Some memories and lessons of life reinforce themselves as we get older and wiser (we certainly hope so). When I was a little girl, I recall my mother sharing with me the ‘glad game’: where we would list our blessings, a cause for our happiness and thereafter consciously thank ALLAH for them. Even at that young age, it was an activity that brought a smile to my face and a lightness to my heart. Through the noble teachings of our Beloved Nabi sallallahualaiwassallam and the words of the Glorious Quraan, we find such reflections to undoubtedly be of benefit to us, “If you are grateful for the favours that I have bestowed, then I will increase them upon you.” (Surah Ibraheem, V7)
Networking with many reverts on a regular basis has undoubtedly served the purpose of renewing and refreshing my gratitude for my Imaan and I hope that this has been the experience of many readers. In this month’s article, in the series, In The Embrace of Islam, we are fortunate to meet another grateful soul, Sister Layla Moeketsi, who echoes similar sentiments of gratitude to ALLAH; gratitude for her Imaan.
“I was born and raised in Pretoria. Whilst I was raised as a Christian, religion was pushed back to being a ‘once a week’ affair. So I never really had a connection with religion.
When I was eleven years old, we eventually stopped attending church and at that point, religion lost even the minimal influence that it had held over our lives. In fact it now had no influence whatsoever.”
Sister Layla shares with us how religion and faith slowly re-entered her life, “I recall that in my first years at highschool, there would be this preacher who would always be found in the school auditorium during recess. He would talk about Christianity and play his guitar while we sang church songs. I attended these ‘sessions’ most of the time, yet still I didn’t find the connection I yearned for. At the age of fourteen, it was my habit that I would watch television every Sunday morning. However, one specific Sunday my favourite show was not being aired. Instead they were playing a new documentary entitled Religions of the World. I saw it as an opportunity to learn more about Christianity because I felt that I didn’t know enough about it. While simultaneously I took it also as an opportunity to learn about other religions. Hoping, that I could take benefit from something new and different.”
The beauty of Islam captures the attention of the soul and so it was for Sister Layla, “I watched programmes about Judaism and Christianity. But when they commenced with the segments on Islam, I was riveted. I couldn’t take my eyes off the screen. I had never heard of anything like it before. I had never heard of people fasting a whole month for the sake of God and continuously spending in charity. Furthermore I was intrigued and amazed that Muslims prayed as much as five times a day. I, had hardly ever prayed, because the truth was that I really didn’t know how to.”
Layla’s actual journey to Islam had now begun, “After the documentary aired, I would spend a lot of time researching Islam on the internet and I would find myself always watching anything on TV that had to do with Muslims or Islam. Unfortunately, my family had started participating in ancestor veneration rituals, so I was kind of forced into it. This resulted in me halting my research and studies about Islam. But it was just two years later, at the age of sixteen, that Islam enticed me again.”
“There was a channel on Dstv where Muslim women, wearing the burqa, would host a show in Arabic. There weren’t any subtitles but I was addicted and would watch it every single day. Then I found the Islam channel and that also became a part of my daily routine. I found myself making a spiritual goal, that within five years time I would revert to Islam and become Muslim,” enthuses Sister Layla.
She continued to share, “When I started going to college, I found that the college I attended was in fact right across the street from a Masjid. I wanted to go and decided that I would, but I was too afraid because I didn’t have any Muslim friends. So instead I just continued learning about Islam and kept planning on that day when I would courageously walk into the Masjid on my own. It was January of this year- 2012, that I met a friend online, who gave me the strength and support and went with me to the Masjid and SubhanALLAH, I recited the shahada.”
Sister Layla, like numerous other reverts, shared her enthusiasm about being a Muslim, “Becoming a Muslim was amazing. I have finally fulfilled my heart’s greatest desire. I hope to become an Aalimah one day so that I can know much more about the deen, in sha ALLAH.”
For those who revert to Islam challenges seem inevitable, Sister Layla conveys hers, “My biggest challenge has been finding people who lived close to me, who could teach me more about Islam. There aren’t many Muslims where I live. My family has not yet accepted that I have become Muslim. It’s a struggle at home but I pray that Allah makes their hearts soft.”
In conclusion Sister Layla’s final sentiments were, “My favourite aspect of Islam is this great brotherhood/sisterhood. It is just like being a part of one big family. I find it really astonishing, that every Muslim I have met, it seems as if I have known them for years. My message to all Muslims is that reverts have to struggle so hard to become Muslim. If you are from a Muslim family, please dont take it for granted. It is an amazing gift. To those people who have an interest in Islam, go ahead and learn more. It won’t harm you in the least. Don’t delay in learning about Islam because of Islamaphobic propaganda. Rather draw your own conclusion. And finally, I thank Allah every single day for the Imaan He gave me. I have been truly guided, Alhamdulillah. You should try to strengthen your Imaan every single day by being thankful; don’t wait for when you are older to start being thankful.”
Our Beloved Nabi Muhammad sallallahualaiwassallam taught us many beautiful lessons of life: being a grateful servant was undoubtedly one of them. In keeping with the sentiments of Sister Layla, and in the words of Umar RA we conclude, “We are pleased with ALLAH as our Rabb, Islam as our religion and Muhammad sallallahualaiwassallam as our Messenger.”
Article extracted from my column in the series In The Embrace of Islam from the print mag based in SA-The Muslim Woman Magazine, April 2012 Edition.
Scroll Through My Thoughts...RSB 