Cassandra Williams and Abd al-Hayy Weinman call each other “brother” and “sister” with familial tones ““ though they had never met before Wednesday night and differ in ethnic backgrounds.
But they do have one thing in common: they are both converts to Islam, and as followers of Allah, they say they are all family.
Weinman, a former Israeli soldier, and Williams shared their journeys to the Islamic faith in Wednesday’s discussion called “Faith of Fear or Fear or Faith?”, an event hosted by the Muslim Students Association as part of a week-long series they say is aimed at promoting understanding of Islam at UCLA.
“I’m not different from you, (even) if you never converted religions in your life or if you’re not religious at all,” said Williams, who was raised Catholic and converted to Islam during her college years at UC San Diego.
Williams said she was attracted to Islam after having a hard time fitting in during her freshman year.
The 27-year-old attorney encouraged the students in attendance to question their faith, even if doing so only results in a reaffirmation of the student’s existing commitment to their religion. She added that even those who are born into a faith should convert as a way to renew their beliefs.
“We think we’re so progressive in the U.S. … but a lot of us do things because “˜my mom does it’,” she said. “You have to start asking questions about your religions.”
Williams suggested Muslims ask themselves why they pray and that Catholics reflect on why they recite creeds, confirmations of their faith.
“You (may) be seen as a doubter. On the contrary, you are just exploring your faith,” said Williams, who was attracted to Islam after meeting other Muslim students she admired.
Williams became a Muslim in 2001, and her conversion included years of research and a promise to herself to answer 53 questions about religion.
One question asked was about the Koran mandate that said women would only get half the inheritance a man would get in the event of a death. Williams said this enraged her ““ until she found solace in an answer from a lecturer. He said men had duties to use their portion of the money to take care of the family, thus they had to have more money.
Weinman, who is now a lecturer at the University of New Mexico, converted to Islam after being raised by his parents who were “non-religious Jews.”
“I felt like something hit me. It changed the rest of my life. I didn’t become a Muslim at this point, but I became a believer” after stepping into a mosque one day, Weinman said.
He began to study the Koran and Islamic practices after that and left Israel to live in New Mexico.
Both speakers advised the audience to pray in the face of violence.
“We are players in Allah’s world. Allah has the final say … so pray to him,” Williams said.
Isha Abdi, a third-year philosophy student, said she found the advice helpful and was able to connect to the speakers. She said she could relate to their desire to affirm their religious beliefs later in life.
“I’m really glad I came. I could really identify with the speakers,” Abdi said. “Whether you have been in the religion your whole life, you have to convert.”