sezen

This thread popped up on a google search of Armenian convert to Islam, which arose due to my search for sources of the Karaman dynasty's Muslim Armenian founder, father of Karaman Bey who married a Seljuk princess. Why am I curious about the Karamanoglus? Well, my Dad is from a village on the Konya-Karaman border, and my Mom is from Konya as well. While we are Turkish, my little brother bares an uncanny resemblance to the youth of the "Color of Pomegrenates" actor. The resemblance is uncanny really, even when observing the entire growth from child to young man. The only difference, perhaps, is that my brother had curly yellow locks until he was three. In Konya, it is taken for granted that everybody might have some "Rum" in them. "Rum" is the generic, nondescript word for the Christian populace, derived from "of the Romans/Byzantines". The Seljuk sultanate, of course, was called, "Sultanate of Rum". I asked my relatives if there is any evidence of Armenian ancestry specifically, not just the possibility of "Rum" in general, but they did not know for certain. Of course, many of my relatives also have distinctly Turkic features, as is also the case with many rural Konyalis as well. But, more dominantly, *also* as is very much the case with Konyalis, my grandparents are pious Muslims. To a pious Muslim, religion supercedes nationality, ethnicity, and ancestry. And, so, they do not speak too much on potential forefathers and foremothers, whether they be Turk, Circassian, Arab, Persian, Mongol, Greek, Armenian, Gypsy, Kurd, Slav, or Jew. They figure it comes down to Adam and Eve in the end. Back to this topic... If you become a Muslim Armenian amidst Lebanese Muslim brothers and sisters, then maybe a few centuries years later you will have a "Lebanese" great great ... granddaughter with a curly yellow haired baby brother wondering who her great great ... grandfather might have been. Other than that, speaking as a Muslim who has in a real sense come "full circle", I can understand your belief in Islam. However, you do not need to alienate friends and family in order to worship God in your heart, no matter what language that worship takes. You may consider me "Muslim lite" on account of my Turkishness, or whatever, but you must know that you would be lacking in your own humility if you made such a judgement. And, if there is anything that Islam necessitates, that is Humility. An interesting thing this Humility is. The moment that a person becomes certain of his own humility, he immediately loses it. You clearly love your heritage, your family, your brethren. This is a very good thing, and it is also commendable in a Muslim. Whatever is the right religion, it will not ask you to alienate your family, your heritage, to whom you owe so much. Then what does it mean, "the right religion"? Is it a matter of the name of the religion, or rather in the way that you breathe as you pray? Is it possible that one who says "Hallelujah" with the right breath is truly praying correctly while the one who says "Bismillahirahmanirahim" with the wrong breath is not? It is true that "Bismillahirahmanirahim" has a certain rhythm, flow that is difficult to get wrong. But, it is not some kind of abracadabra just to say it. After all, I can program my computer to say it. About that which is Armenian and that which is Muslim: Although my family is from Konya of the Mevlevis, it was only last year that I chanced upon seeing the Dervishes whirl. And, it was only by an unlikely timing of chance. Prior to witnessing them, my mind was superbly cluttered. But, when you see the Dervishes Whirl, your mind dares not utter a single thought to interrupt the moment. There is such a perfect peace in that prayer, you are incapable of disrespect. My mind, soul, body was cleansed. In the "Color of Pomegrenates" the boy who so much resembled my brother wore a hat and flowing outfit, not unlike those whose whirls I so lately witnessed. He is a Christian boy, and a Dervish yet.