At 29, Scovia had long held assumptions about Islam shaped by distance rather than experience. Everything began to change when she encountered outreach specialists from iERA, who invited her to attend new Muslim classes. There, she discovered that Muslims honored prophets she already knew, including Jesus, and learned the basics of Islamic belief and practice. What surprised her most was the kindness and patience of the people—nothing like what she had previously imagined.
During Ramadan, Scovia grew even closer to the community. She joined them one evening to break the fast and was struck by the sense of unity and warmth—there was no feeling of being an outsider. Day by day, her fear turned into understanding, and her curiosity deepened into something more meaningful. The teachings, combined with the lived example of those around her, quietly reshaped her perspective.
On the morning of Eid al-Fitr, as she stood among others in prayer, Scovia felt a deep sense of clarity. At that moment, she made her decision and declared the shahada, embracing Islam with a calm and certain heart. She chose the name Hajara, marking not just a change of identity, but the beginning of a new chapter—one filled with purpose, belonging, and peace.
