Danya's Conversion to Islam

Danya converted to Islam in Ramadan. Her journey to Islam is an interesting one and began when she was 18 and when she married a man, whom she met at work in Manila in the Philippines. The man later turned out to be an alcoholic.

Her marriage was unhappy. Convinced that she was not meant to be happy, she started looking for happiness in other things. man, whom she met at work in Manila in the Philippines. The man later turned out to be an alcoholic.

Born a Catholic, she began studying the Bible and became a Born Again Christian. While Catholics are obliged to practice Christianity from what priests understand from the Bible, Born Again Christians have the freedom to study the Bible themselves and act as they see fit. man, whom she met at work in Manila in the Philippines. The man later turned out to be an alcoholic.

During that time, Danya’s sister married a Muslim man and embraced Islam. When Danya told her sister she had become a Born Again Christian, her sister replied sarcastically, “You still worship a creature; it’s useless!” It was then that Danya began praying to “God Almighty” to guide her to the straight path. man, whom she met at work in Manila in the Philippines. The man later turned out to be an alcoholic.

Her husband’s attitude grew worse and he started to mock her prayers. “Depression, agony and deep sadness overwhelmed my life. Nothing made me happy except praying,” she said. man, whom she met at work in Manila in the Philippines. The man later turned out to be an alcoholic.

Once the couple fought. Her husband left home and disappeared for two weeks. Feeling lonely, Danya applied for a job abroad to escape her problems. man, whom she met at work in Manila in the Philippines. The man later turned out to be an alcoholic.

She was hesitant as she had no qualifications and could not work as a housekeeper because she did not have any training. It was then that she visited a hairdresser’s shop that was frequented by actresses. She asked the manager to let her work for free and be trained. man, whom she met at work in Manila in the Philippines. The man later turned out to be an alcoholic.

After gaining some training, Danya applied for a job as a beautician in Saudi Arabia and underwent a test. She was the only one who passed. As she was preparing to leave for the Kingdom, her husband returned home and saw her happy. “He became jealous and mad at me. He said he would kill me. He took a knife and threatened me,” she said. While preparing her paperwork to come to the Kingdom, Danya had also undergone a medical test that showed she had breast cancer and had only six months to live. man, whom she met at work in Manila in the Philippines. The man later turned out to be an alcoholic.

“I was happy to know my destination and was praying that God would guide me to the straight path. My employer liked my work and did not care about my health condition. In the end I came to Saudi Arabia in 1987,” she said. man, whom she met at work in Manila in the Philippines. The man later turned out to be an alcoholic.

When she came here, she was faced with a different culture. There were no churches and no bibles. One of her Christian colleagues gave her a small bible. “My sister’s words were haunting me. I asked myself if I was worshipping a creature or the Creator,” said Danya. man, whom she met at work in Manila in the Philippines. The man later turned out to be an alcoholic.

She used to read the Bible and asked God to help her understand it. She read that the Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) fasted and so she fasted as Christians do, abstaining from solid food. She wanted to pray as much she could before she died. man, whom she met at work in Manila in the Philippines. The man later turned out to be an alcoholic.

One day her employer asked her, “Why don’t you become a Muslim?” Danya asked whether Muslims believe in Jesus. Her employer, not being able to understand English properly, said “No.” man, whom she met at work in Manila in the Philippines. The man later turned out to be an alcoholic.

Danya’s Muslim Indonesian colleague also advised her to accept Islam. She refused and said that she would not change her religion and beliefs for anyone. man, whom she met at work in Manila in the Philippines. The man later turned out to be an alcoholic.

Her brother in law also worked in Jeddah and so Danya asked him about Islam. He was kind and sent her a letter that explained details about what Muslims think of Jesus and the five prayers. man, whom she met at work in Manila in the Philippines. The man later turned out to be an alcoholic.

She prayed five daily prayers before accepting Islam. A Christian colleague asked her to join an Islamic center. She attended four sessions on the recitation of the Holy Qur’an and comparative religion. man, whom she met at work in Manila in the Philippines. The man later turned out to be an alcoholic.

Sometime later she became convinced that Islam was the truth and so went to Makkah. “I went to Makkah and saw the true meaning of equity, mercy and tranquility,” she said. man, whom she met at work in Manila in the Philippines. The man later turned out to be an alcoholic.

She told her employer that she wanted to embrace Islam. They took her to a court in Ramadan and there she formally took the Shahada (a declaration that there is no God but Allah and Muhammad is His messenger). Danya has lived longer than the six months she initially thought she would live and is currently undergoing treatment for her illness. man, whom she met at work in Manila in the Philippines. The man later turned out to be an alcoholic.