“Thou set thy face in the right direction to receive the Primordial Religion, the Law of Allah, that Religion which is inherited innately for people to follow. No change in what Allah has set forth. That is the Religion to be appreciated: but most among mankind understand not" (HQ: 30:30)

Assalaamu Álaykum

My Islamic name is Jennah and I am a Muslim.

My spiritual journey thus far has been a challenge but also  very rewarding. My whole life I felt a building towards something until finally discovering Islam. 

An agnostic a good deal of my childhood life, I was born and raised in the city of Montreal, Quebec.  After moving to a small Eastern town in Ontario, as a young teen, with my parents and siblings I soon met and married the father, of my two children. He was a non-religious man. The marriage did not last though and so I now currently reside, single, with my sons in a modest two bedroom apartment.

An Artist and Graphic Designer by trade, I have always had a very spiritual side. I suffered a near-death experience while giving birth to my second child and after that point I began a quest for the meaning of life and an alternate path.  Researching many different religions and ideologies I met a young man over the Internet who pointed me to the path of Islam.    

I was playing an on-line game over the net. I met this young Muslim man, from England, while playing the game. He was the first Muslim I had ever met in my life. I was so impressed by how polite and helpful  he was. I was curious so I asked questions about his faith. He was very resourceful and he encouraged me to learn more. He provided me with links and audio and video files. He was always very kind and positive about my study. 

It was as if I was finding the answers I had been searching for my whole life. I felt as though I had uncovered some big hidden secret, something so special, so incredible, the truth. I began to slowly change and recognize and appreciate everything around me. I began to regain an incredible love in my heart for Allah(swt). 

To start I read about all the various Muslim sects. I bought/borrowed one book after another as I could not seem to quench my thirst for knowledge of Islam.  I also read all about the Prophet(pbuh) and Khadija (as) and the decedents, the Ahlulbayt (as) (family of the Prophet (pbuh)). I read about the caliphs and the 14 infallibles. I spent time reading the history of Arabia, the tribes, the battles, pre-Islamic state. I started an on-line Islamic study course. I absorbed as much as I could as often as I could. I then came across the battle of Kerbala as I read, I wept and I felt cold as the story of Hussayn (as) forever changed my life.  

The world no longer looked the same...I then had an epiphany while purchasing my first English translated Qur’an. 

The recurring dream: After picking up the Qur’an for the first time I was immediately struck with a memory of an on-going recurring dream I had my whole life. In the dream I am reaching forward towards an old book that sits open on a wooden table, the room is dimly lit by candle. I feel compelled to get to the book, I must reach it but a force holds me back. I occasionally reach the book but the words are unclear and I suddenly wake up, feeling lost and frustrated by the dream. This dream began so early on in my life that I can’t remember how young I was, it would repeat once or twice a year. On this day, the day I had this epiphany, I was forever changed when I realized the holy Qur’an in my hands was the book I had longed for my whole life. It was the book I was trying to get to, to read.  My eyes filled with tears right there at the check out counter of the local bookstore and I could feel the hair stand up on the back of my neck as a warmth built up inside me. I later recited my Shahada under Allah(swt) and witnessed by the young Muslim man over the Internet. Alhamdulillah.

I became very focused. The decision was difficult it was a complete changing of my life and for the non-Muslims in my life. My family was confused and concerned for me. In retrospect I had no idea how difficult the struggle for the truth was really going to be. Western Muslims struggle with being Muslim because their family are typically against it and the born Muslims aren't always so quick to embrace you due to cultural differences.  

Once I was a Muslim I knew that I was not only to submit to Allah(swt) but I must also give back to Islam and to show my appreciation to Allah (as) in as many ways as possible. The more of  Allah (swt) I found in my heart, the more life began to change for me and the more dawah I preformed. New people were coming into my life and they were filled with hope for Islam as I was.  Some of my dawah is working on Islamic websites creating web and graphic design and even Artistic projects for the sake of Allah(swt). I enjoyed drawing salat figures for a slideshow I created for the RMA..  I am an artist and I have taken some study in Islamic artwork and I even begun to create series of artwork that Inshallah will help bring attention to Islam. 

I study Islam as much as I can and have received scholarship to attend live Hawza instruction over the Net through an England based educational programme. I have  even begun to try to learn to speak the Arabic language. 

'Baseerah' is knowledge. So the caller is certain to face those who are scholars of misguidance, those who will attack him with doubts and futile arguments in order to rebut the truth. 

Allah, the most high says: 

and argue with them in a way that is better. 

(soorah an-Nahl 16:125]

When researching I did not find a lot of sites that fit all of my needs as a revert. I wanted a place where I could find it all in one. I also felt a  need for support and found there was little out there. This is when I began to think about creating ' 'RevertMuslims.com'. Reverts needed an uplifting, encouraging and resourceful site built just for them.  A place where they could meet friends, a place to learn how to pray and to live as a Muslim should live on a daily basis. 

InshaAllah I will continue to meet the needs of reverts to Islam.

I do my best to be  a good Muslim, a good human being. I do my best to give back as Allah(swt) has given me so much in my life. My goal is to work for Islam as much as possible in an effort to bring unity and understanding. 

I am a Shi’a Muslim and I found the truth.. Allah (swt) most Beneficent, the most Merciful, has led me to HIM and I surrendered.

Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatu Allahi Wa Barakatoh

Sister Jennah Heydar