The short verison )I was born into a Muslim family in the west but was Muslim by name, not in practice. I wasn't exposed to Islam during my life in the west, i didn't even know the basics, if Islam was brought up, it was through fear and control, like this is halal and haram.
My family wasn't practicing, so living a life like everyone in the west was considered normal because I didn't know any different. I studied performing arts from a very young age, by perfession i was a dance teacher and performer, i performed on big stages and theatres in the infront of thousands of people. May Allah forgive me Ameen.
In my mid-20s, I moved to Dubai, i was living the crazy life of glitz and glam party life where i was exposed to all sorts of sins. May Allah forgive me Ameen.
One day, I was told about an Arabic class held at the Huda centre ( old markez) . To get to the Arabic class, I had to pass through another class, which was being led by Sister Emaan
After the first Arabic lesson, I left curious about what this lesson downstairs being held was. The following week, Allah guided me to listen to sister Emaans' class.
Subahanallah, i felt like Allah took me from darkness to light that day, i left that day in awe, like this is Islam? It seemed to be the opposite of everything I thought Islam had been up to that point. It was the truth, and I wanted to go again.
Ramadan was fast approaching, and I had attended a couple of classes already, I saw this as an opportunity to jump in, all in to learn the the truth with sister Emaan at the markez.
During Ramadan, i made constant dua to Allah to keep me steadfast on his deen and to increase me in knowledge, i also asked for a rightous husband, a house, righteous companions, etc
After Ramadan, I left everything i knew behind, my friends my lifestyle i felt reborn. I submitted to the knowledge and guidance.
Stright after Ramadan, i was in a situation where i had no job, no visa, no money, and no where to live. Subhannallah sometimes we wonder why things happens to us, but i know Allah wanted to extract worship from me that is pure for His sake, Allah brings decrees to extract worships, purification and feelings from us, and to see if we are truthful.
With this hardship, i felt at ease, and people couldn't understand why i was so happy in this situation.
Allah gave me faith, and with faith I had everything. I had faith that Allah would look after me and that the future was bright. Allah will give you better if you leave bad things for his sake.
I learned that every situation in life we go through is to know who He is His beautiful names and attributes.
Allah will place us in a situation so that we see His ability and not our ability.
After three months Allah gave me more then i could ever imagine, he gave me a rightous husband, a job that i could help people, a new house, visa to live in dubai, rightous companions and best of all he gave me the markez to learn about him.
Senven years have gone, and i am still here at the markez with my beloved companions that i love for the sake of Allah Allahamduilla for everything.
I am grateful to be guided by Allah and grateful that He guided me to learn at the markez and gratefull for Sister Emaan and all the sisters for making this journey beautiful and full of feelings.
The life lesson i learned
Everything that happens in our life is all from Allah whether it is good or bad, and it is to bring out truthfulness from us. Allah wants to nurture us to only believe in Him.
Allah is our Lord, and He will nurture us and guide us to head to Him. Either we are in the nurturing or going into one or coming out of one. Allah will never leave us, he nether sleeps.
Allah nurtures us through situations, decrees , knowledge, people etc and when we accept and submit then we are going through the natural flow of the nurturing, If we accept what Allah brings then He will show us more of His ayat, and we will go forward quickly in life because we are overcoming our ego and desires, we will have short cuts in our path, the struggle is not outside rather inside.
But if we reject or resist, then we are only delaying ourselves from seeing more of His ayat. We have took the long direction that will make the nurturing longer.