I grew up in the rural South USA as a Baptist, but I became a member of the Church of Christ in college. When I was a junior (1981), an Iranian student asked if he could be my roommate and I said yes. He practiced Islam and I adhered to Christianity. Though I was not (and am still not) a saint, I was pretty serious about my religion. My roommate and I would discuss religion, but only occassionally and in no great detail. After a year of being his roommate, I took his Quran (Yusuf Ali with commentary and index) home over Christmas break. I used the index to find and then read all of the ayat about Jesus (pbuh) and Mary. At first I was opposed because it disagreed with my beliefs, but, as I read more, I reached a point where I saw that what I was reading made more sense. I said my shahada upon returning to school.

I learned the basic prayer and practiced Islam until I went to graduate school in the Midwest. Away from my home "support group" I found it difficult to be different (Scottish/European Caucasian) from the other Muslims and for other reasons I did not practice Islam during that time.

I finished my MS degree and returned to the South to work. Upon returning to the same university where I became a Muslim, I started openly practicing Islam again and discussing it with my co-workers. As would be expected, my family was strongly opposed to my conversion and practicing Islam. No need for details, but it wasn't pleasant during this time. This opposition by my family, being associated with so-called "terrorists", and my inability to find a Muslim wife led me to quit practising Islam. I married a Christian and started a PhD program. After graduating and getting a job, I made a few half-hearted attempts to start practicing Islam, but to little avail.

As I reached 40 years old, I realized that one day I will die and that I would have to give an account of my life. While on a family vacation in June of 2001 I made the decision to practice Islam regardless of what others thought. I remember thinking that I could not use the excuse that some "Muslim" terrorist blew himself up and killed innocent people as the reason for my not practicing Islam. I felt a personal accountability for my own life and the need to practice my Islamic faith regardless of what others might do in the name of Islam. Then, as everyone knows, came 9/11... That was indeed a struggle, but Allah led me through it. Alhamdulillah!

I feel extremely blessed to have been guided to the Truth. Guidance comes only from Allah! My simple prayer is that I die not, but as a Muslim. What else really matters?