If you do not consider it an intrusion would you like to share a bit more about yourself? Like how you came to Islam?
Being asked about my belief in Allah is not an intrusion, rather it is an opportunity. Alhumdulillah.
I was raised in a Christian home. Both of my parents were active in the church and as a child I was also active. As a teen, thinking I knew all there was to know, I took the chance to stay in bed on the Sabbath and became very inactive, for many years. Decades later, my son and I attended a service one evening and I was overwhelmed with being in Allah's presence. As a result, I re-joined that church and became an active member, serving on church committees and leading Bible study classes.
After a few years, I could feel that I was being called into ministry, so I accepted that challenge and was appointed as a pastor of a small church. One of my favorite "techniques" was to always be sure I asked leading questions during my Sunday services. I wanted my congregation to ask themselves these questions throughout the week, rather than trying to remember what I had been speaking about.
After four years, I suddenly realized I was asking my congregation the same questions I was trying to understand myself. I was even questioning the leadership of that denomination, because it seemed that they were equally adept at breaking rules as they were at making them. At the end of five years, I felt it best that I step down and sort out exactly where I was with respect to my own faith.
I began examining the differences between the Eastern and Western Christian churches and that led me to deeper comparative studies of the various, accepted versions of the Bible. Unfortunately, this wasn't providing the answers I wanted to find, but only led to more questions. Seeing the discrepancies of the New Testament was certainly not comforting to me. The only anchor I had in this stormy sea of confusion were the words, "I am the Lord thy God" and "Thou shalt have no other gods before me".
My prayers were nearly prayers of desperation, as I prayed to be shown the straight way. All I want is to be able to worship my Divine Creator in a right and just manner. And I suddenly realized that the faith system that I had trusted for all my life was one that had been bent and perverted, by the innovation of man, into something it was not originally meant to be.
I found I was no longer able to accept man's interpretation of who Jesus (pbuh) actually is, so it was plain that Christianity was no longer right for me. Neither was Judaism, because I had come to know Jesus as much, much more than a mere teacher.
Suddenly, I realized that I often questioned the lack of active participation among Christians when speaking to my former congregation. I would always remind them that as Christians became more and more apathetic with respect to their faith, Islam was growing by leaps and bounds. Yet I had no idea of what Islam truly was, other than what the 21st century media wants us to believe. So I set aside the preconceived notions I had about Islam, opened my heart, my mind and an English translation of the Qur'an.
And now, the only question I have is this - How could it have possibly taken me so long to discover Islam? At 52 years of age, I suppose I am living proof that all things happen only as and when Allah wills them to happen. I only wish I had known this kind of peace in my heart before this time of my life.
Now my prayer is that others will be strong enough to look beyond what is portrayed by a deceptive media, so they will also be able to praise and glorify Allah with their own lives. Ameen.
It may have taken me over 50 years to say Shahadah, but I am thankful that it took no longer. Alhumdulillah!
Allahu Akbar!
Inshallah, you'll enjoy and greatly benefit from your time here.
