I was born in a Rajput family, who were staunch devotees of the Hindu gods and goddnesses. Since childhood I was forced to go to the temples and pray and worship the deities. However, my conscience started pricking me that this is not the real God who can give or take anything, but I did not have the courage to rebel or go against my parents who were so devoted to them.

my mother, who was is possessed by some goddesses used to sit before the temple in our house day and night and was just crezy about them.

I, as a child, would just not like dancing of all women who were so-called possessed by these goddesses.

A Muslim family was our close neighbour. As relationship develped, I started going to their house and sometimes reached their house when they were praying. The style and manner of their worship(Salat) impressed me. It was a style which I did not see in any religion.

Slowly and steadily, I developed friendship with Muslims and started staying with them. In a short while my entire friends circle and environment were full of Muslims, at that time I was studing in 11th class. The ruge to become a Muslim was growing stronger and stronger day by day.

After college hours I decided to take up a part-time job, and I got one as a stenographer. As day passed, I expressed to my boss but he convinced me that Hinduism is the only ancient religion and no other religion is superior to it. Like this he kept me convincing for 3 years, i.e. till March 1984 my parents got me engaged to a beautiful Rajput girl. In college all the bad vices cought hold me.

Propblems:
My reputation in St. Vincent's college was going from bad to worse and it was sure that I would be denied admission in the third and final year. Exactly the same happened. After the second year, the principal denied me admission and asked me to go to some other college which was just impossible because no college would give admission to any student in the final year.

I started to pray to gods and goddesses of the Hindus and time was passing, but no returns. Three months had passed and the principal was not giving me admission.

I lost all hope then suddenly a new ray of cought my heart -"Allah," the Unkown, who had no figure, no structure.
I prayed to Allah, the almighty, that if I get admission in this college I will become a Muslim after my marriage. And what a miracle, the thing which could mot happen in three months happended in tow days. And the faith became stronger.

Then I did not have to wait till my marriage for becoming a Muslim. I asked my fiancee, who was a Hindu, if she was ready to marry me even if I am converted. She used all the possible sentimental words and said that she also would like to convert after marriage. Needless to say, I did not consult my parents.

Finally I read the Kalimah on 2nd November, 1985 and declared in the Maharashtra Herald that I have embraced Islam. And then the problems started. My parents first made my life impossible in the house and my engagement broke. My fiancee's words had blown with the wind and she lost interest in me.

Meanwhile, my father had booked a flat in Fatima Nagar and they decided to shift there from 1st January, 1985 leaving me all alone to fight the world at such a tender age. The society and the non-Muslims opposed a lot. But when Iman comes in a person's heart, he fears only Allah and none in this hypocritic world.

Study of Islam
I started my stdy of Islam and at the very first sight I was charmed by its captivating beauty and the stream of knowledge of the Holy Quran. I began to feel that the best of knowledge is being added to my educational vocabullary and that is of the Holy Quran.

Things changed, I as a person was completely reformed of the vices, whatever. Keeping the entire Hadith before me, I have learnt to live a clear, clean and pure life. As for the circumcision, it was natural, right from childhood. May be Allah had decided that I should lead an Islamic life in the future.

Abdul-Aleem khan