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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 self worth.
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! |
