Why Islam? Stories of New Muslims (Jesus, ritual, testimony, reject)

[Cordoba]

Greetings to All:

Why Islam?

This is a question often asked to a new Muslim revert by family, friends and sometimes people on the street.

This thread is meant to introduce the stories of new Muslims and what made them choose Islam as a faith and a way of life.

In some cases, the details may be spread on more than one post to make reading easier and more interesting.

The first case study describes the path followed by Christopher, who works in a US army medical center. This is how he presents himself:

"I have always believed in God and a higher being who created all things. I was brought up as a Christian all of my life, though my family rarely attended church services except on special occasions such as Easter and Christmas Eve. You could say I was a Christian in name only. The thought was if you’re not Jewish, well then you MUST be a Christian.

I have always sought to have a spiritual bond with God, but never could fully submit myself for some reason. I started to attend church services when I met my first wife because she was a Christian and there was no way she could date someone who was not. So, for the sake of the relationship I became a church-going Christian. ...

During my marriage and ultimately my divorce, my wife’s spiritual beliefs eased and we did not attend church at all. I still however searched for a personal relationship with my Creator, but could not find the path that would lead me there. ...

Months before my 33rd birthday, I was doing some research into Islam on the Internet. The belief that there is a single, indivisible God (Allah, the Creator, is Just, Omnipotent and Merciful), the fact that Jesus (pbuh) was a prophet and not a deity, and that all people are considered children of Adam (Islam officially rejects racism) all intrigued me.

I knew from that point on I wanted to be a Muslim. I also knew that I was going against what I had been taught all my life about Jesus (pbuh), the crucifixion, and the Holy Trinity. It would be a bumpy path indeed.

(to be continued) ...

All the best.

[Cordoba]

Christopher continues:

"My first step would be to get a copy of the Qur’an and study the words that were revealed to Muhammad (pbuh).

A week later I left a message for a friend of mine (and the only Muslim I knew) and told him of my plans to convert. He had converted to Islam eight years earlier and had experienced some of the things that I was going through. When he called me back, he said he wanted to meet with me and pass along some information.

When we met at my apartment I showed him the two copies of the Qur’an that I purchased from the local bookstore chain. He told me that the copies I chose weren’t the best translations and proceeded to give me a copy he had. He explained that Arabic is a very difficult language to translate and many believed the Noble Qur’an is untranslatable into other languages. After answering and explaining some questions I had, my decision was clearer than ever. Now I wanted to take the shahadah and become a Muslim officially.

I work in a US Army medical center that has an all purpose chapel within the hospital. They held a Jum`ah service, and so I made plans to attend. These plans fell through however due to work related issues. I didn’t want to wait, so I contacted my friend and asked him if there was another way to recite the testimony of faith. He told me I didn’t have to wait and that I could take the shahadah over the phone. After reciting in Arabic and then English, on April 21, 2004 , I became a Muslim.

I had felt that a change would take place in my life, but only Allah knew what it was. I feel like a new person and know my decision was right."

[michel]

Hi Cordoba; Namaste.

That is all cery interesting; I am interested in all religions, and I thank you for deciding to share your faith with us.

[Cordoba]

The next case study is Karla.

How could you, an educated American woman convert to Islam - a religion that oppresses women?"

This is her answer:

"My conversion process to Islam was a long one (it took 20 years!). It started when I was 12.

I went to this over-priced private school...very Anglophile...made us wear uniforms...had us in Forms, rather than grades, etc. Anyway, we were studying the major religions of the world--had a little book on Christianity, one on Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism.

I remember being really fascinated with Islam. I remember two things really standing out for me. One, being the focus on one God alone. I had always had questions about Christianity's viewing Jesus as God--and how that went against the first commandment. The second item that stood out was salat. Not just praying five times/day, but how the majority of the prayer focused on worshiping God.

I went to college in Washington DC, which has a pretty large Muslim population. My interest in Islam was still definitely there--although I was way too shy. I used to do "drive by mosquings"--going by the Islamic Center on Mass Ave., too shy to go in. Once I called to see if they had classes for people interested in Islam, but I never received a call back.

I did buy myself a copy of the Qur'an, and began to read it. It was amazing. It just kind of went into my heart, y'know?

The thing that really amazed me about Islam from the beginning, were the rights given to women. I know many people today would laugh at me for such a statement, but as somebody who has read the Bible--I saw rights given to women in Islam that were never given to women in the Bible. Women were given the right to refuse a partner in marriage; whereas, in typical Christian Western Culture at the time (600s CE), women were basically viewed as their father's property--to marry as he saw fit. Women were guaranteed a portion of their father's and husband's inheritance; whereas, in the West, that inheritance typically went only to the eldest son. Women had the right to own property and enter into contracts. A right that women in the United States did not obtain until the mid-Nineteenth Century.

... (to be continued)

All the best.

[Cordoba]

Karla continues:

During my senior year, I found a program on TV called, "Islam."
It featured a western looking woman anchor who would interview people on various topics regarding Islam. I believe it was put out by the Islamic Information Service, but I'm not sure. I became totally addicted to this show...actually setting my VCR to tape it, if I was going to be out. I don't remember which channel it was on--just that it was shown on Fridays, and that each show began with "In the name of God, Most Merciful, Most Gracious."

When the shahadah show came on, I knew I believed...so I said it with my TV. In God's mind did I become a Muslim then? I don't know.

Unfortunately, I did not know any Muslims to talk to about Islam. I was also very worried about what my friends and family would think. Sometime following graduation (I think this was 1990 or 1991), the Saudi Embassy sponsored an Islamic Art exhibit downtown. I remember asking one of the exhibitors if they had any additional information on Islam--and the guy said, "No." I was crushed. I just didn't know where to turn to find out more about Islam. Who to talk to about my questions. I was just too shy to go into a mosque. I didn't even know if I could go in, as a woman. I didn't know if I'd be properly dressed...or if I'd be the only non-Arabic speaking person there. I just kept reading my Qur'an, and asking God the questions. Hoping God would answer my prayers.

My hunger for God did not cease, however....so I decided to go with a more conventional religion, and became a Christian sometime during my mid-20s. The problem was, I always had questions/doubts regarding Christianity---mainly about the concept of the Trinity/Divinity of Jesus. Jesus as God just didn't make sense to me--as it would go against the First commandment and what Jesus himself seemed to practice. He always focused on God the Father, so to speak. When asked, he said that the Greatest Commandment was to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. God--singular. That's something I've always strived to do, and hope to improve at still. I asked a few different pastors about my doubts, and the response I would get would be, "You simply need to have faith." I remember in one Bible study class this guy started saying all these lies about Muslims. I spoke up, and said, "That's not true." and began to tell the people in my Sunday School about what Muslims really believed. See...even then...I couldn't deny the shahadah. I still believed that there was only one God, God, and that Muhammad was the Prophet of God.

While at grad school in Tennessee, I contacted the Muslim Student Association on campus. Two sisters met me at a local bakery for tea. Unfortunately, they didn't really understand that I wanted to convert--and the whole meeting was rather bizarre. I decided that I would just consider myself a Monotheist, and call it a day. I would read on all of the major Monotheistic faiths--Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. I became more and more uncomfortable with Christianity, though. If I went into a church, and there was a crucifix on the wall...it would weird me out. It seemed like an idol that people were worshipping. I did enjoy learning more about Judaism--and found it to be the closest to Islam. Sadly, the two brothers fight way too much these days.

I joined my current company almost two years ago. Coincidentally during my HR orientation, there was a guy who I would work a lot with there. He ended up working for me on numerous projects, and we became friends. He was just out of college, and a rebel. I started asking him how he could drink, if he was a Muslim (threatened to tell his Mom)....asked him why he didn't go to Jummah (Friday) prayer, etc. Over the course of a year, I realized that in talking to him, I was really talking to myself. (I don't drink though--never have.)

So around last February, I went to our local Islamic Center's New Muslims class on a Wednesday night. There was nobody there. One of the brothers kept saying...just wait for Isha (the evening prayer)...the Imam (religious leader) will be here...but I felt too uncomfortable. I left.

About four weeks later, I tried again. There was a class going on. That night, 10-11 years after I had first said shahadah in my apartment in DC in front of a TV set, I said shahadah in front of the Imam, a Muslim Sister, and a whole bunch of people interested in Islam. Since that time, I've learned to pray (something I had tried to teach myself through the Web and videos for years!)...and begun to study Arabic. Insha'Allah (God willing), one day I'll be able to read and understand the Qur'an in Arabic. I'm totally amazed that I can already read certain bits of the Qur'an; although, my vocabulary does not allow me to understand much...yet.

Monday, October 8th 2001, was a momentous day in my life as a Muslim as well. I wore hijab (Muslim head covering) for the first time ever to work as part of the Scarves for Solidarity campaign. I was the celebrity at work--people kept walking by my office door, etc. I had posted articles about "Scarves for Solidarity" as well as Islam on the door. And when people asked me, "Are you one of them?" or "Are you a Muslim?" I said, "Yes."

So now I'm out of the "Muslim-closet" at work. I guess people just assumed that a blonde-haired blue-eyed person could not be a Muslim.

Sister Karla

[Zephyr]

This is all very interesting. I, too, am a new muslim. I converted for the same reasons as Karla here. I found Jesus to be an excellent teacher and messenger, but not a god. I have been reading the quran at my school library, but it doesn't seem to translate too well.

Man, I really need to learn Arabic.

[Cordoba]

Assalamo Alaikom Zephyr:

Arabic is not an easy language. It will take some time to learn.

I personally found from reading 4 or 5 translations that the Saheeh International translation is clear and easy to follow. The lady who made this translation is an American Muslim, and it was published in 1997.

Which translation of the Qur'an are you reading?

[Zephyr]

Originally Posted by Cordoba