Muslim converts speak out at SJSU
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Ahlul Bayt News Agency (ABNA.ir), Six Muslim converts gathered to speak at "Islam 102: Why I chose Islam," an event presented by the Muslim Student Association.
About 15 people attended the event Tuesday at the Ohlone Room in the Student Union.
The speakers - Isa Eric Shaw, Ben'ammi, Tyson Amir, Julie Salehi, Asiyah Puljic and Jada Dela Cruz - shared their stories about how they decided to convert to Islam.
"I come from a similar background as ... (Shaw) ... but a lot more violent," Ben'ammi said.
Though their journeys were different in some aspects, Ben'ammi and Shaw said they had both looked into several different religions before finally deciding to convert to Islam.
Ben'ammi said he found Islam while serving a 21-year sentence in prison, and that Islam made him understand his purpose in life.
Salehi, the first female speaker, said her journey in converting to Islam had been positive, though she lost a few friends in the process.
"I feel enlightened by Islam," she said.
Puljic said converting to Islam was the best decision she had made in her life, adding that Islam not just a belief, but a lifestyle.
Amir, who was the president of the SJSU Muslim Student Association when 9/11 occurred, said he has been a Muslim for more than 10 years.
Though he had been fascinated with Islam for a long time and knew that was the path he wanted to follow, he said it was not until after high school that he truly began to study the religion.
"It finally made sense to me," Amir said. "I was able to finally put the pieces of the puzzle together and see Islam for what it is."
Before she had even thought of converting to Islam, Dela Cruz said she had decided to write a paper on the religion for school.
While researching her topic, she said she felt a sense of belonging.
"I had this overwhelming feeling of 'This is where I'm supposed to be,'" Dela Cruz said.
Afterward, Amir and Shaw each performed one spoken word piece.
MSA member Ayeshah Khalid said she was one of the people in charge of coordinating the event.
Khalid, a junior business marketing major, said the event was put on to educate students as well as expose them to the diversity of Muslims.
She said she wanted the event to show that Muslims do not actively seek to convert people to Islam, but that people choose to convert on their own.
Hira Bhatty, a freshman occupational therapy major and MSA member, said if people who are not Muslims were to take a closer look at Islam, they would realize it is a peaceful religion.
In response to Bhatty's comment, Khalid said people need to understand that there are good and bad people in all countries, cultures and religions, and that an entire group should not be labeled based on the actions of a few people.
Senior psychology major Jeffrey Huang, who is not an MSA member, said he didn't have any expectations when he decided to attend the event, because it had been a last minute decision.
When he found out about the event, Huang said he decided to attend because he was interested in learning about the speakers' backgrounds and the reasons why they had all decided to convert to Islam.
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