The Story of a Beautiful Woman Who Hated Islam and Became a Convert in 7 Days

Dream - Belief is a choice for everyone. It is not uncommon for someone to choose to change their beliefs because of guidance that can come from experience, knowledge, and environment.

Guidance can come in various ways to each individual. One of them is through other people, as experienced by the beautiful woman below.

Arnita Rodelina Turnip, a beautiful girl from Simalungun, North Sumatra. She is an accomplished girl, accepted at IPB University in 2015 through the Regional Representative Scholarship (BUD) program.

When she was still a Christian, this beautiful girl hated Islam. But in the end, she received guidance and decided to become a convert after thinking for seven days.

"So, if you say that I converted in one week at IPB, that's true, but the process is not instant in a week," said Arnita as quoted from the Rukun Indonesia Youtube video.

Before understanding and becoming a Muslim, for Arnita, Muslims were too complicated because they had to worship five times a day.

"I really hated Islam before, oh I was so upset. What's with the hassle of praying five times a day. It complicates things," she said.

Arnita recounted that she was born to a mother who was a Quran teacher and originally a Muslim. But because her husband was a Christian, Arnita's mother followed her husband's religion. And so Arnita was born as a Christian.

Since she was a child, Arnita has lived alongside Islam. Her siblings from her mother's side are mostly Muslims.

During Ramadan, she often joined in the pre-dawn meal but ate during the day. When it was time to break the fast, she ate together with them.

Arnita was educated at a Catholic high school by her parents. In school, she learned a lot about her own religion, which led to her developing a hatred for Islam.

After graduating from a Catholic high school, Arnita continued her education at IPB University through the Regional Representative Scholarship (BUD) program. This agricultural campus requires its first-year students to live in dormitories, including Arnita.

"So, in the dormitory, the clothing is indeed for Muslim women, covered for those who are Muslims," she added.

In Arnita's imagination, studying in Java was like in television shows where they wear short skirts.

She was surprised when she was reprimanded by the security guard for wearing a short skirt and tank top when entering the dormitory.

Arnita, who was a devout girl in her own religion, shared a room with a Muslim girl who was equally devout.

Her Muslim friend often performed tahajud prayers, diligently read the Quran while waiting for the dawn prayer time.

"She performs tahajud prayers, yes, and recites the Quran. So, at 3 a.m., she wakes up and prays, turns on the light. So, I got annoyed," Arnita said.

One time, Arnita suggested that her friend read the Quran silently. "Then I said, can't you just read it in your heart?" she said.

"She said she can't. Reading the Quran must be recited, so we know which recitation is correct or incorrect," she added.

Still annoyed, the next day Arnita read the Bible out loud. "Then she said, what's the point? Hey, I also read the Bible, is that not allowed? But you are allowed," she said.

Finally, a commotion broke out. To the point that the dormitory supervisor came to separate them. Arnita felt embarrassed and uncomfortable, so she apologized.

According to her, her interest in Islam emerged when she watched Dr. Zakir Naik, who often received cross-religious questions and answered them based on the Quran.

Since then, questions arose in Arnita's mind and she felt that there was something bothering her about her religious teachings. In her Christian religion class, Arnita asked her assistant.

"In this chapter, it says that we are not allowed to eat forbidden food and drink intoxicating drinks, but why do we eat pork?" she asked.

Her assistant answered, "You have to believe in who Christ is. You have to learn more. If your faith becomes stronger, then you will believe."

However, Arnita was not satisfied with her assistant's answer. So, she searched for answers from various sources she could find. Until she finally found the answer in a lecture video by Ustaz Abdul Somad.

That's where her interest in Islam emerged. Arnita then went to the Al-Hurriyyah IPB Mosque Prosperity Council (DKM) to be guided in reciting the two testimonies of faith. One of the ustazs asked Arnita to come back the next day.

News of Arnita's conversion from Christianity to Islam immediately spread at IPB, including being heard by her senior. She was even persuaded not to convert.

"I was called by my seniors, hoping that I wouldn't make the declaration on Saturday. I was supposed to make the declaration on Saturday, but it ended up being on Monday. I still remember the date, September 20, 2015," she said.

Her senior asked Arnita the reason for converting to Islam. "I said, not because of anyone, not because of marriage," Arnita said.

In the end, Arnita's senior gave up. Arnita embraced Islam by reciting the two testimonies of faith. Until now, she still holds firmly to the teachings of Islam and has even become more convinced of Islam.