Meet our revert sister Anaya Khan from Newcastl

Meet our revert sister Anaya Khan from Newcastle who found Islam a year ago. As a hijabi taxi driver, she said:

" I started wearing my hijab when i embraced Islam and i never go out not wearing it and people are always curious to why I wear it. Most people are really respectful but I have had some distasteful comments but I just smile and forget. There is not a day that goes by when I sometimes feel very anxious before going out as I know people stare and laugh at me as I am English and wearing Hijab. I shall wear it forever In'sha Allah."

May Allaahu Ta'ala keep her Iman firm, protect her from harm, bless her for her courage and keep her guided upon the deen, Aameen!

Sara Eberlein (Germany)

"My Life was always full of sadness.There was something that was depressing and I never had any contact to any religion even tho I was born as a Christian. I had always felt empty internally and I knew that there was another religion which i had always yearned for... In year (2013),my family and I, had travelled to Egypt for a holiday.Little did i know that my life was gonna change to better.I became interested in Islam after meeting Muslims there and I had bought a copy of the Holy Quran from there which I read each and everyday.I always felt happy when i read it and last year (2014) I finally went to the Mosque and said my shahadah. Allaahu Akbar! I enrolled myself in an Islamic school here in Germany and attend religious classes each weekend. After my mom saw the positive changes in me, she too became interested in Islam and had reverted and now is a muslimah like me. I truly feel blessed and happy.All praise to Allaah! I have a long journey ahead to seek knowledge, in sha' Allaah and am trying my best to learn all that come my way to please Allaah. That's my story how i came into Islam.May Allaah grant us all Jannah. Ameen."

With that said I’ll also mention that my parents are strict in their beliefs as Christians

S.A. (United States).

"I became Muslim about 6 months ago after studying many other religions and Islam seriously for over 5+ years. I come from a small town in the country, so I am the only Muslim in my area and the first and only Muslim in my family. Even before I ever knew anything about Islam I never hated Muslims despite what others said around me. I felt there had to be more than what we were being told. I also never saw hijab as something oppressive and after studying Islam I really appreciated it and admire those women who do wear it.

With that said I’ll also mention that my parents are strict in their beliefs as Christians, though they don’t practice as far as going to church. So naturally I haven’t told them that I converted, and because of that I don’t wear hijab outside the house out of fear someone will tell my family, and be disowned. But even if I had that freedom of not being concerned with my family I feel I’m not ready for the hijab and I’m not 100% sure why. I have always been a privet person but shortly after taking my Shahada I posted a picture of myself on Facebook in hijab and watched my friends list drop. Though I am beyond proud of being Muslim, that event along with what is said at home, school, and by my non-Muslim friends has made me insecure about wearing hijab.

I’ve realized at some point I will have to ignore everyone’s opinions and expectations of myself, but I wonder if and when I’ll ever be ready. Thinking about it sometimes makes me really angry that I should be so concerned about these thoughts to the point where I start feeling hate redness for both not covering, and sometimes just that idea that I should cover. It’s made me question many things in my character. But despite this small block I’m at in my life I continue to pray for guidance and I am inspired by those women who are brave enough to wear hijab despite the looks and comments they face."

27 Years ago, in March 1988, I made the decision to become a Muslim

Sarah Joseph is CEO and Editor of Muslim lifestyle magazine emel and commentator on British Muslims. She is a writer and a broadcaster and lectures on Islam both within the UK and internationally (USA, Europe, Middle and Far East). Sarah reverted to Islam at the age of 16 in 1988 after being brought up as a Catholic.

"27 Years ago, in March 1988, I made the decision to become a Muslim. The desire came into my heart after much reading and prayer to The One True God, and upon seeing a girl go into prostration. When I saw her putting her head to the floor, I knew that Islam meant to surrender. I had been searching to surrender myself to God my entire life. I have made many mistakes since that day, and I constantly ...ask questions, seeking to reaffirm my faith. But I have to say that the decision to become a Muslim – to actively seek to surrender to The One – has brought untold Blessings and Joy into my life. To live with awe at the Cosmos, to hold to a Universal message, to attempt to follow in the footsteps of the Messenger who was sent as a Mercy to Mankind, has been an extraordinary journey. Life has not been without its tests, but I am truly grateful."

Truly Allaah guides whom He wills!

We are privileged to encounter yet another beautiful soul who got Allaah's guidance.Lets welcome and make duaa's for our sister from Canada.May Allaah keep her steadfast and strong upon His Deen, Aameen!

Truly Allaah guides whom He wills!

We are privileged to encounter yet another beautiful soul who got Allaah's guidance.Lets welcome and 

make duaa's for our sister from Canada.May Allaah keep her steadfast and strong upon His Deen, Aameen!

Truly Allaah guides whom He wills!

We are privileged to encounter yet another beautiful soul who got Allaah's guidance.Lets welcome and make duaa's for our sister from Canada.May Allaah keep her steadfast and strong upon His Deen, Aameen!

Point of confluence of two rivers,but not mix.

Allah (SWT) says: “It is He Who has mixed up (maraja) the two seas, this (one) very fresh [river], and this (other one) very salt, and has made between them a barrier and a forbidding partition.” (Quran 25: 53)

Subhan'ALLAH.

All praise to Allah (God)! I began studying Islam after 9/11

Simon ACT (Australia)

"I’m a revert to Islam. All praise to Allah (God)! I began studying Islam after 9/11 because I wanted to know more about the religion and why it might cause people to do such things.

What I found was something completely different than what I had expected and something that was not so far different from the Catholicism I was raised with (minus, belief in Jesus as God).

Islam brings me personal peace and fulfillment.

I’m law abiding. I pay my taxes. I don’t advocate criminality or terrorism. I refuse to apologize for things that I didn’t do and I believe that the “condemnation” that so many people expect every muslim to constantly make is, in itself, a form of Islamophobia and bigotry.

I’m now married to a wonderful woman of Lebanese Australian heritage and we have 3 beautiful daughters. I work as an IT engineer and write and edit speculative fiction in my spare time."

To people who might have stereotypes of Islam

Brother Steven Nicholas

"This afternoon was the greatest moment of my life, I completed my declaration to our Creator Allah and reverted to Islam after learning about the religion for a long time. I have never been so welcomed by a group of people in my life. I had over 100 brothers hug me and welcome… me to the faith of Islam. To people who might have stereotypes of Islam, I can tell you the media have portrayed a lot of false propaganda against the religion. Muslims have been without doubt the most attacked religion in the last 10 having years having both physical abuse and verbal abuse inflicted upon them in huge quantities, with people being killed in their thousands if not millions in this time. I have studied Islam for a long time and this religion spreads nothing but peace and love to fellow humans. To the governments who continue to attack Islam with their false propaganda it is because many Muslims refuse to take part in many corrupt practices that is spread across the western world, in which certain corrupted individuals profit from, including the interest of money that is forbidden in Islam. Islam is a religion of peace and love and I pray more people will realise this one day. Regardless of other people’s personal beliefs. May the blessings of God be upon you all."

Muslim population in England and Wales grows 75% in 10 years.

More children and fewer elderly people help Muslim population grow faster than population overall, analysis of latest census data shows.

World Bulletin / News Desk:

The Muslim population of England and Wales almost doubled over a 10-year period, a new study reveals. The Muslim population is growing faster than the overall population, with a higher proportion of children and a lower ratio of elderly people, according to an analysis of official data.The study was prepared for the Muslim Council of Britain by a team of researchers, led by Sundas Ali, of the University of Oxford.

According to the report; one in three Muslims is under 15, compared with fewer than one in five overall. There are also fewer elderly Muslims, with 4% aged over 65, compared with 16% of the overall population.In 2011, 2.71 million Muslims lived in England and Wales, compared with 1.55 million in 2001. There were also 77,000 Muslims in Scotland and 3,800 in Northern Ireland.The “British Muslims in Numbers” report indicates that more than half were born outside Britain, but 73 percent regard themselves as British.

The report, presented to Parliament, concludes that Muslims could play a decisive role in the coming general election, expected to be the closest in recent times, making up a significant share of voters in some of the most marginal seats in the country.
The report for the Muslim Council of Britain also highlights the community’s economic disadvantage.

Just one in five Muslims was in full-time employment, compared with one in three of the wider population. The researchers said Muslims face a “double penalty ... in entering the labor market – of racial discrimination as well as Islamophobia.”

The report stated: “There is need for various stakeholders – Muslim civil society, policy institutes, employers, trade unions and the Department for Work and Pensions – to facilitate conditions and opportunities in the labor market.
“Muslim civil society needs to have a better appreciation of the social realities.”

The report also showed almost half the Muslim population live in the 10 percent most economically deprived areas – an increase since 2001, when the figure was one in three Muslims.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg had said that the report highlights the challenges and opportunities facing British Muslims.
“Taking data from the 2011 census, this important new report from the Muslim Council of Britain helps give us a snapshot of the socio-economic challenges and opportunities now facing Britain's Muslim communities,” Clegg said.

“What's not in doubt is that British Muslims can be proud of the contribution they make to our country. Drawing on analysis like this, together, we can help create jobs, drive growth and enable more people to get on – building the stronger economy and fairer society we want for Britain's future.”

Allah (God)

Islam is the complete submission and obedience to Allah (God). The name Allah (God) in Islam never refers to Muhammad (peace be upon him), as many Christians may think; Allah is the personal name of God.

What do Muslims believe about Allah?

1. He is the one God, Who has no partner.

2. Nothing is like Him. He is the Creator, not created, nor a part of His creation.

3. He is All-Powerful, absolutely Just.

4. There is no other entity in the entire universe worthy of worship besides Him.

5. He is First, Last, and Everlasting; He was when nothing was, and will be when nothing else remains.

6. He is the All-Knowing, and All-Merciful,the Supreme, the Sovereign.

7. It is only He Who is capable of granting life to anything.

8. He sent His Messengers (peace be upon them) to guide all of mankind.

9. He sent Muhammad (peace be upon him) as the last Prophet and Messenger for all mankind.

10. His book is the Holy Qur'an, the only authentic revealed book in the world that has been kept without change.

11. Allah knows what is in our hearts.

These are some of the basic guidelines Muslims follow in their knowledge of God:

1. Eliminate any anthropomorphism (human qualities) from their conception of Allah. His attributes are not like human attributes, despite similar labels or appellations.

2. Have unwavering faith in exactly what Allah and Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) described Allah to be, no more, no less.

3. Eradicate any hope or desire of learning or knowing the modality of His names and attributes.

4. Believe totally in all the names and attributes of Allah; one cannot believe in some and disbelieve the others.

5. One cannot accept the names of Allah without their associated attributes, i.e. one cannot say He is Al-Hayy - 'The Living' and then say that He is without life.

6. Similarity in names (or meanings) does not imply similarity in what is being described (referents). As a robotics arm differs from a human arm, so the "hand" of Allah is nothing like a human hand, His speech is nothing like human speech, etc.

7. Certain words are ambiguous or vague in their meanings, and thus may be susceptible to misinterpretation. Only those meanings that are in accordance with what is specified by Allah and His Prophet (peace be upon him) are acceptable.