With her hijab on, an American woman talks about what she understands about Islam.

Despite the fact that she was still a Christian while recording this interview, she, willingly, preferred to wear the headscarf. And she embraced Islam a few months later. This is what she says:

“I’ve been interested in Islam most of my life, and I’ve studied about it.

I knew the basics about the religion for many years. Then when 9/11 occurred I got subject to a lot of propaganda, and after various incidences I started studying about Islam, and I discovered, although the basic facts that I had learnt before were correct, there were a lot of things that were misrepresented and misunderstood.

For instance, the first thing I noticed is that there is no compulsion in Islam, no one is to force you into religion, that God calls those whom He calls.

Another thing I discovered is the beautiful brotherhood and sisterhood, and how Muslims care for each other. I’ve been much happier since I started visiting the mosque and getting to know a lot of sisters and spending time with them.

I love about Islam that it teaches you how to be kind to each other, and how to care for each other. In Christianity, the Bible says, “Be kind one to another.” In Islam it tells you distinctly how to be kind to each other, how to be courteous and how to care for one another.

Islam is a very peaceful way of life, it desires that people live good lives within their family as husband and wife, and within the community; and caring for each other. And I found the Muslims that I associate to be much more Godly than what I’ve ever experienced in Christianity, and I’ve been very much into Christianity for many years…

Another concept that is so beautiful in Islam is the concept of Shura. When there is an issue to be discussed, the leader hears from everybody. And I’ve seen this in action. It is practiced in the family, and it is practiced in government. They hear from everybody, even the youngest child, and everything is taken into consideration, and then there is a decision based on what is best.

When a decision is made, people are encouraged to follow that decision, whether they agree with it or not,

How Are Women Treated in Islam?

I think it’s very beautiful. I believe women are very respected in Islam.

I love wearing my hijab (headscarf), I feel special, I feel protected, I feel that I don’t have to be showing off everything to everybody, it helps me to be kind of private…

In Islam, I feel I’m accepted as a woman, and respected as a woman. I feel that I don’t have to struggle to try to be equal and try to be like a man, which is how I felt in our American society.