Journey to Islam: Maria in Cyprus

My name is Maryam (formally Maria). I was born and brought up in North London and now live in Nicosia with my husband. My husband is Muslim ma sha Allah and I am very proud of him. We were married last year registered hence the (then) different religions, me being Christian Orthodox and he being Muslim.

We went to Morocco to meet his family and took a site seeing tour
of the country. To cut a long story short, whilst driving I missed an exit so I had to drive about 10 minutes more to find the next exit to proceed to Marakkesh.

With us, we had my brother-in-law and their friend. The three were talking and I continued driving until I suddenly saw with my own eyes something which is one of the most incredible and beautiful of Allah’s creations. Allah’s name written crystal clear in the clouds.

Remember, I was Christian and knew absolutely nothing of signs of Allah or anything to do with Islam, but seeing the clouds opened me up deeply and alone I realised what I was seeing. To make sure, I said to my husband to see what I was pointing at and he confirmed it. So beautiful. When we arrived at his family’s home after a few days touring he told them what I had seen and they too said it was a sign. That is how I took it. A SIGN.

After returning to Cyprus, I started to read more into Islam, the miracles, the videos of debates between Ahmed Deedat and Christian priests, and then I realised that I was taking Islam more into my heart day by day. Even from the beginning when my husband was praying salat five times a day, I would try to take a peek into how he prayed and what he recited, fixing the salawat for him and memorising surah Al-Fatihah.

I asked him how one becomes Muslim and he told me that firstly you must believe that Allah is alone and has no partners, sons, mother or father, that the Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) is Allah’s messenger, prophet and slave and that Jesus is a prophet and NOT THE SON OF GOD. Of course, being brought up in a Christian Orthodox religion it is quite hard to take this all in since I was not taught anything but Christianism (even when I use to go Greek school it was in a church).

Slowly, slowly, I started to read more into Islam, asking my husband questions and remembering what I saw in Morocco. My husband started to have dreams about me and Islam and he would tell me the following morning. That, for me, was it… I wanted to be a Muslimah in sha Allah.

So after learning finally the truth about Islam, I learned the shahada and one glorious day put my hand on the Holy Qu’ran and said the words Ashadu ana la ilaha illallah wa Muhammadin abduhu wa rasulllullah.

There it was…. I became a Muslimah…. ALHAMDU LILAH… Then my husband taught me how to do my wudu and we started praying salat together. ALHAMDU LILAH.

Also, my husband had a beautiful dream about me and Islam. One night he said goodnight to me but instead of me answering good night, all I heard myself say was, ”Please don’t say anything to me as I am praying,” and I was. I reciting Al-Fatihah until I closed my eyes and slept. I really didn’t realize to be honest what had happened that night until he explained to me the following morning.

Yet, after being a Muslimah for a year now, my parents do not know. I know how it will affect them and am too scared to face them. I know they will not accept me and I love them so much. Even though my mother has realised a big change in me since I don’t wear my cross anymore from when I was christened and since I don’t enter the church. If I do for a funeral or wedding I cannot stay for long and try to find an excuse to leave. I simply cannot enter it.

I will never regret converting. Allah answer’s my prayers and I feel a warm presence of angels surrounding me when I read Qu’ran, recite even a little of the surahs. I know and try as a good Muslimah to commit myself to completing the five pillars of Islam. In sha Allah, when we have enough money, we will do Hajj.

May Allah’s peace and blessing be upon everyone and your families.

Maryam

Notes:

Ma sha Allah – Allah wills it
Salah – prayer
Salawat – prayers
Surah – chapter
Al-Fatihah – The Opening
Pbuh- peace be upon him
Muslima – Muslim woman
Shahadah – the statement you recite to become Muslim:
Ashadu ana la ilaha illallah wa Muhammadin abduhu wa rasulllullah.
There is no object worthy of worship except Allah and Muhammad is His slave and messenger.
In sha Allah – if Allah wills
Alhamdu lillah – all praise is to Allah