Mustafa, from Butalejja district, Uganda. Born into a Protestant family, never imagined he would find solace in Islam. But, God had other plans for him.
He is a fisherman earning his living from fishing, a job he has done for a long time ever since he left studies from his home district in Butalejja and went to work on lake Victoria.
A chance he encountered at a friend’s introduction ceremony, sparked his curiosity for Islam. As he struggled to respond to Islamic greetings as used by Many of the people (Assalam Alaikum warahumatullah wabarakatuh), “I felt a deep sense of shame and disconnection, and this moment marked the beginning of my journey towards learning Islam”.
Mustafa says he admired Muslims because of their discipline, cleanliness, and love towards each other. “Their way of life resonated with me, and I started to explore the possibility of converting. My friend thought I was joking, but I was resolute”.His heart was ready to embrace the truth he had sought for so long.
So When he left the island on which he worked and migrated to the new place before embracing Islam, he found iERA Uganda volunteers who preached to him about GORAP which is God’s existence, God’s oneness, revelation and the prophets, he decided to go by their words. declared his shahada, thereby embracing Islam as his faith. “After declaring shahadah the information reached which My family, though surprised, respected my decision”.
As I delved deeper into Islam, I discovered the beauty of unity and brotherhood among Muslims and after getting amused by the Islamic religion lectures, I went back home and informed my wife about my new religion and its goodness but she feared her staunch protestant parents who used to threaten them as a family that whoever attempts to convert to Islam will cease to be a member of their family but Mustafa says he convinced his wife that she is now mature enough to decide for herself when it comes to sensitive issues adding that he also had a similar scenario but he decided to convert whole heartedly and after prolonged explanations, she also accepted to embrace and convert to Islam and preachers were invited to help her take shahada which was done successfully.
My wife, also a new convert, was then called for classes to learn her new religion which she also wanted me to attend and now we attend evening classes at the mosque, eager to learn and move together.
My story is a testament to the power of conviction and the allure of Islam’s teachings. I’m proud to have found my spiritual home, and I’m excited to continue this journey with my loved one by my side, Mustafa says.
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