Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu!
It's been a long time since I last blogged, but here goes a lovely interview with Sister Kasiya Higgins. This should have been put up on the blog even before Ramadan, but I was a bit busy afterward. Here's the interview anyway. May Allah make us all benefit from it, in sha Allah!
Tell Us a Little Bit About Your Life Before Islam
"My life before Islam was a life without purpose, chasing dunya, and living an illusion. I was Christian, but I wasn't really a practicing Christian since I was 15 years old. I had my belief in Almighty God, but I was not satisfied with the answers I got. Priests used to tell me, 'You know, it's fine, don't worry, when you're older you will understand,' but as I grew, I still couldn't understand. I wasn't satisfied, and the explanation of the Christian belief was so confusing and not rational to me, so I put it behind me. From time to time, I would say a word to God before I fell asleep at night, and that was it. My life was full of duas that weren't answered, but I was too blind to note that a statue or a cross obviously can't do a thing for me.
I left home at 17 to travel out of my country. I went to Milan, China, and then Indonesia in the span of a year. It was in Jakarta where my life started changing. My heart was urging something, and I felt so lost and empty inside. I used to think of all the blessings I had, but I wasn't satisfied because there was still something important missing. I realized I wasn't praying, I had no purpose, nobody to cry to, and I realized I needed God. I also realized that I didn't really know what my belief was.
I was against religion; for me, it was a thing used to control people's minds. But then I came to know that religion teaches you to reach God. I surrounded myself with Muslims, and my boyfriend at that time reverted. I came to see so many things, understand so much, and I received so much love, understanding, and patience from Muslim people who welcomed me into their homes without pointing fingers or judging me. They had such good and honorable character. At the same time, I came to know the right belief in the Oneness of Allah—which was shocking because everything I had believed was a lie. I realized that Allah had chosen me, out of so many people in ignorance, to see the truth and called me to the religion He perfected Himself.
Finally, one day, I decided to change. My Muslim family arranged everything, and Alhamdulillah, I took my Shahada. Five days after becoming a Muslim, I got married to my beloved, with the parents of our Muslim family and the oldest brother and sister representing my parents and my husband's parents. Since then, Alhamdulillah, we have been striving together to become better as individuals and as Muslims."
What Inspired You to Accept Islam?
"What inspired me was the message itself—the Oneness of Allah—and the character of a true Muslim: the love, the patience, the understanding, and the support I got from them. I also wanted to have peace in my heart and a purpose in life, something to relieve my grief and anxiety. You can only have this if you have Allah. Allahu Akbar."
What Is the Greatest Change You See in Yourself After Accepting Islam?
"The greatest thing I see in myself after reverting to Islam is that I strive each day to be better, to have self-control, to be grateful, and to understand that nothing will happen unless it is Allah's will. Allah has a reason behind everything He does, and He will not give you something you are not able to handle. Besides all this, He is there 24/7 to listen to you and to answer you. He will either say yes or give you something better, and He will give it to you when it's best for you. You only have to try to respond to Him, be obedient for your own good and safety, seek work and the bounty of Allah, make the effort, and keep dutiful to Him. He will give you everything and pay you in full for every deed, even though He doesn't need you. SubhanAllah. The best thing about being a Muslim is that it makes you want to be better and strive for good character."
Any Tips/Advice for Those Interested in Islam but Afraid of Accepting It?
"It's not easy to give advice, but if you are really thinking of changing, it's because your heart is telling you that you need Allah in your life, and you can only have Allah if you listen to Him and embrace Islam. If you are thinking of changing, it's because you believe in Almighty God, who created you. You fear people, but what can they do for you when you have the Lord, your Creator, by your side, calling you, choosing you to be on the right path? You really have nothing to fear. Know that difficulties will come and will hurt you, but it's worth it because Allah sees it all, and He will reward you for obeying Him. He will comfort you, and in the end, everything you fear will perish, and Allah is the only one who will remain and the only one who can be there for you."
What Was the First Verse of the Quran You Read, and How Did It Affect You?
"I don't really remember because I started reading the Quran from cover to cover, and it was in very high English, so I could only understand the main message of the Quran. But the one real eye-opener for me is: 'Know that the life of this world is only but play and amusement, pomp and mutual boasting among you, and rivalry in respect of wealth and children. (It is) as the likeness of vegetation after rain, thereof the growth is pleasing to the tiller; afterward, it dries up, and you see it turning yellow; then it becomes straw. But in the Hereafter (there is) a severe torment (for the disbelievers—evil-doers), and (there is) forgiveness from Allah and (His) good pleasure (for the believers—good-doers). And the life of this world is only a deceiving enjoyment.' (Surah Al-Hadid 57:20)"
A Word of Advice and Consolation to New Reverts to Islam
"The greatest consolation for a revert is the promise of Allah. He forgives you, He helps you, and He rewards you. People will judge and hurt you, and the oppression of your family really gets to you and puts you down. They say and do things that tear your heart into pieces, and especially because they are deprived of Allah's message, it makes you more sad and hurt inside your heart. But it will calm down. They can do nothing—you just have to give it some time, and they will carry on with their lives and get used to the fact that no matter what, they don't have a say in your decision. It's hard, but Allah makes it easy for those He wants, for those who strive for His sake. Allah doesn't let any deed go wasted. Just believe in Him, seek His help, trust Him, and things will naturally fall into their right place."
Any Advice for Sisters Who Don't Wear the Hijab Yet?
"First of all, hijab is a command. You must make dua to Allah to put it into your heart and make it easy for you, and make the intention to start wearing it. Things do take time to change; you must change gradually so you won't get tired and leave it all behind. If you have accepted Islam and claim to believe, know that Allah only tells you to do it because He is the All-Wise. The hijab is your protection from evil, protection from harm by the sick minds of men out there, and it's a great gift from Allah. Alhamdulillah, it was something much greater for me, and it does not deprive you of having a social life.
You can start cutting off the use of short and tight clothes. If you cannot start wearing full hijab at once, make a change: start wearing long shirts with not-so-tight jeans, cover yourself with long and loose pants and long skirts, long-sleeve shirts, and then try the hijab on. Then you move on to a hijab and abaya.
Change your behavior also if you have male friends—don't shake hands or give hugs, don't talk with them for long and unnecessary things, don't keep chatting with them on your phone or social pages like Twitter and Facebook, and start lowering your gaze. That's how I made my change, slowly but surely. In the process, keep making dua and intention, and your mind will naturally start to set up on that way, in sha Allah. Then, when you get into hijab, ask Allah to straighten your heart to be obedient to Him and allow you to keep doing it all."
What Is the Real Definition of 'Freedom of Women,' and in What Ways Do You Think Muslim Women Are Most Liberated?
"The real definition of 'freedom of women' is to go wherever she wants without being annoyed by strange men, have the right to study, have the right to work if she wants, have the right to earn her money and do whatever she wants with it, have the right to be supported and protected, and the greatest freedom is to cover yourself knowing that you are beautiful and you don't have to prove it to people. You are covered because you are beautiful, and you want to protect yourself from envy, jealousy, and physical and emotional abuse by other people. That's the real freedom. People must deal with your brain and not with your looks, and that is so beautiful, SubhanAllah."
Wow, what a journey! Mad respect for choosing purpose over spotlight. Super inspiring 💫
ReplyDelete