ASK Conference 2004
How Islam Changed My Life

By: Ali Schuitema

I think I can define myself as having been a fairly religious and spiritual person all my life.

I was baptised into the Catholic Church some sixty years ago, and my family thought I was destined for the priesthood.    I first experienced the power of prayer when, at 12 years of age, at the death of my oldest brother, I prayed for grace and for five years thereafter, served mass six days a week.  That deep commitment to God left me when I left school lived abroad for a while and then entered broadcasting.

The next reminder of the power of prayer was at the age of 33.   I prayed for release from the curse of chronic alcoholism, and have not had a drink since.

For some 27 years, I was deeply involved in Broadcasting and can honestly say that I had the things most people may wish for on a human level: power; recognition, significance, a nice home and material comfort, reasonable health, a good marriage and family.

Yet, within me there was a growing restlessness that started to manifest itself some ten years ago when I turned my back on the adolescent world of broadcasting.  It was the start of a collapse of my entire world, as I knew it.

Entry of Shaykh Fadhlalla into my life at about this time.  Subsequent embrace of Islam.

List some of the events.

Two most significant:  Wife being struck down by HSP, Double by-pass operation.

The lessons:

Allah is the provider.

No intention can be trusted unless it emanates from a pure heart informed by the soul.

We are not in control but we are always protected.

The more things we own, the more things own us.

The more we have, the more we want, and the more we fear losing it.

The more significant we are, the less free we are.

There is no difference in Allah’s view between nurturing one human being or nurturing many.

Expect nothing from another except to understand Allah’s will behind their actions.

The difference between information and transformation.  Being able to read the map is no guarantee that we will reach our destination.

By: Shakira Karolia

First real introduction to Islam was through Shaykh Fadhlalla, when I was asked to transcribe a talk, at the age of 14 years old.

Was not fully aware at the time what the Shaykh was trying to do.

Dad was silently hopeful that this will create a greater awareness and true knowledge of the Din within me.

Exposed to a very good secular education, but my exposure to Islam was limited, rigid and had no real meaning, through the system of madressas.

This led to me having many unanswered questions in my mind, thereby seeking something of greater meaning.

Beginning of my ‘real transformation’ came with my recent regular meetings with Shaykh Fadhlalla, which were at a time when I was extremely confused about my future career path.

This is the point where I decided to gain a greater sense of awareness and inner knowledge.

Shaykh Fadhlalla has guided me very well on the path towards attaining greater clarity and self-knowledge.

I came to realize that self-knowledge was the highest possible knowledge that one could gain as it gives us access to and knowledge of Allah.

Desire for greater spiritual growth, Nourishment of the inner self.

I also realize that this is just the beginning and the path is never-ending, once self-awareness increases.

Shaykh Fadhlalla is one of the best Sufi guides and teachers I have ever had and regularly assists me in all subjects and aspects of life (inner and outer).