For Both Muslims and non-Muslims with an open mind?

Question

what do u guys think of this?
http://thetruereligion.org/modules/xfsection/article.php?articleid=195
A journey of an American woman to Islam... i'd love to hear your replies to this story... all opinions are more than welcome

as you read, this woman was not originally Muslim so how the heck can her views be pro Islamic? READ before making comments like that....

of course, we are open minded. Thanks for pointing that out, except for the extremists, and the rotten ones within us, (well theres evil within every human race so is it fair to single out Muslims?)

sen B, you provide an excellent reply....... see that woman in the beginning was as far from Islam as one could get, and yet she changed. I am not posting this to convert everyone to Islam, no, but what i am trying to do is make people aware of the peaceful and THE REAL teachings of Islam and not the ones that terrorists use to jusfity their actions.

Answer 1

I think her attitude to begin with is a very common one. It has not always been the common attitude but in this political climate it is. I did not come from a Muslim family or raised Muslim but i did grow up in a city that was multicultural and always knew Muslims they where my neighbors, class mates, friends and never though anything negative of them or there faith. I can say the same for every faith catholics, Protestants, Hindus, Christians, Jews, Sikhs etc etc they where all neighbors, class mates and friends too so i was not just exposed to Islam but every other religion too.
Once she got to know real Muslims and really learn the truth about Islam Insha Allah her attitude changed. I am not suggesting for a second everyone should rush out and convert to Islam (although they would be welcomed) Just that people open there minds a crack, open there hearts just a little and see that Muslims are just ordinary people living, working, paying tax's, getting educations, getting married, raising children just ordinary people. We are not to be feared of vilified. Growing up i certainly never feared any Muslims i came into contact with and there where plenty. As a little Protestant child i would play in there homes, share food, be made very welcome and never ever have there faith brought up or be talked to about there faith. I was simply a child in there home playing with there child. My parents as niegbours where invited to celebrate weddings and births and where given food at times of celebration such as Eid etc. It was a very normal way of life the same can be said about our catholic neighbours at there daughters first holy communion we would see how pretty she was in her white dress, congradulate her etc. You might be surprised to know that i grew up in Scotland and that every faith lives side by side. I teach my children we judge people on how they behave and how they treat us not the colour of there skin, there faith or there sexual status.
Her journey is one i have heard many times. And when i converted 2 and a half years ago i had many questions too most of which where very, very easily answered. Her story is hard to read in some places calling arabs camel jockies etc and i know it is only to demonstrate how far from Islam she was and Insha Allah maybe her story if nothing else will educate a few others too.

Thank you for your question. Peace to you.


I agree with your additional comments. It is clear to see you are just trying to show that muslim are ordinary people and that we are not extremist, terrorist or bombers like the media portrays us to be. Good for you.

Answer 2

What a wonderful story. If you want to read more stories then I would suggest this book:
"The Extraordinary Lives of Muslim Women in America: The Face Behind the Veil," by Donna Gehrke-White.

One thing I noticed in your story was that she was not given custody of her children because of her religion. In the book, a Muslim women goes through the same thing.
It is so sad to note that if she was a Christian woman then the judge would have given the children to her. Whatever happened to freedom of religion? Doesn't that mean we have the right to teach our children our religion?

Answer 3

Nothing New !

There are a whole lot of converts to different religions who have a similar explaination to give as to why did they convert.
Its this aspect of the Supreme that is a big puzzel as far as I am concerned.
I believe that the Supreme is an experience that is highly personal. Its based on ones own experiences and perception.
The problem is not with the Supreme but Religions.
For them one such example is enough to raise the cry " We follow the true God others are False"
This is where Humans err and err seriously enough to cause plunder, loot and murder. Spread hatred and intolerance.
I believe that
Spiritual experience is difficult to translate in words.
Human have not as yet fully understood the true nature of the Supreme.
Human mind is not yet fully developed to percieve the totality of the Supreme.
Its the story of five blind men wanting to find out what is an elephant
The problem is made acute with religions competing with each other in pulling the others down.

The problem is not God or which God.
Its not God that needs religion/s to keep his name alive as claimed by religions but it is religion/s that need God so that they exist and prosper for their own selfish ends ( power, wealth and total control over the lives of their followers by those at the helm of religious institutions)

Answer 4

well i think that u'll change ur mind about welcoming all the opinions, cuz i see the ones here that answered that question arent open-minded as well... well i read that story.. and i really liked it, it ofcourse shows some of what islam has. that religion is great... and 4 those who are saying that muslims arent open-minded, well, u had better shut up about that.. muslims ARE more than open minded.. ok?

Answer 5

I've read a lot of similar accounts as I studied Islam myself in analytical, significant depth... it appears each reversion happens according to the needs (psychological and otherwise) of each woman who chooses it and serves those needs accordingly.

Whatever they like and can understand that makes them happy, teaches them wisdom, altruism and compassion.

Personally I like my Buddhism.

_()_

Answer 6

Herschelle, get back on the field. There's a game being played out there.

Answer 7

Open mind is one which could identify the extremism in good and bad equally.

Muslims are not open minded because they get attracted to extreme and passionate ideas of quran. They can later do any thing if they feel that some one is going against quran.

People are not closed minded by birth, but religions like islam makes them extreme, if they go on reading it (quran) for hours together without questioning it.

ace......you have to grow. Someting is not truth becuase some good person said or did something.
Well, what can i say to people who grow beard and sit while driking water, because mohammed did that.

Answer 8

you had to throw in that open mind part, didn't you?

Answer 9

Thanks for sharing :)

Free love-- all the muslims here are more openminded than you so just dont say anything, ok?

Answer 10

All I can say is "Good God" - leaving your children for a fairy-tale? What are people thinking? Life is real - religion is not.