Women at The Cross Road To Islam - Master - Female - 03

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 and Sustainer of this Universe) and I bear Witness that Mohammad is His
Servant and Messenger, Afterwards,
In 1930, Dr. Sir Mohd. IQBAL, the well known Urdu and Persian poet and Islamic
Philosopher, expressed the need of publishing a book, in which the stories of all those
who had converted to Islam 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 they insufficient, the noted scholar said:
“Yes they are more than sufficient, but you would get so many new points from such a
book that you will be amazed. I think there are different ways to impress the heart and
mind. Many times brain rejects the most potent of the arguments, but the hearts gets
impressed by a very small incident or 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 what are the darts that affect heart. There are so many tales of unbelievers coming
to Islam thru out the history. We see a person standing firm on his religion for many
decades, yet a small point and a small acts of kindness, sweeps him away from his feet
and he makes the most momentous decision of his life.
You have many logical arguments to prove the truth of Islam, but if you go to a new
Muslim and ask him, what impressed him about Islam and what were the points which
impressed him. If you have in book form, stories of a large number of such people, it
would be a very powerful tool in the hands of Muslim missionaries. Many new
arguments of truth of Islam will come out, which might not be 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. I have compiled about 250 of them and abridged them to be between 6000-
8000 words for ease or 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
personal experiences and personal reasons of these people who accepted Islam of their
own free will. Some of them suffered much about this new faith. What kept them firm to
their faith varies from one person to another person.
I pray to Allah to accept this effort and make it useful for those who read it and share it
with other people.
M.U. Qidwai
Jubail, Saudi Arabia
PS: These are stories of New Muslim Women’ only which are presented separately
from the combined list of New Muslims and was posted recently on SCRIBD. Now
they are presented in Book Form for ease in reading.
Story # 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 Creator, on whom every thing that exists is dependent. Though my parents are
Buddhist, from the age of 13, I 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. I 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
overwhelmed 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 been 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 have been….From this religion, I have gained a profound insight into the
operations of human behavior and sociology.
(Abridged) Source:: Islamic review (Quoted in DAWAH INT. PAK. NOV 1996)
Story # 2
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 keep 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 me 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 produced 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 told 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. One 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 our insistence on the condition that we must visit him at the earliest. We
went to his house and for the first 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 relate 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 stopped going to temples altogether. AMIT was getting some books from the
gentleman which both of us were 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 on that fateful Nov month of 2003? Was it coincidence or was Allah making
provisions for me? (abridged)
Story # 3
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 had 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 for 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 a 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 God 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 not accept Jesus as their personal savior. They were very polite, but did not
convert. Then, I explained how Jesus loved them and had died on the cross to save them
from their sins. All they had to do was accept 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 with 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 ways 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 asked 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 danger 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 bear 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 correct 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 convinced 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 did 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. Still, 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 want 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 of 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 have 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 wants 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 that 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 must all die. I was confident
that the pain I was experiencing contained Blessings. (Abridged)
Story # 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 this 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 our Ashram, they were lured to a secluded spot and both mother
and daughter were raped by employees of our Ashram.
This incident shocked me to the core, I told my father that our Ashram should be burned
along with us 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 save me. I decided to phone someone at random, if it was picked by a Hindu,
I shall remain Hindu, if it was 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 position 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 Kalim 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 completed 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 in My new place. Police came and arrested my father in law. I asked him to
jump from the vehicle as I 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 I was handed over to them. The whole village came out to receive me and I
was given much honor that 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 and 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 her 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. If 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

Story # 5
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 will never be quenched.
I was born in Arkansas to Christian parents…I was raised here all my life on a farm,
where you get up 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 outside 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 deeply.
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 positive identification, they are helpless…
Then I was once attacked in a Parking lot, I was beaten, my writs was broken and some
ribs fractured.. The town I live in is a very small and there is no other Muslim even close.
The nearest mosque is 120 Miles away…
I am not writing this story in the hope of gaining pity. I do ask that every one continue to
pray for me, and every one reading this story be rest assured that Allah will never let you
down. But the injustices and prejudices that we Muslims face in United states has got to
come to an end…
(Abridged) Source:: Islamic Voice Feb. 1998, p22

Story # 6
AMINA JENIAT, USA
I was born in LA state of USA in 1956. My parents were devout Catholics, we later
moved to Florida 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 about 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 mix 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 Muslims 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 time, to help me overcome all these trails and give me a way out. I busied myself
in the missionary work of 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 Women and men to Islam.
One last word….My old family is coming closer to Islam….the eldest son accepted Islam
and took the name Farook. (abridged)
Story # 7
ALEXANDRA (FATIMA) KRICKLER, AUSTRIA
I was born into a Roman Catholic family in Austria, my mother was a firm believer, my
father was an atheist and had no respect towards religion From a very young age, my
mother told me about God and 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 me 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 not sure what subjects to take but I decided to take Social Anthropology
and Arabic. During my studies, I 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 about other people even in crowded cities like Cairo. I felt very close to
Islam and I was longing to become 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 then went to Jerusalem. I went to see a person who lived at Mount of Olives
and there I decided to become Muslim.
My parents were not delighted at my choice, but did not put hindrances in my path. The
most difficult 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 not 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 of men. Only now I feel that I am totally free and
respected., dependent only on God and he is the best of 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

Story # 8
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 lessons 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, instead 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 the western way is the only way….Therefore the first step towards Islam
requires courage and conviction.
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 community 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

Story # 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, my 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 of 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 youth. 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, but 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.
Story # 10
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 why 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 Muslim women wear the scarves to cover their hairs and dress in loose clothing. In
the Quran, Allah tells that 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 Arab. 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 in 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

Story # 11
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 we 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 surprising to me that the ceremony was so simple and was over in
a few minutes. I had become Muslim after 12 years.
Since that time I have done much more study on Islam and have even written some books
in Arabic to help Arabic speaking Non Muslims appreciate and make use of guidance that
God placed within their easy reach….
(Abridged) Source:: The Islamic Voice, Bangalore, Nov 1996, p18

Story # 12
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 used 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 with 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 practically 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 a 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 the 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 very 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
Story # 13
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. Although 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 of 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 that 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 years 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 what information they receive from the Western Media. I believe that most
westerners have no antagonistic 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 sons and daughters is an example.
(Abridged) Source:: Riyadh Daily May 15,1998 p9

Story # 14
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 impressed 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 Mohammad.
That impressed me much and then I read many books on Islam, unless I decided to
become Muslim. I 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 Muslim from Delhi.
06. He does the business of Import and Export….there were many ups and downs in his
business and it seemed that it is the end. But Allah had mercy on us and his business
survived. Now it is quite stable and we are happy.
07. My family members searched for me. They even reported my loss to police. I had
written them a 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 mother 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.

Story # 15
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 of 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 of 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 Books “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 American Universities.
After a long and careful study I got convinced that Islam is true religion. Its scripture is
preserved in 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 true 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)
Story # 16
Testimony of Asiya Abd al-Zahir
I have always, since developing an ability to think deeply, believed in the existence of a
single Creator, on whom everything that exists is dependent. Though my parents are
Buddhist, from the age of 13, to this Creator, I have steadfastly prayed and yielded
guidance from every day that I can remember. Yet, 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 astoundingly suppressive lifestyle, particularly for women. Muslim women, I
presumed, were considered inferior - a 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 conception 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 truth 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 Christian 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 time.
I have often been asked what it is like to be a revert and of the difficulties I must endure.
Though I do 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 were 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 was 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, nor 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 parents 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 have 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, how 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)
Story # 17
BAHRIA AMANULLAH, USA
Allah in His infinite mercy and wisdom created me to be a Muslim of eastern Europe
descent living in 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 had 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 in 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 adherence to misconceptions of women’s status in Islam. It seemed like a plunge
into darkness. I thought it was 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 clear 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 misled into thinking anti abortion stands were a threat to my rights as a women.
Islam put all elements in the 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 for all in the name of Allah.
(Abridged) Source:: Riyadh Daily Nov 6 1998 p8

Story # 18
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 impressed by him as a person, his attitude towards life and other people. I also
remember the way his face would 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 very meaningful. I was embarrassed for my earlier
prejudice.
I found myself Isolated, as my friends became unsupportive or could not understand. I

had no Muslim where I was now living. However I borrowed more books from the
library and learned myself how to 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 my faith. As I was worrying about my next step, Allah provided me with
the answer. I met a Muslim lady. When I told her what I was going thru, she was
wonderful and arranged every thing. Within a week I 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

Story # 19
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 not improve. When all medical options were exhausted, her
husband took her to many temples and places 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 some 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 not 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 to 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. Her 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 much. 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 I 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 of 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. First 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 my 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

Story # 20
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 before 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 friends, 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 so 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

Story # 21
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 young age I had already completely lost my confidence in Christianity and had
begun to feel apathy towards 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 did we have to expiate it? Why could we invoke God only through
a priest? And what were the meanings 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, “You cannot inquire about the inner natures of the church’s teachings. They are
secret. All you have to do is 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 am 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 that 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 and 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 absurd and infused one with sloth, and that Muslims would go to Hell. Upon
reading the book, I was plunged 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 ness 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 ask 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 their religion and obey the commandments of Allah, He will give them whatever
they need without them asking for it.
Story # 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.’ I 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 he 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 casual 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 to 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 my 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 a 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 I had to let that go. I gradually adopted the Islamic way of thinking: I
wanted people to judge me for my 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’t do that!’ And it took a while for my male friends at university
to remember things like not kissing me 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 myself as a Muslim, independent of him.
7. “Islam has given me a sense of direction and purpose. I’m involved with the Muslim
Public Affairs 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, but 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 worlds and no one can take that away from me.”
Story # 23
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 got 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. I 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 so open-minded. I hid all my Muslim books and headscarves in a drawer,
because I was so scared they’d find out.
3. “When I told my parents, they were horrified and said, ‘We’ll talk about it when
you’re 18.’ But my 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 must have looked completely crazy putting it on in the train carriage,
using a wastebin lid as a mirror. When a couple of old people gave me dirty looks, I
didn’t care. For the first time in my life, I felt like myself.
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 rather have found anything else at that point – drugs, cigarettes, condoms –
because at least they could have 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 the 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 in 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 I 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 get 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.”
Story # 24
Changing values: Camill Leyland, 32, pictured in Western and Muslim dress, converted
to Islam in her mid-20s for 'intellectual and feminist reasons'
The turning point for Kristiane came when she met and briefly dated the former Pakistani
cricketer and 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 and 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 actions.’
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 hard-partying teenager’.
She says: ‘I would go out and get drunk with friends, wear tight and revealing clothing
and date boys.
‘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 into 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.’
Story # 25
CASSANA (AIYESHA) MADDOZ NABLISI, USA
Note: Sister Aiyesha was one of the exchange students, who was sent to Saudi
Arabia to attend Shariah College. She had close contacts with many prominent
Saudi citizens of Jeddah. She accepted Islam in 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 tutors.
I am a graduate of Naval school and have worked in US navy. I was sent as exchange
student to attend 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 facet 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 of Quran by Abdullah Yousuf Ali.
Some credit to my conversion should go to Elijah Mohammad , thru whom many black
people in USA 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 topics. 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

Story # 26
Cynthia (Amina) USA
Cynthia gained much Media attention during days of President Ford, when she influenced
Roberdo, a 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 to 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 be 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 did not mean any thing to us in the real world. Since I was confined to wheel
chair, I used to read a lot in 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 convinced 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 me 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 and many convicts decided to embrace Islam. While conversing with one
of the inmates he told me “Why 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 would 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 of 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)
Story # 27
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 were 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 only 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 sure 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’s 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 we wish, if only we ask long and loud enough. I for one, always asked for all
I wanted and I have had my 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 will 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 life with the help of
Allah”
(Abridged) Source:: The Islamic Review Vol. 28, Nov. 1940 p401
Story # 28
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 brought the book home, without even looking at it, displayed it carefully on
my table and never even bothered 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 that 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 a 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 me 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 Afghan 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 shelter from the world’s problems. I only hope that Allah accept our small
services and make us serve Muslims more and more (abridged)
Story # 29
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. No 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 part 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 choose 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 trend 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 the 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?
Story # 30
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 believe 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 which 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 led 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 teachings. 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 any 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 to 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. Now I could find why Western Writers were so against Islam and its prophet. It
was their fear of Islam and 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::
Story # 31
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 Muslim 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 peace and tranquility. Islam always rejects the dogma that human beings are born
sinful and that they have to 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 them 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) That 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 called) 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 the place whereto they turn their faces during their worships at
home, and, all in one mass, one body in the 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 I have been enjoying the pleasure and satisfaction of having entered this
great religion.
Story # 32
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 been 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 her 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 their 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 them 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. She likes being able to challenge Muslim men, including her
husband, whom she married after converting, 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 wearing 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 sex 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 Mali 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 needs. 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 the 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 of 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. They 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 bookstore. 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 bar, that leads to God and why you're doing this."
Story # 33
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 who 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 films 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 when 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 Ramadan 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, dancing, 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 those whom He makes Muslims..
(Abridged) Source:: YAQEEN INT. FEB 7 1992, P200

Story # 34
GEORGINA NOUEIRI, UK
My first in-depth encounter with Islam came when I met Mohammad, a fellow student at
university of Swansea. He had arrived in Britain one year earlier from war torn Lebanon.
Despite a strong Anglican 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 I 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 the 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. There 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 men would not whistle at me.
(Abridged) Source:: Saudi gazette, April 12 1996, p7

Story # 35
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 at 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 out of place in their story, but I could not identify what
it was exactly, because of my own poor knowledge 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 copy 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 thought 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 was to be sacrificed. I did not have enough knowledge to argue
with them, so I left them on their believes.
I had heard about a Black Muslim sect of Nation of Islam….but my study of Quran had
convinced me 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 buy some cakes they were selling. I ran and picked up my Quran and I asked if
he was following religion 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 as 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 gift to anyone who expresses any interest in Islam…
(Abridged) Source:: Saudi Gazette 12 Oct. 1998 p12

Story # 36
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 started 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 some 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 to marry me….there is no need for me to declare my Islam and he would not
mind if I even go to temples 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 work.
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

Story # 37
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. I 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 that 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 boys. 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 me 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 very 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 library at our house… I have read many books published on Islam. During our
stay in London, we keep track 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 as 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 be aware of our trust and responsibility
Source: Monthly ARMAGHAN of July 2004

Story # 38
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 performed 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 apparently 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,
immorality 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, all 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 that 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 exist 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 into the Christian imagination is incomprehensible.
(Abridged) Source:: The Islamic Review Sept. 1938 Vol. 26

Story # 39
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 my friend for ages going, ‘What on earth is everyone going to say?’ When I
walked in, a couple of people 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 upbringing 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 the 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, when 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 a 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; they 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 kept asking things like, ‘What happens when you get married?
Do you have to cover up? What about your 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 got 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 want 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.”
Story # 40
JENNEFER FYOD , USA
Jennifer was born in Dominion Republic. She was 21 and was married with three
children… She was 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 has 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 took 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 they 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 asked 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 which 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 do.
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 from hungry grazes. Many people told me why you wear scarf when you are
not Muslim? I told it gives me 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 my 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 a 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 person was Prophet Mohammad, but I was told that it could be an angel,
because angel of God appear as men with unclear facial features. Allah knows Best
(abridged)
Story # 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 handsome sportsman but also the Muslim faith, taking the name
Haiqa. Here, in an exclusive account, she 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 really 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 and 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 not, as so many have assumed, a pre-requisite to my marriage. It was
entirely my own choice. Religiously 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 himself 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 Western 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
out 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 in 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 Lahore 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 absence 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 am more than willing to forego the transient pleasures derived from
alcohol and nightclubs; and as for the 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 futile to speculate on my
chances of marital success. Marriage, as Imran’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 do appreciate the genuine concerns of
many, I must confess to feeling somewhat bewildered by all of the commotion. (
Story # 42
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 well 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 and 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 I became a Muslim straight away.
As many of us know, the Gospels were written many years after Jesus, furthermore these
gospels have 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 for His guidance, salvation and forgiveness and in return He will Guide you
towards Islam, God Willing.
(Abridged) Source:: Riyadh Daily, Aug 1998, p9
Story # 43
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 president, 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 convert in prison, according to a study conducted last year by the Council on
American-Islamic Relations. Of 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 their parents. For those who are going against their
parents' wishes merely by practicing Islam, negotiating a 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 an 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 lent 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 School, 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 that 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, I 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 female 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. Just 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 and 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 and 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 child, due in April. Her
boyfriend hit her. She kicked him out. A few days later, she went to an open house at 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 miss 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 the 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 scarves -- ivory, violet, cobalt, sage -- that conceal heads of blond,
brown and black hair. Loose dresses, worn 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-vice 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 better not to pray tired," Rose says. "That's
true, but you should take the necessary steps, set an alarm," Amal replies. They talk about
the prayer for guidance. "This might sound silly, but I'm a dorky student and I do it
before I take a test," Amal confesses. "If I'm all stressed out, I tell myself, I studied, I did
what I 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 wrath. 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, their 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.
Story # 44
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 never 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 ask 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 that 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 — in 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 greater amounts of discrimination against them than do born Muslims,’ adds Brice,
which is what happened to 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 brought 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 place 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.

Story # 45
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 Jesus. Secretly I believed in only one God. Then I used to
listen to all sweet talks in Church, but when I used 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 by 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 European 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, that I went on reading like a Novel. It answered many of my doubts
which I had from my earlier days. It 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 English 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).
Story # 47
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 protection and rights to women. One of the best part of Islam is that instead of
worshipping innumerable gods in 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 protection. 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 who 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 some sort of restriction and bounds on one’s action and Islamic
system also provides that. It is not Islam but 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 based 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).
Story # 48
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 a 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 my grandmother after her husband had beaten her senseless in our
presence. .. In my eighth year, I was 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 cell 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 to 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 Jew 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. I 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 bombshell American consorts …
At age sixteen I had become sort of the campus mascot often toting my little daughter to
various study 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 who was Catholic from Columbia, South America and used the term Holy
Days instead of holidays. I began questioning her about this wanting to know what her
views and doctrines were. I learned that although 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 find 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 day.
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 toting the children along.
One day my little daughter said to me, “Mommy, it’s hard to be nice when everyone is
always yelling around you.” She was four years old. I knew that I had to get out. I was
divorced in my thirty-second 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 and 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 community as Muslims disenfranchise their
brothers and sisters by having the audacity to claim to be the one group that is righteous. .
Story # 49
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 of 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 a
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 surprise (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 and 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 we 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 was synonymous with "terrorist". Now I was certainly stuck with a mix
of emotions! Fear mixed with that 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 lead to another, to another,
to another and another until finally I found myself trembling from a mixture of 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 how 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 at 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 percentage of doubt removed. Here in the pages of the Qur'an were explanations of
dreams I had had, the visions on rosary meditations, life events, thoughts, scientific
things, miraculous things, etc. Once I had begun reading the Qur'an (I didn't have to read
it all to know this), I was certain that it was an authentic Holy 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 so 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 other 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. What 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 heard the actual pronunciation of
it, so I was unsure if I had recited it correctly. When I looked up, I saw that everyone was
crying. The moderator for the evening was choking back tears as well, and asked that all
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 me back and forth, telling me things in their language that I couldn't
understand. I was overwhelmed and it was 45 minutes or more before the last sister came
up to express her joy and extend the warmth of her 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

Story # 50
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 countries 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 of 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 us 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 remark 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. When 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. It 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 an eye opener to those who are dazzled by the glamour and
outside beauty of Modern Western Society.
Story # 51
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 and 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 living and working in Syria that she had a spiritual epiphany. Reflecting on what
she’d read in the Koran, she 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 a bar,’ she reveals. ‘I walked in, wearing my hijab and modest clothing,
and saw how everyone else had 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 back 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 you 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 they 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 older 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 piece.
They were all bright and educated, and have thought long and hard before choosing to
convert to Islam — 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.
Story # 52
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 had 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 a burqa in future), no longer eats pork and reads the Quran every day. She
conceded that her decision to 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 England 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 conversion 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 of 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, pray or fast.’
I spoke to a diverse selection of white Western converts in a bid to re-examine the faith I
had rejected.
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.
Story # 53
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 a English Translation of Quran.
My grandfather encouraged me to read these books as according to him, Islam contained

a good moral 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 polite 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

Story # 54
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 wake 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 in love, so I brushed the whole issue of religion under the carpet. But six
months into our relationship, he 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 whole 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 were 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 comments like, ‘Why would you wear that scarf? You’ve got lovely hair,’ but she
didn’t seem to understand what it meant.
4. “My best friend at university completely turned on me: she couldn’t understand how
one week I was out clubbing, and the next I’d given everything up and converted to
Islam. She was too close to my old 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, ‘What 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 the 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.”
Story # 55
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 was among two other girls who get excellent grades at the end of the
school year and we were asked if we 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 and 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 of 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 I 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 the College of Theology. I wasn’t sure where I would go with
it, but after a short while, the administration applied for a scholarship in the same College
of Theology, but in Belgium. There I would learn how to 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 their teachings. I was not alone in seeing the many contradictions in the
New and Old Testaments. To learn 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, I 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 their 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 those 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 to 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 the 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 reading about the religion.
I cannot say that to convert to Islam was easy; it was very difficult. But when one is
searching for the 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 projects which need doing. This is what I have been trained to do and
so my path is straight and narrow for me now.
Story # 56
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 at, so I got offers for modeling, which I did in my spare time. After
completing my graduation, my next 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 act.
When I asked someone about it, they told me that these are Muslims and performing their
five regular 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 finally 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 the 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 they 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).
Story # 57
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, so I 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 to be "a good Christian" funny thing is when ever she asked meaningful
questions she was always turned 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 a 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 I
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 themselves. 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 who 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. I said messenger of what he said Islam. I had never
heard this word before “Islam” I asked what is Islam he said “it’s a religion” (the
amazing thing was I had never heard about Islam the entire 25 years of my 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 went on to tell me not only was Mohammed (saw) the last messenger who
came after Jesus (as) but he also 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 the day a seed was planted in my
heart, it grew and grew and even today it continues to grow. I carried on 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 one 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 holding in his hands so respectfully? I later learned and realized that morning was
the first day of Ramadan and he was reading the Quran. He was the only Muslim that was
observing Ramadan. On another occasion 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 he 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 a 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 respect the Quran. They taught me about “Intention”
and “Purification firstly and then talk a lot of respecting the Quran. They said it was
unlike any other book. By time I finished listening to them and had a bath with my
intentions. They then handed me the Quran. As the Quran was laid in my hands and
everyone 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
Story # 58
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 that 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 reading about the religion.
I cannot say that to convert to Islam was easy; it was very difficult. But when one is
searching for the 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 of 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

Story # 59
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, I would be very happy. But my husband was a very cruel man and man of
many vices. I was treated no 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 whole Quran, Alhamdolillah.

05. My husband had forgotten about me and my children for close to 25 years. When he
got retired, he 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 her 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 Muslim 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 thousands 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 share their religion with them, things will change in India.

Source: Monthly ARMAGHAN of July 2008.
Story # 60
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 confession 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 was 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 Center 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. "Brilliant 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 fan.
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 -- I 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 to 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 and 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 form. 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 Quran, 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 my 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 the 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 he 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 fertility 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 friend
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 to latch on. So on the first day of his life, instead of a newborn suckling at
my breast, I nursed an electric pump (on loan from the hospital) to increase my milk
supply. Then -- somehow -- the loud methodical chugging of the pump's motor helped to
drown out my fear. "In the name of God, the Benevolent, the 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 intermediary. 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 pork, 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 never-ending. (Abridged)
Story # 61
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 I 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 was 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 of Egyptian Muslim women and how much they were suffering under Islam. I
was full of confidence and 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 some 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 in 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, so 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 convincing answers to all my doubts. One more thing I noticed that whenever I
asked any doubt, they would give 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)
Story # 62
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 as 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. During 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 women 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 know 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 of 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 become free. That is the
advice which I wish to give all my Muslim Sisters who are living in west or Islamic
countries. They should not accept that “freedom” at any cost.
Story # 63
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 memories, 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 thunder 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 my 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’t 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 to 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. It 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 and 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. I 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 can 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 I 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.
Story # 64
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 beautiful 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 that 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 me 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, my 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 are 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

Story # 65
PROF. DR. SUFIA , SWEDEN
I was brought up in a devout Christian family, my mother used to us to Church every

Sunday. During my studies, I used to get many doubts about Christianity and its
teachings, which Church was not able 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 SYED QUTUB of Egypt. These books answered many of my questions. Then
I studied Islam thru the books 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 Islamic 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 have 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 imitate western style and western thinking in their
lives…(abridged)
Story # 66
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 that 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 men 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 enemy No 1. I’d never experienced racism in London before, but in the weeks
after the bombs, people would 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.”
Story # 67
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 and 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, and 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. Upadhaya, 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 a 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 for 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 Phulat 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. This 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 from 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 hope to start his study for it.
Source: Monthly ARMAGHAN of April 2009

Story # 68
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 and 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, why 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 be 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 checker 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 reasonable 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 he 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 stayed back after performing Umrah and stayed many years there, all my three
children were born in Madina.
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 and 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 attempts 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 she 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 actresses, and sportspersons and others.
Source: Monthly ARMAGHAN of Dec 2004

Story # 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 religion. 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 satisfy 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. He 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)
Story # 70
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 result 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” that was intended to remove the doubts and prejudices that are
prevalent against Islam in UK and Western 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 such dialogs. (abridged)
Story # 71
SAIDA PAULA , COLUMBIA (SPAIN)
I was born in Columbia, after completing my degree from Columbian University, I

moved to Spain. I 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. I 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 and another gentleman being witness to this.
When I revealed this to my family, my father congratulated me on taking a right decision,

my mother 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 what is shown on TV channels. No doubt there are some Muslims out there who
do horrible things, but these 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)
Story # 72
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. Last 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 follow 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 every 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 official 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 least 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 are women. “Basic analysis shows that increasing
numbers of young, university-educated women in their 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 we 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
Story # 73
DR. SAROJ (SAFIA) SHALINI, INDIA.
Note: 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 in 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
from 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 are 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 the 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 on 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 other 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 that he is a very good Muslim and so many Non Muslims have accepted Islam on
his hands. I remembered 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 Muslim 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 any 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 become Muslim. When I called him for consultation
about a patient, he told me if you want to avoid going to 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 books and I want to become Muslims. He made
me Muslim, changed my name from SAROJ to SAFIA, but 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 slowly 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 full 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), they
congratulated me.
Now was the tricky issue as to how to announce our marriage to my orthodox Hindu
Family, Maulana 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 found 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 for this world, should have inferiority complex? (Abridged)
Story # 74
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 father 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. I asked my neighbors that I want to become Muslim, they
told me that for that I have to change my life 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 May 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)
Story # 75
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 leave her flat without covering herself from head to toe in Hijab. Since she
converted her family has refused 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)

Story # 76
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 Christian friends to comprehend my decision. Why I reject the fiction that Jesus was
Almighty God is the result 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 the 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 the 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 there 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 on 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 confusion.
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 to 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 it occurred to me that I was searching for a religion that defines
the absolute Oneness of God. Hinduism 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

Story # 77
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 rarely 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 for 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 got 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. Then 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 am 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 before I converted I spread the "good news" if you will, about
Islam and how it cancels out the divinity of 'Isa (aleyhi salaam) and original sin, so he
believes that I am brainwashed or what not. But the kuffar are in truth rejecters!!! Then to
make it even worse I have a twin sister, she knows that I pray five times daily 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 at 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 those 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 not u have been a citizen of the country where in
you reside) people don't classify you as an American or 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 are 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 when I go outdoors too.
Wa salaam,
Tasha
Story # 78
TANIDTHEA (UMM AMINA) AUSTRALIA
I was born in Australia, once I went to the Muslim Mosque in small town of Armindale
and borrowed 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 in 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 up 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 I 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 custody 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 attracted 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)
Story # 79
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. And had given both of their sisters, my mother and aunt, dawah --
needless to say both of them rejected the 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. Mind 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 combination of candles and stained glass made shadows look ghastly. Then, I
remember having to light candles and 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 doll - and if anyone touched me or if I moved the wrong way , I could break.
Did I forget to mention that I 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 follow, 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 a few times, here and there. And my mother and father grew apart,
and we ( my mom and I) grew apart, 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 confession, 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 that pre teen stage. My mother tried to force me to wear the Khimar (head
covering) and the long dress and 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 mom.
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 invite 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 was 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 how did I know this was the way. He made sure that he was there to guide me,
if I had a question he always had the answer, if I needed clarification, he did it, if I
needed some upliftment, he was there. It came a 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 that 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 around 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 cooking, (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 same 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 dreams was Arabic! I was seeking refuge. And I
didn't even know. Masha'ALLAH! All my Uncle said to me 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 cried. 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 do you believe in God, the One God, who created all mankind., ALLAH. I
said, Yes. She asked me what 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 it. 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 misconceptions. 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, as I was used to in my previous ventures. My little brother, (a man then
but still my little brother) gave me 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 this 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
of 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 us 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 quit 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
Story # 80
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 start of war. Her later conversion to Islam
brought her into lime light once again. Many “theories” for this conversion were
put forward, here the lady presents her own story in her own words (This is
translated 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 mule 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 of 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 and 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” country, 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 of 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 a 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 they were reading Bible. I later learned that these missionaries also entered
Afghanistan illegally and were 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 the 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 which was given to other inmates!!!
One thing which I never forgot was the uproar that which open drying of my washed
clothes caused. I 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 me 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 extreme 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!!! They did not seem to believe me, when I told that I
was treated with respect and was not harmed in any way.
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 accepted Islam in June 2002!!! (abridged)
Story # 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 the age of
20, I started to research on the internet and I read about how ISLAM IS A WAY OF
LIFE. And 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 in 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 abaya 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.
Story # 82
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 would set up quasi-experiments to find proof. For instance, setting
a glass on a table, and ask God to move it, to prove His existence. …
I was raised as a Christian, and as I grew up, I would go to different church

denominations, and ask the 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 having 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. The man that does all good, every
day of his life, who does not accept Jesus as his Savior in his lifetime, is 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 such 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 to 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 been 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. They did this rightly so. I have not written here some of the
bizarre behavior that occurred because I do not 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 all, 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 might 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 too busy, trying to make things go the way that we want, that we are
not able to hear Him. A good way to 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 God. 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 if He decides that everything is best for you, if it is the opposite, of what you are
trying to achieve. This 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 happens 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, there 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 pray 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, He did not find that acceptable, so I pray the way He requested.
When I have a strong sense that I need to do something good that I do not want to do, and
this action falls in line with all the teachings of Allah, it is usually God's guidance.
7. The way that I confirm that it was God's guidance is that something significant and
Godly happens 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.
Story # 83
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 become 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 scholar 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 solve 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 has 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 queries.
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 and 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.

Conversion to Islam is al related to brain as it is to the heart. A muslim missionary must

Why I Became Muslim?

ASIYA ABD, AUSTRALIA

Sadly my knowledge of Islam was minimal. I perceived it as a bizarre religion, limited

Why I Became Muslim?

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

Why I Became Muslim?

The Introduction and Decision (Testimony of Aminah Assilmi)

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

We continued talking. Later, he explained that attaining knowledge and understanding of

How Islam changed my Life

Why We Became Muslims:

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)

Source: Monthly ARMAGHAN of June 2008

Why I Became Muslim?

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

Why I Became Muslim?

AMINA JENIAT, USA

Why I Became Muslim?

ALEXANDRA (FATIMA) KRICKLER, AUSTRIA

After completing my A-level, I decided to continue with my education and join

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

Why I Became Muslim?

BEGUM AMINA LAKAHANI, OHIO, USA

At first Islam seems to be unintelligible to a westerner simply because we are always

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

Why be became Muslims?

Mrs. ÂMINA MOSLER (German)

Why did I become a Muslim?

Today I am a grandmother. I am so happy because my grandchild has been born as a

Why I Became Muslim?

AN AMERICAN MUSLIMAH (NAME WITHELD), USA

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

Why I Became Muslim?

I belong to a comfortable middle class family in Southern California. After graduation, I

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

Why I Became Muslim?

AIYESHA ONG, BUDDHIST MALAYSIA

Why I Became Muslim?

ANN ROCKFELLER, BRITAIN

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

Why We Became Muslims:

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.

G. My advice to Muslims / Non Muslims.

(Translated from Vernacular Urdu and abridged)

Source: Monthly ARMAGHAN of August 2009.

Why I Became Muslim?

ANNA THOMAS (AMINA THOMAS) KERALA , INDIA

Why I Became Muslim?

Testimony of Asiya Abd al-Zahir

Sadly, my knowledge of Islam was minimal. I perceived it as a bizarre religion, limited to

To see their expressions of disgust at myself is almost unbearable. I am now insecure as