Trump's Election Led me to Islam

Trump's Election Led me To Islam
-Micheal Cummings

My name is Michael Cummings, but am changing my name too Ubaidah. This is my story of reverting/converting to Islam.

Well I was raised Baptist in rural Kentucky. But I’ve always been different from my family, especially when it comes to wanting to learn about other cultures. Both of my brothers joined the military and have since both moved on to other career fields after serving in Iraq.

Well one of them is now homeland security and in college to be a Christian preacher. But I had strayed away from Christianity after I started to question the Bible and couldn’t get answers from any preachers, so I started to seek the truth of religion.

I looked into everything from Mormon to Rastafarian, but during the election of trump and all the  hatred that came with it, it peaked my interest to find out what Muslims actually believe because all I really knew was what you see on TV and movies.

So I proceeded to research and to ask Muslims what they believe and I ordered a Quran and just started to read.

Everything I learned about Islam just made sense to me. So I decided to tell my mom I was converting to Islam, she was not happy (still isn’t). Then she decided to take it upon her self to call my homeland security/preacher brother and tell him.

So that obviously didn’t go over well. Pretty much everybody I’ve known my whole life see me as an enemy now, but by losing a few family members I gained about 1.7 billion new brothers and sisters.

I am also giving dawah to all my friends and have a few that are very close to accepting Islam Insha’Allah.

I just pray that Allah continues to guide me and my friends and maybe even my family one day.

Allah Akbar.

From Hinduism to Islam: Rida Maryam

I was born in a hindu family.
I used to go to temple along with my frnds. It's not because I had faith and I'm going. Just to spend sometime with my frnds ,I used to go. I'm more of fun loving kind of girl,who always wants to be out along with frnds.! I'm so much attached to my frnds .
In 2k12, I met a muslim frnd and that frnd of mine noticed me going to temple on Thursdays. I used to go regularly on Thursdays to 'sai baba' temple, coz my frnd had so much of faith and I went along with them. So my muslim frnd asked me what I will do in temple. What will I pray and all. I had no answer . I always used to pray only one thing, that I should get good marks 😂
Then that muslim frnd asked me if I ever read hindu scriptures (geeta) 
I always used to have so much of confusion since my childhood, which god should I pray.?I always used to think If I pray to this god, then won't that god feel bad.? People say, this is my favourite god and all.! I always used to think of myself , which is my favorite.!!!
I heard a story of ganesh (idol), how ganesh has been born and all. It's been told that , he has been made of clay by parvathi(his mother) and as a security ,she asked him stay out and not to allow anyone inside. And then shiva(her husband) comes and tries to go inside . Ganesh tries to stop him, and then shiva out of anger , stripped his head. Lol , so I used to think, how can a god not recognize his son ??
May be , that's why, I think I didnt have much faith in God.
I was a atheist but used to go to temple just to spend some time with frnds  :p
I never thought of Allah. Infact I didn't know about allah.! I never had muslim frnds.
I used to get scared to talk to muslims.or even if I look at them, I used to get irritated. I dnt know why, but I used to hate them .
And alhamdulillah. That frnd of mine, gave me dawah,told me the existence of the creator (Allah) 
Told that idol worship is a sin.
Told me about ibrahim (a.s) story, about jannat and hell.about the existence of life hereafter. I used to feel bored ,when my frnd used to tell.me about islam and hinduism.
Calmly, I used to listen.
I didn't had intrest of learning about islam in the beginning but after few days, I dnt know why., My heart started crying 'allah' for evrything. 
I slowly started reading books and learnt how to pray.!
Within few days, my family members, found books in my room and took away them ,but didn't ask me anything. 
I was scared to ask them about my books.so I left it off.
I used to pray 'fajr' ki namaz . 
My dad wanted me to become a doctor. So to fulfill my dad's dream, I used to work hard and study. I didn't had time to learn about islam in that year. 
Finally, I wrote my final eamcet exam .I was in a counseling hall. There were least chances for me to get a seat in mbbs,. I was just praying. Allah plz keep one seat for me.! Alhamdulillah, there were only 2 seats left. I felt so happy and came out of the counselling hall. 
A lady in burqa, came and asked me if I knew telugu.i said yes.! She gave me a book and asked me to read that, and left.! 
I feel that as a miracle in my life.
Subhanallah ❣️
After few days, in 2k14 may be in November or something like that, I created an account on fb, so that I can find contacts and learn about islam.! 
Still, I didn't had complete faith in allah.! I always used to get so many douBts , regarding religion and all..
'zakir naik' I say ,he is my inspiration. His teachings made me Increase my faith.
Alhamdulillah, whatever doubt I used to have, allah ta'ala used to send me answer in some way.
I used to cry out to allah. I don't know the pillars of islam and I had no idea about it.
There was not even a single person who would help me in teaching islam. I spoke to so many people on fb begging them to teach me about islam. Many people spoke very sweetly, promised me that they would teach evrything about islam and all.! But everyone used to talk for few days and then they used to get busy with their works and all.! 
Somehow, through my frnd, I came in contact with maulana , alhamdulillah. He helped me so much in teaching me the basic things and I took shahadat officially on 10th april 2k16. Alhamdulillah.
That frnd of mine ,in ( 2k12 ) used to tell me about the importance of girl in islam. Asked me to dress properly and always used to ask me to cover my hair.
The wonderful quote 'women should be like a pearl' which is always closed in a shell" .
Hair is the most attracting part of the body" 
I always used to feel it as burden to cover headscarf. 
That frnd of mine, left my place and later all those words reflected upon me..
When I developed faith in allah completely, I got to know the value of hijab , alhamdulillah.
But still, I used to not wear hijab , coz was scared about the society and family members.
In 2k17, I started praying regularly , alhamdulillah. My iman became strong. 
I thought to myself , 'fear of allah'
The only duty of mine is to please allah, not the people 
That's okie, allah is with me. Even if people talk behind me, that's oke. No worries.i started wearing hijab. Alhamdulillah. I told many people about my faith towards allah. 
In 2k17 I've been caught in my home during ramdhan.i always used to make dua, that if my family members comes to know about me,they should not react in bad way.they should understand my belief towards allah.
Subhanallah, allah ta'ala gave me so much of guts to talk about islam and hinduism with my mom and sister And convinced them about my belief. I thought ,my situation would be worst if they get to know aBt me, but alhamdulillah, allah ta'ala accepted my dua.
I handled the situation.
I asked them to prove 'islam is wrong " I spoke so many things about islam and hinduism. I was totally shocked to myself.,coz I never dare to speak such words with them. I talked like a matured girl. Alhamdulillah. 
Even my mom and sister were shocked looking at my speech .
Finally, they told ,they don't have prblm of me being a a revert, but they were scared of the society and about my daddy .
They told me that they would make me to marry to a non muslim guy only. 
I was scared , but then I thought to myself , when allah is with me, why would I fear.!!? Allah will never let that happen ,in sha allah.
So, this is my story .! 
Plz make dua for me.! 
May allah ta'ala give me a pious muslim family and give hidayat to my parents, ameen !!

My revert story:From Harsimran Kaur to Javeria Maryam

In The Name Of
Allah Most Gracious Most Merciful

Assalamu Alaikum wa
Rehmatullahi wa Barkhatuhu.

I, Javeria Maryam, am a reverted muslimah. I was reverted on 10th march 2015. My previous religion was Sikhism. My parents and other family members are still Sikh, all
are living in Punjab. I left my home many times just because of Allah and for his Deen.

I was born in Punjab, India in a Sikh family, I’ve one elder brother and one younger
sister. My parents gave me a Sikh name according to their religion. I spend my
childhood as a Sikh girl, following all rites and rituals of Sikhism that my parents and
other relatives taught me. I went to Gurdwara (holy place of Sikhs) and did
Sewa (religious work) there. I was quite happy and energetic when any Gurpurab
(Birthday ceremony of the Gurus of Sikhs) came, I went to Gurdwara happily,
always wore a new suit and did Sewa (serving) there. I followed every single rule
of Sikhism happily at that time.
As time went on and I passed my matriculation from school, my mother admitted me to girls’ college for two years of secondary classes in 1999-2000. There, I spent my five

years. Two years for my secondary classes and three years for my Graduation.
When I was in my first year of graduation, my mother chose dance subject for me
and when she came home she informed me about my subjects to my father. My
father was orthodox and he ordered my mother to change my dance subject the next
day. So, my mother changed my dance subject to Political Science.

I got my graduate degree in 2003 and my mother got admitted me to a two years
Diploma course in Fashion Designing. As she liked stitching but she did not continue
her stitching passion as she got a job in a bank, so she wanted to fulfill that
passion through me. But truly speaking I didn’t know ‘S’ of
stitching at that time. But only for my mother’s wish, I got admission in that
course, I was not so good at stitching but at that time I got to know about my
designing skills, both in painting and on computers, I learned Photoshop 7 and
Coral Draw 11 software there Alhamdullilah. I am highly thankful to my mother
for this. I completed that Diploma in fashion design from 2003-2005. And one
of my friends suggested I do another diploma in Computers. So, I did PGDCA
(Post Graduate Diploma in Computer Science), one year diploma in 2005-2006 from
a Christian College, it was a Co-Education College. My life’s first Co-Educational
college. I spent my life’s most precious days there. All teachers and students and even
the administrative staff were very nice to students. Even though I was influenced by
that college because I liked Christianity, and I liked sisters and the way they covered
themselves. But at that time, I didn’t know about my exact destination. I passed my
PGDCA with good marks and I was in 3rd position in college. After that, one of my
best friends from my graduation days
suggested I do a master's in Computer Science, and she suggested me a
Co-Educational college for this. I got admission there but I only did my
first year because I could not adjust myself there in that Co-Educational
system. So, I got admission to a girl’s college. Finally, I passed my
masters in 2008 with a good rank.

Now my parents were worried about my marriage so they kept searching groom for
Now my parents were worried about my marriage so they kept searching groom for
me. But I wanted to do a job but my parents, especially my mother didn’t want that
I do a job in another state. So, they planned for my marriage as I am the middle
sister of my siblings. My brother got married in 2006 and he had a baby girl in 2007
when I completed my master's she (my niece) was of two years. And according to
my parents, it was my turn now. So, they searched for grooms for me but all grooms
rejected me because I was not slim and slender. Finally, my parents selected a
groom for me through a gurdwara relation where they were going. The groom and
his mother were amritdhari (means they wore a small knife which they call
Kirpan) and so my parents are from the same category i.e. amritdhari. My parents
finalized a meeting so on one Sunday that Sikh boy came to our home in Punjab.
All of them were very happy in my family, and that boy and her mother also
accepted me as their future daughter-in-law for their son. After a week, later
my engagement was fixed. That boy came with his mother and some relatives to
our place. In Sikhism, Sikhs follow some mixed rituals of Hindus like
exchanging rings and photo shoots. Both families fixed the final marriage date after
3 months. My family and I were very excited about my upcoming marriage ceremony.
In the meantime, I joined IELTS (International English Language Testing
System), it was three months of course. And my family was planning for the
ceremonies. Finally, in 2009 the day had come, that day which everyone was
waiting eagerly, my wedding day. I and my whole family were very happy. I was
hitched at 12 noon in a gurdwara. My parents were very happy with my
settlement. I spent 15 days happily

On the 15th night, my husband demanded five lakh (500,000) rupees from me after
dinner. He told me when will I take some amount of money from my parent’s home.
And I asked him what money and why. Then he said he wanted to start a new business
as he can’t go to Australia (my sister-in-law lived there and they were planning to
settle there but on my behalf, I mean I have done all my study on a regular basis so
they wanted to apply for a spouse visa in which both husband and wife can go to any country without any problem), but in 2010 some serious problems occurred in
Australia, there were clashes between Indian and Australian students, many Indian students came back from there so Australian government stopped giving all kinds
of visas for Indians from 2010-2014, and when I heard this news it gave me inner
happiness because they (my in-laws) were pressurising me to take my passport
from my parent’s home). I refused him to give me any kind of money. I told her
that my parents do not have any business, they are from working class, so
it’s not easy for them to give you five lakh rupees after just 15 days of
marriage. Then she got up from her bed on which she was lying, she told me that
she had took the wrong decision to get her son married to me. Then she started
mentally torturing me. At that time, I was crying and crying only, my husband
was sitting opposite of me on a sofa and he didn’t tell a single word to her
mother in my favour. She gave me 2 hours of lecture on my misbehaviour and on
my refusal. When I told my husband why he didn’t tell a single word to his
mother in favour of mine as I was his wife, then he told me that your
mother-in-law is teaching you some good things and there is nothing bad in it.
And he also told me that I should follow each and every single thing which she
wants me to do. After hearing these words from him I was very upset and I
remember still, I cried the whole night. There was no one for me at that time who
could help me, who could listen to my tears. After this incident, the behaviour
of both of them had been changed from my side. My mother-in-law didn’t give me
proper food to eat, proper clothes to wear. I did all household chores. She
took all my gold ornaments from me which my family gave to me. I have nothing
left with me. She harassed me for 3 months.
And then a religious day of Sikh came, on that day, my in-laws planned to go to
the gurdwara in the morning so, I also informed my mother about it that we will
come to the gurdwara where my mother was going. But in the afternoon my
mother-in-law started washing clothes and when I asked her about the gurdwara
she told me shedidn’t want to go there but she gave me permission to go there.
So, I took two-wheeler and reached the gurdwara. My mother asked me about their
absence so, I just told my mother that my mother-in-law didn’t want to come.
My mother took me home to take food for my in-laws. When I came home, my
elder brother and his wife were sitting on the bed and asked my mother regarding
me why I come here. My mother told him that she had just come here to take food
for them, but my brother started arguing that he received a phone call from my
mother-in-law and she was telling him that I had gone somewhere else without
informing them. So, I cleared him that they gave me permission to come here.
But he was not ready to understand my point and started arguing and abusing
me. And after some time he started to beat me, he beat me with his legs, punches,
and slaps. He kicked very hard on the right side of my back and I was unable to
walk for two weeks. I can’t walk properly after that. My sister-in-law also
played a good role in our fighting. She told me that I was wrong, I came here
without their permission, and they (my in-laws) are good. After almost one hour my
brother called my in-laws at my parent’s home. My mother-in-law came with my
husband. And also, they started blaming me for my misbehaviour with them. But
no one was there who would explain my misbehaviour and refusal at my in-law’s
home.
After a few days we got a phone call from a police station that one of the officers
told us that there is an FIR (police case) against me. And there was the first call
that we received from the police station in our lifetime, after that call each and every
day we received many kinds of calls from different officers of that police station.
And a week later we received a court notice that my ex-in-laws filed a divorce case
against me. After that, my parents were in anger and they also filed a case
against them for dowry demands. A known person of my parents suggested to them a
lawyer who was specialised in dowry cases. We filed a divorce case in 2010 and
in 2011. I got a job in ford automobiles at the backend as an office
coordinator in my hometown. Life was moving on, my life was starting with new
chapters, and I got a better chance in an automobile company in 2011.
I got to see Islam indirectly, In October I met a brother from Kashmir, he came to
our dealership for their car’s service, as his friend’s daughter was studying at
University there. They came here for their car’s service. That brother lives in South
Kashmir and I asked him about the weather in Kashmir and I also told him that
my family is coming to Kashmir for 7 days trip, he gave me his address and
invited me with my family to his home so we reached Kashmir.
We settled ourselves in our hotel rooms as we reached. On our last 3rd day of the trip,
we went to visit a place by train, when we were waiting for our train, I saw some
Muslim men were praying to stand in the same direction on a little mat, I didn’t
know at that time that mat is a Jaye-namaaz (musalla). I saw them praying that
they attached themselves with some unusual unseen power. I saw many women and
girls in a burka and in hijab. I liked their hijab.
After 7 days, we came back from Kashmir and returned to our normal lives but it was
only I who didn’t return from Kashmir. We were so excited about our trip that we
were posting the Kashmir trip photos on social media. And I also posted many
photos of Kashmir on my Facebook account. And also, I added many Kashmiris to
my Facebook account. Eventually, I left my job, because I was in depression due to
my court case. On the other side, my case was under process for two years, I
remembered still sometimes went with my father to court, we sat there for hours
and when my turn came we got the next date for the hearing, I faced this situation for
two years. Finally, my parents decided that they will withdraw my case. We
informed our lawyer regarding this and he sent our case under processing of
the withdrawal. My withdrawal process started in April 2012 and the judge of that
court gave me six months for the final process. I was operating Facebook often
then, I got a contact with a brother from Kashmir on Facebook, named Asif. I
sometimes told him that I want to know about Islam as I was influenced by Islam
a little. I also informed him that I heard a voice at some special hours like sometimes
I heard it at 12 noon, sometimes at 4 am, sometimes at near 7-8 pm. He said it the
Azaan (calling for namaaz/prayer). I can’t forget April 2012 as on one side my
marital status was changing and on another side my dearest nephew was born.
He was born in 2012. I got sadness and happiness at one time. I was very happy
with him, at that time I was forgetting about my pain, my inner sorrows, my mental
scars. He was my life, I really miss him. On his first birthday when we celebrated his
first birthday to cut a cake at home, he wanted to come into my lap but his
mother (my sister-in-law) didn’t let him. The next day when I just asked her
why she didn’t give her son to me last night, then she told me to leave him and
I should be far away from him as he was not my child. At that time, I was
shocked and didn’t know what to say. On that day, I cried, I cried a lot.

Time passed by, and my sister-in-law gave me or I can say allowed me to play or
to take care of him when she wanted to take some rest. But when I was with my
dearest nephew, those few moments were the happiest moments of my life. I played
with him, I ate with him, I slept with him, and we both enjoyed each other’s company.
As 2013 came and gone and I was busy with my nephew, 2014 came and my parents decided on my second marriage but I told them that I was not ready for second
marriage yet. So, they planned for my younger sister’s marriage. They got a good
match for her through their known relatives. In 2013 she got engaged to him. And
my family were busy with the upcoming planning, shopping, and all arrangements.
When I was alone in my family I heard Azaan and asked some questions about Islam
from him (Asif). And also, I told him that I want to be a Muslimah, and he suggested
I to take some more time for researching.
After a few months of her engagement, she got married. We all were very happy
on her wedding day. After just two weeks after her wedding, I told finally Asif,
that I want to revert to Islam, he gave me his friend Zahid’s number and that
friend of him with her cousin umm Khattab did chat with me on messenger,
I told him the same the thing which I had told Asif brother before. They both
told me about the Shahadah (declaration of Islamic faith), through which anyone
can revert to Islam, so finally, we decided on 10th March 2015 for my reversion
and it was Tuesday.
I asked about everything about cleanliness from Umm Khattab. On Tuesday 10th
March 2015, according to our planned schedule I woke up on time, took a bath with
a head wash and did my all cleanliness step by step as was suggested by her.
I ate my breakfast and took my phone and told my mother that I’ll go to the terrace
for some sunlight. I messaged Zahid Bhai in our group which they had created.
At 11 am, we were all online and now it was the time of my new birth.
 Zahid Bhai asked me whether I know to say Shahadah or not, then I told him that Asif
Bhai has taught me. He told me to recite it. I recited ‘LA ILAHA ILLALAH MUHHAMMADUR RASOOLULLAH - THERE IS NONE WORTHY OF WORSHIP EXCEPT ALLAH AND MUHAMMAD (PBUH)
IS HIS MESSENGER’. Alhamdulillah I became a Muslimah after it. I was very happy
on that day because I took my life’s first decision on my own without the
interference of anybody. Sometimes I feel that Reversion was the first and last
decision that I took for myself only. After my reversion, I gave this biggest news
to Asif Bhai and my other Muslim friends on social media. Everybody
congratulated me for choosing the right path. I felt something different inside
me. Because I was a non-Muslim before a few minutes and now a Muslimah. A
miracle happened in my life. I was totally changed without knowing what my
parents were planning on my back. One day my mother told me that she is
searching for a groom for me and she finalized a Hindu boy for me and they are
coming to meet them and saw me. I discussed it with Asif Bhai on phone but he
didn’t take it very seriously
On one Sunday, my family went to the selected boy’s home to meet and see him.
And after one week, that boy came with his parents to our home. I didn’t know
that they will finalize everything and they will be willing for a small ring ceremony.
But I convinced my mother to give me some time for any kind of ceremony. They
gave us a few days to think and I mentioned everything on phone to Asif Bhai.
My family pressurised me to marry that selected boy when I refused my mother and
she got aggressive and she asked me the reason why I don’t want to marry that
boy. I clearly told her that I like Muslims and I want to marry a Muslim,
so let me go to the mosque. My mother started yelling at me and called my
brother and told him to come home soon. I can’t forget that time and date when
they started torturing me. My brother came soon from his work, my mother told
her everything and also enforced him to beat me up, he first tried to snatch
my phone. When I refused to give him my phone he tore off my pants in front of
everyone and snatched my phone. He broke its charger and tried to break off my
phone also. My father was waiting for his turn, he was sharpening the knife to
kill me, my brother and my mother started beating me up simultaneously and
continuously. They beat me for almost 2-3 hours and did mental torture the whole
night. And also, my brother called my younger sister and told her about my
following Islam. My sister was shocked to hear this, and she told my brother
that she’ll come tomorrow to solve this matter. He hung up the phone and started
torturing me again. After 1 hour when they all felt sleepy, my father was still
sharpening his knife. So, my mother suggested that I should sleep in my
brother’s room. So, I went to my brother’s room. After an hour when I lay down
on my bed which they gave to me and my brother felt that I was asleep, I
heard that he was telling his wife to tie me tightly with rope and throw me in
a river. But my sister-in-law said to him to drop the idea and also said that
they will plan something else in the morning. In the morning, no one is talking to
me except my sister-in-law. When I went downstairs my mother told me to do
household work, as our maid was in her home in a village far away from our
home. As I was in drastic body pain I couldn’t say no to her, so I did all
work that she gave me. Later she offered me food but I refused as I only
wanted to go from there. But she told my sister-in-law to take me to her room
and gave me some food, but my sister-in-law told me in her room to go to the
kitchen and make breakfast for her kids, and also, I could have made it
for me as well. I did what she ordered as I didn’t have any other option.

After taking breakfast she went downstairs and I lay on the bed for some rest I was
thinking about Asif brother how could I inform him about my situation and
also inform him not to message me on social media. But I didn’t have any source
for it. I lay in same position in that room from morning to noon, some
hours later my sister and sister-in-law came into the room and asked me what
was my next decision but I couldn’t tell anything because I was in shock,
they decided something with each other and took me with them downstairs. Now
they decided that they will marry me to that boy whom they had chosen and
finalised for me. In the evening, we all went to the market. During the night, I
apologized forcefully in front of everyone. And my family called that boy’s
family for the ceremony after a few days.
After some time when I and my mother sat in a hall, I told her that I changed
my religion and name, and my new name is Javeria Maryam. She asked me about
the process of religion change, and I told her that at the time of reversion just recite Kalimah andshahadah, and after this, we enter into a new religion. I thought at
that time if I will tell her everything maybe she won’t force her to marry that boy,
but I was wrong and she told me to forget everything, she said to me that I was her
daughter and people know that we are Sikhs. So, forgot everything that you
told me. I kept quiet and thought if this is my destiny then I’ll accept it
from Allah only. On the next day, everybody was busy with their work and was
planning for the upcoming ceremonies of my marriage. I kept silent and was reading
a newspaper, in the newspaper I read about a town, where I read was an Imam who
preached to people in a mosque during Ramadan. I planned to go there and
tell him about my situation, maybe he can help me I thought. In the evening my
mother and father were outside for some time and I rang Asif Bhai, and told
everything that happened to me in these 3 days and also, I informed him about
my plan that I am going to that town to meet that imam for help. He told me to
take care of myself.
On June 2015, I made breakfast and lunch for my family and prepared myself for my journey, my mother was upstairs when I took my small pouch, an ATM card, and a
passport with me and recited Allah’s name before I left my home. At 3 pm I left
my home for the first time for my Deen. I took an auto for the bus stand, then I
took a bus to that town, and I reached there at 5 pm. I searched for that Imam’s
house and a rickshaw-puller took me to the house of that Imam. When I reached
there, a boy asked my reason to come, I told him that I want to meet that imam, he
offered me a chair and went inside to call him, after some time an older man with
some of his relatives came in that room and asked me the same reason. I told him
everything about my reversion and my family’s torture of me. BUT HE TOLD ME
THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO GO BACK TO MY PREVIOUS RELIGION. When I
refused then he told me to come in the morning as he could not help me at that time.
And I asked if he could give me a few places to live, so he told me that he couldn’t
so I left the place and told that rickshaw-puller to take me to the bus stand, but I
was late to reach there so I lost my last bus, the rickshaw-puller told me so I
could take the bus from the highway, so he took me to the highway, there I sat near
a bench given to me by a shopkeeper, after an hour later a bus came, I took
that bus and after one hour I took another bus of Jammu.
I took Jammu’s bus at 11 and reached Jammu at 5 am on the next day. On the bus, a
a male passenger told me about the sharing taxis through which I could reach safely Kashmir. So,
when I reached Jammu I took a sharing taxi to Kashmir and at 3 pm I reached at
Kashmir, it was a rainy day, I called my Asif Bhai on his number through a
lady’s phone who was traveling with me in the same taxi. Asif Bhai took me to
the police station when I reached Kashmir and he went there to apply a
complaint to inform them that I embraced Islam and I was here because my family
was torturing me and we want their custody. But the police officers didn’t
agree with his words, so he called his parents to the police station to explain
them all the matter, after an hour’s conversation between that police officers
and Asif Bhai’s father they took me to another female police station, and there
they decided to refer me to a madrassa (a religious place for newly Muslims
to learn Islam and all rules of Sharia), Asif’s father, Asif’s younger brother
with two other men, they took me to a place where other reverted Muslims lived
with their family members. I withdraw all amounts from my account before I went
to that place. I lived there with the owner of the family and his wife with her
elder daughter Rahila has her two kids, and his younger son Faisal.

On 29th June 2015, Asif Bhai’s sister and father took me to the madrassa. Asif Bhai’s
sister & father took me to the court first to make my official papers of my reversion
and changed my name there. After that, they took me to Asif Bhai’s khala’s
(mother’s sister) house. We reached there at 12 I think. Spent some of my time
there, Asif Bhai’s parents took me to the madrassa at 6 pm and after an hour
car drive we reached 6:30 the madrassa. It was my first experience of the
madrassa and I was afraid and missed my family. A girl came and unlocked
the door, Asif’s mother and I went upstairs, there was a big room on the right
hand, it was Appa’s (wife of the preacher of that madrassa) room, on the front
there was a guest room and turn left side there were three rooms, one was the right
side, the second was at the front side and the third room was on the left side. I was
in the third room. Asif’s mother talked to the girls in that room to take care of
me as I was a new muslimah in Islam and this was my first time in madrassa
without my family. I sat there for 15-20 minutes and then a girl name Iram told
me to remove the burkha, I removed it and sat on the floor mat. It was a roza
(fasting day) on that day and when I reached there, it had been aftaar (breaking
fast) time. They were arranging meals for the aftaar, we did aftaar together
and after they all went for their salaah (Namaaz), I sat in the room at
the same place as I did not how to do salaah. After a while, a girl entered the
room, came to me, and sat near me. Her name was Ayaat, she was also revert like
me, but she was reverted from Hinduism and she was just 17 at that time. After
some time, Appa came into the room and told me she will talk to me tomorrow.
After that, dinner time came, we had our dinner together and went to sleep.
That night, I couldn’t sleep, because it was my first experience in madrassa
without my family members. At 3:00am sharp we got up for the Sehri, in that
room we were five girls namely Iram, Razia, Ishrat, Ayaat & Me. We took our
sehri and after that Ishrat taught me the process of Wudhu (Ablution), after
that Razia and Ishrat took me to the guest room of that madrassa for my First
Namaaz. I knew Surah Fatiha only so they said to me that I can recite only
Surah Fatiha in every moment of Namaaz, they taught me the rules and regulations of
Islamic Sharia. On the next day when Iram, Razia, and Ishrat went for their 5
year Almiyat course (It’s an Islamic study course to become a scholar), Ayaat
sat near to me and I asked her about the story, when she told about herself to me I
wept and she consoled me. She was from Hinduism and met a boy in a garden named
Ishfaq, her family got to know one day that she missed her school and her
mother abused her and threatened her to leave her house, she (Ayaat) packed her
bags and left her house, she was with Ishfaq, when her parents filed a case
against her, later on, Ishfaq got married to her and admitted her in the
madrassa where I met her. She was just 17 at that time, and because she was
also reverted and very young I was attached to and I took care of her as my
younger sister.
Time passed, I made many good friends there, when I told anyone about my
reversion they blessed me, some of my good friends are Shyaesta, Ayaat, Uzma,
Parihan Shaffi, Asmat. I miss those madrassa days. One day Asif Bhai’s sister came
to meet me in the madrassa and they told me that they got a call from my parents,
I was shocked as I didn’t disclose anything before I left home, and his sisters told
me that my parents especially a cousin Mama(brother of my mother) of mine and
my mother wants to talk to me for once. We got permission from Aapa, the wife
of the owner of that madrassa and we went to a phone booth to talk to them,
my family forced meto come back but I didn’t want to go back. As I was starting
a new life there.
But they kept forcing and forcing after that call my family involved in this
matter seriously and they called often Asif Bhai and talked to him like
his father also. But I didn’t know about it. After 15 days, Eid-ul-Fitr came,
there was a tradition that every Eid girls went to their home to celebrate
this festival with their family and relatives. All of them were gone, and the
day before Eid, Asif Bhai’s sister and a younger brother came to take me with
them. I was very happy because this was my first ever Muslim festival with a
Muslim family. I was there for 6 days, on the 6th day a man came into that house
and he told Asif Bhai’s father that he was a manager in State Bank of India
bank and my parents contacted him to talk to me. I and one sister of Asif was going
somewhere outside, but when we heard this from that man who had come into their
home, we came back to talk to him, that man observed me awkwardly and also, he
told me in front of everyone that I should have to talk with my parents again. So
again, we went to that same telephone booth and I called my Mama, he started
to force me to come back but I was refused.
After sometime Asif Bhai’s parents suggested I go to madrassa so, I did. Everything
was going well, but after a few days later during Ramadan, one evening Asif Bhai’s
sisters came to the madrassa and they told me about my parent’s visit to their home. I didn’t know what to say so they just wanted to get me ready to meet them, we took
permission from Appa and went to their house. When we went there they took me
upstairs, my mother sat on the floor and stared at me, my mother asked me why I
took this step, of leaving home without any notice, but I just told her that I
didn’t have any second option left with me. But she didn’t listen. I was
fasting that day, but my mother forced me to go to the market (actually they
were for 2-3 days there and they were trying to get me back me tricking me). On
the next day, my parents took me to an air ticket agent’s shop to book 3 air
tickets. One was for me and the other was for my mother and father. When I refused
there also to go back with them they started shouting at the shop in front of
the shop owner, in the meantime when they were shouting at me my cousin mama
called on my mother’s number and asked about the whole scenario. He told my
mother that he wanted to talk to me, my mother passed the phone to me and he
threatened me that he knows some other ways also to take me back. My mother
tortured me mentally all the time in their home when I refused to go back with them.
When I finally refused to go with them, finally they booked their tickets, In the
night at their home, my parents mocked me in front of everyone about my past,
about my failed marriage, about my mistakes in my past life. After some time my
mother forcefully took my acceptance for going back home, and they behaved
like they won a war, a medal.
After we had dinner, my parents went to sleep in a hotel near their home, and I
refused to go with them as I was feeling that it was my last night at Asif Bhai’s home
so I preferred to stay there. But after a while Asif Bhai’s sisters suggested
I to stay with my parents at the hotel, When I reached their room they were
very happy to see me. My mother showed her different love for me. But I did not
sleep that night. In the morning, my parents and I went to Asif Bhai’s home for
breakfast and after taking breakfast my mother told Asif Bhai’s father to book
an instant air ticket for me also, but when they went for ticket booking the
shop was closed at that time. So we came home and I went upstairs to get myself
ready and Asif Bhai’s sister came with me and I told her about my situation
and that I didn’t want to go back with my parents so she suggested that I should
go to the madrassa.
We made a plan of it and she gave me some of the money that I had received by
Asif Bhai’s father. And she told me that she will go downstairs and sit with my
mother in the kitchen so that she could not doubt us about our plan. When I was
about to go, Asif’s mother came upstairs and we told her about the whole plan,
she gave my small bag to her younger son and he went outside. And when my
parents were sitting in the kitchen Asif’s mother arranged to escape from me from
their home. When I came outside I got my bag from Asif’s brother and took a taxi to
the madrassa. I reached madrassa safely and told everything about my situation
that how my parents forced me to take me back with them and how I escaped from
there. I didn’t know what happened on my back in that home but later on, I got
to know that when I escaped from there Asif’s mother went upstairs and called
my name, but when she didn’t get any response from my side she went downstairs
and informed my parents and her family members. My parents were shocked by
my decision so they went to the police station in that area and told me everything
about the current situation. The police officer gave them a written note that I
(Nusrat (my old name)) escaped with her free will and she’s a mature girl so
she can take her decisions with her own free will. I went to madrassa and my
parents went back to their home.
Today, by Allah’s grace and mercy, I am in Kashmir living happily with my new
family.
So, I just want to tell all my new Muslim Brothers & Sisters never to lose hope as
ALLAH (S.W.T.) tests our Iman. We should never forget one thing ALLAH (S.W.T.)
LOVES US,THAT'S WHY HE CHOSE US, HE GAVE US AN AWESOME LIFE AND RELIGION TO LIVE, TO LIVE OUR LIFE ON THE RIGHT PATH. WE SHOULD
ALWAYS BE THANKFUL TO ALLAH (S.W.T.) WHO SHOWED HIS BLESSINGS
ON US. YES! I saw many hardships in my life, but ALLAH (S.W.T.) says in QUR’AN,
with every hardship there is ease. Alhamdulillah I am fully satisfied in the new life
that ALLAH (S.W.T.) gave me, I’m emotionally, mentally, financially, and
economically satisfied. In the end, always remember:
ALLAH (S.W.T.) LOVES US!!!
And in my life,
I’ve lived, I’ve loved, I’ve lost, I’ve missed, I’ve hurt, I’ve trusted, I’ve
made mistakes, but most of all, I’ve LEARNED.
I would like to add some poetic lines also as my whole article is dedicated to All
Reverts:
HUM DEEN PAR MAR
MITNE KO TAYYAR HAIN,,,, APNE EEMAN KE LIYE KUCH BI KARNE KO TAYYAR HAIN,,, AGAR SARI DUNIYA

HUMARI DUSHMAN HO JAAYE,,, HUM TAB BI AKELE REHNE KO TAYYAR HAIN,,,CHODO NA UMEED AE “GUMNAAM” KI HAI RUBB KA FARMAAN,HUM

HAR WAQT MADAD

KE LIYE TAYYAR HAIN,,,…..

With Regards,

Javeria Maryam.