Assalamu Alaikum

I have been asked many times of the story of how I came to know about Islam and why I converted, so, with the help of Allah (swt) I am going to make an attempt to do this now, insha'allah. Please keep in mind that I am not a writer...and forgive my typing errors.

I was born to American Christian parents in Arkansas, In fact as far back as I can trace all of my family had come from the southern states here in the US. I am known as white American to my Arabian friends, but alhamdo lilah that Islam knows no color, race or nationality.

I was raised in the country on a farm. My father was a Baptist preacher, and my mother stayed at home and took care of me. I am an only child. No brothers and no sisters. I was raised Baptist, which is just a sect of Christianity, such as Catholics, Methodist etc. They just differ in doctrines.

The town that I was raised in was completely white raced and all Christian. There were no other religions or races within 200 miles of my community for years. I had never been exposed to any other culture, race or religion, and I had always been taught that we were all created equal in the eyes of God. Later I found out that these were only words. That my family would someday disown their own child, because she chose to be of a different religion than they were.

The first time I ever saw a Muslim was while I was in college at the University of Arkansas. I will admit that at first I stared at the different clothing that the Muslim men and women wore, but then I became very curious. I finally had the opportunity to get to know a young Muslim lady. I will never forget her, her name was Yasmine, and she was from Palestine. I would sit for hours and listen to her tell me about her culture, friends and family, but what intrigued me most was her religion, Islam. Yasmine had an inner peace about her like no one else I had ever met. She would sit and tell me about the Prophets (pbut) and Allah (swt). Everything she told me about Islam made so much sense and was so pure. Even though I had never voiced this I had always questioned in my mind the Christian concept of the trinity (Christians believe that God and Jesus (pbuh) are the same person). I couldn't understand why we were always singing praises to Jesus (pbuh) and why I couldn't pray to God directly.

Yasmine did everything she could to convince me that Islam was the only true religion and it was also a way of life. The most important thing to her was not this life, but the here after, and that I would obtain Heaven, insha'allah, and we would meet there again someday, insha'allah. When she left to go back to Palestine we knew that the chances of us meeting here again in this life would be very unlikely, and we cried and cried when we parted...with her begging me to learn more about Islam. I can still hear her saying these words to me as she boarded the plane. Yasmine is also the person that gave me my Muslim name, Amirah. She called me this name for almost 3 years. So when I embraced Islam, I chose to keep this name in her honor.

Two weeks after Yasmine returned to Palestine, she was killed. My soul mate was gone, and I felt like a part of me had died.

During my time in college, I had met and made friends with people from all over the Middle East, and it was at this time that I came to love the Arabic language. It was so beautiful, especially when I would listen to my friends read from the Quran, although I had no idea what they were saying. I still love to listen to or have someone read from the Quran to me, and even though I still don't know what is being said.....it touches my heart and soul very deeply. I am now trying to teach myself how to read and write Arabic and in time I will be able to, insha'allah. But for those of you on the "internet" who have heard me speak or type Arabic/English, they can tell you I have a long way to go. But I would like to thank them for their patience and tutoring.

After I left college and returned to my community, I didn't have the honor or privilege of being around Muslims any longer. But the thirst for more knowledge of Islam and the Arabic language never left my heart. I might add, this upset my family very much.

Years later, Allah (swt) brought someone into my path that was a wonderful Muslim, and a very good example of what Islam truly was, and once again I was able to ask questions. I read and studied everything that was brought to me, and finally I was convinced that Islam was the only true religion and not wanting hellfire on my head, I embraced Islam, alhamdo lillah. La Illaha Illa Allah wa mohammed rasool Allah. (There is only one God and Mohammed is Allah's prophet).

When my family and friends discovered that I was studying about Islam they were outraged at me, and rarely spoke to me. But when I embraced Islam, my family tried to have me committed to a mental hospital because they thought I was crazy, but when this didn't work, my entire family disowned me and refused to speak to me. And they still feel this way. My friends have completely turned against me too. This is all very hurtful to me, as I love and miss my family very much. Occasionally in the beginning they would call and wish hell on me.....alhamdo lillah my iman was strong.

The last time I spoke to my family was two days after the bombing in Saudi Arabia on the American Army base. My Uncle was killed in the bombing, and my family blamed me and my "terrorist" friends (my family considers all Muslims terrorists, including their own daughter) for his death, and again I was told by them, that they hoped I rotted in hell.

I returned home from shopping one afternoon, and found the words "Terrorist Lover" spray painted down the sides of one of my vehicles. I found out later that a man from my town had also been killed in the bombing too, and as was the case of my uncle, they felt I was some how responsible. This is when the real nightmare began, Everyone now knew that I was Muslim, and now I would be terrorized.

Many things have happened....such as the windows being shot out of my home. The breaklines on my vehicle being cut, my phonelines have been cut, my guard dogs have been shot, I was forced off the road and wrecked my vehicle, I have been attacked several times...one man was caught, but since he had not been in trouble with the laws here before he was released on parole and is now walking the streets again, and we wonder why we have such a high crime rate in the United States. I have awakened to find men over me and then proceed to try and choke me. The police here are of no help. As they seem to believe that I am deserving of everything that happens to me since I am Muslim. A local dry cleaners lost my "Muslim" clothing, including my jilbabs, abaya's and niqabs, I thought this very strange, as they didn't lose my Western clothing which was with my Muslim clothing.

At the time of this editing, I am fighting my non-Muslim ex-husband in court for my children. He has so far convinced the courts and judge that Islam is destroying our children and that they have to be raised Christian. I will fight with everything I have, insha'allah, to prevent him from getting what he is seeking. The trial is set for December 9th. But until the court date I am court ordered to remain in this town and in this state.

What little knowledge I now gain on Islam is from reading everything that is sent to me by other Muslim brothers and sisters throughout the world, and I would like to thank them for their support and prayers. The internet has become a very valuable source of finding information also.

To Yasmine, my friend who first shared the religion of Islam with me, I know that when I embraced Islam, you smiled and gave Allah (swt) all the praise and glory. And we will see each other again someday, insha'allah.

I am not writing this story in hopes of gaining pity or sympathy. I do ask that to all who read this, that you keep my children and myself in your prayers. But the injustices that we Muslims face all over the world has got to come to an end. It is time that these matters be acknowledged and dealt with. Please, we have to make the media and press show the true side of Islam and not only what they choose to show or to portrait it as if they see fit. For us as Muslims, we have to put aside culture, traditions and governments and be the Muslims that Allah (swt) desires us to be. As for being a Muslim/American female, we face prejudices against us from the Islamic countries, as we are not considered to be of their "tribes", and we are judged on our race,color and nationality rather than being judged on our Islam. (*The Holy Quran 60:10*) Culture and traditions are very important to us all, but we can not put them before our Islam. And one last thing, if we do not get back to the basics of our beautiful religion, Islam, and if we do not support and encourage each other in our deen, then who will?

My thanks and appreciation to the owners and editors of the papers and magazines in UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait where this article will appear.

Your sister in Islam,

~~Amirah~~