“I was born a Buddhist, because my parents were Buddhists. I used to ask them a lot about this issue (religion); but I was in a Buddhist society, and everyone was a Buddhist, for instance, at the school. I started to investigate about religion when I was 12”, said the newly-converted Thai woman.

“I’m a thinker, and would like to sit alone thinking. First,I’d like to think about God, then, I want to learn more about Prophet Muhammad. Unfortunately, I don’t know much about the Prophet, but I have a big love for him. I wish I knew more about him”, added the lady.

The newly-converted Muslim woman continued: “As I said before, I didn’t have an enlightening teacher to guide me. Later on, when I started reading on Shia Islam, I found that you have clerics whom you respect. Little by little, I realized that true Islam comes from knowing the Ahl al-Bait (Prophet’s Infallible Household)”.

“When my daily prayers finish, I open the prayer book, which a Shia cleric gave me. I see Imam Reza in that book a lot. Although I don’t know much about him yet, I decided to recite Imam Reza’s prayer every time after my prayers. After that, I recite Imam Mahdi’s prayer, which salutes Mashhad”, said the Thai woman.

She maintained that many people had asked her to pray for them in the shrine, but she was shy. “Who am I to pray for them; I can do it, but I’d like other pilgrims who come here recite Imam Reza’s prayer”.

“When I’m in the shrine, I sit talking to Imam Reza. Sometimes, when I’m alone at home, I think of Imam Reza and burst into tears with no reason. I feel myself very close to him, but I’m far. Sometimes, your body is close, but the heart isn’t. I’d like my heart to be close to the Imam. I’d like to feel Ahl al-Bait’s love in my heart”, concluded she.