‘Islam has made me a better person’

What was your religion before Islam? Halima: I didn’t have a religion. I used to work in a pizza place – Domino’s Pizza. There were quite a few Muslims there. My boss was a Muslim. What attracted me was that he would wash himself (before prayers). I asked him why and he said you wash […]

What was your religion before Islam?
Halima: I didn’t have a religion. I used to work in a pizza place – Domino’s Pizza. There were quite a few Muslims there. My boss was a Muslim. What attracted me was that he would wash himself (before prayers). I asked him why and he said you wash yourself before prayers to be clean. I stopped for a while and started thinking about Islam.
One day I had a dream. When I woke up, I went on a train and happened to be at Regents Park and I saw a dome and didn’t realize it was a mosque. I was looking at it for about five minutes and decided to go in and have a look and the security said I should cover my hair.
There were Muslims in the mosque and they started telling me about Islam. I met a man called Farhan, who is now my husband. They were explaining and it started from there. I started learning and (later) I felt I am ready to take the Shahada. And that was in September 2007.
How long did it take you to become a Muslim?
Halima: The incident at Regents Park was at the beginning of September and I converted at the end of the month. I started learning more about Islam after my conversion.
There are stereotypes about Islam. How did that affect your understanding of Islam?
Halima: I sort of knew Muslims and came to know that they are really nice people. That’s what attracted me – how they came across, and they won’t get angry (easily) and they are very humble, very welcoming and very helpful. And that was what attracted me. And they asked me: do you believe in God, and I said yes. I believe something created me. You can’t come into this world without being created.
What was your family’s reaction?
Halima: Not too well at first. My mother was quite scared because she saw me as just a normal English girl, just going out in normal clothes, not wearing a scarf. When I started covering (wearing hijab), she didn’t feel very comfortable. But now she is very happy.
Has any member of your family accepted Islam?
Halima: No, not yet. But I am giving them a little da’wah (call to Islam).
What challenges have you faced as a result of accepting Islam?
Halima: My mum used to tell me why do you have to wear hijab? Why can’t you be like a normal English girl? I had a lot of testing moments and I just kept going. I had a lot of friends at the London Central Mosque and that kept me going. I would come to the Islamic Circle and would learn and stay around Muslims and that made me stronger.
As an English girl wearing hijab, do you get some comments or reactions as you go about?
Halima: Yes, when I am going in the streets, you get comments and questions on that. And I would be quite calm about it and explain that I want to practice my religion. What’s wrong with me covering my hair? What’s wrong with being modest?
Sometimes they even say this is an English country, you should be wearing what we wear and not covering (yourself) or other stuff.