How Can a New Convert Call to Islam?
Respected scholars and brothers in Islam, as-salamu `alaykum wa rahmatullah.Our Ummah is growing, praise be to Allah. Two weeks ago, three sisters converted to Islam, al-hamdu lillah. Although this is very common in some places like France, here in Portugal it is not the same. I converted to Islam four years ago, but I feel that I am a Muslim from the first day of my life. It is as if my past faded away like a dream. Thanks be to Allah, my path to Islam was very smooth. Almighty Allah has always put the right people at the right time and place during my whole journey into Islam.Right from the beginning, I started wearing hijab, though gradually; first only at mosque, then with my friends, then at university, etc., till I got used to it all the time and I still wear it when required. It was a great test from Allah; many times, I had to choose between obeying my family and being committed to my faith. Fortunately, I always chose faith, and Allah rewarded me with my family later. They all have now learnt to respect my decision to embrace Islam, even though they haven't accepted it yet. The relationships between me and my relatives, especially my parents, have never been as close and happy as now. Al-hamdu lillah.My question is: I feel that everything was made easy for me, even with the many periods of suffering that only drew me closer to God. But because of this feeling and the feeling that I've been a Muslim all my life (whenever I remember bad things of my past, I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan and my bad memories, and then they all fade away as if they were dreams), I have some trouble talking sisters into Islam. It all feels so natural to me that sometimes I don't know what approach is best, like when there are boyfriends and girlfriends involved or when new Muslims feel very reluctant to hijab and say that they simply can't do it or they will lose their jobs, or other things like that. Also, there is salah; I started to learn it very gradually, but because of my enthusiasm, I think I learnt it quite quickly — about six months to do it all by myself, including the prostration of forgetfulness or when we arrive late to congregational Prayers, etc. Al-hamdu lillah. But older sisters have a huge problem with Arabic. Some do salah in their mother tongue and are a bit careless with its times, because of being at work or not wanting to be seen by others at home, etc.another question, how far can we go in our struggle between fear of fitnah and practice of our religion? Pressures are numerous, like when our families break up with us if we use hijab inside home because of the presence of cousins or male family friends (who grew up with us and are family members, too).Jazakum Allahu khayran.
