It's been 12
years since I married my Muslim husband and the road
has truly been long and winding, but happy. At the
time we got married I was Catholic and had no
intention of converting to Islam.
My new husband
was very understanding and only asked that I at least
try to read an English translation of the Quran from
time to time. I agreed. We soon moved to Kuwait as
the U.S. economy was so weak at that time and it was
impossible to earn a good living.
The minute I
stepped off the plane I was thrust into a whole new
world that was full of Islam, Muslims, cultural
traditions and a whole new way of thinking. To say
that I was shaken to my very core, in blind terror, is
an understatement. All I wanted to do was to jump
right back on that plane and fly away from this
strange new World.
Yet through it
all, my Muslim husband was by my side every step of
the way. When I found that his mother's cooking was
too spicy, he made sure that other food choices were
available, including American gourmet items like
McDonald's and Pizza Hut.
When I was
homesick for my family in the US, he stayed up with me
all night consoling me and offering to take me
"home". Through every happy moment, every illness and
on the days when I was so sad I could barely summon a
smile, my Muslim husband has been right there holding
my hand.
My husband
turned into my teacher as he taught me all about
Islam, fasting and the Islamic prayer.
He is my best
friend, confidant, and the father of my children. He
equally shares in changing dirty diapers, spill patrol
and nipping temper tantrums in the bud. Nothing fazes
him, not even kids throwing up on his brand new shirt
or his having to wash the dishes when I am too tired
to move.
It's unfortunate
that Muslim husbands, especially, get such a bad rap
in the Western media. Quite often Muslim husbands are
portrayed as control freaks who force their wives to
wear "Islamic garb".
The reality is
that both Muslim husbands and wives often choose to
follow an Islamic code of dress because it is ordained
in the Quran and Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad. It is
not an issue of force or a war of wills.
God Almighty
says in the Quran what means:
"Say to the
believing men that they should lower their gaze and
guard their modesty: That will make for greater purity
for them: And God is well acquainted with all that
they do. And say to the believing women that they
should lower their gaze and guard their modesty. That
they should not display their beauty and ornaments
except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof." (Quran
24:30)
For me,
personally, I came to Kuwait wearing a t-shirt and
blue jeans. I wore what I choose and neither my
Muslim husband nor his Muslim family said anything to
me.
However, my
husband did continue to ask me to read the Quran. His
gentle, and sometimes nagging, reminders paid off. I
finally started reading the Quran and my hunger for
more and more Islamic knowledge grew.
I searched and
scoured until I found the truth I had always been
looking for within the pages of the Quran. I made the
decision to become a Muslim and I went shopping for my
first hijab all by myself.
My husband
turned into my teacher as he taught me all about
Islam, fasting and the Islamic prayer. When I made
mistakes or faltered, he did not scold me but
increased his own efforts in teaching me everything
properly.
His patience was
remarkable as my own grew thin. I wanted to know a
lot about Islam and it was just not something that
happened overnight. But it did happen.
Islam has
brought a sense of calm to my very being and a serene
atmosphere to my home as well as my marriage. Since I
became a Muslim I have noticed that I am less stressed
or worried about the future.
I have a lot
more patience and do not get as flustered as I used to
with the little nuances of daily living. Through the
Quran and Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad I have learned
what this life really is all about and strive every
day to engage in good deeds that will open the door to
the next World to come.
Sumayyah Meehan reverted to Islam almost 11 years
ago. She is a Waynesburg College graduate with a BA
in criminal justice. She is working on an Islamic
children's book. She resides in Kuwait with her
husband and three children.
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