Sakina Amiatu
Introduction
Salam Alayikum wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatu everyone. I would like to introduce myself. I'm Sakina Amiatu.
Both Samoan and Maori.
Life before Islam.
I've always loved God no matter what religion l was. Growing up l went to so many different churches whatever was close to home we attended.
In 2002, I was a Seventh Day Adventist with my ex, I almost got baptised, just to escape his abuse.
Attending prayer groups and church events kept me away from him. There I felt safe and at peace.
After I left him I become a massive alcoholic and lived the life of party's every weekend and going home with strangers . I was intoxicated all the time.
Life was just waking up going to work and coming home feeling empty.
My first encounter with a Muslim.
In 2010, I met a Afghani guy and that was the first time I had heard of Islam.
I didn't care what religion people were, or know what a Muslim was.
When he started talking about his faith, he spoke with love and passion which made me fall in love with it too.
My Conversion.
One day I came home and decided that I wanted to revert asap.
My heart was bursting for it.
I said my Shahada at a small mosque in a little town in Nsw
I felt like my life had just began.
What do I love about Islam?
What l love about Islam is that it gives me so much love and joy and that empty feeling inside me vanishes.
I can't explain it, but just writing this reminds me of why I fell in love with Islam.
How has Islam improved me as a person?
Islam helped me to stop drinking and regained my life.
I am currently a single mum of two, and Islam has helped me focus on our lives. It shaped me into being a better Mum. I was a alcoholic before and being a Mum is the best thing I can do.
My family likes my changes.
It was a challenge, even with my kids father.
Everyone around me only knew Islam as evil and forcing hijab on people.
I almost lost my kids because my ex was convinced I was turning our kids into terrorists.
My Mum was hurt and thought I was forced.
My baby sis didn't speak to me for a whole year because my partner use to bash me and she hated it.
But I kept at my faith because it's something I love, not anything someone forced on me.
These last few weeks I have slipped into a depression.
This has tempted me to take off my scarf and get wasted again because I am coming out of an ugly toxic relationship with my ex who is draining my life.
It's a constant battle.
It's tempting to drink to escape my tragic decisions.
In Sha Allah with your Dua I can get back on track.
As a Maori, Polynesian Muslim what challenges I have faced?
Being a Maori, Samoan Muslim shocked alot of people as I was always the life of the party then. I've changed.
The most annoying thing was this question "Did he force you?