A simple traffic accident in America led a Filipina-Chinese woman on an unexpected journey to Islam. When her friend told her, “You can fool the police, you can fool the judge, but you cannot fool Allah,” her curiosity was ignited — and it never stopped burning. This is her powerful story of faith, sacrifice, and the unshakable conviction that comes from reading the Quran.
From a Traffic Accident to the Shahada
After a car accident, a friend introduced her to the concept of Allah — the one God whom no one can deceive. She began reading books about Islam and was struck by the similarities with her Catholic upbringing, but when she read the Quran, everything changed. The depth and truth of Allah’s words were beyond comparison to anything she had encountered before. She took her shahada on September 11, 2001 — the hardest possible time to become a visibly Muslim woman in America.
“If being beautiful in the eyes of the Creator means being ugly in the eyes of the creation, it is worth it. What is inside is the most important thing — that is what lasts and never fades.”
Facing Persecution with Courage
- Post-9/11 hostility: She wore her hijab for the first time during the most anti-Muslim climate in American history, facing rude gestures and even being laid off from her job
- Family opposition: Her mother told her, “You didn’t go to the United States to become a Muslim,” but she continues to care for her mother with love, knowing that heaven lies at a mother’s feet
- Health challenges: After surviving a brain aneurysm — which she sees as Allah giving her a second life — she was unable to fast but compensates by sending money to feed the poor in the Philippines
The Beauty of Ramadan
Despite the challenges, sister Amosa describes her love for Ramadan — the fasting, the dates, the community. Even when coworkers could not understand why she was fasting (“Are you dieting?”), she held firm. Her story is a testament to the fact that when you embrace Islam with sincerity, Allah gives you the strength to face any obstacle, and the peace you find is worth every sacrifice.
