Diane Charles Breslin, Ex-Catholic, USA (part 3 of 3)

My Journey to Islam

It took three full years of my searching and studying Quran before I was ready to proclaim that I wanted to be a Muslim. Of course I feared the changes in clothing and habits, such as dating and drinking to which I had become accustomed. Music and dancing were a big part of my life, and bikinis and mini skirts were my claim to fame. All the while I had no chance to encounter any Muslims, as there were none in my area except a few immigrants who could barely speak English an hour’s drive away at the only mosque in the state at that time. When I would go to Friday Prayer to try and check out what I was considering, I would receive furtive glances as I was perhaps suspected of being a spy as was the case, and still is, in most Islamic gatherings. There was not a single Muslim American available to help me and, as I said, all the immigrant population were rather chilly to say the least.

In the midst of this phase of my life, my dad died of cancer. I was at his bedside and literally witnessed the angel of death remove his soul. He was gripped by fear as tears rolled down his cheeks. A life of luxury, yachts, country clubs, expensive cars … for both him and mom, all a result of interest income, and now it’s all over.

I felt a sudden desire to enter Islam quickly, while there was still time, and to change my ways and not to continue blindly seeking what I had been raised to believe to be the good life. Shortly thereafter I came to Egypt, and involved a long slow journey through the miracle of the Arabic language and the discovery of the clear truth – God is One, the Everlasting Eternal; Who never was born or gave birth and there is nothing at all like Him.

It is also the resulting equality between humans that attracted me most to that religion. The Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, said that people are like teeth of a comb – all equal, the best being the most pious. In the Quran, we are told that the best are the pious ones. Piety involves love of and fear of God alone. Yet before you can really be pious, you must learn who God is. And to know Him is to love Him. I started learning Arabic to read the word of Allah in Arabic as it was revealed.

Learning the Quran has changed every facet of my life. I no longer wish to have any earthly luxuries; neither cars nor clothes nor trips can lure me into that web of vain desires which I was so caught up in before. I do enjoy a fairly good life of a believer; but as they say… it is no longer embedded in the heart...only at hand. I don’t fear the loss of my former friends or relatives – if God chooses to bring them close, then so be it, but I know that God gives me exactly what I need, no more – no less. I don’t feel anxious or sad anymore, nor do I feel regret at what has passed me by, because I’m safe in the care of God - THE ONE AND ONLY whom I always knew but didn’t know His name.

A Prayer For America

I pray to Almighty God to allow each and every American the opportunity to receive the message of the Oneness of God in a simple, straightforward fashion… Americans are, for the most part, grossly uninformed in regards to correct Islamic theology. The stress is almost always on politics, which focuses on the deeds of men. It’s high time we concentrated on the deeds of the prophets who all came to lead us out of the darkness and into the light. There is no doubt that darkness is prevailing in the malaise affecting America now. The light of truth will serve us all, and whether or not one chooses to follow the Islamic path, there is no doubt that the blocking of it or the hindering of others from following it will surely lead to further misery. I care very much for the healthy future of my country, and I’m quite certain that learning more about Islam will enhance the chances of my hopes being fulfilled.

Parts of This Article

Diane Charles Breslin, Ex-Catholic, USA (part 1 of 3)

Diane Charles Breslin, Ex-Catholic, USA (part 2 of 3)

Diane Charles Breslin, Ex-Catholic, USA (part 3 of 3)

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User Comments

Name:	yasmin
Country:	Saudi Arabia
E-mail:	Private
Date:	05 Nov 2006
Comment:	wish we all muslims could understand islam and follow it the way allah wants us to folllow his reglion

Name:	Aicha
Country:	Morocco
E-mail:	Private
Date:	19 Nov 2006
Comment:	I hope that the religion of Islam will have more believers. I also hope that stereotypes of Muslims and Arabs will change some day. I think that this will be the duty of Arabs and Muslims themselves. They will have to make great efforts to change Americans' and Europeans' mind about us.

Name:	Rashid mohamed
Country:	Kenya
E-mail:	Private
Date:	08 Jan 2011
Comment:	Asalam alaykum sister.what an inspiring and moving words! May ALLAH increase your imaan and make you a reason for people to embrace Islam Ameen.

Name:	SARAH AL-ZUBI
Country:	United States
E-mail:	SARAH_ZU@HOTMAIL.COM
Date:	09 Feb 2008
Comment:	Mi'Ashallah What a beautiful story. It brought tears to my eyes. I too am an X-Catholic. I felt the same way too! Thanks for sharing and giving others encouragement! May Allah bless you and your family!!

Name:	kastali
Country:	Morocco
E-mail:	Private
Date:	16 Apr 2008
Comment:	God bless you sister Diane

Name:	Tracy
Country:	United States
E-mail:	Private
Date:	04 Aug 2008
Comment:	Thank you for your sharing your experience with us. I am overwhelmed at your story. I wish I had the courage as you do. I am a new Muslim and I hide it from everyone, out of fear. My desire is also to go to Egypt, I have leads for a job and want to study Arabic. I want to read the Quran in Arabic one day. I finally got another copy of the Quran, my husband threw my other one away and has told me it is trash. I just want to say thank you for your words of encouragement.

Name:	Antelina
Country:	United Kingdom
E-mail:	CapricornLinehan@aol.com
Date:	11 Nov 2008
Comment:	I read this article and sobbed - I too was born catholic brought up this way and felt the way this woman felt - I feel as if I am coming home in finding Islam - like suddenly the more I read the more everything makes sense to me. I said the shahada 2 weeks ago with the help of my dear friend in saudi.

Name:	Abdifatah Mahammed
Country:	Somalia
E-mail:	Private
Date:	11 Feb 2009
Comment:	many thanks sister, I read this story and it's a message to non muslims, muslims are fair, indiscriminate either are white, black, red and so.. . Masha'alaah.

Name:	hassn ally
Country:	Tanzania
E-mail:	Unknown
Date:	21 Feb 2009
Comment:	Aaleykum sister in islam!what a long rough road you have just come throu.wellcome home to islam sister.may ALLAH give you much knowldge both DHUNIA AND AKHERA.so you may show others the LIGHT.

Name:	Jamila Ali
Country:	United States
E-mail:	Unknown
Date:	21 Apr 2010
Comment:	As salaamu alaikum my sister,this was very interesting ,could not stop reading till the end.May Allah bless you to continue writing articles like this to inspire other people to take another look at islam .ameen

Name:	Fatemah Zahra
Country:	Canada
E-mail:	Unknown
Date:	29 Jun 2011
Comment:	Your story was very heart warming I have recently become Muslim I was not brought up with any religion and nothing else made sense until I had a conversation with a Muslim. I did my research after 42 years of nothing my decision was made within 24 hrs. Becoming Muslim made complete sense and has given me the direction I have been searching for, I researched other religions but never did I choose one as I knew they were not the way. Your story is inspiring and I wish to go to Egypt one day and study as you have....insha'allah

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Diane Charles Breslin, Ex-Catholic, USA (part 3 of 3)

My Journey to Islam

A Prayer For America