Sister Tears_4_Zahraa

My name is Emina and I was born in a country that was known as Yugoslavia at the time. The communism had made people forget all about religion, and true Islam was nowhere to be found. People were adoring and praising this communist dictator who died before I was even born. I saw something wrong with this even at a tender age of six. I was six years old when I went to the masjid for the first time. Neither my mother or father told me to go , but they didn't prevent me from going either.

I still remember the my first day at the masjid, the sheikh was teaching children basics about islam. I came in and found a seat. I was really scared or maybe excited, I am not sure.When the sheikh approached me, and told me to repeat after him simple suras, I started to shake but obeyed him anyways. I came back to the class every weekend and felt good about it. I continued going all throughout elementary school and the beginning of high school untill I left my country. I am sad to say that in those nine years I only learned how to pray and read from the Holy Quran. Islamic history was NEVER mentioned, the companions were almost never mentioned and neither was Ahlul Bayt as. The only thing i knew about Fatima as was that she loved her father tremendously, that Ali as was the first youth to accept Islam and that Hassan as and Hussein as were two precious little boys who were loved very much by the Holy Prophet saws. At that time I wasn't aware that there is such thing as Sunni and Shia sects in Islam, but I loved being a Muslim and I loved all Muslims, that is until my mind was poisoned by a wahabi man.

I moved to Canada in 1996 and subhanAllah, in this Christian country I had found the true Islam. I was thrilled to see ladies with hijabs and wanted to wear one myself. I wanted to do everything that would bring me closer to Allah swt. I tried talking to my mother about hijab but she always hated the idea of me wearing one and still does. But that doesn't not concern me at all.

I had heard about sunni/shia issue from a wahabi man, who was our neighbour at the time. His wife was my friend and so I visited there often. Because of that i was often given tapes and lectures by him, which did a very good job at brainwashing me. I started disliking shia just because they were different from me, just because someone told me to dilsike them. I also started doing things that are too extreme to have anything to do with Islam, but I never knew the difference.

My family decided to move from Saskatchewan to Ontario. My life was about to change.............for the better. A friend introduced my family to a wonderful young man who's face was bright and who had the best manners. "He would make a great husband", I thought, "If he just wasn't shii." Short time after meeting this man, he proposed to me. Before answering him, I went to see a bosnian sheikh and asked his advice. "Is it allowed for me to marry a shia man?" -I asked. Sheikh's answer both surprised me and confused me: "Shia are our brothers." He said " And I wish all muslims were like shia!" As I was leaving I felt relief and knew that I was about to marry my husband.

Nevertheless, in my heart I still hoped that he would change and be sunni, just like I am. So we debated and debated...My husband mentioned issues like Fadaq and The Battle of Jamal. I was shocked !!! What was he talking about?! How can Abu Bakr, who is such a good companion deny the daughter of the Holy prophet saws her inheritance and make her so upset that she never spoke to him again untill she passed away??How can Ayesha, The mother of believers lead a battle against the Imam of her time, Imam Ali as?!
Wasn't there a fairy tale-type relationship between all companions??? Didn't Abu bakr and Omar love ahlul Bayt as??? Didn't Ahlul Bayt as Love them back???!!

"No, this couldn't be true, my husband isn't being honest with me" - I thought, untill I found what he was talking about, on a sunni site, from sunni books. It was all true. My heart was aching, I was so confused. I wanted to be on the same side with Ahlul Bayt as but at the same time I couldn't let go of Abu Bakr, Omar, Ayesha, and Othman. I went to see that bosnian Imam again hoping that he would help me... All he said was " All those companions are good people." "Is that it?"-I thought , greatly dissappointed.

SubhanAllah , one of the hardest things a person can do is admit that he or she is wrong. I decided to search for truth, and this time without hoping to prove shia wrong. I finally started reading the sermons of Imam Ali as . I was amazed at what he wrote and realized what a wonderful person he was and what a great worshipper as well!!! The sermon of Shiqshiqiyyah especially cought my attention: "Beware! By Allah the son of Abu Quhafah (Abu Bakr) dressed himself with it (the caliphate) and he certainly knew that my position in relation to it was the same as the position of the axis in relation to the hand-mill. The flood water flows down from me and the bird cannot fly upto me. I put a curtain against the caliphate and kept myself detached from it."

So there it was, all the proof I was looking for. I took Imam Ali's as word over Abu Bakr's anytime. After all, Imam Ali as wouldn't lie and Fatima as would never claim something that isn't hers. At that moment I knew I was free from my confusion, and that I finally know who's side I am on. Alhamdulillah for that.

I am still learning a great deal about "shiaizm" . I cannot thank enough all sisters and brothers from the Shia The Right Path room. The more I learn, the more certain I become that I chose the right path. After all, the Holy Prophet saws told us to follow the Holy Quran and Ahlul Bayt as. This hadith is viewed as authentic by both shia and sunnies.
Thanks for reading my story and may Allah swt bless you all.

ALLAHU AKBAR!!! ALLAHUMA SALLI ALA MUHAMMAD WA ALE MUHAMMAD!!!