Expats talk life after embracing Islam
dubai — Three UAE expats converted to Islam after having “dreams” of them “reading the Holy Quran or witnessing historical religious events”, an Islamic centre in Dubai has said.
The Kalemah Islamic Centre said the number of converts to Islam is growing fast, with 341 UAE expats who converted from June 2016 to June 2017. And almost all of them have their own unique reasons for converting.
Khaleej Times reported in October 2016 that Islam was the fastest growing religion in the world. The Pew Research Centre highlighted that the number of Muslims is expected to increase by 73 per cent — from 1.6 billion in 2010 to 2.8 billion by 2050.
Two UAE residents who converted to Islam told Khaleej Times why they converted (reverted, according to Islamic beliefs) and their struggles of revealing the news to their families.
Azan, khutba drew her
Hameeda, an Indian woman, ended her 20-year marriage after her husband refused to convert after she did. Hameeda converted to Islam in 2013 and asked her husband to convert, too, because, according to Shariah law, Muslim women cannot marry men of other religions.
“I never thought in my life that I would be a Muslim. I gave priority to my religion, which was Christianity,” Hameeda, who was called Anita before, said.
“I’ve been living in the UAE since 1999 and I always loved listening to the Azan and Khutba (sermon) on Fridays.
“I used to attend the church every week. One fine day, I left early for the church, so I would get the front-row seat. However, I couldn’t find parking and missed the beginning of the sermon. I got upset, left halfway and drove back home.
“The following week, I didn’t feel like going to church, and as time passed by I even stopped reading the Bible. My son asked me what was wrong with me.”
Hameeda said she had a Filipina colleague who also was a convert. “I told her about the changes I was going through. She took me to a majlis. There, the sheikh told me about the teachings of Islam and
I told a colleague about the changes I was going through. She took me to a majlis. After this, I introspected and began moving towards the spiritual journey of Islam.” Hameeda
Christianity. After this, I introspected and began moving towards the spiritual journey of Islam.”
Even though her husband was against her decision to convert, “my sisters and son completely supported me”.
‘I always questioned things’
Indian expat Omer converted to Islam in 2014 when his faith in the religion grew stronger after reading the Holy Quran. “I was never a proper Hindu. I always used to find myself questioning things,” he said.
“I used to study Hinduism and Buddhism. Then I started studying Christianity and that’s when I learned about Islam. There are a lot of similarities in the Holy Quran and Bible.
“It did take me a while to revert, though, because I studied Islam for two years.”
After Omer’s family learned that he had converted, his father cut off all communication with him. His family did not attend his wedding because of it.
However, ever since the birth of his child, they have started “warming up to him”, he said.
I used to study Hinduism and Buddhism. Then I started studying Christianity and that’s when I learned about Islam. There are a lot of similarities in the Holy Quran and Bible.” Omer
A friend has been a very good example of being a Muslim and it caught my attention. I love how Islam teaches children to show respect to their parents.” A Filipino convert
We were playing video games and he stopped and said he would be back after prayer. And then I thought ‘wow, he stopped in the middle of the game to pray’.” Mathieu Garvi