rabz

When I embraced Islam- a different story of a revert.

Date: 28 Jul 2008, 12:22 pm / Mood: accomplished


As Salaamu Alaikum



 



Yes I was born into Islam.... But being born into a religion and accepting is as truth is two different things.



Many muslim born and reverts believe that once you are born then you're a shoe in....



This belief is False... Like all Abramic faith when a child turns into an adult ( Puberty) they themselves have to make a testimony to themselves that "Yes I believe as my parents" "Yes I too believe there's no God but Allah and (as for muslims) Muhammad is the last messenger.



In the time of the Prophet (SAW) people used to swear to this through out their life... Anytime and every time... when there was doubt they would bear witness to the Shahada.



 I do find it amusing that born muslim actually have an issue with taking their shahada... it's always like 'Whoa- I was born so I'm exempt."



 No no no no just becaues your born doesn't mean that it's automatically STAMPED on your Heart.



Hence why so born muslim revert to another faith... or just leave Islam in all - (why) because they themselves didn't believe in Islam.



There's some born muslims that talk against it... Due to family and thier society mixing in culture... Therefore they never learn TRUE Islam... and they leave because they don't believe (not in Islam) but what ever form of Islam their parents followed... So they as children were wrongly guided and when they became of age without studiny Islam on their own... Without taking their Shahada on their own- they become distant from the truth... Shaytan takes hold and then they leave.



I used to wonder "Why do muslim leave Islam?"



At first I used to think "This is impossible."  But when I started looking and studying Islam on my own...without my parents influence is when as a born muslim actually had a full understanding of Islam, the Sunnah and the life of the Prophet(SAW).



When I was younger my father made an impression that women were below men and they are less basically how some muslim men yesterday and today think women are...Very One sided... and when I was younger I used to tell him and my mom- Why on EARTH would I want to be part of a relgion were I'm just some kind of servant or slave to a man... How is it that Islam give women rights and yet I stand here and you're ( my dad ) telling me the opposite.



My mom used to just look at my dad go on about it... She and him would debate about it- Because she didn't believe as my dad... She studied Islam before she became muslim.



I took my Shahada at 12- not becaues I wanted to but I was forced too... Oh yes my dad had a hand on that... and I remember the Imam said "She's not ready... "



He and my dad argued about it... and His wife took me to the side and she in her sweet voice talked to me- because I was crying - When you're being force to do something you don't know about at that age it becomes over whelming...



You can say my father was so hooked on having a" muslim" family that he didn't have the best Adhab...



The Imam's wife said 'Don't cry... Aisha (RA) was about your age when she took her shahada... Do you believe that there's One God and and Prophet  Muhammad is the last messenger?



I knodded through my tears "yes"



She smiled and said Taking your shahada is just bearing witness in your belief. If you believe then you just say iy.. but if you're not ready then you don't have too...



In the midst at being mad at my dad and her soothing voice I came back.... wiped my eyes and took in what she said... Why should I wait if this is what I believe so be it... I'm not doing it for my dad or anyone else."



So we walked back to the Imam- He looked at me and asked "Do you want to take your Shahada?"



I smile and said yes... I believe there's only One God and Muhammad is the messenger... So he smile and told me to raise my right index finger and repeat after him.



I did... and it was over whelming... Still not sure what I did but I did believe... After that I didn't speak to my dad.... He didn't care to much... my mom was against him forcing me... But she hugged me when I came home...



But I made it my choice to learn Islam on my own... But the again I was young and didn't know...



I really didn't accept Islam in my heart until I was between that ages 18-25. Because when I went off to college- I was FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



I used to think being in my home was a prison.... and Muslim prison... and I can so understand when born muslims leave the home, country or boundries and enter the Dunya with no weapons... One get's caught up... one get involved...with all the glitter and glamour... Having a Drinnk or two, Smoking, drugs, Sex, men , girls... BF and  GF.



With no amor of protection a borm muslim is sitting DUCK.



And ONE DAY they sit up and look around like Hmmmmmmmmmmm is this what I've been misssing? WOW.... some say wow in a good form like I'm never cominb back and other say WOW- what have I done?



ANd I want to say those whose conscience gets to them are the one Allah (SWT) touch...



It is said Allah bring those WHom he Wants to Islam... Now I used to think it was all about the Reverts...



But that's so not the case... It's whom ever Born, non-muslim reverts etc.



So  when i had a fully understanding about Islam - and I knew in my hearts that this was the way of Life I am choosing for MYSELF... I went to a home... and Not only Did I take my Shahad (again) but I took Bayat to a teacher to teach me the proper way to Pray... to Love ALLAH (SWT) FIRST and to Do Things for the Sake of LOVING ALLAH... then came fear... Fear ALLAH for him being dissappointed in oneself and Fear is Punishment... But first LOVE LOVE LOVE ALLAH (SWT), and LOVE Al-Nabi (SAW).



From that point on I never looked at Islam in the Grey light as I once saw it... BUt in the BRIGHT LIGHT.



 What is a revert? Someone who has left the straight path and came back to it.



As a Born muslimah- I left Islam in order to find another route to Islam... MY OWN PATH... NOT THE PATH OF MY PARENTS, NOT THE PATH OF OTHER MUSLIM NOR THE PATH OF THE MIDDLE EAST. 



But my own path to Islam and truly opening my heart to Islam....



Alhumdulilah I am at peace with my choice... I too reverted back to Islam



MashAllah



ibelieve88 (29 Jul 2008, 12:09 pm):

You know, yeah it is one of the reasons. You find a lot of muslims these days who truley understand the meaning of the shahadah which is a pity. That`s why everyone should reasearch it for themselves. They don`t hafta to do it publicly, simply say it when they`re reading or something, u know?


rabz (28 Jul 2008, 7:01 pm):

Your welcomed... Forgive me for not being clear at first... but these are some of the things that plays in my head... Like WHY- and then it comes down to Could this one of the reasons the Ummah is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO weak?


ibelieve88 (28 Jul 2008, 6:48 pm):

mmmm I don`t know. I personally have no problem doing so....I guess they already think they`re muslim and don`t feel like they have to prove it to the rest of the muslim world...

u know this is a pretty interesting issue.

JazakAllahu Khairan for bringing it up.


rabz (28 Jul 2008, 6:14 pm):

Ok I'm not saying go to the IMAM... My father took me there... anyone can take their shahada as long as the person giving it is muslim... So it's not about the Imam... Just stating  it for yourself... Why is it that when it comes to the Shahada some born muslims actually have an issue about saying it in public... That's my main question... No offence taking... at all...

Why is that a revert can take their Shahada and if they were asked again to take it- they don't have any problem doing it BUT born muslims always seem to get their feathers in a ruffle...

I'm surprised.....


ibelieve88 (28 Jul 2008, 5:18 pm):

I agree with biftu. I mean there's no hadeeth where it explicty states that u have to go to an imam to say shahdah. At the time of the prophet SAW, the sahabah used to go to him SAW if they were in the same madinah. But u won't find a hadeeth or something in which a sahabee travels just to go and take shahdah. Yes, some of them did travel, so they could see the prophet SAW with their own eyes. I've never heard of this before, it reminds me of Baptism

no offence sis 


Biftu (28 Jul 2008, 3:58 pm):
If you were a "born muslim" and you always believed you were a muslim do you have to take shahada to be considered a muslim. Do you have to go to an imam, cant you just declare it to yourself?

rabz (28 Jul 2008, 2:02 pm):

ibelieve88- Yes this is a common mishap becasue again parents don't teach this therefore how will the child know...and if there are generations of parents whose muslim and some how this practice wasn't taught then how can anyone parents now teach them. Being muslims isn't a birth right- It's testifying.... and Many born muslims get all antzy when you ask- So how old were you when you took shahada? First thing they say "I was born?" and I'm like "And? so was I" One guy said "You don't have to take it if you was born" and I a was like "Who said this? Where does it stated that Born muslim are exempt to the Shahada?"

 He just looked at me... No answer- I informed him that the Sahabas used to testify more then once and Aisha (RA) did it when she was a young woman...

To me I believe when a Born muslim hesitate on Shahada it means they're not ready and they're still searching for their path within Islam. 

Like when you don't take shahada- certian things one may say or do maybe effect them but not as much as someone who has...

Taking Shahada is an Oath (sp)

Being muslim ISN'T a Birth Right...

And even if we're to look at thr Jews- When a child reach a Adulthood they have a celebration and the child recites from the Torah ( I forget the name of the ceremony)... To prove they are aware of their faith.

Christian Baptise or Holy Communion...

Islam simple- no water involved... torah to read... it's simple  extend the right finger and simply take the Shahada... but it first start with the heart....  


W0LFE_THA_LOC (28 Jul 2008, 1:35 pm):
as a ex-catholic i know how it is to be forced to do things i dont want to, when a catholic enters puberty they go through there first holy communion which is like the shaheda in the sense that they are declaring there beleifs, it sucks to be forced into a major life thing, and me being forced in a way has lead me to islam, but i see it in islam too, it is sad, people think because they are raised muslim that they are like at birth a muslim, it does not matter a person of consienciant age can only declare beleif as they cannot understand truely the meaning of the teachings, i was taught to be a catholic since i was a baby and it wasnt until i was about 13 i even learned what the church was about, i think it goes for muslims as well

ibelieve88 (28 Jul 2008, 1:21 pm):

Asalaamu Alaikum,

yes we all are reverts in a way, I mean look at the sahabah they were reverts too. Everyone has to take thier own journey sooner or later to find their true Islam and understand the greatness of La ilah ila Allah. But I wasn't aware of the fact of having to go to an imam if ur parents raised u as a muslim? Allah is more than enough as a witness and urself.


Lateralus (28 Jul 2008, 12:56 pm):
I really liked your story. And  I totally agree with your opinion about the true belief in Allah and the Prophet. I am new in this site and in Islam, so someone who has left the straight path and came back to it.