abu yahmed
05-06-00, 07:43 PM
I am attending a lecture next week by Aminah Assilmi, and I think that her story and strugle should be a lesson for us all in racing to do good.
This sister tried to learn Islam to find wrongs in it so that she can preach christianity, but she end up being a Muslim and an ambasdor of Islam, when she accepted Islam - out of truthfulness - she said "I bear witness that there is no god but God and Mohammed is His Messenger" 'but, I
will never cover my hair and if my husband takes another wife, I will
castrate him.'!! but she went on to be on of the best defenders of the hijab.
I hope this story will move you as it touched me and moved me.
The Introduction and Decision
by Aminah Assilmi
I was completing a degree in Recreation, when I met my first Muslims.
It
was the first year that we had been able to pre-register by computer. I
preregistered and went to Oklahoma to take care of some family
business.
The business took longer than expected, so I returned to school two
weeks into the semester (too late to drop a course).
I wasn't worried about catching up my missed work. I was sitting at the
top of my class, in my field. Even as a student, I was winning awards,
in competition with professionals.
Now, you need to understand that while I was attending college and
excelling, ran my own business, and had many close friends, I was
extremely shy. My transcripts actually had me listed as severely
reticent. I was very slow to get to know people and rarely spoke to
anyone unless was forced to, or already knew them. The classes I was
taking has to do administration and city planning, plus programming for
children. Children were the only people I ever felt comfortable with.
Well, back to the story. The computer printout held one enormous
surprise for me. I was registered for a Theatre class...a class were I
would be required to perform in front of real live people. I was
horrified! I could not even ask a question in class, how was I going to
get on a stage in front of people? My husband was his usual very calm
and sensible self. He suggested that I talk to the teacher, explain the
problem, and arrange to paint scenery or sew costumes. The teacher
agreed to try and find a way to help me out. So I went to class the
following Tuesday.
When I entered the classroom, I received my second shock. The class was
full of 'Arabs' and 'camel jockeys'. Well, I had never seen one but I
had heard of them.
There was no way I was going to sit in a room full of dirty heathens!
After all, you could catch some dreadful disease from those people.
Everyone knew they were dirty, not to be trusted either. I shut the
door
and went home. (Now, there is one little thing you should know. I had
on
a pair of leather hot pants, a halter top, and a glass of wine in my
hands...but they were the bad ones in my mind.)
When I told my husband about the Arabs in the class and that there was
no way i was going back, he responded in his usual calm way. He
reminded
that I was always claiming that God had a reason for everything and
maybe I should spend some time thinking about it before I made my final
decision. He also reminded me that I had a scholars award that was
paying my tuition and if I wanted to keep it, I would have to maintain
my G.P.A.. Three credit hours of 'F' would have destroyed my chances.
For the next two days, I prayed for guidance. On Thursday I went back
to
the class convinced that God had put me there to save those poor
ignorant heathens from the fires of hell.
I proceeded to explain to them how they would burn in the fires of hell
for all eternity, if they did not accept Jesus as their personal
savior.
They were very polite, but did not convert. Then, I explained how Jesus
loved them and had died on the cross to save them from their sins. All
they had to do was accept him into their hearts. They were very polite,
but still did not convert. So, I decided to read their own book to show
them that Islam was a false religion and Mohammed was a false God.
One of the students gave me a copy of the Qur'an and another book about
Islam, and proceeded with my research. I was sure I would find the
evidence I needed very quickly. Well, I read the Qur'an and the other
book. Then I read another 15 books, Sahih Muslim and returned to the
Qur'an. I was determined/ I would convert them! My studies continued
for
the next one and half years.
During that time, I started having a few problems with my husband. I
was
changing, just in little ways but enough to bother him. We used to go
to
the bar every Friday and Saturday, or to a party, and I no longer
wanted
to go. I was quieter and more distant. He was sure I was having an
affair, so he kicked me out. I moved into an apartment with my children
and continued my determined efforts to convert the Muslims to
Christianity.
The, one day, there was a knock on my door. I opened the door and saw a
man in a long white night gown with a red and white checkered table
cloth on his head. He was accompanied by three men in pajamas. (It was
the first time I had ever seen their cultural dress.) Well, I was more
than a little offended by men showing up at my door in night clothes.
What kind of a woman did they think I was? Had they no pride or
dignity?
Imagine my shock when the one wearing the table cloth said he
understood
I waited to be a Muslim! I quickly informed him I did not want to be a
Muslim. I was Christian. However, I did have a few questions. If he had
the time....
His name was Abdul-Aziz Al-Shiek and he made the time. He was very
patient and discussed every question with me. He never made me feel
silly or that a question was stupid. He asked me if I believed there
was
only one God and I said yes. Then he asked if I believed Mohammed was
His Messenger. Again I said yes. He told me that I was already a
Muslim!.
I argued that I was Christian, I was just trying to understand Islam.
(Inside I was thinking: I couldn't be a Muslim! I was American and
white! What would my husband say? If I am Muslim, I will have to
divorce
my husband. My family would die!)
We continued talking. Later, he explained that attaining knowledge and
understanding of spirituality was a little like climbing a ladder. If
you climb a ladder and try to skip a few rungs, there was danger of
falling. The Shahadah was just the first step on the ladder. Still we
had to talk some more.
Later that afternoon, May 21, 1977 at Asr', I took Shahadah. However,
there were still some things I could not accept and it was my nature to
be completely truthful so i added a disclaimer. I said: "I bear witness
that there is no god but God and Mohammed is His Messenger" 'but, I
will
never cover my hair and if my husband takes another wife, I will
castrate him.'
I heard gasps from the other men in the room, but Abdul Aziz silenced
them. Later I learned that he told the brothers never to discuss those
two subjects with me. He was sure I would come to the correct
understanding.
The Shahadah was indeed a solid footing on the ladder to spiritual
knowledge and closeness to God. but it has been a slow climb. Abdul
Aziz
continued to visit me and answer my questions. May Allah reward him for
his patience and tolerance. He never admonished me or acted like a
question was stupid or silly. He treated each question with dignity and
told me that the only stupid question was the one never asked.
Hmmm...my
grandmother used to say that.
He explained that Allah ahd told us to seek knowledge and questions
were
one of the ways to accomplish that. When he explained something, it was
like watching a rose open - petal by petal, until it reached its full
glory. When I told him that I did not agree with something and why, he
always said I was correct up to a
This sister tried to learn Islam to find wrongs in it so that she can preach christianity, but she end up being a Muslim and an ambasdor of Islam, when she accepted Islam - out of truthfulness - she said "I bear witness that there is no god but God and Mohammed is His Messenger" 'but, I
will never cover my hair and if my husband takes another wife, I will
castrate him.'!! but she went on to be on of the best defenders of the hijab.
I hope this story will move you as it touched me and moved me.
The Introduction and Decision
by Aminah Assilmi
I was completing a degree in Recreation, when I met my first Muslims.
It
was the first year that we had been able to pre-register by computer. I
preregistered and went to Oklahoma to take care of some family
business.
The business took longer than expected, so I returned to school two
weeks into the semester (too late to drop a course).
I wasn't worried about catching up my missed work. I was sitting at the
top of my class, in my field. Even as a student, I was winning awards,
in competition with professionals.
Now, you need to understand that while I was attending college and
excelling, ran my own business, and had many close friends, I was
extremely shy. My transcripts actually had me listed as severely
reticent. I was very slow to get to know people and rarely spoke to
anyone unless was forced to, or already knew them. The classes I was
taking has to do administration and city planning, plus programming for
children. Children were the only people I ever felt comfortable with.
Well, back to the story. The computer printout held one enormous
surprise for me. I was registered for a Theatre class...a class were I
would be required to perform in front of real live people. I was
horrified! I could not even ask a question in class, how was I going to
get on a stage in front of people? My husband was his usual very calm
and sensible self. He suggested that I talk to the teacher, explain the
problem, and arrange to paint scenery or sew costumes. The teacher
agreed to try and find a way to help me out. So I went to class the
following Tuesday.
When I entered the classroom, I received my second shock. The class was
full of 'Arabs' and 'camel jockeys'. Well, I had never seen one but I
had heard of them.
There was no way I was going to sit in a room full of dirty heathens!
After all, you could catch some dreadful disease from those people.
Everyone knew they were dirty, not to be trusted either. I shut the
door
and went home. (Now, there is one little thing you should know. I had
on
a pair of leather hot pants, a halter top, and a glass of wine in my
hands...but they were the bad ones in my mind.)
When I told my husband about the Arabs in the class and that there was
no way i was going back, he responded in his usual calm way. He
reminded
that I was always claiming that God had a reason for everything and
maybe I should spend some time thinking about it before I made my final
decision. He also reminded me that I had a scholars award that was
paying my tuition and if I wanted to keep it, I would have to maintain
my G.P.A.. Three credit hours of 'F' would have destroyed my chances.
For the next two days, I prayed for guidance. On Thursday I went back
to
the class convinced that God had put me there to save those poor
ignorant heathens from the fires of hell.
I proceeded to explain to them how they would burn in the fires of hell
for all eternity, if they did not accept Jesus as their personal
savior.
They were very polite, but did not convert. Then, I explained how Jesus
loved them and had died on the cross to save them from their sins. All
they had to do was accept him into their hearts. They were very polite,
but still did not convert. So, I decided to read their own book to show
them that Islam was a false religion and Mohammed was a false God.
One of the students gave me a copy of the Qur'an and another book about
Islam, and proceeded with my research. I was sure I would find the
evidence I needed very quickly. Well, I read the Qur'an and the other
book. Then I read another 15 books, Sahih Muslim and returned to the
Qur'an. I was determined/ I would convert them! My studies continued
for
the next one and half years.
During that time, I started having a few problems with my husband. I
was
changing, just in little ways but enough to bother him. We used to go
to
the bar every Friday and Saturday, or to a party, and I no longer
wanted
to go. I was quieter and more distant. He was sure I was having an
affair, so he kicked me out. I moved into an apartment with my children
and continued my determined efforts to convert the Muslims to
Christianity.
The, one day, there was a knock on my door. I opened the door and saw a
man in a long white night gown with a red and white checkered table
cloth on his head. He was accompanied by three men in pajamas. (It was
the first time I had ever seen their cultural dress.) Well, I was more
than a little offended by men showing up at my door in night clothes.
What kind of a woman did they think I was? Had they no pride or
dignity?
Imagine my shock when the one wearing the table cloth said he
understood
I waited to be a Muslim! I quickly informed him I did not want to be a
Muslim. I was Christian. However, I did have a few questions. If he had
the time....
His name was Abdul-Aziz Al-Shiek and he made the time. He was very
patient and discussed every question with me. He never made me feel
silly or that a question was stupid. He asked me if I believed there
was
only one God and I said yes. Then he asked if I believed Mohammed was
His Messenger. Again I said yes. He told me that I was already a
Muslim!.
I argued that I was Christian, I was just trying to understand Islam.
(Inside I was thinking: I couldn't be a Muslim! I was American and
white! What would my husband say? If I am Muslim, I will have to
divorce
my husband. My family would die!)
We continued talking. Later, he explained that attaining knowledge and
understanding of spirituality was a little like climbing a ladder. If
you climb a ladder and try to skip a few rungs, there was danger of
falling. The Shahadah was just the first step on the ladder. Still we
had to talk some more.
Later that afternoon, May 21, 1977 at Asr', I took Shahadah. However,
there were still some things I could not accept and it was my nature to
be completely truthful so i added a disclaimer. I said: "I bear witness
that there is no god but God and Mohammed is His Messenger" 'but, I
will
never cover my hair and if my husband takes another wife, I will
castrate him.'
I heard gasps from the other men in the room, but Abdul Aziz silenced
them. Later I learned that he told the brothers never to discuss those
two subjects with me. He was sure I would come to the correct
understanding.
The Shahadah was indeed a solid footing on the ladder to spiritual
knowledge and closeness to God. but it has been a slow climb. Abdul
Aziz
continued to visit me and answer my questions. May Allah reward him for
his patience and tolerance. He never admonished me or acted like a
question was stupid or silly. He treated each question with dignity and
told me that the only stupid question was the one never asked.
Hmmm...my
grandmother used to say that.
He explained that Allah ahd told us to seek knowledge and questions
were
one of the ways to accomplish that. When he explained something, it was
like watching a rose open - petal by petal, until it reached its full
glory. When I told him that I did not agree with something and why, he
always said I was correct up to a