Karen Meek Originally Think of Religion, is a Folly

Karen Saffia Meek

 

Karen Meek Originally Think of Religion, is a Folly

Friday, January 21, 2011, 08:15 GMT
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, TEXAS - He chose to be called Saffia now. Her real name, Karen Meek. Saffia name attached in front of his name, sometimes people write in the middle of his name.
Together with Eric, her husband, shoulder to shoulder Saffia bersyiar Islam in Lewisville, Texas. Both are also active in the Central American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). In between his busy as the staff of a large restaurant in his town, he actively participates in Islamic studies.
Besides his involvement with CAIR, Saffia also active in the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA). He has been Chairman of the Conference on Media for ISNA regional conference in Dallas.
Among the anti-Islamic stronghold, he is seen as a threat. An American newspaper once wrote reviews about him. "Meek hatred against the United States poses a threat to the security of this country," the commentator Globe News.
This media is commenting on an article written Saffia October 2006 on how people should not generalize Muslims. He wrote, "If you want the truth about what the core teachings of Islam, please read the Quran for yourself. Council on American-Islamic Relations to develop a campaign to" Explore the Quran 'and' Explore the Life of Muhammad 'to find their own truth about Islam. "
He also wrote another article titled "Do not believe everything you hear about Muslims." In it, he asserted Islam does not teach hatred of Christians or Jews. "On the contrary, the Qur'an called them the People of the Book," writes Saffia contained in the Lufkin Daily News.
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But who would have thought, Saffia initially was an atheist. "I grew up with the mindset that religion is something stupid," he said.
He always laugh when people say about God. "I do not believe in a God. I do not think about how this world was created, and frankly, I do not care," he said.
Dating Eric, she felt seide. Youth dreams were originally Christian Baptist, but later became an atheist.
One time, she realizes her boyfriend changed. "I thought he had suffered brain washing. All of a sudden he stopped drinking alcohol," he said. Eric also rejected if presented with pork and doing "odd rituals" five times a day.
Apparently, without his knowledge, he learned about Islam. When his second marriage to count down in a matter of weeks, Eric finally admits: has become a Muslim.
Saffia felt slapped. But given the choice Eric to step back from this woman refused to marry her plan. Although shock Karen still want to continue the marriage with Eric.
He just wondered why Eric chose Islam. He also studied it silently. "Just to understand Eric, without intention to join the religion," he said.
But the woman who originally called Karen is acknowledged that Islam provides the most logical explanation about God and the creation of the universe and it is difficult for Saffia denied this.
He eventually married to Eric. Saffia is still studying Islam and for the first time he tried to perform the prayers, while her husband worked in the office. He studied his own prayers from a book.
"Up to this point, I do things quietly. I did not tell Eric. I do not embrace religion just because my husband embrace a religion. I want to find my own way," he said.
Until finally, he resolved to follow her husband converted to Islam. Saffia also say two sentences creed and officially became a Muslim.

http://www.republika.co.id/berita/dunia-islam/mualaf/11/01/21/159806-karen-saffia-meek-semula-anggap-beragama-adalah-kebodohan

 

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REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, TEXAS - Ia memilih dipanggil Saffia kini. Nama sebenarnya, Karen Meek. Nama Saffia dilekatkan di depan namanya, kadang orang menulis di tengah namanya.
Bersama Eric, suaminya, Saffia bahu membahu bersyiar Islam di Lewisville, Texas. Keduanya juga aktif di Pusat Hubungan Islam-Amerika (CAIR). Di sela-sela kesibukannya sebagai staf sebuah restoran besar di kotanya, ia aktif mengikuti kajian Islam.

Selain keterlibatannya dengan CAIR, Saffia juga aktif dalam Masyarakat Islam Amerika Utara (ISNA). Ia pernah menjadi Ketua Konferensi Media untuk konferensi regional ISNA di Dallas.

Di kalangan kubu anti-Islam, ia dilihat sebagai ancaman. Sebuah surat kabar Amerika pernah menuliskan ulasan tentang dia. "Kebencian Meek terhadap Amerika Serikat menimbulkan ancaman terhadap keamanan negeri ini," demikian ulas Globe News.

Media ini mengomentari sebuah artikel yang ditulis Saffia Oktober 2006 tentang bagaimana orang seharusnya tidak menyamaratakan Muslim. Dia menuliskan, "Jika Anda ingin kebenaran tentang apa inti ajaran Islam, silakan membaca Quran untuk diri sendiri. Council on American-Islamic Relations mengembangkan kampanye 'Jelajahi Quran' dan 'Jelajahi Hidup Muhammad'  untuk menemukan sendiri kebenaran tentang Islam."

Ia juga menuliskan tulisan lain bertajuk "Jangan percaya semua yang anda dengar tentang Muslim". Dalam tulisan itu, ia menegaskan Islam tidak mengajarkan membenci orang Kristen atau Yahudi. "Sebaliknya, Alquran menyebut mereka yang  Ahli Kitab," tulis Saffia yang dimuat di Lufkin Daily News.

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Namun siapa sangka, Saffia semula adalah seorang atheis. "Saya tumbuh dewasa dengan pola pikir bahwa agama adalah sesuatu yang bodoh," ujarnya.

Ia selalu mentertawakan jika ada orang berkata tentang Tuhan. " Saya tidak percaya adanya Tuhan. Saya tidak memikirkan bagaimana dunia ini diciptakan, dan terus terang, saya tidak peduli," ujarnya.

Berpacaran dengan Eric, ia merasa seide. Pemuda idamannya itu semula penganut Kristen Baptis, tapi kemudian menjadi seorang atheis.

Suatu saat, ia menyadari sang pacar berubah. "Saya pikir ia  sudah mengalami cuci otak. Tiba-tiba saja ia berhenti minum minuman beralkohol," ujarnya. Eric juga menolak jika disodori daging babi dan melakukan "ritual aneh" lima kali sehari.

Rupanya, tanpa sepengetahuannya, ia belajar tentang Islam. Ketika pernikahan keduanya berhitung mundur dalam hitungan pekan, Eric akhirnya mengaku: telah menjadi Muslim.

Saffia serasa tertampar. Namun pilihan yang diberikan Eric untuk mundur dari rencana menikahinya ditolak perempuan ini.  Meski shock Karen tetap ingin melanjutkan rencana pernikahannya dengan Eric.

Ia justru penasaran mengapa Eric memilih Islam. Ia diam-diam juga mempelajarinya. "Hanya untuk memahami Eric, tanpa niat ikut masuk agama itu," ujarnya.

Namun wanita yang semula disapa Karen ini mengakui bahwa agama Islam memberikan penjelasan paling logis tentang Tuhan dan penciptaan alam semesta dan sulit bagi Saffia membantahnya.

Ia akhirnya menikah dengan Eric. Saffia masih terus mempelajari Islam dan untuk pertamakalinya ia mencoba menunaikan salat, saat suaminya bekerja di kantor. Ia belajar salat sendiri dari sebuah buku.

"Sampai pada titik ini, saya melakukan segala sesuatunya dengan diam-diam. Saya tidak cerita pada Eric. Saya tidak mau memeluk agama hanya karena suami saya memeluk sebuah agama. Saya ingin menemukan jalan saya sendiri," ungkapnya.

Hingga akhirnya, ia membulatkan tekad untuk mengikuti jejak suaminya memeluk agama Islam. Saffia pun mengucapkan dua kalimat syahadat dan resmi menjadi seorang muslimah.