|
Source :
IslamAustralia Website.
Being of Italian
origin, naturally Catholicism was the religion at our home. I had never
heard about Islam from my parents or even in general conversation as to
who Muslims were, what they believed in, or what cultures were involved. I
questioned my family's belief in a way as to ask why are we believing in
this religion. Is it something Italians do automatically? The response, as
I was afraid it would be was, "we have always been this". I thought to
myself, "Is it, right because your parents say its right - without any
evidence? Should we accept things blindly or believe that what our parents
say or do is correct and automatically follow suit?"
During my formative years, I did not receive any meaningful guidance from
the Christian society nor from school education. They would teach us all
about Christian beliefs and what the Bible says. There would be no mention
of different sects of Christianity, let alone the different versions of
the Bible or of the existence of other religions.
Looking back now, the lack of education did not allow us to make a choice.
I also felt there was a deliberate non mentioning of Muslims in history
class. We studied about the different empires, but nothing was mentioned
about the more recent Ottoman Empire.
Unfortunately, the Arab and Turkish Muslim students at my school did not
feel the need to mention anything about Islam even on a friend to friend
basis with me. As a Muslim and a mother, I would be very proud if my
children were to speak to others about Islam.
It has now been eight years since I reverted. Looking back at the very
early stages, my husband had a direct influence on me. He had reverted
sometime before after studying Islam. He approached the subject with
logical arguments, leaving me thinking. He advised me to question things
concerning both Catholicism and Islam. Through conversation, videos, books
of comparative religious study and authors like Said Nursi (of Turkey), no
doubt was left in my mind.
Although I had a lot to learn, the basic understanding of Islam - not just
as a religion - but as a way of life, made perfect sense and gave me
direction in my life. I would advise anybody when making a decision on
anything, to take the approach a scientist would - that is to examine all
aspects, before formulating a conclusion.
"But to those who receive Guidance, He increases the (light of) Guidance,
and bestows on them, their Piety and Restraint (from evil)." (Qur'an
47:17)
|
|
