Islam is being subjected to a fierce attack internally as well as externally with accusations of terrorism, regression and barbarism constantly directed at it. Also, the enemies' attacks are directed to the Muslim woman and her Hijab, which indicates her identity and the degree of her commitment to the orders of Allah The Almighty.
In the meantime, journalist Wafaa' Sa‘daawi has presented examples and testimonies of female converts to Islam, from the East and the West, in her book related to this subject. These examples and testimonies emphasize that Islam is the religion which complies with the human's sound innate inclination to the truth which transcends all barriers. They also emphasize that Islam is the religion whose followers increase willingly and continuously, for it fulfills the needs of the mind, soul and body - in total harmony.
Moreover, these testimonies expose the fabrications of certain orientalists and the misinformation spread by the media and institutions of Western culture. These women adhered to their Hijab and escaped from intermixing with men after they had suffered from its grave consequences in their communities, while some women in our societies reject the Hijab and advocate intermixing with men thinking that by doing so they will be up to date with fashion.
These testimonies do not absolve the Muslims of shouldering their responsibility or their failure to present the true image of Islam to the West. In fact, these shortcomings on their part have given these orientalists reasonable grounds to support their attempts of forging facts and distorting the image of Islam and Muslims.
Islam and Women's Dignity
Monica, who was Japanese Buddhist, grew up in a scientific and rational environment. She enjoyed a warm family life and success in both her studies and work. All means of comfortable living were available for her. However she suffered psychological unrest and deadly idleness. She remained as such until Allah The Almighty willed that she was appointed to work as an interpreter for Japanese delegations in an Arab tourism company. This was her opportunity to learn about Islam. She then began studying it thoroughly so as to wipe out the ambiguous image that had been placed in her mind. With time, she developed a solid relation with the Quran and Islam. In Islam, she found the full answers to her philosophical questions about the universe and life. She admired the woman's status in Islam, as well as the preservation of dignity and the liberation of the mind and soul. Therefore, she decided to become a Muslim and went to Egypt, declared her conversion to Islam in Al-Azhar and married an Egyptian Muslim.
A Muslim Since Childhood
Samar was an Egyptian Christian who loved Islam since childhood and was attached to prayers and the Quran, which she began to read in her second preparatory year. Reading the Quran would make her cry as she was so touched by it. She continued to resist her family's pressure and their wish to give her a life-long tenure at a monastery. She succeeded in standing firm and declared her conversion to Islam, and at that point everything in her life changed. She became an observant Muslim in every aspect of her life. The Islamic marital system appealed to her, as it achieves the benefit of both parties, prevents spousal cheating by permitting divorce and polygyny, preserves woman's rights and protects her dignity by mandating the Hijab. On her journey to Islam she sought knowledge, made righteous friends and read the Quran.
False Freedom in the West
Isabelle (Eemaan Ramadan), who was a Swiss Christian, says that the breezes of faith blew gently on her during the month of Ramadan after she was uplifted by knowing Allah The Almighty and His Prophet, , and some principles of Islam. This corrected the distorted image she had about Islam and Muslims, and she found in Islam another life that is based on the creed of monotheism. This gave her great psychological ease through the direct relation between Allah The Almighty and His slave, away from the intervention of the clergy.
She developed deep feelings of faith during the month of Ramadan when she tried fasting and praying and wore the Hijab for the first time. She was also supported by knowledgeable and righteous friends to change the distorted image which is propagated by the Western media about Islam and Muslims. In spite of the freedom claimed by the West, their attitude about her Islam and Hijab emphasized the false freedom which states that one is free in what one thinks, but should only do what society approves of.
Alexandra Brown (Kareemah) who was a German Christian embraced Islam when she was twelve years old. This was due to her continuous search for the correct religion during her childhood and her extensive readings were her gate to knowing the Islamic world and being impressed by the Islamic ideology and its acts of worship.
She decided to embrace Islam one Christmas Eve and succeeded in guiding her grandmother to Islam, and the light of Islam entered her heart before declaring her conversion in an Islamic center in London. She lives in Egypt with her husband and small family, as she is keen on bringing her children up in a sound Islamic environment.
Her Weapon is Patience
Montserrat (Zaynab) Uvera grew up in a Spanish Christian family with a distorted view of Islam and Muslims. Her readings of the Old and New Testament and the amount of contradiction between the two caused her great confusion. However this confusion was overcome by her reading about Islam and the Quran, as she found many solutions for the complex ideological and legislative issues in Islam, and therefore, decided to become a Muslim. However, she faced a lot of problems with her family concerning purification, food and prohibitions. With time, they got accustomed to these Islamic practices, and her weapon in the realm of Islam was patience in the hope of attaining the happiness of this world and the Hereafter and calling other non-Muslim women to Islam with the intention of protecting them from the corruption and immorality of Western society.
Layla ‘Izz Ad-Deen, a Dutch Christian, loved Islam due to her relation with Muslims in Holland. They presented a good example of Islam, insight into the marital relationship, and Islam's respect for women and the familial entity.
She married a young Muslim man some months before declaring her Islam in Egypt and then regained her lost tranquility. She then began to observe the Islamic acts of worship. After her return with her small family to Holland she began working in an Islamic center. Some time later, she moved back to Egypt to be able to bring up her children away from the temptations of European society. However, she raises questions about the lack of Hijab, acts of worship and non-Islamic dealings in the Muslim society.
Marian Paul, an American Christian, grew up in a strict Catholic family. However, when she dealt with Arab students at university she liked their character, relations and dealings, contrary to what is usually circulated in the mass media. After she began reading about Islam and read the translation of the Quran, she discovered the truth about Islam and its history. She was amazed at the status of woman in Islam and was dazzled that woman enjoyed their rights under Islam 1400 years ago while the Western woman has only enjoyed part of her status a hundred or so years ago. She also admired the Islamic marital relationship and the integration of the roles of family members. This did not happen with many American husbands and wives.
Peace of Mind - Tranquility
“I was astray. I did not know why I was alive. I did not know what comes after death. I lived in constant depression and worry, but now I have peace of mind and tranquility. I love this religion that our Prophet, , was sent with to bring as a mercy to human beings.”
These are the words of Sylvie, a French convert, who is aware of the Islamic issue and is very concerned with matters and troubles of Muslims. In spite of her scientific achievement (Doctorate in Chemical Engineering) and luxurious lifestyle, she was always sad and disharmonious with those around her. She was not comfortable with discussions in Judaism and Christianity about distorting the image of Islam and Muslims.
Through her Muslim Arab brother-in-law, she read about Islam and became familiar with it. She found full answers to all the questions she had about life and death.
She found her entity and dignity in the framework of Islam. Outside that framework, she is considered a cheap commodity that is bought, sold and deprived of any rights.