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Guest
EXPERIENCE OF FAITH
From Baptist Priest to Islam
Prof. Debra Mubashshir, a former ordained preacher was the guest of the Islamic Propagation Centre International recently. She impacted greatly on South African society with her charm, warmth, and fascinating perspective of Islam and what it meant to her. Hers is an enchanting story of a woman who was born and bred in a Christian home and community but who could not resist the attraction of Islam and its magnetic pull.
Prof Debra Mubashshir's interest in Islam was purely academic, and she never intended for Islam to touch her heart, but she could not keep out the divine intervention that directed her.
She set out to do a study of Sister Claire Evans, the wife of the founder of the Nation of Islam, Mr Elijah Muhammed, and what was supposed to be a purely scholarly endeavour turned into a personal spiritual journey that led to her transition from Christianity to Islam.
"I knew Islam to be a kind of perverted form of Christianity. Well this is what I was taught in the Church. I did not believe that there was anything worthy in Islam and I had this perception of Muslims as having very little to contribute to my development, if anything at all. I was happy where I was, well that is what I thought, and was not searching for another faith, she said.
But as she embarked on her study she came into contact with Muslims, particularly a group of African American sisters whose impact on her made her to re-examine her perception of Muslims and Islam. But the further she delved into Islam and the more contact she made with Muslims the more she began to like what she saw and experience.
"But at this stage I was beginning to feel angry with myself for allowing myself to be influenced beyond what was supposed to be a purely academic study of Islam. 'I'm a priest and have a congregation to look after, how could I allow myself to be attracted to another faith, particularly one alien to Christians. But the more I tried to convince myself that my interest in Islam and Muslims was purely intellectual the more I was drawn to it. I was so captivated by these African American Muslim sisters who led such extraordinary lives, and whose sheer force of personality were so awesome. Their lives mirrored Islam in a way that made me see beyond the stereotyped perspective I had of Islam and Muslims. These Muslim women had something that I did not have and so much wanted. They had the Muslim way of life and Al-Islam, God's last testament to mankind," she said.
Prof Debra said that once she allowed herself to look beyond the negative labels she had of Muslims Allah opened her heart and removed the blinders so that she could see Islam for what it truly was 'a way of life and eternal truth for mankind ordained by Allah.'
"Many Muslims who have been born and bred as Muslims often do not appreciate the gift that they have which no one else have. Those who have inherited the faith from their parents often do not appreciate its real worth and value," she said.
She breaks down and cry when she spoke of what she called 'her transition to Islam', which was to her the greatest moment in her life. She can't hold back her tears of joy and thanked the Almighty Allah Whom she called 'The Merciful Redeemer' for guiding her to Islam.
"When I finally declared 'my shahadah' declaring that there is only One God and that Prophet Muhammed is the final messenger of Allah, it came as a shock to my congregation. 'The couples that I married in the Church wanted to know whether their vows are still valid, and the children that I baptised enquired whether they needed to be re-baptised?' "
Prof Debra had so much to lose by making the transition to Islam. She had to forego the scholarship that she applied for and was due to her. She gave up the Christian ministry that was a fulltime vocation in favour of Islam, a religion without priesthood. But Christianity's loss was a tremendous gain for Islam. She is a woman and believer of substance who brings with her commitment and involvement.
"When I made my transition to Islam I had to learn how to pray. Although I was a priest and led other people in prayer I did not know how to pray to God, especially as a Muslim do," she said.
Prof Debra has made an earnest appeal to Muslims to go out with the message of Islam and touched the lives of others.
"You have so much to give to people who are groping for love, guidance, and hope. You'll have to reach out with all your heart and touched the lives of a hurting, crying and desperate human race," she said.
From Baptist Priest to Islam
Prof. Debra Mubashshir, a former ordained preacher was the guest of the Islamic Propagation Centre International recently. She impacted greatly on South African society with her charm, warmth, and fascinating perspective of Islam and what it meant to her. Hers is an enchanting story of a woman who was born and bred in a Christian home and community but who could not resist the attraction of Islam and its magnetic pull.
Prof Debra Mubashshir's interest in Islam was purely academic, and she never intended for Islam to touch her heart, but she could not keep out the divine intervention that directed her.
She set out to do a study of Sister Claire Evans, the wife of the founder of the Nation of Islam, Mr Elijah Muhammed, and what was supposed to be a purely scholarly endeavour turned into a personal spiritual journey that led to her transition from Christianity to Islam.
"I knew Islam to be a kind of perverted form of Christianity. Well this is what I was taught in the Church. I did not believe that there was anything worthy in Islam and I had this perception of Muslims as having very little to contribute to my development, if anything at all. I was happy where I was, well that is what I thought, and was not searching for another faith, she said.
But as she embarked on her study she came into contact with Muslims, particularly a group of African American sisters whose impact on her made her to re-examine her perception of Muslims and Islam. But the further she delved into Islam and the more contact she made with Muslims the more she began to like what she saw and experience.
"But at this stage I was beginning to feel angry with myself for allowing myself to be influenced beyond what was supposed to be a purely academic study of Islam. 'I'm a priest and have a congregation to look after, how could I allow myself to be attracted to another faith, particularly one alien to Christians. But the more I tried to convince myself that my interest in Islam and Muslims was purely intellectual the more I was drawn to it. I was so captivated by these African American Muslim sisters who led such extraordinary lives, and whose sheer force of personality were so awesome. Their lives mirrored Islam in a way that made me see beyond the stereotyped perspective I had of Islam and Muslims. These Muslim women had something that I did not have and so much wanted. They had the Muslim way of life and Al-Islam, God's last testament to mankind," she said.
Prof Debra said that once she allowed herself to look beyond the negative labels she had of Muslims Allah opened her heart and removed the blinders so that she could see Islam for what it truly was 'a way of life and eternal truth for mankind ordained by Allah.'
"Many Muslims who have been born and bred as Muslims often do not appreciate the gift that they have which no one else have. Those who have inherited the faith from their parents often do not appreciate its real worth and value," she said.
She breaks down and cry when she spoke of what she called 'her transition to Islam', which was to her the greatest moment in her life. She can't hold back her tears of joy and thanked the Almighty Allah Whom she called 'The Merciful Redeemer' for guiding her to Islam.
"When I finally declared 'my shahadah' declaring that there is only One God and that Prophet Muhammed is the final messenger of Allah, it came as a shock to my congregation. 'The couples that I married in the Church wanted to know whether their vows are still valid, and the children that I baptised enquired whether they needed to be re-baptised?' "
Prof Debra had so much to lose by making the transition to Islam. She had to forego the scholarship that she applied for and was due to her. She gave up the Christian ministry that was a fulltime vocation in favour of Islam, a religion without priesthood. But Christianity's loss was a tremendous gain for Islam. She is a woman and believer of substance who brings with her commitment and involvement.
"When I made my transition to Islam I had to learn how to pray. Although I was a priest and led other people in prayer I did not know how to pray to God, especially as a Muslim do," she said.
Prof Debra has made an earnest appeal to Muslims to go out with the message of Islam and touched the lives of others.
"You have so much to give to people who are groping for love, guidance, and hope. You'll have to reach out with all your heart and touched the lives of a hurting, crying and desperate human race," she said.