A Muslim Was Born

As for me and my house, we will serve the one and only God!

This is a long one... you may want to grab some tea!

I have the amazing fortune of being asked almost weekly this question: "How did you become a Muslim?"
Usually the question is asked a little more like... "How did YOU become a MOOOOOSLEM?!?!?!?"  My master of English without an accent, blue eyes, and pale skin just don't fit into the stereotypical profile of a hijabi (girl with a headscarf).  I mean, if I met myself, I would probably ask the same question... "Your name is Lauren??? How did YOU become a MOOOOOSLEM?!?!?!?"  So here it goes...

Quite a few years ago on a very typical day I was returning to my apartment after Bible study.  Cradling my Bible in my arms I entered the elevator in my parking garage as a neighbor of mine kindly held the door open.  My neighbor happened to ask me a few questions, which I no longer remember, and as we got off on our floor, before we went our separate ways, my neighbor simply stated, "You know, Christians, Jews, and Muslims all believe in the same thing and pray to the same God."  As I turned I shouted back, "You're silly!  There is no way that's true!"  That night I kept thinking about what my neighbor had said... why was this bothering me so much?  I couldn't sleep!  Finally, I decided that in the morning I would go buy a Quran and show my neighbor why what was said could not be true.  "Muslims and Christians believing in the same God?  That is just silliness!"  Or so I thought...

Morning came around and I quickly headed to my favorite Barnes and Noble to pick up a Quran.  I was a little ashamed to be carrying the Quran through the store... "would people see me with the Quran and think I was a Muslim?" I wondered.  At the checkout counter the kind sales associate asked, "Are you studying Islam?"  What should I reply?  I gave the sales associate a kind smile and hoped that would suffice.  At home, away from prying eyes, hoping no one would discover what I was doing, I pulled that mysterious book out of the B&N bag and started reading.  The more I read, the more I realized how similar The Quran is to The Bible.  After days of reading and hours of internet research, I finally admitted I was wrong and my neighbor was right. Christians and Muslims are VERY similar.

I sought out my kind neighbor (who was probably trying to avoid me after our last encounter).  I came knocking on my neighbor's door with Quran in hand, "Knock, Knock, Knock," "what does it mean here [pointing to a verse in Quran]?  And why doesn't your mom wear a scarf on her head?"  I asked.  I am sure my neighbor was shocked!  Although my neighbor was born Muslim and believes in Islam, my neighbor did not actively practice Islam, so I was quickly pointed toward a local leader in the Islam community who was more than capable of answering my tough questions.

Within hours of receiving my information from ISGH (The Islamic Society of Greater Houston), Dr. Kazi (my now adopted second father) invited me to his Islam 101 class for new and non-believers.  After a few e-mail exchanges on what to wear (would I need to cover my hair with a scarf?  Must I wear long sleeves and cover my ENTIRE legs?) I hesitantly agreed to attend his class.  I was sooo nervous!  I remember when I walked into the mosque for the first time thinking, "Oh man, these people take off their shoes... I REALLY don't want to take off my shoes!"  At the beginning of class I remember this short, tan skinned, Pakistani man (Dr. Kazi) telling me, "take a deep breath, now give me a smile..."  And I don't remember much of what was said in class after that. It happened to be time for prayer at the end of class and a kind class member invited me to watch the class pray.  The class members were so friendly and inviting!  After 30 mins or so of standing around talking, I realized these people were pretty normal...

I could go on and on about my experiences with class (interesting debates we had, the number of men who "wanted to get to know me", the exciting new faces who came through those doors after me), but let me just say that Dr. Kazi's class is the warmest group of loving people I have ever been welcomed into.  And by "welcomed into" I actually mean made a family member of.  I was continually invited to dinner and parties and weddings and other random events.  After months of debating about Islam, Dr. Kazi slowly began to realize I was probably not going to convert.  This realization (which I think the entire class was aware of) did not diminish, in any way, my acceptance both in class and in the homes of my new found friends.  Months turned into years and still I did not convert though I faithfully came to class.  I became a regular in Islam 101 and the Kazi house.  I met so many wonderful people who are still very much a BIG part of my life.

I slowly let the worldly, unsatisfying, ways of life fade away and began to live a life with more purpose and direction.  Slowly I was changing... So slowly, that no one even knew it was happening.  I had always studied religion.  I had always ventured out into the world seeking new ideas to better myself.  But something was different this time.  On one very normal day, a few years ago (and several years after that elevator ride), sometime in the afternoon of November 11th I made a phone call.  One short phone call that would forever change my life... "Hello" I heard my friend on the other side of the line, "Hello," I casually answered.  "Do you have a few minutes?"  "Sure, what is it?" my sweet friend replied.  After a few calm heart beats I answered, "I would like to take Shahada (the Islamic creed and declaration of belief in one God and the acceptance of Muhammad as God's Prophet)."  I heard a cautious "okay" at the other end.  I confirmed, "I want to take Shahada now, over the phone, with you."  Another cautious "okay".  And then I proceeded..."Ash-hadu allaa, ilaaha Allaah wa ash-hadu annaa Muhammadan abduhu wa rasooluh" and then I said it again in English just for good measure, "I bear witness that there is no god but God, and I bear witness that Muhammad is his messenger."  I could hear my friend on the other end of the line sounding slightly emotional as I quickly explained that I had to go because I had already agreed to go horseback riding with some friends and I was running a little behind.

I showed up at my very wonderful friends' house wearing hijab (modest clothes and head scarf) which I had previously decided to take up wearing upon converting.  I had never worn hijab before.  I was excitedly admitted into their living room where I proudly announced to the entire family that I had just taken Shahada.  My gracious friends not only took me horseback riding, but they also took me to dinner, gave me lots and lots of under-scarves (which still make up the majority of my hijab stock pile) and promised to keep my secret until the following Islam 101 class.  I truly think they were as excited (or maybe even more excited) than I was about my shahada.  Without these sweet friends, life would have been so much more difficult!

That Sunday, I walked into the mosque with a  little pep in my step and a powder pink scarf on my head.  As my friends and friends of friends arrived we waited in anticipation for Dr. Kazi to walk in.  Class began as usual, but the feeling in the room was very different than usual.  There was a mysterious tension in the air, an anticipation felt by the entire class.  Dr. Kazi and I did not make eye contact throughout the entire lecture.  At the end of his speech (and as my friends, friends of friends, and their family members tried to find room to sit or stand in order to witness what was about to happen) I cautiously raised my hand.  "Lauren, I know what you have to say." Dr Kazi proudly announced.  I proceeded, "Dr. Kazi, can I ask you a question?" I gave him my biggest smile (the tables were turned and finally I could be the one to surprise him!) "Dr. Kazi," I began, "Take a deep breath.  Now give me a smile," I repeated his first words to me back to him from my very first class... And so I publicly took Shahada in front of my friends who had become family and their friends and their friends' friends and their families.

I remember men quickly rushing out of the room after my Shahada to "use the restroom" which was a cover for wiping away their tears and women openly crying as they came to hug me.  I remember so much emotion and happiness being shared in that small room.  The video and pictures I have from that day show all of us smiling from ear to ear.  It was such a sweet happy day.  And so, a Muslim was born.

Some of my dearest friends with me at Dr. Kazi's Islam 101 class shortly after I took Shahada