At 30 years old, Acheng Maria Gorett carried with her more than just the weight of adulthood—she bore emotional wounds from a painful chapter of her past.
As a maid in a Middle Eastern country, she endured mistreatment and emotional trauma that would shape her view of the world for years to come.
Her suffering left her disillusioned, bitter, and guarded—particularly toward anything related to the region where her pain had been inflicted. And for her, Islam was unjustly tangled in that web of sorrow.
So when two Du’at from iERA Uganda stepped into her compound one warm afternoon, her defenses immediately rose. Their clothing and presence reminded her of her former life—the one she wanted so desperately to forget. Her thoughts bristled with resentment: “Not again. Not this.”
But what happened next was something Maria Gorett could never have anticipated.
The two callers didn’t begin with argument or persuasion. They began with listening. Patiently, they allowed her to unburden her soul—her voice trembled with memories of mistreatment, her words edged with anger and hurt.
The Du’at listened with empathy, never once interrupting, never once invalidating her pain. Only after her story had been fully heard did they speak.
“Maria Gorett,” one of them said gently, “we are deeply sorry that you were wronged. But those actions were not Islam. Islam came to uphold justice, not to excuse oppression. Islam teaches mercy, not cruelty. It calls people to worship the One God, not to abuse others in His name.”
Their words did not seek to defend wrongdoing. Instead, they offered clarity—reminding her that the beauty of a faith should never be judged by the sins of its followers. They spoke about the universality of Islam’s message: a faith sent by the Creator for all of humanity, rooted in justice, compassion, and the liberation of the soul through surrender to one God.
And then something miraculous happened.
Maria Gorett’s shield of prejudice began to soften. The more she listened, the more she realized that the Islam she had just encountered was not the one she thought she knew. This Islam was dignified, rational, and beautiful. Her pain had once blinded her to it—but now, her heart was awakening to the truth.
With tearful eyes and a voice filled with resolve, she declared the Shahada—bearing witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah, and that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is His Messenger. That very moment, Maria Gorett shed the burden of her past and stepped into a new light—adopting the name Sharuwa, a name that would now mark a new beginning.
Sharuwa is now eager to grow in her new faith. She has committed to joining iERA Uganda’s New Muslim support classes, determined to learn, heal, and thrive on this path of divine guidance.
Her story is a profound reminder: the greatest transformations often begin with a conversation rooted in compassion, clarity, and truth. Even hearts wounded by injustice can rediscover peace when exposed to the mercy of Islam as it was meant to be known.
