When I first came to America five years ago, I wasn’t aware of the culture here. I still remember when I made friends.  I got so happy to meet new people and having someone to talk to! As time passed, when I used to travel with them, they used to ask me to be quiet in front of people so that I don’t embarrass them. They used to always make fun of the way I looked, dressed, and my accent.

I always tired to fit into society by being like them but guess what? I couldn’t! They bullied me even more. My life was messed up because I was trying to impress people who couldn’t even understand the simple saying of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH): Be kind to one other. I became so depressed and tried killing myself three times.

One day, this wonderful lady at the Masjid looked at me and said: “You’re so pretty but you know what? You can be prettier.” She took out a hijab from her bag and handed it to me. I started wearing hijab from that day. At first, I wasn’t fully committed to hijab. I used to remove my hijab at parties. It took me full three months to understand the meaning of hijab.

I started praying and educating myself more about Islam. Now, alhumduillah (praise be to Allah), my life has changed for better. The people I used to cry to, talk to, removed me from their lives. But I wasn’t sad at all. I was so happy because I knew I had Allah, alhamdulillah.

I never want to go back to my old life. This piece of cloth changed my life. I truly believe, when you do things for Allah and know true Islam, you know peace.

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