Converts To Islam

Chad M. Snyder

When I was about 10, my mother and stepfather decided to become Christians. Of course, as parents do, they wish to instil the same social, political, and religious values on their children. I became a rather active member. My parents went every Sunday and became board members on various committees and so forth. I spent time in the youth group. As I further studied Christianity, I began to notice so many contradictions and various things that I began to question my faith about two years later when I was about 12. I had always been sceptical and to the point of cynicism. I believe the final cut that was to seal my break with Christianity involved my father. As my parents were divorced I saw my father usually every weekend. We had a large youth group event coming up and I would have loved to have my father join me. When my mother found out she immediately didnt allow me to go and made a rather heated phone call to my father. Her main reason was that it was her church and if he wanted to go to church he had to find his own church. My church and your church? I believed that completely went against all that I was taught. When I asked about this the explanation only got worse. My mother stated that I had to understand that no matter how much my father might have found God, he would never go to heaven and he was not allowed in her church. This had me extremely upset. I thought it would be a good thing if my father found God and attended church. The pastor himself took me aside and confirmed what my mother had said. Since my dad was a really bad sinner he

would never get to heaven. I asked what a really bad sinner was and got a run around. From that point on I realized that God may be forgiving but none of his followers had to be. That all that a saved Christian had to do was ask forgiveness and no matter what they did they would go to heaven, no questions asked. I knew that what I considered to be Christianity was no longer for me. I slowly started my break and finally at the age of 14 completely removed myself from all of it. I knew there was a god and had faith that there was one, but I didnt know who. I started reading about religion a few years later. I started reading about Islam in about 1999. I had always had sympathy for the Muslims in other countries. I saw how the US always called them militants, murderers, terrorists, and the like. I had gone to public school and new several Muslims and knew that they werent like that. I figured that they picked the bad apples to represent the whole group. The more I read about Islam the more it appealed to me. In January of 2003, I started to have a rough time. I was laid off and my employment mainly supported myself, wife and almost two year old and my wife was pregnant with our second child, my car broke down and was going to cost about two thousand to fix. It really looked like everything came crashing down. Like many people do who are in that situation I wanted to turn to God. But, I didnt really have one. I saw nothing on TV but the looming war in Iraq, heard the word Jihad about every ten seconds, and saw a mosque with a screaming Imam about every thirty seconds. So, I started reading again. I looked up website after website, started subscribing to Muslim newsgroups on the internet and looking for someone to talk to. Many of the emails that I sent and bulletin boards I posted on said the same thing. Just turn to Allah. If I did this, it would all make sense. One night after really thinking about this I had a dream. I am still not positive what it was, but it was an Arab man who did not use his name but told me to turn to Allah, pray, and life will make sense. The

next day I said Shahada. The following day I found a Masjid. I went one night for prayer and found what I believe to be the one true path. The next night I returned and said the Shahada amongst my peers and we ate. Within two days my employer recalled me from lay off. I have received a substantial raise and the very real possibility to take a higher paying position within the same company and work on a better shift. I prayed heavily for my wife to see the straight way. She now is rapidly approaching reversion also. I believe that my life has only improved since my acceptance of Allah as my Lord and Islam as my faith. When my wife reverts Insha Allah, we will raise our children along the straight way.

This is my conversion story. It is not earth shattering but, very personal and a beautiful memory I hope to share.

Holy Quran 5:84***
And what (reason) have we that we should not believe in Allah and in the truth that has come to us, while we earnestly desire that our Lord should cause us to enter with the good people?***

Have you fully realized what Islam is? It is indeed a religion founded on truth. It is such a fountain-head of learning that several streams of wisdom and knowledge flow from it. It is such a lamp that several lamps will be lighted from it. It is a lofty beacon illuminating the path of Allah. It is such a set of principles and beliefs that will satisfy every seeker of truth and reality. KNOW YOU ALL! That Allah has made Islam the most sublime path for the attainment of his supreme pleasure and the highest standard of His obedience.

- Imam Ali (A.S.)