I was born in Arkansas to Christian parents, both of whom were also born in Arkansas. Rather, whenever I traced my family’s roots, I found them extending to the southern states of the United States
I was born in Arkansas to Christian parents, both of whom were also born in Arkansas. Rather, whenever I traced my family’s roots, I found them extending to the southern states of the United States. I grew up on a farm my whole life; We wake up at dawn, milk the cows, feed the chickens, and perform all other daily chores. My father was a Baptist minister, which is a sect of Christianity, such as Catholics, Methodists, and others.
These are all religions called “Christianity,” but they differ in doctrine. The differences between them can be likened to what exists between Sunnis and Shiites — I am Sunni, by the way. The town I lived in was majority white, all Christian. Rather, this was the case in the region in a circle extending three hundred miles around me. I had never come into contact with other cultures or religions. However, I was always taught that we are all created equal before God, and that there is no difference between race, color, culture, or religious practice. Then I later discovered that it was easy to raise this slogan as long as its owners closed themselves off and “others” did not approach their world.
The first time I saw a Muslim was when I was in college, at the University of Arkansas. I admit that at first I stared at the women with their “different” clothes, and the men with their turbans and long dresses. But when I had the opportunity to meet a Muslim woman with whom I felt comfortable asking my questions, a thirst began in my heart that would never be quenched. Thank God!!!
I will never forget her. She was from Palestine, and I used to sit with her for long hours listening to stories about her country and its culture. But what attracted me most was her religion… Islam. There was a strange stillness inside her, a peace I had never seen in anyone before. To this day, I still remember her talk about the prophets, peace be upon them, and about God Almighty. Without telling anyone, I was wondering to myself about the concept of the “Trinity.”“ In Christianity, why do we pray to Jesus, peace be upon him, and not pray to God directly, and why is the focus placed on “Christ” more than on God himself?
My friend did everything in her power to convince me that Islam is the true religion that leads to heaven, and that it is not just another religion, but a way of life. She graduated six months later and returned to Palestine, and was killed two weeks later in front of her house. I was destroyed from within; It’s like a part of me died with her. We knew that the possibility of us meeting again in this world was weak, but she used to say that the most important thing she wished for was to see me in the afterlife in “Paradise.”“.
During that period, I met many friends from the Middle East, and they helped me overcome the loss of my friend. There I began to fall in love with the Arabic language. She is beautiful.
I listened for hours to tapes of the Qur’an, even though I did not understand anything that was being recited. Even today, I love having the Qur’an recited to me, and even if I do not understand its meanings, my heart is touched by it. At university I didn’t have time to really learn Arabic, and I could barely keep up with my classwork. Now, I will strive to learn to read and pronounce it, God willing. Whoever hears me speak Arabic or write it in Latin letters knows that the road ahead of me is long, and I thank them for their patience and teaching me.
After I left the university and returned to my “community,” I no longer had the privilege of being close to Muslims as I had before. However, the thirst did not leave me, and my love and longing for the Arabic language did not fade, which was something that angered my parents and some of my friends. This puzzled me, as I had been raised to believe that we are all equal before God. But this rule seemed to have exceptions to my family and some of my acquaintances.
Then in the spring of 1995, God Almighty brought a new person into my life. He was a living example of what a Muslim should be, and an embodiment of the meanings of Islam, until I started asking questions again. Rather, I went with him to the first mosque he ever entered in my life, and that was a memory that will remain engraved in my heart as long as I live.
Over a period of eight months, I studied all the books and materials he could provide me, and I read and listened to the tapes constantly. Then on February 15, 1996, I officially announced my conversion to Islam. Thank God!!!!
Our engagement broke off because his parents rejected the idea of him marrying an American. Even though we are no longer engaged, I still have great respect and admiration for him. I will never abandon my Islam.
Since February 15, my life has taken many turns. When I got engaged to an “Arab” or a “foreigner,” my family was shocked and rarely spoke to me. I also lost most of my American friends. But when I converted to Islam, my family first tried to admit me to a psychiatric hospital, and when they failed, they completely disowned me. They were calling me to say that they wished me to perish in hell… and so were some of my so-called friends. Yes, that was painful. No matter how different we were, my love for them remained deep.
Praise be to God and glory be to God, my faith 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 that bombing. My family called to tell me the news, and to assure me that my relatives who were killed loved me, but their blood – they claimed – was on my head and on the heads of my “terrorist friends.” I cried for days, but my faith remained steadfast, and I moved on.
Then came another turn; I returned to my home four days after the bombing, and found that someone had shot at its windows and written on my car the phrase: “Lover of Terrorists.”“. The police were of no help. On the same night, while I was talking in the “Muslim chat room“I heard new gunfire; They returned to smash what was left of the windows, and killed my pets who were outside.
When the police showed up, I was told that unless I could accurately identify the assailants, it would be almost impossible to arrest them. I begged them to check my car so I could go to a hotel where I would feel safe, but they refused, claiming that they feared that my “terrorist friends” had planted a bomb in it! So I collapsed on my knees, crying and beseeching God Almighty to have mercy on me and guide me.
God responded. I was assaulted one night in a parking lot. An unknown man attacked me, beat me, stabbed me, broke my wrist, and fractured my ribs. He was arrested and is awaiting trial, but is currently only performing public service work. Last week, when I went to collect my clothes from the dry cleaners, I was told that they were “lost,” and they included my veils, robes, cloaks, and veils. How easy it is for these things to be “lost”.!
The town I live in is very small, and there are no Muslims or Arabs near me. The nearest mosque is 120 miles away. Although I am alone in that there are no Muslims to visit or learn from, God is always with me. Thank God.
What little knowledge I have about Islam I gained from reading online and from my honest brothers and sisters there. I will never give up. I would like to thank a dear Palestinian brother for his support, prayers and love these past weeks. I say to my Muslim brothers and sisters on the Internet: I love you and thank you.
I’m not writing this story out of pity. But I ask that you pray for me, and I assure everyone who reads that God Almighty will not let His servants down. However, the injustice and prejudice that Muslims face here in the United States and around the world must end, and must be recognized and addressed. I know I’m not alone in this fight. It is time for the media to show the true face of Islam. God is victorious over his affairs!!!!
And finally… to my friend who was the first to introduce me to Islam: I know that on the fifteenth of February of this year, you smiled at me from heaven, and I thanked God, and, God willing, I will see you again.
I love you all.
princess.
The story is over.[1]
Benefits extracted from this story:
- Guidance is a divine selection that does not know the boundaries of geography. You were born in a closed environment, knowing only what you are familiar with, and yet the light of truth penetrated those walls. In accordance with the Almighty’s saying: {“Whoever God wants to guide, He opens his chest to Islam.”} . Guidance is not limited to a land without a land, nor a lineage without a lineage, but rather it is a favor from God bestowed upon those who are sincere in seeking the truth.
- The great impact of a good role model in the field of advocacy: She did not surrender to the abundance of controversy, but rather to the serenity of a Muslim woman who embodied Islam in behavior before presenting it as an idea. Good manners are a silent and effective invitation, and the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: ““I was sent to perfect good morals.”» «» . Behavior speaks louder than slogans.
- Monotheism is a nature that awakens if honest questions are asked: The question of the Trinity continued to trouble her, and her heart did not calm down until she knew the meaning of “Say: He is God, One.” The common sense does not die, but it may be covered. If the proof of monotheism touches it, it awakens, because supplicating to God directly is what both reason and transmission require.
- The Qur’an is a light that transcends the language barrier: She used to hear the Qur’an but not understand Arabic, and yet her heart was humbled; This is evidence of his miracle. God Almighty said: {“If We had sent down this Qur’an on a mountain, you would have seen it humbled and falling apart for fear of God.”} ; So what about a heart searching for the truth?
- The path of commitment is fraught with trials: from family estrangement to physical assault, I knew the meaning of the Almighty’s saying: {“Do the people think that they will be left alone because they say, ‘We believe,’ and they will not be tried?”} . Trial is not a sign of rejection, but rather a sign of scrutiny, and a measure of the sincerity of faith.
- The steadfastness of the believer is the result of certainty, not social circumstance: there was no Muslim community around her to support her, and the nearest mosque was miles away, yet she remained steadfast; Because true faith comes from within, not from group pressure. Whoever God is with him will not lose him {“And whoever fears God, He will make for him a way out.”} .
- The stereotype does not stand up to the truth: she grew up on slogans of equality, but discovered double standards when she chose Islam. The story exposes the fragility of allegations when tested in reality, and confirms that Islam is a religion of justice and mercy, and that media injustice does not change its reality at all. {“They want to extinguish the light of God with their mouths, but God will perfect His light, even if the disbelievers dislike it.”} .