A British
author gave up drink and drugs for Islam
Jakarta Globe, Sylviana Hamdani, Aug 01, 2014
 |
| Author John Michaelson, who has converted to Islam, with his wife and editor Hetih Rusli. (JG Photo/Sylviana Hamdani) |
Jakarta.
British author John Michaelson found God when he realized that alcohol and
drugs were not giving him the answers he wanted from life. But it was not until
four years ago, when he visited a quiet town in West Java, that he made peace
with his existence.
Michaelson
says that Islam has the answer and has written about his journey of spiritual
discovery in a novel titled “ Mualaf ” (“Convert”).
“[Islam]
just felt right,” he said.
The book,
which was first published by Gramedia Pustaka Utama in April 2014 and is now
printing its second edition, is his answer to those who questioned why he
decided to become a Muslim.
“I was
never able to answer all their questions. That’s why I wrote this book; to show
people what I’ve experienced and how I came to Islam.”
Michaelson
was born in a small town in southwest England in the 1970s and had a difficult
childhood. His parents fought a lot, and they got a divorce when he was just a
toddler. His father took him to live with him, but they did not get along. When
Michaelson’s father re-married, he was sent to live in an all-boys boarding
house.
The young
Michaelson lost himself in alcohol and drugs. He writes eloquently about his
problems: the dark years in which he got kicked out of school, went to live
with his mother, and studied at an ill-reputed high school in town where he
fell even deeper into the cycle of drugs and alcohol.
After his
then-girlfriend became a heavy drug addict, and as the relationship faltered,
he took another job as a mechanic at a telecommunications company. The job took
him to exotic places all over the world.
“And I
discovered through working [at the company] that I like working with people of
other nationalities,” the author said. “I enjoy communicating with people of
other nationalities.”
But the job
sent him further down the road of decadence. Whenever the ship anchored, he and
his friends scoured the foreign towns in search of booze and women.
“It was a
good job, but there was too much alcohol involved,” Michaelson said, with a chuckle.
“Too many parties.”
Determined
to lead a better life, Michaelson went back to school. He studied English
language and sociology at a university in his hometown. After finishing his
studies, he taught English to foreign students.
In his new
job he was introduced to Islam by a French-Algerian colleague. Michaelson
admitted that his previous understanding of Islam was of a religion that
encouraged terrorism and the oppression of women. He soon learned that the holy
Koran is often misinterpreted.
When Michaelson
applied to work as an English teacher in a small town in West Java, he found a
Koran in the house where he was staying. It piqued his interest, and he went
online to find an English translation.
“The Koran
touched on things that I experienced earlier in my life,” he said. “We had a
connection. And I think that’s important.”
When his
neighbors found out about his interest in Islam they introduced him to an
ustadz , or religious teacher, who helped him to understand more.
Michaelson
also enjoyed observing his neighbors’ lifestyle. When he could not sleep, he
often stood at the fence of his house to see them go to the mosque at dawn to
pray. They would look back, wave and greet him enthusiastically.
“Something
feels right about their morning ritual,” he said. “They always seem very
happy.”
After a
couple of months of learning the Koran, Michaelson decided to convert to Islam.
His
neighbors and colleagues drove him to a nearby mosque and became the witnesses
as he uttered his first syahadat (Islamic testimonial).
Since his
conversion to Islam, Michaelson prays five times a day, recites the Koran and
fasts during Ramadan. He also abstains from alcohol and drugs completely.
“I’m at the
bottom of the mountain at the moment,” he said. “I have a lot to study, a lot
to understand [about Islam].”
His family
supports his decision.
Last week,
Gramedia published the English version of “Mualaf.”
Michaelson’s
wife and editor, Hetih Rusli, said that he had a fresh, new perspective on
Islam.
“I’m not a
Muslim, but through his eyes I saw that Islam is actually a peaceful and
tolerant religion,” she said.
The story,
which is written in the first person, is quite easy to read and understand for
both Muslims and non-Muslims. Instead of presenting religious dogmas and
Koranic verses in the book, the author narrated his own life experiences that
had led him into conversion. Through the story, both Muslims and non-Muslims
can reflect on their own lives and spiritual journeys.
Indonesian
author and scriptwriter Boim Lebon also lauded the book, saying it would
satisfy many people’s curiosity of the unique phenomenon of a Westerner
converting to Islam.
“Many of us
wonder why and how he came to that decision,” Boim said. “By reading the book,
we can learn of John’s experience and maybe become inspired by it.”
Michaelson
is now married to an Indonesian and lives in East Jakarta. The couple have a
17-month-old daughter, Frances.
Michaelson
and his wife run their own translation and copy-editing company, which is
called “Fair Measure.”
He is also
writing his next novel, a romance fiction, which is set to be published in
October.
Author John
Michaelson, who has converted to Islam, with his wife and editor Hetih
Rusli. JG Photos/Sylviana Hamdani
 |
| (JG Photo/Sylviana Hamdani) |
“Mualaf”
Indonesian
version:
Paperback,
349 pages, Rp 78,000 ($6.75)
English
version:
Paperback, 343 pages, Rp 139,000 ($12)
No comments:
Post a Comment