Sister Amina Assilmi
Sister Amina Assilmi
A Real Life "WONDER WOMAN"
A Muslim for 33 years. She gained international respect as a speaker, author and advocate for Islam and women's rights.
“From Allah we came and to Allah is the return" said Yusuf Estes, director of Guide US TV (www.GuideUS.TV). "I remember the 'mock radio' show we did together years ago in Reno, Nevada (link at bottom of article).
"May Allah have mercy on her, grant her peace in her grave, raise her with the righteous on the Day of Judgement and give her Paradise, and make it easy for her children, ameen" said Yusuf Estes in a short prayer for her and her family. "She helped change the way many non-Muslims and even Muslims see Islam and the beautiful treatment it does provide for the believing women" said Estes
Sister Aminah was 65 years old, and was acting Director of IUMW (International Union of Muslim Women). Even though she had suffered serious health issues including a battle with cancer related problems, lack of financial support and often living in less than poverty level conditions - she never refused the request to travel anywhere to help the cause of Islam and the Muslim women.
One of her greatest acheivements was being instrumental in the movement to get the U.S. Postal Service to issue the official "Eid" stamp in 2001, marking the two "eids" (celebrations) of Islam for Muslims.
One of her current projects was a Center for Muslim Women Studies, for new Muslims and a summer camp for Muslim kids.
Sister Aminah is survived by a daughter, Amber, and her two sons, Whitney and Mohammad, along with her grandchildren.
A Rose Opening ~ Petal By Petal
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| Sister Aminah Assilmi Emmy Broadcast Winner Muslim Woman's Advocate 1944 - 2010 |
| "When I first started to study Islam, I did not expect to find anything that I needed or wanted in my personal life. Little did I know that Islam would change my life. No human could have ever convinced me that I would finally be at peace and overflowing with love and joy because of Islam." |
Throughout these times, she continued studying Islam and although she was changing subtly from within, she remained a devout Christian. Then one day, there was a knock on her door. It was a man in traditional Muslim robe, who appeared to her as a “man in a long white night gown with a red and white checkered table cloth on his head”. His name was Abdul-Aziz Al-Sheik and he was accompanied by three other men in similar dress. She was very offended by Muslim men coming to her in nightgowns and pajamas. She was further shocked when Abdul-Aziz told her that he understood that she waited to be a Muslim. She replied that she was a Christian and she did not have any plan to become a Muslim. However, she had some questions to ask if they had the time.
At her invitation, they came inside. She now brought up the questions and objections that she noted down while she was researching. “I will never forget his name”, she said of Abdul-Aziz who proved to be a very patient and soft-mannered person. “He was very patient and discussed every question with me. He never made me feel silly or that a question was stupid.” Abdul-Aziz listened to every question and objection and explained it within the proper context. “He explained that Allah had told us to seek knowledge and questions were one of the ways to accomplish that. When he explained something, it was like watching a rose open – petal by petal, until it reached its full glory. When I told him that I did not agree with something and why, he always said I was correct up to a point. Then he would show me how to look deeper and from different directions to reach a fuller understanding.” It would not be long before she would externally submit to what she had already been submitting to internally during the last one and half years. Later in that same day, this Southern Baptist girl would declare in front of Abdul-Aziz and his companions: “I bear witness that there is no god but God and Mohammed is His Messenger.” It was May 21, 1977.
No one really converts to Islam. They only return to their original nature (fitra) of submission in peace to God (Islam)
You can listen to a "Mock Radio Show" with Sister Aminah Assilmi and Yusuf Estes in Neveda some years ago, on:
http://islamtomorrow.com/alive/av/Neveda/Sister%20Ameenah%20Assilmi%20radio%20duo.mp3 