Bitter to Blessed

Bitter to Blessed
One American Woman's Journey to Islam

By Crystal Renee

I wanted to share my story with you. I'll begin by explaining to you that I
was born and raised Christian. I came from a good home with a wonderful and
caring family. My mother (63) and my father (71) have now been married for
48 years. They are indeed each others best friends in life. I have no
sisters and only one brother. My brother is 45 and he is actually a
Christian minister (head of the church). This is my family. I am now 31 and
still live in the same city which I was born and raised, Evansville Indiana.

About 4-5 years ago, I was a very closed up and bitter minded person, (I
admit it). I thought I knew it all and I had no desire to see life through
others eyes. A typical cocky and arrogant American, I guess. It was at a
time when I was in need of a small, part time job. I began looking and
sending out many applications, (résumé's or CV's). I was eventually hired to
work for a business that was owned by Egyptian people. (very unusual for
around these parts!) At first I did not feel comfortable there. Everything
and everyone seemed so different, on the surface. I basically just went in,
did my job, kept my head down and then left. I really kept to myself.

In America, before 9-11, people knew very little of Islam and Muslims. My
ignorant ideas were that Islam was a strange-cult like religion full of
robotic-crazy people. (I knew nothing of it, really) I was very
knowledgeable with Christianity and thought that this was the only true and
correct religion that existed.

After working there for a couple of months, I started to really notice
certain things that began to make me curious. The Egyptians were indeed so
different from me, but I was surprised to see that it was "good"
differences, not bad ones. I witnessed how they would openly pray in front
of everyone. They had so much love and pride for their beliefs and were
completely humbled to everything else. I had never even seen such displays
of open religion displayed before. No Christians that I knew were this open
in front of rooms of strangers, as these Muslim men were. I was curious to
know more. These individuals were so good to people too. There was times
when I saw them give food to poor people who could not pay and other times
when I saw the Muslim business-owner look out his warm window and walk
outside to offer a car ride to strangers standing at a bus stop in the
middle of a very cold winter. Such acts like these were very common and was
a very crucial part in WHY I became so interested to know more. Why did
these people conduct their lives with such humbleness and such kindness?
What made them behave so respectfully and so unlike anything that I had
negatively heard on the American news and media channels ? WHY?

I have to stop here and explain that I had always been a very curious
individual. Always had an intellectual-curious side about me. I loved to
learn things. At some point, I sought out answers. I wanted to learn for the
sake of knowledge. To learn for learning, only. I never intended to convert!
I began to buy a few books and study materials on Islam. I kept this very
private. Learning of this semi-forbidden religion-(in America)-must stay a
big secret for me! None of my friends or family would understand me if they
knew I was learning about this. That was my thinking at the time. I read
everything I could get my hands on. All sorts of books and opinions on
Islam-(good ones/ bad ones)-I wanted all sides to the story, so to speak. I
eventually told one man that I was interested in books on Islam. It was an
older, African-American, converted Muslim man that I worked with. His name
was Ron but he had took on the name of Lukeman Ali. He was a very nice and
caring man and he loved so much to speak clearly to anyone about Islam. He
was my friend. One day Lukeman showed up for work and he came up to me with
something wrapped in a cloth, under his arm. He spoke to me very softly yet
very seriously. He pulled out a book. This was the Holy Qur'an. He gave me
certain instructions on how I had to handle this book with the upmost
respect, always. I thanked him for purchasing it for me and I went and hid
it until I could finish my shift and go home.

Everyday Lukeman would quietly take me aside and ask me if I had been
reading the Qur'an. I always minimized it, to him. I would make it clear to
him that I was only reading it for the sake of knowledge, nothing more! At
this point I cannot say to you WHEN or exactly HOW it happened, but it just
DID. At some point, I began to change. The more I read, the more I believed.
The more I believed, the more I FELT. I was finding so many "answers" in
Islam. A whole life of Christianity had only seemed to pose question after
question for me. Islam gave me my first look into "answers". It was a
practical religion that seemed as more of a guide to human beings. I
remember being so amazed at all the similarities. Islam was NOT some crazy,
separate religion! It seemed more to be a linked-religion or perhaps a
continuation from Christianity. Most of the beliefs were identical. As an
American, I never realized this! I never knew that the word Allah was simply
another word for God. I never realized that Allah was the SAME, ONE God that
all people worship. Christians, Catholics, Jews, Muslims. all were
worshipping the same, ONE God! The only difference that was separating us
from each other is the "path" or the "route" that we take to reach God. With
everyone of these religions we see different prophets or "front men"-you
might say-different amazing individuals that we must seek in order to take
our path to reach the same ONE God.

Some of us may believe more in the powers of gifts of Mary, others believing
more in the powers of Jesus, and others believing more in the works of
Mohammed (peace be upon him). But the similarities were far greater than the
differences. All of us seeking the most true and righteous path to serve
Him. Before I knew it, I was a Muslim. Initially not through prayer, nor
through discipline, no. But I was a Muslim because my heart and my mind knew
that I had found the most true answers for me. I could not learn of and hear
such guidance and then reject it! That was not an option.

My life forever began to change. Looking back now, 4 years later, I now
notice so many powerful signs. Lights that guided me along the way. So much
kindness from others. Firstly, I was extremely fortunate and blessed to have
worked for such a unique and wonderful group of Muslims! They were indeed
like a rare, beautiful flower to me along the way, even though neither them
nor I realized it, at the time. Secondly, and perhaps most amazing was that,
when I first began to look for a job, back then. I had sent out over "45"
applications ! That's a lot! Out of all 45 of these applications, I only
received calls from 2 business's. The only 2 places that called me in to
hire me, also just happened to be the ONLY 2, Muslim-owned business's within
200 miles of my city! I thought nothing of it then. But now, I know 100%
that this was meant to happen. It is a very extreme feeling to know that
Allah, Himself wanted to show me the correct way. There are no words to
describe.

http://islamonline.net/english/journey/2005/07/jour04.shtml


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