Women at The Cross Road To Islam - Master - Female - 02

# In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
I bear witness that there is no deity worth worship except Allah (The True God and Creator a
Sustainer of this Universe) and I bear Witness that Mohammad is His Servant and Messeng
Afterwards,
In 1930, Dr. Sir Mohd. IQBAL, the well known Urdu and Persian poet and Islamic Philosoph
expressed the need of publishing a book, in which the stories of all those who had converted to Isl
in India be recorded. He said that it would give a new boost to the cause of Islamic propagation.
He was asked, if there are not already books that express the logic and truth of Islam and are th
insufficient, the noted scholar said:
“Yes they are more than sufficient, but you would get so many new points from such a book that y
will be amazed. I think there are different ways to impress the heart and mind. Many times br
rejects the most potent of the arguments, but the hearts gets impressed by a very small incident
some very small point and grads the mind also.
Conversion to Islam is al related to brain as it is to the heart. A muslim missionary must know w
are the darts that affect heart. There are so many tales of unbelievers coming to Islam thru out t
history. We see a person standing firm on his religion for many decades, yet a small point and a sm
acts of kindness, sweeps him away from his feet and he makes the most momentous decision of
life.
You have many logical arguments to prove the truth of Islam, but if you go to a new Muslim and a
him, what impressed him about Islam and what were the points which impressed him. If you have
book form, stories of a large number of such people, it would be a very powerful tool in the hands
Muslim missionaries. Many new arguments of truth of Islam will come out, which might not
available in the vast Islamic literature we have”
So many books have been written for past few decades on the true stories of new converts of Islam
have compiled about 250 of them and abridged them to be between 6000-8000 words for ease
reading and to be posted in many shared channels on Internet and distribution thru e-mails etc.
People might agree or disagree with some of points mentioned here. But these are perso
experiences and personal reasons of these people who accepted Islam of their own free will. Some
them suffered much about this new faith. What kept them firm to their faith varies from one person
another person.
I pray to Allah to accept this effort and make it useful for those who read it and share it with oth
people.
M.U. Qidwai
Jubail, Saudi Arabia
PS: These are stories of New Muslim Women’ only which are presented separately from t
combined list of New Muslims and was posted recently on SCRIBD.
1 Why I Became Muslim?
ASIYA ABD, AUSTRALIA
I have always, since developing an ability to think deeply, believed in the existence of a single Creat
on whom every thing that exists is dependent. Though my parents are Buddhist, from the age of 13,
have steadfastly prayed to the creator and asked for guidance every day that I can remember.. Being
schooled within a Christian environment, I naturally identified myself as a Christian.
Sadly my knowledge of Islam was minimal. I perceived it as a bizarre religion, limited only to a few
underdeveloped nations, most of which were in ME. It endorsed a suppressive life-style, particularly
for women. Muslim women I presumed were inferior, a passive domestic slave, bashed often and
forced to compete among four or more of her husband’s affection.
I got all these ideas from hearsay and TV documentaries shown in our country.
As I entered University, I came into contact with quite a number of Muslim students from various
backgrounds. I was drawn to them and developed a curious inclination to learn and understand more
about their religion.
I observed how content they seemed and their openness and warmth towards myself and each other.
gradually became fascinated with Islam and thru a process of education, developed a greater respect
for it than by beloved Christianity.
I was stunned at how wrong my previous conceptions had been and became particularly overwhelme
at various entitlements, equality and acknowledgement Islam provided for women.
I wanted to know everything about Islam and …by sheer grace of God, I at last understood the faults
of Christian theology and of the concepts which I previously accepted. At Midday on August 1994,
before over 20 witnesses, I recited the SHAHADA and became a Muslim.
I shall never forget the bliss of that day and how much my life is turned around in only a year’s time
I have been often asked what it is like to be a revert and of the difficulties I must endure… I do not
want pity, but I give few examples.
The initial period was by far the hardest. Family disputes took place almost daily, I was showered
with verbal abuse, ridicule and threats…On many occasions my room was torn apart…there have be
times when I was locked out of home and forced to abstain from dinner as pork was deliberately
served…Even to this day all my mail is opened.
I cannot perform my prayers until I am sure no one is around… I must defend the Muslims and Islam
portrayed on the media and fight against the stereotypes.
However I do not claim to have a miserable life. I am more content and at peace now than I ever hav
been….From this religion, I have gained a profound insight into the operations of human behavior an
sociology.
(Abridged) Source:: Islamic review (Quoted in DAWAH INT. PAK. NOV 1996)
MRS. ARCHANA AMIT (MOMINA TABASSUM), LUCKNOW INDIA.
It happened on 29 Nov. 2003. I was on a bus going from Kanpur to Lucknow. In hurry, I did not ke
enough money in my purse. I had my little daughter in my lap. When the conductor came and asked
for money, it fell short by 6 Rupees. I was at loss to say anything. The conductor was shouting at m
to pay up or get down immediately. Every one else was silent and watching me intently. Suddenly a
gentleman from the front seat asked the conductor, what was reason for all this shouting, he produce
a 10 Rupee note and gave a it to conductor to settle the amount.
When the bust stopped at Lucknow, I proceeded to thank the gentleman, he was of the age of my
father, he consoled me and said that these things do happen and then he even paid me for Cycle
Rickshaw fare to reach to my home (which I intended to walk initially). When I reached home, I tol
my Husband AMIT, what transpired in the bus. He asked me why I had not taken the name or Tel.
number of the gentleman, so we could repay him and express our gratitude.
I was always on the lookout, whenever I went to market, so as to see the gentleman somewhere. On
day I found him out and pointed to my husband. We met him and expressed our thanks for his kind
acts…
When I asked him to accept the money which he spent on me, he initially refused, but accepted on o
insistence on the condition that we must visit him at the earliest. We went to his house and for the fi
time I felt that I had come to my brother’s house (I had no real brother or sister). His wife welcomed
me and we had lots of talk and a wonderful meal. When we parted, his wife gave me a packet to be
opened after reaching our home. It contained a dress from me and one for my daughter too,
Well after that AMIT was always looking forward to meet him…whenever he returned he would rel
to me some act of kindness which the gentle man or his wife did to poor (irrespective of his being
Muslim or Non Muslim.
A strange change was coming on us. We removed all the photos and Idols from our house and stopp
going to temples altogether. AMIT was getting some books from the gentleman which both of us we
reading with interest.
Finally one day, we asked him, how long will we continue like that? He asked us to wait for some
more time. What if our time of death came? Asked AMIT and the gentleman became very quite.
So after four months, we were transferred from Lucknow to Ghaziabad and we decided to start a new
life in a new city. We became Muslim, I took the name, AMINA TABASSUM, AMIT became
ABDUL KARIM & our daughter SAMTA AZIM.
We still have very good relationship with the gentleman (who was indeed a Doctor from Azamgarh)
and we visit each other and exchange gifts.
Some times I think…what would have happened to me if I had enough money to pay for my ticket o
that fateful Nov month of 2003? Was it coincidence or was Allah making provisions for me?
(abridged)
The Introduction and Decision (Testimony of Aminah Assilmi)
"I couldn't be a Muslim! I was American and white!"
I was completing a degree in Recreation, when I met my first Muslims. It was the first year that we h
been able to pre-register by computer. I pre-registered and went to Oklahoma to take care of some
family business. .
Now, you need to understand that while I was attending college and excelling, ran my own business,
and had many close friends, I was extremely shy. My transcripts actually had me listed as severely
reticent. I was very slow to get to know people and rarely spoke to anyone unless was forced to, or
already knew them.
Well, back to the story. The computer printout held one enormous surprise for me. I was registered f
a Theatre class...
When I entered the classroom, I received my second shock. The class was full of 'Arabs' and 'camel
jockeys'. Well, I had never seen one but I had heard of them…There was no way I was going to sit in
room full of dirty heathens! After all, you could catch some dreadful disease from those people.
Everyone knew they were dirty, not to be trusted either.
When I told my husband about the Arabs in the class and that there was no way I was going back, he
responded in his usual calm way. He reminded that I was always claiming that God had a reason for
everything and maybe I should spend some time thinking about it before I made my final decision…
For the next two days, I prayed for guidance. On Thursday I went back to the class convinced that G
had put me there to save those poor ignorant heathens from the fires of hell.
I proceeded to explain to them how they would burn in the fires of hell for all eternity, if they did no
accept Jesus as their personal savior. They were very polite, but did not convert. Then, I explained h
Jesus loved them and had died on the cross to save them from their sins. All they had to do was acce
him into their hearts. They were very polite, but still did not convert. So, I decided to read their own
book to show them that Islam was a false religion and Mohammed was a false God.
One of the students gave me a copy of the Quran and another book about Islam, and I proceeded wit
my research. I was sure I would find the evidence I needed very quickly. Well, I read the Quran and
the other book. Then I read another 15 books, Sahih Muslim and returned to the Quran. I was
determined I would convert them! My studies continued for the next one and half years.
During that time, I started having a few problems with my husband. I was changing, just in little way
but enough to bother him. We used to go to the bar every Friday and Saturday, or to a party, and I no
longer wanted to go. I was quieter and more distant. He was sure I was having an affair, so he kicked
me out. I moved into an apartment with my children and continued my determined efforts to convert
the Muslims to Christianity.
The, one day, there was a knock on my door. I opened the door and saw a man in a long white night
gown with a red and white checkered table cloth on his head. He was accompanied by three men in
pajamas. ….His name was Abdul-Aziz Al-Shiek and he made the time. He was very patient and
discussed every question with me. He never made me feel silly or that a question was stupid. He ask
me if I believed there was only one God and I said yes. Then he asked if I believed Mohammed was
His Messenger. Again I said yes. He told me that I was already a Muslim….
We continued talking. Later, he explained that attaining knowledge and understanding of spirituality
was a little like climbing a ladder. If you climb a ladder and try to skip a few rungs, there was dange
of falling. The Shahadah was just the first step on the ladder. Still we had to talk some more.
Later that afternoon, May 21, 1977 at Asr', I took Shahadah. However, there were still some things I
could not accept and it was my nature to be completely truthful so I added a disclaimer. I said: "I bea
witness that there is no god but God and Mohammed is His Messenger" 'but, I will never cover my
hair and if my husband takes another wife, I will castrate him.'
I heard gasps from the other men in the room, but Abdul Aziz silenced them. Later I learned that he
told the brothers never to discuss those two subjects with me. He was sure I would come to the corre
understanding.
When I first started to study Islam, I did not expect to find anything that I needed or wanted in my
personal life. Little did I know that Islam would change my life. No human could have ever convinc
me that I would finally be at peace and overflowing with love and joy because of Islam.
How Islam changed my Life
When I first embraced Islam, I really did not think it was going to affect my life very much. Islam d
not just affect my life. It totally changed it.
Family life: My husband and I loved each other very deeply. That love for each other still exists. Sti
when I started studying Islam, we started having some difficulties. He saw me changing and did not
understand what was happening. Neither did I. But then, I did not even realize I was changing. He
decided that the only thing that could make me change was another man. There was no way to make
him understand what was changing me because I did not know.
After I realized that I was a Muslim, it did not help matters. After all...the only reason a woman
changes something as fundamental as her religion is another man. He could not find evidence of this
other man...but he had to exist. We ended up in a very ugly divorce. The courts determined that the
unorthodox religion would be detrimental to the development of my children. So they were removed
from my custody.
Friends: Most of my friends drifted away during that first year. I was no fun anymore. I did not wan
to go to parties or bars. I was not interested in finding a boyfriend. All I ever did was read that 'stupid
book (the Qur'an) and talk about Islam. What a bore. I still did not have enough knowledge to help
them understand why Islam was so beautiful.
Employment: My job was next to go. While I had won just about every award there was in my field
and was recognized as a serious trend setter and money maker, the day I put on Hijab, was the end o
my job. Now I was without a family, without friends and without a job.
In all this, the first light was my grandmother. She approved of my choice and joined me. What a
surprise! I always knew she had a lot of wisdom, but this! She died soon after that. When I stop to
think about it, I almost get jealous. The day she pronounced Shahadah, all her misdeeds had been
erased, while her good deeds were preserved. She died so soon after accepting Islam that I knew her
'BOOK' was bound to be heavy on the good side. It fills me with such joy!
Rather than try to tell you about how each person came to accept Islam, let me simply say that more
members of my family continue to find Islam every year. I was especially happy when a dear friends
Brother Qaiser Imam, told me that my ex-husband took Shahdah. When Brother Qaiser asked him
why, he said it was because he had been watching me for 16 years and he wanted his daughter to hav
what I had. He came and asked me to forgive him for all he had done. I had forgiven him long before
that.
Now my oldest son, Whittney, has called, as I am writing this book, and announced that he also wan
to become Muslim. He plans on taking the Shahadah as the ISNA Convention in a couple of weeks.
For now, he is learning as much as he can. Allah is The Most Merciful.
True, Allah has tested me, as was promised, and rewarded me far beyond what I could ever have
hoped for. A few years ago, the doctors told me I had cancer and it was terminal. They explained tha
there was no cure, it was too far advanced, and proceeded to help prepare me for my death by
explaining how the disease would progress. I had maybe one year left to live. I was concerned about
my children, especially my youngest. Who would take care of him? Still I was not depressed. We mu
all die. I was confident that the pain I was experiencing contained Blessings. (Abridged)
4 Why We Became Muslims:
(Stories of New Entrants to Islam, thru Missionary Activities of MAULANA KALIM UDDIN of Village PHULAT
MUZAFFARNAGAR, India)
Note: These are stories from India, the local color is predominant, some points may seem strange to those who are
not familiar with Indian social life.
The Case of: ANJU DEVI (AMINA) RISHI KESH, INDIA
A. Family Background:
01. I was born the most idolatrous country of the world (India) in its most idolatrous center (RISHI
KESH). My father was running one of the four biggest ashrams in that place. He is well known to
Hindus thru out India. I was born on 20 April 1985. I have one elder brother and sister.
I got my education in English medium school (run by my father’s trust) and then I did by BSC and th
year I shall finish my MSC.
B. How and Why I accepted Islam:
02. It seems unthinkable that a girl in my situation would ever come or know about Islam, but Allah
works in miraculous way. It so happened that one Hindu women with her young daughter came to o
Ashram, they were lured to a secluded spot and both mother and daughter were raped by employees
our Ashram.
This incident shocked me to the core, I told my father that our Ashram should be burned along with
for allowing this to happen. I stopped going to prayers in the Ashram.
03. One night I dreamt that I am being chased by two SADHUS and I am running for my life and
honor. I saw a mosque with doors opened, I entered there and one Muslim Scholar said to me, not to
worry as now I am safe.
When I wake up, I decided that my honor is a t risk in the Ashram and I must look for Muslims to sa
me. I decided to phone someone at random, if it was picked by a Hindu, I shall remain Hindu, if it w
picked by a Muslim, I shall become Muslim.
04. I prayed to God sincerely to guide me which is truth and best for me. The random number that I
dialed was picked up by a Muslim. He said that he lived in a village in MUZAFAFRNAGAR. I told
that I want to become Muslim. He asked about my whereabouts and said how a girl with my positio
could live with them.
I told I will live with every one if they take me out of here….he then introduced me to Maulana Kali
and he told me to recite Islamic creed on phone itself. Then he asked me to come to PHULAT, so I
could be taken care of.
05. I was married to the son of that Muslim man whom I phoned than I went to Meerut and complete
all official formalities needed for change of religion in India.
I was very happy with the family of Maulana and my in-laws. They were poor but they treated me
more than their own daughter.
C: What was reaction of spouse , parents, family and society:
06. My father reported my absence to the local police and some one informed them of my presence i
My new place. Police came and arrested my father in law. I asked him to jump from the vehicle as
have to face lone what came next.
07. I was tortured by my family members and even by ladies police to come back to Hinduism. I had
read the incidents of early Muslims how they were tortured for their faith and how they stood firm.
My own mother tried to strangle me , my brother beat me, I was also poisoned, but Allah gave me
strength and I told that I accepted Islam by own free will. You can kill me, but you cannot take away
Islam from me and now I am married to a Muslim and I will never marry to another man.
D. How I saved my Islam:
08. In the end, they could not turn me away from my faith. My father consulted the members of his
Ashram and they told that such a girl cannot live in the Ashram. It is best if she be quietly sent away
to her in-laws and to forget the whole episode.
Accordingly my father asked my father in law to take me away. They came to a mid way place and
was handed over to them. The whole village came out to receive me and I was given much honor th
day.
E. My Missionary activities:
2. On Parents.
09. I am in contact with my father and he phones and some times come to meet me. I have not yet
presented Islam to him, but I am praying Allah to open their hearts for Islam. It all depends on Allah
will
3. On Family members / Others.
10. When I was being tortured one of my aunt took pity on my situation. She told me to stay firm an
said that surely my religion is truth.
I was much impressed by that and while I was coming, I asked her to become Muslim too to save he
from the hell fire. She recited Islamic creed in front of me, Alhamdolillah.
F. Present Situation:
11. I am living in village and very busy in teaching Islam to women there. It has made a lot of
difference and many women have started to pray regularly and work their lives in Islamic way.
G. My advice to Muslims / Non Muslims.
12. I heard Maulana to say that Allah has decided to enter Islam in every house, hut or skyscraper. I
Muslims do not fulfill their trust, then Allah is not handicapped because of these Muslims.
He will get His work done one way or another. By people who are not in the fold of Islam now.
(Translated from Vernacular Urdu and abridged)

Source: Monthly ARMAGHAN of June 2008
AMIRAH , USA
The first time I seen a Muslim was while I was in college at the University of Arkansas. I will admit
that at first I stared at the women in their different clothing and the men with the towels wrapped
around their heads and wearing night gowns. But the first time I had the opportunity to know a
Muslim lady that I felt comfortable in asking questions, it started a thirst in my heart and soul that w
never be quenched.
I was born in Arkansas to Christian parents…I was raised here all my life on a farm, where you get u
in the morning, milk cows, feed the chickens and do the rest of chores. My father was a Baptist
minister…the town that I lived in was completely white raced and all Christians.
So I had never been exposed to any other culture or religion. But I had been always taught that we
were all created equal in the eyes of God, and that there was no difference in race, color, culture or
religious practices. Later I discovered that this was easy for them to preach as long as they stayed
closed minded.
I will never forget her, she was from Palestine and I could sit for hours listening to stories about her
country and the culture. But what intrigued me most was her religion, Islam. This lady had an inner
peace around her, like no one I had ever seen…
My friend did every thing she could to convince me that Islam was the only true religion that would
take me to heaven and that it was not just another religion. It was a way of life.
My friend graduated six months later and returned to Palestine. She was killed two weeks later outsi
her home. I was devastated, it was like a part of me had died with her..
After I left college and returned to my country, I did not have the honor to be around Muslims any
longer. But the thirst had never left nor had my love and desire for Arabic language…
Then in the spring of 1995, Allah brought someone into my life. This person was such a wonderful
example of what a Muslim should be and what Islam was about that once again I started to ask
questions. I was even taken to my first visit to Mosque.
For 8 months I studied everything he could possibly find me and read and listened to tapes. Then on
Feb. 15, 1996 I officially embraced Islam….
When I embraced Islam, my family first tried to have me committed to a mental hospital, when that
did not work, they completely disowned me. They did make calls to me to tell me that they hoped I
rotted in hell…Yes this hurts, even though my family and I have many differences, I love them deep
The last time I spoke to my family was two days after the bombing in Saudi Arabia. My uncle and
cousin were killed in the bombing….my family called be to tell me that their blood was on my head
and all my terrorist friends…I cried for days, but my faith stood strong…
Then some one painted my car side with Slogan TERRORIST LOVER…during the night I heard
gunshots and they broke all my windows and killed all my pets…Police told that unless I give positi
identification, they are helpless…
Then I was once attacked in a Parking lot, I was beaten, my writs was broken and some ribs fracture
The town I live in is a very small and there is no other Muslim even close. The nearest mosque is 12
Miles away…
I am not writing this story in the hope of gaining pity. I do ask that every one continue to pray for m
and every one reading this story be rest assured that Allah will never let you down. But the injustice
and prejudices that we Muslims face in United states has got to come to an end…
(Abridged) Source:: Islamic Voice Feb. 1998, p22

AMINA JENIAT, USA
I was born in LA state of USA in 1956. My parents were devout Catholics, we later moved to Florid
where I completed my education and joined modeling profession. I got married and had three
children. Our financial position was very good and apparently I had no worry in the world so to say.
But I was not feeling happy, I was missing something. In my childhood days I was attracted to
religion and had memorized many passages of the Bible. I left modeling and joined University to do
further studies, I was 30 years at that time.
In my class there were many African American and many Muslims also. I had very bad opinion abo
Muslims, and used to equate Muslims with hate, violence and terrorism. I thought may be God has
commissioned me to save these wretched Muslims.
But I used to observe that these Muslim students were different from other students. They did not m
freely with girls and would shun any party where alcohol was to be served. Whenever I used to
explain to them beauties of Christianity, they would smile and keep quite. I was frustrated in my
efforts to convert any of them.
Then I thought, let me study about Islam, then I would present to them the mistakes of Islam. On the
outset, I did not notice any of the qualities with which Christian writers and priests associate Muslim
with. I started reading English translation of Quran. I was surprised that it provided answers to all
question which rise in the mind. On the other hand Bible leaves many doubts and questions
unanswered.
I studied more about Islam and discussed it with Muslims students, I discovered that Islam really is
totally different from what is projected in Western Press and Media. When the truth was manifest to
me, I declared my new faith on 22 May 1977.
Now my trial period started.. My husband who loved me left me and I had left to parent the two
children….I lost my job because my firm did not like my conversion to new faith….then US family
court decided that if I want to parent my children I have to leave Islam and come back to Christianity
I had to surrender custody of my children.
I had only one support in this period of trial….My Allah ….My God….I used to prey him all the tim
to help me overcome all these trails and give me a way out. I busied myself in the missionary work
Islam and soon married a Moroccan Muslim, who was Imam in a local Mosque and used to recite
Quran in a most beautiful voice and manner.
Well I gave birth to a son from this new marriage, who is now 10 years old and very handsome….
I have established many Women study circles where we discuss the rights and duties which Islam
gives to women. Many US women are wonderstruck when they discover how much honor, right and
protection Islam provides to them. I praise Allah that he has blessed me with converting many Wom
and men to Islam.
One last word….My old family is coming closer to Islam….the eldest son accepted Islam and took t
name Farook. (abridged)
ALEXANDRA (FATIMA) KRICKLER, AUSTRIA
I was born into a Roman Catholic family in Austria, my mother was a firm believer, my father was a
atheist and had no respect towards religion From a very young age, my mother told me about God a
I developed a deep love for Him ..
Growing up, I turned into a rebel, My parents had little control over me and were unable to provide m
with guidance. At the age of 15, I traveled to Turkey and this was my first contact with an Islamic
culture. I loved the Blue Mosque in Istanbul and I spent hours there just relaxing..
After completing my A-level, I decided to continue with my education and join university. I was no
sure what subjects to take but I decided to take Social Anthropology and Arabic. During my studies,
received grants which allowed me to travel to Egypt and Sudan and gather data for my PHD thesis
about the colloquial Arabic of Khartoum and Omdurman.
During these stays in Muslim countries , I felt very much at home. I loved the way people cared abo
other people even in crowded cities like Cairo. I felt very close to Islam and I was longing to becom
one, but only after I changed for the better.
After finishing my Ph. D. I left Vienna and went to Sudan…from there I took a train to Cairo and the
went to Jerusalem. I went to see a person who lived at Mount of Olives and there I decided to becom
Muslim.
My parents were not delighted at my choice, but did not put hindrances in my path. The most difficu
thing was to meet old friends who would find it impossible that I had changed.
After another year, I married an English Muslim convert and came to England to live with him and
since then we have been blessed with three lovely children by Allah the Most gracious.
For me the power of Islam lies in Quran and the example of noble prophet, what convinced me was n
a dogma or a set of facts but the sheer power of Islam to turn my life around.
An old myth about Islam is that it takes the freedom away from women. ‘What Freedom”? I ask. In
my so called free days I was dependent on so many things, from cigarettes to drugs to the attention o
men. Only now I feel that I am totally free and respected., dependent only on God and he is the best
friends.
I say that the worst thing you can do is try to convince other people about Islam, as it just shows them
that you are not sure yourself and it makes a problem between you and others because people do not
want to hear about God or religion, if their hearts are closed. If they ask you, tell them about it, but
never indulge in preaching to the ones who do not wish to hear….
(Abridged) Source:: The MWL Journal Jan-Feb 199, p23-24

BEGUM AMINA LAKAHANI, OHIO, USA
When a western women like myself turns towards Islam, the road is long and sometimes difficult…
The western culture uses its women towards its own goal. TV Commercials are indented with lesson
that teach everyone what they must desire. A slim figure seems essential because the clothing
advertised exposes everything on a western woman.
There are books by millions, about how to be a sex symbol, how to make friends….the system feeds
upon itself. Such was my thinking before coming to Islam.
When I approached Islam, first by reading the Quran and then by studying Islam, I wondered at its
simplicity. Life in the western culture is so endlessly complicated by false needs and desires.
At first Islam seems to be unintelligible to a westerner simply because we are always taught that the
life must befilled with self gratification and self seeking pleasure…
Islam is more logical yet it contradicts every thing that I was ever taught. When one spends an entire
lifetime demanding self-abuse in the name of freedom, the prospect of a life dedicated to Allah, inste
of selfish desires, becomes frightening as well as exciting.
The mere notion that there is a better way, is difficult to accept, because we are always taught that th
western way is the only way….Therefore the first step towards Islam requires courage and convictio
Islam is a total life system that enjoins respect for the purity of life. It insures purity of family life as
well as purity of the individual. A woman is a special individual in the eyes of Allah and not just a
produce for commercialization….A Muslim woman is a respected member of the Muslim communit
contributing in a positive way to family and community life…
Muslim woman must be stronger and more confident than other woman. To be a Muslim living in
western world today is a great responsibility, but the rewards may be blessing for all mankind.
I am proud of being a Muslim woman because only in Islam are Allah’s blessings so bountiful…
(Abridged) Source:: Yaqeen International Pakistan July 7-22, 1991 Page 47

9 Why be became Muslims?
Mrs. ÂMINA MOSLER (German)
Why did I become a Muslim?
My son was asking me various questions, and I was unable to answer them. When he asked me, for
instance, “Mummy, why are there three gods?” I was at a loss as to what to say because I myself did
not believe in trinity, and yet I could not find another answer to convince him. Eventually, it was
sometime during the year 1346 [C.E. 1928], and my son had reached a mature age, when, one day, m
son came to me, his eyes welling up with tears. He begged, “Mummy, I have been studying Islam.
They believe in one creator. Their religion is the truest one. So I have decided to become a Muslim.
Join me!”
Upon his request, I, too, began to study the Islamic religion. I went to the Berlin mosque. The imam
the mosque gave me a cordial welcome and told me the essentials of Islam. As he spoke, I saw how
right and logical his words were. Like my son, I, too, began to believe in the fact that Islam was the
truest religion.
First of all, Islam rejected trinity, which I had never been able to understand or accept since my yout
After examining Islam thoroughly, I realized the absurdity of such things as redemption, looking on
the pope as an innocent being never prone to sin, baptism and many other rites of the same sort, I
rejected all these falsities and embraced Islam.
All my ancestors were fanatical Catholics. I was raised in a Catholic monastery. I grew up totally
under Christian education. Yet this sheer religious education that I had received helped me to choose
the true religion that would guide me to Allah.
For, all the good things that I had been taught throughout my education I found not in Christianity, b
in Islam. I am so lucky to have accepted Islam.
Today I am a grandmother. I am so happy because my grandchild has been born as a Muslim. I know
that Allah will always guide those people whom He has brought to the right way.
AN AMERICAN MUSLIMAH (NAME WITHELD), USA
I am a 17 year old Caucasian American girl who happens to be a Muslim, not by birth, but my own
choice. I converted from Catholicism to Islam 2 years ago
I am mainly writing this because many Muslims in America feel that many of our fellow Americans
associate our peaceful religion with hatred and slavery of the women!
I can say that after intense research for a couple of years on all religions, I felt closest to Allah (God)
when I read the Quran and read about Islam, a feeling that Christianity could not give me. That is w
I converted.
I must admit that it is very hard going from ‘free wheeling’ typical American life style to one of
praying, modesty and spiritual freedom. Islam is a fairly simple religion, with a few rules, but the
rules you must follow as best you can….
As Muslims we respect and we believe in Moses, Abraham, Jesus, the Virgin Mary and also the last
prophet that God sent to the earth…
Sadly there are many false rumors about Islam, for some reason or other people tend to prefer these
false rumors to the truth..
In fact Islam is one of the first religions to give women equality…You may be wondering why Musl
women wear the scarves to cover their hairs and dress in loose clothing. In the Quran, Allah tells tha
girls past puberty should cover their beauty and body from men who are not their close relatives….
Did you know that majority of Muslims are not Arab! It is a common belief that Muslims are all Ara
In reality majority of Arabs are Muslims, but many are Jewish and also Christians. Indonesians and
South East Asians make up the majority of Muslims, and Islam is one of the fastest growing religion
America…
Islam is not the religion of terror, blood or hatred of its women, but a thoughtful. Peaceful, modest
religion that gets us closer to our Creator, Allah
(Abridged) Source:: The Islamic Voice May 1998 p 22 bailyverous17@hotmail.com

AMNAH, USA
Note: This story is converted from a third person narrative to first person to match with other
posts. The events are correct however.
I belong to a comfortable middle class family in Southern California. After graduation, I married a
Syrian Muslim student and moved to Syria. There I desperately tried to understand Islam and its
tenets.
I asked those around her about Islam, surprisingly my husband did not like my interest in Islam and
even rebuked me.
Growing up in America had ingrained upon me that various religions are in fact different paths to
reach to the same goal, a person chooses one that suits him, or he does not choose at all.
I found the literature on Islam in English insufficient and the translations of Quran seemed baffling,
the only way to comprehend was to simply learn the language.
The faith came slowly to me, I prayed to God that if He was true, He would make Himself known to
me. I realized that Quran indeed was an inspired book and a guidance for whole humankind.
The next logical step was for me to accept Islam, but when I realized the responsibilities of a true
Muslim, I hesitated. I was torn between the desire to live according to God’s law and the fear that I
would not be able to do so. I prayed, fasted and even gave ZAKAT, but I felt that if I did not declare
my faith, I will not be held accountable.
After two years of Arabic course and another thru private tutors, I could struggle thru reading the
Quran with the assistance of dictionaries and commentaries. Gradually I began to understand that w
are just as much responsible for what we neglect to do.
At that moment, I was ready to declare my faith. I did not knew what would the ceremony would be
like, what the Imam would ask me, I tried to prepare myself for many questions… It was so surprisin
to me that the ceremony was so simple and was over in a few minutes. I had become Muslim after 1
years.
Since that time I have done much more study on Islam and have even written some books in Arabic
help Arabic speaking Non Muslims appreciate and make use of guidance that God placed within the
easy reach….
(Abridged) Source:: The Islamic Voice, Bangalore, Nov 1996, p18

AIYESHA ONG, BUDDHIST MALAYSIA
I was born as a Buddhist but I was not taught any thing about Buddhism, its teaching or its principals
All I know about Buddhism was following my parents to the temples during festive seasons…We us
Joss sticks to prey to the idols, or even colored disks with inscriptions on them.
When we prayed, we prayed for our own good, making up a very long ‘shopping list’.
In Malaysia, Chinese think they are superior. Most Chinese are either Buddhists or Christians and
there is very small minority who are Muslims. These Chinese Muslims are looked down upon.
All the Malays are Muslims and Chinese consider them as stupid and lazy. Therefore to associate w
any Malays was a terrible ‘sin’.
To the older generation of Chinese, Islam is only for Malays, and since all Malays are Muslims, Islam
is a stupid religion…
Because I was brought up in that society, I also accepted their ignorant way of thought. Because of
racial tension in my country, I did not trust any Malays and so my knowledge of Islam was practical
nil.
I was never a religious person at home, so when I came to England, I became an Atheist. All of my
friends were not religious either. All we were interested in was amusement and entertainment,
It was after two years in England and one broken marriage that I met a Muslim Malay. He gave me
few books on Islam and in order to please him I read them. I was very suspicious of Islam but I was
willing to learn and soon my interest grew.
Then one day I came across a copy of the book “Islam our Choice”, I read that book carefully and th
feelings of those brothers and sisters expressed in that book made a great impression on me..
What really impressed me most about Islam was its moral teachings. One must dress decently and
cover up one’s body. Another aspect of Islam that attracted me was cleanliness, which in Islam is ve
important. Cleaning after call of nature, and performing WUDU before going to prayer was natural
and very wise.
Against my parent's wishes, I became a Muslim after six month of studying the religion…I became a
Muslim because I believe in Allah as the only God and Mohammad is His prophet….
(Abridged) Source:: The Muslim (London) Oct-Nov 1974 Vol. 12 p 10-11

ANN ROCKFELLER, BRITAIN
Note: Ann , A British physician, worked at the Institute of Clinical Blood Research of London,
prior to her marriage to an Egyptian. She shifted from London to Cairo 18 years ago. Althoug
her Egyptian husband was indifferent towards Islam, she found the faith and accepted it.
“Prior to my coming to Egypt I knew nothing about Islam, but I was impressed by the good nature o
the Egyptian people and their tolerance.
When I came to Egypt, I realized the difference in the values that exist in the west and the values tha
prevail in Egypt and I jumped to the conclusion that Islam was the cause of this difference.
Although my husband is a Muslim, I heard no word from him about Islam and I never saw him
performing Islamic rituals. My husband did not know that I was performing Muslim, even five year
after I had become a Muslim (that is a average Broad Minded Modern Muslim for you – Ed.). When
he came to know that I had become a Muslim, he remained indifferent.
But gradually and slowly, I was able to influence both my daughter and my husband to become
practicing Muslims, and I thank God for that.
I regret that Westerners have a totally wrong concept about Islam and Muslims and that is due to wh
information they receive from the Western Media. I believe that most westerners have no antagonist
attitude towards Islam and they would be ready to accept Islam, if they are provided with correct
knowledge about it.
I have been trying to clarify Islamic principles to my relatives in England , the best way to preach
Islam is to behave well and to implant its values in the hearts of the new generations. The
responsibilities of Housewife is therefore very great, my own example with my husband and my son
and daughters is an example.
(Abridged) Source:: Riyadh Daily May 15,1998 p9

The Case of: AIYESHA , PANIPAT, HARYANA , INDIA
01. I was born in a Brahmin Family in Panipat, which is known to whole India. I have four brothers
and three sisters all elder to me.
In my village, there are a few houses of Muslims, but they are very weak economically and also
religiously. I doubt if they even know what is Islam.
02. I was educated in my village upto primary level and then my brothers tool me to Ludhiana for
further study. I passed High school and then Intermediate from there.
03. From my childhood I did not like religious rituals of my family. To me they just seemed like
dramas, something without any real emotions behind it.
I was studying in a Christian Missionary School. They gave us Bible to study, but I was not impresse
by it.
04. Once I passed by a mosque, where some religious function was in progress. There were a few
book stalls there. I bought some small booklets, that included small biography of prophet Mohamma
That impressed me much and then I read many books on Islam, unless I decided to become Muslim.
left my house and I did not know where to go and how to become Muslim. After asking so many
Muslims…. I was finally brought to PHULAT, where I accepted Islam and he gave me my Islamic
name.
05. I stayed there for few days and they took good care of me and treated me like one of their family
members.
I learned about Islam and how to recite Quran. After I had done that Maulana married me to a Musl
from Delhi.
06. He does the business of Import and Export….there were many ups and downs in his business and
seemed that it is the end. But Allah had mercy on us and his business survived. Now it is quite stab
and we are happy.
07. My family members searched for me. They even reported my loss to police. I had written them
letter that I am not running away from house, due to any love affair or things of that kind. I am in
search of truth and want to find it.
They searched for me and after some time gave up hope.
2. On Parents.
08. My father had died, when I was young. News reached to me that my mother is very sick, I was
very worried that she should not die as a Non Muslim.
I told my husband that I want to visit my dieing mother. I went there in full Islamic Hijab. My moth
saw me and started weeping…. After some time I told her about my Islam and how good is my
husband and his whole family.
09. After much pursuance she accepted them and what more…she read Islamic creed in the dead of
night in front of me … she died after a Month as a Muslim.
10. I am working on my brothers and sisters. Two of them like us and want to continue our
relationship.
The truth is , our family members are not so much against us, but it is the local people.
11. My husband is very active in the field of Islamic propagation and many people have accepted
Islam on his hand.
I have two sons and two daughters and they are undergoing Islamic education. I hope that they will
memorize whole Quran and be active in the Islamic Missionary works.
I left my home for the search of truth and Allah guided me to the truth. That is my message to all
Muslims / Non Muslims.
Source: Monthly ARMAGHAN of August 2009.

ANNA THOMAS (AMINA THOMAS) KERALA , INDIA
I was born in a Pentecostal Christian family in South India. My father was a Roman Catholic, but
when he saw so many statues and figures in Church,, and the way they are worshipped, then the way
priests and saints are treated, he changed from RC to Protestant Church. He is now a full time
missionary of the Church.
I was also an active member of Church and was a devout Christian. I was a missionary and member
Health Care Fellowship for Christians. It consisted of those medical people who would work in
remote places for propagation of Christianity.
During my study of Bible, I was puzzled a bout some of its teachings, Like Divinity of Christ, His
Resurrection after death, Contradictions in Bible, what is Word f God OT or NT. If both are world o
God, then why Christians do not act on OT teachings? The church teaches to have simple belief and
do not think too much.
Then the fact that Christianity is being decided in Councils and not on the teachings of Jesus also
puzzled me. When God did not allow Abraham to sacrifice his Only Son…then why God sacrificed
His Only Son Jesus Christ?
I was in this state of mind and knew nothing about Islam, when one of my friend gave me Two Book
“Muslim Christian Dialog” by M.A. Nabi and “Choice between Islam and Christianity” by Ahmed
Deedat. These two books caused revolution in my way of thinking. I learned that Islam itself means
peace and Muslims are not such as described in media.
In this condition, I got a job offer from Saudi Arabia and I went there. There I could see a Muslim
society in existence and I went on comparative study of Islam and Christianity in a serious way.
Despite books, audio video cassettes, talks with Newly converted Muslims helped me a lot. One of
them was Khadija Watson from USA who was working in theology department in one of the Americ
Universities.
After a long and careful study I got convinced that Islam is true religion. Its scripture is preserved i
its original condition and not like Bible which had suffered over the years.
I did not know how to prey or fast according o Islamic way, so I preyed to God to help me find the tr
path. I thought that I will not be able to do one month of fasting as Muslims do, so I tried a few fasts
in year 1421 AH. I found that fasting is not so difficult as it seems and I would be able to do it.
Then finally I accepted Islam in Saudi Arabia and Allah has given me strength to overcome all
problems that I faced from my family and friend circles. I am thankful to Allah that I am a practicing
Muslim today (abridged)
Testimony of Asiya Abd al-Zahir
I have always, since developing an ability to think deeply, believed in the existence of a single Creat
on whom everything that exists is dependent. Though my parents are Buddhist, from the age of 13, t
this Creator, I have steadfastly prayed and yielded guidance from every day that I can remember. Ye
being schooled within a Christian environment, I naturally identified myself as a Christian.
Sadly, my knowledge of Islam was minimal. I perceived it as a bizarre religion, limited to only a few
underdeveloped nations, most of which were in the Middle East, and which endorsed an astoundingl
suppressive lifestyle, particularly for women. Muslim women, I presumed, were considered inferior
passive domestic slave, bashed often and forced to compete among four for her husband's affections,
which he could withhold from them all if he wanted to. The majority of these ideas I developed from
hearsay, interactions with others I assumed knew what they were talking about and a few
documentaries on Iran and Saudi Arabia I watched on television.
As I entered university nearly three years ago, I came into contact with quite a number of Muslim
students from various backgrounds. Strangely enough, even to myself, I was drawn to them and
developed a curious inclination to learn and understand more about their religion. I observed how
content they seemed and was very impressed by their openness and warmth towards myself and each
other, but more importantly with their pride in belonging to a religion which holds many negative
connotations.
I gradually became fascinated with Islam, and through a process of education, developed a greater
respect for it than even my beloved Christianity. I was stunned at how wrong my previous conceptio
had been and became particularly overwhelmed at the tremendous entitlements, equality and
acknowledgment Islam provided for women. I realised the reality of the Islamic lifestyle and the trut
concerning that feeble American innovation termed "Islamic fundamentalism".
Is it said that any person who possesses the faulty of reason and an open mind should recognise logic
and truth when he/she encounters it, and so it was in my case.
More and more, literature, signs and evidence were revealed to me, and more and more, my intellect
was stimulated and my heart, warmed. I wanted to know everything about Islam and felt already a
sense of brotherhood with and belonging among its followers.
What impressed me the most was how practical Islam is - how it encompasses a rule and a lesson for
almost every facet of living. And by the sheer grace of God, I at last understood the faults of Christia
theology and of the concepts I had previously accepted unquestioningly.
At midday, on August 4th, 1994, before over 20 witnesses, I recited the shahadah and became an
official Muslim.
I shall never forget the bliss of that day and how much my life has turned around in only a year's tim
I have often been asked what it is like to be a revert and of the difficulties I must endure. Though I d
not wish to dwell on this topic, as pity is not my priority, I shall give some examples of what I have
been through.
The period up till the end of Ramadhan was, by far, the hardest to get through. Family disputes took
place almost daily; I was showered with verbal abuse, ridicule and threats. On many occasions, my
room was physically torn apart, books mysteriously disappeared and slanderous phone messages we
sent to my friends and their parents.
There have been times I have been locked out of home and forced to abstain from dinner as pork wa
deliberately served. Even to this day, all my mail is opened before I have the chance to do so myself
Apart from my housing and meals, I must provide for myself financially. My readings, as my
conversations over the phone are done in privacy. My writings and my visits to mosques or other
Islamic venues must always be concealed. I am similarly not able to visit friends very often as I may
be "brain-washed" even more.
I cannot perform my prayers until I am sure no one is around. Nor can I express my excitement and
celebration during Ramadan. I cannot share the joy at knowing yet another sister has put on Hijab, n
can I discuss the lesson I have learned this day or the speech given by an Islamic scholar/scientist.
Moreover, I must continually defend the Muslims and the Islam portrayed on the media, and fight
against the stereotypes my parents stubbornly maintain.
To see their expressions of disgust at myself is almost unbearable. I am now insecure as to my paren
affections and constantly worry of how much I am hurting them. Through the entire month of
Ramadan, my mother spoke to me not once. I had to hear her say time and time again at how I had
betrayed the family. My pleading with her otherwise was to no avail. I am told over and over again
that what I have done is unforgivable and if any of our relations or already few friends knew, my
parents would surely be outcasts.
However, I do not claim to have a miserable life. I am more content and at peace now than I ever hav
been. My purpose in relating all of this is to try to display the opportunities that many of you have
which are so often taken for granted, so little taken advantage of, but so precious to many reverts like
myself.
To reflect on these hardships alone would imply I have gained nothing by becoming a Muslim other
than pain. On the contrary, Islam has given me already so many vast rewards, I shiver to think of how
much more wonderful the gifts of Paradise would be.
At the time of my reversion, although I had accepted Islam as being true, I had no idea of the vast
internal changes it would incur upon me. Even I am astounded at how much I devour knowledge, ho
Islam is in my thoughts every waking moment, how compelling I feel my responsibility is to the
Ummah and how much more of a Muslim I became every month. …
Over the past year, I have developed quite an extensive breadth of Islamic knowledge and have
studied ayats of the Holy Qur'an in much finer detail. Not once have I come across anything which
would make me doubt the authenticity of the Qur'an and the relevance of Islam for contemporary
society, for even one minute. This has been the only religion I have ever been completely sure of
and am more sure of each day that I serve.
Furthermore, I have established my identity, I am more confident of myself; a stronger woman and
person of colour, I am more aware of my existence and more secure in my battles. (Abridged)
BAHRIA AMANULLAH, USA
Allah in His infinite mercy and wisdom created me to be a Muslim of eastern Europe descent living
the US. It might seem strange for a white girl from a small Midwestern town to be Muslim. The toe
seem world’s apart. Unfortunately Islam is the most misunderstood religion. Muslims are unjustly
associated with terrorism, radicalism and senseless violence.
As a Roman Catholic, I was baptized, took my first communion, performed my first confession,
attended mass and catechism classes. Early in life I wondered why there were different religions, I h
questions no one could answer…I did not understand Jesus, was he a man or God?
One summer evening, just before turning fourteen , I climbed on top of the roof of our house, I
marveled at the glorious beauty of an animated moon. I wondered how any one could look at such a
sight and nor believe in God…
At 17 I moved on my own into the city, for several years my life was a nightmare of instability,
directionless searching and un-fulfillment.
Finally I read the autobiography of Malcolm X, in his life I found the direction I had so desperately
searched for. I had caught a serious glimpse of the straight path. By the mercy of Allah it was now i
my heart. Malcolm’s letters written from Makkah touched me deeply.
The only reason I did not embrace Islam was the interference of my own choice views and adherenc
to misconceptions of women’s status in Islam. It seemed like a plunge into darkness. I thought it wa
too strict for me and my arrogantly self righteous liberal views.
I came into contact with the Islamic community thru a Radio station called KUCB. I listened to
several Muslim personalities on air and became deeply impressed by their strength, courage,
commitment and knowledge. I went to station to offer my services…there I met Imam Ako Abdul
Samad, the station’s vice president. He selflessly gave time, advice encouragement and offered a cle
direction.
At last I started asking questions and Imam answered them….my confusion regarding Jesus was now
made clear. He was not son of God, God is far above the base reality of human reproduction. Jesus
was a prophet a messenger of God. The miracles were performed by God thru him.
Now I understood my own inner self regarding abortion. Like many young women, I had been misle
into thinking anti abortion stands were a threat to my rights as a women. Islam put all elements in th
proper perspective. The issue is much greater than Roe Vs Wade…
My life was forever changed by the simple truth of submission to one Creator. Simple truths are the
most powerful. It was all practical. There is only one God. The truth can cut thru the façade of
intellectual unreasoning, selfishly motivated denials and lies that I had clinged to….
Islam is not a terrorist society, but a broad community striving for peace, justice and human rights fo
all in the name of Allah.
(Abridged) Source:: Riyadh Daily Nov 6 1998 p8

BUSHRA FINCH
I was brought up as a Christian, much as most people in this country are. I was christened, studied
scripture at school and never went to church, except for the occasional wedding and even less for the
midnight mass service on Christmas Eve.
Whilst I believed much of what I was taught, there were many aspects I found unacceptable,
particularly the idea of the Trinity and deification of Jesus. I did however believed in a ‘supreme
being’ and that Universe had a Creator…
I knew next to nothing about Islam and most of what I had picked up came from media reports of a
stern and unforgiving God, Fanatical followers, Terrorists, subjugated women and all the usual
negative and untrue images.
How wrong and ignorant I was, a few months later I met a Muslim friend. I was very much impress
by him as a person, his attitude towards life and other people. I also remember the way his face woul
light up from deep within, whenever he spoke about islam.
While visiting local library, a borrowed a copy of Holy Quran and two other texts on Islam, much to
my surprise, I found myself agreeing with what Iw as reading rather than arguing against it. By the
time I had finished reading the Quran, I was convinced that I had found something important and ver
meaningful. I was embarrassed for my earlier prejudice.
I found myself Isolated, as my friends became unsupportive or could not understand. I had no Musli
where I was now living. However I borrowed more books from the library and learned myself how
do ablution and how to perform prayers, I fasted during the month of Ramadan…
Where did I go from here? I really could not carry on alone and still I had not made declaration of m
faith. As I was worrying about my next step, Allah provided me with the answer. I met a Muslim lad
When I told her what I was going thru, she was wonderful and arranged every thing. Within a week
met Imam, made declaration of faith and adopted my new Muslim name. by Grace of Allah, I was
now officially a Muslim.
(Abridged) Source:: Islamic Voice, May 1999, p 22

The Case of: BALWINDER KAUR (AIYESHA), FIROZEPUR, PUNJAB, INDIA
01. I was born on 3 June 1965 in a Sikh family in FIROZEPUR, Punjab. My father was Mr. Fateh
Singh who was an educated landlord in the area. I graduated from Sri Gobindsingh College. I was
married to a Police Officer. He is now a Deputy Superintendent, we have two sons and one daughter
and all of them are studying.
I had a younger sister who was very beautiful, she was also married to a police officer. Her husband
loved her very much. But after marriage, she was always sick. Despite every effort, her health did n
improve. When all medical options were exhausted, her husband took her to many temples and plac
of worship, but she was not cured.
02. She went to a Muslim lady, who used to practice Islamic system of supplication cure. She got so
relief , but that lady told her , that she will become fully OK, but she will have to accept Islam. She
consulted her husband, who told her, that he only wanted her health, Muslim or Non Muslim, it did n
matter with him.
The lady referred her to contact Maulana Kalim Uddin Sahib of Phulat. She talked to him on phone
and told that she wanted to come to Phulat to accept Islam. Maulana told her, that she need not have
come to Phulat for that and she could recite KALIMA over phone itself. In fact Maulana almost
forced her to recite KALIMA on phone and gave her Islamic name Aiyesha,
03. I was with her that night when she recited KALIMA and her condition immediately improved. H
face was radiant as with inside pleasure. She was very happy and prepared food and fed her husband
After some time she started saying that, I am seeing heaven and all good people are surrounding me…
she went on saying that untill she became silent and when we touched her, she had died.

04. I was very close to my sister and her face and the ease with which she died affected me very muc
I saw her in dreams and she was sitting on a throne and wearing very good clothes.
I told my husband that I also wanted to become Muslim for one or two weeks to feel what Aiyesha
felt…. When I asked him repeatedly, he agreed for me to become Muslim for a week or two.
05. I spoke to Maulana in Phulat and arranged for my trip there when he will be present there. When
told Maulana my intention to become Muslim for a week or two, he told that Islam is not like a dress
that you change every now and then. It is entering the faith for full life.
I was perplexed, because I was not prepared for becoming Muslim for life. Maulana then explained
fundamentals of Islam to me and what it means to be a Muslim. He also gave me a small booklet
“Your trust returned to you” and asked me to study it and then decide..
06. After some thoughts and discussions, I decided to become Muslim and recited KALIMA in front
him. He congratulated me and gave me the same name as that of my sister.
All family members of Maulana treated me like a member of that household.
07. I came back very happy and told my husband that I have decided to become Muslim for life. Fir
he seemed to ignore me, but when I remained firm on islam and asked him also to become a Muslim
he got annoyed.
We had arguments every day, Maulana told me, that I should not have sexual relationship with my
husband, but I can live with him in the hope of converting him. I prayed to Allah to open hearts of m
husband for Islam whole night.
08. Next day when I asked him to become Muslim, he agreed and accepted Islam on my hand. I was
very happy and all my children also became Muslim.
Then after some time, my husband was killed in an accident in course of his police duty.
This was a very strong trial, but Allah gave me strength to stay firm on my faith.
09. I was yearning to perform Hajj, but I could not go alone. I started working on my brother and
asked him to become Muslim. I told him that Baba Guru Nanak had also gone to Makkah to perform
Hajj. After some persuation, he accepted Islam and we went to Makkah top perform Hajj.
I would like Muslims to be grateful for the gift of faith which they have. A day with faith is better
than one century of life without faith.
Source: Monthly ARMAGHAN of Sept. 2006

CAROL L. ANWAY, USA
Note: This is from parents of an American lady, who converted to Islam many years ago. It
shows broadmindedness and openness to Islam from those who are Christians.
When our daughter married a young man from Iran, we had no idea what it meant to be muslim. It
was comforting to us that he was Muslim, because we were a religious family and assumed that befo
long he would convert to Christianity.
They enrolled in a college several hours away from us. Thru telephone calls and occasional short
visits we began to notice a change taking place in our daughter. During one weekend about one and
half years, she broke the news to us that she had become Muslim.
She made it clear that it was not because her husband asked her to do it, she had chosen to be Muslim
herself. She assured us hat she was not rejecting us. Our world fell apart, and we reacted with deep
grief and loss. It has been 12 years since that day.
We have healed from the grief, rebuilt our relationship with our daughter and her husband, and have
come to have deep respect for that what she has chosen. I have been impressed with all of her friend
both American converts and those from other countries who are Muslim.
A little over two years ago, I started a project to survey American women in the US and Canada who
had become Muslim. I distributed Questionnaires at Muslim conferences, advertised in Islamic
magazines….and this is our findings:
A. Approx. 40 % of women work outside the home either part time or full time.
B. 12 % are working toward college degrees.
C. 25 % choose to home school, their children of school age.
All but two women in the survey were wearing full time Hijab.
90 % of the women in the study are married and reflect successful marriage, …From this survey, I
have written a book Daughters of another path: Experiences of American women choosing Islam….
As parents of an American Muslim convert, my husband and me now feel that the two paths are not
different…It has broadened our world to see it thru the eyes of a daughter who has chosen another
path.
(Abridged) Source:: Islamic Horizons , Sept-Oct 1995, p26-27

Mrs. CECILLA CANNOLY [Rashîda] Austrian

Why did I become a Muslim?
Let me tell you sincerely that I became a Muslim without even noticing it myself. For, at a very youn
age I had already completely lost my confidence in Christianity and had begun to feel apathy toward
the Christian religion.
I was curious about many religious facts. I was disinclined to believe blindly the creed they were
trying to teach me. Why were there three gods? Why had we all come to this world sinful, and why d
we have to expiate it? Why could we invoke God only through a priest? And what were the meaning
of all these various signs that we were being shown and the miracles that we were being told?
Whenever I asked these questions to the teaching priests, they would become angry and answer, “Yo
cannot inquire about the inner natures of the church’s teachings. They are secret. All you have to do
to believe them.”
And this was another thing that I would never understand. How could one believe something whose
essence one did not know? However, in those days I did not dare divulge these thoughts of mine. I a
sure that many of today’s so-called Christians are of the same opinion as I was; they do not believe
most of the religious teachings imposed on them, yet they are afraid to disclose it.
The older I became the farther away did I feel from Christianity, finally breaking away from the
church once and for all and beginning to wonder whether there was a religion that taught “to worship
one single God.” My entire conscience and heart told me that there was only one God.
Then, when I looked around, the events showed me how meaningless the unintelligible miracles that
priests had been trying to teach us, and the absurd stories of saints they had been telling us, were.
Didn’t everything on the earth, human beings, beasts, forests, mountains, seas, trees, flowers indicate
that a great Creator had created them? Wasn’t a newly born baby a miracle in itself?
On the other hand, the church was striving to indoctrinate the people with the preposterous belief tha
every newly born baby was a wretched, sinful creature. No, this was impossible, a lie. Every newly
born child was an innocent slave, a creature of Allah. It was a miracle, and I believed only in Allah a
in the miracles He created.
Nothing in the world was inherently sinful, dirty, or ugly. I was of this opinion, when one day my
daughter came home with a book written about Islam. My daughter and I sat together and read the
book with great attention.
O my God, the book said exactly as I had been thinking. Islam announced that there is one God and
informed that people are born as innocent creatures. Until that time I had been entirely ignorant of
Islam.
In schools Islam was an object of derision. We had been taught that that religion was false and absur
and infused one with sloth, and that Muslims would go to Hell. Upon reading the book, I was plunge
into thoughts.
To acquire more detailed information about Islam, I visited Muslims living in my town. …My
daughter and I read many other books written about Islam, were fully convinced as to its sublime nes
and veracity, and eventually embraced Islam, both of us. I adopted the name ‘Rashîda’, and my
daughter chose ‘Mahmûda’ as her new name.
As for the second question that you ask me: “What aspects of Islam do you like best?” Here is my
answer:
What I like best about Islam is the nature of its prayers. In Christianity prayers are said in order to as
for worldly blessings such as wealth, position and honour from Allah through Jesus.
Muslims, in contrast, express their gratitude to Allah and they know that as long as they abide by the
religion and obey the commandments of Allah, He will give them whatever they need without them
asking for it.
22 Why we became Muslim?
Catherine Heseltine, Nursery school teacher, 31, North London
1. “If you’d asked me at the age of 16 if I’d like to become a Muslim, I would have said, ‘No thanks
was quite happy drinking, partying and fitting in with my friends.
“Growing up in North London, we never practised religion at home; I always thought it was slightly
old-fashioned and irrelevant. But when I met my future husband, Syed, in the sixth form, he
challenged all my preconceptions. He was young, Muslim, believed in God – and yet he was normal
The only difference was that, unlike most teenage boys, he never drank.
“A year later, we were head over heels in love, but we quickly realised: how could we be together if
was a Muslim and I wasn’t?
2. “Before meeting Syed, I’d never actually questioned what I believed in; I’d just picked up my cas
agnosticism through osmosis. So I started reading a few books on Islam out of curiosity.
“In the beginning, the Koran appealed to me on an intellectual level; the emotional and spiritual side
didn’t come until later. I loved its explanations of the natural world and discovered that 1,500 years
ago, Islam gave women rights that they didn’t have here in the West until relatively recently. It was a
revelation.
3. “Religion wasn’t exactly a ‘cool’ thing to talk about, so for three years I kept my interest in Islam
myself. But in my first year at university, Syed and I decided to get married – and I knew it was time
to tell my parents. My mum’s initial reaction was, ‘Couldn’t you just live together first?’ She had
concerns about me rushing into marriage and the role of women in Muslim households – but no one
realised how seriously I was taking my religious conversion. I remember going out for dinner with m
dad and him saying, ‘Go on, have a glass of wine. I won’t tell Syed!’ A lot of people assumed I was
only converting to Islam to keep his family happy, not because I believed in it.
4. “Later that year, we had an enormous Bengali wedding, and moved into a flat together – but I
certainly wasn’t chained to the kitchen sink. I didn’t even wear the hijab at all to start with, and wore
bandana or a hat instead.
“I was used to getting a certain amount of attention from guys when I went out to clubs and bars, but
had to let that go. I gradually adopted the Islamic way of thinking: I wanted people to judge me for m
intelligence and my character – not for the way I looked. It was empowering.
5. “I’d never been part of a religious minority before, so that was a big adjustment, but my friends
were very accepting. Some of them were a bit shocked: ‘What, no drink, no drugs, no men? I couldn
do that!’ And it took a while for my male friends at university to remember things like not kissing m
hello on the cheek any more. I’d have to say, ‘Sorry, it’s a Muslim thing.’
“Over time, I actually became more religious than my husband. We started growing apart in other
ways, too. In the end, I think the responsibility of marriage was too much for him; he became distant
and disengaged. After seven years together, I decided to get a divorce.
6. “When I moved back in with my parents, people were surprised I was still wandering around in a
headscarf. But if anything, being on my own strengthened my faith: I began to gain a sense of mysel
as a Muslim, independent of him.
7. “Islam has given me a sense of direction and purpose. I’m involved with the Muslim Public Affair
Committee, and lead campaigns against Islamophobia, discrimination against women in mosques,
poverty and the situation in Palestine. When people call us ‘extremists’ or ‘the dark underbelly of
British politics’, I just think it’s ridiculous. There are a lot of problems in the Muslim community, bu
when people feel under siege it makes progress even more difficult.
8. “I still feel very much part of white British society, but I am also a Muslim. It has taken a while to
fit those two identities together, but now I feel very confident being who I am. I’m part of both world
and no one can take that away from me.”
Catherine Huntley, Retail assistant, 21, Bournemouth
1. “My parents always thought I was abnormal, even before I became a Muslim. In my early teens,
they’d find me watching TV on a Friday night and say, ‘What are you doing at home? Haven’t you g
any friends to go out with?’
“The truth was: I didn’t like alcohol, I’ve never tried smoking and I wasn’t interested in boys. You’d
think they’d have been pleased.
2. “I’ve always been quite a spiritual person, so when I started studying Islam in my first year of
GCSEs, something just clicked. I would spend every lunchtime reading about Islam on the computer
had peace in my heart and nothing else mattered any more. It was a weird experience – I’d found
myself, but the person I found wasn’t like anyone else I knew.
“I’d hardly ever seen a Muslim before, so I didn’t have any preconceptions, but my parents weren’t s
open-minded. I hid all my Muslim books and headscarves in a drawer, because I was so scared they’
find out.
3. “When I told my parents, they were horrified and said, ‘We’ll talk about it when you’re 18.’ But m
passion for Islam just grew stronger. I started dressing more modestly and would secretly fast during
Ramadan. I got very good at leading a double life until one day, when I was 17, I couldn’t wait any
longer.
“I sneaked out of the house, put my hijab in a carrier bag and got on the train to Bournemouth. I mus
have looked completely crazy putting it on in the train carriage, using a wastebin lid as a mirror. Wh
a couple of old people gave me dirty looks, I didn’t care. For the first time in my life, I felt like myse
4. “A week after my conversion, my mum came marching into my room and said, ‘Have you got
something to tell me?’ She pulled my certificate of conversion out of her pocket. I think they’d rathe
have found anything else at that point – drugs, cigarettes, condoms – because at least they could hav
put it down to teenage rebellion.
“I could see the fear in her eyes. She couldn’t comprehend why I’d want to give up my freedom for t
sake of a foreign religion. Why would I want to join all those terrorists and suicide bombers?
5. “It was hard being a Muslim in my parents’ house. I’ll never forget one evening, there were two
women in burkas on the front page of the newspaper, and they started joking, ‘That’ll be Catherine
soon.’
“They didn’t like me praying five times a day either; they thought it was ‘obsessive’. I’d pray right i
front of my bedroom door so my mum couldn’t walk in, but she would always call upstairs,
‘Catherine, do you want a cup of tea?’ just so I’d have to stop.
6. “Four years on, my grandad still says things like, ‘Muslim women have to walk three steps behind
their husbands.’ It gets me really angry, because that’s the culture, not the religion. My fiancé, whom
met eight months ago, is from Afghanistan and he believes that a Muslim woman is a pearl and her
husband is the shell that protects her. I value that old-fashioned way of life: I’m glad that when we g
married he’ll take care of paying the bills. I always wanted to be a housewife anyway.
7. “Marrying an Afghan man was the cherry on the cake for my parents. They think I’m completely
crazy now. He’s an accountant and actually speaks better English than I do, but they don’t care. The
wedding will be in a mosque, so I don’t think they’ll come. It hurts to think I’ll never have that
fairytale wedding, surrounded by my family. But I hope my new life with my husband will be a lot
happier. I’ll create the home I’ve always wanted, without having to feel the pain of people judging
me.”
Changing values: Camill Leyland, 32, pictured in Western and Muslim dress, converted to Islam in h
mid-20s for 'intellectual and feminist reasons'
The turning point for Kristiane came when she met and briefly dated the former Pakistani cricketer a
Muslim Imran Khan in 1992 during the height of her career. He took her to Pakistan where she says
she was immediately touched by spirituality and the warmth of the people.
Kristiane says: ‘Though our relationship didn’t last, I began to study the Muslim faith and eventually
converted.
Because of the nature of my job, I’d been out interviewing rock stars, traveling all over the world an
following every trend, yet I’d felt empty inside. Now, at last, I had contentment because Islam had
given me a purpose in life.’
‘In the West, we are stressed for superficial reasons, like what clothes to wear. In Islam, everyone
looks to a higher goal. Everything is done to please God. It was a completely different value system.
'In the West, we are stressed for superficial reasons, like what clothes to wear. In Islam, everyone
looks to a higher goal. Everything is done to please God'
'Despite my lifestyle, I felt empty inside and realised how liberating it was to be a Muslim. To follow
only one god makes life purer. You are not chasing every fad.
‘I grew up in Germany in a not very religious Protestant family. I drank and I partied, but I realised
that we need to behave well now so we have a good after-life. We are responsible for our own action
For a significant amount of women, their first contact with Islam comes from dating a Muslim
boyfriend. Lynne Ali, 31, from Dagenham in Essex, freely admits to having been ‘a typical white ha
partying teenager’.
She says: ‘I would go out and get drunk with friends, wear tight and revealing clothing and date boy
‘I also worked part-time as a DJ, so I was really into the club scene. I used to pray a bit as a Christian
but I used God as a sort of doctor, to fix things in my life. If anyone asked, I would’ve said that,
generally, I was happy living life in the fast lane.’
But when she met her boyfriend, Zahid, at university, something dramatic happened.
She says: ‘His sister started talking to me about Islam, and it was as if everything in my life fitted int
place. I think, underneath it all, I must have been searching for something, and I wasn’t feeling
fulfilled by my hard-drinking party lifestyle.’
CASSANA (AIYESHA) MADDOZ NABLISI, USA

Note: Sister Aiyesha was one of the exchange students, who was sent to Saudi Arabia to attend Shar
College. She had close contacts with many prominent Saudi citizens of Jeddah. She accepted Islam
late 1970 s. Here she tells story of her conversion to Islam
My formal education goes slightly beyond the norm, after high school, a got a Bachelor’s degree in
International studies, with 2 of 7 years I studied Arabic. I also studied Arabic with private paid tutor
I am a graduate of Naval school and have worked in US navy. I was sent as exchange student to atte
Shariah college at Jeddah University….I later earned master’s degree in International Education
Development.
I came to Islam, taking my SHAHADAH in Northern Nigeria, where I was visiting In-laws of my
second marriage, who was a diplomat in Northern Nigeria.
Local people in Nigeria introduced me to Islam, and informed me that it was the most important face
of the historical pasts of people who were taken out of Africa.
I was not entirely ignorant of Arabic Quran as during my studies I had gone thru English translation
Quran by Abdullah Yousuf Ali.
Some credit to my conversion should go to Elijah Mohammad , thru whom many black people in US
learned about true Islamic teaching as a non racial Universal faith for all mankind…
I have visited many Islamic countries and have attended many conference on Islamic and other topic
I have also written many books to teach English language to people whose mother tongue is not
English…
(Abridged) Source:: Why woman are accepting Islam? Pages 20-25
Cynthia (Amina) USA
Cynthia gained much Media attention during days of President Ford, when she influenced Roberdo,
Mafia don, to shun the criminal activities and join Islam. Her feat considering that she was a
physically challenged person was all the more remarkable. She was affected from Polio in the early
childhood and confined to a wheel chair. But her zeal and determination never caused this disability
stand in the way, what she wanted to get or do. Let us hear from her own lips her story.
People consider me as Handicapped, but I never consider myself as one….How come any Muslim b
handicapped? With the Powers of Allah behind him, he can never be handicapped. My own story is
proof of it!!!
I was born in American Black Christian family. We were Christians only in name and the religion d
not mean any thing to us in the real world. Since I was confined to wheel chair, I used to read a lot i
my spare job. I was amazed to read as to how Malcolm-X and his friends were able to convince so
many drug addicts to shun that habit and come to Islam. I also decided to know about Islam and got
some books on Islam and read it. This caused a very positive change in my attitude towards Islam.
I decided to visit the local Islamic Mosque. Now this mosque was built and was looked after by
another New Muslim from black community. His name was Mohammad Yousuf. I was much
impressed by his story and his talks and his zeal in propagating Islam. I read a lot and then convince
myself as to the truth of Islam and decided to join the faith.
My announcement of new faith at home was initially ridiculed by my parents and friends. They
thought that it would a passing whim. But when I took to Islamic dress code and shunned Alcoholic
parties….then they realized my sincerity. I did face many hardships at their hands, but Allah gave m
strength to bear it all. I remained firm to my faith despite so much opposition.
Then I decided to work in prison and preach Islam to the inmates there. I got much success there an
many convicts decided to embrace Islam. While conversing with one of the inmates he told me “Wh
I do not work on Roberdo”? Who is Roberdo, I asked? "He is the Mafia Don and drug lord for this
area" was the reply.
So I decided to meet this Roberdo. I reached his palatial villa one evening. The security guard woul
not let me in….The noise brought Roberto out of the Villa. When he saw me (on wheel chair) he let
me in and asked me what I wanted. I told him to leave the evil path and do not spoil the society. He
denied everything but on my persistence agreed to give me five minutes every day to hear me out…
Well the five minutes extended to tens and then to hours. In the end Roberdo got convinced and
decided to shun the evil way and gave himself up to authorities. This brought lots of fame to me and
many media persons interviewed me. I also had visits from many renowned persons including
Mohammad Ali. I was really sorry when Roberdo was shot down in prison by one inmate (for fear o
exposure to others thru Roberdo)….
So I am not handicapped at all!!! How can be I when Allah is on my side!! This is my advice to all
others (abridged)
CLARA WILLAIMS, MUSWELL HILL , LONDON, U.K.
As Christians we are taught to believe that we are born in sin and can only be saved by the cleansing
blood of Jesus Christ. It is for this reason tat we are Baptised and later of confirmed. I tried hard to
believe all this but my commonsense refused.
It was all childish and seemed an excuse to do as one liked and wiggle out of the consequences, the
coward’s way in fact.
I could not believe that the babies I saw were sinful and again I found that most of so called sins wer
just a breaking of community laws and nor God’s laws at all.
It was a great relief to find that under the teachings of Quran nothing in itself is right or wrong but on
the use and abuse of it.
Secondly although the muslim prayers puzzled me at first, yet when I began to study them I realized
they were all praise or very nearly so. They sing nothing but God’s mercy and greatness and I am su
that their constant recitation must foster a desire to be more godlike in our daily lives.
This contrasts with the Christian prayers, which is constant whine to be saved from the results of one
misdeeds or for things we think we need.
Christians are taught God is a ‘kind father’ who is always listening to our prayers, ready to grant all
wish, if only we ask long and loud enough. I for one, always asked for all I wanted and I have had m
prayers answered only to find I would have been happier had I left myself in God’s hands. For my
vision was short..
Every day I am learning to love the simplicity and justice of Islam and the wisdom of Holy Quran. I
therefore accepted Islam on 21 June 1940 and declared “I hereby solemnly declare of my own free w
that I worship one and only Allah alone, that I believe Mohammad to be His Messenger and servant.
That I equally respect all prophets, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and others and that I will live a Muslim l
with the help of Allah”
(Abridged) Source:: The Islamic Review Vol. 28, Nov. 1940 p401
CATHY USA
My story of conversion to Islam is very interesting. It so happened that I went on a sale of surplus
books at our local library and got hold of one book for a few coins that I had in my pocket. I brough
the book home, without even looking at it, displayed it carefully on my table and never even bothere
to read it or even go thru it!!!
I graduated from High School, in College I selected Arts instead of science and selected a course tha
dealt with comparative religions. I was taught about major world religions, like Christianity, Judaism
Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism etc. None of my teachers were Muslims. I graduated from school and
went to job market. It was not easy to find a job for female arts gradate in a my country so easily.
After a few months of trial I felt frustrated from my job search and kept to my room. While in such
state, I looked again at the book which I had purchased with my own pocket money many years back
I cleaned the dirt and I started reading it, It was about Islam and what more, it was totally different
from what my teachers were teaching me in my college.
This book was nothing but English Translation of Holy Quran. The teachings of Quran convinced m
that it was a true religion and must enter into its fold, I went to local Islamic center and I became a
Muslim, which was such an easy thing to do. I joined the missionary activity and soon met an Afgha
Boy, we got married and I gave my services to the local Islamic Center.
Islam we think is a revolutionary and full of activity. It does not makes it followers idle or take shel
from the world’s problems. I only hope that Allah accept our small services and make us serve
Muslims more and more (abridged)
Rejecting her faith: Writer Eve Ahmed was raised a Muslim
Much of my childhood was spent trying to escape Islam.
Born in London to an English mother and a Pakistani Muslim father, I was brought up to follow my
father’s faith without question.
But, privately, I hated it. The minute I left home for university at the age of 18, I abandoned it
altogether.
As far as I was concerned, being a Muslim meant hearing the word ‘No’ over and over again.
Girls from my background were barred from so many of the things my English friends took for
granted. Indeed, it seemed to me that almost anything fun was haram, or forbidden, to girls like me.
There were so many random, petty rules. No whistling. No chewing of gum. No riding bikes. No
watching Top Of The Pops. No wearing make-up or clothes which revealed the shape of the body.
No eating in the street or putting my hands in my pockets. No cutting my hair or painting my nails. N
asking questions or answering back. No keeping dogs as pets, (they were unclean).
And, of course, no sitting next to men, shaking their hands or even making eye contact with them.
These ground rules were imposed by my father and I, therefore, assumed they must be an integral pa
of being a good Muslim.
Small wonder, then, that as soon as I was old enough to exert my independence, I rejected the whole
package and turned my back on Islam. After all, what modern, liberated British woman would choos
to live such a life?
Well, quite a lot, it turns out, including Islam’s latest surprise convert, Tony Blair’s sister-in-law
Lauren Booth. And after my own break with my past, I’ve followed with fascination the growing tre
of Western women choosing to convert to Islam.
Broadcaster and journalist Booth, 43, says she now wears a hijab head covering whenever she leaves
home, prays five times a day and visits her local mosque ‘when I can’.
She decided to become a Muslim six weeks ago after visiting the shrine of Fatima al-Masumeh in th
city of Qom, and says: ‘It was a Tuesday evening, and I sat down and felt this shot of spiritual
morphine, just absolute bliss and joy.’
Before her awakening in Iran, she had been ‘sympathetic’ to Islam and has spent considerable time
working in Palestine. ‘I was always impressed with the strength and comfort it gave,’ she says.
How, I wondered, could women be drawn to a religion which I felt had kept me in such a lowly,
submissive place? How could their experiences of Islam be so very different to mine?
EMILLY B. ASSAMI
As I read the book “Origin of Species” by Charles Darwin, it seemed that the book separated men of
science from men of religion. It made Biblical version of creation outdated. My father did not believ
in God and considered Old Testament as book of fairy tales. We have no records, except a few
remnants of early scriptures, the meaning gone, their wisdom lost thru countless years and numerous
translation.
In school we had period of comparative religion, my teacher was so biased against Islam that he
always talked ill about it. He lectured us on Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam. He would
always picture Islam as a decline from the peak of Christian teachings into a collection of rituals whi
led to the stagnation of Muslim people.
Singling out Prophet of Islam, he would say that he was an imposter who deceived his people and le
them into wars.
Somehow I could not digest all this negative talk about Islam, I wanted to know more about the
religion of Islam, about prophet Mohammad and what he said about God.
I got so irritated from the one sided criticism of my teacher that I wanted to leave the subject
altogether, I asked my father, if there was a way, I could study about Islam and know its real teachin
He asked me to search in school library a book on Prophet Mohammad written by a muslim writer. I
tried but I could only fid books written on Prophet Mohammad by Western writers and no one by an
Muslim writer.
Finally I was able to find a Muslim who gave me Translation of Quran in English by a Muslim and
also the biography of prophet Mohammad written by a Muslim writer.
I started to read the translation of Quran from the very beginning. I found there were many things I
did not understand, but others impressed me. So I decided to continue reading , as I was unable to
sleep any way. I continued reading as his my heart was not in it, and suddenly before me were these
words “And give glad tidings to the patient, who say when misfortune strikes, to God we belong and
Him is our return” (2: ) . I felt better immediately.
My studies convinced me of the truth of Islam and the link it had with Old Testament and Jesus. No
I could find why Western Writers were so against Islam and its prophet. It was their fear of Islam an
its teachings that caused all this negative propaganda.
From then to come into fold of Islam was a logical and simple step for me.
(Abridged) Source::
LADY ZAYNAB EVELYN COMBOLD (G.B.)
I am frequently asked why I became a Muslim. I am the daughter of a renowned family, and my
husband also is well known and rich. To those who ask me why I became a Muslim, I reply that I do
not know for certain when the light of Islam rose in my soul. It seems to me as if I have been a Musl
forever.
This is not something strange at all. For Islam is a natural and true religion. Every child is born as a
Muslim. If it is left to itself, it will choose Islam, none else. As a European writer observes, “Islam is
the religion of people with common sense.” If you made a comparative study of all religions, you
would immediately see that Islam is the most perfect, the most natural, and the most logical.
Owing to Islam, many complicated problems of the world are solved easily and mankind attains peac
and tranquility. Islam always rejects the dogma that human beings are born sinful and that they have
expiate for it in the world. Muslims believe in Allah, who is one.
In their eyes, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad PBUH are human beings like us. Allah has chosen the
as Prophets to guide people to the right way. For doing penance, for asking for forgiveness, or for
praying, there is no one between Allah and the born slave. We can supplicate Allah on our own any
time, and we are responsible only for what we have done.
The word ‘Islam’ means both ‘to surrender oneself to Allah and ‘to have belief in Muhammad
Muslim’ means ‘a person who lives in peace and happiness with all beings.’ Islam is based on two
fundamental facts: 1) That Allah is one, and that Muhammad is the final Prophet He has sent. 2) Th
humanity should be entirely freed from superstitions and unfounded dogmas. The Hajj, one of the
(five) tenets of Islam, has a great impact on people.
What other religion contains a form of worship as sublime as Islam’s pilgrimage, which brings
together hundreds of thousands of Muslims from all four corners of the world regardless of their
classes, races, countries, colours and rank positions, and makes them put on the (uniformal garb calle
Ihrâm and prostrate themselves with one accord before Allah? It is a certain fact that Muslims’
worshipping together at these blessed places where the great Prophet announced Islam, struggled
against Islam’s enemies, exerted himself with great determination and firmness, will attach them to
one another with stronger affections, whereby they will try to find solutions for one another’s
problems, and they will once again take an oath to cooperate along the way shown by Allah.
Another use of the Hajj is that thereby Muslims all over the world meet one another, know one
another’s problems, and teach their personal experiences to one another. All Muslims assemble at th
place whereto they turn their faces during their worships at home, and, all in one mass, one body in t
presence of Allah, they surrender themselves to Him.
Seeing the Hajj once would suffice as an evidence to prove the greatness of Islam. Here is Islam, and
have been enjoying the pleasure and satisfaction of having entered this great religion.
Convert Find Women's Rights in Islam
By Elizabeth Clarke, Palm Beach Post Religion Writer. Wednesday, November 6, 2002
Fourteen years ago, Mimi Ma became an American religious pioneer of sorts: At age 18, the former
Indiana boarding school student converted to Islam.
Now a West Palm Beach resident, Ma says the decision wasn't difficult, but her life since has not bee
easy.
For starters, her faith cost her, her family. Born in Vietnam to Buddhist parents and raised as a
Christian in Africa by her eldest sister and American brother-in-law, she has had no contact with her
relatives since her conversion.
She also lost a part of her identity. When she swapped blue jeans and T-shirts for head scarves and
long skirts, some people suddenly couldn't see past the clothes. And since Sept. 11, few people see h
as Asian anymore; they think she's Arab.
It is an experience more and more young American women can relate to, as growing numbers join
Islam, the faith's leaders say, although they don't have statistics available.
"In the past there were more African-Americans coming into Islam," says Altaf Ali, director of the
Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. "Now I'm seeing an influx of white,
Caucasian females. This is a very strange phenomenon. It's not anything negative, but it's something
that's very unusual, something that's new to our religion."
Today, many of those converts will begin their first Ramadan, the Muslim holy month that calls on
believers to fast from sunrise to sunset every day in an attempt to learn discipline, self-restraint and
generosity. Ma and Ali know it will be a tough test for new believers, but they also think they know
why many of them have converted: women's rights.
Despite stereotypes that portray Muslim women as subservient and silent, many women convert
because of the freedom they find in Islam. For years, women converted only for marriage and for the
husbands, Ali says. But today many single and married women convert based on their own
convictions, especially those teachings about equality.
"It's common across the board," Ali says. "They always say they enjoy the respect that is given to the
by members of the opposite sex."
Comfort in the Quran

Islamic teachings don't dictate subservience for women, Ma says, although some Islamic societies do
Ma found more in the Quran to ease her concerns about equality than she ever found in the Bible. Sh
likes being able to challenge Muslim men, including her husband, whom she married after convertin
when they tell her something about women's rights.
"I can say, 'Open it up. Prove it to me,' " she says of the Quran. And if they're trying to show that
women shouldn't own property, be educated, take leadership in government, vote, control their own
finances or do anything else that men do, they won't find the proof in the Quran, she says.
The Quran does speak about dress for women, but Ali hasn't found many converts who balk at weari
a scarf to cover their hair and long clothes to cover their arms and legs. Many embrace the idea, he
says.
"It's easier to undress in our society than to dress," Ali says, laughing.
Ma agrees that many find relief in covering themselves.
"Women wear the scarves out of modesty, so people see us for who we are and what we do, not as se
objects," she says. "You can have an Islamic society where women are covered and have rights. And
you can have a society where women who are very scantily clad don't have those rights.
Women's rights was the primary reason Ma herself converted to Islam.
Born during the Vietnam War, Mimi left the country at age 4 with her oldest sister and her sister's
American husband, who worked for the Foreign Service.
Her brother-in-law was sent to Africa to work, moving over the years from Chad to Cameroon to Ma
to Mauritania. The family practiced Christianity in the primarily Muslim countries and, according to
Ma, held a low opinion of non-Christians.
An observant Presbyterian, Ma started studying the Quran and other Islamic teachings at the
Midwestern boarding school. She thought it would be simply an intellectual experience, but almost
immediately she found something in the faith of the Prophet Mohammed that filled her spiritual need
As a devout teenager, the Bible's teachings on women and their roles had started to disturb her. She
found nothing but equality for women in the Quran.
Family rejected her
After just a month of study, as an undergraduate at George Mason University in Virginia, she made t
short profession of faith required to convert, immersed herself in Islam -- and was immediately
rejected by her family.
"That's one of the most difficult aspects of converting," Ma says. "That didn't stop me. My concept o
God can't be dictated by them."
After Sept. 11, she feared for her life and did not leave her Washington, D.C., apartment alone for
months. Since she and her husband, Mohammad, moved to West Palm Beach in March, they have
encountered a broader range of reactions, Ma says. More intolerance and yet more kindness, too. Th
considered returning to the nation's capital but have decided to build a home in St. Lucie County
instead. They work together as project management consultants.
Until the house is finished, they're living at CityPlace, where Ma loves being so close to the booksto
And as Ramadan begins, they look forward to getting to know the Muslim community here. Ma
expects to break the fast on some nights at a local mosque. She also plans to start a Quran study this
month.
"It's like a self-reformation time, like a boot camp," she says. "It's very rewarding and comforting
feeling to know that Muslims all over the world are doing this together: abstaining from these things
during the day and then breaking the fast at night."
Muslims also try to read the entire Quran during Ramadan -- Ma didn't make it her first year -- and to
be kinder to each other. They become more focused on the important things in life. They often give
money to the poor.
Concentrating at work is the hardest thing to do during Ramadan. But she insists fasting isn't so
difficult. It's really just skipping lunch after a pre-dawn breakfast. The reason makes it worth every
midday craving, she says.
"It's different when you're doing it for God," Ma says. "You're not thinking about food as much. Of
course, you do. I fantasize about a chocolate mousse or a bag of chips. But thoughts of a Snickers ba
that leads to God and why you're doing this."
FATIMA HARRON , WEST GERMANY
Shortly after I was born in 1934, it became a fashion in Germany to quit membership of the Church.
In fact when I was 11 years old, one girl told me that there was no god at all and she seemed to be an
authentic person.
The world at that time was far from ordinary, there were bombs day after day, there were fathers wh
would come only now and then, and there were mothers, who knitted gloves and socks for ‘our poor
soldiers’.
When the war was over there were strange people who took away our houses and American war film
started coming in which melted my heart. I was unable to judge who was right and who was wrong
and every thing looked cruel and senseless to me…
It was a miracle for me that out of all girls it was I who met a young European who had embraced
Islam seven years before. I asked him to tell more about it. I was a great skeptic at that time. Yet wh
he explained to me the meaning of the word Muslim i.e. one who out of his free will surrenders
himself to God’s commandments, something started waking inside me…
He explained how everything in the nature was following God’s commands...it was only men who
disobeyed God’s laws. It was wonderful logic, the pure common sense.
I learned as much as in the books in the following years, small though the stock of unbiased Islamic
literature in German Language is.
Mohammad Asad ‘s book Road to Makkah made a deep impression on me… I understood the deep
meaning behind all Islamic injunctions, it helped me most toward my journey to Islam.
While Muslim at heart, I decided that I would try out first whether I would be able to follow the laws
of Islam, so I kept fast the most difficult duty as it seemed to me then. I fasted the Month of Ramada
of year 1959, and it taught me that if we do anything for love of God, it is no longer as difficult at it
seems.
After that I became Muslim, me and my husband saved some money to migrate to a Muslim country
and we settled in Pakistan, where my husband was given a suitable position.
I used to enjoy all freedom the West offers to women, free mixing of sexes, parties, cinemas, dancin
concert, theatre, swimming, skating…Yet the peace of mind I have after becoming Muslim seems to
me an ample compensation for what I have left behind…
The reason why I tell this is that I want my young sisters and brothers to understand that all the
tempting glitter of materialism is just nothing when compared precious gift that God bestows on thos
whom He makes Muslims..
(Abridged) Source:: YAQEEN INT. FEB 7 1992, P200

GEORGINA NOUEIRI, UK
My first in-depth encounter with Islam came when I met Mohammad, a fellow student at university
Swansea. He had arrived in Britain one year earlier from war torn Lebanon. Despite a strong Anglic
Christian background, and a secure faith in God, I had unresolved questions of faith, to which
Mohammad’s religion seemed to have the answers.
I had never understood about the Trinity for instance. Then when Mohammad said that there are no
partners with god, it just seemed very pure and beautiful.
Islam corresponded with everything I had always felt deep down inside. That Jesus was a wonderful
prophet with a wonderful message of forgiveness, but he was not to be worshipped as God.
The more I learned about Islam, the more right it seemed to me. But conversion was not easy step to
take. I did not know if I had the courage.
Then one night when I was talking with Mohammad, I took the courage to say the KALIMA, the
declaration of faith in front of him. When I went to bed, I was not sure if I had done the right thing,
when I woke up next morning, I knew I had taken the right step.
I was well aware of the risk I was taking, Islam is a massive subject, suppose I discovered something
did not believe in? But the more I learned, the more I felt it was everything I wanted to believe in.
Later I married Mohammad, but the marriage was not my reason to convert to Islam, we moved to
London so that he could continue his studies. There we met many Muslims , and I was exposed to th
practices of devout followers. It gave me a desire to adhere more strictly to the laws enshrined in
Quran.
I also welcomed the Islamic rule of separating the sexes. It leads to a much more peaceful life. The
wives are more relaxed because they know that their husbands are not going to be tempted by other
women….the precaution gives women an enormous sense of well being when they are together. The
is no tension, no showing off to opposite sex.
I was brought up in a Western society wanting to be attractive, then vanity started to drive away from
me and I became a little purer. I was glad suddenly that I felt safer at streets and I felt happy that me
would not whistle at me.
(Abridged) Source:: Saudi gazette, April 12 1996, p7

HANNAN ABDUL LATEEF, USA
At the age of 23, I was a divorced mother of two and a college student. Because I had my children a
rather young age. I was just then beginning to enjoy a social life (so to speak)…
One night I met these men who clamed they were Hebrews…part of Black Hebrews…they talked
about Abraham sacrificing his son Isaac and that the Black Hebrews and not the Jews that we knew
were the true inheritors of Yahweh’s promise… As I listened to them I knew there was something ou
of place in their story, but I could not identify what it was exactly, because of my own poor knowled
of religion at that time…
In order to contradict them, I went for looking for Torah in our college library… I could not get a co
of Torah but many other books on topics of religion.. I scanned thru Apocalypse and Bhagwat Gita…
I had heard that Quran also would say something about that topic, but there was no Quran in college
library other.
Thru some friends of my sister, I was able to get a copy of English translation of Quran and started
reading it. I read as much of Quran as I could. I was immersed in it….This is what I always though
and believed…what sort of book was this? I read and I cried…I read more and I cried more…
That Saturday night I found those Rastafarian people and told them what was missing in their story
was Ishmael…the first born son of Abraham…they argued that it was Isaac and not Ishmael who wa
to be sacrificed. I did not have enough knowledge to argue with them, so I left them on their believe
I had heard about a Black Muslim sect of Nation of Islam….but my study of Quran had convinced m
that Islam is not a racial religion at all.
One day, I had a knock at my door, and I saw a Muslim man standing and asking me if I wanted to b
some cakes they were selling. I ran and picked up my Quran and I asked if he was following religio
preached in that book? He looked surprised but said after a few second “Yes”.
Then I asked if he belonged to Nation of Islam…he said once, but now he was following true Islam a
Malcolm X did. I went with him to attend their meetings and finally in July 1979, I declared my
SHAHADAH in New York city Mosque.
I still have the same Quran with me and I still enjoy reading it regularly. I enjoy giving Quran as gif
to anyone who expresses any interest in Islam…
(Abridged) Source:: Saudi Gazette 12 Oct. 1998 p12

The Case of: HALIMA SAADIA, DELHI, INDIA
01. I belong to a well to do SAINI family of South Delhi. My father is Accountant in Delhi
Development Authority. I have three brothers and all of them are working as Officers in different
ministries.
I did my MA in English and Diploma is Mass Communications and I work as secretary in one of the
ministries. I am aged 33 now and very few people know me by my new Islamic name.
02. Govt. of India established an institute to teach foreign languages to its staff working in different
ministries. I was selected to learn Arabic … most of the teachers were Muslims there and they starte
to teach Urdu to us along with Arabic.
03. My father is very well versed with Urdu language and I also spoke good Urdu, so I did not had
much difficulty in learning Urdu or Arabic. One of our teacher Dr. MOHSIN OSMANI gave us som
literature on Islam in Urdu and Hindi. That included a small booklet in Hindi named “AAP KI
AMANAT AAP KI SEVA MEIN” i.e. “Your trust returned to you” by Maulana Kalim Uddin.
I was very much impressed with that book and after that I studied Quran and then I told our teacher
that I want to accept Islam.
04. I accepted Islam on his hands and then I used to go to Islamic Mission in NIZAMUDDIN and
started learning about Islam and SALAAT from sisters there.
05. I have not yet declared my Islam to my family and they are not aware of it. This causes lots of
inconvenience to me as I must wait till every one is away before I can offer my regular prayers.
06. I am now at a dilemma, when I read Quran it asks us to surrender ourselves to Allah fully and
completely and I am unable to do that at present.
I am very fond of prostration and I pray to Allah during my prostration to give me strength and make
me a Good Muslim.
1. On Spouse / Children
07. After becoming Muslim, I cannot marry a non Muslim, so I excused my parents to marry anyone
whenever they bring up this subject.
I discussed this with my Islamic teacher and he brought a Muslim boy, who told me that he is ready
marry me….there is no need for me to declare my Islam and he would not mind if I even go to templ
once in a while “to maintain the façade”… This reply saddened me and I declined the marriage
proposal.
08. I know that Islam wants Muslim women to remain inside house. So I do not like to work outside
I am praying to Allah to grant me a Good Muslim husband, who will relieve me from this office wor
09. This is the situation in which I find myself. My only source of strength is My Allah and I always
pray and ask Him to solve my problems
10. When I see Muslim women in Delhi and other places, I get convinced that they do not value the
gift of Islam they have.
In many Muslim localities, it is not possible to find out if they are any different from Non Muslim
localities.
I advise them to read stories of Muslim women in early age of Islam and use them as their ideals.
Source: Monthly ARMAGHAN of April 2004

The Case of: IRAM FROM BIJAPUR / MEERUT, India
01. My father was Dr, ANIL MODI, he was nephew of Mr. PILOO MODI, the well known Indian
socialist leader. We belonged to BIJAPUR, KARNATAKA…. But my father who was a very good
physician and had done his MD from USA….shifted to MEERT in UP and bought a good mansion
there and started his practice there.
02. I have two brothers who were named TARIQ and SHARIQ by my father….My father liked
Muslim way of living very much. He was very fluent in Urdu and he even named his children with
Muslim sounding names.
03. I did my education upto 12th standard in BIJAPUR and then admitted to Meerut college in B. Sc.
did not face any problem in my home town, but I found the situation very bad in my new college.
Local Hindu boys would teased me and pass bad and fouls comments on me….. I got so frustrated th
I decided to forego my education.
04. I noticed however, that there was a Muslim boy in the class, who was different from all these boy
He was alone Muslim boy in the class…. But every one respected him. They would immediately
change the dirty / filthy topic they were talking about, once he was near.
05. Every one called him KALIM BHAI (and he was same Maulana KALIM UDDIN at a younger
age!!).
I used to praise him and his character to my father and he even visited my house … when I told his
about Boy’s teasing problem….he solved it in an ingenious way.
06. On the festival of RAKSHA BANDHAN (a Local Hindu festival) he asked me to go to boys
Hostel along with 25 or 30 RAKHIS. When we reached there , he called all those boys and asked m
to tie RAKHI to their hands (thereby making them my bespoken brothers, so to say). They felt very
much ashamed and I got rid of this nuisance.
07. My parents were much impressed….(Later I cleared PMT, the Medical entrance exam and
completed my MBBS and MS from London and was employed in SGPGI, Lucknow along with my
husband.)
08. I decided to learn Urdu from Kalim Bhai , my parents encouraged me, because they thought that
knowledge of Urdu is essential in good upbringing.
09. During me learning Urdu, he gave me some books about Islam and hereafter. I got convinced of
the truth and I asked my parents, If I can become a Muslim. They told me that I am a grown up
now….but I should take such decisions after deep thinking.
I decided to accept Islam and on 1st Jan 1974, I accepted Islam in the college library on the hands of
Kalim Bhai.
10. My parents and no one in my family objected on my decision. My name was already a Muslim
sounding name, so I did not have to change it.
11. I went to London in 1979 after doing my MBBS and returned from there in 1984 after doing MS
Kalim Bhai chose a very Good Muslim doctor from a respected family as my husband. He was a ve
good doctor as well as a very good Muslim and I am very happy with him.
I have three children and they are Muslim by birth, Thanks to Allah
2. On Parents.
12. My father was very impressed with Islam and Muslims, he performed my marriage with full
Islamic way and spent lot of money on it.
13. I tried to talk to him about Islam and he was half ready…..but his connections with his uncle
PILOO MODI and R.K. KARANJIA, the editor of Blitz made a mental block.
But me and my husband kept on asking him and I am thankful to Allah that both he and my mother
accepted Islam at our hands.
14. I get many patients, both Muslims and Non Muslims in course of our work. I remind Muslim
patients about their duties to Allah and I give missionary literature to Non Muslim patients.
This is having some affect and many people have accepted Islam because of our efforts, Praise be to
Allah for that
15. I and my husband, try to read as much Islamic literature as we can, we even have a sizable librar
at our house… I have read many books published on Islam. During our stay in London, we keep tra
on latest books released on Islam and we keep ourselves up to date on that.
16. I would like to convey it to all Muslims and especially women, that they should fulfill the trust
which Allah has put on them. A Muslim women also has to share the Missionary activity of Islam a
was during the days of our prophet and his companions.
The western civilization is thirsty and looking for something like Islam which we have. We should b
aware of our trust and responsibility
Source: Monthly ARMAGHAN of July 2004

IRENE (AIYESHA) WENTWORTH FITZ WILLIAM U.K.
Note: She was a noble British lady born in 1914. She went to Egypt to make a study of
Comparative religions. She got so much impressed by teachings of Islam that she became
Muslim in 1931. Following her example her younger sister also accepted Islam. She performe
Hajj in 1935. Here she writes in one of the magazines.
I am going to address more particularly to the Non Muslims who are not as well acquainted with the
noble character and life of the holy prophet.
The prophet Mohammad’s character and qualities were those which appeal especially to my own
countrymen and women, namely courage, loyalty, kindness and greatest generosity to a fallen foe.
His courage was exceptional, at the commencement of his great work, he stood entirely alone. His
clansman and people of his own tribe were against him, and he fought for his cause against apparent
overwhelming odds. It was his courage and faith in Allah that brought him victory.
Previous to the days of prophet, the Arabians had sunk to the lowest degree- drunkenness, immoralit
and idolatry were at their heights. The Kaaba which since the days of Abraham had been used as the
House of God was filled with idols of stone and wood…It was a most courageous acts of Prophet to
cleanse Makkah of those idols.
Mentioning Makkah, I should like to say here that it seems to me a grand thing that the holy cities of
Makkah and Medina are again visited by Occidentals as well as Orientals. This is as was in the days
of prophet.
Every one desires World peace, well, there is nothing which will better accomplish that than the
festival at the end of the pilgrimage at Arafat, where all nationalities, Black, White, brown Yellow, a
dressed alike, Kings, Beggars, Poor and Rich side by side, offer up one universal hymn of praise to
Allah…
The prophet banned all intoxicants. He was the first prophet to raise the status of women. Up to tha
time women had no real status, in fact, the Arabs used to bury their female babies alive. All this the
prophet stopped and instituted laws, 1356 years ago, establishing women’s rights, that alas do not ex
even today in some European countries..
To this day, In Islamic laws which the prophet introduced, a woman’s possessions, whether money,
land or anything else are her own, even her husband cannot lay a hand on them.
There is a great misconception amongst Christians as regards to women in Islam. For example many
Europeans have said to me “As per your prophet, you have no souls”. How this fallacy has crept int
the Christian imagination is incomprehensible.
(Abridged) Source:: The Islamic Review Sept. 1938 Vol. 26

Joanne Bailey, Solicitor, 30, Bradford
1. “The first time I wore my hijab into the office, I was so nervous, I stood outside on the phone to m
friend for ages going, ‘What on earth is everyone going to say?’ When I walked in, a couple of peop
asked, ‘Why are you wearing that scarf? I didn’t know you were a Muslim.’
“I’m the last person you’d expect to convert to Islam: I had a very sheltered, working-class upbringin
in South Yorkshire. I’d hardly even seen a Muslim before I went to university.
2. “In my first job at a solicitor’s firm in Barnsley, I remember desperately trying to play the role of
young, single, career woman: obsessively dieting, shopping and going to bars – but I never felt truly
comfortable.
“Then one afternoon in 2004 everything changed: I was chatting to a Muslim friend over coffee, whe
he noticed the little gold crucifix around my neck. He said, ‘Do you believe in God, then?’ I wore it
more for fashion than religion and said, ‘No, I don’t think so,’ and he started talking about his faith.
“I brushed him off at first, but his words stuck in my mind. A few days later, I found myself ordering
copy of the Koran on the internet.
3. “It took me a while to work up the courage to go to a women’s social event run by the Leeds New
Muslims group. I remember hovering outside the door thinking, ‘What the hell am I doing here?’ I
imagined they would be dressed head-to-toe in black robes: what could I, a 25-year-old, blonde
English girl, possibly have in common with them?
4. “But when I walked in, none of them fitted the stereotype of the oppressed Muslim housewife; the
were all doctors, teachers and psychiatrists. I was struck by how content and secure they seemed. It
was meeting these women, more than any of the books I read, that convinced me that I wanted to
become a Muslim.
“After four years, in March 2008, I made the declaration of faith at a friend’s house. At first, I was
anxious that I hadn’t done the right thing, but I soon relaxed into it – a bit like starting a new job
5. “A few months later, I sat my parents down and said, ‘I’ve got something to tell you.’ There was a
silence and my mum said, ‘You’re going to become Muslim, aren’t you?’ She burst into tears and ke
asking things like, ‘What happens when you get married? Do you have to cover up? What about you
job?’ I tried to reassure her that I’d still be me, but she was concerned for my welfare.
6. “Contrary to what most people think, Islam doesn’t oppress me; it lets me be the person that I was
all along. Now I’m so much more content and grateful for the things I’ve got. A few months ago, I g
engaged to a Muslim solicitor I met on a training course. He has absolutely no problem with my
career, but I do agree with the Islamic perspective on the traditional roles for men and women. I wan
to look after my husband and children, but I also want my independence. I’m proud to be British and
I’m proud to be Muslim – and I don’t see them as conflicting in any way.”
JENNEFER FYOD , USA
Jennifer was born in Dominion Republic. She was 21 and was married with three children… She wa
just reflecting on what is he purpose of life. Was she born to just live and reproduce and establish
some relation ships….The things were such when events of 9/11 happened and we pick up the story
from there…
My mother in law screamed…”Another plane crashed!!” I moved to TV screen and saw WTC
Towers crashing down. I was shocked to the core,! Is it real or am I dreaming, who could do such
acts…It was only yesterday that I was shopping in WTC!!! If it were today! May be my time to die h
not yet come…but what iis the purpose of my life.
After a few days, I heard news about another plane crash, this time AI flight 587, the same flight I to
only a week before. This was second incident which reminded me that some how I am being
saved….but for what.
Then I witnessed that Muslims in US were subject to witch hunt and insults every where. They were
taunted, labeled as Taliban and asked to go back. What is the fault of these innocent people, why the
should be subjected to these insults? These thoughts created a sort of sympathy towards Muslims in
my heart. I entered into a college for some course, which also had a number of Muslim girls. I aske
them about why they have to wear scarf and other things about Islam and Muslims, I found that they
knew very little about Islam and could not answer my queries satisfactorily.
Then I tried Internet….there I got lot of information about Islam. First I wanted to make sure that
whether Prophet Mohammad did exist or he was an imaginary personality. I learned that indeed he
existed and his life history is preserved in great details.
I was surprised to learn that God had sent another prophet after Jesus. That this prophet was last
prophet and he had brought message for whole humanity. Islam gave questions to all my doubts wh
I had about what is purpose of life and why we are here.
I decided to join prayers with Muslims in Ramadan of year 2002. The mosque was full of people of
every race color and country. It was so different from Church. Every body was greeting each other
with “SALAM ALAIKUM (May peace be with you)” At that time I did not know what it meant. I
also did not know what they do in prayer. Some one advised me to stand quite and do what others d
I was much impressed to know that all Muslims irrespective of where they live, face towards Kaaba
when they prey. This unites all Muslims to a common cause, that also was so different from
Christianity.
I decided to wear Muslim scarf as a trial, I found that it gave me a sense of protection, I was safe fro
hungry grazes. Many people told me why you wear scarf when you are not Muslim? I told it gives m
a sense of protection.
I was getting closer to Islam, but I was not sure what will be reaction of my family. I tries first on m
younger sister that I want to become a Muslim. She told that she would continue to love me, but my
parents would be very angry. My father accepted my decision (because he liked my ides on covering
up my body), my mother also agreed with my decision after few months.
I decided to become Muslim in Jan 2003. I took a bath, wore new dress with Muslim scarf and took
train to local Mosque. I told Imam my decision to accept Islam. Every one in the Mosque became
very happy, they all greeted me warmly and asked if I needed any help. I had become a member of
Islamic brotherhood!!!
That night I slept first time as a Muslim, Id dreamt, as if I was in a beautiful garden, and a very
handsome man, with unclear facial features, was greeting me. When I woke up, I thought that perso
was Prophet Mohammad, but I was told that it could be an angel, because angel of God appear as me
with unclear facial features. Allah knows Best (abridged)
41 Why I became Muslim?
Why I chose Islam, by Jemima Goldsmith When Jemima Goldsmith, the 21-year-old daughter
of billionaire Sir James, married Imran Khan she embraced not only the world’s most handsom
sportsman but also the Muslim faith, taking the name Haiqa. Here, in an exclusive account, sh
tells how she journeyed from the glamorous society of London to the austere religion of Lahore
By Jemima Goldsmith
THE media present me as a naive, besotted 21-year-old who has made a hasty decision without reall
considering the consequences - thus effectively condemning herself to a life of interminable
subservience, misery and isolation. Although I must confess I have rather enjoyed the various
depictions of a veiled and miserable "Haiqa Khan" incarcerated in chains, the reality is somewhat
different. Contrary to current opinion, my decision to convert to Islam was entirely my own choice a
in no way hurried. Whilst the act of conversion itself is surprisingly quick - entailing the simple
assertion that "there is only one God and Mohammed is His Prophet" - the preparation is not
necessarily so speedy a process.
In my case, this began last July, whilst the actual conversion took place in early February - three
months before the Nikkah in Paris. During that time, I studied in depth both the Quran and the works
of various Islamic scholars (Gai Eaton, the Bosnian president Alia Izetbegovic, Muhammad Asad) ,
thus giving me ample time to reflect before making my decision. What began as intellectual curiosity
slowly ripened into a dawning realisation of the universal and eternal truth that is Islam. In the
statement given out a week ago, I particularly stressed that I had converted to Islam entirely "through
my own convictions".
The significance of this has been largely ignored by the press. The point is that my conversion was n
as so many have assumed, a pre-requisite to my marriage. It was entirely my own choice. Religiousl
speaking, there was absolutely no compulsion for me to convert prior to my marriage. As it explicitly
states in the Quran, a Muslim is permitted to marry from "the People of the Book" - in other words,
either a Christian or a Jew. Indeed, the Sunnah - which describes the life of the Prophet - shows that
the messenger of Islam hi mself married both a Christian and a Jew during his lifetime.
I believe that much of this hostility towards my marriage and conversion stems from widespread
misconceptions about an alien culture and religion. Not only is there a huge gulf between the Wester
view of Islam and the reality, but there is in some cases also a significant distinction between Islam
based directly on the Quran and the Sunnah and that practised by some Islamic societies. During the
last year I have had the opportunity to visit Pakistan on three separate occasions and have observed
Islamic family life in practice. Thus, to some extent I now feel qualified to judge for myself the true
role and position of women in the religion. At the risk of sounding defensive, I would like to point o
that Islam is not a religion which subjugates women whilst elevating men to the status of mini-
dictators in their own homes.
I was able to see this first-hand when I met Imran’s sisters in Lahore: they are all highly educated
professional women. His oldest sister, Robina, is an alumnus of the LSE and holds a senior position
the United Nations in New York. Another sister, Aleema, has a master’s degree in business
administration and runs a successful business; Uzma is a highly qualified surgeon working in a Laho
hospital, whilst Rani is a university graduate who co-ordinates charity work. They can hardly be seen
as "women in chains" dominated by tyrannical husbands. On the contrary, they are strong-minded
independent women - yet at the same time they remain deeply committed both to their families and
their religion.
Thus, I was able to see - in theory and in practice - how Islam promotes the essential notion of the
family unit without subjugating its female members. I am nevertheless fully aware that women are
sometimes exploited and oppressed in Islamic societies, as in other parts of the world. Judging by
some of the articles which have appeared in the press, it would seem that a Western woman’s
happiness hinges largely upon her access to nightclubs, alcohol and revealing clothes; and the absenc
of such apparent freedom and luxuries in Islamic societies is seen as an infringement of her basic
rights.
However, as we all know, such superficialities have very little to do with true happiness. Besides,
without in any way wishing to disparage the culture of the Western world, into which I was born, I a
more than willing to forego the transient pleasures derived from alcohol and nightclubs; and as for th
clothes I will be wearing, I find the traditional shalwar kameez (tunic and trousers) worn by most
Pakistani women far more elegant and feminine than anything in my wardrobe. Finally, it seems futi
to speculate on my chances of marital success. Marriage, as Imranâ€™s father has been quoted as
saying, is indeed "a gamble".
However, when I see that in a society based on family life the divorce rate is just a fraction of that in
European or American society, I cannot see that my chances of success are any less than if I had
chosen to marry a Westerner. I am all too aware of the enormous task of adapting to a new and
radically different culture. But with the love of my husband and the support of his family I look
forward to the challenge wholeheartedly, and would like to feel that people wish me well. Whilst I d
appreciate the genuine concerns of many, I must confess to feeling somewhat bewildered by all of th
commotion. (
JACQUALINE RUTH (AIYESHA HASSAN) PUGH, BRITAIN
Note: Ruth has worked as a civil servant, in London. Now she works a s a Muslim missionary
Regent Park Mosque London
As a child, I used to enjoy going to Sunday School and I can remember once promising myself that I
would read the Bible from cover to cover. Several years later and after marrying and becoming the
mother of two children, I decided to go to Church one day and I noticed that I did not feel the same
warmth that I had known as a child.
There was so much happening in terms of women priests, Homosexuality and various other alarming
stories. As a child wherever I did anything wrong or felt in need of God’s help, I would go down to
nearest Church and ask God to help me and forgive me.
One night, I knelt down beside my bed and recited the Lord’s prayer. I asked God to guide me along
the right way, to forgive me and my sins, and that I had lost my faith and strayed far away from the
beliefs that I once had.
The next day, I decided to go out and buy a copy of Bible and read it from cover to cover. As I was
about to buy a Bible, I saw another religious book called the Quran. I put the Bible in place and
picked up Quran…I just looked thru it and was surprised to find the Jesus was mentioned there as we
as other prophets like Noah, Moses, Abraham and Joseph.
I was amazed to learn that Muslims believed in the same prophets as we did, so I bought the Quran a
took it home with me. I started to read it and began to realize that the guidance I had asked God the
night before was right in my hands.
As times passed on, I came to realize that the message in the Holy Quran is for all of mankind and so
became a Muslim straight away.
As many of us know, the Gospels were written many years after Jesus, furthermore these gospels hav
been rewritten many times over the years and consequently it is significantly distorted today.
It is now my opinion that if anyone requires true guidance, then they should pray and ask sincerely f
His guidance, salvation and forgiveness and in return He will Guide you towards Islam, God Willing
(Abridged) Source:: Riyadh Daily, Aug 1998, p9

Young, Female and Muslim
by Jocelyn Wiener, Times Staff Writer. © St. Petersburg Times. Published October 7, 2002
The first time 21-year-old Rose Munoz deflates the Whoopee cushion; everyone jumps, and then
begins to giggle. Rolling her eyes at her vice president's antics, 19-year-old Amal Kurdi, the presiden
calls the members of the Sisters United Muslim Association back to attention.
It is just before noon on Friday, and the young women, most of whom wear Hijab, the traditional
Muslim head covering, are simultaneously making their way through an extensive agenda (student-
teacher dinner, poetry reading, highway cleanup, beauty tips) and a veritable feast of college student
food (strawberries and Cool Whip, Keebler Chips Deluxe, carrots and ranch dressing).
One young woman, a recent convert, suggests that SUMA host a dinner for the parents of converts.
Rose, who also is a convert, embraces any opportunity to spread awareness about Islam.
"We can have different people get up and talk about why we converted, and how we faced hardship
with our parents," Rose says.
Every year, about 20,000 people in the United States convert to Islam, in addition to those who conv
in prison, according to a study conducted last year by the Council on American-Islamic Relations. O
these converts, there are more women than men, the majority of them young and unmarried, says
Hodan Hassan, spokeswoman for CAIR. They come to Islam because they have Muslim co-workers
and friends, because they have Muslim boyfriends, or because they start studying and find they agree
with the tenets of a religion that emphasizes modesty and community.
In the past year, Muslim women have frequently been called upon to defend their role in their faith.
But young women who convert to Islam often face an additional challenge: persuading their families
to accept their decisions. Islam insists that people maintain close family ties and show respect for the
parents. For those who are going against their parents' wishes merely by practicing Islam, negotiating
balance can prove difficult…
Rose did not intend to wear the scarf. But slowly, she started covering her hair with baseball caps.
Then she moved on to bandanas. Her Muslim friends assured her that when she was ready to wear
Hijab, she would know. The day she put it on, Rose felt liberated.
"I used to dress very provocatively," she says. "People say, "Don't you miss it?' What do I miss? I
gained something. I don't get gawked at by random men anymore."
Rose says her parents, however, were horrified by her decision to wear Hijab.
"You chose your religion over us," she says they told her. "People will discriminate against you.
You're making yourself a third-rate citizen." She says her father calls her every time he hears about a
attack on a Muslim. By wearing Hijab, he tells her, "You've basically painted a bull's-eye on you
saying "shoot me.'"
Her younger sister, a 15-year-old high school sophomore who wants to be a movie star, asked her,
"How are you going to heaven?"
Rose Munoz moves so naturally in her elegant peach-colored Hijab and her matching loose-fitting
julbab that it seems surprising her first exposure to Islam took place only three years ago. A friend le
her a copy of the Koran. Rose flipped through it a bit, read maybe five pages, then put it away.
Although she had been baptized twice -- by Roman Catholics in New York and Baptists in St.
Petersburg -- Rose hadn't felt comfortable in either faith. She was scolded for asking too many
questions and gossiped about for wearing tight clothes and partying.
By the time she started studying at USF, Rose had long since stopped attending church. She began
seeing groups of young women, their hair covered with Hijab, walking together around campus. She
started looking for them at the library every Friday. On one of these Fridays, Sept. 3, 1999, a month
into her freshman year, Rose approached them.
"I really want a "head thing' and to come to the mosque if you guys will take me," she blurted out.
Amal, who remains one of Rose's best friends, was in that group. The girls brought Rose home, gave
her appropriate clothing, and invited her to join them for Friday prayers at the mosque.
"It was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen," Rose remembers. "It was so calming and so peaceful.
Everybody was bowing down and praying. I'd always been at churches where the front pews were
reserved for the people who gave the most money."
When the prayers were over, Rose looked at Amal. "I want to convert right now," she said. "Are you
sure?" Amal asked.
"This is it," Rose answered. She could feel it.
Rose's struggle to defend her faith to her family was intensified by the climate of fear that many
Muslims experienced in the aftermath of Sept. 11. Despite such difficulties, in the 13 months since
Sept. 11, many Muslim groups have noticed an increase in new converts.
"We've seen a surge of interest in Islam," says Altaf Ali, director of CAIR Florida, "and as that surge
increases, so does the conversion ratio." Britney Johnson, a 17-year-old senior at Durant High Schoo
is one of the new converts. Raised in a Baptist family, the fourth of seven children, she had the same
initial reaction as many of her peers in the aftermath of Sept. 11.
"I thought we should turn the Middle East into a parking lot," she remembers. But at that time,
Britney's family lived next door to a Muslim family, and Britney was friendly with many of the
neighbors' children. So she bought The Idiot's Guide to Islam, and started studying. That was in
November 2001. After a few months, a friend gave her Amal's phone number. Britney started
attending Sunday classes at the mosque. She converted this past August. "I was nervous, dizzy," she
says. "This has been the most incredible month of my life."
[Times photo: Ken Helle. Converts take classes and study books such as the Sahih Muslim, a
collection of sayings and deeds by the Muslim prophet Mohammad.]
Britney says that if she could choose to clarify one misconception about Islam, she would explain th
women are not oppressed. She says her family has accepted her conversion "pretty well." "It's so
opposite from what we hear on the news," she says. "In my world religions class, people say, "Wow,
never knew Islam was so close to Judaism and Christianity.'"
Muslim leaders are also quick to dispel many of the myths surrounding the role women play in Islam
Hassan of CAIR says many of these stereotypes arise from the incorrect understanding "that we're
voiceless, that it is mandated in Islam that we have no rights, that we're chattel."
Sofian Abdelaziz, director of the American Muslim Association of North America, says that Islam
emphasizes the importance of women's education.
"In the mosque, women are supposed to be active, to teach," he says. "The daughter of the prophet
used to teach Islam, even to men." Hassan says actions taken by specific governments, especially
Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia, have led many people in the West to believe Islam is a misogynistic
faith, when in fact those governments are breaking Islamic law. Hassan notes that Indonesia, the
largest Muslim country, has a female president, Egypt and Jordan have a higher percentage of femal
engineers and doctors than the United States, and a larger percentage of women sit in the Iranian
parliament than in the U.S. Congress.
"There is no compulsion -- and this is in the Koran -- in faith," she says. "You give people the option
to cover. If you force them, it goes against Islam."
For many young women, the emphasis on modesty is a crucial reason for their attraction to Islam. Ju
three weeks ago, Arrica Clark's life was, by her own estimation, a mess. "I used to be real boy crazy,
wearing those little shorts," says the 27-year-old single mother, as she sits in McDonald's watching
three of her four small children play with Happy Meal figurines. The father of 6-year-old Kashayla a
5-year-old Lonnie sends Arrica some child support. The father of 3-year-old Jamellah and 14-month
old Fatima does not. To make ends meet, Arrica works as a cashier at a local U-Save, leaving the
children in government-subsidized day care.
Stressed from what she calls "living in the world," she says she used to "cuss like a sailor" at work an
scream at her children at home. As a high school student, Arrica had known some Muslim girls and
had once tried wearing Hijab. She had taken it off after three days because she was confused. The
father of Jamellah and Fatima is Muslim, and had encouraged Arrica to consider Islam. Arrica had
only been with her most recent boyfriend for two months when she became pregnant with a fifth chi
due in April. Her boyfriend hit her. She kicked him out. A few days later, she went to an open house
the mosque, and said shahada, the prayer for accepting Islam.
"I felt like a whole new person," she says. "I felt clean. Men can't holler at me," she adds. "I don't mi
that part." Her father, who is Christian, doesn't know she converted. She doesn't think he'd approve.
[Times photo: Ken Helle. Amal Kurdi, center, in discussion with Taqwa Aquil, left, and Anna
Harbaoui at the end of their Islamic conversion class.]
Rose still plays soccer with other SUMA members, still rides horseback, still visits Busch Gardens,
still eats pizza and watches movies and dances when she is alone with her friends. What she misses
most, she says, is a normal relationship with her family. She believes that, with time, such a
relationship is possible. "My mom loves me so much she'll buy me scarves sometimes," Rose smiles
"My grandmother gave me a beautiful, velvet embroidered scarf. They'll respect my prayer, but at th
same time ask, "Why are you so fanatical?"
In the shadowy side room of the al-Qassam mosque in north Tampa, 10 young women sit in a semi-
circle on the beige and brown-striped carpet. A fan whirs overhead, gently stirring the flowing scarv
-- ivory, violet, cobalt, sage -- that conceal heads of blond, brown and black hair. Loose dresses, wor
for modesty, drape gracefully over bodies thick and thin.
It is Sunday, just after noon, and Amal and her friend Taqwa Aquil are leading a weekly class, with
support from Rose and Jennifer Valko, a quiet 20-year-old who converted two years ago and is co-vi
president of SUMA. The more recent converts, including Arrica and Britney, mostly listen and ask
questions. "What if you haven't prayed and it's time to go to sleep?" asks Britney. "I've heard it's bett
not to pray tired," Rose says. "That's true, but you should take the necessary steps, set an alarm," Am
replies. They talk about the prayer for guidance. "This might sound silly, but I'm a dorky student and
do it before I take a test," Amal confesses. "If I'm all stressed out, I tell myself, I studied, I did what
can, and now I'm just leaving it to him to help me through."
"You know what's cool?" Rose says, looking up. "In the Koran, Allah's mercy is greater than his wra
All these prayers are really long, but the one for forgiveness is really simple."
At 2 p.m., the imam chants the call to prayer. The young women stand in a row, their eyes closed, th
heads bowed. Slowly, quiet sounds penetrate the silence of the mosque -- the whirring of the fan, the
cries of children outside, the rustle of dresses as the young women kneel, bow, kneel, stand, and the
sound of the imam's voice, calling the name of Allah.
Liberating: Kristiane Backer says being a Muslim makes her life purer
Lynne converted aged 19. ‘From that day, I started wearing the hijab,’ she explains, ‘and I now neve
show my hair in public. At home, I’ll dress in normal Western clothes in front of my husband, but
never out of the house.’
With a recent YouGov survey concluding that more than half the British public believe Islam to be a
negative influence that encourages extremism, the repression of women and inequality, one might as
why any of them would choose such a direction for themselves.
Yet statistics suggest Islamic conversion is not a mere flash in the pan but a significant development
Islam is, after all, the world’s fastest growing religion, and white adopters are an important part of th
story.
‘Evidence suggests that the ratio of Western women converts to male could be as high as 2:1,’ says
Kevin Brice.
Moreover, he says, often these female converts are eager to display the visible signs of their faith —
particular the hijab — whereas many Muslim girls brought up in the faith choose not to.
‘Perhaps as a result of these actions, which tend to draw attention, white Muslims often report greate
amounts of discrimination against them than do born Muslims,’ adds Brice, which is what happened
Kristiane Backer.
She says: ‘In Germany, there is Islamophobia. I lost my job when I converted. There was a Press
campaign against me with insinuations about all Muslims supporting terrorists — I was vilified. Now
I am a presenter on NBC Europe.
‘I call myself a European Muslim, which is different to the ‘born’ Muslim. I was married to one, a
Moroccan, but it didn’t work because he placed restrictions on me because of how he’d been brough
up. As a European Muslim, I question everything — I don’t accept blindly.
‘But what I love is the hospitality and the warmth of the Muslim community. London is the best plac
in Europe for Muslims, there is wonderful Islamic culture here and I am very happy.’
For some converts, Islam represents a celebration of old-fashioned family values.
KARIMA BRINNS , USA
I belonged to a Christian family living in IOWA in the Mid West. If you know, Church is very
powerful in Mid West and no can live in peace by ignoring Church there. I had a religious bent of
mind and used to go regularly to the Church and listen to the sermons.
But I had a belief that God is only one, He alone is present everywhere and is Most Powerful. While
in Church we practically worshipped Jesus and we could reach God only thru the personality of Jesu
Secretly I believed in only one God. Then I used to listen to all sweet talks in Church, but when I us
to come out of Church, I would find a totally different world.
How come Church has no influence in personal life of people, why we have to go to Church only on
Sunday, that too for a short period and have the rest of week to ourselves? There were many such
questions, which would come into my mind and did not get any reply. If I asked priests, they would
tell me that religion and intellect are not related. Just believe what is written. Then I was troubled b
so many contradictions in various versions of the Bible. When I asked our local priest, he replied
“How does it matter, any way?”
It was in this state of mind that I graduated from high school and before joining college, I took a tour
of Europe. May be I could find some answers to these questions during my tour of different Europea
countries.
I was in Spain, visiting ALHAMRA Mosque in Granada, when my I suddenly felt fascinated by the
most beautiful calligraphy I ever saw. Pillars and walls were decorated with it. I watched for much
time and asked the local guide, what language is this? Arabic he replied. I collected every tourist
information in Arabic thru out my tour of Spain and other European countries.
In University, I took Arabic as a special subject (I had only two more students in the class), the
teachers felt troubled my showing this much attention to this language. I used to do my home work
with the Calligraphic pen and even visited Muslim locality in Chicago to get more samples of Arabic
righting. In my second year I took Mid eastern studies and attended many lectures where this was
discussed. I even attended special lectures on Quran.
Once I took the English Translation of Quran to my home for homework, I was so fascinated by it, th
I went on reading like a Novel. It answered many of my doubts which I had from my earlier days. I
told me as to how to live for other six days of the week.
I went to my teacher, to get more books by the same author. He told me that I was reading the Engli
Translation of Quran, and as per Muslims the author is God Himself and there are no sequels to it!!
Muslims believe that this book is preserved as it was revealed and no changes have been done to it.
This was a new thing for me.
I decided to learn more about Islam and see a Muslim country by my own eyes. I visited Egypt and
spent most of my time seeing mosques, Arabic Calligraphy and listening to Quran being recited in
most beautiful of all tones.
So much so that one day…one Muslim asked me “If you are so much interested in Islam and Arabic
why did not I become Muslim?”.
“But I am already a Muslim!!” I told him. He then told me that to be officially recognized as a
Muslim, I have to declare my faith in front of two witnesses…I did so and they gave me a
certificate…. I kept is along with all other Arabic literature I had with me…..I was Muslim long
back….Arabic and Quran had converted me long back (abridged).
KARIMA BRINNS , USA
I belonged to a Christian family living in IOWA in the Mid West. If you know, Church is very
powerful in Mid West and no can live in peace by ignoring Church there. I had a religious bent of
mind and used to go regularly to the Church and listen to the sermons.
But I had a belief that God is only one, He alone is present everywhere and is Most Powerful. While
in Church we practically worshipped Jesus and we could reach God only thru the personality of Jesu
Secretly I believed in only one God. Then I used to listen to all sweet talks in Church, but when I us
to come out of Church, I would find a totally different world.
How come Church has no influence in personal life of people, why we have to go to Church only on
Sunday, that too for a short period and have the rest of week to ourselves? There were many such
questions, which would come into my mind and did not get any reply. If I asked priests, they would
tell me that religion and intellect are not related. Just believe what is written. Then I was troubled b
so many contradictions in various versions of the Bible. When I asked our local priest, he replied
“How does it matter, any way?”
It was in this state of mind that I graduated from high school and before joining college, I took a tour
of Europe. May be I could find some answers to these questions during my tour of different Europea
countries.
I was in Spain, visiting ALHAMRA Mosque in Granada, when my I suddenly felt fascinated by the
most beautiful calligraphy I ever saw. Pillars and walls were decorated with it. I watched for much
time and asked the local guide, what language is this? Arabic he replied. I collected every tourist
information in Arabic thru out my tour of Spain and other European countries.
In University, I took Arabic as a special subject (I had only two more students in the class), the
teachers felt troubled my showing this much attention to this language. I used to do my home work
with the Calligraphic pen and even visited Muslim locality in Chicago to get more samples of Arabic
righting. In my second year I took Mid eastern studies and attended many lectures where this was
discussed. I even attended special lectures on Quran.
Once I took the English Translation of Quran to my home for homework, I was so fascinated by it, th
I went on reading like a Novel. It answered many of my doubts which I had from my earlier days. I
told me as to how to live for other six days of the week.
I went to my teacher, to get more books by the same author. He told me that I was reading the Engli
Translation of Quran, and as per Muslims the author is God Himself and there are no sequels to it!!
Muslims believe that this book is preserved as it was revealed and no changes have been done to it.
This was a new thing for me.
I decided to learn more about Islam and see a Muslim country by my own eyes. I visited Egypt and
spent most of my time seeing mosques, Arabic Calligraphy and listening to Quran being recited in
most beautiful of all tones.
So much so that one day…one Muslim asked me “If you are so much interested in Islam and Arabic
why did not I become Muslim?”.
“But I am already a Muslim!!” I told him. He then told me that to be officially recognized as a
Muslim, I have to declare my faith in front of two witnesses…I did so and they gave me a
certificate…. I kept is along with all other Arabic literature I had with me…..I was Muslim long
back….Arabic and Quran had converted me long back (abridged).
Dr. KAMLA SURAYYA DAS , Kerala India
Dr. Das was a well respected poet and writer in Malayalam language. She was born in 1934. Her
conversion to Islam in 1999 caused a furor in Indian and World Media. Before her conversion to
Islam, she was well respected at all levels, but after her conversion all sorts of accusations were
leveled at her. Here she provides her own response to these accusations.
Yes, let the world know that I have become a Muslim. Islam which is a religion of peace and love.
Islam which is a perfect code of life. Moreover, I have not reached this decision emotionally or
suddenly, I have studied Islam with lot of care and consideration for a long time.
After my careful studies, I reached to the conclusion that it is Islam which gives maximum protectio
and rights to women. One of the best part of Islam is that instead of worshipping innumerable gods
Hinduism, I am worshipping only One God, the True God, who is my Creator and Sustainer.
I was very much attracted by the Muslim women dress code especially the BURQA (a type of Hijab
popular in Indian subcontinent). It saves women from hungry grazes of men. It gives them protectio
I was using this dress occasionally for past 34 years while going for shopping, going out and even on
some foreign tours. I found that every one respects a women clad in BURQA and no one teases her.
Islam has given maximum freedom and rights to women and thru out history, there was no system w
gave more rights to women than Islam. She has been given rights as a daughter, sister, wife and as a
mother.
I do not think that it is slavery for women to reside inside in her house and take care of her husband
and children and contribute in making a happy family life. No system can work unless there be som
sort of restriction and bounds on one’s action and Islamic system also provides that. It is not Islam b
social inequalities which has usurped rights of women. The blame should be placed on these
inequalities rather than on Islam.
I want to introduce Islam in this new millennium as a living and true religion, a religion which is bas
on science, reason and logic. I wish o dedicate my talents of poetry in the praise of Allah and His
religion. I am now in advance age, but I say that in my experience I never felt the peace and
tranquility in my entire life, like what I felt after accepting Islam (abridged and based on many
interviews).
A Revert Story by KIMM HENRY
I have been asked by many people to tell my personal story about coming to Islam. .. I have
attempted to write my story many times and had become thwarted in my efforts many times over. As
professional writer and editor it seemed to me that the task should have come easy but because of my
background I expect stories to read with a certain beauty that evaded each attempt.
Growing up religion wasn’t a large part of our family’s priorities. Although I vaguely knew that
Christmas was a celebration of the birth of Jesus, PBUH. I never earnestly associated the rituals with
religion. My earliest memories involve church. Intermittently between the ages of three and four my
mother’ s third husband, Tony, made a big show of Sunday morning services. …
In my fifth year my mother along with myself and my brother and two baby sisters moved in with m
grandmother after her husband had beaten her senseless in our presence. .. In my eighth year, I wa
selected along with six other top students from my third grade class, to spend the day at my teacher’s
house. The main portion of the day was to be spent bar-be-queuing and swimming but since it was
Sunday the morning would start at church were my beloved teacher, who would later die of sickle ce
anemia, was the choir director.
Incidentally, it was in that same period that I heard the word Muslim. There was a very beautiful
exotic lady on the television news. She was wearing a lacy square of fabric on hair of which such
luster I had never seen before. My grandmother began railing to no one in particular that they claim
be so liberated yet she’s the queen but can’t even appear on television without that thing on her
head….
It was at this time that I also heard the word Jew. I had to research a guy named Hitler because
apparently these Muslims wanted to do to me what that guy did to those people. I also thought that J
was a nationality. Which I learned later was the general consensus of all good white Christians.
That same year my mother married a man who apparently married her for her four young daughters
was just coming into my womanly body and was often the subject of his attention, which resulted in
severe beatings that for whatever reasons my mother turned a blind eye to. …
It was in college that I first saw a Muslim person in flesh. The word Islam would come many years
later. There were no Muslimas in the school that I knew of but it seemed the tables at the rear of the
commissary were reserved strictly for these beautiful exotic young men and their occasional bombsh
American consorts …
At age sixteen I had become sort of the campus mascot often toting my little daughter to various stu
groups and commitments. Nick and I became friends with a young man, who I thought was a Muslim
that had bumped into me in the hall one afternoon when I had my little girl in tow and made sweet
with her offering her ice cream and such. Eventually I agreed to go out with him. Omar was tall,
handsome, and kind. Soon we became a regular couple. ..
Just after my nineteenth year, near Christmas time, I was engaged in a discussion with a colleague w
was Catholic from Columbia, South America and used the term Holy Days instead of holidays. I beg
questioning her about this wanting to know what her views and doctrines were. I learned that althoug
Catholic the people from South America have a slightly different version. …
On a rainy morning in March in my twenty-seventh year, I read the Quran again and resolved to fin
out what I was missing. I spent three days tracking down a Masjid was denied entrance into two of
them; the first I believe was Nation of Islam, the second I don’t know. I was told that a meeting was
taking place within and that if I would go to this place the sisters would help me. Uneasy I didn’t
follow the door guards advise. Finally, I found the Islamic Society. I didn’t need to be asked if I
wanted to say shahada, I was there to be told what I needed to do. And took the shahada that very da
I returned home feeling light and uplifted. I told my husband what I had done but by now he was as
disinterested in my pursuits as I was of his opinions. In reality I suppose one could say that I was
weekend Muslim. I lived a secular life at home and attended Masjid on the weekend sometimes totin
the children along.
One day my little daughter said to me, “Mommy, it’s hard to be nice when everyone is always yellin
around you.” She was four years old. I knew that I had to get out. I was divorced in my thirty-seco
year. Initially I stayed away from the Masjid after my divorce because of the misinformation that I
received, renewed and expanded my study of Islam.
The summer directly after my divorce was final I visited Pakistan to work on a research project
concerning the orphans of Kashmir as well as orphans throughout Pakistan and also spent time in
Dubai.
Over these years I have come to know that every experience that I have is a part of something so
much bigger than me and I feel the strength of Allah’s care not only for me but his entire creation an
yet I also feel grave pain from recognizing how difficult it is for the Muslims to come together and
fulfill their destinies as the khalifa’s of this earth due to the many and deep divisions in our commun
as Muslims disenfranchise their brothers and sisters by having the audacity to claim to be the one
group that is righteous. .
Karen's Testimony
I was born whole and healthy on July 8, 1960. I was second eldest of what would be seven siblings,
which naturally placed me into a life of observation and responsibility, as I began to help my mother
with the younger children.
My mother, who was herself very spiritual, had converted to the Roman Catholic religion after a
miraculous experience early in her adult life, and my father had always been a devout catholic. The
churches we attended (every Sunday) seemed always to have been unique and not quite the normal
traditional teachings of the Catholic church so that I got a very "universal" teaching of the messages
Jesus with the emphasis being on God and His kingdom in heaven (not on Jesus as God). It was a
requirement back in my early days for young girls and women to wear a scarf or some type of head
covering when we attended church services. At Catholic School, we girls also were required to wear
specific type of head cover at all times.
I went to a Baptist affiliated college where studying the Bible was a requirement. Much to my surpri
(and delight), however, "The Bible" was taught as an historical artifact, an archeological piece of
literature. The class was taught by an ordained Methodist minister who also happened to be a very
learned and well-respected archaeologist. He taught us all about the many modifications and literary
styles of the bible, how you could tell that the various books and sections of the Bible had actually
been written at different periods over very long stretches of time, and how it has so many different
versions now. He told us about how the monks used to edit the texts according to political
requirements of the time (and that those original and edited versions have now been uncovered), or
how often times words were simply mistakenly translated incorrectly, etc. Needless to say, the class
material was a shocking, but enlightening experience.
In 1983 I graduated college and received a degree in Special Education. …I spent 2 years teaching
before I met my future husband, a seemingly pious, devout Catholic who was not only gentle, kind a
giving, but highly intelligent and insightful. Everything seemed perfect, in fact, he seemed to have
been "heaven sent". We met in the church where he had been assigned to work for the summer and w
came to have many long philosophical conversations about life and family. …
Six years after we had been married, and having had to quit work because of the pregnancy, my
husband and I agreed that I should stay home to raise the twins. After this the domestic violence and
abuse would escalate, despite my constant pleas to God for help, and despite many varied attempts to
make the marriage work. ..After several years of this abuse in my marriage and especially after one
particular nightmarish event (my 9 month old babies and I almost lost our lives in a car accident the
cause of which would have been the drunken and drugged out hands of my husband), I lost my
connection to God and fell into a state of numbness. … Four more years of the worst abuse in my
marriage passed before I finally broke free from my husband. Finally, ..
I happened to meet a fellow on the internet who I began to have long philosophical discussions with.
He was from another country originally and I found it comforting to find that in his country children
are raised as I was. After a month of chatting with him and finding that his beliefs were extremely
similar to mine, he told me that he is a Muslim.
Here I was, 35 years old, and this was my first ever meeting an actual Muslim. All I knew was that
cursory coverage of the subject of Islam in the World Religions classes and that the word Muslim wa
synonymous with "terrorist". Now I was certainly stuck with a mix of emotions! Fear mixed with tha
famous curiosity, plus admiration for what he was telling me he practices in his life. I had spoken to
him just long enough to crave more knowledge. He gave me my first book of Islam, .. That book lea
to another, to another, to another and another until finally I found myself trembling from a mixture o
emotions. I wanted to say that this was my religion.
I decided, too, that before I get into this any further, it was incumbent upon me to see just exactly ho
this religion was put into practice… The scarves saved me from the painful earaches and so I was
wearing one when I entered the mosque for the first time. .. A sister came through the door. I looked
her, she looked at me and immediately I just KNEW it was the woman I had spoken to on the phone
they were so happy to meet me, see me there, and invited me to stay and observe the prayers.
On Friday nights and Saturday mornings, I began attending classes. …One night I arrived early and
found inside the cabinets of the study room a library FULL of books of all sizes and in various
languages. My attention was drawn to one particularly FAT book and as I pulled it from the shelf, I
realized it was an English translation of the Qur'an! WOW! Great!
It was reading the Qur'an that finally gave me the final -- what should I call it? -- that final percentag
of doubt removed. Here in the pages of the Qur'an were explanations of dreams I had had, the vision
on rosary meditations, life events, thoughts, scientific things, miraculous things, etc. Once I had begu
reading the Qur'an (I didn't have to read it all to know this), I was certain that it was an authentic Ho
Book, divinely revealed. It was too complete, too sublime, too eloquent, too beautiful to have been
from the hand or mind of man without having come first from the only One who could know all this
The next time I went to the mosque, I asked one of the sisters what was involved in converting to
Islam. Were there special classes for a specified amount of time I would have to complete? (This is s
for Catholicism...I automatically thought it would be so for Islam, or any other religion for that
matter). Was there some special ceremony?
I was told that all I needed to do was have it sincerely in my heart and say in front of at least two oth
practicing and sincere Muslims that "I believe there is no God but God and Muhammad was his
messenger". I could even say it in English if I wanted to.
The following night, much to my surprise, the mosque was literally filled to the brim with people. It
was the eve of Ashura and maybe 1500 or 2000 Muslims had come in from all over California to
commemorate that day, that battle, which was so important for the revival of Islam in the world. Wh
a perfect night to take shehadah! I stood there and read in Arabic from a tiny piece of paper I held
between my fingers "Ashadu an la illaha Ilallah; ashahdu an Muhammadun Rasululah." I had not hea
the actual pronunciation of it, so I was unsure if I had recited it correctly. When I looked up, I saw th
everyone was crying. The moderator for the evening was choking back tears as well, and asked that
the sisters come to the front, to the stage where I stood, and welcome me to the family of Islam.
All I remember at that point was a sea of women, crying, smiling, kissing me, hugging me, rocking m
back and forth, telling me things in their language that I couldn't understand. I was overwhelmed and
was 45 minutes or more before the last sister came up to express her joy and extend the warmth of he
heart. I remember the feeling this way: Imagine being in a room with 2000 of your favorite
grandmother. One old woman took my face in her hands, kissed my cheeks and through tears of joy
and broken English said, "You will be so happy!"
And I am... Karen
UKHT KALEEM ULLAH , PAKISTAN
After hearing so many stories from newly converts to Islam, here is one story by a Muslim Women,
who re-discovered Islam. This could be the tale of many Muslims who are living in western countrie
and even in so called Muslim countries. We present this story for benefits of both Muslim and Non
Muslim readers.
I was a Muslim Girl brought up in USA. My parents knew nothing about Islam and we all were
Muslims only in name. My parents never used to prey and even did not knew how to prey. There
were no fasts observed in our house. We did not know how to read Quran. My parents would leave
for job in the morning and would return late in the evening. They had no time for their children to
teach them any thing. In the same way, our brothers and sisters also did not have much interaction.
Every one was busy living in his or her individual lives. We grew up in this atmosphere and some o
my sisters even got married. I also grew up and after completing my college education joined
University.
All this changed when our Grandma came to visit us from Pakistan. She was a very pious and
religious lady and she literally wept when she saw the atmosphere of our house. She used to remind
about out duties and lives as a Muslim, but none of us had any time or inclination for such talks.
She objected on the matter of my dress and clothes in which I used to go to university…..so much so
that one day I got really angry and slapped her on her face before I left the house…
That day I felt distraught about my behavior and injustice I had done to her….that night I could not
sleep. I went to her room late in the night to apologize to her. She was just free from late night
prayer….she hugged me and forgave me.
Then slowly and slowly I got attracted towards her and her talks. I learned as to how to prey and how
to recite Quran. I started preying regularly. I still went to University in Western clothes, but soon I
decided to go in full Islamic dress.
Well, my first day was not that good. All my friends started making fun of me…they would taunt us
and call me names….I was branded as a terrorist….when I entered any room, some one would remar
that she should be searched….may be she has a bomb underneath these clothes!!
My parents became very angry on me and my Grandma. Then one day we had a party in our home.
My parents told me to dress in Western Clothes, otherwise their friend would make fun of him. Whe
I entered in full Islamic dress…then my father got very angry and beat me and drove me and my
Grandma out of the house for good.
I borrowed some money from one of my friend and me and my Grandma returned back to Pakistan.
is more than three years since that incident and my parents have never even phoned once to know
about our welfare.
But I thank Allah that He saved me from that evil environment and I have found true path. I prey to
Allah to show right path to my parents and my brother and sisters also. May be my story would be a
eye opener to those who are dazzled by the glamour and outside beauty of Modern Western Society.
Escape route: Former DJ Lynne Ali is happy to pray five times a day
‘The big mistake people make is by confusing culture with religion. Yes, there are Muslim cultures
which do not allow women individual freedom, yet when I was growing up, I felt more oppressed by
Western society.’
She talks of the pressure on women to act like men by drinking and having casual sex. ‘There was no
real meaning to it all. In Islam, if you begin a relationship, that is a commitment of intent.’
Growing up in Southampton — her father was the director of Southampton Institute of Education an
her mother a home economics teacher — Camilla’s interest in Islam began at school.
She went to university and later took a Masters degree in Middle East Studies. But it was while livin
and working in Syria that she had a spiritual epiphany. Reflecting on what she’d read in the Koran, s
realised she wanted to convert.
Her decision was met with bemusement by friends and family.
‘People found it so hard to believe that an educated, middle-class white woman would choose to
become Muslim,’ she says.
While Camilla’s faith remains strong, she no longer wears the hijab in public. But several of the
women I spoke to said strict Islamic dress was something they found empowering and liberating.
Lynne Ali remembers the night this hit home for her. ‘I went to an old friend’s 21st birthday party in
bar,’ she reveals. ‘I walked in, wearing my hijab and modest clothing, and saw how everyone else ha
so much flesh on display. They were drunk, slurring their words and dancing provocatively.
‘For the first time, I could see my former life with an outsider’s eyes, and I knew I could never go ba
to that.
‘I am so grateful I found my escape route. This is the real me — I am happy to pray five times a day
and take classes at the mosque. I am no longer a slave to a broken society and its expectations.’
Kristiane Backer, who has written a book on her own spiritual journey, called From MTV To Mecca
believes the new breed of modern, independent Muslims can band together to show the world that
Islam is not the faith I grew up in — one that stamps on the rights of women.
She says: ‘I know women born Muslims who became disillusioned an d rebelled against it. When yo
dig deeper, it’s not the faith they turned against, but the culture.
'Rules like marrying within the same sect or caste and education being less important for girls, as the
should get married anyway —– where does it say that in the Koran? It doesn’t.
‘Many young Muslims have abandoned the “fire and brimstone” version they were born into have re
discovered a more spiritual and intellectual approach, that’s free from the cultural dogmas of the old
generation. That’s how I intend to spend my life, showing the world the beauty of the true Islam.’
While I don’t agree with their sentiments, I admire and respect the women I interviewed for this piec
They were all bright and educated, and have thought long and hard before choosing to convert to Isla
— and now feel passionately about their adopted religion. Good luck to them. And good luck to
Lauren Booth. But it’s that word that sums up the difference between their experience and mine —
choice.
Perhaps if I’d felt in control rather than controlled, if I’d felt empowered rather than stifled, I would
still be practising the religion I was born into, and would not carry the burden of guilt that I do about
rejecting my father’s faith.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1324039/Like-Lauren-Booth-ARE-modern-
British-career-women-converting-Islam.html#ixzz13ZqKdE7B
Blair's sister-in-law converts to Islam
TOI, October 25, 2010

LONDON: Former British prime minister Tony Blair's sister-in-law Lauren Booth revealed over the
weekend that she has converted to Islam. Booth, who is half-sister to Cherie Blair and a Catholic by
birth, switched faith after a recent visit to Iran. A human rights campaigner and journalist, she works
for Press TV, Iran's 24-hour English language international news channel.
News of Booth's conversion surfaced after she was showcased at a rally here under the banner of
Global Peace and Unity 2010, attended by several Islamic hardliners. It was a propaganda coup for
those who militantly propagate Islam.
Booth (43), who has once figured in a reality television contest, told a section of British media, ``I ha
a delightful experience at a Muslim shrine in Iran six weeks ago. I now pray five times a day and
occasionally go to a mosque. And I haven't had an alcoholic drink for 45 days.''
Booth now covers her head and neck with hijab when outside her home (and doesn't rule out wearing
burqa in future), no longer eats pork and reads the Quran every day. She conceded that her decision t
convert might create a controversy. ``Every action sparks a reaction,'' she said.
Cherie Blair, a practicing Catholic, and her husband Tony, who converted from the Church of Engla
to Roman Catholicism in 2007, were unavailable for comment.
Last month, Booth accused Blair of lacking impartiality in his current role as Middle East envoy.
Having earlier protested against Britain's involvement in the 2003 United Stated-led invasion of Iraq
she said her brother-in-law could not be a balanced negotiator between Palestinians and Israelis
because he was prejudiced against Muslims.
In a letter published in the Morning Star, a communist daily, she described participating in a rally in
Iran where mothers reportedly wept over deaths in Palestinian cities like Rafah and Nablus. "Do you
recognise these place names, Tony?'' she asked. `` Israel has massacred children in all these cities in
recent years,'' she reminded him.
Convert: Lauren Booth, who is Cherie Blair's half sister, decided to convert to Islam after what she
described as a holy experience in Iran
According to Kevin Brice from Swansea University, who has specialised in studying white conversio
to Islam, these women are part of an intriguing trend.
He explains: ‘They seek spirituality, a higher meaning, and tend to be deep thinkers. The other type o
women who turn to Islam are what I call “converts of convenience”. They’ll assume the trappings of
the religion to please their Muslim husband and his family, but won’t necessarily attend mosque, pra
or fast.’
I spoke to a diverse selection of white Western converts in a bid to re-examine the faith I had rejecte
Women like Kristiane Backer, 43, a London-based former MTV presenter who had led the kind of
liberal Western-style life that I yearned for as a teenager, yet who turned her back on it and embraced
Islam instead. Her reason? The ‘anything goes’ permissive society that I coveted had proved to be a
superficial void.
LORENZ (AIYESHA) AL SAEED, USA
One day when I was six years old, my parents gave me a shiny quarter, and told me to put it in the
collection plate for Church “to give it to Jesus for his work”
When I returned the quarter was still in my pocket, because I frankly told my parents that Jesus was
not there!! My parents were more amused than concerned…
I had descended in a family that had three Christian ministers as my grandparents….I attended al
Episcopal Private School, where we studied world religions during our last term.
Trinity was a point which I never understood, I felt it was not logical. How could one Father (the
Great Spirit), plus His Son (Jesus) and one Holy Ghost all be together as one, inside one being?
It was logically impossible, and I had been raised to use rational thoughts to make decision in my
life…I continued reading Bible every night with my father after dinner, looking for answers and
enjoying stories of historical prophets.
In high school I met some more students from the Middle East, who sensing my inner dissatisfaction
asked me if I had ever learned about Islam. I found some books on Islam in school library, including
English Translation of Quran.
My grandfather encouraged me to read these books as according to him, Islam contained a good mor
code of living..
The more I read, the more my understanding and excitement grew. I found the answers to all my
questions and more!
At the age of 17 I began regular Prayers (SALAT) and even completed my first month of fasting…
That summer I took the train to Bloomington Indiana to attend Muslim students lectures and
seminars…I stayed in campus with other Muslims for a week….
I moved to Houston to seek employment….one evening at an international costume party I met a pol
gentleman whom I later found to be an intelligent Saudi Student. We married shortly and thru him
God has let my dreams come true.
We have three children and he has taken me to perform hajj. I am content and satisfied and greatly
thankful to the Almighty God for accepting my paryers…
(Abridged) Source:: Saudi Gazette 13 April 2001, p9

Aqeela Lindsay Wheeler, Housewife and mother, 26, Leicester
1. “As a teenager I thought all religion was pathetic. I used to spend every weekend getting drunk
outside the leisure centre, in high-heeled sandals and miniskirts. My view was: what’s the point in
putting restrictions on yourself? You only live once.
“At university, I lived the typical student existence, drinking and going clubbing, but I’d always wak
up the next morning with a hangover and think, what’s the point?
2. “It wasn’t until my second year that I met Hussein. I knew he was a Muslim, but we were falling i
love, so I brushed the whole issue of religion under the carpet. But six months into our relationship,
told me that being with me was ‘against his faith’.
“I was so confused. That night I sat up all night reading two books on Islam that Hussein had given
me. I remember bursting into tears because I was so overwhelmed. I thought, ‘This could be the who
meaning of life.’ But I had a lot of questions: why should I cover my head? Why can’t I eat what I
like?
3. “I started talking to Muslim women at university and they completely changed my view. They we
educated, successful – and actually found the headscarf liberating. I was convinced, and three weeks
later officially converted to Islam.
“When I told my mum a few weeks later, I don’t think she took it seriously. She made a few comme
like, ‘Why would you wear that scarf? You’ve got lovely hair,’ but she didn’t seem to understand wh
it meant.
4. “My best friend at university completely turned on me: she couldn’t understand how one week I w
out clubbing, and the next I’d given everything up and converted to Islam. She was too close to my o
life, so I don’t regret losing her as a friend.
“I chose the name Aqeela because it means ‘sensible and intelligent’ – and that’s what I was aspiring
to become when I converted to Islam six years ago. I became a whole new person: everything to do
with Lindsay, I’ve erased from my memory.
5. “The most difficult thing was changing the way I dressed, because I was always so fashion-
conscious. The first time I tried on the hijab, I remember sitting in front of the mirror, thinking, ‘Wh
am I doing putting a piece of cloth over my head? I look crazy!’ Now I’d feel naked without it and
only occasionally daydream about feeling the wind blow through my hair. Once or twice, I’ve come
home and burst into tears because of how frumpy I feel – but that’s just vanity.
“It’s a relief not to feel that pressure any more. Wearing the hijab reminds me that all I need to do is
serve God and be humble. I’ve even gone through phases of wearing the niqab [face veil] because I
felt it was more appropriate – but it can cause problems, too.
6. “When people see a white girl wearing a niqab they assume I’ve stuck my fingers up at my own
culture to ‘follow a bunch of Asians’. I’ve even had teenage boys shout at me in the street, ‘Get that
s*** off your head, you white bastard.’ After the London bombings, I was scared to walk about in th
streets for fear of retaliation.
“For the most part, I have a very happy life. I married Hussein and now we have a one-year-old son,
Zakir. We try to follow the traditional Muslim roles: I’m foremost a housewife and mother, while he
goes out to work. I used to dream of having a successful career as a psychologist, but now it’s not
something I desire.
7. “Becoming a Muslim certainly wasn’t an easy way out. This life can sometimes feel like a prison,
with so many rules and restrictions, but we believe that we will be rewarded in the afterlife.”
Muslima, The Former Catholic Missionary (Burundi)
The nuns looked so clean and smart in their starched white habits. They looked like the saints in the
pictures that hung on the wall of every classroom, that I dreamt of the day I could be like them. I wa
among two other girls who get excellent grades at the end of the school year and we were asked if w
would like to study religion. They thought we were pious for our ages because we liked to spend
endless hours inside the church. They didn’t realize that the inside of the church was dim and cold an
a welcome relief from the hot African sun.
I couldn’t wait to tell my father, who surprisingly said, ‘absolutely not!’ He would not like that kind
life for one of his girls; without husband and children. He enrolled me in another school, which had
previously only admitted boys.
Besides myself, there was another girl in the Roman Catholic Mission school in Burundi. The years
spent at this school made me quite tough as I competed only against boys. The nuns used excessive
force in disciplinary matters. The fact that we were all adolescents might have had a good deal to do
with it. Still, it didn’t seem a very Christian thing to do.
I was interested in religion and excelled in the study of languages and accepted a full scholarship to a
university in Cameroon after graduating from high school. Again, as the only female, I enrolled in th
College of Theology. I wasn’t sure where I would go with it, but after a short while, the administratio
applied for a scholarship in the same College of Theology, but in Belgium. There I would learn how
be a Pastor in the Roman Catholic Church.
My language ability aided me quite a bit and my mastery of some of the African dialects attracted
them as a good candidate for missionary work.
As the years went by, I began to see through the layers of theology and found the superficiality of th
teachings. I was not alone in seeing the many contradictions in the New and Old Testaments. To lear
that the ‘Trinity’ is mentioned only once in the New Testament was a surprise but when I learned it
had been fully established at the Council of Nicea and that it was not part of what Jesus taught,
something in my mind clicked.
We were shown certain books called the Gnostic Books, which we were told were hidden teachings,
understood that the church was being deceitful and this was disturbing. How could I believe that this
was, as they said, the word of God from A to Z. "The People of the Book know this as they know the
own sons; but some of them conceal the Truth which they themselves know. The Truth is from thy
Lord, so be not in doubt." (Qur’an 2:146-147)
Still I pursued my studies in an effort to be able to help myself and my people some day. "As for tho
who divide their religion and break up into sects, thou has no part in them in the least: their affair is
with Allah: He will in the end tell them the truth of all that they did." (Qur’an 6:159)
After graduation from University, I took a position in Nairobi, Kenya. The Church was very anxious
have an African in a position such as this. They had many programmes for women and I was a
coordinator for these programmes under the auspices of the World Council of Churches. I handled
different aspects of exhibitions, women’s projects, donors, workshops and conferences.
I was sent to the regional office in Togo because they are mainly French-speaking which I spoke
fluently and the type of projects I knew how to handle were being implemented there. I began to
search for the spiritual force that was missing in my life and in Togo I searched through all the
practiced religions. When one looks for truth there are many things thrown in one’s path.
This part of Africa has many people who practice witchcraft and who claim to have knowledge of th
unseen and it was obvious they were just taking people’s money. There is no one with knowledge of
the unseen except God.
I had been facing much mediocrity from the Church and at the same time I had Muslim friends who
were very comfortable in their knowledge of God, who prayed five times daily and who had many
virtues. They believed in what they said, in contrast to the Church where you repeat what you have
been taught without believing in it.
I had never been taught anything about Islam except a superficial introduction so I did a lot of readin
about the religion.
I cannot say that to convert to Islam was easy; it was very difficult. But when one is searching for th
truth there is no way to deny it.
The decision was also difficult for economic reasons as I had one of the highest paying professions
with many perks.
I resigned from my position citing my conversion as my reason and immediately lost my job and
salary, housing and medical benefits. I became destitute in one day!
My family does not like my Hijab but they admire the moral aspects of Islam.
I helped to raise my brothers and sisters and they are much younger than I, and now to see how much
they hate me is almost unbearable.
They felt the economic hardship immediately as I did, and cannot understand why I would do such a
thing. But with the grace of Allah they too will find the truth of Islam, Insha’allah.
I hope and pray that I can use the knowledge that the education in the Church gave me towards the
propagation of Islam. The spiritual climate of West Africa is ripe for Islam and there are many proje
which need doing. This is what I have been trained to do and so my path is straight and narrow for m
now.
MARCILIA ANGELLO (FATIMA ABDULLAH), ITALY
I was born in Geneva in a very devout Christian Family. After completing my primary education I
moved to Rome to complete my further study. I joined Arts academy, I was very beautiful to look a
so I got offers for modeling, which I did in my spare time. After completing my graduation, my nex
target was Film Industry. Because of my looks, my modeling background and my talents, I soon
become a famous star in Italian Cinema.
I was living with my “Live-in” husband and both of us were very happy and had every thing in the
world so to say. But something happened in that period which changed our lives for ever.
We had to shoot one of the film on WW-2 in MERCI MATROUH city of Egypt. I was once waiting
there when I found a few people going towards a small building in the town. They took off their
shoes, washed their hands, faces and feet and then appeared to do some sort of exercise. I watched
with interest this act and then it became a sort of habit to me to watch these people performing this a
When I asked someone about it, they told me that these are Muslims and performing their five regula
daily prayers. This kept me thinking about the purpose of my own life….I went to Islamic center in
Rome and they gave me some booklets about Islam. When I went for more they gave me more fina
I got convinced about message of Islam and asked them to join it.
I had thought that the ceremony would be long and elaborate and it would take at least couple of
weeks, I was surprised when the ceremony was over in a few seconds and I became a Muslim.
I had left the film line already, soon I became a volunteer of the local Islamic Center. My Live-in
Husband left me even though we loved each other very much. He asked me to see hi from time to
time.
I soon started visiting him and talking Islam to him….slowly and slowly he also got convinced of th
truth and decided to accept Islam. The ceremony was soon over and we became husband and wife
once again, this time according to rites of Islam.
My husband jokingly recalls that “I never thought becoming Muslim would be so easy, I thought the
would demand a few hundred heads of Non Muslims to prove my faith!!!”
So in the end it was that scene in a small Egyptian Mosque, which became my reason to come into
Islam (abridged).
Haji Maryam Mohammed Ahmed, American Muslima,
She lives only to talk about Islam
Note: : Sister Haji Maryam, responded to my call for Volunteers in the main page of
www.usislam.org , now we work together in answering many Christians inquiring about Islam and
Christianity in a civilized way. If you are a Christian, and want to talk about Islam and Christianity,
please contact me or sister Haji Maryam.
My name is Maryam and I am an American Revert to Islam from Christianity. I also brought my
Mother to Islam. I study only the Quran and Sahih Hadith (authentic books of the doings and sayings
of the holy Prophet of Islam) I don't study Muslims because they don't represent Islam. If you would
like to know the truth about Islam or have questions about things in Islam feel free to e-mail me
anytime. I also have the holy Bible in memory as well being I studied Christianity most of my life, s
can relate to Christians who would like to ask questions. I don't try to push Islam on anyone and I
would not make you feel bad for being who you are, Just God knows best! My door is always open,
Islam is not for me but all humanity.
I live only to talk about Islam, I am available to talk to Christians about Bible and Quran,
Email: im_hear_786@yahoo.com
Video Haji Maryam Mohammed Ahmed, American Muslima,
Yahoo User Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahih_Bukhari/

360 link: http://360.yahoo.com/profile-zWgi2pwwaKeKia99.p3wXLXs.udm
Thank you and God Bless, Sister Haji Maryam
Growing up I was an only child and had plenty of time to reflect. I saw my Mothers struggles trying
be "a good Christian" funny thing is when ever she asked meaningful questions she was always turne
away. We pounced around from church to church. Never finding what she was looking for. I always
new My God and he were very kind to me but I was very lonely growing up I didn’t consider myself
Christian. I just couldn’t believe that the Bible was completely the word of God. I always knew
something was missing, something just wasn’t right. I knew the Prophets were real. It was the stories
felt had been corrupted over time.
I only had my God, and I always new in my heart I would someday make God (Allah Subhanna
Watallah) proud of me. I was visited by what I believe to be was Angels, they didn’t show themselve
I think they felt sorry for me because I was so sad. I was told one day you will be a big part of
something that comes from God (Allah Subhanna Watallah). I was only about seven years old, but it
made me cry. I felt safe happy calm. I always used that day as strength when I felt at the end of my
rope.
Then in October 1998 I was traveling around Europe and on one occasion I was asked if I knew wh
Mohammed (saw) was. I replied Mohammed Ali the boxer? The questioner laughed at me. I didn’t
find it amusing, so I asked him who was this Mohammed then. The man told me he was a messenger
said messenger of what he said Islam. I had never heard this word before “Islam” I asked what is Isla
he said “it’s a religion” (the amazing thing was I had never heard about Islam the entire 25 years of m
life). I said like Hinduism or Buddhism?
He said NO Mohammed (saw) was the last messenger. I said Jesus (as) is the last messenger. He we
on to tell me not only was Mohammed (saw) the last messenger who came after Jesus (as) but he als
had a book, the Quran and it is unchangeable unlike the Bible that was rewritten by King James. At
this point I was very interested in knowing more but had no time to listen further, but that day was th
day a seed was planted in my heart, it grew and grew and even today it continues to grow. I carried o
learning and asking questions. For example I saw things in my travels like one morning the people
(full of Muslim people) I was staying with all got up for breakfast and my friend was arguing with o
of them. He said to him come on and eat with us the man happily said, “No thank you, I’m ok”.
I looked at this man and wondered why he is happy not to eat with us. What is this book he is holdin
in his hands so respectfully? I later learned and realized that morning was the first day of Ramadan a
he was reading the Quran. He was the only Muslim that was observing Ramadan. On another occasio
I was walking with a friend and there was a group of people walking in the other direction and they
called out to my friend and said to him come on come with us. My friend said no thank you I’m fine
I later learned and realized that those people were calling him to pray (my friend of course being a
Muslim) couldn’t be bothered. That friend of mine was like a brother, actually he is my brother in
Islam, but his faith is weak. Even today he will tell me don’t be a Muslim it’s not a good life. What h
doesn’t realize it was because of him I became a Muslim. It was him that asked me if I knew
Mohammed (saw). For all he knows Islam might just have saved him from the hell fire. If you bring
someone to Islam, then you’re granted Heaven God willing.
I had to learn Islam not from Muslim but direct from the Quran and the Sunnet (sahih hadith). After
year had passed I went to the United Kingdom and Asked for a Quran with an English translation. I
had not made the choice to convert/revert to Islam yet. But three Imams came to tell me how to respe
the Quran. They taught me about “Intention” and “Purification firstly and then talk a lot of respectin
the Quran. They said it was unlike any other book. By time I finished listening to them and had a bat
with my intentions. They then handed me the Quran. As the Quran was laid in my hands and everyon
left the room, I just sat there crying. From that time on I have been alone. And I have never been
happier in all my life. I converted to Islam on July 7.1999
An African Missionary (Name Withheld), Burundi
Note: God guides sincere souls to His true path, irrespective of the circumstances.
The nuns looked so clean and smart in their starched white habits. They looked like the saints in the
pictures…I dreamt that I could be one of them.
I got excellent grades in exams every year and I was asked if we would like to study religion, they
thought we were pious for our ages…I could not wait to tell my father, who surprisingly said
“absolutely not”! He would not like that kind of life without husband and children for his girl. He
enrolled me in another school.
Years spent as Roman Catholic Mission School at Burundi made me tough as we competed against
boys.. I was interested in religion and excelled in languages…I accepted a full scholarship to a
University in Cameroon. I later got admission in Faculty of Theology in Belgium..
My language ability and my mastery of some African dialects attracted them as a good candidate for
missionary work.
As the years went by, I began to see thru the layers of theology and found the superficiality of their
teachings. I was not alone in seeing so many contradiction in Old and New testaments. To learn tha
Trinity is only once mentioned in New Testament was a surprise..
After graduation from the University, I took a position in Nairobi Kenya. The Church was very
anxious to have an African in a position such as this. They had many programs for women…I was
sent to regional office in Togo…
I had been facing much mediocrity from the Church and at the same time I had Muslim friends who
were very comfortable in their knowledge of God, who prayed five times daily and who had many
virtues. They believed in what they said, in contrast to the Church.
I had never been taught any thing about Islam except a superficial introduction, so I did a lot of readi
about the religion.
I cannot say that to convert to Islam was easy; it was very difficult. But when one is searching for th
truth there is no way to deny it. The decision was also difficult for economic reasons as I had one of
the highest paying jobs with many perks.
I resigned from my position citing my conversion as my reason and immediately lost my job and
salary, housing and medical benefits. I became destitute in one day!
My family does not like my Hijab but they admire the moral aspects of Islam…The spiritual climate
West Africa is ripe for Islam and there are many projects that need to be done. This is what I have
been trained to do and so my path is straight and narrow.
(Abridged) Source:: Islamic Voice , Feb 1997, p 18

The Case of: PUSHPA BHAGAT (JAMILA), PATIALA, PUNJAB, INDIA
01. I was born in a poor family in RAJPURA, PATIALA, in a Bhagat family. My father’ name was
Shiv Ram Bhagat, and my Mother’ Somi Bai. We were three sisters.
At the age of 20, I was married to a rich family. My aunt thought that by marrying into a rich family
would be very happy. But my husband was a very cruel man and man of many vices. I was treated
more like a made servant in their house.
02. I some how pulled on and I had two boys and one daughter. I started to open my own workshop
for tailoring and darning. Most boys working in my workshop were Muslims. I was impressed by
their sense of dress and specially their women as they covered their bodies.
So much so that I wanted to accept their faith. They were poor Muslims and told that our Baba will
come on such and such day and will make me Muslim.
03. He was of the group that visit graves and do many rites there, I was not knowing much and I also
started doing as he was doing.
I started facing difficulties from local Muslims and they started objecting to my life style…. My
business also suffered and I did not know what to do.
04. At that stage, I met some serious Muslim brothers and Sisters, who educated me about real Islam
and the error into which I had fallen.
Then I accepted Islam all of a new and learned prayer and fasting and started to live as a true Muslim
should live. I educated my sons and daughters in the Islamic way and one of my son memorized who
Quran, Alhamdolillah.
05. My husband had forgotten about me and my children for close to 25 years. When he got retired,
invested his retirement fund into buying a house and shared it with his son from another wife.
06. Soon his condition deteriorated and I saw his daughter in law treating him like a dog and give he
food like a dog.
I had pity on him and on the advice of my eldest child, started working on him. He had many vices;
drinking alcohol was one of them.
07. I prayed to Allah for his guidance… It so happened that he heard about Islam in a lecture and his
heart was opened for Islam. He accepted islam and we were re-married according to Islamic rites.
And he has not touched alcohol since that day.
08. My children were grown up and married when I became Real Muslim. I talked to them about
Islam and after some discussions my sons decided to become Muslim.
But it was different working on their wives and they were very form in their beliefs. I asked a Musli
sister who was active in missionary activities to come to our house and talk about Islam.
09. My daughter in law was hearing the talk….the sister presented Islam and its teachings is such a
manner that Allah opened her heart for Islam. At the end of talk, she decided to become Muslim,
Alhamdolillah.
10. I take part in Islamic missionary activities and speak to both Muslim and Non Muslim sisters.
It is having effect and many sisters have decided to become Muslim after my interactions with them,
Alhamdolillah.
11. My advice to Muslims is that they should share their faith with Non Muslims. There are thousan
of Non Muslims who are very much interested in islam.
Many Hindus spend their money in building mosques, and other things for Muslims. If Muslims sha
their religion with them, things will change in India.
Source: Monthly ARMAGHAN of July 2008.

Finding my faith: By Patricia Dunn
I'm not the same woman I was at 27 when I told my mother, "Ma, I can't eat the pasta fagioli." (She'd
made it with bacon.) I'm not the same woman who lied when she said, "I didn't become Muslim
because of Ahmed." ….
But today, at 42, and secure in my faith, I can admit that if it weren't for Ahmed -- though he is now
my ex-husband -- the word "Islam" would probably still conjure up images of black-cloaked women
and melodramatic Sally Field movies in my head. After all, I am my mother's daughter.
The day I left my Italian-Bronx neighborhood to go to college, I knew my communion and confessio
days were over. I was never going to let Jesus stick to the roof of my mouth again. There were too
many contradictions for me in Catholicism. …By the time I transferred from Barnard to UCLA, I w
a lapsed Catholic who wanted nothing to do with organized religion. But I needed to believe in
something. …
In the summer of 1988, I interned at the Nation magazine's Washington office. While researching a
story about Mubarak Awad, a Palestinian-American psychologist and founder of the Palestinian Cen
for Non-Violence, the president of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee invited me to
go on a student delegation to the Occupied Territories. .
The man waited until I gathered my notes and walked off the stage before approaching me. "Brillian
speech," he said. I thanked him, trying not to blush. Extending his hand, he said, "My name is
Ahmed." But I already knew who he was. He was president of the Muslim Students Association and
like me, he wrote a column for the school paper, where we were both slotted "on the left." I was a fa
This was a guy who knocked on every door in Islam Vista, in Santa Barbara, Calif., to campaign for
Jesse Jackson. But that day, when he smiled a win-me-over smile, I thought the same thing I'd
wondered whenever I read his column, "How could a smart, socially conscientious guy be a Muslim
Be a part of any organized religion?" He was a feminist. A feminist Muslim -- wasn't that an
oxymoron?
As Ahmed and I spent the next several years deepening our friendship -- and eventually marrying --
returned again and again to those questions. He mostly stood out of my way.
I studied Islam in order to debate Ahmed and his belief system, but the more I learned, the more I
found how greatly I had underestimated my own ignorance. Mine wasn't a hit-you-over-the-head
epiphany, but rather a slow and steady stream of aha's.
The feminist in me aha'd when she realized that in the Qur’an God is neither male nor female. The
scholar in me aha'd at the various interpretations and schools of thought within Islam, most of which
depict the religion as a social and constantly changing belief system, rather than the fixed, dogmatic
one the government of Saudi Arabia would have the world believe.
The Christian still left in me aha'd when she read in the Quran how those who do good deeds are in
God's grace. And the scared Bronx girl in me aha'd at the Quran 's refrain that God is "merciful and
compassionate" -- until, eventually, the scared Bronx girl was no more.
But it was the social activist in me who aha'd the loudest when she got a deeper understanding of
"jihad" (a term that has been grossly misinterpreted in the media). "Jihad" is a word with many
meanings, but foremost it describes one's personal and inner struggle to live a just life, a life in which
one is obligated to defend those who cannot defend themselves. Wasn't that what I had always tried t
commit my life to -- fighting, or, more accurately, struggling, for justice?
Who knows? Maybe I would have remained a Catholic if I had discovered the Catholic Worker
movement or Catholics for a Free Choice earlier in life -- organizations whose missions emphasize
economic and social justice. Maybe I would have remained a Catholic if the one priest who talked an
listened to me when I was 13 had done so face to face and not in some dark box (and if he had, along
with hearing me confess and granting me absolution, counseled me about surviving adolescence).
Then there was the question of Jesus. It had always been hard for me to believe God took human for
But it was as a Muslim that I learned what an incredible prophet he was -- the epitome of the social
activist.
After years of questioning Ahmed about everything, I found my answers in Islam. But as a convert I
had to work for everything I believed. I was constantly translating, not only the language of the Qura
but the rituals too. It was hard to trust that one could have a one-to-one relationship with God, and I
still believed I needed an intermediary, some authority, someone more worthy to intervene on my
behalf. So I turned to the "real" Muslim, the one born into faith, for all my answers. I made Ahmed m
teacher, my priest.
While equality was the rule in every other aspect of our lives, when it came to matters of faith, I
wanted Ahmed to call the shots. When we prayed, though he encouraged, often insisted, that I lead t
prayer, I refused. Ahmed was the authority. Besides, he sounded so beautiful when he recited the
Quran in Arabic. I wanted him to give me all the answers, and when he refused, my questions turned
into childish badgering: "Are you sure if you swallow accidentally while you brush your tooth that
doesn’t break my fast?"
It wasn't until my son was born that I truly grew up into Islam. Ali was seven weeks premature, and
small enough to fit in the palms of his father's hands. The doctors told us Ali couldn't go home until
was able to regulate his own body temperature. I could hardly swallow as I watched my son in his
plastic incubator, trailing tubes and wires to help him breathe. It had taken years of trying and fertilit
testing for Ahmed and me to get pregnant: I couldn't believe God would take our son from us now. I
felt like a kid again -- swept back in time to age 12, when I'd been convinced God had killed my frie
Barbara by giving her leukemia for no reason at all.
Desperate for hope, I saw breast-feeding as the one way I could help Ali heal -- but he was too weak
latch on. So on the first day of his life, instead of a newborn suckling at my breast, I nursed an electr
pump (on loan from the hospital) to increase my milk supply. Then -- somehow -- the loud methodic
chugging of the pump's motor helped to drown out my fear. "In the name of God, the Benevolent, th
merciful..." I began reciting the first Sura in the Quran. "...It is You we serve, to You we turn for
help..." There, alone in the hospital, I spoke to God for the first time, one to one, with no intermediar
And I understood that the God I was talking to was compassionate and merciful.
Two weeks later, Ali began to nurse. The day I took him home in his oversize blue-striped onesie, I
knew God had heard me.
I'm not the same Muslim I was 15 years ago, but I am still a Muslim. And last week, after all these
years, when I told my mother that Ali couldn't eat her baked beans because they were made with por
her response was the same as ever. "That's ridiculous," she said. Then she mumbled, "Well, let's see
what you believe when the next guy comes around." ..
I didn't respond. My conversion may have started with a man, but it continues with me, and it's neve
ending. (Abridged)
ROSY CARLOS (SHARIFA CARLOS), USA
I was born in a poor Christian family. My parents could not afford higher education for me, so they
were advised to enter me into a Christian Mission and they would take care of my higher studies. So
went to California to study in a Christian Mission.
All my hopes of higher studies were shattered when I went to that mission, because all they taught w
Christianity and Anti Islamic courses. Arabic language was part of the curriculum but the teachers
were Christians. It was told to me that purpose of all this Islamic knowledge and Arabic language is
that soon I would be placed in one of Muslim countries and work amongst their women for
Christianity. If I did my work diligently and achieved some thing remarkable, I would be fixed for
life in some well know organization like UNO or its affiliates.
I was destined to work in Egypt. Before going there I was shown many films about poor conditions
Egyptian Muslim women and how much they were suffering under Islam. I was full of confidence a
my abilities when I landed in a remote Egyptian town and started my mission activities.
When I started talking to these poor Muslim women, I found that it was me who was lacking
something. Whenever I used to tell them about beauties of Christianity they would counter with som
quality of Islam which was lacking in Christianity. Soon I realized that their faith is based on much
solid grounds than it was told to us in the mission school.
When these Egyptian girls used to recite Quran, I was almost mesmerized…. I visited Al Azhar
Mosque in Cairo and talked with scholars there. They told me that there would be a seminar shortly
which many renowned scholars would take place.
I was very eager to attend this seminar and ask my doubts about Islam from them. I was much
impressed by the simplicity of the event and down to earth approach of renowned Muslim Scholars,
different from pomp and show which Christian Church luminaries display when they visit any where
I talked to these scholars who gave questions to all my doubts.
We discussed about the Unity of Islam which is cornerstone of Islam. They gave me very convincin
answers to all my doubts. One more thing I noticed that whenever I asked any doubt, they would giv
answer immediately and without much going round the bush. However whenever they asked me any
question, I had no answer or a very far fetched answer.
This convinced me that Islam is the true path and it is preserved in its pristine beauty. While no one
can make the same claim about Christianity which was changing with time and is still changing.
I then decided to accept Islam on the hands of these scholars and I thank Allah that He guided me to
the right path. (abridged)
SARAH BOOKER, USA
I was born in New York and had a very beautiful body. My only aim in life was to look as beautiful
possible. I was constantly busy in buying best clothing, shoes, perfumes and jewelry. I used to
exercise regularly to keep by body is best shape and form…but somehow I used to feel unhappy.
I tried to solve this “illness” by drugs, dancing and even joining spiritual clubs….but the illness kept
on getting more serious.
I was in that state, when the events of 9/11 occurred and I discovered that every one in America was
turned against Muslims and a “New Crusade” was started. This caused me to get interested in
Muslims.
Then I joined a social group that was engaged in Women Rights and I became a social worker. Duri
this work I met a senior member who was engaged in providing right and justice to all humans
irrespective of their color, religion or background. I was impressed with this attitude and also started
helping him in his works.
During this work I studied English Translation of Quran. I found it to be totally different from what
Western Media had projected it to be. Found that in Quran Allah speaks to humans directly without
any other entity between Him and His Servants
I got convinced of the truth of Islam and I accepted this faith and bought Islamic dress and Hijab.
When I first wore Hijab, I felt that now I am free for the first time.!!!
I who felt “freedom” in Mini Skirts, Bikinis and Shirts….found that Islamic Hijab protects me from
the hungry gazers who would feast on exposed portion of my body. Those “Admirers” of my beauty
were nothing but hunters looking at their prey!!!
While I was in this state, it paned me to learn that certain priests and Church groups, so called wome
rights groups and civil rights groups have started a movement against Islamic Hijab. Some call it
backwardness, others call it restriction of female movement and others that it is against National
Integration!!!
I marvel at the dual standards of these people. They would give the right to women to expose her
body….but when she wants to voluntarily cover it, they want to stop it!!!
I am still an activist of Women Rights but now as a Muslim woman. I advise Muslim women to kno
their rights and duties which Islam gives them. They should help their husbands to better
understanding and upbringing of their Children as a good Muslim. They should fight for their rights
Hijab. What I had taken as “My Right of Freedom” to expose my body for others was nothing but a
form of “Slavery” to Satan and his followers. By going against my own Creator, I could never becom
free. That is the advice which I wish to give all my Muslim Sisters who are living in west or Islami
countries. They should not accept that “freedom” at any cost.
Selma A. Cook , An Australian Missionary’s Journey to Allah

For many years I lived alone, isolated in a world of fear and unrest. Some happy childhood memorie
times of love and joy were always covered by a cloud of uncertainty; a feeling of being lost but not
knowing where my real place was. ..In my isolation, I sought help and comfort in the One Who had
created me; I had no doubt that there exists a Creator and Sustainer of all things. I knew this as
clearly and as surely as I know the sun rises and sets, the movement of the tides, the echo of a thund
storm and the delicate beauty of a spider’s web. No! This world was no accident! As sure as an
explosion in a paint factory could never produce an encyclopedia, I always knew this world has a
Designer – the Source of all peace.
At sixteen years of age, I prayed as I had always done, knowing that He is so Powerful and All-
Encompassing that there was no need to pray in the name of Jesus (peace be upon him). I forced
myself to throw off the shackles of Christianity and dependence upon Jesus as a medium between m
Creator and myself. I felt a surge of peace and inner quietness.
I always felt close to God and prayer was a way of life for me. Deep in my mind, for I could never
voice any doubts, I had some misgivings about what I’d been taught about Jesus (peace be upon him
some things didn’t make sense to me, but as a missionary I felt I was calling to God, not to a
particular church. I could recognize a harmony and structure in all the nature around me, yet I found
an absence of order wherever I looked around people.
I learned to love Jesus as a messenger of God but it seemed strange to me, that God would require a
sacrifice in order to forgive us. I believed that God was above having any need. I felt I could
communicate with Him as I was, without the necessity of an intermediary because, again, God didn
need any help to hear what I said.
I met my neighbors who were Muslims. I thought I would do some missionary work. I always like t
remind people about the Creator, goodness, and the existence of truth. What little I knew about
Muslims and Islam was colored by the Christian-Judaic doctrine in which I’d been raised. I was
taught that Muslims did not believe in Jesus (peace be upon him), that they were ignorant heathens
who deserved to be usurped from the land of Palestine. How ignorant I was!
They listened to me patiently, and then I too listened to them. They did not try to explain any
complicated issues, they just read to me from the Qur’an. First they read in Arabic, then in English.
was the chapter of Maryam (Mary). I listened in silence. The sound was so tranquil – something
independent from the reader, something that contained the ability to touch hearts, remove the
obstacles we place in front of ourselves, and redirect us towards light, guidance, and that constantly
elusive element of life called happiness. I cried. I could not find words to explain my tears and all I
could say was, “It’s beautiful.”..
I learned that prayer is strictly between the individual and God, and that each person is held
responsible for the actions they have sent forward. No one can bear the sins of another, not even a
parent, child, or friend. Thus Jesus (peace be upon him), is loved and revered as a Prophet and
Messenger of Allah; for his righteousness and closeness to Allah. I learnt that Muslims believe that
Jesus (peace be upon him) will come again to the earth and that all the confusion about his origin an
role will be wiped away.
I knew deep within myself that I had reached the place of light that I had sought for so many years.
was twenty-two years old. I had been a missionary since I was seventeen. In my heart, I left the
church the moment I heard the Qur’an. But I decided to go to the church one more time to publicly
announce in the monthly “testimony meeting” the following Sunday that my life had taken a new
direction and I wouldn’t be seeing them again, but that I was glad to have known them and wished
them all well.
My leaving the church caused something of an uproar in my family and community. Deep down I
knew I was alone in life. Family and friends could come close to us but no one really knows us or ca
help us except Allah. Indeed, we are born alone, will die alone and will stand for judgment alone. I
had always felt alone. I was right.
The loud and often hostile reaction of people is easy to confront when one remains in a state of
reliance upon Allah, the Almighty. I considered myself a Muslim but had a long way to go, much to
change and much to understand. I felt like a young child who had just taken her first steps. I knew
with conviction that Allah was the One to whom I’d always prayed but it wasn’t until that time that
knew His name and reality. I spent the next five years rediscovering my life.
*This story is based upon excerpts from “The Miracles of My Life” by Selma A. Cook. It has been
reproduced with the permission and assistance of the author.
The Case of: SHALINI DEVI (KHAIR UL NISAA) THANA BHAWAN, INDIA
01. I was born in THANA BHAWAN which is a village in SHARANPUR. My father’s name is
BALI SINGH. I was married to KIRPAL SINGH of PANIPAT HARYANA.
I had five children with my marriage.
02. Since my childhood, I did not like the idol worship. I used to look at the beauties of Flowers,
fruits, sun and moon and used to wonder, How beautiful would be the one who created such beautifu
things.
Muslim traders used to come to our village to sell their merchandise. They would talk about
worshipping one True God and the life history of Prophet Mohammad (Peace be on him).
03. Myself and my children used to listen to these stories and they would impress so. So much so th
my children started asking me, how good it would have been if we were Muslims.
After some months I decided to accept Islam and went to GANGOAH with my children and we
accepted Islam there.
04. My husband and there household were powerful landlords in the village. First they tried to
convince me to leave Islam and come back to them, but when I refused, they started beating me.. I
suffered a lot at their hands…and one day I said to them, I will die but I will never leave Islam.
Then they took away my children and started beating them, one of my husband’s brother took out a
knife to kill my children, but my elder son tried to take the knife away from his hand, in altercation,
the knife cut the stomach of my brother in law and he died…
05. Police came and arrested my boy, he said that he was innocent….and the knife hurt him by
mistake… but they took him and lodged him in the Jail…. Every one in the village started taunting m
saying I will never see my boy again.
I used to pray to Allah whole nights and ask for the safety and release of my son.. after a few days, m
son got bail and I sent him out along with a Muslim missionary group.
06. I used to weep for my other four children also and used to pray to Allah. My in-laws and my
husband tried many times to kill my children but Allah saved them every time… I prayed to Allah to
send my children back to me as He had done for Mother of Moses…
Allah heard my prayer and all my children came back to me one day
07. All my children are Muslims, my two daughters got married. They wear full Muslim Hijab and a
very happy in their new houses.
In fact seeing them doing full Islamic Hijab, many women in their in-laws have also started wearing
Islam.
08. I think that Islamic Hijab is a protection for Muslim women, when I was not wearing it, I used to
be the target of hungry gazes of every one and I used to KNOW what is the hidden intention of those
looking at me.
09. I have full faith in My Allah and I feel confident that He will grant me, whatever I will ask from
Him. I have seen His help and grace at too many points in my life already.
I want to memorize whole Quran…and I want both of my boys to become the Missionary for Islam.
That is the best course for them.
I want every one to pray for me that I am able to fulfill my goals.
Source: Monthly ARMAGHAN of June 2003

PROF. DR. SUFIA , SWEDEN
I was brought up in a devout Christian family, my mother used to us to Church every Sunday. Duri
my studies, I used to get many doubts about Christianity and its teachings, which Church was not ab
to answer.
I joined Oslo University and enrolled in Department of Religious studies. I studied History and
Comparative religions. After these studies, I did not have any favorable opinion about Islam. The
reason was that most of these books were written by Non Muslims, who had a grudge against Islam.
Then some one gave me “DENIYAT” Written by MAULANA MAUDOODI & some books of SYE
QUTUB of Egypt. These books answered many of my questions. Then I studied Islam thru the boo
written by Muslims and studied English translation of Quran written by Muslims. When I was fully
satisfied with Islam and its teachings, I went to Local Islamic Center and accepted Islam.
After that me and my husband joined and gave our support in the Missionary works of Local Islamic
center. We established societies and circles where Muslim women could study and understand Islam
teachings. I also plan to translate Quran in Swedish language.
We have in Sweden Muslims from many parts of the world. They speak different languages and hav
different ethnic backgrounds. Despite all these, they all are united in belief and practices of Islam.
Many of them have no proper understanding of Islam and do not present a good example of a Muslim
to attract others.
Then I visited many Islamic countries and took part in many Islamic Conferences and represented
Swedish Muslims there. I performed UMRAH and felt very satisfied. All I can say after visiting so
many Muslim countries, that I praise God that I became Muslim before visiting these Muslim
countries. If I had known already the real teachings of Islam, before hand, I would have been
detracted from accepting Islam by seeing the life style of many of these Muslim Countries.
Very few Muslim countries and societies present a good example of what Real Islam is…. I do not
want to condemn any one….I definitely saw and met many good Muslim men and women…they are
striving to practice Islam and present a good picture of Islam. But the majority is trying to just imita
western style and western thinking in their lives…(abridged)
Sukina Douglas, Spoken-word poet, 28, London
1. “Before I found Islam, my gaze was firmly fixed on Africa. I was raised a Rastafarian and used to
have crazy-long dreadlocks: one half blonde and the other half black.
“Then, in 2005, my ex-boyfriend came back from a trip to Africa and announced that he’d converted
to Islam. I was furious and told him he was ‘losing his African roots’. Why was he trying to be an
Arab? It was so foreign to how I lived my life. Every time I saw a Muslim woman in the street I
thought, ‘Why do they have to cover up like that? Aren’t they hot?’ It looked oppressive to me.
2. “Islam was already in my consciousness, but when I started reading the autobiography of Malcolm
X at university, something opened up inside me. One day I said to my best friend, Muneera, ‘I’m
falling in love with Islam.’ She laughed and said, ‘Be quiet, Sukina!’ She only started exploring Islam
to prove me wrong, but soon enough she started believing it, too.
“I was always passionate about women’s rights; there was no way I would have entered a religion th
sought to degrade me. So when I came across a book by a Moroccan feminist, it unravelled all my
negative opinions: Islam didn’t oppress women; people did.
3. “Before I converted, I conducted an experiment. I covered up in a long gypsy skirt and headscarf
and went out. But I didn’t feel frumpy; I felt beautiful. I realised, I’m not a sexual commodity for me
to lust after; I want to be judged for what I contribute mentally.
“Muneera and I took our shahada [declaration of faith] together a few months later, and I cut my
dreadlocks off to represent renewal: it was the beginning of a new life.
4. “Just three weeks after our conversion, the 7/7 bombings happened; suddenly we were public enem
No 1. I’d never experienced racism in London before, but in the weeks after the bombs, people woul
throw eggs at me and say, ‘Go back to your own country,’ even though this was my country.
“I’m not trying to shy away from any aspect of who I am. Some people dress in Arabian or Pakistani
styles, but I’m British and Caribbean, so my national dress is Primark and Topshop, layered with
colourful charity-shop scarves.
5. “Six months after I converted, I got back together with my ex-boyfriend, and now we’re married.
Our roles in the home are different, because we are different people, but he would never try to order
me around; that’s not how I was raised.
“Before I found Islam, I was a rebel without a cause, but now I have a purpose in life: I can identify
my flaws and work towards becoming a better person. To me, being a Muslim means contributing to
your society, no matter where you come from.”
The Case of: SEEMA GUPTA (KHADIJA), UP INDIA
01. I was born in a trading community in western UP on 3 Sept 1984. My father has a grocery shop
and is a very nice man. My mother also is a very nice woman. I have two brothers and one sister.
I was educated in my city upto BA and then I did MA in sociology as a private candidate.
02. There are many Muslims living in my locality and we have close relations with them. One of my
neighbors were Mr. Khan who had a daughter who was my class fellow. I used to go to her house
regularly.
She had one elder brother, who was very shy when talking to me. He would never look at my face a
when I would talk to him, he would leave the house. I used to comment on his behavior to my friend
03. Once I said that this is Kaliyug, and that is why there is so much indecency in India and world, a
our Kaliki Avatar will come and set the things right. My friend told me, but he has already come and
she gave me a small booklet titled “Prophet Mohammad and Kaliki Avatar” written by V.P. Upadha
a learned Hindu Scholar.
I read that book in the night and was very much impressed by it. In the end there was a list of books
recommended for further studies. I told my friend that I need all these books to study. She gave me
small booklet “Your trust returned to you” by Maulana Kalim Uddin.
04. I read that book and I read it to my mother also. She was also very much impressed by that book
and asked me to get all the books. After reading these books, I started having visions about heavens
and hell and what will happen to me if I died at that moment.
Meanwhile, the brother of my friend, who had gone abroad for job, send me message thru her sister,
that if I become Muslim, he will marry me.
05. I got Hindi Translation of Quran, I used to read and my mother also used to read it. Till it
convinced me that Islam is the true path and I must accept Islam if I want to save myself.
I left my house for Phulat and I stayed there for one week. During that week I accepted Islam and
completed all official formalities to register myself at Muslim.
06. My absence from the house created an uproar and my family accused my neighbor Khan Sahib f
kidnapping me. Things took a very nasty turn and a riot was about to happen.
07. Somehow the elders intervened and asked every one to maintain peace. The news reached Phula
and Maulana told me to go back and tell every one the truth. I was afraid as to what will happen to
me, but he told me to stay firm and remember what had been done to earliest Muslims.
I came back and told every one that I had gone on my own and have become Muslim on my own. T
got Mr. Khan and his family to be released from Police station.
08. My family members tried every thing to turn me back from islam. From threats to physical
beatings to attempts to poison me … But Allah gave me strength to bear all that and I stayed firm.
09. My mother told my father that one Dr. from Vijayvada , who has recently converted to Islam fro
Hinduism is ready to marry me. If we could marry them without any rituals…..no one in the family
will know it.
So the marriage was arranged accordingly and we came out from my family and the first place we
visited was Phulat!
10. Maulana was very happy to see me and told that he was always praying for my safe return. He
even said that he was guilty of violating a Quranic verse which prohibited Muslims to return newly
converted Muslim women back to Non Muslims. He asked me to pray for his forgiveness!!
2. On Parents.
11. My mother was half converted to Islam when I was there, but seeing my trials and my firmness
convinced her to truth of Islam.
Later she convinced my father also and both of them accepted Islam, Alhamdolillah.
My husband has shifted to Delhi and is working in a hospital. He has also qualified for MD and hop
to start his study for it.
Source: Monthly ARMAGHAN of April 2009

The Case of: SHAHNAZ, JAMMU, India
01. I was born on 6th May 1975, to a MALHOTRA Family of Jammu, my father was a lecturer in
commerce dept. My mother was a very nice and suffering lady. He became sick since her girlhood a
her ill health continued even after her marriage.
02. I had an elder brother, who is 4 year older than me. I was told that when I was very small, my
mother took me to a bridge and was almost ready to drop me into the river, a passer by asked her, wh
she wanted to do it, she told that I have suffered much in my life, I do not want my little girl also top
suffer. The man told her, not to do so, as every humans comes with her own destiny. May be I will
very happy in my life.
03. My mother died when I was 5 or 6 years old, my father re-married. My step mother did not treat
us good and she was always complaining to my father about our faults. I was subjected to overwork
and abuses in home, I tried even to commit suicide by eating overdose of sleeping pills once.
04. Somehow I passed 10th standard, I used to go to temples and ask the idols there when my dark
night would end….. now I know how they could respond to me, because they do not hear any pleas
and even if they heard they are powerless to do anything.
05. Once when my mother accused me of stealing 1000 rupees from her purse, I decided to leave the
house, because I was not sure what she would accuse me of next. I left house with a little bag
containing a few pair of clothes.
06. I boarded a train for Delhi, I boarded a compartment reserved for Military, when the ticket check
came, one of Military man said that she is my sister. I reached Delhi safely.
I did not know any one in Delhi, I boarded an omni bus, and I asked two boys, who seemed good to
me, to please guide me a girls hostel
07. They asked me to go to their sister’s house, where I was very well received… they asked me to
stay for a few days and then I could decide about hostel. While living there, I was introduced to the
message of Islam. I was impressed by their good behavior and Islamic teachings seemed so reasona
to me. I accepted Islam at their hands.
08. After some time, these people advertised for my marriage in a local Urdu news paper. It was
answered by Maulana JAWED ASHRAF NADWI, whose first marriage was not successful. When
knew of my case, he agreed to marry me and we were married.
He was afraid to take me to his house, because of resistance from his family members, so he kept me
in a separate house in Lucknow.
09. Then my husband got a Job in Madina Munawwarah, and I reached there on Umrah visa. I staye
back after performing Umrah and stayed many years there, all my three children were born in Madin
I am very thankful to Allah for doing all this to me, and I do not know how can I ever express my
gratitude to Him

I have explained that in my story. I was indeed rejected by my society and they did not know about
me anything for many years.
11. Staying In Madina is in itself a great honor. I get so many guests of all ages and every
backgrounds. I feel honored to serve old and elderly people and by this I earn their respect, honor an
blessings.
In my service and specially physical service is very effective to get prays and blessings from elderly
and learned scholars.
2. On Parents.
12. My parents were sure that I must have committed suicide, because they did not make any attemp
to find me.
After many years, a student from Jammu who came to Medina told my father about me, he was very
anxious to meet me.
13. Once when I went to Delhi to endorse my Visa, he came to meet me. He wept on seeing me and
expressed his deep regrets about what he and his wife did to me. I forgave him every thing and told
him about Islam. He promised to study Islam and take decision. I informed Maulana Kalim Sahib
about my father and he is following up,
14. I also talked to my mother on phone and she also wept and asked for my forgiveness for what sh
did to me. I told her that her poor treatment was indeed the reason of my becoming Muslim. I am
regularly praying for her guidance.
15. I am very happy with my present life and I pray to Allah to let me die in Madina and I would be
buried here… You should also pray the same for me.
16. I can only request my Muslim brothers, to recognize their responsibility. They should present
themselves as an example of good Muslims and they should make this spread of Islam as their life’s
mission.
If people take the life of our prophet as their ideal, they would not run after these actors and actresse
and sportspersons and others.
Source: Monthly ARMAGHAN of Dec 2004
69 Why I became Muslim?
SHIRIN, LONDON UK.
I was working in a car garage. Since childhood I had bent of mind to engage in comparative religio
I used to read about different religions.
I used to go to church, but some how the teachings and atmosphere there would not impress or satisf
me. So much so that I decided to leave Christianity and join another faith.
I was in a dilemma as to what new religion I should join, which should be close to human nature and
be true. I discussed this matter with a Jewish customer who was a regular visitor to our Workshop. H
was well educated and very serious in his talks.
He told me that if I am looking for a true religion, then I should accept Islam. Because Islam is the
only True religion. But take care that you should never ask me to became Muslim!!
I then started to study Islam with care and slowly the truth of Islam became manifest to me. I met
some Muslims who helped me in knowing about Islam and answer my queries. When I was fully
satisfied about the truth of Islam, I decided to join it. Now I strive to put into my life teachings of
Islam to the best of my abilities. (Abridged)
Sarah Joseph, UK
Sarah Joseph accepted Islam at a very early age, when she was only 16. She was brought up in a
typical British Christian family, where there is no special place for religion. Her mother was
proprietor of a modeling agency.
I have a religious bent since very beginning as was constantly remembering God. I never missed my
daily prayers or Sunday Church. My parents were sort of indifferent towards religion and would
watch me with interest. By the time I was 10, I realized the dangers that Atomic weapons posed for
humanity. I wrote personal letters to Ronald Reagan, Yuri Andropov, and Margaret Thatcher to
reduce their atomic stockpiles. I also took part in many Anti Atomic demonstrations.
In our house people of all religions were coming and working. So we did not have any religious bias
so to say. My elder brother got in love with an Indian Muslim girl and became Muslim to marry her
No one in family objected to it. Well I knew nothing about Islam and Muslims then.
But slowly I noticed that I was also getting a bias against Muslims and since “Most Biases are a resu
of ignorance”, so I decided to read about Islam and get first hand knowledge. The more I studied
about Islam, the more I found that it answered most of my questions and doubts which I had about
Christianity.
The Idea of Original Sin as told by Catholic Church was most repugnant to me, It was a big relief to
me when I found that in Islam there is so concept of Original Sin. When I got convinced of the truth
of Islam, I decided to join it when I was only 16. My parents opposed this, but when they saw my
determination, they gave in and I became a Muslim.
Then I met Mahmood, a fellow worker and we soon married. After the events of 9/11 we took a
lecture tour explaining the position of Islam against terrorism. My child was only three weeks old at
that time and I used to carry him on my lecture tours. Then we started a magazine name “Hope” tha
was intended to remove the doubts and prejudices that are prevalent against Islam in UK and Wester
countries. It became quite popular and many Non Muslims read it to know about Islam.
I think Islam and Christianity should have a serious dialog between them, only then there can be any
hope for peace in the world. I know about both religions, so persons like us can play a big role in su
dialogs. (abridged)
SAIDA PAULA , COLUMBIA (SPAIN)
I was born in Columbia, after completing my degree from Columbian University, I moved to Spain.
am a doctor by profession. I was a Roman Catholic, but only for name sake and I never practiced it.
Somehow, I got interested in Arabian Culture, their music and their language. I had a special
fascination about Arabic Script. The way it was written and the shapes which Arabic Calligraphy
took. The same interest prompted me to learn about Islam.
Sometimes in 2004, I left a message on Internet that I want to learn about Islam in Spanish, could
some one out there help me. I got a reply signed by one Mustafa Mohi Deen asking me if I am
interested to read free Islamic literature in Spanish, then please write your Postal address. I was
hesitating to reveal my postal address to a total stranger, but after a couple of e-mails….I received a
parcel containing some Islamic books. I was very happy to read them.
I maintained my connection with the brother and got many books on Islam. I learnt that this man
would sent Islamic books in different languages depending upon who asked what. Soon we
established a site to help those who wanted to learn about Islam in different languages.
I was engrossed in Islamic propagation, without accepting Islam myself. This intrigued many Non
Muslims. I told I am still learning about Islam and the time for me to say SHAHADA has still not
arrived. But slowly I got convinced that Islam is the only true path and there is so other way for me.
preyed Allah to show me right path and make my faith firm.
In 2007, I went to Libya in connection with one sister becoming Muslim. There Allah opened my
hearts for Islam and I said my SHAHADA (Declaration of faith) on Internet. Mustafa Mohi Deen an
another gentleman being witness to this.
When I revealed this to my family, my father congratulated me on taking a right decision, my mothe
was shocked initially but after some time accepted my decision.
Now I am busy in propagating Islam on Internet and by lectures. We tell them that Islam is not wha
shown on TV channels. No doubt there are some Muslims out there who do horrible things, but the
acts are not as per teachings of Islam. We must get the true picture of Islam.
In the end I thank Allah for showing me the correct path. It was His mercy that today I am a Muslim
(abridged)
From Times Online, May 29, 2010, (Sheila Rock)
1. It’s a controversial time for British women to be wearing the hijab, the basic Muslim headscarf. L
month, Belgium became the first European country to pass legislation to ban the burka (the most
concealing of Islamic veils), calling it a “threat” to female dignity, while France looks poised to follo
suit. In Italy earlier this month, a Muslim woman was fined €500 (£430) for wearing the Islamic veil
outside a post office.
2. And yet, while less than 2 per cent of the population now attends a Church of England service eve
week, the number of female converts to Islam is on the rise. At the London Central Mosque in
Regent’s Park, women account for roughly two thirds of the “New Muslims” who make their officia
declarations of faith there – and most of them are under the age of 30.
3. Conversion statistics are frustratingly patchy, but at the time of the 2001 Census, there were at lea
30,000 British Muslim converts in the UK. According to Kevin Brice, of the Centre for Migration
Policy Research, Swansea University, this number may now be closer to 50,000 – and the majority a
women. “Basic analysis shows that increasing numbers of young, university-educated women in thei
twenties and thirties are converting to Islam,” confirms Brice.
4. “Our liberal, pluralistic 21st-century society means we can choose our careers, our politics – and w
can pick and choose who we want to be spiritually,” explains Dr Mohammad S. Seddon, lecturer in
Islamic Studies at the University of Chester. We’re in an era of the “religious supermarket”, he says.
Dr Benil Hafeeq K.P

Consultant Nephrologist
MIMS and IQRAA Hospital
Calicut
DR. SAROJ (SAFIA) SHALINI, INDIA.
Dr. SAROJ belonged to a devout and educated Hindu Family residing near Lucknow, UP India. Her
father was MD in Cardiology. One of her brother is Reader in BHU Baranasi and another Engineer i
BHEL. She competed and cleared PMT (Renowned Pre Medical Entrance Exam) and Completed
MBBS from KGMC Lucknow and MD from MA College Delhi. She later did MD in cardiology fro
AIIMS Delhi and was working there. We pick up the story in one hot summer June day in 2003.
I was posted in ICCU Children ward of AIIMS, we had all 8 beds occupied, each child fighting
between life and death. As a doctor, I knew that less than 50 % of these would survive. Only one
attendant is allowed to stay with each child. I saw one bearded Muslim coming to one of these beds,
the attendant left and he read some thing and blew on the child. Then he repeated same thing for all
other children.
I would have nothing of these…I went to him straight and told “Don’t you know it is ICCU, there ar
so many chances of Infection…who is your patient…why are you just roaming around the ward…
going to each bed?”
To my surprise, he remained very calm. He told that I have blood relation which each of these
children, They all have been created by one who created me also. What I was reading was nothing
other than Words from the Same Creator…”
Then he continued “ Don’t you see that sometimes, despite your best efforts, the child dies. Who is
one giving life and death? They are not you nor your medicines”
I got interested in his talks and invited him to my cabin, so I could listen to some more. He agreed o
one condition, that I would consider each child as my child and world deal kindly with him and his
parents or attendants. He told me that my Creator has blessed me to be in a position to help His othe
creations and I should be thankful to him.
He left and I was much impressed by his talks. When I asked from the child’s parents, he told me th
he is a very good Muslim and so many Non Muslims have accepted Islam on his hands. I remember
for some time his words but soon got engaged in my own life.
I became room partner with another Girl Doctor and moved there. I found that her maid was a Musli
Girl. I asked my friend as to how could she allow a Muslim girl to cook food and take care of house
But she is a very good girl, on so many occasions she had returned my purse intact, without taking a
thing from it, my friend replied.
Our talks then drifted towards Islam and Muslim. My room mate told be “The more world media is
turning against Islam, the faster it is growing. You see Michel Jackson became Muslim, one Dr.
BALBIR Singh in our own Cardiology department accepted Islam and he wants every one to becom
Muslim. When I called him for consultation about a patient, he told me if you want to avoid going t
Hell, become a Muslim”
This reminded me of the words which I had heard from the lips of that Muslim gentleman, so I fixed
appointment with Dr. BALBIR and met him in his cabin on a Sunday morning. I asked him “When
you became Muslim”? He told “Eight or None Years Back”
I wanted to know the reason. He told that “Islam is the only true religion which was sent by God to
this world. It is the first and it is the last. All prophets preached the same message. If you want to
avoid Hell after you die, there is no other way than to accept Islam” I asked him to give me some
literature about Islam.
He sent me the English Translation of Sermon which Last Prophet delivered on his Farewell
Pilgrimage. I was very impressed by the message and specially that women were specifically
mentioned there.
I wanted to get in touch with MAULANA KALIM UDDIN (the gentleman who visited the ward in
2003), I was told that he would deliver a lecture in Green Park Mosque. I reached there on Auto
Rickshaw and when I saw that he was the same gentleman, I bent to touch his feet (as is our local
custom amongst Hindus), but he cautioned me against it. I told that I have learned many of your boo
and I want to become Muslims. He made me Muslim, changed my name from SAROJ to SAFIA, bu
told me to keep my Islam secret for a while, till the situation changes.
But how could I keep my Islam secret? How could I deny the same privilege to others? So I told my
close friends about my becoming Muslim. My room partner became Muslim. Her husband also
became very close to Islam.
I informed my father of my decision. He accepted it but was not very enthusiastic about it. But slow
and slowly, he is accepting it with grace.
Now regarding my marriage, my father was trying it for past 6 or 7 years, Many good matches came
but I excused on pretext of my completing my MD. Now this my accepting Islam became a new
factor. Then one day Maulana Kalim talked to me about one Dr. Asad Faridi, who was working in
PGI, Chandigarh and was perhaps the only Muslim Doctor in Sherwani (a local Muslim dress) and f
beard. After some time, we got married and when our parents saw my choice (and the fact that the
marriage took place without any dowry and not any financial burden on them, a custom in India), the
congratulated me.
Now was the tricky issue as to how to announce our marriage to my orthodox Hindu Family, Maulan
Kalim solved this problem , by getting both of us jobs in KAA Hospital Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. My
marriage and conversion was announced to my family as Post Jeddah affair and “bad effect of living
and working in a Muslim country”!!!
When I think all of it, I feel that Allah was indeed very kind to me. Otherwise how could I have fou
truth in those darkness of idol worship and associating others with God.
I feel what this modern and technical world needs is Islam and nothing but Islam. It is Islam which
can solve the problems of the world. How come we Muslims who hold the solution and salvation fo
this world, should have inferiority complex? (Abridged)
SUNEETA (SAMREEN) MUMBAI INDIA.
I was born on 9th Dec 1984. I had three brothers and no sister. My parents belong to KANAUJIA
caste from DEORIA district of UP. My parents had shifted many years back to Mumbai and my fath
had a general store shop in Thane District.
We had a Muslim family as neighbors, and we had very good relations with them. We would share
and borrow things from each other, the difference in our religion would not stand in our way.
Some times these people would talk about Islam. I used to listen their talks with interest. Many
questions would arise in my mind, but I did not know to whom or to how to get answers for them.
Once I asked my Sister in Law, why do we worship all these idols? She did not answer anything. I
was following lifestyle of my ancestors, but I was not satisfied, I was in search of truth.
It is my belief that whatever the situation be, if you are sincere in your efforts, you will find the truth
The same happened to me, after long study and thinking, I got convinced that Islam is a true religion
asked my neighbors that I want to become Muslim, they told me that for that I have to change my lif
style totally and might have to leave my parents.
After some time, I met a Muslim boy and wanted to marry him. He told that in order to marry him, I
have to leave my religion and become a Muslim. I also wanted that, so I became Muslim on 10th Ma
2006, and changed my name and we got married soon.
The Islamic teachings about hereafter have changed my concept of life….I am still getting more
knowledge about Islam to practice it fully in my life (abridged)
Somayyah From a Bathing Suit to Hijab
By Christian Hauser, Islamic Voice
Note: SOMAYYAH was educated in a convent and as a teenager worked as a model and in cocktail
lounges. Growing up in Ireland and Britain, she tried drugs and liquor land supported alcoholic and
sometimes abusive parents. Years later the 25 year old Irish woman moved to the Gulf Arab Emirate
of Dubai where, through books loaned by friends, she learned about Islam.
“I would go to the beach in my bathing suit and listen to Qur’an on my Walkman,” she said.
“One day I was going to the beach in a taxi driven by a Pakistani who had Qur’an on the radio. I got
there and put one foot on the ground to get out.
“Then I looked at the taxi driver and said: ‘No, take me back home.’ I couldn’t go to the beach and
take my clothes off.”
Now Somayyah, a school teacher who adopted the name of Islam’s first female martyr, will not leav
her flat without covering herself from head to toe in Hijab. Since she converted her family has refuse
to see her.
In interviews, some said they converted because they were disillusioned by changes in their own
religious traditions.
Others said they were influenced by husbands or relatives or that they liked the sense of community.
“I had seen so many changes in the church that unsettled me,” said Kathy Grigg, an American in her
mid-thirties whose family supported her conversion to Islam.
“Latin was dropped from the mass, women were not only no longer required to cover their heads in
church but were permitted to wear pantsuits. Abstinence from eating meat on Fridays was dropped.”
“There was no more reverence. But to me, seeing a Muslim pray, to bow down on the ground..”
Bilal Philips, 49, a Canadian who had worked for the Saudi air force religious affairs department in
Riyadh and who was well-known as a TV religious presenter, said he belonged to the communist
movement in Canada and the United States.
“I became fed up. Basically I was searching for something meaningful,” he said of his conversion 24
years ago.
Some US military personnel were exposed to Islam when they served in the Gulf war.
Philips manned an Islamic information centre in a tent at an air force base in Dhahran. In the six
months after the war 3,000 Westerners converted at the centre, 98 percent of them US servicemen or
women, he said.
They gave up alcohol but wearing Muslim attire and praying five times a day clashed with military
duties.
“You got out of uniform as quickly as you could land put Hijab back on,” said one convert, Asma
Markusson, a former US army reservist who grew up in Illinois wanting to be a nun.
As for prayers “I had to catch my prayers when I could.” (Abridged)

TALASEA (BARRAH ISLAM), NEW BRITAIN USA
I can thank none but God that now I am a Muslim. I am fully aware that it is difficult for my Christi
friends to comprehend my decision. Why I reject the fiction that Jesus was Almighty God is the resu
of my long search for the truth about One God.
There is no time and space to prove from the text of the gospels that the words of Jesus concerning th
oneness of God are a far cry from the language of the Trinitarians.
I tried to find the truth about the Oneness of God in Christianity but failed. However I tried to heed
words of Jesus :knock and the door will open, seek and you will find..(Mat. 7:7).
Islam reveals to me the correct concept of Monotheism- that the Oneness of God is absolute and ther
is no mystery about this truth.
Jesus confirmed that when asked of the greatest thing in faith is “Hear O Israel, Lord our God is one
God” (Mk. 12:29). I have not the slightest doubt that Jesus and Mohammad (May peace of God be o
both of them) are servants of the same true God.
The true conception of the Oneness of Allah the Most high is to me light from darkness and confusio
At an early age the incredible Trinity was a bitter pill to swallow with the logical 1+1+1 = 3.
During my high school.. anew manner of worship became known to me. My teachers persuaded me
join Christian cultists but my heart said no! Noise, temporal joys and emotional swerves were not my
kind of bait.
The cultists brag as God will not test their faith, not to speak of Satan. If Satan could test faith of
Jesus, who are these cultists compared to Jesus.
During my undergraduate years the long accepted ‘pagan’ world opened to me with availability of
books on major world religions. Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam attracted me. During my readings
occurred to me that I was searching for a religion that defines the absolute Oneness of God. Hinduis
and Buddhism lost my favor because of their ambiguous definition of Supreme Deity.
Islam’s bold definition of the Supreme deity attracted me strongly; There is none worthy of worship
save Allah and Mohammad is the messenger of Allah.
A Muslim means one who submits completely to Allah the Most High. Christians submit that jesus
submitted totally to the will of Allah, so Jesus was a perfect Muslim.
Jesus’ gospel was a forward to the Holy Quran the permanent revelation. Know this truth and you
shall be free. Thus I have come to know and accept Islam the straight path.
(Abridged) Source:: YAQEEN INT. PAK. SEPT 1987, P119-120

Ms Tasha http://www.newmuslims.tk/
Assalaamu 'Alaikum Brothers and Sisters,

My name is Tasha, and I recently converted (formally) to Islam on July 7,2004.I had been studying
Islam ever since I was in 7th grade. My interest in Islam began when I was invited to iftar for
Ramadan by my Seventh grade teacher. And ever since then I was hooked!!!
I was raised a Baptist, but like so many former Christians I never really practiced Christianity. I rare
if ever attended Church or Sunday school because I just felt so uncomfortable there. My immediate
family was the type where we just went to church on major holidays. So I studied Islam and fasted fo
the Ramadan while I was not Muslim (I knew that my fasts wouldn't count, but it was my situation,
perhaps that was Allah subhana wa ta'ala's will). Then finally my sophomore year in high school I go
back in
contact with my 7th grade teacher and I learned even more. I learned how to pray, I learned (and I am
still learning) how to read Arabic, and I had started reading the Qumran (Alhamdolillah what a
glorious Al Khitab it is. My favorite Surah thus far is Sura Yusuff). Then I began going to a dars in
February (shortly after Ramadan) that she (my old teacher) spoke at for girls 12-18 (which I still
attend). Then I slowly increased and I started going to a Lecture or Khutbah on Thursday nights. The
finally on that fateful Tuesday I converted/reverted (what ever people want to call it)!!! It was one of
the best days of my life!!! Subhanallah!!! The only problem is that I haven't told any one because I a
truly afraid they'll either disown me or try to Deprogram me!!!
I had mentioned to my Mother that I wanted to convert when I was a freshman in High School, but I
had told her I'd wait until I was 18. And then My grandfather suspects something because even befor
I converted I spread the "good news" if you will, about Islam and how it cancels out the divinity of 'I
(aleyhi salaam) and original sin, so he believes that I am brainwashed or what not. But the kuffar are
truth rejecters!!! Then to make it even worse I have a twin sister, she knows that I pray five times da
and that I go to the Masjid frequently and all that, but she doesn't know if I converted or not!!! The
only one that knows besides the other Muslims at the Masjid is the Board of Directors at the library a
which I work. I just pray that Allah (SWT) gives me guidance and soften their (My families and my
friends and my co-workers) hearts, Ameen. Insha'allah , I will survive and increase in my iman.
By the way I am 16 and I live in IL.
Also I will be attending the ISNA conference/convention this labor day weekend and I hope that tho
of you on this mailing list will be attending. And isn't it ironic that when Muslimahs wear Hijab, or
when for that matter whatever Muslims people see (no matter what ethnicity you are or whether or n
u have been a citizen of the country where in you reside) people don't classify you as an American o
as a Mexican or as a German, etc. they classify you as a Muslim (subhanallah). But sometimes, in an
Americans case they look at you as if you don't know how to speak English properly and as if you ar
a terrorists and as if you are an Arab, ironic huh!!! But never the less I am proud of my Muslim
identity and insha'allah I will be able to be a good image of a Muslim to the American people and
insha'allah I will be able to wear Hijab proudly (once I tell my family) not only when I pray but whe
go outdoors too.
Wa salaam,
Tasha
TANIDTHEA (UMM AMINA) AUSTRALIA
I was born in Australia, once I went to the Muslim Mosque in small town of Armindale and borrowe
English translation of Quran for study. While just scanning thru the book, The following verse of
Quran caught my eye, that dealt with planetary movements:
“And the sun runs the course for a period determined for him: that is the decree of (Him) the Exalted
Might, the All Knowing. And the Moon- We have measured for her mansions (to traverse) till she
returns like the old (and wretched) lower part of a date stalk. It is not permitted to the sun to catch u
the Moon, nor can the Night outstrip the day, each (just) swims along in (its own) orbit (according to
Law) 36: 38-40
This made me think, how can Prophet Mohammad, an unlettered man could describe the movements
of sun and man in so scientific way? He must be getting these info from God Almighty….so Quran
must be the divine book.
Now I started studying Quran with much care and attention taking care to implement in my life what
read. Soon I decided to enter into faith of Islam.
I tried to convince my husband also about Islam, but despite my best efforts, he continued in his faith
So much so that I gave him choice between me and his religion. He divorced me and I got the custo
of my daughter, whom I named AMINA and therefore I am known as UMM AMINA.
Soon I met a Muslim from Pakistan on Internet Chat club and I migrated to Pakistan and married him
Australia is a Christian majority country, but Islam is spreading fast there. Many women are attracte
to Islam for protection, because it is Islam which gives them real protection and real respect.
I am sorry to say that most Muslims living in Australia do not give a good picture of Islam. They do
not live according to Islam and are divided amongst themselves. To Muslim women also I request to
think about hereafter, The present life will end in a few decades, and then they will have to account
for that in the eternal life. Islamic teachings are best suited for all situations in life. They should
practice them into their daily life. (abridged)
Testimony of Um Luqman
http://www.thetruereligion.com/umluqman.htm
Um Luqman, "Jesus(AS) made sense to me as being a Prophet"
Bismillah ir Rahman nir Raheem ( In the Name of ALLAH, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
As Salamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu ( May the Peace and Blessings from ALLAH
be upon you) all in Islam,
Greetings,
This is my story of how I reverted back to Islam.
Revert is One who comes back to Islam. We are all Born Muslim, so those who stray and find there
way back, ( by ALLAH's will) has reverted.
By the time I was born, Islam had already been introduced to my family.
My Uncles, (maternal), had both accepted Islam, by the end of the Vietnam war. Masha'ALLAH. An
had given both of their sisters, my mother and aunt, dawah -- needless to say both of them rejected th
dawah at this time.
They were not too keen on the idea of telling their parents, (my grandparents-maternal). You see, I
came from a very strict Catholic background, and for anyone to convert to any other religion was
frowned upon terribly.
During my childhood, I always had the questions; Who was God, and Where did he come from. Min
you those two questions permeated my thoughts throughout my spiritual journey.
Well, in the cathedrals my family attended, there were these Big, and Massive statues. Oh my, I
thought these were the most scary statues I had ever seen. The music was creepy and the combinatio
of candles and stained glass made shadows look ghastly. Then, I remember having to light candles a
go to confession, eat bread and drink fake wine (grape juice)...........
........All of this was very exhausting to me.
The Frilly dresses and meticulous and strategically placed bows in my hair, I felt like a porcelain dol
and if anyone touched me or if I moved the wrong way , I could break. Did I forget to mention that
went to 2 different masses, Spanish and English. The Spanish I could barely understand ( parents
wanted me to be western-so they only spoke English to me). And the English was to difficult to follo
and after all of that, and after many years ; I still did not know the answer to my 2 questions.
As I got older, things changed quickly, here I was about 8 years old or so and my aunt took her
shahadah (Masha'ALLAH), and I still didn't know what that meant at that time, only heard the word
few times, here and there. And my mother and father grew apart, and we ( my mom and I) grew apar
I lived with my grandmother
, who was still a Devout Catholic, and I still had the dresses and bows. <smile>
My mother moved to Georgia, and I was still in New York, going to 2 masses and going to confessio
the whole bit.
I got a little older and at about age 12, (almost a teenager!!, <smile> ) I moved to Georgia with my
mom, and guess what!........
She also took her shahadah, ( Masha'ALLAH) and still I didn't know what this meant. I was
devastated. My mother, a beautiful career women, a Muslim. Now, I know that she was the most
beautiful women that I knew back then, and even now.
I didn't know what to do. I knew One thing , I was not going to wear that head rag, as I called it at th
pre teen stage. My mother tried to force me to wear the Khimar (head covering) and the long dress a
the long shirts at first, then she realized the more she tried , the more I rebelled. I even ran away from
home to my cousins house, (across the street from my school) to get away from my new Muslim mo
As time went on, I develop my curiosity of, Who God was and Where did He come from ,again. So,
here I am at age 15 searching for God. I was away from my Muslim mom (living with relatives again
back and forth to New York, visiting my grandma), and I went to a penacostle church. I took the inv
from a school friend.
I could not connect, so I kept on searching.
Now I was 17, had already been to a holiness church (all the "got the Spirit dancing" scared the heck
out of me), a Baptist church (to much singing and yelling, not enough preaching), and a non
Denominational church (finally found my niche) .
I was "baptised" and saved!! At last, I was no longer a sinner and was a spiritual person, who loved
God and His son...................
But, Who was He again? and Where did He come from? And now He had a son, did I just realize
this?........
Back to square one. I decided to just say no to all the invites and not do anything, as far as religion w
concerned.
I had graduated from highschool and was in the beginning of my 2nd year of college ,when I met a
preacher, a very young one. Just 3 years older than me. He was at the "Other" University, one for all
males and it had a Theology program. Well, he gave me a bible, and told me to read certain chapters
to renew my faith in God. But Which God, hmmmmmmmmm.
I had been fed so much from so many different people, phew! I needed some renewal of faith, but ho
did I know this was the way. He made sure that he was there to guide me, if I had a question he alwa
had the answer, if I needed clarification, he did it, if I needed some upliftment, he was there. It came
time I accepted his invite to this little church he practiced preaching at. I thought I knew it all, I had
my Bible in hand , read it from cover to cover. I was prepared for it all.
Or so I thought..........
....I froze, something would not let me enjoy the service, I couldn't get up and say thank you Jesus
(AS) anymore, I could not say Hallaleuah anymore. I got up and walked out, and never returned to th
church again. Let me explain, I saw something in that church, I dont know what it was, but it was
looking at me as I was looking at it. A few months after that, I had 2 dreams. 2 dreams I will never
forget, Insha'ALLAH. To make it short, I dreamt that something was chasing me, and I turned aroun
and said something in a different language. it stopped and ran away. The next dream I had was of my
grandmother, (who had died, and taken her shahadah before her death, Masha'ALLAH). I was in her
house with a Jewish family, mother and son. My grandmother was in the kitchen cooking, and I was
speaking to this Jewish man, all of a sudden, my grandmother left and this Jewish mother was cookin
(I was in a spot where I could not see her), Well, this Jewish guy started speaking, what I think was
Yiddish or Hebrew, and he jumped up and disappeared, I was drawn to the kitchen and saw that sam
thing again, I started to say something in that same language as before , in my other dream. And this
time it didn't run, but grew. I said it over and over again, until I woke up screaming. I had to tell this
it is very significant in my reverting, (I think so anyway). Allahualim.
I decided once again, not to do anything about religion. I was going to pray directly to God and see
what would happen. So I did, and waited, and waited, and waited. I was now 23 years old, had two
children and still did not know the answer to those 2 questions. One day my uncle called me , just to
see how I was. I told him about the dreams, and to my surprise, what I had been saying in my dream
was Arabic! I was seeking refuge. And I didn't even know. Masha'ALLAH! All my Uncle said to m
was seek ALLAH, go to him and ask Him to guide you. He said this with such earnest, and he is an
uncles I love so dearly, one that has never steered my wrong, Should I believe him? Should I pray to
ALLAH? ALLAH.? Who was ALLAH? When my uncle gave me the answer, I broke down and crie
This was it, this was the answer I had been looking for , practically my whole life.!! That night I
prayed, to ALLAH.
About 2 years later, my aunt came to visit me, I was pregnant with my third child, and she asked me
you believe in God, the One God, who created all mankind., ALLAH. I said, Yes. She asked me wha
do u believe about
Jesus (AS), by this time I knew the Muslims believed him to be a prophet of God, so I said what I
thought she wanted me to hear and said, He is a prophet. She asked me did I know about the Prophet
Muhammad, I told her not much, and she told me all about him. And that is when Jesus (AS) made
sense to me as being a Prophet. I was intrigued. But still wasn't ready to make that move. I had too
much pride, I could not cover my hair. I couldn't go into a perfect religion, being so imperfect. And
what would my friends say? What about my job, what would they
say if I covered my hair?
Well, during this same week, my aunt and her husband visited me and my family again, we ate , we
talked, and then My husband, (who knew a little about Islam) started to ask questions, before I knew
He took his shahadah! Masha'ALLAH.
I was still stubborn, and he never pushed Islam on me. Two months later, the day before my son was
born (3 out of 4) <smile> I visited my mother. She had company and of course, she was Muslim. I
spoke to the sister ,that I was fond of,. And she said to me, What is stopping you from accepting
Islam. Your family, almost the entire family, is Muslim. Do you even know about Islam. I said
somewhat, so she grabbed my hand, and I followed her to another room. We sat, and talked, I found
out that I did not have to be perfect or never mess up, or free from sin. I still had some misconceptio
And By the Grace of ALLAH, this sister had put them to rest, with just one conversation. She even
told me if I could not cover right away, then not to worry, that all I had to do was pray to ALLAH.
And cover for Salah, and Insha'ALLAH, eventually I would cover. I could not believe it , to accept
Islam, ALL my previous sins forgiveen, wipe clean, a new start?!!, Now THAT is born again.
At that moment, I wanted to accept Islam, I wanted to take MY shahadah. It wasn't anything fancy, a
was used to in my previous ventures. My little brother, (a man then but still my little brother) gave m
my shahadah, Ashahdu illa ilaiha illallah, wa ashadu anna muhammadan rasoolu Allah,(I attest that
there is only One God, and His Name is ALLAH ,none is worthy of worship but He, and I did all thi
in front of my mom, my aunt , and the friend. The next day my son was born, and I had a peace that
came over me, I still cannot describe today. I have since then grown in my deen, and the knowledge
Islam, and can affirm, that Islam is the TRUE WAY OF LIFE,. AL - Hamdulillah!!
Sorry this took sooo long, I became absorbed.
I thank ALLAH, the Most Merciful, for allowing me to be Muslim, and Insha'ALLAH he will allow
all In Islam, to live , worship, and die as Believers, and Submitting Muslims, Ameen.
May ALLAH guide us all to His Straight Path, Ameen
Oh, I forgot to say, that I did wear my Khimar, shortly after that, Masha'ALLAH. And have since qu
that job, and now run my own business. I have progressed from just wearing the khimar, to full Hijab
Masha'ALLAH.
Wa Alaikumu As Salam Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu
UmLuqman
Yvonne Riddley, UK
Note: Yvonne Riddley was BBC reporter, captured by Taliban in Afghanistan before the start of
hostilities in Dec 2001. She spent ten days as captive and was released by Taliban just before the sta
of war. Her later conversion to Islam brought her into lime light once again. Many “theories” for th
conversion were put forward, here the lady presents her own story in her own words (This is translat
from vernacular, so absolute accuracy as to wordings cannot be guaranteed).
Being a reporter made me objective in my thoughts and means. When the UK newspaper and BBC
decided to sent me to Afghanistan, I immediately agreed. I tried for Afghanistan visa thru Pakistan,
but could not get one. So I decided to enter Afghanistan without proper visa. The mule on which I
was riding suddenly changed the route and I found myself alone in a strange neighborhood. The mu
was stopped by a young Taliban.
My dress and camera gave me away, the camera was taken away and I was made to wait. I was full
apprehension as to what this “Barbaric and Uncivilized” people would do to me, a western and
Christian woman, who has entered illegally into their territory. After some delay, a woman came an
searched me for hidden weapons etc. This was my first surprise!!! These “Barbaric and Uncivilized
people did not touch me until a woman came to search, while in my “Civilized and Cultured” countr
I would be “pawed” immediately without waiting for any woman!!
After my “arrest” I demanded use of Satellite phone, when my request was denied (might be for fear
pinpointing their location-Ed.), I resorted to hunger strike. I thought that this “Cruel and Evil” band
would care least whether I consumed food or not. It was surprise for me when I started receiving
strings of people, of all ages, old and young, male and female, all requesting me to start eating!!!
They even offered to bring bear for me if I required that. When I got a temperature, they even called
doctor for me. All this surprised me.
Once I was told that Commander of Taliban is coming to meet me, they requested me to behave
properly with him. There was a knock on my door, I opened it (I had key to my room!!! Another
surprise), the Commander appeared before me. He was dressed in a long gown and had a beautiful
face and a full beard. He asked me what I think about Islam. I was diplomatic in my answer and
highlighted many good qualities of Islam. “Then why don’t you accept it? “ was the next question.
I could not answer this question…so he told me that soon you will be released, but promise me that
you will take up study of Islam when you go back. I gave my promise.
Next day, I was taken to another place and I found that many Western Women were prisoners and th
were reading Bible. I later learned that these missionaries also entered Afghanistan illegally and wer
preaching Christianity to Afghanis. What was peculiar, was that Taliban did not do any thing to the
Bible and gave it all due respect. That was another surprise for me that these “Barbaric and
Uncivilized” people give this much respect to other people’s scriptures (What American Soldiers did
with Quran at GITMO and ABU GHARIB is known to every body –Ed.).
Many days passed and each new day brought more and more surprises to me. I was able to watch th
respect and regard which they showed to women. They never mistreated us or subjected us to any
hardship. I was the most outspoken and complaining of the lot. I tried to break as many rules as I
could do….the maximum “Punishment” I received was that I was denied use of Satellite Phone whic
was given to other inmates!!!
One thing which I never forgot was the uproar that which open drying of my washed clothes caused.
had also washed my undergarments and put them out in the sun to dry. Soon I was requested to take
them inside…I refused….they asked again me to remove them as they could tempt people …I again
refused and they gave me Title of “Evil Women”!!!
Finally just one day before American Bombardment started, they told me that they would soon take
away from harm’s way and release me near Pakistan Border.
I could hardly believe my ears. They are worried about my safety, when their own lives are in extrem
danger. …..Soon I was back in “Civilized and Cultured land” and was swarmed by media person,
each asking about what happened to me when I was “in Dark and Medieval” age Afghanistan!!! The
did not seem to believe me, when I told that I was treated with respect and was not harmed in any wa
Well after my release I remembered my promise to the Taliban commander. My studies about Islam
opened my eyes and I decided to join the “Biggest Brotherhood” on the face of this earth and accepte
Islam in June 2002!!! (abridged)
81 S Why I Became Muslim?
SISTER Zainab Oñez Discovered Islam while training to be a nun.
Assalamu alaikum waramatullahi wa barakatuhu!
I am Zainab Oñez, 24 years old, single never been married, a graduate of Bachelor of Science in
Commerce major in Marketing at Holy Cross of Davao College Inc, Philippines. I was a former
Roman Catholic and I am one of the working Scholars in SVD or society Verbini Divini, a religious
congregation in the Catholic religion for 6 years. Previously, my plan was to become a nun. When I
was at the young age of 14, I used to ask myself why many people would have debates about the
Christian religion. I had realized maybe God has given one religion to all mankind. When I reached
age of 20, I started to research on the internet and I read about how ISLAM IS A WAY OF LIFE. An
I was getting shocked, why was Catholicism not a way of life? I started to research more about Islam
because it was my first time to hear about Islam.
I printed all the Islamic research that I had found from the internet and showed them to our professor
He was getting angry with me; why I was studying about Islam; Muslims are terrorists; Muslims are
bad people; Muslims worship another God. I considered this as a challenge and was encouraged to
study more about Islam. After two years of studying about Islam I decided to embrace Islam last
February 21, 2006.
Alhamdolillah, I am only one Muslim among with our family and I am now working as a volunteer i
Dawah Islamic propagation in Davao city. My entire Christian friends were against me in my new
Islamic way of life. I don’t care what other people say. The most important thing is that this is my
decision and I know that this is the true religion of Allah SWT given to all mankind.
That is why I spend my life in Dawah for Muslim and non-Muslim area because this is the true
religion of Allah that has given to all mankind. The first big jihad for me is wearing of Hijab and aba
but Alhamdolillah with the help of Allah I got my self-confidence of wearing in proper attire.
Most of Christian friends say, what happened to you Zainab, you look like a ghost but I smile at them
and say you do not understand what you are talking about and it is better for you to study your Bible
because even the Bible is very strict for the woman: If Christians read their Bible carefully and
understand their Bible, all of them will become Muslims.
I am now enjoying making my comparative study of religion and inshaAllah I am hoping to be like
Ahmad Deedat a good daeyah or preacher in our Islamic religion. Now, I am always hoping to focus
on study in Arabic education inshaAllah if Allah given me an opportunity to study in Saudi Arabia
inshaAllah.
Please try to correct my English grammar. I hope that you can understand because I am not really
good in English grammar.
Zainab's Testimony
My Spiritual Life:
I have been enamored with God since I was young. Like many children, I would stare into the clouds
or stars and wonder who, what, where, why, and how was God. Trying to verify His presence, I wou
set up quasi-experiments to find proof. For instance, setting a glass on a table, and ask God to move
to prove His existence. …
I was raised as a Christian, and as I grew up, I would go to different church denominations, and ask t
ministers (Imam), how they knew, for sure, that God existed. Now, I would think, that, this would be
the question, they are asked most often, but as it turns out, they are almost never asked this question,
and even more surprisingly, for the most part, they do not appear to like being asked this question…
I had other difficulties with Christianity. The concept that heaven can only be obtained through havi
Jesus as your Savior, with good and bad deeds having no relevance in the scheme of things, was an
idea that always defied common sense to me. Theoretically in Christianity, a person who sins all day
every day of his life, will go to heaven if he accepts Jesus as his Savior, one second before he dies. T
man that does all good, every day of his life, who does not accept Jesus as his Savior in his lifetime,
sentenced to eternal hell.
One day, I met several Muslim sisters, and I felt an instant kinship, unlike any I had previously held
Like myself, they did not date, swear, drink, and the long list of other common vices. It was such a
great feeling to meet others, with whom, I held so much agreement about so many matters. I was
surprised to learn that there was any other person on the planet so similar to myself. I had no idea su
a creature existed.
Since this was the second time Muslims had been brought to my attention, I decided that I should at
least investigate Islam, so I called a Mosque and went to it for direction. I was given a copy of the
Quran and so I started to read. Slowly my focus began to shift from Christianity to Islam. At first I
stopped teaching the "Christ as Savior" part in my Sunday School lessons, and opted for morality
lessons each week.
I did not discuss Islam with anybody because I felt I was betraying all my Christian family and
friends, and I did not even discuss it with my Muslim girlfriends because I did not want my decision
have any pressure applied. Slowly, without my actually realizing it, I began to shift my beliefs from
Christianity and towards Islam. I
In the following month, I was overwhelmed with the sense that I was home. I felt that what I had bee
looking for all my life had been found, and for the first time I was home where I belonged. Often, I
feel as though I was always a Muslim,
My familial response to my conversion:
The rude response however was difficult to understand, and very troubling for my family. Their
impression of Muslims had been the same as 95% of Americans, that they are crazy terrorists.
However, when my family met my girlfriends, they changed their opinion to a positive one. Then,
when mean-spirited brothers did their best to make my life difficult, they reversed their opinion. The
did this rightly so. I have not written here some of the bizarre behavior that occurred because I do no
think it will serve any benefit to Islam. Suffice to say, if anyone else had been in their shoes, they
would agree with them.
Looking to God for Guidance:
Some religious people get angry when I say that God guides me, and claim it is impossible. First of a
the Quran begins by stating that we should go to God for guidance. Secondly, just because they (the
angry person) have never had this experience, does not mean it does not exist. It does happen, and I
will be happy to try to explain how to get started, as far as I understand it.
1. First of all, remember, that God knows every iota of our intentions. So, we must begin with utterly
pure intentions. You cannot want God's guidance for some reason or power, ego, etc. It must be for
wholly unselfish reasons. God recognizes the impure heart, no matter how successfully someone mig
try to disguise it among the general public.
2. You must let go of all the things that you try and control in your life and recognize that God is in
control. I think so often God is trying to guide us towards what he wants us to do, however, we are to
busy, trying to make things go the way that we want, that we are not able to hear Him. A good way t
let go of our control, so that we can hear God, is to visualize a barge floating down a river in front of
you. Imagine placing everything you have in your life on that barge as it floats away from you, to Go
Image you have no say or input as to what happens to these things, situations, people, etc., and
honestly saying to God that you fully accept and embrace whatever it is He decides to do with all of
the things in our life. Even if it is the opposite of what you desire - that is a very hard part. Imagine i
He decides that everything is best for you, if it is the opposite, of what you are trying to achieve. Thi
is where you have to truly trust God one hundred percent.
3. Next, you must be still and recognize God and all of His attributes.
4. Next, you must be silent and still and just "be" with God.
5. You must not expect anything to happen, because it is the grace of God when He guides you.
However, if you do this daily, my experience is eventually something happens. Sometimes it happen
during the prayer, but other times it occurs while you are in the ordinary situations.
6. The thing that happens is that you will sense a strong direction of guidance. You have to learn to
distinguish between your own ideas and Gods. The way that I usually know that it is God, is that His
guidance is usually the opposite of what I want to do. For instance, since I am not a good person, the
are certain people that I do not like, and would not mind if they disappeared from this earth.
Sometimes, I will sense God telling me to go to them and comfort them. It is a struggle because
sometimes my only desire is to go up and kick them. I remember once I sensed God asking me to pra
blessings for my least favorite person on the planet. I could not believe it. I was arguing with God
saying, "come on God? Blessings? Can I just pray that he gets in a car accident and suffers pain and
becomes very sorry for being so evil." (I told you that I am bad, didn't I?) Anyway, needless to say, H
did not find that acceptable, so I pray the way He requested. When I have a strong sense that I need t
do something good that I do not want to do, and this action falls in line with all the teachings of Alla
it is usually God's guidance.
7. The way that I confirm that it was God's guidance is that something significant and Godly happen
as a result. For instance, the day I prayed blessings for my least favorite person, he made a dramatic
turn around in his behavior toward me from that time forward.
8. Again, the key, is all in the honesty of intention. Your intention must be to behave in a pious way,
serve Allah and His purposes with no desire for personal gain. Again, I have many interesting stories
about this, but I want to limit the length of this.
Finally, I would like to ask for prayers from my brothers and sisters in Islam. I have found the
transition to Islam difficult and I have encountered a world of problems trying to do Islamic work in
the community. I would sincerely prefer a prayer more than a gift of $1,000,000. So to anyone that
sacrifices their valuable time and remembers me in their prayers, I will be eternally grateful and
appreciate.
The Case of: ZAINAB CHAUHAN, CHURU RAJASTHAN, INDIA
01. I was born in CHURU in a Rajput family on 20th April 1968. My father was principal in a local
high school. I did BA from the city and was married on 6th June 1990 in a good family of MP.
My husband was NAIB TAHSILDAR and he had been a very good hockey player. In fact he got his
job due to his hockey game. We lived in RATLAM and MANDSORE due to my husband’ transfers
Then he was promoted as TAHSILDAR in Bhopal and went there.
02. My husband used to love me very much and everything was fine in our family and we had two
children. But all that changed in 2000 when my husband went to live in Bhopal.
There was a very handsome Brahmin girl working in his office. She was very hard working and
efficient. My husband fell in love with her, even though there was no sexual relationship between
them, but he always was lost in her thought.
03. He decided to leave me an marry her….so he left me with my parents and invited her to Delhi to
marry her. Since he was already married, so lawyers told them the only way out was them to becom
Muslim and then get married..
They went to many places in Delhi, but no one helped them. Some one told them the address of
Maulana Kalim in Phulat. He reached there but Maulana was not there. But there was Muslim schol
there who asked them to recite Kalima and then married them as per Islamic rites.
04. He also told them that they have to complete official formalities by giving affidavit before a DM
The girl told my husband that when we have become Muslim, we should also read about Islam. She
got some book on Islam and read them. The study of Islam opened their heart to Islam and they
became Muslims from their heart.
05. Later when they met Maulana and told about their story….Maulana told that it was very unfair to
your first wife, you should start working on her and start praying for her right with..
06. Slowly the news of his marriage reached to me, I was very angry and sad. My father initiated a
case against my husband, he was arrested and spend some days in jail. He got bail but he was
suspended from the office duty.
My family members made life more and more difficult for him….but his new wife became a staunch
Muslim and even started participating in Missionary activities.
07. They consulted Maulana and his wife told him, that now that she has become a True Muslim, she
feels that his first wife was a victim. I have no objection, if he goes back to her and divorces me.
08. She phoned me a number of times and begged me repeatedly to come to Bhopal, so we could sol
the issue ourselves. Firstly I refused, but after some time, when Is aw no way out, I decided to go
there.
When I reached there, she told me about Islam and went on asking me to save me from the hell fire…
She kept on working on me, till Allah also opened my heart to Islam.
09. I accepted Islam and I was remarried to my husband according to Islamic rites. She was very
happy for me and kept on congratulating me again and again.
Soon she told me one Friday that I have seen a dream that I am going to heaven….shortly afterwards
she fell sick…and died after a brief sickness.
It was strange that second wife is presented in a bad light, but in my case, she became a real boon.
10. My husband was very much affected by the death of his second wife. In fact he told me that he h
now no more attraction left in life.
I am consoling hem and send him to Maulana when he feels very depressed. I have brought my
children back to Bhopal and then are studying in Islamic schools now.
I hope that they become Islamic missionary.
We have taken Maulana as our religious teacher and consult him on our situation and religious queri
11. It is said in Quran that “If one believes and does good deeds, Allah will make his earthly life
pleasant..” We have seen the truth of this Quranic verse in the life of my husband, his second wife a
now in my own case!!
Source: Monthly ARMAGHAN of March 2009

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# In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

ASIYA ABD, AUSTRALIA

MRS. ARCHANA AMIT (MOMINA TABASSUM), LUCKNOW INDIA.

The Introduction and Decision (Testimony of Aminah Assilmi)

"I couldn't be a Muslim! I was American and white!"

How Islam changed my Life

The Case of: ANJU DEVI (AMINA) RISHI KESH, INDIA

B. How and Why I accepted Islam:

C: What was reaction of spouse , parents, family and society:

D. How I saved my Islam:

3. On Family members / Others.

G. My advice to Muslims / Non Muslims.

(Translated from Vernacular Urdu and abridged)

(Abridged) Source:: Islamic Voice Feb. 1998, p22

AMINA JENIAT, USA

ALEXANDRA (FATIMA) KRICKLER, AUSTRIA

(Abridged) Source:: The MWL Journal Jan-Feb 199, p23-24

BEGUM AMINA LAKAHANI, OHIO, USA

(Abridged) Source:: Yaqeen International Pakistan July 7-22, 1991 Page 47

Mrs. ÂMINA MOSLER (German)

Why did I become a Muslim?

10 Why I Became Muslim?

AN AMERICAN MUSLIMAH (NAME WITHELD), USA

(Abridged) Source:: The Islamic Voice May 1998 p 22 bailyverous17@hotmail.com

(Abridged) Source:: The Islamic Voice, Bangalore, Nov 1996, p18

AIYESHA ONG, BUDDHIST MALAYSIA

(Abridged) Source:: The Muslim (London) Oct-Nov 1974 Vol. 12 p 10-11

ANN ROCKFELLER, BRITAIN

(Abridged) Source:: Riyadh Daily May 15,1998 p9

The Case of: AIYESHA , PANIPAT, HARYANA , INDIA

B. How and Why I accepted Islam:

C: What was reaction of spouse , parents, family and society:

They searched for me and after some time gave up hope.

3. On Family members / Others.

(Translated from Vernacular Urdu and abridged)

Source: Monthly ARMAGHAN of August 2009.

ANNA THOMAS (AMINA THOMAS) KERALA , INDIA

Testimony of Asiya Abd al-Zahir

BAHRIA AMANULLAH, USA

(Abridged) Source:: Riyadh Daily Nov 6 1998 p8

(Abridged) Source:: Islamic Voice, May 1999, p 22

The Case of: BALWINDER KAUR (AIYESHA), FIROZEPUR, PUNJAB, INDIA

B. How and Why I accepted Islam:

All family members of Maulana treated me like a member of that household.

C: What was reaction of spouse , parents, family and society:

G. My advice to Muslims / Non Muslims.

Source: Monthly ARMAGHAN of Sept. 2006

CAROL L. ANWAY, USA

(Abridged) Source:: Islamic Horizons , Sept-Oct 1995, p26-27

Mrs. CECILLA CANNOLY [Rashîda] Austrian

22 Why we became Muslim?

Catherine Heseltine, Nursery school teacher, 31, North London

23 Why we became Muslim?

Catherine Huntley, Retail assistant, 21, Bournemouth

24 Why I Became Muslim?

CASSANA (AIYESHA) MADDOZ NABLISI, USA

(Abridged) Source:: Why woman are accepting Islam? Pages 20-25

26 Why I Became Muslim?

Cynthia (Amina) USA

CLARA WILLAIMS, MUSWELL HILL , LONDON, U.K.

Rejecting her faith: Writer Eve Ahmed was raised a Muslim

Much of my childhood was spent trying to escape Islam.

LADY ZAYNAB EVELYN COMBOLD (G.B.)