by Jumaana (Laurali) <mermaid9@b…>:
Assalamu Alaykom! Blessings to everyone who reads this, and may Allah
touch
your life like mine has been touched.
http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/redface.gif
)
My name is Laurali. I recently did Shahada [July 27th, 2001] and have
decided to take on a new name; Jumaana. I was born and raised in
America. I
am a white female, and 39 years old. I have known no other life except
the
typical “western” lifestyle.
About 6 months ago, I met a man. I really liked him. I knew he was a
“foreigner” but thought he might be from Europe somewhere. He said he
was
from Turkey and that he is Muslim; and my jaw dropped. Why did my jaw
drop?
Because I was raised Christian, and although I didn’t know anything
about
Muslim’s, I knew there was a negative stigma attached to the word.
“Somehow…there was something about Muslim’s that was supposed
to
be bad…oh yeah; the war I guess?” Typical western thought I
think.
Very sad.
Because I was interested in him, I decided to try to get information
about
Muslim’s. I did, on the internet. Then I ordered an English-translated
Qur’an. I began to read. I kept reading… I also printed out just
ton’s of
information on Muslim and now I saw “Islam”, from the internet.
The more I read, the more my heart filled with LOVE, and the more I
saw; the
western world is so, so very wrong about Muslims… To me, it
was
like a lightbulb being turned on, in my soul. I cried. I cried and I
cried… I fell in love, with Islam. [the man and I didn’t work
out,
as he doesn’t really follow Islam. But I did thank him for being in my
life,
which caused me to investigate Islam.]
The Qur’an spoke of some things that were confusing and “new” to me,
but for
the most part; it touched me as if it were something I have always been
missing; I came home. So many of my thoughts that I had, had all my
life,
finally made sense. I finally “fit” in somewhere that acts as a twin,
with
my own soul; my own thoughts; my own heart.
It seemed so very natural to me; so perfect. It was astonishing.
I joined an on-line group that is based in Egypt. I met wonderful
brothers
and sisters there. One especially, became a close sister very fast. She
is a
Muslim who follows Islam so well; her soul is very pure and she is just
a
beautiful person. I learned a lot from her and she pointed me in the
right
directions.
It didn’t take long for me to decide I want to become Muslim. I
searched and
found some Islamic Centers and Masjid’s [Mosque] in my area and began
calling. I was so very excited! It was like being on a cloud; my new
life
was taking shape so wonderfully. I had been missing this for 39 years!
I
wanted to shout to the world about my new life and how happy it is
making
me.
I called an Islamic Center and talked to a couple on the phone. The
man,
before we hung up, told me he considers me to be his daughter now. More
tears… Oh! How wonderful. I have never heard of a religion like
this,
where people truly consider each other to be family.
There are so many things about Islam that fits in so perfectly with
being a
human being. Islam wants us to think. Islam wants us to be equal and
love
our neigbors. Islam recognises people as being beautiful; not people
born
with sin. Islam is realistic. Islam teaches us how to worship God, in a
consistent, respectful way. Islam demands help for the poor and needy.
Islam
is how life should be led.
I took a trip out there and “fell in love” with Islam even further.
http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/wink.gif
I was
soon learning from my new family. My friend in the Egyptian group had
told
me, after we did Shahda on-line on the 15th, to just “sit back, take it
easy
now and just wait…” And oh she was so right! I didn’t know what
was
going to happen really, but I can see how everything just fell into
place,
so “perfectly.” I have a whole new life.
About a week later, my new family took me to Masjid and I did Shahada
officially. How beautiful! I was embraced by more new sisters. I have a
new
family and it grows everyday. My life is more enriched everyday as I
learn
about Islam and the beauty of Allah’s love.
Salam ~Jumaana