L'histoire de la conversion de Mary Watson, professeur de théologie : De l'obscurité à la lumière

Beginnings and Family:

Mary Watson was born in Ohio, USA, but spent most of her youth between Los Angeles and the Philippines. She married a Filipino man and had seven children. Mary was a pastor, missionary, and a theology lecturer at a university in the Philippines. She also worked in Christian radio and television broadcasting. However, her life was about to change dramatically.

First Steps of Doubt:

Mary begins her story, saying, “I studied theology for eight years and earned three degrees: one from a three-year college in America and a Bachelor’s in Theology in the Philippines. I was professionally successful, but inside, there was a spiritual void.”

The Pivotal Meeting:

During a missionary campaign in the Philippines, Mary met a Filipino doctor who had returned from an Arab country. She noticed something different about him. Mary recalls, “I noticed strange things about this doctor and started asking him questions until I found out he had converted to Islam there. I knew nothing about Islam, but I began to wonder: why did he convert? Why did he change his religion?”

À la recherche de la vérité :

Mary began to seriously explore Islam and visited an old friend who had converted. She says, “I went to my friend and started asking her about Islam. My first questions were about the treatment of women in Islam. I thought Islam oppressed women, but I discovered that this was not true.”

Embracing Islam:

Mary continued to visit an Islamic centre and read many books about Islam. She says, “I read 12 books in one week and talked to the staff at the centre for three hours daily. By the end of the week, I felt that Islam was the true religion.”

The Decisive Moment:

One night, Mary felt something strange in her heart. She recalls, “I was lying in bed, about to fall asleep, but I felt something strange in my heart. I sat up and said, ‘Oh Lord, I believe in You alone.’ And I pronounced the Shahada (declaration of faith). After that, I felt a sense of peace and comfort throughout my body.”

Life After Embracing Islam:

After converting to Islam, Mary changed her name to Khadijah in honour of Lady Khadijah (RA). She says, “I chose the name Khadijah because she was also a widow like me and was in her forties when she married the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Similarly, I was in my forties when I embraced Islam.”

Challenges:

Khadijah faced many challenges after her conversion. She says, “When I converted to Islam, three of my daughters reacted violently, while the others saw it as a personal freedom. My home and phone were monitored, and everyone who knew me avoided me.”

Preaching Islam:

Khadijah began working as an Islamic preacher at the Community Awareness Center in Al-Qassim. She says, “I have delivered many lectures on Islam at universities and colleges in the Philippines. I now work at the Community Awareness Center in Al-Qassim as an Islamic preacher, speaking mainly in Filipino alongside my native language.”

Message aux musulmans :

Khadijah concludes her story with a message to Muslims: “The future belongs to Islam. We need to show the truth, strength, and beauty of Islam amidst environments where there is media blackout or distortion. We need strong believers who invite others to Allah with wisdom and good advice.”

Through these details and dialogues, Mary Watson’s journey from a theology teacher and pastor to a devoted Islamic preacher is highlighted, showcasing the power of Islam and its ability to attract hearts seeking the truth.