Jew Finds Solace in Islam

obmar · Site Admin Joined: 14 Apr 2006 Posts: 5697

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Siebert-Llera, right, found in Islam all the kind of disciplined life he has always craved for.(Chicago Sun-Times Photo)
CAIRO — American Aaron Siebert-Llera never took Islam seriously when he first began his soul-searching quest. But finally, he found in the Islamic faith all the kind of disciplined life he has always craved for.

"I felt like I finally found a house where I can place all my morals, my ideals, the way I was living," Siebert-Llera told the Chicago Sun-Times on Friday, September 14.

Siebert-Llera was born to a Jewish American father and Roman Catholic Mexican-American mother.

He used to pray wearing the Star of David in some days and the cross at others.

But the 31-year-old never found the "internal" thing he was searching for.

Then came the 9/11 terrorist attacks, changing the course of his life.

He began reading about Islam, knowing enough to differentiate between extremists who hijacked the planes on 9/11 and the majority of practicing Muslims.

He also bought a copy of the Noble Qur'an, skimming through the pages to find the passages that some claim to be preaching terrorism but he never found any.

Two years later in Chicago came the turning point in his life.

He met a young Mexican-American woman at Loyola where he had been pursuing his graduate studies.

The woman talked into the class one day, donning a hijab after she reverted to Islam.

"I definitely saw a change in her as far as comfort and general level of happiness. She was at ease with her life," said Siebert-Llera.

Siebert-Llera then began to think of Islam seriously, visiting the Mosque Foundation in Bridgeview, Illinois, where he learnt about Islam's tenets like prayers, zakah and hajj.

In 2004, he embraced the Islamic faith, praying the five daily prayers and starting fasting during Ramadan.

A year later, he met a devout Muslim of Syrian origin and got married in 2005.

The Same Man

Siebert-Llera lost most of his friends when he reverted to Islam.

His family also thought that conversion would turn him into a "terrorist" and lose him his sense of humor.

But he has never been discouraged.

"Right away, I'm like, 'Papa, I'm not becoming Taliban and going to Afghanistan," he said.

"I'm not becoming a right-wing nut who's going to be moving halfway across the world. . . . I'm not changing who I am."

Siebert-Llera believes that his family has accepted his conversion to Islam.

Just before he was going to break his first fast of Ramadan on Thursday, September 13, Siebert-Llera received a phone call from his mother, wishing him a Happy Ramadan.

The young man still keeps his cell phone handy, waiting for sister and father to do the same. He knows they will.

Radiate_Truth · Joined: 18 Aug 2007 Posts: 1056

Each have to learn from their own experiences.
What works for one may not work for another.
All that is important is the out-come makes you happy.

obmar · Site Admin Joined: 14 Apr 2006 Posts: 5697

Very true,
so long as the happiness
is the everlasting happiness
when all return to the Lord.

Radiate_Truth · Joined: 18 Aug 2007 Posts: 1056

Not quite what I had in mind.

I want people to be happy everyday; spiritual, emotional and physical healthy in their bodily form.

Obmar, you found that being a Muslim...
Where being a Muslim works for you it may not work for everyone.
All that matters is it makes you happy.

As for me, I developing my relationship with my Creator thro' the Spiritual-Filled Christian religion. Although I don't look to one religion to develop that relationship.

It's always been a hobby of mine to learn and research the different religious sects, which has helped me to develop an ever more closer relationship with my Creator. With that said, not only have I learned to develop my relationship with my Creator but I've also learned to be more tolerant of those who are of different race, religion, culture, etc. than myself. This way I enjoy the company of so many different people.

That is what works for me...
Makes me happy.