My name is Frank
Estrada. I was raised a Roman Catholic. I was so
devout, I even hoped to one day serve in the
priesthood. I accepted the churches teachings even
when I didn't agree with them. I even took every
chance I got to convert people in the hopes of
bringing them to Allah.
While serving in
the US Marines, I did two tours in the Middle East. In
a short time, I developed a hatred for Arabs and
Islam. After I left active duty, I took a job with a
company as a network administrator in Iraq. I worked
with a man named Ahmed. In the beginning I didn't
trust him simply because of his background. I'm lucky
that he was patient with me.
Slowly, due to
my ignorance, he taught me about the Prophet, may God
praise him, and the Quran. He didn't teach me with
words; rather, he showed me that Muslims are not evil
through his actions. More than that, he taught me the
truth of Allah's Message.
After I came
home, I began to study Islam seriously. I took a world
religions course at Mesa Community College. Though I
found the course prejudicial to Islam, it seemed to
push me closer to it. I met a young woman named Amal
in the class. We would spend hours talking and
debating about Islam and Catholicism. I found her
arguments both logical and reasonable.
I started taking
Arabic courses, so I could learn to read and
understand the Quran properly. I still have a long way
to go. I spoke to everyone I knew that was Muslim but,
more than that, I watched them to see if their actions
matched their words. I never saw any hypocrisy. I even
went to the Masjid in Tempe, Arizona to talk to other
Muslims and to the Imam.
What finally
brought me to my conversion though, was the Shahadah.
I read it and tried to see how it fit with my beliefs.
I compared it to the First Commandment and found them
to be identical. It was at that point that I had an
epiphany.
Catholicism,
whatever else it was, was polytheistic. The
realization was shattering to me. I knew at that point
that I could not obey the laws of Allah and continue
to praise Prophet Jesus, may God praise him, as his
son.
I talked it over
with my wife. She was concerned, to say the least. We
spent hours discussing what it would do to our family.
She went with me to the Masjid where we spoke with a
man named Muhammed. Not only was he able to sway her
fears, she decided to convert as well!
Becoming Muslim
was no doubt the right decision. My friends and
family, save my parents, were very supportive. My
father would not speak to me for the next three
months. My wife's family, to this day is still
unsupportive. I have no doubt that Allah will soften
their hearts in the future.
I thank Allah
for all the people he has brought into my life to show
me the truth. I thank Him for giving me a mind to
understand the truth. More than that, I thank Allah
for my loving and understanding wife who has come to
the truth with me.
I shall end this
paper as I began the day. There is no deity worthy of
worship but Allah, and Muhammad is His prophet.
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