As-salaamu-alaikum,
I come from a Jewish family in
New York. My mother was from S. A. but also Jewish. She never was comfortable
with anyone knowing that. When my father died, she remarried a Catholic and
became one herself. And that is how she brought us up. From the age of 5 I was
told that Jesus was also God...? I never felt comfortable with it.
We
moved to the Philippines - that is where my stepfather was from. And life there
was unbearable. My stepfather, to put it mildly, was abusive to me and my 2
brothers. The effect of that hard life: my spelling is poor, one of my brothers
is now a drinker, and the other has a low selfworth.
When I grew up and
we returned to the USA, I left home. I took care of myself by working hard. I
never had time for God, whoever He was. I did not feel that God helped me in any
way, so why bother? I did try to get back to my roots but Judaism made no sense,
so I let that go. I did come across Muslims from time to time but the effect
was, how do they dress that way, and why do they seem different? Over time, the
idea of Islam kept coming back to me, so I tried to find out more. I read the
history and life of Mohammed (saas). That is what got to me: such kindness and
sabr (patience) in the face of hardships.
It seemed to me that my life
had no direction, so I went to learn more. After reading surah Al-Fatihah, I
knew I had come home - this is where I wanted to be! I became a Muslim and have
never regretted it. I always knew there was only ONE God - ALLAH - and things
have not been always easy for me. My mother died of cancer soon after I became a
Muslim. But the faith I have helped me make it. Just being able to go to ALLAH
with all my pain was such a relief. It is the only true lifestyle known to man,
and it is the truth and the last chance for us. I wish all mankind could come to
know the truth (haqq) of Islam, and its peace and beauty!
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