I suppose we have all heard stories of converts
before. They are, praise be to God, becoming very common, and growing in their number
every day. But still, I can never forget how it feels to know that another human being
whom you know personally has chosen to accept Islam.
I do not wish to embarrass my friend, so I will refer to her as Rita, which is not her
real name.
I first met Rita in Abu Dhabi of the United Arab Emirates about three or four years ago.
At that time, she was the girlfriend of a friend of mine. She was not exactly a paragon of
virtue. Her activities with other men were less then respectable to put it mildly, she
drank in excessive amounts( even by 'Western' standards). In short, her life was worse
than that of a typical 'free' woman in the West. Her mother was also prone to heavy bouts
of drinking and her father was no longer alive. Her mother was a nominal Christian
Canadian.
However, as the saying goes, God works in mysterious ways. Even during this time, she was
interested in religion, and had spent a bit of time studying Islam. Needless to say, it
did not exactly play a significant part in her life; but nevertheless, it was in the back
of her mind. And that is probably all she needed.
Of course, I did not approve of her ways. However, I did not agree that I should alienate
myself from my friend or her because of my disapproval. Today, I am glad that I stuck by
that view.
During the course of the next two or three years, I spoke with Rita on quite a number of
occasions. Our talks involved all scopes of philosophy, and almost always moved onto
religion. I say this from her point of view, because as far as I am concerned, philosophy,
law and religion are all one.
Time passed, and eventually, she left Abu Dhabi, as did I. By the time I had left, she had
already stopped her relationships with men, stopped drinking completely and started to
dress less like a 'tart' and more like a woman of virtue. Still, she was not a Muslim.
She did not stop her investigation into Islam whilst away from Abu Dhabi; indeed, she
became much more in tune with Islam. She continually thirsted for knowledge and
whenever I heard from her, she was sending me more material of things she had
investigated regarding Islam.
This past winter, I was in Abu Dhabi again. As was she. I spoke to her very sparingly this
time; the first time had been to greet her and I noticed that she had now developed a
strong distaste of the alcoholic habits of her mother. She had also started wearing only
long dresses and full length jumpers. I remember commenting on that occasion that I did
not believe that you could judge a woman by her hijab since many women in the East wear it
only as a symbol of status and that a woman should only wear it if she is genuine in her
desire to.
Before I left, we met again and on that occasion, I attempted to teach her how to pray.
She wore the full scarf and complied with even the strictest Muslim jurists with regard to
the dress code.
I told her," What is the point of all this? Admit it to yourself who you
are."
I then returned to Britain, thinking that I had left her still wandering. I was mistaken.
A few days ago, I received a letter from her, postmarked from Canada. She had decided to
leave her mother's home and live in Canada, her country. She had taken the Shahada. She
was now dressed in full hijab, according to tradition, and was praying.
This from a girl who came from a drinking house, was a heavy drinker herself and not a
woman of particular chastity.
She now goes in public wearing an item of clothing that provokes a hostile
environment (one woman actually spat at her in the street) and talks with people at any
chance about Islam. Although I do not believe that the donning of a cloth is virtue in
itself, her determination to show people," I am a Muslim woman and I am proud of
it" is something that I respect her for.
We seem to be pretty judgmental nowadays of those who are not Muslim. And in
doing so, we alienate ourselves from those who may be potential Muslims. In doing
that, we may stop ourselves from spreading Islam in the only real way possible; through
example and through peaceful ways.
I take no credit in regard to Rita's reversion to Islam. It is to her credit alone and
through God's will. If I was a small guide, it was insignificant compared to her own
determination and will to seek truth.
She found it. And God willing, more people will follow in her path.
Hisham Zoubeir
6 March 1998.
-----------------------------
[Currently, he is at the University of Sheffield undertaking a multi-disciplinary degree
in law. He has lived in Abu Dhabi, Cairo and London. His main interests delves into peace,
equality, righteousness and spirituality.]
