Why Did I become Muslim? Here is the story.....

THE BEGINNING Part 1

I have a degree in Biblical Studies and was involved in Christian ministry for many years.  A neighbor was diagnosed with cancer  and I stepped in to help during the very difficult time.  During those final weeks with him, it seemed all the irrelevant non-sense in life no longer mattered.  I began to seek truth and I had a recurring beautiful dream. I see now it was all part of the process and journey.  

A week after his passing, I was back to my career and business.  I had several conference calls lined up with a colleague from Pakistan. I almost didn't accept those calls as I was still recovering from an exhaustive and traumatic month.  I'm so glad now that I did take that call.   

When I speak with people from other places in the world, I don't think about their religious beliefs and this was no different.   The nearest masjid to my location is 2.5 hours away and I had no exposure to Islam.  The experience that led me to Islam was unexpected. 

During a second video call with this Pakistani colleague,  I heard a song in the background.   I asked him what music he was listening to or if someone was singing. He seemed confused.  I was intrigued at the beautiful music, intonations and soulfulness of the song that I needed to know the artists.  Like all good music, I'd add it to my playlist. 

  After some back-and-forth, he realized what I was asking. Instead of trying to explain it, he turned his camera to the balcony of his apartment, revealing a view of concrete buildings. In the midst of that gray landscape, he pointed down to a single green tree next to a bright building. 

It was a mosque and I was hearing the Adhan or the Islamic call to prayer and it's recited five times a day from every local mosque. I realized they REALLY do that - 5 times a day.  I asked him to recite the words, and when he did, a wave of emotion washed over me—reminding me of the feelings I experienced a few weeks earlier during my friend’s passing and those beautiful dreams. 

I asked if he needed to pray. He told me he could pray right then and there. He even offered to let me hear his prayer, interpreting the words as he went along. I was completely taken aback, not quite sure how to process what was happening or what questions I should be asking. All I knew was this unexpected moment felt like home. 

But we didn't talk about it. I didn't know what to even ask.  But I started keeping track of when the calls to prayer happened so I could schedule future calls around the Adhan, hoping to capture that emotional connection again. 

QUESTIONS BEFORE ANSWERS Part 2

My motivation for more and very unnecessary conference calls with my colleague in Pakistan was to learn more about the Mosque, prayer and adhan.  But he was evasive and unwilling to respond to my hints. I suspect he felt my motive was a debate and he politely sidestepped my questions.  This politeness is something I found to be prevalent at the very basic Muslim etiquette. 

Having a background in Biblical studies and thorough knowledge of Christian theology, I did the only thing I knew to do,  I ordered a Quran.  And then I ordered another one in another translation.  I then ordered books on the history and explanation of the Quran.  I did not research Islam.  I read the Quran and I had more questions.  

 It was a bit strange and frustrating at that point. I struggled to find much online at the time—my search algorithms didn’t seem to be helping me .  But I  found books.   I was amazed to learn that the Quran has remained unchanged since it was revealed, and that the Arabic language has maintained its form as well. Coming from a background where I had seen the many translations of the New Testament, this felt like a remarkable revelation. Very few ancient texts manage to stay so true in translation. Languages typically evolve and change, yet it seemed that the Arabic of the Quran was still as clear as it was when first revealed. I had to know more. I needed to ask a Muslim

I looked on Facebook, I googled, when I travelled I looked for anyone who looked Muslim. For months I found no one. In desperation I typed in the search bar "ask a Muslim" and found a website with a list of experts, several who were Imams and Clerics. Bingo I found a list of people to ask.

 I looked for the oldest, most wise-looking profile I could find, thinking they’d have the answers I was searching for. I specifically searched for someone from Pakistan, since that’s where my curiosity had sparked. I was curious if Islamic practices differed in other countries. Unfortunately, every time I tried to connect with a Pakistani scholar, something went wrong—whether it was a glitch on the website or an intake form that wouldn’t work. Eventually, an admin from the site connected me with an Imam who wasn’t from Pakistan at all—he was from Australia! This younger Imam, whose profile picture showed him kayaking, felt quite different from the image of a traditional Pakistani I had in mind. I had run out of options, so I decided to take a chance on this connection 

I was prepared to present all my theological questions.  Instead I found myself  telling  my story.  He assured me that the series of events and the emotional reaction I had to the call to prayer and reading the Quran, was not unexpected. I was home.

Then he asked if I'd like to take my shahada. 

"What's the shahada?" I asked.

THE SHAHADA Part 3

Shahada is the most sacred statement in Islam ... It is also one of the pillars of Islam. I had not heard of the Shahada previous to being invited to say it.  Of all the books I'd read, I hadn't heard of the Shahada.  

I  never thought someday I'd be Muslim. I knew I was on a journey to learn about Islam, but never thought I'd be Muslim.  I learned and appreciated how beautiful the religion was. I even suspected it contained the answers to the universe.  But the 'being Muslim' was beyond my reach.   

However, when I learned there was a Shahada which represented stepping into Islam, I felt for a moment, uncertainty. That fear was very momentary. Everything in me knew the Shahada was right.  I wasn't switching religions and embracing a new God,    I was finding my way home to God.... God, whom I loved all through my Christianity. I  found a path to clarity.

When I repeated the words of the Shahada, a transformation happened.  During the previous months I'd spent a lot of time on the outside of Islam looking in. I was peeking through the windows, wiping away the cobwebs. As I said those words, I found myself transformed.  I was suddenly on the inside of Islam looking out. What a beautiful view I now found.

The words to the Shahada are:    

“Ash-hadu an la ilaha illa Allah, Wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan Rasulu-Allah.”

“I bear witness that there is no God but God (Allah – i.e. there is none worthy of worship but Allah), and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.”

It is the most sacred statement in Islam