According to rahyafte (the missionaries and converts website):
See the Persian text here
See the Persian text here
Anna Farhana, from Japan, by Bentolhoda Mofakhami
Congratulations on your Converting to Islam
Thank You for agreeing to hold on Interview
rahyafteha.ir: First of all please tell us about yourself. (Name, Country, Job, Field of Study, Degree, Your background, Age, Where you were raised, and anything interesting about your background)
Anna Farhana, Japan, Japanese daycare teacher, 24years old
Raised in Japan.
I was a non muslim who was living for nothing.
rahyafteha.ir: How many brothers and sisters do you have? And how do you stand in your family?
I have two younger sisters I’m like a kind oldest daughter. just kidding.
rahyafteha.ir: Please tell us about your previous religion, before converting to Islam!
Buddhism mixed Shintoism
rahyafteha.ir: How different was your previous religion with Islam?
I was Buddhism mixed Shintoism but didn’t believe in any Gods, just like normal Japanese. But every New Year, we went to shrines to make wishes for the coming year with my family, but celebrated Valentine’s Day, Christmas and ate whatever we wanted.
rahyafteha.ir: How did you become familiar with Islam? What specifically attracted you to Islam?
Inspired by Malaysian students.
7 years ago, when I was a high school students, I joined Japan Malaysia interaction project.
After joining the program, I became friends with many Malaysians on SNS and some of them taught me Islam.
Day by day I felt I want to learn about Islam more and felt like I wanted to cover my aurat. Sometimes in the weekend I would go to masjid & joined madrasa.
rahyafteha.ir: When and how did you convert to Islam? ( please also talk about your last second before converting )
I converted to Islam on 21st March in 2016.
After deciding to revert, I straight away went to Kobe masjid by train.
After I arrived at the station and till I said my shahada I was crying and I felt like “FINALLY THE DAY HAS COME!!”
rahyafteha.ir: When did your journey to Islam begin? (Your Opinion?)
I think from teenage years. I was not a good girl like I used to hate on my family and I was deeply in love. Maybe you can’t imagine how bad I was.
rahyafteha.ir: Did You Ever hesitate to say your Shahadah?
yes because I was worried about my family, friends and colleagues.
rahyafteha.ir: How do you feel when you work for your Akherah (The other World)?
I’m still focusing to consolidate my muslimah life basically. So sorry cannot say anything.
rahyafteha.ir: Did you have any problem with your family members when you accepted Islam?
They (especially my parents) were surprising and asked me “why? for what? what do you want?”. But I didn’t have any big problems.
They’re trying to understand me Alhamdulillah.
rahyafteha.ir: Did they try to convince you not to revert to Islam?
No but my best friend did.
rahyafteha.ir: Did the people around you cut the relationship with you after converting to Islam?
Yes
rahyafteha.ir: What were your family members’ reactions when you were practicing Islam or doing your prayers?
Firstly my parents were like “what are you doing?!”, or during whudu they would say “are you itching your arms?” “wearing hijab during summer isn’t hot? Seems hot.” (Saying things like this)
rahyafteha.ir: What was your feeling when you prayed for the first time? Wasn’t it hard for you to pray 5 times a day?
For the first time prayer, I felt cleaned. But it was hard to remember correctly, I learned through Youtube and books.
By the way, praying 5 times a day is still hard actually.
rahyafteha.ir: When and how did you announcing your convert to Islam?
On the day I reverted!
rahyafteha.ir: Did you think that Islam is a religion Just for Arabs? (before converting to Islam)
Yes until I was 17 years old but after I met Muslims from Malaysia realized like Muslims are everywhere!
rahyafteha.ir: How do you see the spread of Islam in your country?
Many of them revert to Islam when they get marry to someone Muslim.
But some of them just revert to Islam by themselves.
rahyafteha.ir: Many people think that religions are the main cause of problems in the world today, did you believe that too?
it’s all about humans. Not religion.
rahyafteha.ir: Did you found anything illogical in your last religion? (How about Islam)
No
rahyafteha.ir: Did you use Media like YouTube, Facebook, etc. to be more familiar with Islam?
YouTube, FB , IG, Twitter
rahyafteha.ir: How was the effect of reading the holy Quran for you? How did the holy Quran Influence you?
Yes
rahyafteha.ir: What is the most beautiful Ayah in Holy Quran? (Say your opinion)
Every Ayat but I like An-Nasr.
rahyafteha.ir: Why do most of the media attack Islam? Why are most of the Media are against Islam?
Because they don’t try to know or understand us.
rahyafteha.ir: What’s your opinion about hijab? Has wearing hijab had any negative effects on your private life? Do you think it is only dedicated to women?
・I love to wear hijab it’s so comfortable
・I’ve never had (or had but i didn’t realize?)
rahyafteha.ir: Has wearing hijab limited any activities of your normal life?
Actually during work I cannot wear it so i normally wear it for prayer and on holidays..
rahyafteha.ir: How do you analyze women’s right in Islam compared to what the West has propagated?
Sorry I’m still not sure about this…
rahyafteha.ir: As a convert, what way of inviting to Islam you believe is more effective on non-Muslims?
Show our behavior and tell the truth of Islam.
rahyafteha.ir: If you want to say some words about the beauty of Islam, the peace, the calmness you have found in this religion what would you say?
Islam shows and guides us to the right path, Islam teach us everything. I’m still learning Islam but inshallah I want to be a better muslimah!
