A Free Thinker's Journey Into Islam

By Jailani Hassan LABUAN (Sabah, Malaysia), July 20 (Bernama) -- The holy month of Ramadan puts to test the spirituality of a Muslim and the test is even greater for former free thinker like Rosmaria Jane Abdullah, 35, who is observing one of the five pillars of Islam for the first time. Besides the adjustments to the daily routines in the month of Ramadan, anticipating the Eid il Fitr celebration at the end of the holy month is also a new experience for this German citizen who converted to Islam in Sept 2012. "My husband showed me the true path in life with his moderation in relationship and his lifestyle that eventually took me into Islam." Rosmaria, met her Labuan (in east Malaysian state Sabah) based Malaysian husband, a businessman in the oil and gas sector, during her travels in Thailand. Their romance went on for few months before they decided to tie the knot. THE FREE THINKER Islam has brought salvation for this free thinker. She previously considered herself as a scientologist and did not believe in the existence of God. "I was a free thinker with no religion like quite a number of people in Germany, although we do believe in right and wrong in what we do." As for free thinkers, there are also no hard and fast rules on dressing up and one could wear anything and also eat anything, she told Bernama in an interview. However, after becoming a Muslim, there were some changes she had to make, admitting that some of them like giving up on liquor or refraining from wearing revealing clothes or eating forbidden food were quite hard to do away with. ALL CHANGED AFTER MEETING HER HUSBAND Everything changed when she met her husband whom brought her to something more meaningful in life and she finally accepted Islam as her faith. "It was not entirely because of him, but I felt at that moment after meeting him, there was a call for to me to cross a bridge to reach a destination to see what I have never planned or intended to do, though it was initially hard for me to decide. "It is now Ramadan, a holy month for Muslims. It is hard to chew; that a person like me, who was a free thinker with no celebration to celebrate, am now fasting, breaking fast, praying five times with Tarawih in the evening and waking up in the wee hours to cook for Sahur (pre-dawn meal). "It is challenging, and a real test of faith for me, but I will never go back to where I was. I can take all these and I have passion for doing it." Rosmaria, whose parents were killed in an accident when she was 17, has a sister still studying in United Kingdom. She was a teacher before deciding to migrate to Malaysia. THE JOURNEY AS A MUSLIM On her journey as a Muslim, she said: "I have attended weekly fardhu ain and kifayah classes given by the Federal Territory Religious Council that taught me the ways to live as a Muslimah and the preparation for Ramadan and its culmination with the Hari Raya celebration." She tries not to rely too much on her husband to teach her the many crucial matters in Islam as she has been an independent person all along and that she is the decision maker of her own life. "I took my own initiative to dwell deeper into Islam by attending religious sessions like religious talks especially during this Ramadan. "It is challenging but as I said, it is a journey in life and an ustazah pointed to me that god has sent me the "hidayah" (guidance) in life. "I have no regret of my conversion and instead am grateful for where I am now. Even before the Ramadan, I was so eager to experience it, knowing that I 'm still at the learning to become a true Muslimah." --BERNAMA