Why Islam is my choice — Page 35
35 available in my cab. I used to hand out some of this literature to my passengers. Many of them appreciated it. I also used to preach Isl ā m to all my friends. Bro. Raf ī q Lake, who joined the A ḥ madiyyah Muslim Jam ā ‘at only a few years ago, is a direct reward of these humble efforts by All ā h. Isl ā m has completely changed my life. Ever since I embraced Isl ā m I never feel upset about anything. Through this faith I have learned that all hardships come from All ā h, but if one remains steadfast then He removes those difficulties, as All ā h Himself says in the Holy Qur’ ā n about the believers: When they are afflicted with pain, they say, from All ā h have we come and to All ā h shall we return. (2[Al-Baqarah]:157) In any case, we must remain obedient to Him. For the last few years, I have developed a disease called multiple sclerosis. I have met with other people who have been afflicted by this disease. I find them stricken with morose and hopelessness, but All ā h, through His mercy, has given me enough strength despite this disease that I move about the house and take care of my own needs. I make every effort to attend the Friday Sermon. I cannot offer enough thanks to All ā h for the innumerable blessings that he has bestowed upon me only because of A ḥ madiyyat, the true Isl ā m. I have pondered a lot over the question as to why did All ā h pick such a weak person as myself for such a great reward, but I have always ended up listening to this voice from deep within me. All ā h has full command over all things. (22[Luqm ā n]:32) After I became a Muslim, I wanted to give myself a Muslim name. My Christian name used to be John Douglas Scott. I changed my first name, John, to the Arabic, Ya ḥ y ā. One day as I opened the Holy Qur’ ā n to read, it opened up at S ū rah