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(bismillah) (salam) The Story of a Christian Girl Who Becomes Muslim This Girl Changed Her Name from “Jakelin Zakaria - ye Sani” to “Zahra Alamdar” (Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - I asked “Who is Alamdar?” I asked this question because I had not heard his name. That great man answered: “Alamdar is the same person who has guaranteed you in order to come to the south.” I suddenly woke up. In the morning of that night, I told my father: “I will have my breakfast only in condition that you let me go to the south.” And he permitted me to go to the south. I was surprised why he had agreed once. While registering for this trip to the south, I introduced myself with the name of “Zahra Alamdar” [Alamdar means flag- carrier and it was the name of a martyr]. According to the reporter of Navideshahed; a Christian girl has become a Muslim. As her story of becoming Muslim; this girl has said as the followings: “I am Jakelin Zakaria - ye Sani. I like my name to be “Zahra” [Zahra is the other name of Hazrat Fatemeh, the daughter of Hazrat Mohammad, the Islam Prophet]. I come from a Christian family. And I have a little information about Islam. I did not have good “Hijab” [The full covering of hair and body for women in Islam] when I entered the high school. And it was rooted in the culture of our life. There was a girl in our class whose name was “Maryam”. She had memorized 18 chapters of the Holy Koran. She was a member of “Basij” in the high school. And she was also one of the honor students in our high school. I liked to certainly make friends with her. It was Tuesday that day. And the pray of “Tavassol” was being held in the prayer hall of our school. I was walking in the school yard that suddenly one person put her hands on my eyes from the back. I was shocked and stood transfixed when she took her hands from my eyes. Yes. It was Maryam who showed willing to make friends with me. I became very happy. She suggested me to attend the ceremony of “Tavassol” Pray that was being held in the pray hall of the school. First, it was strange for me; but I was very interested to find out what was happening in such Islamic religious sessions. I saw that every one was praying and crying when we entered the pray hall of the school. Since I did not know any thing about that ceremony of praying; I sat in once corner of the pray hall. But unconsciously, I started to cry. Since that day, I went to the school along with Maryam; because we should go to the school through the same path. And I learnt more things every day. And “Hijab” was the first thing that I learnt. Following her guidance; I decided to conduct more studies and researches about the religion of Islam. I became more interested in Islam day after day. Maryam brought Islamic books for me. And in addition to those books, she brought the photos and wills of martyrs of the imposed war. And we read them together. This way, she taught me how to live. I can tell you that I became familiar with six martyrs every week. It was late Esfand Month, 1377 [Early March, 1999] that we could register to go to a trip to the south of Iran and the war regions in there. One of my kidneys had got infected for a while. And I should certainly go under surgery to cure it. Maryam insisted very much that I go to the war regions along with them. I told my mother and father about that trip and asked them for permission. But they disagreed. I went on hunger strike for two days; but it was useless. It was Esfand 28th. And it was 3:00 in the morning. I remembered that Maryam had told me that the Muslims read “Tavassol” Pray in order that their problems are solved. Then, I decided to read “Tavassol” Pray. And I started to read “Tavassol” Pray. I don’t know in what part of the pray I fell to sleep! I dreamt that I have stood in a desert. And it was near the sun set. A man came towards me and said: “Zahra come! … Come! …. I want to show some thing to you.” I followed that man. Then we reached to a point in which there was a hole on the ground. He pointed me to go into that hole. Down in the hole was a strange place. It was a big hall with high and white walls with blue light. The walls were full of photos of martyrs and finally one photo of Ayatollah Khamenei was there on the wall. I felt that they were speaking with me when I was looking at the photos; but I did not understand what they said to me. That great man started to speak. He told me: “Martyrs had a special love and enthusiasm that caused them to achieve to the high position of martyrdom. It is true for all the martyrs such as Martyr Jahan - Ara, Martyr Bakeri, Martyr Hemmat and Alamdar.” I asked him: Who is Alamdar? I have not heard of his name.” That great man answered to me: “Alamdar is the same person who is next to you; the person who has guaranteed you to come to the south.” Then I suddenly woke up. In the morning of that night, I told my father: “I will have my breakfast only in condition that you let me go to the south.” And he permitted me to go to the south. I was surprised why he had agreed once. While registering for this trip to the south, I introduced myself with the name of “Zahra Alamdar” [Alamdar means flag- carrier] and it was the surname of a martyr]. Along with the “Basiji” people I was dispatched to the war regions in the south of the country on Farvardin 1st, 1378 [The first day of the Iranian New Year. March 21st, 2000]. I bought a tape of Martyr Alamdar’s speeches from a cassette shop that was located beside the Holy Shrine of Imam Khomeini. The more I listened to this tape, the more I found out abut the valuable things he spoke about. During the ten - day trip that we had, I really found out what an honorable religion is Islam. When other children in our group participated in the public prayer, I hugged my knees and cried for my bad situation. When we reached to Shalamcheh City, I found a great and sincere atmosphere in there. I did not mention that Maryam was the sister of three martyrs. And two of her brothers had been martyred in “Shalamcheh” City. I went along with her to a corner. She started to read “Ziarat - e Ashoura” Pray. In once moment, I felt that martyrs had gathered all around us and they were reading “Ziarat - e Ashoura” Pray with us. It was the time and place that my heart was greatly turned and was touched by that situation. Then I became unconscious. The day after that was “Ghorban” Celebration [The day on which haji people [The people who have gone to Mecca for hajj ceremony] sacrifice a sheep in the way of God]. Ayatollah Khamenei was going to come to Shalamcheh City on that day. It was almost 11:30 AM that Ayatollah Khamenei came there. It was a great scene there in Shalamcheh City. Every one was crying unconsciously. The whole my worries changed into calmness by seeing Ayatollah Khamenei. Because I saw that my dream was interpreted in an appropriate way. To speak briefly, I should say that the whole my doubts changed into certainty when I came back from the war regions in the south. It was the time I asked Maryam to teach me how to become a Muslim person. She became happy to hear the news too. I was in a special mood when I said “Shahadateyn” [The sentences that one person says in order to become a Muslim]. I felt that I had become like Maryam and her friends. I had become a Muslim too. I should also mention the fact that I fulfilled my Islamic religious duties secretly. And God blessed me and both of my kidneys got fully well. … “ Source: http://abna.ir/data.asp?lang=3&Id=220479