>>>
>>> ISLAM
>>> ISLAM IS THE FA+@STEST GROWING RELIGION IN THE WORLD +@
AND HISPANICS ARE ONE OF THE
BIGGEST GROUPS MAKING THE MAJOR
LIFE CHANGE.
LIFE CHANGE. >> IN THIS WF+@AA ORIGINAL WE
LOOK AT THE STORY BEYOND THE
CONVERSION.
CONVERSION. +@>> I WAS RAISED CHRISTIAN, AN
NATIVE TEXAN.
NATIVE TEXAN. >> I HAVE BEEN MUSLIM FOR 15
YEARS.'S BUCK I AM HISPANIC AND
FOR MEXICO.
FOR MEXICO. >> I+@ AM FROM MEXICO.>> I HAVE
BEEN MUSLIM THREE YEARS.
>> I HAVE BEEN MUSLIM FOR OVER
A DECADE.
A DECADE.
A DECADE. >> EVERYONE'S RELATIONSHIP WITH
GOD IS UNIQUE.
>> THE JOURNEY TO FIND ISLAM
+@STARTED IN HER 20s.
>> MY INTRODUCTION WAS 9/11.
>> SHE LIVED IN NEW YORK BUT
WAS BORN IN MEXICO.
FOR SPANISH DOES NOT GIVE AWAY,
MAYBE HER BOOKCASE DOES.
>> YOU DON'T NEED TO COMPROMISE
EITHER OR.
EITHER OR. I CAN BE JUST AS MEXICAN AND
JUST AS MUSLIM.
>> SHE AND HER SON ARE PART OF
A GROWING GROUP OF HISPANIC
CONVERTS TO ISLAM.
>> I REMEMBER IT LIKE IT WAS
YESTERDAY.
YESTERDAY. >> OMAR TEACHES ISLAMIC STUDIES
AT THIS SCHOOL.
THE NUMBER OF CONVERTS TO ISLAM
IN DALLAS-FORT WORTH IS IN THE
SEVERAL THOUSANDS.
SEVERAL THOUSANDS. THE MAJORITY ARE+@ HISPANIC.
>> THERE SEARCHING FOR
SOMETHING.
SOMETHING. THEY FEEL LIKE THEY FOUND IT.
I CAN RELATE TO THAT.
>> THIS GROUP OF CONVERTS MEETS
ONCE A MONTH IN DALLAS.
SOME ARE MARRIED INTO ISLAM AND
OTHERS HAVE COME ON THEIR OWN.
>> HOW GRATEFUL ARE WE TRULY?
>> THEY TALK THROUGH SOCIAL A+@
FAMILY PRESSURES.
FAMILY PRESSURES. HER GRANDMOTHER TOOK YEARS TO +@
ACCEPT THAT SUE IS MUSLIM.
>> HER MOTHER IS NOW A CONVERT.
THERE ALSO PRESSURES WITH IT.
>> FOR BO+@RN MUSLIMS TO ACCEPT
>> FOR BO+@RN MUSLIMS TO ACCEPT@ IS ONE.
IS ONE.
IS ONE. I
IS ONE. I THINK THAT'S +@THE TOUGHEST
PART.
PART.
PART. >>
PART. >> THERE WITH A GROUP CALLED
EMBRACE AND IT WORKS TO RETAIN
CONVERTS.
CONVERTS.
CONVERTS. ESPECIALLY WHEN YEAR SEVEN OUT
OF 10 CONVERTS LEAVE ISLAM.
>> THEY RUSH INTO THE PROCESS
AND ARE EAGER.
IT KIND OF FIZZLES OUT.
>> WHY, WHY HISPANIC+@S AND WHY
ISLAM WOULD MOST A RAISED
CATHOLIC?
CATHOLIC?
CATHOLIC? >> I DID NOT FEEL LIKE I WAS
ABANDONING JESUS.
ABANDONING JESUS. >> I CAN TELL YOU TODAY THAT I
AM A BETTER CATHOLIC AS A
MUSLIM THAN WHEN I WAS A
CATHOLIC.
CATHOLIC.
CATHOLIC. >> A SINGLE MOTHER SHE SAID HER
CATHOLIC. >> A SINGLE MOTHER SHE SAID HER@
SON ANDREW WAS THE DRIVING
FORCE.
FORCE.
FORCE. >>
FORCE. >> HE WAS MY LEAP OF FAITH.
I SAID I WANT SOMETHING BETTER
FOR HIM AND US.
>> ANDREW IS 14 IN IS
MEMORIZING THE CAROTID.
KRON
KRON
KRON >>
KRON >> CONVERTS FROM ALL OVER THE
COUNTRY ARE MEETING IN DALLAS.+
THERE FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS
+@
THERE FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS AND THEY FIN+@D COMMONALITY AND
FAITH AND IN THE UNFORTUNATE
STAIRS AND GLARES FROM THOSE
WHO DO NOT UNDERSTAND.>> OUR
RESPONSIBILITY AS MUSLIMS TO
ACTUALLY ENGAGE AND EDUCATE AND
WE ARE STILL FALLING SHORT.
>> IT IS STILL A FRAGILE
POPULATION BUT ASK THEM
INDIVIDUALLY AND THEIR IDENTITY
IS STRONGER THAN EVER.
>> YOU CAN BE BOTH.
>> FASCINATING.
>> FASCINATING. YOU KNOW THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF
HISPANI+@C CONVERTS ARE AROUND
DALLAS AND HOUSTON.
ALL OF THEM HAD DIFFE+@RENT +@
REASONS FOR CONVERTING.
THERE R OMAYHISPANIC
MUSLIMS