I heard gunshots
outside. They had returned, and finished almost all
the remaining windows that were left in my home, and
killed my pets that were outside.
Upon the arrival
of the police I was told that unless I could give
positive identifications of these people and the
vehicles they were driving, it would otherwise be
almost impossible for them to be found. I begged them
to check my vehicles for any damage; I wanted to go to
a motel so I would feel safer. I was told absolutely
not, they were concerned that my "TERRORIST" friends
could have planted a bomb in one of them as a trap for
the police. I crumbled to the ground on my knees
crying out for God's mercy and guidance.
Allah's answered
me very faithfully. I was attacked one night in a
parking lot by an unknown man that proceeded to beat
me, stab me, break my wrist and fracture some ribs.
This person has been caught, and is awaiting trial,
but at this time he is only doing public service work
for this town. Last week when I went to pick up my
clothing at the dry cleaners I was informed they had
been lost; the lost articles included all my hijabs,
jilbabs, abayahs and khimars. How convenient for them
to have lost these items!
The town I live
in is very small and there are no other Muslims or
Arabs even close. The closest mosque is 120 miles
away. Even though I am alone as to the fact that I do
not have any other Muslims to visit with and learn
from, Alhamdulillah, God is always there!!
What little
knowledge I have about Islam has been gained through
reading everything I can find on the internet, and
through my true friends and family on the Internet. I
will never give up...but I would like to thank a very
special Palestinian brother for his love, support,
friendship and prayers during these past few weeks.
You know who you are. God bless you richly. To my
other Muslim brothers and sisters on the Internet, I
love you and I thank you.
I am not writing
this story in hopes of gaining pity. I do ask that
everyone continue to pray for me, or anyone that is
reading this to be assured that God will never let you
down.
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