I'VE known Ina Hysaj from the time we attended an English certification program in the UAE some years ago. From the beginning, she made an impression on me as an indomitable, positive presence. After the course, we parted ways, but not lives, staying in touch through occasional e-mails until life put us in touch again. There were several questions that I had wanted to ask her back then regarding her journey to Islam, but the hectic pace of our course barely left time for exchanging anything more than a breathless greeting. Now, however, I could ask. And her answers revealed such a hidden depth of faith and courage, that I believe her story must be shared – and more importantly, learned from. n What were the most important factors that led you to Islam? Who/what played the most important role in your accepting Islam? When I was 14-years-old, my father suffered two heart attacks and what the doctors called “clinical death”. These events shook my world and my trips to and from the hospital became a nightmare associated with loss of security, stability and a sense of emptiness. I grew closer to my dedicated mom and to my very loving sister. When Dad got better I started wondering about the existence of a Creator. I was searching for someone that could provide me something greater than the unlimited love, care and guidance I always got from my parents. Someone that could answer all my questions and protect me and my spirit in times of distress and sorrow. I was brought up as an atheist like most Albanians during Communism, and always thought that God was an invention of ignorance and weakness of other people, and furthermore that believing in God was a sign of pure rejection of science. In Albania education is regarded as the most important aspect of us as human beings and I always loved reading books and narrating stories to others. So, I spoke to my dad about my desire to read the Holy Qur'an. My loving dad was surprised but yet very supportive. He went straight ahead to the new-founded Muslim community and asked for a copy of the Holy Qur'an. Now, I had my Qur'an and I could read it with the great passion I had for books. We had a large library at home in Albania and the Qur'an became a part of it and soon my favorite book. As much as I read the Holy Qur'an, I understood that this great book was not there to reject science but on the contrary to support it. My previous thoughts started changing and I started regarding my new favorite book written in a very eloquent style as the best I had ever read. n Tell me something about your early days as a Muslim – the hardest part, the easiest part, your most challenging experience as a new Muslim? Days and months went by and my knowledge in Islam grew more and more. I started considering becoming a Muslim and increased the number of discussions about Islam with my family. I used to initiate discussions whenever it was appropriate and listen carefully to the ideas of my parents and my sister. By the will of Allah, they used to listen very carefully too and we never argued or had any heated discussions about the wonderful religion of Islam. I decided to go to a newly opened mosque and ask for more information and may be attend a prayer. So one day straight from High School I went there with thousands of questions and the desire to pray to Allah and experience how it feels. Unfortunately, my hopes were shattered when a lady shouted at me because I was wearing nail polish and was not wearing a head scarf while entering in a mosque. Since she was the only person there, I had no other option but to leave. I felt very sad and thought I will continue to learn how to pray on my own. After that day, I read over and over again a small book about how to pray. So, one fine day I cleaned my nail polish, wore a headscarf and with the first chapters I had memorized, Al-Fatiha and Al-Kawther written in large letters in front of me, I started praying alone at home. That day brought an enormous change in my life. From that day onwards I started praying five times a day and never wore nail polish or any kind of makeup in public again. I started going regularly to the very same mosque where I was rejected the first time and met a handful of good sisters who not only welcomed me but even explained very patiently the many rules and regulations applied in Islam. Soon, I found myself welcomed and loved in the mosque. I grew closer to Muslim sisters and started attending talks about Islam, as well as Iftar parties. After that first unfortunate incident in the mosque, I started considering ladies with Hijab (they were in a very small number then) as very brave to do something against the practice of the whole Albanian society. My way of dressing became more conservative and the idea of wearing Hijab became a very important aspect of me as a Muslim. My admiration for the Hijab was associated with the aspiration of being a practicing Muslim that obeys Allah. However, my family who were well-respected intellectuals in the community saw the headscarf as a symbol of the oppression of women and male dominance. So, it was never difficult for me to practice my newly-found religion but it was extremely difficult for my family to accept the idea of me wearing headscarf. That was the biggest challenge I had to face and I can never forget the tears on my mom's eyes and the sadness on my sister's face when I openly decided to move on the streets of my small and beautiful city (where everyone knows everyone) with the Hijab as a symbol of my Muslim identity. During those moments I promised myself, that by the Will of Allah I would prove to my lovely family that my headscarf would not be a reason for me to stop educating myself or having a good family of my own just like the one I was raised in. n What are some of the things that got easier over the years as a practicing Muslim? Over the years I learned to accept that not all Muslims are perfect and that we all make mistakes and need to repent. As my knowledge in Islam grew, I learned to forgive more and be more patient. n What are the challenges you continue to face? Hijab continues to be an issue for the general people in Albania especially after the infamous ban on Niqab in France. People tend to think that Hijab stops women from being successful in their personal and professional life. And that Hijab somehow makes them very dependent on their husbands or their brothers. As a result of this, very often I'm faced with strange or even irritating questions about Hijab and the slavery imposed on women by man. Earlier, I used to get upset and could not understand why people had so much opposition for this simple and humble way of dressing, but later I learned to be more patient and explain the reasons for wearing Hijab based on the Qur'an and Sunnah and not on personal opinions and ideas. n Tell us about your trips for Haj and Umrah: how did you feel, what was the best part, what areas need improvement? I experienced the amazing feelings of unity and the sense of being part of a great Ummah during my Haj and Umrah trips. I realized how much Muslims can do to support each other, by sacrificing for one another and how much mercy and forgiveness they must have in their hearts. When you see people of different colors and nations praying to the only true God, Allah you feel so accomplished and so humble at the same time, and content without limits. All the sacrifices and the hardships of Haj and Umrah are like water that cleanse you and cheer you up. By the end of my trips, I felt sad to leave behind Makkah and Madina and had an even greater desire to visit the Holy Land again and again. n How can the Muslim community play a more positive role for new Muslims? The fragile steps of a new-Muslim towards Islam cannot be taken in isolation and every new Muslim needs moral, psychological and sometimes financial support from his/her fellow Muslims at some point of this great journey. The steps towards understanding and practicing Islam can be very difficult for the new Muslims. Sometimes brothers have to take drastic measures and quit jobs because of the clear definition of Halaal (lawful) and Haraam (unlawful) and find themselves jobless and with families to support. Similarly, sometimes a sister may be discriminated against because of her Hijab. The immediate families can be an obstacle for many new Muslims and the feelings of loneliness and betrayal within a family can be reasons for distress and unhappiness. However, if new Muslims feel welcomed and are encouraged and not forced or pushed to make irrational changes they will truly feel the great power that only Islam can offer. Islam is not a religion of only rules and regulations but is instead a religion that all humans need to be successful in this world and in the Hereafter. We all need Islam with all its beauty and we all need the greater sense of unity, brotherhood and sisterhood.
