How did you revert?

[aussiemu]

assalamu 'alaikum,

For all the reverts - how did you revert? The rest of us from Muslim families tend to find this topic fascinating even though you may be sick of saying your story. But tell us!

wassalamu alaikum

[Shadower]

They said the Shahada, that is how.

[Stranger]

lolll


what mad them lead to saying the shahada! :P

[Stranger]

how did that exposure occur?

[umm_mohammed]

Assalamu alaikum

lol you're all so funny!

I became curious about Islam after a Muslim that I knew (and still know) said that Muslims believe in Jesus (as) and the virgin birth. So I started reading about Islam(October 2000). First I borrowed every Islamic book from my local library. Then I started searching on line. I didn't know about IISNA at the time so I went to the Theosophical book society in Melbourne and bought some books. I also started reading the English translation of the meaning of the Qur'an. The realisation that I had found God hit me like a ton of bricks!!! Allahu akbar! In January 2001 I said the shahadah at home alone, but I wanted to do it officially so in February 2001 I went to the Islamic College in Hoppers Crossing and reverted in front of witnesses! Alhamdulillah!

That's a short version of my story

[UmmAhmad]

Assalam alaikum,

Inshallah I will try to answer this seriously, but be warned am wrestling with a 6 month old for control of the keyboard.

How did I come to revert? Well usual story, I met my now husband. He is born muslim, and had not been practicing for much of his life. We were friends and he was getting back in to his religion. He had english translation of Quran, which I tried to read. He also talked to me about what he learnt each day and at the masjid on friday's. Basically islam made sense to me in ways my christian upbringing (i abandoned this as teenager) never had. Islam feels right to me. I had felt left out in society, I didn't really fit in, though i tried to go with the crowd it never felt natural or right. Whereas everything about being a muslim and following islam felt more right in ways you can't describe. Alhamdulilah Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala chose to how me to the path of Islam. It is sometimes not an easy path to follow, and to change yourself from the only way you knew how is not easy, but i will never regret saying the shahada or stop being thankful.

Fiamanallah, Roslyn - revert of 5 1/2 years alhamdulilah

[Muhammad Abdullah]

as-salaamu’alaikum

Really when I think back to how I embraced Islam and then continue to think of how I will relate my story to you all, two things pop into my head.
1) Will I be able to remember all the details that you want to hear?
2) Will I bore you all senseless?
I do not really have an exciting story to tell. I have had an exciting life so far but I am not sure if my story on paper is that exciting.
I asked one brother just before if I should relate my story to you all and he seemed to encourage me if my intention was for the sake of Allah. So I sincerely pray that it is and you can all benefit from my story insha'Allah.


IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, MOST GRACIOUS, MOST MERCIFUL.
May the peace and blessings of Allah be on his final Prophet Muhammad, his family, companions and all who follow right guidance until the day of judgement.

I moved to Melbourne in 1989 with my family. I was 8 years of age and spent most of my life prior to that in a country town of northern Victoria.
Melbourne was really different. The people, the culture, the interests. Even at such a young age the transition from country town to the big smoke affected me greatly. I only knew of two religions in the country: Ours and theirs. Meaning us, the Church of English was on the Haq and the Catholic Dogs were not.

My parents had always taught us generally universal morals. Not to steal, not to commit zina, to always speak the truth and to not be racist. The country town where I was from was a good example of these morals. But as far as being racist, it wasn't always. The town was divided into three cultural groups. Aboriginals, Town folk (Anglo-Saxon, Italian, Greek) and farm folk. I also went to school with one Chinese family. Their father was a doctor in town.

We weren't really affected by the racism though as we lived in an area that was heavily populated with aboriginals. The kids who lived behind us were aboriginals. They use to climb over our fence and play on our tramp. They were nice enough as I could remember. My mother use to be the popular white girl at her schools whom always befriended the aboriginal kids.

I remember when we were trying to sell our house; we use to chase the aboriginal kids back over the fence because no one would buy a house with aboriginal kids jumping over the fence. I didn't know why?

When I got to Melbourne it was a shock. In my Grade 3 class we had nearly every nationality an 8-year-old could imagine. We had Serbian, Polish, South American, Turkish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Hong Kong, Burmese, Cambodian, kids from Laos, oh yeah and some white kids, just to name a few. But no Aboriginals. Maybe they didn't like the cold. Melbourne was always cold and wet. The country wasn't.

I remember learning all these different cultures. It was exciting but scary. I remember being really sad at one stage because I felt I didn't have an exciting culture like the other kids. When it was multicultural week, trying all of the new foods the other children's parents would make would be so exciting. I would always eat heaps of fried rice even if it were cold. I became close to some Cambodian kids even though my best mates were a Chinese/Vietnamese kid and an Anglo-Saxon.

In grade 6 I became school captain with a Burmese girl. When we were presented with our captaincy her mother and father came to school to take photos and watch the presentation. They were really lovely people but they looked totally different to my best mate’s dad who looked like Jackie Chan.

Her Mother wore a scarf. You couldn't see her hair at all. She always had a big smile. The father who was somewhat shy was also very nice and I remember him having a beard.

That girls mother told me when I embraced Islam that she has started making du'a for me at that point in my life. I am forever grateful. Alhumdulillah.

In grade 6 I really got into RE (religious education). My teacher was going to teach us once how to make a sling shot like David made to take out Goliath. When she saw our enthusiasm for the first time during the year I think she realised that these sling shots would be use against the high school kids at 3:30 p.m.

When I completed primary school my RE teacher gave me a gift. It was a pocket-sized bible. The cover was red. And she wrote a lovely message in that cover. I spent my summer holidays locking myself in my room, reading it. I felt so honoured to receive such a gift.

1993 was here and we had started year 7 at my local high school. I didn't see the Burmese girl at school. We became good friends being school captains but I didn't notice her at the first day of school.

When school finished we all rushed back to the primary school to tell our old teachers how our first day was and there she was. The Burmese girl was wearing the most pure looking white scarf. I hadn't really totally taken in her mother’s scarf but when I saw hers, I registered the link. I still remember that scarf being so white. Whiter than my brand new school shirt.

I asked a mate what was with the scarf and he said it is part of her religion. She wears it now she is older. I was cool with that answer.

[Muhammad Abdullah]

My Chinese/Vietnamese friend use to get Birthday presents like the rest of us but he wouldn't join in the RE class at first and before he would go to bed he would burn three incense sticks before and do some little nodding to the his statue of Buddha. This 'ibaadah was enough for the whole family. The last person to bed I noticed would do it.

But this was easy for me to understand. The hijab wasn't. It didn't bother me. I just didn't find it cool. For example Jet Li did Buddhist stuff in his Movies, that was cool. The Beastie Boys (muscians) abandoned Judaism and became Buddhist, hence that was cool too. But no one became Muslim, well did they? What happened to that guy Cat Stevens? I always liked his music.

At the end of Year 7 a young boy, who was instantly popular with his own year level and older levles, came to our school. He was from Sudan. He was put in our class. I was didn't fuss to much over him because he seemed to have his group. But he does remind me often about his first day of school when I approached him when he was sitting by himself and offered my company and assistance with anything. Doing so, I just became target number 1 for his da'wah, which started in 1994.

Through high school I experienced so much. One of my friends committed suicide and another one was the youngest victorian to die of a herion overdose. Life was hectic but my Sudanese friend always found time to get me alone at his house and preach to me about his religion.

Wallahi they are the fondest memories I have of high school. Tears well in my eyes thinking about the pleasure I got when he would relate to me stories of my Prophet Jesus and Moses. And stories about Abu Talib who was a great supporter for the Prophet Muhammad (saws) mission but was destined for the hell fire. I remember falling asleep many times on his brother's bed while he was telling me these stories.

When I would wake I would rush home for dinner but feel so alive. The way he was telling it, I was going to hell if I didn't change things, but I felt in my heart of wasn't, I was waken up to something even though my friends around me were becoming more lost in the dunya.

He was exceptional pious during Ramadan. I remember one of my mates would eat while he was suppose to be fast and the other kids would wrestle him and give him punches in the arm if they busted him. At that time I was totally against violence but didn't mind those little jabs as I felt he was doing something noble. Fasting, as I saw it then was the time to reflect on the situation of the millions suffering in Africa and I felt also it was noble for the fact it reminded me of the life of Prophet's. The struggle they endured for the sake of propogating the truth. Worship God. Nothing else. Pray to God five times day and keep away from evil all week, not just on Sunday. All men are equal, but you status with your lord is improved depending on the good you do on a daily basis.

When I was 17 I looked up the Koran on the school library computer. They had a copy on the shelf. I borrowed straight away. Probably the first book I ever borrowed from that library and I read it cover to cover. At home, at school, when I was out. Whever I could. Sometimes I would read it with the Brother from Sudan. He would explain things. My friends would mock me for reading it. The Brother would advise me to ignore them, don't bash them, Allah loves people who are patient. Resorting to the fists was so much easier, even on your mates. When I was reading the Koran even a smart comment was not allowed. And I didn't feel compelled to diss them back. I felt I had something.

One day I was reading the Koran with the Brothe whilst my mates were mocking me whent he Burmese girl walked past. She quipped at the Brother "What is he doing with it?!?" "He is reading" "But why?" "He is interested". She was taken back, she walked off, something clicked in her head.

Weeks later she told me if I need any books she could supply them for me. Books other than the Koran on Islam I thought? Why not.

These books armed me with some knowledge about life, death and even my own religion. Some of the Catholic girls noticed this misguided soul waking up and wanting to change my situation so that started to call me away from Islam. Mistake for them. The had just met the Australia Ahmed Deedat. I could drill a hole in any bible if you dared to challenge.

[Muhammad Abdullah]

Subhan'Allah I just spent half and hour writing the end of my story and lost it by accidently back clicking the page I was own previously.

[Muhammad Abdullah]

I will attempt it quickly again.

[Muhammad Abdullah]

I struggled with school in year 11, dropping out then realising I couldn't get a job I wanted without year 12 changed to a different school.

This school was also culturally diverse, mainly with Albanians and Islanders. These kids were crazy too. The would pump weights, shoot roids and smoke heroin at school. I spent most of my time with old sporting mates but realised I had to ditch this scene aswell.

I went back to my original high school and completed my VCE. My interest was no longer Islam or Sport but playing Music and making bands.

[Muhammad Abdullah]

In year 11 I became very sick, realising later my immune system was extremely weak in my first year of music school after VCE I dropped out and was hospitalised. I nearly died in that hospital.

[Muhammad Abdullah]

When I finally got out of hospital I made the band of my dreams. We had plenty of gigs, plenty of punters at our shows and we recorded a cd that sold farely well.

But this did not make me happy. I didn't get the same satisfaction from playing to thousands of people, even though it is such an adrenaline rush, as I did when I was been given da'wah at the age of 15.

[Muhammad Abdullah]

I started to dabble a little in trendy religions and political groups. I became a bigger Jackie Chan and Jet Li fan that I was as a kid. I had a different crowd to hang out with and I grow a different mentality to life. A lot of the moral fibres that made me a 'good' person I cared littles for.

One night I woke up in sweats. My bed clothing drenched. I was having a panic attack. I had realsed I was living a lie. My nightmares were awful and frequent.

That night I sat up in bed and folded my hands as if I praying. I started to cry. "Whatever is out there... whoever created the heavens and the earth... whoever controls my destiny... please... please stop this pain I am feeling." I contimued to beg whatever was out there. Telling them that I was sick of living a life of misguidance, asking for a small sign of 'the' truth and that I would change my ways if I was shown the light.

One week later an e-mail!

[Muhammad Abdullah]

It was from the Burmese girl. She found my e-mail from another persons e-mail. She asked me if I was still interested in Islam, I wasn't, but I replied yes. I don't know why, I just did.

She brought a book about Islam to me. It was called "Islam the Natural Way". Once again Islam change my life, but this time I was determined not to let it go. I told her I wanted to become Muslim but felt I would be only a second class Muslim as I was an awfully sinner. She assured me that my biggest sin was Shirk and that all of my sins would be forgiven if I embraced Islam.

This sounded perfect. A clean slate, to start out new.

[Muhammad Abdullah]

I went to the house of an indonesian brother I went to school with. I asked him about Jannah. He told me about it beautifully. I then told him that I wanted to embrace Islam but had to learn Arabic straight away. I wanted to learn the Qur'an in the most pure form. He told me about a little da'wah centre near our hood that I should check out. The boy I had lent books to years back goes there to learn Qur'an and how to pray, he is now Muslim.

This sent lightening through my body. Someone actually took the big plunge. I had to do it aswell. I went straight down to this da'wah centre. It was full of Bosnian brothers who took me in and sat with me answer any questions I had. The taught met he importance of the messenger in Islam as they saw I had a good grasp of the Qur'an being the truth.

After 4 hours there and a hand full of pamphlets I went to the new converts house. He was chilling with an Afghani brother who I didn't know he was friends with. The Afghani was one of my mates.

I congratulated him on his conversion. He was very humble. His face was glowing. Something had change in him and I liked what I saw. He had cut all of his long hair and was wearing a beautiful white cap. He looked just like a new born.

[Muhammad Abdullah]

A week or so later I said the Shahadah in a beautiful Coburg Mosque. They took me to Tiba's for dinner afterwards. I couldn't really eat. I was too taken back out how good I felt. I felt as if I had been sent free from 20 years of prison. I felt as if I had the best of showers. I now slept with ease.

subhanikallahumma wa bi humdika, ash hadu an laa ilaaha illa ant, astaghfiruka wa a'too bu ilaayk

[Muhammad Abdullah]

p.s. If that story was too long, please tell me. I will delete it straight away.

[umm_mohammed]

Assalamu alaikum

Delete it? Don't you dare!!! Masha'Allah what a story! Jazak Allah for sharing it with all of us. Insha'Allah it will inspire more people to read about our wonderful deen.

[SuBMiSSioN]

Subhan'Allah. Amazing stories. Those of us who were born muslims tend to take a lot of things for granted. A lot of muslims don't realise how beautiful and perfect this religion of ours is. Jazak'Allahu khair for sharing your stories with us. May Allah swt strengthen your hearts and increase us all with knowledge of Islaam. Ameen

Jazak'Allahu khair

wa assalamu 3alaykum