Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem
Assalaamu ‘alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakaatuh
My Dear Sisters
I am a Muslim sister from a town in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. I am from the Xhosa tribe and embraced Islam in 2010.
I did not know what Islam was and I did not have any interest in finding out. I was given da’wah while I was in a supermarket. I did not listen to the da’wah and laughed because I thought that Islam was only for Indians and Arabs. I was then given some kitaabs (books) and I went home.
One day, while at home, I started reading these kitaabs. I remember that one was about the difference between Islam and Christianity by Shaikh Ahmad Deedat. I learnt so much that I became confused about my then-religion which was Christianity.
I went to my priests with so many questions, but I didn’t get the answers that I was looking for. Then I asked my mom, who’s very strong in her beliefs about the trinity, all my questions. She told me that someone who doesn’t have the Holy Spirit will never understand the trinity. THAT WASN’T THE ANSWER I WAS LOOKING FOR EITHER.
I became so confused and prayed to God that He must guide me to the right path. I stopped going to church, started wearing long dresses and listening to Islamic lectures. Finally… I read the kalimah. In the beginning, I used to hide my Islam. Afterwards, I revealed my Islam and married a Muslim man.
After getting married, one of the aunties took me to madrasah and I started learning more about the oneness of Allah Ta‘ala and that He has no partners. I started learning how to read salaah and the Quraan Majeed. I felt very peaceful and accepted by the Muslim community in my town.
I started attending the weekly ta’leem which played a BIG ROLE in my life. I had many challenges, as I’m from a non-Muslim background. I started ta’leem at home and Allah Ta‘ala granted my family and I more sabr (patience). Whenever I experience any problem, I just open to the first story in Fazaail-e-Aa’maal, which is the story of Taa-if, where Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was stoned until his blessed feet were clogged with blood in his shoes. It teaches me that whenever we have any problems, we should turn to Allah Ta‘ala, and when Allah Ta‘ala gives us trials, HE LOVES US MORE. If those things used to happen to our Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), why should they not happen to us as his Ummah?
I started wearing my niqaab (purdah) which was, and still is a big challenge. When visiting my family, I face lots of problems. I travelled to Bangladesh with my husband to meet my in-laws. I was so nervous and worried… “WOULD THEY ACCEPT ME OR NOT? Would I be able to maintain my niqaab?” We went and the results were very positive. People showed me a lot of respect. No man was allowed to come into the room that I was staying in. I was treated like a princess. When we were packing our bags to come back to South Africa, I cried so much, as I felt as if I was leaving home.
The other difficulty I’m experiencing is with my mom, she STILL hasn’t accepted the fact that I’m a Muslim, and is always saying she’s praying for me to believe that Jesus (peace be upon him) is the Lord and not just the prophet. I always tell her that I’m also making du‘aa that she accepts Islam, as I know that she can be a good Muslim, insha-Allah.
Please make du‘aa that Allah Ta‘ala help us all to be good Muslims and guide my mother and others to Islam, aameen.