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Conversion Stories New Muslims

A New Convert Becomes Interested in Teaching Islam 2

By Editorial Staff

I find Islam a learning religion. You don’t stop from learning new things when you’re Muslim.

Perhaps everywhere in the world, more and more people are converting to Islam and start learning about its teachings.

The reasons for this are many such as the sense of calmness that they would feel, the happiness, tranquility and inner peace that they achieve after conversion.

Life challenges often lead them to this point. Moreover, being a servant to the One True God liberates a person from slavery to everything other than God.

In short, every new Muslim has an inspiring story to tell. However, in this article, we have a new, simple and short message from someone who is not only a new convert, but also a teacher. Although he wishes to remain anonymous, the message may still be inspiring.

As-salam alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh (Peace, God’s mercy and blessings be upon you) brothers and sisters.

First, I would like to thank Allah (Subhana wa Ta’ala, highly exalted is He, and most high) for granting an opportunity to realize the true religion of Islam.

I would also want to thank my teachers who have been with me every step of the way. May Allah (Subhana wa Ta’ala) reward you handsomely.

I find Islam a learning religion. You don’t stop from learning new things when you’re Muslim. On this note, I know and believe it will be a wonderful opportunity if I can help my fellow brothers and sisters who would want to know more about the true religion of Islam.

Through teaching/guiding the new members, it will be of much benefit for me as I’ll be learning and keeping my faith strong.

I’m also attending Arabic language classes through social media links. So this will make it easy for me to be more perfect.

May Allah (Subhana wa Ta’ala) guide me and make me more knowledgeable about Islam as I start this noble course.

As-salam alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

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Categories
Conversion Stories New Muslims

A New Convert Becomes Interested in Teaching Islam

By Editorial Staff

7 April, one of my unforgettable days, was the first time I went to the mosque. I was welcomed warmly during Asr (Afternoon) prayer.

Abu Bakr is now a junior teacher of Islam who wants to share his simple, short but touching story of conversion. Celebrating his first day of teaching, Abu Bakr wrote the following:

Al-Salam ‘Alaikum (Peace be upon you) my fellow Muslims. I am Abu Bakr, born Lovemore Vito from Christian family from Malawi.

My journey to Islam starts long back. In short, l was inspired by brothers and sisters l work with. Some of them were Muslims and were humble to me and everyone.

After some years l left them but l was still asking myself questions about their lifestyle. Luckily enough, l joined different groups on Facebook. Then, I started reading about Islam.

Luckily l joined Chat on faith. I was directed to Brother Fuhaid (May Allah bless him). He is the one who taught me all the doctrines on behalf of Chat of Faith. Though he was teaching me, l myself was working tirelessly reading different doctrines about Islam.

7 April, one of my unforgettable days, was the first time I went to the mosque. I was welcomed warmly during Asr (Afternoon) prayer.

About My Life after Converting to Islam

My life has totally changed because of this true and beautiful religion. I have met good and humble brothers and sisters.

Now I am always near Allah because most of my time is spent with my brothers in Islam discussing about Allah, the Last Day, life in the Hereafter and some good stories about Allah (God) and Muhammad (God bless him and grant him peace).

Why I Am Intrested in Teaching

Everything has a reward in the life of the Hereafter. If you do bad deeds you will not enter Paradise but if you do good deeds you will be rewarded with Jannatul Firdous (the Gardens of Paradise).

The Book(Quran) and Muhammad (God bless him and grant him peace)clarify clearly that the one who teaches other people about this true and beautiful religion will be rewarded after this painful world. So I am interested to impart knowledge to my fellow brothers and sisters regardless of culture, country and tribe so that Allah will reward me with Jannah (the Gardens of Paradise).

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Categories
Conversion Stories New Muslims

The Swiss Nora Illi, the Co-founder of the Swiss Central Islamic Council, Dies Aged 35

Nora Illi, a famous Islamic preacher who co-founded the Swiss Central Islamic Council (IZRS), died on Monday at the age of 35, after a long illness. As the IZRS now reports, Nora Illi has lost the fight against breast cancer diagnosed in 2012. She is survived by six children and her husband.

Originally from Zurich, Illi converted to Islam in 2002, aged 18, after a trip to Dubai. Prior to this, she had been a punk and had also been interested in Buddhism.

Nora Illi was born in 1983 to a German psychotherapist and a Swiss social worker. Illi dropped out of high school and trained as a polygraph. In addition, she became active in the punk scene of her hometown Uster ZH. As an 18-year-old, she converted to Islam.

At a solidarity campaign for Palestine, she met her future husband, Schaffhausen’s Patric Illi (now Qaasim Illi). In 2003 they married in Jordan. Together, they subsequently represented the Swiss Islamic Central Council (IZRS) in public: Nora Illi as the commissioner for women’s affairs, her husband as the PR manager.

Influence of chemotherapy

She was known in public for always wearing her Niqab. Illi was an advocate of polygyny. This differs from polygamy in that a man may have several women, but a woman may only have one man.

In the talk show Anne Will in 2016, she was defending the woman’s right to wear niqab. Thus, she was falsely accused of supporting extremist groups like ISIS. Replying to this false accusation, she stressed that any Muslim whether in Switzerland or any other country in the world should denounce and avoid violence.

Bussenfang in Ticino

As a Niqab activist, Illi publicly caught fines: After the ban on veiling came into force in the canton of Ticino in July 2016, she received the first banned buses because of her public appearance in the Niqab. In 2017 she also had to pay for her veiling in Vienna.

Her husband, Qaasim Illi on the passing of Nora Illi, said, “We are overwhelmed by your tributes from all over the world – Thank you!” Keep her and us in your du’a’.


Sources: 20min.ch/schweiz/ (as cited in allaboutgeneva.com) with some modifications.

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Categories
Conversion Stories New Muslims

Why I Converted to Islam – Part 1

By Sarah Price

Islamic. Jihadist. ISIS. Terrorist. Women banned from driving in Saudi Arabia. Burqa. 9/11…unfortunately, the term ‘Muslim’ or ‘Islam’ isn’t always associated with the most positive attributes. In fact, the term ‘Islam’ can inflict some pretty negative connotations in this day and age. For a term that means ‘peaceful submission to God’, it is a religion that is often seen in the media for all the wrong reasons.

Islam quickly became a mysterious religion I wanted to learn more about. That’s when I decided to do one of my investigative articles about Muslim women’s rights.

So, why would an educated, independent and well-travelled young Australian woman decide to convert to a religion widely considered ‘backwards’?

Well, it’s for multitude of reasons. Although people usually assume it’s for a man. Why else would a woman do that, right?

WRONG. Not in my case anyway. It’s pretty dazzling how some people assume these things though. Even asking for halal food at my local university cafe received a snarky comment from the waitress asking if I ‘converted for my boyfriend’.

I get confused looks at my fair skin and light eyes, some Australians ask what country I’m from, only to be shocked to hear I am myself an Australian. Australian AND Muslim? The combination is unthinkable to some.

Converting to Islam Has Been No Easy Task.

Despite some pretty harsh and rude comments about my change in faith, I’ve also had some amazing people come up to me and ask me why. This, ladies and gentleman, is the question that I am happy to answer.

You don’t have to agree with it – my word, you don’t even have to accept it – but this is my story and reasons which led me over the course of two years to where I am now.

Converting to Islam has been no easy task. I’ve been called names, been scrutinized, rejected and fired from jobs, lost friends and had a really difficult time with my family accepting the changes in my life. But with prayer, investigation, lots of reading and researching and talking to people from different faiths and backgrounds has all contributed to my peaceful way of life now.

Yes, I am Muslim. I am also Australian, I’m a journalist, and I am also a traveler. Being a Muslim doesn’t change the elements that make up who I am as a person. Although you can never truly express what comes from your own heart in your own personal journey, my reversion to Islam was due to three main factors. This is my story and mine alone.

MALAYSIA

Traveling to Malaysia was definitely the foundation for my conversion to Islam. After deciding on a whim to go on student exchange to Malaysia, I never imagined what a crazy adventure I had set myself up for.

Malaysia is my second home. It holds a very special place in my heart and I grew immensely as a person there. I experienced some of the best and worst moments of my life; and the whole experience was filled with color, adventure and opportunity.

From sleeping in a dirty ferry port for eight hours, getting lost in a rainforest on Tioman Island (and trying to make it back before dark), riding on motorbikes in Penang and scuba-diving in Perhentian Islands, these were just the beginning of my adventure there.

I was getting out of my comfort zone in Malaysia and exposed to things I had never seen as a small town Australian girl from Gippsland. Nothing went to plan nor was expected in Malaysia.

My Thoughts About Islam Before Malaysia

Before Malaysia, I knew nothing about Islam. I had never met a Muslim (to my knowledge) and I always thought of Muslims as wearing heavy black garments somewhere in the Middle East, far, far away from ‘civilization’.

Yes, I also thought Muslim women were oppressed. That they couldn’t go anywhere without their husbands, that they couldn’t have careers, and had to wear black all the time. Not that I really thought about it much, I was always in my own bubble of society to ponder too much about it.

So, my somewhat fabricated image of Islam was shattered when I came to Malaysia. Suddenly, I found myself becoming curious of the pretty South-East Asian Muslim girls with their colorful hijabs and clothes. I met many Muslim friends – who became life-long friends- who went to university, who had jobs, who wore veils and also many who didn’t, and they all seemed quite content and loved their religion.

An Article on Muslim Women’s Rights

Being a journalism student, I’ve always been an open-minded person and have a lust for the unknown. Islam quickly became a mysterious religion I wanted to learn more about. That’s when I decided to do one of my investigative articles about Muslim women’s rights.

THIS was the beginning of everything. My eyes and mind were completed opened and bursting with knowledge about Islam and the fact that WOMEN HAVE MANY RIGHTS IN ISLAM!

In fact, Muslim women were legally given rights (that’s including divorce, land rights, monetary rights, the right to choose who to marry, etc.) in the Qur’an and Hadiths hundreds of years before Western women were legally given the same rights.

There’s even a whole chapter about Women in the Qur’an. Men are taught to lower their gaze, and to treat women and their wives with utmost respect because this is favored in God’s eyes.

THIS, of course, does not mean Muslims are sinless. People need to differentiate between culture, politics and religion. We humans are not perfect, in fact far from it. Even I learned this in Malaysia – instead of judging a whole religion on a few people’s actions, look into the religion and what it teaches.

Feelings Never Felt Before

When I first stepped into a mosque, I felt an immediate sense of calm and peace. I even interviewed an imam. The strong yet humble cry of the call to prayer invoked feelings in me I had never felt before. When I first bowed my head toward the Ka’ba, I felt home in my heart. I didn’t convert to Islam in Malaysia – I was to over a year later – but it introduced me in a beautiful way to Islam and to the Oneness of God.

As each day passed in Malaysia, and with each experience I lived, it dawned on me that I was starting to outgrow the sheltered life I was living back home in my country town, and the various stereotypes placed on society from culture to culture. Malaysia was having an effect on me far greater than the boundaries of Monash University, cool clubs and intriguing food; it was the people itself and the lessons I was learning. I realized that every little moment in Malaysia would be some of my best.

I was definitely not the same girl that left Melbourne airport for this unexpected journey I grew immensely, while paradoxically also finding myself and what I’m truly capable of. I was a girl who was insecure and always feeling confined and trapped in the community I was living in – Malaysia, in a way, set me free.

The Best Decision I Have Ever Made

While we can’t be sure of much in this world, I know without a shadow of a doubt that going to Malaysia randomly was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Malaysia didn’t turn out as I imagined or planned, and that in itself made it so wonderful. It taught me to believe in my own capabilities and in myself more than ever, and that comes with taking a deep breath and stepping into the world on your own for the very first time.

Malaysia gave me adventure. It kick started my career in journalism. It allowed me to meet wonderful, terrible yet interesting people. But most importantly…Malaysia gave me Islam. I truly believe I was meant to go there.

To be continued…


Source: http: muslimsincalgary.ca with some modifications

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