It's Time to Learn Arabic A French Girl's Journey to Islam
By Meriem Abricot
Before becoming Muslim, I was Catholic, then Catholic Orthodox, and since my mother, grandfather died I totally abandoned religion. I was too much disappointed as anybody who faced that kind of experience can be. So I no more do the pray and believe. But staying in contact with my friends keeps me in the belief that God still exists.
My first encounter with Islam was through my friends who are mostly Moroccan, Algerian and Tunisian, but first of all Muslims. I learnt that they have to eat halal, no pork meat and do the prayer etc. I know these friends from a longtime. So when I visited them, their way of life, their religious habits became quickly familiar to me. Little by little it becomes in a way my habits too. They took time to explain me why they have to do this or that. And as their explanations were so simple and logical to me, I was seduced. I also encountered these last years other Muslim friends, as if it was my destiny to meet them to lead me to Islam—Like signs!
I also share with them the spirit during Ramadan, which I think it was really great, it is a period that I feel really different from the rest of the year—there’s something special at this period, so special that I made Ramadan last year (2004), and was sad when it finished.
So bit by bit, I was becoming and behaving like a Muslim without realizing it.
And this year, I decided to revert after having a large insight on Islam thanks to my friends, to the books through which I learnt a lot. I have to admit that I thought a lot before taking that great decision. I mean it took me years to take this decision, which is a life decision which should not be taken rashly. It’s important to be sincere and to be faithful to you heart, and sure of what you really want and what it will imply in your future life.
Before taking the Shahadah, I collected information on all I have to know to do it correctly through friends and internet. I was a bit anxious and I had doubts and so many questions. A friend advised me to surf on the site of www.IslamOnline.net and ask my questions on how the conversion should be. What should I do and know before going to the Masjid [editor’s note: Masjid means mosque], every details I had in mind. So I did.
And I didn’t expect immediate answer but one the consultants of Ask about Islam answered very quickly to my questions, reassured me on my doubts, my fears. He has been a great support up to now. He has been always available to answer to any questions and never hesitated to provide me with large explanations very understandable.
It was really pleasant to have precise and simple explanations from the consultant. He showed me how accessible and welcoming are Islam and Muslims. His support gave me more confidence and self-assurance. Thanks are due to him.
Then afterwards and concretely, I went to a Masjid to have information on what I have to do for my conversion. They told me to know and say the Shahadah, the testimony that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; and to come with Muslim witnesses. It’s fundamental to say it very sincerely. Allah is the only one who can judge you. The responsible for the Masjid also informed me on other conditions that He and Masjid have been asked by the French state: know the prayers of Al-Fatihah, first chapter of holy Qur’an, the 5 pillars. Of course these are things you have to know but that you are not supposed to know all yet as you gonna enter Islam. So the most important point when you revert to Islam is your sincerity when you say the Shahadah. And once again, Allah is the only one who can judge you. Once said the Shahadah, the Masjid delivered me a certificate that prove my being as a Muslim.
I would like to add that the people of the Masjid welcomed me very warmly and discussed my conversion very kindly that enhanced my feelings a lot towards Islam. Thanks to their explanations, I felt more confident. They are so widely open-minded.
Taking the Shahadah was a great time for me, full of emotions that I cried.
Since my conversion I feel more free, happier and lighter. I feel it as a rebirth.
I have the impression that I am new, clean, and that I am in a new better life. I also learn how to pray in Arabic which was a bit difficult in the beginning, because you have to be careful on the pronunciation. So now I pray which is a great privilege and honor for a Muslim to invoke Allah five times a day. And I would like to have class to learn Arabic and also to read the Qur’an properly in the language of the revelation.
Concerning the reaction of my family, before taking the Shahadah, I called my father to let him know my intentions to become a Muslim, he reacted quite badly and told me that it was useless, that I don’t need that, etc. I was really sad as it is my father and I love him. He gave me the impression that he was disappointed by my decision, my becoming. But I know that it’s not easy for him to accept my decision, my new life. I think he’s more afraid for me as he knows how Muslims are treated today, particularly through medias.
Otherwise, my Muslim friends were quite happy for me and touched as they know what my enter to Islam implies in my life.
Today, well I’m ok, I’m still a Muslim, praying, happy and free. I’m more confident and I feel like I’m belonging to a real strength. I know where is my place today.
I would like to marry, have a family and teach Islam to my children, Insha’Allah. And my father still loves me.