‘Why did you decide to
become a Muslim?’
This is a question often asked of me.
Whenever I visit a mosque or musholla,
whenever I avoid food and drink due to fasting,
whenever I say ‘Peace be upon you’ to a fellow
brother or sister. And you know what? I have never
been able to offer a good enough answer. For I would
need to talk of pain and heartache, of family and
friendship, of laughter and longing. And ultimately,
of finding love and acceptance in the heart of
Indonesia. Which of course would mean
travelling back to the very beginning…