Converting to Islam?

[Saddle Bronc 124]

So are you saying that one should not say "I hate aubergines" or "I hate English class"?

(for those used to Americanese-only, aubergines = eggplants = brinjals)

[Jenn! 918]

Aubergine, the vegetable everyone loves to hate...

:lol:

[brnidokiegurl 0]

No big deal just word i dont like i guess and i DONT like eggplant but wouldnt say i hated it just wont make an effort to have it

[doodlebug 3]

I have been interested in learning about religion for about 8 or 9 years now. Don't remember what set me off but that's when I started doing some research. I joined a Christian forum and basically was just looking into what branch of Christianity was right for me. I had decided to stick with Catholicism for many reasons and there I stayed for quite a while.

In that forum we had a section for non-Christians, which is where I met Rahma. I always loved reading her posts but was often too shy to pm her to ask her questions about Islam. I used to read that section all of the time though.

Through the years it bothered me a lot how much the church had changed. I mean why one thing one year and another the other? That and the fact that the muslim woman were so modest got me more and more interested in learning about the subject.

One night I was looking in yahoo chatrooms for an islamic area and I found it. The people there were talking so fast I could barely keep up, but one guy pm'd me and we started talking about his religion and mine. Well I was adamant that I would never become a Muslim but told him I was just curious about his religion. He said that was ok and that we believed in the same God.

I really didn't end up learning much from him, but rather from other sites and books like the Idiot's Guide to Islam. That opened the door to me to not be scared to research further. I contacted Rahma and she sent me my first Quran. I also got a ton of books for free from another board and one book in particular broke out all of the verses in the bible that had troubled me so much. At this point my one stumbling block was the crucifixion and this book opened my eyes like magic it seemed.

Then one morning out of the blue I woke up around 4:50 or so in the morning. This is something that NEVER happens since I LOVE sleep. I knew this happened for a reason. I had read all about how to perform the salat and wudu and gusl so I took a bath, said my shahada and prayed Fajr.

When I told Usama that night what I had done he didn't get excited. He was very worried that I did this for him and he kept stressing to me that I did not have to convert for him. After about halfway through Ramadan he realized that I was doing this for me and tears came down his face and he really changed his way of dealing with me. I can't explain it really,... I mean he always was great with me and all but now things just "felt" different.

I am so very grateful that I am a muslimah and I have never felt so much safety and protection from God in all my life.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

[Mrs. Forgetful 2]

Back to the OPs quesiton:

I know this didn't ask for my story, but I like to tell my story. So if you don't feel like reading it, then just skip over the next big paragraph! Thanks!

I was what some would call a very devout christian while in high school. What they didn't know was that I had been having way too many doubts and going to church and youth group turned into more of a social thing. I went to a christian college and while I was there met some of the most awesome muslims! But while I was there I still didn't want anything to do with Islam. Then my best friend and I met my husband old roomate and she started looking into Islam and told me that I should read about it too because there was a lot of things that made sense. So then I met my husband and I still didn't want to have anything to do with him because I was going to marry a christian! It wasn't until the spring of 2005 that I really started looking into Islam. I had read a book in Germany about the differences between Islam, Judaism(sp?), and Christianity. Ended up that there were a few things that I actually believed in Islam. So when I moved back to Philadelphia, I went to this arabic maket that has a book store above it that Megan and I had been in a few times. I bought about 5 books and started reading about Islam. Then My husband and I got back together and I started talking to him about it. Over time I found a deep passion for Islam, but figured I couldn't revert because of only the things I was learning from the books, but I needed some sort of sign. Well my husband and I decided that we would have an Islamic wedding in the mosque across the street from that arabic market. Before I went over there I went upstairs and was searching for a scarf to wear. Some of the girls I had met who worked there were talking to me about what I believed in Islam. They pretty much told me that I believed everything that it says in the Shahada. When I went into the mosque, then men said to my husband " I thought you said she was a christian?! Why is she wearing hijab?" So that night I got my sign. The most amazing dream. I don't know if it was from something that I had read, or something I think I read, but I know that it was giving me my options. My name was written in a book, a voice said "You have to choose." the book went up into flames. The voice said "You can choose the hellfire," the flames turned into this beautiful wild orchid "or paradise." I woke up and my husband told me that I had been speaking fluent arabic in my sleep. He couldn't understand it completely, but he recognized it as a verse from the Quran. (mind you I had only read the Quran once) So after awhile, I decided to say the Shahada. It's now been a little less than a year, and my first full day in Morocco will mark my first full year since I reverted to Islam!

Sorry that was so long. So I guess to really answer the question: I made the decision on my own, with a little help here in there to point me in the right direction.(hope that makes sense) Also, before I decided to revert, my hubby and I had talked about having our different religions. We figured that we would raise the kids to learn about both religions and then they can make the choices themselves when they are old enough. We had also talked about the fact that I might not ever convert/revert to Islam, and he was fine with that since both christians and muslims are both followers of the book. Hope that answered your question.

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

So are you saying that one should not say "I hate aubergines" or "I hate English class"?

(for those used to Americanese-only, aubergines = eggplants = brinjals)

Here are some etymological and historical minutiae that probably only you will appreciate, Sriniv --

The eggplant was well-known in the Arab world long before it made its way to France in the 17th century. It remains a very popular vegetable -- many different eggplant dishes are standard in Arabic cuisine.

In fact, the French word "aubergine" is actually derived from the Arabic word "badinjan" (or "bathinjan," depending on your accent.)

Eggplant was introduced to Spain, Portugal and North Africa by Arab traders in the Middle Ages, where the word entered the Spanish language as "berenjena," and Portugeuse as "berinjela." It made its transformation into French from there.

The Arabic word "badinjan" is almost identical to its Persian root, "badnjan."

And as you already mentioned, the Hindi name "brinjal" is also very close to that.

The eggplant consumption rate in my house has skyrocketed since Mahmoud arrived. We planted some in the garden, and the plants kept producing all summer and fall -- they finally petered out just 6 weeks ago.

-MK

"Eggplant Lover"

[UmmSqueakster 54]

In that forum we had a section for non-Christians, which is where I met Rahma. I always loved reading her posts but was often too shy to pm her to ask her questions about Islam. I used to read that section all of the time though.

You don't know how much that means to me. CF caused me a lot of pain throughout the years. I've basically disengaged myself from it now, but knowing that I made a difference to even a single poster there made all the warnings worth it

[Ban Hammer 12,901]

"Eggplant Lover"

eggplant

[doodlebug 3]

In that forum we had a section for non-Christians, which is where I met Rahma. I always loved reading her posts but was often too shy to pm her to ask her questions about Islam. I used to read that section all of the time though.

You don't know how much that means to me. CF caused me a lot of pain throughout the years. I've basically disengaged myself from it now, but knowing that I made a difference to even a single poster there made all the warnings worth it

awwwww

not to get all mushy about it in here but before I had read your posts I was soooo afraid of muslims only because of the image the media displays. Your presence there helped me to know that muslimahs are real people too!!!!!!!

[UmmSqueakster 54]

not to get all mushy about it in here but before I had read your posts I was soooo afraid of muslims only because of the image the media displays. Your presence there helped me to know that muslimahs are real people too!!!!!!!

That's my life's goal. I'm a walking dawah machine - I live my life in a positive manner, try to be kind to people, and do my best to be an active citizen. In the end, I really do hope people see muslims as normal people. bwahaha, my plan is working

[Michaela_Hassan 1]

I recently converted to islam. And it was my husband that did sparked my interest, but he never preached, or pushed me towards it. At first I just wanted to know more about what drives the person I love. Within the next 2 years I found alot that I never found in anything else. So on my 4th trip to Morocco I converted.

Michaela

Mabrouk on your comversion. May God guide you in your path always!

Thank you Henia!

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Here are some etymological and historical minutiae that probably only you will appreciate, Sriniv --

The eggplant was well-known in the Arab world long before it made its way to France in the 17th century. It remains a very popular vegetable -- many different eggplant dishes are standard in Arabic cuisine.

In fact, the French word "aubergine" is actually derived from the Arabic word "badinjan" (or "bathinjan," depending on your accent.)

Eggplant was introduced to Spain, Portugal and North Africa by Arab traders in the Middle Ages, where the word entered the Spanish language as "berenjena," and Portugeuse as "berinjela." It made its transformation into French from there.

The Arabic word "badinjan" is almost identical to its Persian root, "badnjan."

And as you already mentioned, the Hindi name "brinjal" is also very close to that.

The eggplant consumption rate in my house has skyrocketed since Mahmoud arrived. We planted some in the garden, and the plants kept producing all summer and fall -- they finally petered out just 6 weeks ago.

-MK

"Eggplant Lover"

Middle East had trade with Sub-continent since Harappan times, so probably arrived there (the vegetable is native to Shivaliks) in near-prehistoric times.

I'm not exactly fond of aubergines or "English aubergines" (translation of near universal desi term, aka "Bangalore aubergine", for chayote squash--I have no clue how those name got juxtaposed on as the chayote is neither native to England nor Bangalore, nor even related to the aubergine), but I have had to consume some recently in the interest of marital harmony (as I had to handle considerable pouting the first few times Pras put them in the cart).

(she doesn't have that much of a taste for the chayote though so I'm safe on that score).

[effortless 0]

I apologise for my my rudeness. I was over-reactionary to the appalling arrogance and rudeness I perceived from Private, and while I still maintain that her confessed behaviour and general attitude are audacious, responding to it publicly and harshly is just as wrong. Again, my apologies.

[doodlebug 3]

eggplant gives me the runs

[melly 0]

eggplant gives me the runs

Thanks for sharing!!