are we just born as a muslim?

today i was asked again about Islam by an atheis. i felt so useless. I think this is my 4th time having an argument with her. i mean it's not easy to explain about islam when that person does not believe in the existence of God. if that person is a christian, i might be able to give concrete arguments to show that islam is the true religion. but apparently she's not.

i still remember when i first came to ireland, she was the first to ask me about hijab. so, i started telling her that this is an identity of us as muslims, this is one of the ways for us to please God and it is to protect ourselves from men. we cover our body except for our faces and hands as not to attract men as mentioned in surah An-Nur verse 31:
"And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and to be mindful of their chastity, and not to display their charms [in public] beyond what may [decently] be apparent thereof; [37] hence, let them draw their head-coverings over their bosoms. [38] And let them not display [more of] their charms to any but their husbands, or their fathers, or their husbands’ fathers, or their sons, or their husbands’ Sons, or their brothers, or their brothers’ sons, or their sisters’ sons, or their womenfolk, or those whom they rightfully possess, or such male attendants as are beyond all sexual desire, [39] or children that are as yet unaware of women’s nakedness; and let them not swing their legs [in walking] so as to draw attention to their hidden charms [40] And [always], O you believers - all of you - turn unto God in repentance, so that you might attain to a happy state!"

obviously i didnt mention about the quran's verse because that will only make things complicated!i just put it as a reference for u who read this entry. :D anyway, guess what was her response to me?"why would a religion do such a thing. what i see is islam actually oppressing the women. women should wear sexy clothes to attract men as that is what human beings are made for. i really think wearing a hijab is ridiculous regardless of what u want to say. i'm sorry but i just think it is ridiculous." her respond really made me upset. i felt bad for not being able to back up Islam.

then, our second argument was on why cant i have a boyfriend and have sex before marriage?huhu..this was tough. so, i answered her,"in islam we should not be in a relationship with the opposite sex until we got married. being in a relationship could leads to bad things such as we have the person whom we love in our mind and hearts most of the time.thus, we tend to forget God easily. Plus, u might end up having sex before marriage and results in abortion which is unethical and u'r no longer a virgin." she replied, "having sex is the exciting part of being a teenager. i think u'r wasting ur life.life is boring without sex and people will only get married when they already have kids.my parents got married when they're 40years old when they have me as their daughter." errkkk,i was speechless. didnt know what to say after that.

the 3rd one was a bit sensitive for me and had struck my heart deeply. while i was reading my email on donations for palestine, i asked her whom does she support, palestine or israel?i didnt know why i was quite convinced she would say palestine but it happened that she was on the israel side.oh my God, i hate to debate with her on islam!!!and she started to give her reasons and condemned the palestinians for being so selfish."the jews didnt have any land for them. so, british countries bought jerusalam and gave them to the jews. at that time, the palestine was under mustafa kamal.i really salute mustafa kamal. i mean, he was a really good president.he was the one who wanted to promote peace in palestine and stopped the fight of the syiah.for ur information, the fight between israel and palestine started when everyone fights to get gaza. gaza is a very startegic place where the jews can see the whole palestine from gaza and the palestinians are able to see the jews if they are in gaza.so, gaza is wanted by both parties. the palestinians threat the jews to move out from gaza because gaza belongs to the palestinians. but the jews took gaza because they were afraid of their safety in palestine and the islamic countries surrounding them from jerusalem. and HAMAS took over palestine and started a war with the jews. personally, i think the jews only want peace but HAMAS keep on fighting with the jews. HAMAS are the terrorist." we had a debate on this for an hour and ended up with me not being able to give strong arguments because little do i know about the palestinians. i am not even aware of my brothers and sisters in palestine. because of this, i promised myself to read on palestine and israel in more detail.insyaAllah!!u too have to read so that all of us are aware on this!

as for today, she came to me and said, "are u a muslim because u were born as muslim?why dont u do a research and compare other religions first before u decide to become a muslim?how do u know that Islam is the true religion? what if u were born as christian would u find out about islam? so i answered, "well, i used to be a muslim because my parents are muslims but not anymore. i am a muslim because i believe in Islam. i think, it depends on ur destiny whether u would become a muslim or not even if u were not born as muslim." again she said," i just think u have to search on other religions first before u decide to choose islam.u know, when i was a kid, i wanted to be like everyone who believes in God. but i came to a conclusion that all religions are the same. so, that's why i choose to become an atheis"

i think i should stop now.the moral of the story is, i need to do LOTSA reading on islam. if i really am a muslim not because i was born as one, i should be able to answer all her questions. but i couldnt. so, i have tonnes of work to do now!! personally, being a muslim in western countries really challenges my faith!!May Allah grant her the right path and always keep us in this path.aminn!!!
"Our Lord! Let not our hearts deviate (from the truth) after You have guided us, and grant us mercy from You. Truly, You are the Bestower."(Ali-Imran:8)

wallahualam..