โI donโt believe in blind following โ just because I am born to a Muslim family, I would have no choice but to adhere to the practice of Islam. How can we โjust believeโ without rationalising? God is so Great to give us the capacity to think.โ
"It was in my nature to be an introvert, but back in those days, I would force myself to be more extroverted just to โfit inโ with the crowd. I definitely had a hotter temper too, especially when I was at home, and fights would occur occasionallyโฆ I was a quite the rebellious teenager."
"I didnโt get a strict image of Islam as believed in Japan but rather, I got an impression that people are calm and kind and always keep smiling. I didnโt see anybody hitting children or getting upset."
From visits to traditional muslim weddings to enrolling in Islamic classes in Japan, to quitting her job at an American finance company to study Islamic finance... Maya's story is purely filled with the seeking of the Truth, and is proof indeed that Allah truly is the Best of Planners.
โWe started to talk about Islam. She told me what would happen at the end of this world and what would happen to non-believers... That night, my value of this world totally changed."
Eileen's first prayer following her reversion was a funny story. "I was dead sure that I was the first Muslim in the world that canโt pray because she's too stupid. I was looking at the pages and going โNo way, man. Thatโs like, What?? This canโt be done!โ
"I was born a Muslim but grew up being an atheist. I was formerly involved with gangsterism and skinhead sub-culture. Alhamdulillah. I am a revert practicing Muslim now."
Brought up as a Buddhist, Kenichi is familiar to the concept where the gods are represented as statues. He knows Allah is not a statue, so he asks, โWhere is Allah? Can anyone explain about Allah?โ
"I made Shahada led by Dr Zakir Naik in his lecture with over 1,200 witnesses. My question was how I could deal with other religious practice in society as Japanese Muslim. The answer by him was โIf you do not go against what Quran says, it should not be a problem.โ It was my last question before reverting. I felt so relieved that I am finally part of Islam and my heart gets clean."