I wrote a lengthy research paper on Ancient Egyptian...

I wrote a lengthy research paper on Ancient Egyptian Civilization and learned the truth about many stereotypes and falsehoods relating to Islam and Muslims. The idea behind men as the head of the household and women being modest to avoid the strong sexual desires of men really made sense to me. I also learned from an American Muslim man that lectured the class that Muslims believed in Jesus and did not say that he was the Son of God as Christians do.

The fact that Muslims believe that Allah is above the mortal qualities of having children really clicked with me. From that point in late 1992 until early 1998, I had little if any other encounters with Islam, Muslims or the Middle East in general. During a break-up with a boyfriend of mine at that time, I met a Kuwaiti guy at the gym I had been going to. It was fairly innocent, as my personal trainer introduced him to me.

I thought he was handsome and friendly, but he seemed too good to be true and I automatically labelled him as a player. When I found out he was Muslim, I became even more turned off. Even though I had more knowledge about Islam at that time than most Americans, I was still blinded by my prejudices. After a little coercion, I finally agreed to eat falafels with him at a local Arabic grocery store granted it was a friendly meeting and not a romantic one.

I thought he was nice, but he was not GQ enough for my liking. My shallowness inhibited me from seeing his truly caring, unselfish and respectful attitude. We slowly became friends over a few months period and he found his way into my heart. He was always there for me emotionally and spiritually while I coped with my financial difficulties and rocky relationship with my mother and sister.

His number one interest was always making my life easier and not complicating it with frivolous temptations and desires. He slowly introduced me to the concepts of Islam and stories of (SWA). He even prayed in front of me until I felt comfortable to talk openly about my misconceptions of Islam, especially the role of women. Everything that he related to me, I saw in the actions of him, his brothers and their friends.

I began to realize that all the time I spent worried about partying, drinking and hanging out with my supposed guy friends was all a waste. None of these things were going to get me any closer to feeling truly happy about myself and about life as a whole. ...As for the life of this world, it is nothing but a merchandise of vanity [Al-Quran 3:185].