Two years before, Kasiine Beresina had felt a cold knot of disappointment tighten in her chest. Her son had converted to Islam and was now the Imam of a local village mosque. Despite her inner turmoil and annoyance, Beresina was a pragmatic woman; she had simply stepped aside and allowed her son to follow his conscience.
The change came when a group of duats (preachers) from iERA Uganda visited the village, sharing the message of Islam. They encountered Beresina, a respected elder in her sixties, and shared their Islam with her, patiently and respectfully.
Beresina listened carefully. She was curious, but two questions burned within her.
“I see your people bowing low to the ground,” she began, her voice steady. “Why do Muslims worship God that way?
The duats explained with a gentle sincerity that resonated with her. They told her that the sujood was not a new invention, but the universal way God had directed all prophets and messengers to worship Him. It was the ultimate, physical demonstration of total humility and submission to the Creator.
Her second question was more sensitive. “And why is it,” she asked, looking them in the eye, “that you people abuse Jesus?”
The lead duat shook his head firmly. ” We do not abuse Jesus, We honor him and We know him as Isa, one of God’s greatest messengers.”
That day, the mother who had quietly worried over her son’s faith, felt peace settle over her heart. Beresina accepted the words of the duats and took her Shahada. She chose a new name: Mariam. Her spiritual journey, which began with a mother’s silent confusion, had finally led her to the same peace her son had found two years before.
