     Bashir Abdi. | Unrecorded Date
Before I bring my case forward, I would like to remind the readers that Islam made women precious beings and the back-bone of every society. Unfortunately, due to chronic ignorance of the islamic teachings coupled with harsh cultures in some parts of the islamic world, GAVE tha feminist groups a chance to bash ISLAM and MUSLIMS all over the world. Also, When a Islamic Nation is determined by the west to be manipulated, they use women and feminist groups to attack the core values of that society while women have no good luck in the western countries themselves. The following story is a copy from www.beconvinced.com website which is very informative website about Comparative religion and many other topics.
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From Why they became muslims!!!
Becoming Muslim
Shariffa Carlo
The story of how I reverted to al Islam is a story of plans. I made plans, the group I was with made plans, and Allah made
plans. And Allah is the Best of Planners. When I was a teenager, I came to the attention of a group of people with a very
sinister agenda. They were and probably still are a loose association of individuals who work in government positions but have
a special agenda - to destroy Islam. It is not a governmental group that I am aware of, they simply use their positions in the US
government to advance their cause.
One member of this group approached me because he saw that I was articulate, motivated and very much the women's rights
advocate. He told me that if I studied International Relations with an emphasis in the Middle East, he would guarantee me a job
at the American Embassy in Egypt. He wanted me to eventually go there to use my position in the country to talk to Muslim
women and encourage the fledgling women's rights movement. I thought this was a great idea. I had seen the Muslim women on
TV; I knew they were a poor oppressed group, and I wanted to lead them to the light of 20th century freedom.
With this intention, I went to college and began my education. I studied Quraan, hadith and Islamic history. I also studied the
ways I could use this information. I learned how to twist the words to say what I wanted them to say. It was a valuable tool.
Once I started learning, however, I began to be intrigued by this message. It made sense. That was very scary. Therefore, in
order to counteract this effect, I began to take classes in Christianity. I chose to take classes with this one professor on campus
because he had a good reputation and he had a Ph.D. in Theology from Harvard University. I felt I was in good hands. I was,
but not for the reasons I thought. It turns out that this professor was a Unitarian Christian. He did not believe in the trinity or the
divinity of Jesus. In actuality, he believed that Jesus was a prophet.
He proceeded to prove this by taking the Bible from its sources in Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic and show where they were
changed. As he did this, he showed the historical events which shaped and followed these changes. By the time I finished this
class, my deen had been destroyed, but I was still not ready to accept Islam. As time went on, I continued to study, for myself
and for my future career. This took about three years. In this time, I would question Muslims about their beliefs. One of the
individuals I questioned was a Muslim brother with the MSA. Alhamdulillah, he saw my interest in the deen, and made it a
personal effort to educate me about Islam. May Allah increase his reward. He would give me dawaa at every opportunity
which presented itself.
One day, this man contacts me, and he tells me about a group of Muslims who were visiting in town. He wanted me to meet
them. I agreed. I went to meet with them after ishaa prayer. I was led to a room with at least 20 men in it. They all made space
for me to sit, and I was placed face to face with an elderly Pakistani gentleman. Mashallah, this brother was a very
knowledgeable man in matters of Christianity. He and I discussed and argued the varying parts of the bible and the Quraan until
the fajr. At this point, after having listened to this wise man tell me what I already knew, based on the class I had taken in
Christianity, he did what no other individual had ever done. He invited me to become a Muslim. In the three years I had been
searching and researching, no one had ever invited me. I had been taught, argued with and even insulted, but never invited. May
Allah guide us all. So when he invited me, it clicked. I realized this was the time. I knew it was the truth, and I had to make a
decision. Alhamdulillah, Allah opened my heart, and I said, "Yes. I want to be a Muslim." With that, the man led me in the
shahadah - in English and in Arabic. I swear by Allah that when I took the shahadah, I felt the strangest sensation. I felt as if a
huge, physical weight had just been lifted off my chest; I gasped for breath as if I were breathing for the first time in my life.
Alhamdulillah, Allah had given me a new life - a clean slate - a chance for Jennah, and I pray that I live the rest of my days and
die as a Muslim. Ameen.
Shariffa A Carlo (Al Andalusia) |
| Bashir Abdi. | Unrecorded Date
Correction: in my second sentence, I meant;
"Unfortunately, due to chronic ignorance of some muslims about the islamic teachings....." |
| Mahad | Unrecorded Date
Bashir Abdi
Go back to somalia and talk to your own somali people they are killing each other like animals, they need your help or advice.
no1 in N.America needs your advice or khudbo.
Thnx |
| Bashir Abdi. | Unrecorded Date
Mahad.
Thanks brother, Your point is well taken. And all north americans was not adressed only to those concerned. Again thanks for your concern. |
| Caraweelo | Unrecorded Date
Bashir Abdi;
That is a moving story. But please do not lump all "feminist groups"- they don't all have sinister agendas. Some are legitimately there to aid those who need help. Life for most women in developing countries- regardless of their religion (muslim/christian/hindu/buddist) is very hard. Some do not even have their basic human rights. Eg. Bride-burning, honor-killing, forced marriages, FGM, no access to education, forced abortions of female fetuses, etc, etc, etc.
These organizations stand up for those who have no voice and fight atrocities committed on women. |
| LADAN | Unrecorded Date
Bashiir cabdi MAHADSANID kun iyo kow jeer ilaahayna ha kaa siiyo ajar, waa mid loo baahan yahay in laga hadlo waxa uu yahay feminism iyo sidey dad badan u fahamsaneen wuxuu yahay.
Mahad reer N-America hadeyna khudbada u baahneeyn, adaa u baahan waadan ogeeyne,kuwa somaliya joogana borobiyo adoo kale waaye, wali ma oga ineey wax u sheeg u baahanyihiin.
Caraweelo.
Walaashiis dadka isku magacaabaan ineey yihiin feminist waa dad badan waana laga yaabaa ineey jiraan qaar rabaan ineey wax caawiyaan KELIYA, wayse adagtahay. Hadeey lahayn ujeedo diini ah xataa inta badan waxay leeyihiin ujeedo dhaqan baahin.
Dhibaatooyinkaa sheegeeysid waa jiraan, waana in wax laga qabto laakiin sidee?!!!
Inaa noqono feministeyaal?!!
Haba ku riyoonin. Aniga ereyga feminist waxaan u arkaa=xuduud laaan |
| LADAN | Unrecorded Date
"MAN YURIDILLAAHU AN YAHDIYAHU, YASHRAX SADRAHU LIL-ISLAAM WAMAN YURID AN YUDILLAHU YAJCAL SADRAHU DAYIQAN XARAJAA"
Qofkuu alle dooni inuu hanuuniya qalbigiisuu islamnimo ku qurxiyaa (sida gabadhaas kor looga soo sheekeeyey) kuu rabo inuu baadiyeeyona qalbigiisuu ka dhigaa mid ciriiri ah oo dhib badan (sida Salmaan Rushdie) |
| Ansaari | Unrecorded Date
Bashir Cabdi
Jazakallah kheyran , bro.
Ladan, tak skal du have min søter. Baarakallaah. Tusaale fiican ayaad bixisay. |
| Bashir Abdi. | Unrecorded Date
In response to sister CARAWELO I have another story of a FEMINIST who became a muslim. It will be long but I could't help. A WESTERN FEMINIST SPEAKS OF HIS MIND BEFORE AND AFTER ISLAM.
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Becoming Muslim
Karima Slack Razi
I took the Shahadah on September 20, 1991. If you had told me 5 years prior that I would embrace Islam, I never would have believed you. In retrospect, Allah's guidance was so subtle yet consistent, that now I see my whole life as leading up to that moment. It is difficult to encapsulate the exact factors that brought me to Islam because it was a journey, a process, that lasted three years. Those three years were both exhilarating and exhausting. My perceptions of myself and the world changed dramatically. Some beliefs were validated; others, shattered. At times I feared I would lose myself; at other times I knew that this path was my destiny and embraced it. Throughout those years, a series of aspects of Islam intrigued me. Slowly and gradually, my studies led me towards the day when I took the declaration of faith, the shahadah.
Prior to my introduction to Islam, I knew that I yearned for more spiritual fulfillment in my life. But, as yet, nothing had seemed acceptable or accessible to me. I had been brought up essentially a secular humanist. Morals were emphasized, but never attributed to any spiritual or divine being. The predominant religion of our country, Christianity, seemed to burden a person with too much guilt. I was not really familiar with any other religions. I wish I could say that, sensing my spiritual void, I embarked on a spiritual quest and studied various religions in depth. However, I was too comfortable with my life for that. I come from a loving and supportive family. I had many interesting and supportive friends. I thoroughly enjoyed my university studies and I was successful at the university. Instead, it was the "chance" meeting of various Muslims that instigated my study of Islam.
Sharif was one of the first Muslims who intrigued me. He was an elderly man who worked in a tutorial program for affirmative action that I had just entered. He explained that while his job brought little monetary reward, the pleasure he gained from teaching students brought him all the reward he needed. He spoke softly and genuinely. His demeanor more than his words caught me, and I thought, "I hope I have his peace of spirit when I reach his age." That was in 1987.
As I met more Muslims, I was struck not only by their inner peace, but by the strength of their faith. These gentle souls contrasted with the violent, sexist image I had of Islam. Then I met Imran, a Muslim friend of my brother's who I soon realized was the type of man I would like to marry. He was intelligent, sincere, independent, and at peace with himself. When we both agreed that there was potential for marriage, I began my serious studies of Islam. Initially, I had no intention of becoming Muslim; I only desired to understand his religion because he had made it clear that he would want to raise his children as
Muslims. My response was: "If they will turn out as sincere, peaceful and kind as he is, then I have no problem with it. But I do feel obligated to understand Islam better first."
In retrospect, I realize that I was attracted to these peaceful souls because I sensed my own lack of inner peace and conviction.
There was an inner void that was not completely satisfied with academic success or human relationships. However, at that point I would never have stated that I was attracted to Islam for myself. Rather, I viewed it as an intellectual pursuit. This perception was compatible with my controlled, academic lifestyle.
Since I called myself a feminist, my early reading centered around women in Islam. I thought Islam oppressed women. In my Womens Studies courses I had read about Muslim women who were not allowed to leave their homes and were forced to cover their heads. Of course I saw hijab as an oppressive tool imposed by men rather than as an expression of self-respect and dignity. What I discovered in my readings surprised me. Islam not only does not oppress women, but actually liberates them, having given them rights in the 6th century that we have only gained in this century in this country: the right to own property and wealth and to maintain that in her name after marriage; the right to vote; and the right to divorce. This realization was not easy in coming....I resisted it every step of the way. But there were always answers to my questions.
Why is there polygamy? It is only allowed if the man can treat all four equally and even then it is discouraged. However, it does allow for those times in history when there are more women than men, especially in times of war, so that some women are not deprived of having a relationship and children. Furthermore, it is far superior to the mistress relationship so prevalent here since
the woman has a legal right to support should she have a child. This was only one of many questions, the answers to which eventually proved to me that women in Islam are given full rights as individuals in society.
However, these discoveries did not allay all my fears. The following year was one of intense emotional turmoil. Having finished up my courses for my masters in Latin American Studies in the spring of 1989, I decided to take a year to substitute teach. This enabled me to spend a lot of time studying Islam. Many things I was reading about Islam made sense. However, they didn't fit
into my perception of the world. I had always perceived of religion as a crutch. But could it be that it was the truth? Didn't religions cause much of the oppression and wars in the world? How then could I be considering marrying a man who followed
one of the world's major religions? Every week I was hit with a fresh story on the news, the radio or the newspaper about the oppression of Muslim women. Could I, a feminist, really be considering marrying into that society? Eyebrows were raised.
People talked about me in worried tones behind my back. In a matter of months, my secure world of 24 years was turned upside down. I no longer felt that I knew what was right or wrong. What was black and white, was now all gray. But something kept me going. And it was more than my desire to marry Imran. At any moment I could have walked away from my studies of Islam and been accepted back into a circle of feminist, socialist friends and into the loving arms of my family. While these people never deserted me, they haunted me with their influence. I worried about what they would say or think, particularly since I had always judged myself through the eyes of others. So I secluded myself. I talked only with my family and
friends that I knew wouldn't judge me. And I read.
It was no longer an interested, disinterested study of Islam. It was a struggle for my own identity. Up to that time I had produced many successful term papers. I knew how to research and to support a thesis. But my character had never been at stake. For the first time, I realized that I had always written to please others. Now, I was studying for my own spirit. It was scary. Although I knew my friends and family loved me, they couldn't give me the answers. I no longer wanted to lean on their support. Imran was always there to answer my questions. While I admired his patience and his faith that all would turn out for
the best, I didn't want to lean too heavily on him out of my own fear that I might just be doing this for a man and not for myself. I felt I had nothing and no one to lean on. Alone, frightened and filled with self-doubt, I continued to read.
After I had satisfied my curiosity about women in Islam and been surprised by the results, I began to read about the life of the Prophet Muhammad and to read the Qu'ran itself. As I read about the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), I began to question my
initial belief that he was merely an exceptional leader. His honesty prior to any revelations, his kindness, his sagacity, his insights into his present as well as the future--all made me question my initial premise. His persistence in adversity and, later, his humility in the face of astounding success seemed to belie human nature. Even at the height of his success when he could have enjoyed tremendous wealth, he refused to have more than his poorest companions in Islam.
Slowly I was getting deeper and deeper into the Qu'ran. I asked, "Could a human being be capable of such a subtle, far-reaching book?" Furthermore, there are parts that are meant to guide the Prophet himself, as well as reprimand him. I
wondered if the Prophet would have reprimanded himself.
As I slowly made my way through the Qu'ran, it became less and less an intellectual activity, and more and more a personal struggle. There were days when I would reject every word--find a way to condemn it, not allow it to be true. But then I would suddenly happen upon a phrase that spoke directly to me. This first happened when I was beginning to experience a lot of inner turmoil and doubt and I read some verses towards the end of the second chapter: "Allah does not burden any human being with more than he is well able to bear" (2:286). Although I would not have stated that I believed in Allah at that time, when I read
these words it was as if a burden was lifted from my heart.
I continued to have many fears as I studied Islam. Would I still be close to my family if I became a Muslim? Would I end up in an oppressive marriage? Would I still be "open-minded?" I believed secular humanism to be the most open-minded approach
to life. Slowly I began to realize that secular humanism is as much an ideology, a dogma, as Islam. I realized that everyone had
their ideology and I must consciously choose mine. I realized that I had to have trust in my own intellect and make my own decisions--that I should not be swayed by the negative reactions of my "open-minded," "progressive" friends. During this time, as I started keeping more to myself, I was becoming intellectually freer than any time in my life.
Two and a half years later, I had finished the Qu'ran, been delighted by its descriptions of nature and often reassured by its wisdom. I had learned about the extraordinary life of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH); I had been satisfied by the realization that Islam understands that men and women are different but equal; and I discovered that Islam gave true equality not only to men
and women, but to all races and social classes, judging only by one's level of piety. And I had gained confidence in myself and my own decisions. It was then that I came to the final, critical question: Do I believe in one God? This is the basis of being a Muslim. Having satisfied my curiosity about the rules and historical emergence of Islam, I finally came to this critical question, the essence of being Muslim. It was as if I had gone backwards: starting with the details before I finally reached the spiritual question. I had to wade through the technicalities and satisfy my academic side before I could finally address the spiritual question. Did I.... Could I place my trust in a greater being? Could I relinquish my secular humanist approach to life?
Twice I decided to take the shahadah and then changed my mind the next day. One afternoon, I even knelt down and touched my forehead to the floor, as I had often seen Muslims do, and asked for guidance. I felt such peace in that position. Perhaps in that moment I was a Muslim a heart, but when I stood up, my mind was not ready to officially take the shahadah.
After that moment a few more weeks passed. I began my new job: teaching high school. The days began to pass very quickly, a flurry of teaching, discipline and papers to correct. As my days began to pass so fast, it struck me that I did not want to pass from this world without having declared my faith in Allah. Intellectually, I understood that the evidence present in the Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) life and in the Qu'ran was too compelling to deny. And, at that moment, I was also ready in my heart for Islam. I had spent my life longing for a truth in which heart would be compatible with mind, action with thought, intellect with
emotion. I found that reality in Islam. With that reality came true self-confidence and intellectual freedom. A few days after I took the shahadah , I wrote in my journal that finally I have found in Islam the validation of my inner thoughts and intuition. By acknowledging and accepting Allah, I have found the door to spiritual and intellectual freedom.
[Islamic Server Home] |
| Bashir Abdi. | Unrecorded Date
Ladan.
Thanks for the prayer. The same goes for you inshallah.
Ansaari.
Brother, the same as well for you.
If you need to hear these stories visit www.beconvinced.com and under the miscellaneous title you will find "why they became muslims". There are stories of both men and women educated and a testament to the effects Islam has on people. |
| Odaybiiqay | Unrecorded Date
Carraweelo,
Saaxiibayaal aad ayaan umurugoon jiray in mustaqbalka soomaliya aanan boos kulahayn.
laakiin markaan boggan soo booqday oon arkay carroweelo ayey rajadaydu soo noolaatay inaan gacanta kudhigo maamulka soomaliya kadib markaan afganbiyo carroweelo.
Carroweelooy xukunka qabo anigu da'baan ahayee kadibna aan kuu dabomaree.
Odaybiiqay |
