Peace to Ummah...from Brazil!
By Sarah de Andrade Siqueira
I have always kept interest in the Muslim world; it
passed to me a sense of peace. On the Brazilian Educative TV
I watched a documentary about the life in some Muslim
country. Those mystery women dressed in those beautiful long
clothes and veils raised my curiosity. When a Muslim woman
mentioned that it is not a matter of culture only but that
her religion was a complete way of life (Deen), I wanted to
know more.
The idea of a religion ruling all aspects of
humankind’ way of life is not common where I live, not
to mention having anything to do with economy, politics and
social issues.
I decided to look into Islam. My first question was: How
could I do this? No books were available at my University or
in the bookshops.
1999 I earned my Bachelors degree in Languages. It was a
moment that brought tears in my eyes, because my beloved
family always did a lot of efforts to provide me with the
best education they could, despite of our humble life. The
present my parents chose to give me upon that was a
computer. They saved long months to be able to pay for the
gift they thought would enable me pursue a career. When I
saw those big boxes in my room I felt such gratitude to
them.
Now I could access the Internet and be able know more
about Islam. I was surfing on the web looking for
information when I came across Yusuf
Islam’s (formerly Cat Stevens) website. After I
read about his journey to Islam and how a famous pop star
could give up the great world of music and find his
certainty on the straight path. He chose Islam as a way of
life based on pure love, charity, humbleness and the
submission to the one and only God. When I listened to
Yusuf’s lecture named “One God, One
Community” my appreciation for Islam became greater
than before. Since that day I have been studying Islam with
an eager will to learn about the pillars of Islamic faith
and way of life as well.
When I had a blessed opportunity to read the Holy
Qur’an which narrates with scientific accuracy the
development of the baby in mother’s womb, since his
first moments of life; I have decided to embrace Islam.
Beyond this, I also have to say that the submission to only
one God and the complete way of life established by Allah
through his last Prophet Muhammad had touched my heart.
During my “web Islamic research” I have met in
an Arab chat room some Muslim friends, who helped me a lot
in my journey to Islam, Alhamdulilah. The one I met first
was a Sudanese Muslim student, who taught me my first words
in Arabic language and always was by my side (with the
famous web instant messengers), despite our distance, to
solve my doubts in respect of Muslim women issues. The other
one was a brother from Egypt, who was amazed with my path to
Islam and gave me a blessed help shipping to me the Holy
Qur’an (a bilingual version in English and Arab), the
prayer carpet, books about Islam and even Hijabs, to allow
me to practice the beautiful and honored concept of Islamic
Modesty. My parents, are Christian, however they never
opposed my religious choice-God bless them.
In my Brazilian city there is no Islamic Center. All
websites about Islam I had visited were not Brazilian either
and few of those I’ve found in Portuguese refer to
Islamic Societies far away from my home. Hence, Allah and my
Sudanese sister were my witness that I had embraced
Islam.
After sometime, Alhamdulilah I have found an Islamic
website developed by a Brazilian sister, who gave me the
brilliant information that there was a small, but very
serious and lovely Muslim Society in my hometown. She
introduced me to The Imam and sisters there. It was a
beautiful moment of my life, to get know a part of our Ummah
in the city I was born and live in.
My mum is now considering converting to Islam. May Allah
show her the right path. The last thing I would like to say
from the bottom of my heart is:
“Ash Hadu Anlaa Illa Allah wa Ash Hadu
Muhamadan Rasululah”
May Allah bless our Ummah!
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