Hello and my journey to Islam thus far

During the past 12 months I have been the recipient of some spiritual experiences which have led me along a path to the beautiful religion that is Islam. Having also survived a couple of horrific personal tragedies during that period, it has indeed been that light of truth that gently guided me to this wonderful religion. Allah really is the most powerful! He does listen and always responds - if you are a person in tune enough to receive his subtle advice.

During my life up until my religious reversion, i never, ever felt as though I belonged in the world I was born into. I grew up in a small country town, an isolating place, founded by Protestant settlers. Christianity was therefore a large part of the town's inhabitants for many generations. It was a very white place, I remember at high school there was only one student who was brown. This was in the 80's, it's apparently a little more multicultural these days, thank Allah!

I was brought up by sweet, gentle and loving parents who did not push religion onto us kids. I was totally not prepared for the horrors of starting school. From day one I was singled out and verbally abused with such hate from both other kids and teachers, all for being a little different, quirky. I got teased relentlessly because our family didn't go to church. I got accused by Anglo-Aussies all the time that I must not be a "real Australian" because I had dark brown hair and nearly black colored eyes. I got harassed for preferring to read books in the library or make art instead of playing football and cricket. I kept asking myself, how can these people call themselves Christian when they are nasty, rude, and have no manners? I was brought up by my parents to be polite and kind, yet these people insulted me for having good manners and considered kindness to be a weakness? I found it repulsive that many white people are so racist that, when there are no black or brown people available to harass and hate, they will turn on their own if they have black eyes and dark brown hair!


These creeps considered me nerdy because I was brought up not to swear. To be a popular and socially acceptable girl then you had to use blue language, be tomboyish and play sports, and enthusiastically do physical things with the boys. Teachers forced all the girls into contact sports against boys and folk dancing where you had to touch and let yourself be touched. There was no exceptions, it was like you were not allowed in any way to be "different". I was not prepared to change myself and my morals in any way just to fit in. I don't know how I got through it all but I was never mean or nasty back. It has never been part of my nature and I have no need to bully others to make myself feel good.

I was so relieved when our family had to eventually move to the city for work. I hoped it would be more diverse and it was, there were people from so many different countries who really liked me and I liked them too. Now I'm studying a 6 month course on Islam and my class is full of the most lovely friendly sisters and it makes me so happy! Everything I have read about Islam makes so much sense! I've always been repelled by Western values such as greed, narcissism, xenophobia, capitalism etc and Islam is the perfect antidote to these sicknesses. The first Muslim friend I made when living in the city told me many years ago that Muslims are "the best people". At the time I didn't quite understand what he meant. Now however, I know, like everything to do with Islam, it's most definitely The Truth.