Transformation: Norma’s Story

For years Norma thought she was practicing Islam. Having been married to an Arab man, and immersed in his culture, she never questioned what she learned or how she lived as a Muslim. Until her incarceration, that is, and her admission into the Tayba Program.

“Everything has changed,” she shares, through mail correspondence with Tayba facilitators. 

“After almost 15 years of what I called practicing Islam, I came to find out the many shortcomings that I had, and still have now”  

Norma details the many ways the Covid-19 lockdown was beneficial to her studying while incarcerated, and how it led to her gaining a new-found closeness to Allah. She began studying hadith, Quran, and even the Arabic language. Norma credits her studies to a better, more wholesome character. She no longer harbors anger, resentment, or ill-will towards those who have wronged her, which has led to her having a more calm and approachable demeanor. 

“My way to see others, and even react towards their attitudes was changed,” she explains. 

She has learned through her studies to place Allah foremost in her affairs and maintains an “every second” relationship with Him, while navigating the turmoil of penitentiary life. 

Norma is the only Muslim in her unit, and tries her best to maintain communication with Muslims in other units, though it is not an easy process. She looks forward to Ramadan, when socializing between Muslim groups is allowed. During this time she can gain knowledge as well as spread the knowledge she has gained though her studies with Tayba Foundation. 

Norma shares that the most difficult part of being a Muslim woman behind bars is living with those who not only believe differently than she does, but often times are associated with dark arts or evil. She also describes instances of harassment by other inmates, simply for being a Muslim. 

She recounts the story of when she discovered a different Muslim sect behind bars, and the division they intended to create between herself and another woman who expressed  interest in learning about Islam. Norma and three other women inquiring about Islam were attacked in the prison Chapel, which resulted in certain ones of them being sent to solitary confinement. One of whom was the woman who had grown close to Norma in her search for Islam. 

Norma feared that this woman would be disgusted by what happened and blame it on Islam. Norma  prayed constantly for Allah to not allow this woman to turn away from seeking the truth. When she finally met the woman again, she was overcome with shock to see her state. She had become so thin,  and Norma was moved to tears, seeing her in this way. She longed to hug the woman, but was paralyzed by emotion. The woman, made the first move and embraced Norma, saying to her,

“What did you think? That I was going to let shaytan win?” 

As they embraced one another, they cried uncontrollably, knowing that Allah had answered both of their prayers – that she be guided, and not turned away from the truth she was seeking. Norma calls this woman “a passionate flower of Islam,”as she became Muslim, began wearing hijab, learning Arabic, and more about Islam. 

Norma remains forever grateful for that experience, for even though it began in a bad way, it manifested a beautiful friendship, a Muslim connection, and more than anything else proved to her the power of steadfastness and dua.