I was recently suggested to write more about my journey to Islam, what questions or challenges I faced and so on. I think that is a good idea, the already available story about my journey to Islam simply gives an overall picture without going much into specifics. One thing I feel very fortunate about is the fact that I have grown up in a society to see things from “one side” and having learned to understand the other. Believe me, it’s like you’ve been walking around in your own reality and then opening the door to see the world for the first time. The Quran describes it best…
سورة النور ٣٥
ٱللَّهُ نُورُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۚ مَثَلُ نُورِهِۦ كَمِشۡكَوٰةٖ فِيهَا مِصۡبَاحٌۖ ٱلۡمِصۡبَاحُ فِي زُجَاجَةٍۖ ٱلزُّجَاجَةُ كَأَنَّهَا كَوۡكَبٞ دُرِّيّٞ يُوقَدُ مِن شَجَرَةٖ مُّبَٰرَكَةٖ زَيۡتُونَةٖ لَّا شَرۡقِيَّةٖ وَلَا غَرۡبِيَّةٖ يَكَادُ زَيۡتُهَا يُضِيٓءُ وَلَوۡ لَمۡ تَمۡسَسۡهُ نَارٞۚ نُّورٌ عَلَىٰ نُورٖۚ يَهۡدِي ٱللَّهُ لِنُورِهِۦ مَن يَشَآءُۚ وَيَضۡرِبُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡأَمۡثَٰلَ لِلنَّاسِۗ وَٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيۡءٍ عَلِيمٞ
Surah An-Noor 24:35
Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The Parable of His Light is as if there were a Niche and within it a Lamp: the Lamp enclosed in Glass: the glass as it were a brilliant star: Lit from a blessed Tree, an Olive, neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil is well-nigh luminous, though fire scarce touched it: Light upon Light! Allah doth guide whom He will to His Light: Allah doth set forth Parables for men: and Allah doth know all things.
I realized that this faith held truth to it very early. My knowledge and insight increased from reading the Quran, and through my own personal investigations. I grew up among non muslims, one of my relatives also being very opinionated against the Islamic faith, so this was a journey I never opened up about to them. In fact, it wasn’t long ago that a work colleague spoke very harshly against Islam when the topic came up. That doesn’t mean all people are this way. But it hasn’t exactly inspired confidence in expressing my faith freely. The only time I feel comfortable and free to be myself is when I am among people of the same faith as me. So imagine a journey through such steps. In the very beginning, striving to understand, not knowing anyone of the faith. When I look back on that… and to the point I have reached today… all I can say is, alhamdulillah endless times. It is with that kind of remembrance I often quote the following aya…
سورة البقرة ٢٦٩
يُؤۡتِي ٱلۡحِكۡمَةَ مَن يَشَآءُۚ وَمَن يُؤۡتَ ٱلۡحِكۡمَةَ فَقَدۡ أُوتِيَ خَيۡرٗا كَثِيرٗاۗ
Surah Al-Baqara 2:269
He granteth wisdom to whom He pleaseth; and he to whom wisdom is granted receiveth indeed a benefit overflowing
I have an understanding of how true those words are. Alhamdulillah endless times indeed. Something I also realized through this journey was how important it is to confirm one’s own faith through our own personal efforts. Many people rely on an “inherited” faith. I myself went from an inherited faith to confirm the faith I now hold. Confirming the faith is something I will discuss more about in the next update inshallah… so be sure to not miss it.
I hope that you found this to be an interesting and inspiring input and that Ramadan is going well for everyone so far inshallah. We’re halfway through mashallah.
The best of times to you all inshallah.
Peace, happiness, and stay faithful.
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