Sister Rose sighed, leaning her hoe against the wooden fence of her small homestead in rural Uganda. Her back ached, but her heart was full of the quiet satisfaction that comes from honest, hard labor. She sank onto a low, woven stool, taking a moment to rest before preparing the evening meal.
It was then that the Da’wah workers (Duats) from iERA Uganda approached. They greeted her warmly, complimenting her abundant garden. After exchanging pleasantries, they steered the conversation gently towards faith, asking Rose, “Do you believe that God created this world?”
Rose’s smile was immediate and bright. “Oh, yes,” she replied without hesitation, “I know Him. The God who gave birth to Jesus.”
The Duats exchanged a gentle glance. “Sister Rose, we believe in that same Creator, the Lord of all things,” one of the men responded, his tone respectful. “But the true and right way of worshipping Him, which Islam teaches, explains that God doesn’t give birth. He doesn’t need to produce an heir or a child. He simply creates.”
They explained that in Islam, Jesus—whom they call Isa—is revered as a mighty Messenger and Prophet of God, born miraculously by God’s command, but not His divine son. The Duats spoke of Tawhid, the oneness of God, a single Creator who is utterly unique, unassociated with any partners, and eternally self-sufficient. They spoke of Islam as a complete way of life, touching on all aspects of existence and leading to the purest form of worship as taught by all the prophets.
Rose listened intently. In her spirit, the logic resonated like a clear, powerful bell. The idea of a God who simply commands creation, who needs nothing and no one, was a simple, profound truth that settled deep within her heart. This understanding—that the Creator creates, rather than procreates—felt whole and complete.
In that moment, resting from her busy garden, Rose made the most important decision of her life. She accepted the truth of Islam and bore witness to the oneness of God. With joy, she chose the new name Mariam, after the revered mother of Prophet Isa.
The Duats then taught Mariam the foundational articles of her new faith, explaining that believing in the oneness of God means embracing belief not only in One God (Allah) but also in His Angels, His revealed Books, His Messengers and Prophets (from Adam to Muhammad), and the reality of the Day of Judgement and Divine Decree.
Mariam smiled, the setting sun catching her face. Her garden had provided a harvest for her body, but the new knowledge had provided a harvest for her soul. She was now ready to walk a new path, grounded in the profound simplicity of Tawhid.
