Hidayatullah.com - The story of her journey to Islam from Iceland is quite interesting. Imagine, such as confession, in Islamic countries there is almost no echo, so minority. He knew little of Islam just as any contact with his friend, also from Iceland, which is part exchange student in Indonesia. Then, one day, he was a scholarship to study in the United States. In the group there was a student from Egypt. From this Egyptian youth he began to know Islam better. As a result, in America he was more Islamic to find out eventually through the facility bersyahadah chating on the internet. Aminah, so named after embracing Islam, tells his unique story.
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"My name is Aminah and embraced Islam on January 31, 1999 at the age of 23 years. ? I myself was born in Iceland in 1976. My big family all members of the Protestant church congregation. I myself included and active in the school week. Likewise, despite the constant presence of religion in everyday life but it's not a lot to do much in my life journey, "said Aminah at the beginning of the story.
Environmental church
Since childhood he had been living in a religious environment. For example, in schools where learning Aminah, routinely held summer camp program is coordinated by an organization affiliated with the Christian religion. Then, the grandmother Amina is also often accompanied before bed. Even the grandmother also taught certain prayers in time to sleep.? However, as recognized Aminah, his family is not so often to church and religion do not appear influential in the daily lives of their families.
"Oh, yes, in Iceland there is a church tradition for young adults, that is, at the age of 14 years they? Got baptized. Well when I was faced with a situation, what I also got baptized or not? ? What I'm old enough and have decent baptized? At that time, I am very sure of god. Even arguably my confidence level was more than other people. So is worthy to be baptized. I felt, if not do that then the same thing did not believe in god. Make me an active to a church of this very tragic, "said Amina, who finally chose to be baptized by the church.
A few days before the baptism, all children are required to follow a special class of instructions from the minister. So it is with a visit to the church also must not holes. In essence, before being baptized heart got "cleaned" first. "That tradition? I mean it, "he added.
Began to leave the church
After being baptized, Aminah apparently still actively present in that particular class. But not last long until he decided to quit the church. "Maybe this is not the right decision at that time. But to be honest, during the church I do not get anything. There was no change at all in my soul, "I Aminah again.
As a result, in the next year even more lackluster Aminah again to the church and religion began to slowly erode from him. "I had often prayed to the gods, but never find peace of mind. I believe in the existence of god. But is that enough?, "He said.
"In Iceland Islam is not so well known. Very minorities. Because I did not follow its development. At school, we were never told about other religions. All we know just Christians only. There is little information about the Jewish religion. Until growing up, I still do not get much info about Islam. What? I knew at that time synonymous with Islam or the teachings of Muhammad Muhammadism. But what is Islam I do not know, "said Aminah.
Contact with colleagues in Indonesia
Aminah, like everybody else in the West, Islam is only getting info through the media, newspapers or magazines only. "Of course in general not sufficient to describe the true Islam. A negative impression of Islam's most protruding. Luckily I was not to hate Islam because the news was crooked, "he said.
Apparently, regular contact with one of his colleagues, also from Iceland, who was joined student exchange program in Indonesia is very helpful in understanding Islam Aminah. "At that time I was in Venezuela joined an exchange student. So I joined a colleague of the same program and sent to Indonesia. From him, I can be a lot of info of Islam in Indonesia. When a friend is home to Iceland, he was the story interesting things and positive than that of Islam. Of course, what my friend told it is very different from those reported in the media, "he continued.
Egyptian youth know
Amina pleaded not know when he's first contact with Islam. At one point in the fall of 1997 he went to Georgia, the United States to attend the Rotary scholarship program for one year. "Now in our group there was a university student from Egypt? which is also part of this scholarship program. Through a friendship with the young Egyptian that time I began to know Islam. He often talked a lot about Islam. Not only that, I noticed he was often practiced what he said. For example prayer, "said Aminah on his first acquaintance with Islam.
Aminah was slowly getting interested in Islam. He often engaged in discussions with Egyptian students and even frequent arguments. Feeling not satisfied, on its own initiative, Aminah find out more about Islam. "The Internet is very helpful in finding out what is Islam. Also, Islamic books, including the Koran, "I am he. Website www.BeConvinced.com is one of the sites that could be a guide to learn Islam.
Aminah effort to get to know Islam more in the more swelling when he forth to Iceland in the summer of 1997. But America is very impressive for him. Until, on its own initiative, he returned again to the U.S. to continue his studies there. "Over in the U.S., within a fair amount of time, the one person that I often invite discussion, question and argue Islam is a former friend of one group of young Egyptians used it," he continued.
Islamic learning on the internet
"Then my friends a lot can chat via the Internet. Through online media that time I found a sense of unparalleled intimacy. We exchange experiences, discussions and their Muslim friends, very much helped me understand Islam, "I was Aminah.
Aminah first time doing anything that the search for Islam, he claimed was fascinated and found a lot of things unusual about Islam previously unknown. "For some reason this time I was so excited and hard to dammed. Curiosity higher. The more I read something about Islam the more interesting, and want to read again, again and again. But for a long time there are so many things that I do not understand. It took long enough to understand complicated things are, "I Aminah.
"To be honest, at the beginning of the period I tried everything to find negative things in Islam. I say to myself "you can not be a Muslim." In those days I felt the search was clumsy and confused. I thought, ah better to live just like I was living before, rather than accept kbenaran and various changes in lifestyle. Maybe this time the most severe in the Islamic truth-seeking phase I, "said Aminah.
As Amina recognized, there were times when he felt Islam was the religion of truth and he really wanted to be close to God. And want to be a Muslim immediately. But at other times, as if there was another whisper, I find many negative things in Islam. "As if there was an angel on the right ear is telling the truth, then there syeitan left ear that stopped me toward Islam," he said.
"But I finally go back and straighten the heart stopped hearing voices" small syeitan "and see the light of truth in Islam. I wanted to be close to God and live as a Muslim, "he added.
Bersyahadah via chat
Immediately after the decision was made, the exact middle of the night, Aminah contacted friends to make contact chatingnya online via the Internet. At that time he was about to declare its readiness to Islam and wanted to say kalimah syahadah.
"When I mentioned again chating plans to conduct a procession of Muslim teachings syahadah in the morning. But somehow, I suddenly change my mind. Why must wait for tomorrow? What is not possible syahadah online course, so I thought. Then I decided to bersyahadah immediately. Soon I was looking for a Muslim to go chat another. Now through facility chatroom I finally had "say" syahadah via the Internet, "the story of the procession syahadahnya Aminah.
Latifah, a Muslim who joined chat, interrupted for Aminah to syahadah by typing in the second kalimah syahadah chat pages.
"I'm one of the witnesses syahadahmu, please syahadah repeated procession. You should speak with your tongue and not by way of typing like this, "said Latifah. So, finally in the middle of the night that Amina had spoken to bersyahadah to be heard by both partners chatingvia its earphones. Subhanallah, the internet has helped a Muslim to get God's guidance and eventually embraced Islam.
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