Real & Wonderful Stories

Compiled by: Abdurahim bin Mizhir Almalki

Nur Habiba bint Geeston

     My mother converted to Islam from Christianity eight years ago during Shawwal when I was seven years old and left me to decide for myself. Most of our family on both sides is Christian. My mother was the first to revert in my family to Islam, and this caused a huge uproar and opportunity for Satan to play dirty. They would harass her and threaten to take me away from her.

     Last year I decided to get into my faith, which was at the time Christianity. I did try, but whenever I’d read the Bible, I couldn’t concentrate and felt that I was reading unnecessary stuff. (My mother even went and bought me a new Bible that I could better understand.) I tried to “bring Jesus into my heart,” but I knew that just wasn’t happening. I had been going to church off and on, and that truly turned me off. The words, “My Father is Holiness,” all the dancing around and fainting, and talking in tongues… Finally, I got frustrated from just feeling like I was “floating” out there with no direction. I always believed in God, but the idea of trinity never moved me.

     I went into prayer mode. I would sit on a prayer rug my Mama had bought me and just pray and cry for guidance. I had been fasting with my Mama during Ramadhan and sometimes prayed with her. One day I decided to pick up one of the many books she has on Islam and start reading. I couldn’t believe it. I started to cry; Islam was what my heart had been searching for. Many of the things I read about I had already been doing or believed in. I knew I wanted to convert right away. I shared this with my Mama, and she took me to a mosque. I converted last year on April 11 at the age of fourteen. I cried with happiness and was greeted and hugged by Muslims on my way out of the office.

     Of course, Satan tried desperately to turn me back around to darkness and everything exploded. If Allah hadn’t given me Muslim aunts, uncles, brothers and sisters to support me, I think I would have lost the battle. Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) is truly great. My family has, since then, totally rejected us, harassed us, talked trash about us, and spread lies. It hurts badly because we had always been a very close family. But when I converted to Islam, they became crazy. They harassed me and my mother in “the name of Jesus.” I would sometimes doubt Islam and my decision to convert but would always, in the end, hold strong and continue to learn. Fellow Muslims would help me to understand concepts in Islam and encourage me.

     Al-hamdulillah for all my experiences, as this has made me a strong person and made me see the reality of Christianity and Christians, that is, to see the difference between them and Muslims. I couldn’t believe how generous and kind Muslims were to me. I would cry because of the good hearts I would find in them. I am so happy I converted. I wouldn’t give up Islam for anything in the world. My faith has soared, and I have gained so much wisdom, by the grace of Allah. My whole life has changed.