The moment Patricia spoke the Shahada with the gentle guidance of the IERA Uganda Du’ats, she felt the world shift. It wasn’t just a change of faith; it was a rebirth. She shed the old name for the soft, strong promise of Hairat, a woman transformed.
Hairat dove into the New Muslim Class, finding an unexpected wellspring of knowledge and community. Every lesson was a revelation, every Dua’t’s advice a comforting light. She didn’t just learn the basics of Islam; she absorbed the spirit of it. Her joy was so palpable, it became impossible to keep contained.
The person she wanted to share this light with most was her elder sister, who still went by Patricia. This Patricia had married into a Muslim family years ago, yet the faith had remained on the periphery of her life, like a distant shore.
One bright afternoon, Patricia came to visit Hairat at her matrimonial home. Hairat, beaming with her new glow, spoke not just of her new lifestyle, but of the sheer happiness she found in the classes.
“You have to come, Patricia,” Hairat insisted, her eyes alight. “It’s not just lectures. It’s peaceful. It’s understanding. It’s what you didn’t even know you were missing.”
Intrigued by her sister’s intense and genuine happiness, Patricia agreed. She stepped hesitantly into the New Muslim Class, a silent observer in the back row. But the atmosphere was magnetic—the clarity of the lessons, the profound simplicity of the faith.
As the Du’ats reviewed the pillars and principles, Patricia felt a growing conviction, a recognition that this was the home she’d subconsciously been searching for all along. The words spilled out of her before she could stop them:
“Du’ats,” she asked, her voice trembling slightly, “how does one actually enter this religion? I believe… I think this is the time for me to embrace Islam.”
A collective wave of joy swept through the room. Guided by the Du’ats, Patricia stood and, with a clarity that echoed her sister’s journey, bore witness to the oneness of Allah and the prophethood of Muhammad (peace be upon him).
In that sacred moment, she was given her own beautiful new name: Jidda.
Jidda looked at her sister, Hairat, and they shared a deep, tearful smile—two Patricias who had walked separate paths but arrived together in the light of faith. Jidda pledged to continue her studies, supported by the dedicated New Muslim Class and her now-inspired Muslim husband, whose own faith was reinforced by her conversion. The sisters, now Hairat and Jidda, would continue their journey of learning, together, as true Muslimah sisters.
