A Salaamu Alaikum, I am Sister Blessed and my story is more common than many may think. Women all over the world are coming to Islam. This is the story of my journey.
Many people think Islam is an outdated, ancient religion which people today follow blindly and with superstition or out of cultural belief. Some even think Islam is a violent military group adhearing to practices of hate and terror.On the contrary, Islam is not out dated nor violent. Islam forbids the the belief in superstition and teaches that submission to one GOD and doing good deeds is the only culture we should follow. The Quran says to kill one person is to kill all of mankind. Islam is an ancient religion, the religion of man since the very beginning of time, it is not just for the past but for the present and for the future.
In today's society Islam is alive and growing. I have been blessed to be able to visit many Islamic communities all over the United States and I have seen Islam in action. In my travels I have seen some most awesome things being done in Muslim communities. People coming together for one purpose - The purpose of pleasing God. I have seen hundreds of men praying together and them working together to build a masjid and a school. Sisters together planning community projects, talking about their childs most recent accomplishment, and sharing some of the many new things they have learned. In the many conversations I had with Sisters fashion, or fancy cars, were never topics for discussion., but learning, charity, personal and spiritual growth, and family unity were always mentioned and elaborated upon. I have seen how Islam changes people, shapes lives and forms bonds of Brotherhood even from thousands of miles away.
I came to Islam on my 21st Birthday. I gave my proclamation of faith in God's religion and from that day I was a Muslim. I truly believed in Islam. Giving charity, prayers and fasting, the pilgrimage I understood it all,but I did not have enough understanding to apply it into my everyday life. At that time,and in that place where I lived there was no way to experience Islam and eventually faded from my life but it was still in my heart and occassionally on my mind.
I struggled for years trying to find a place to fit in. Trying to conform to what society said a woman was,what a woman looked like, and what a woman should be. I was a slave to this world, constantly trying to get one more big screen tv, a fancier car,and more cable channels for my kids to watch, because i never had time to spend with them. No matter how many of these things I got there was always one more to get. Sadly, after a while I had nothing left to give, not even a smile. I was run ragged, I hated my life I resented my kids and dying sounded better than living.
In a miraculously quiet moment, I sat thinking about my life and all the things I had to be thankful for. During that time I kept remembering what I had been told as a new Muslim when I asked about suicide bombers. "REAL MUSLIMS DON'T KILL THEMSELVES!" I was killing myself even if I wasn't ending my physical life. Ok, so if real Muslims don't kill them selves then what do they do? I really needed to know.
Five years ago I began to search for more information and gain some knowledge of the history of Islam. I began to sort out all of the misconceptions and lies about Muslims and Finally just over two years ago I began implementing Islam into my life. Like a doctor gives medicine for sickness, In Islam there is a cure for the problems of today. Islam embraces society and at it's core teaches that prevention is better than cure. Islam eliminates problems from their roots. Islam is belief in action. For me being a Muslim is the best thing I have ever done for myself in my life. The one thing I have gained most by accepting Islam is freedom. Before becoming A muslim I was constantly being judged by people in today's society. I always felt I had to live up to the expectations of people. I now live upto the expectations of God. Giving Charity, participatng in community activities and most importantly being active in the life of my children and in my home. I cover myself instead of expose myself and I now check my my heart and mind before checking the mirror. Islam is submission to One God living for his pleasure and bestowing goodness upon this earth. I am a Muslim. Islam is in my heart and it is with my heart that I live in Islam.
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