The number of Britons choosing to become Muslims has nearly doubled in the past decade, according to one of the most comprehensive attempts to estimate how many people have embraced Islam.

Following the global spread of violent Islamism, British Muslims have faced more scrutiny, criticism and analysis than any other religious community. Yet, despite the often negative portrayal of Islam, thousands of Britons are adopting the religion every year.

Estimating the number of converts living in Britain has always been difficult because census data does not differentiate between whether a religious person has adopted a new faith or was born into it. Previous estimates have placed the number of Muslim converts in the UK at between 14,000 and 25,000.

But a new study by the inter-faith think-tank Faith Matters suggests the real figure could be as high as 100,000, with as many as 5,000 new conversions nationwide each year.

By using data from the Scottish 2001 census – the only survey to ask respondents what their religion was at birth as well as at the time of the survey – researchers broke down what proportion of Muslim converts there were by ethnicity and then extrapolated the figures for Britain as a whole.

In all they estimated that there were 60,699 converts living in Britain in 2001. With no new census planned until next year, researchers polled mosques in London to try to calculate how many conversions take place a year. The results gave a figure of 1,400 conversions in the capital in the past 12 months which, when extrapolated nationwide, would mean approximately 5,200 people adopting Islam every year. The figures are comparable with studies in Germany and France which found that there were around 4,000 conversions a year.

Fiyaz Mughal, director of Faith Matters, admitted that coming up with a reliable estimate of the number of converts to Islam was notoriously difficult. “This report is the best intellectual ‘guestimate’ using census numbers, local authority data and polling from mosques,” he said. “Either way few people doubt that the number adopting Islam in the UK has risen dramatically in the past 10 years.”

Asked why people were converting in such large numbers he replied: “I think there is definitely a relationship between conversions being on the increase and the prominence of Islam in the public domain. People are interested in finding out what Islam is all about and when they do that they go in different directions. Most shrug their shoulders and return to their lives but some will inevitably end up liking what they discover and will convert.”

Batool al-Toma, an Irish born convert to Islam of 25 years who works at the Islamic Foundation and runs the New Muslims Project, one of the earliest groups set up specifically to help converts, said she believed the new figures were “a little on the high side”.

“My guess would be the real figure is somewhere in between previous estimates, which were too low, and this latest one,” she said. “I definitely think there has been a noticeable increase in the number of converts in recent years. The media often tries to pinpoint specifics but the reasons are as varied as the converts themselves.”

Inayat Bunglawala, founder of Muslims4UK, which promotes active Muslim engagement in British society, said the figures were “not implausible”.

“It would mean that around one in 600 Britons is a convert to the faith,” he said. “Islam is a missionary religion and many Muslim organisations and particularly university students’ Islamic societies have active outreach programmes designed to remove popular misconceptions about the faith.”

The report by Faith Matters also studied the way converts were portrayed by the media and found that while 32 per cent of articles on Islam published since 2001 were linked to terrorism or extremism, the figure jumped to 62 per cent with converts.

Earlier this month, for example, it was reported that two converts to Islam who used the noms de guerre Abu Bakr and Mansoor Ahmed were killed in a CIA drone strike in an area of Pakistan with a strong al-Qa’ida presence.

“Converts who become extremists or terrorists are, of course, a legitimate story,” said Mr Mughal. “But my worry is that the saturation of such stories risks equating all Muslim converts with being some sort of problem when the vast majority are not”. Catherine Heseltine, a 31-year-old convert to Islam, made history earlier this year when she became the first female convert to be elected the head of a British Muslim organisation – the Muslim Public Affairs Committee. “Among certain sections of society, there is a deep mistrust of converts,” she said. “There’s a feeling that the one thing worse than a Muslim is a convert because they’re perceived as going over the other side. Overall, though, I think conversions arouse more curiosity than hostility.”

How to become a Muslim

Islam is one of the easiest religions to convert to. Technically, all a person needs to do is recite the Shahada, the formal declaration of faith, which states: “There is no God but Allah and Mohamed is his Prophet.” A single honest recitation is all that is needed to become a Muslim, but most converts choose to do so in front of at least two witnesses, one being an imam.

Converts to Islam

Hana Tajima, 23, fashion designer

Hana Tajima converted to Islam when she was 17. Frustrated by the lack of variety in Islamic clothing for converts she founded Maysaa, a fashion house that designs western-inspired clothing that conforms to hijab. 

“It’s true that I never decided to convert to Islam, nor was there a defining moment where I realised I wanted to be Muslim.  My family aren’t particularly religious.  I was interested in religion, but very disinterested in how it related to my life.  I grew up in rural Devon where my Japanese father was the ethnic diversity of the village.  It wasn’t until I studied at college that I met people who weren’t of the exact same background, into Jeff Buckley, underground hip-hop, drinking, and getting high.  I met and became friends with a few Muslims in college, and was slightly affronted and curious at their lack of wanting to go out to clubs or socialise in that sense.  I think it was just the shock of it, like, how can you not want to go out, in this day and age.   

“It was at about that time that I started to study philosophy, and without sounding too much like I dyed my hair black and wore my fringe in front of my face, I began to get confused about my life. I was pretty popular, had good friends, boyfriends, I had everything I was supposed to have, but still I felt like ‘is that it?’  So these things all happened simultaneously, I read more about religion, learned more about friends of other backgrounds, had a quarter life crisis.  There were things that drew me to Islam in particular, it wasn’t like I was reaching for whatever was there.  The fact that the Qur’an is the same now as it ever was means there’s always a reference point. The issues of women’s rights were shockingly contemporary.  The more I read, the more I found myself agreeing with the ideas behind it and I could see why Islam coloured the lives of my Muslim friends.  It made sense, really, I didn’t and still don’t want to be Muslim, but there came a point where I couldn’t say that I wasn’t Muslim. 

“Telling my family was the easy part.  I knew they’d be happy as long as I was happy, and they could see that it was an incredibly positive thing.  My friends went one of two ways, met with a lack of any reaction and lost to the social scene, or interested and supportive.  More the former, less the latter.”

Denise Horsley, 26, dance teacher

Denise Horsley lives in North London. She converted to Islam last year and is planning to marry her Muslim boyfriend next year. 

“I was introduced to Islam by my boyfriend Naushad. A lot of people ask whether I converted because of him but actually he had nothing to do with it. I was interested in his faith but I went on my own journey to discover more about religion. 

“I bought loads of books on all the different religions but I kept coming back to Islam – there was something about it that just made sense, it seemed to answer all the questions I had. 

“I would spend hours in the library at Regents Park Mosque reading up on everything from women’s rights to food. Before I went to prayers for the first time I remember sitting in my car frantically looking up how to pray on my Blackberry. I was so sure people would know straight away that I wasn’t a Muslim but if they did no-one seemed to care. 

“During Ramadan I’d sit and listen to the Qur’anic recitations and would be filled with such happiness and warmth. One day I decided there and then to take my shahada. I walked down to the reception and said I was ready to convert, it was as simple as that. 

“My friends and family were rather shocked, I think they expected there would be some sort of huge baptism ceremony but they were very supportive of my decision. I think they were just pleased to see me happy and caring about something so passionately. 

“I grew up Christian and went to a Catholic school. Islam to me seemed to be a natural extension of Christianity. The Qur’an is filled with information about Jesus, Mary, the angels and the Torah. It’s part of a natural transition. 

“I do now wear a headscarf but it wasn’t something I adopted straightaway. Hijab is such an important concept in Islam but it’s not just about clothing. It’s about being modest in everything you do. I started dressing more modestly – forgoing low cut tops and short skirts – but before I donned a headscarf I had to make sure I was comfortable on the inside before turning my attention to the outside. Now I feel completely protected in my headscarf. People treat you with a new level of respect, they judge you by your words and your deeds, not how you look. It’s the kind of respect every dad wants for their daughter. 

“There have been some problems. Immediately after converting I isolated myself a bit, which I now recognise was a mistake and not what Islam teaches. I remember a lady on a bus who got really angry and abusive when she found out I had converted. I also noticed quite a few friends stopped calling. I think they just got tired of hearing me say no – no to going clubbing, no to going down the pub. 

“But my good friends embraced it. They simply found other things to do when I was around. Ultimately I’m still exactly the same person apart from the fact that I don’t drink, don’t eat pork and pray five times a day. Other than that I’m still Denise.”

 Dawud Beale, 23

Dawud Beale was a self-confirmed “racist” two years ago who knew nothing about Islam and supported the BNP. Now a Muslim, he describes himself as a Salafi – the deeply socially conservative and ultra-orthodox sect of Islam whose followers try to live exactly like the Prophet did. 

“I was very ignorant to Islam for most of my life and then I went on holiday to Morocco, which was the first time I was exposed to Muslims. I was literally a racist before Morocco and by the time I was flying home on the plane a week later, I had already decided to become a Muslim.” 

“I realised Islam is not a foreign religion, but had a lot of similarities with what I already believed. When I came back home to Somerset, I spent three months trying to find local Muslims, but there wasn’t even a mosque in my town. I eventually met Sufi Muslims who took me to Cyprus to convert. 

“When I came back, I was finding out a lot of what they were saying was contradictory to what it said in the Qur’an. I wasn’t finding them very authentic, to be honest. I went to London and became involved with Hizb-ut-Tahrir, the political group who call for the establishment of an Islamic state. 

 ”But while I believe in the benefits of Sharia law, I left this group as well. The problem was it was too into politics and not as concerned with practicing the religion. For me, it is about keeping an Islamic appearance and studying hard. I think we do need an Islamic state, but the way to achieve it is not through political activism or fighting. Allah doesn’t change the situation of people until they see what’s within themselves. 

“I have a big dislike for culture in Islamic communities, when it means bringing new things into the religion, such as polytheism or encouraging music and dance. There is something pure about Salafi Muslims; we take every word of the Qur’an for truth.  I have definitely found the right path. I also met my wife through the community and we are expecting our first child next year.” 

Paul Martin, 27

Paul Martin was just a student when he decided to convert to Islam in an ice-cream shop in Manchester four years ago. Bored of what he saw as the hedonistic lifestyle of many of his friends at university and attracted to what he calls “Islam’s emphasis on seeking knowledge,” he says a one-off meeting with an older Muslim changed his life. 

“I liked the way the Muslims students I knew conducted themselves. It’s nice to think about people having one partner for life and not doing anything harmful to their body. I just preferred the Islamic lifestyle and from there I looked into the Qur’an. I was amazed to see Islam’s big emphasis on science. 

“Then I was introduced by a Muslim friend to a doctor who was a few years older than me. We went for a coffee and then a few weeks later for an ice cream. It was there that I said I would like to be a Muslim. I made my shahada right there, in the ice cream shop. I know some people like to be all formal and do it in a mosque, but for me religion is not a physical thing, it is what is in your heart. 

“I hadn’t been to a mosque before I became a Muslim. Sometimes it can be bit daunting, I mean I don’t really fit into this criteria of a Muslim person. But there is nothing to say you can’t be a British Muslim who wears jeans and a shirt and a jacket. Now in my mosque in Leeds, many different languages are spoken and there are lots of converts. 

“With my family, it was gradual. I didn’t just come home and say I was a Muslim. There was a long process before I converted where I wouldn’t eat pork and I wouldn’t drink. Now, we still have Sunday dinner together, we just buy a joint of lamb that is halal. 

“If someone at college had said to me ‘You are going to be a Muslim’, I would not in a million years have believed it. It would have been too far-fetched. But now I have just come back from Hajj – the pilgrimage Muslims make to Mecca.” 

 Stuart Mee, 46

Stuart Mee is a divorced civil servant who describes himself as a “middle-of-the-road Muslim.” Having converted to Islam last year after talking with Muslim colleagues at work, he says Islam offers him a sense of community he feels is missing in much of Britain today. 

“Everything is so consumer-driven here, there are always adverts pushing you to buy the next thing. I knew there must be something longer term and always admired the sense of contentment within my colleagues’ lives, their sense of peace and calmness. It was just one of those things that happened – we talked, I read books and I related to it. 

“I emailed the Imam at London Central Mosque and effectively had a 15 minute interview with him. It was about making sure that this was the right thing for me, that I was doing it at the right time. He wanted to make sure I was committed. It is a life changing decision. 

“It is surprisingly easy, the process of converting. You do your shahada, which is the declaration of your faith. You say that in front of two witnesses and then you think, ‘What do I do next?’ I went to an Islamic bookstore and bought a child’s book on how to pray. I followed that because, in Islamic terms, I was basically one month old. 

“I went to a local mosque in Reading and expected someone to stop me say, ‘Are you a Muslim?’ but it didn’t happen. It was just automatic acceptance. You can have all the trappings of being a Muslim – the beard and the bits and pieces that go with it, but Islam spreads over such a wide area and people have different styles, clothes and approaches to life. 

“Provided I am working within Islamic values, I see no need in changing my name and I don’t have any intention of doing it. Islam has bought peace, stability, and comfort to my life. It has helped me identify just what is important to me. That can only be a good thing.” 

 Khadijah Roebuck, 48

Khadijah Roebuck was born Tracey Roebuck into a Christian family. She was married for twenty five years and attended church with her children every week while they lived at home. Now, divorced and having practiced Islam for the last six months, she says she is still not sure what motivated her to make such a big change to her life. 

“I know it sounds odd, but one day I was Tracey the Christian and the next day I was Khadijah the Muslim, it just seemed right. The only thing I knew about Muslims before was that they didn’t drink alcohol and they didn’t eat pork. 

“I remember the first time I drove up to the mosque. It was so funny; I was in my sports car and had the music blaring. I wasn’t sure if I was even allowed to go in but I asked to speak to the man in charge, I didn’t even know he was called an Imam. Now I wear a hijab and pray five times a day. 

“My son at first was horrified, he just couldn’t believe it. It’s been especially hard for my mum, who is Roman Catholic and doesn’t accept it at all. But the main thing I feel is a sense of peace, which I never found with the Church, which is interesting. Through Ramadan, I absolutely loved every second. On the last day, I even cried. 

“It is interesting because people sometimes confuse cultures with Islam. Each Muslim brings their different culture to the mosque and different takes on the religion. There are Saudi Arabians, Egyptians and Pakistanis and then of course there is me. I slot in everywhere. A lot of the other sisters say to me, ‘That is why we love you, Khadijah, you are just yourself.’”

By Nikos Xydakis

The peaceful prayer services held by Muslims in Athens as part of Eid al-Adha celebrations earlier this week were followed by protests and sporadic violence against Muslims, clashes between locals and foreigners, as well as skirmishes among Muslims. The neighborhood around Acharnon Street has recently witnessed attacks on makeshift mosques and the faithful who visit those sites to pray.

In Kotzia Square, an illegal street vendor from Egypt who was stopped by municipal police officers for an ID check, began to yell that they were desecrating the holy scripture of Islam that they found on him.

Some 300 Muslims from nearby streets immediately gathered on the spot, angry at the insult to the Quran. But the affront never really took place, as the confiscated items were not sacred – a fact acknowledged by the street seller’s fellow Muslims.

Both cases demonstrate the failure of the state to implement the law and protect the civic and human rights of Greeks as well as foreigners.

In both cases, the failure was interpreted as the lack of legal order, as the absence of the rule of law – and that vacuum was filled by crowds which sought to take the law in their own hands.

Seeing the state withdraw from the civic realm as the people begin to take the law in their own hands with increasing frequency is one of the most worrying signs of this difficult period in history in which politics, society and the democratic state are coming under great duress.

It is becoming an uneasy coexistence: In the gray neighborhoods, poor Greeks live next to thousands of impoverished immigrants – most of these without legal documents.

The recession is deepening, fueling mistrust and intolerance.

Everyone is threatening to take the law into their own hands. Violence is gradually becoming the rule in our daily existence. This threat against the moral and legal foundations of society is, in many ways, more frightening than the threat of financial bankruptcy.

© Translation: Muslim Association of Greece

Διαβάστε στα Ελληνικά

The argumentation of the LAOS deputy, A. Georgiadis against the construction of the Mosque in Athens, yesterday in the Greek Parliament, reminded the well known Greek saying “Gypsies were happy to meet each other.”

Fortunately the deputy did not ask, at least directly, to deport all the Muslim inhabitants, as apparently he realised that many of them are needed to our society and economy. Though, he asked to banish the construction of the Mosque. To make a long story short, if we treated them as slaves without any rights, and foremost without any religious rights or in the best case scenario if we established Mosques without minarets (something like a church without a dome, steeple and Altar) the LAOS party would be delighted.

By pushing himself one step backwards, the deputy literally suggested to grant them permission for a lair. Great supporter of racist stands, G. Karatzferi’s deputy was not even daunted by the surrogate Minister of Defence P.Mpeglitis, who highlighted to him the fact that we are the only country of European Union that does not have a Mosque for the Muslim Greek nationals and the visitors, that does not serve our country’s best interest to encourage an extremist and xenophobic ambiance and that the uncontrollable, spread all over Mosques are by far worse.

Obviously he forgets that hate brings back more hate, especially during heavy recession.

Translated by: Myrto Zacharof

Η Χαμπίμπα Σριζ είναι γεμάτη αντιθέσεις. Γεννήθηκε στην Καζαμπλάνκα, σπούδασε μόδα στο Παρίσι, ερωτεύτηκε στην Αθήνα και ζει στον Άλιμο εδώ και 20 χρόνια. Ο άντρας της είναι από τους Έλληνες που απαρνήθηκαν τον Χριστό για τον Μωάμεθ. Μουσουλμάνα κι αυτή, φορά χρωματιστές μαντίλες και μιλάει ανοιχτά γι’ αυτές.

Τα θρησκευτικά σύμβολα ήταν ο λόγος που γνωριστήκαμε πριν 3 χρόνια. Συμμετείχε σε ένα θεατρικό με άξονα το φόβο και τη δυτική άγνοια για τη χιτζάμπ (μαντίλα). Μιλήσαμε για τη θέση της γυναίκας στο Ισλάμ, τις σχέσεις των δύο φύλων, την υποδήλωση της ταυτότητας. Για να μου αποδείξει τα κλισέ των δυτικών, με κάλεσε στο γάμο του αδελφού της στο Μαρόκο. «Έλα να δεις πώς στ’ αλήθεια είναι οι γυναίκες μας». Τελικά ό,τι βρέχει η Μεσόγειος το μαλακώνει, της είχα πει τότε.

Η οικειότητα στο βλέμμα την κράτησε στην Ελλάδα. Τον πρώτο καιρό η μαντίλα της περνούσε απαρατήρητη. «Έπαιρνα το λεωφορείο από το Καλαμάκι και πήγαινα για ψώνια στην Αθήνα, κανείς δεν με έλεγε ξένη και ποτέ δεν αισθανόμουν την περιέργεια των άλλων στο δρόμο. Τελευταία και με την οικονομική κρίση, γεννήθηκε μια ρατσιστική, ξενοφοβική διάθεση στην κοινωνία. Νομίζω ότι για να πάρουν κάποιοι την εξουσία χρησιμοποιούν εμάς επινοώντας τον ρατσισμό».

Πριν έναν μήνα, η Χαμπίμπα δέχθηκε πρόταση να κατέβει στις εκλογές με τη Λαϊκή Συσπείρωση (ΚΚΕ – Αλίμου) και είπε εύκολα το ναι. «Θέλω να υποστηρίξω τον νόμιμο μετανάστη, να μην μας βλέπουν κάποιοι σαν κινούμενες απειλές». Τα κοινωνικά στρώματα έχουν αλλάξει. Η παράδοση που μαθαίναμε μικροί περνά και σ’ άλλα σώματα, εξελίσσεται.

Το παράδειγμά της Χαμπίμπα – της Αγάπης όπως την φωνάζουν κάποιοι εδώ – πέρα από κόμματα και παρατάξεις υποδηλώνει τη γνώση ενός ανθρώπου που ξέρει ποιος είναι και που ανήκει. Η Χαμπίμπα δεν αφομοιώθηκε στην «ξένη» χώρα, εναρμονίστηκε με το σύνταγμα και τους κανόνες της και αποφάσισε με το κεφάλι ψηλά να απευθυνθεί σε όλους και όχι μόνο στους «δικούς» της. Η τοποθέτησή της σε λίστα υποψηφίων είναι μια σπάνια πολιτική κίνηση για να αποδυναμωθεί ο συντηρητισμός.

Άρθρο: Λίνα Παπαδάκη

By Tina Stylianidou

My journey to Islam is a sensitive one since my Greek Orthodox family lived in Turkey for most of their lives. Although I was born in Athens, Greece, my father, who was born and raised in Istanbul to a wealthy and well educated family, was like others living in a Muslim country – he held on to his religious identity tightly.

A time came when the Turkish government decided to kick the majority of Greek citizens out of Turkey and confiscate their wealth, houses and businesses. So my father’s family had to return back to Greece, empty handed and basically poor. This is what they, the Turks –’Muslims’ – did to them and this validated (according to them) their hatred towards Islam.

My mother’s family lived on a Greek island just on the border between Greece and Turkey and during a Turkish attack the Turks occupied the island and burnt their houses. So they escaped to the Greek mainland  in order to survive. Even more reason to hate the Turks –’Muslims’!

Greece was occupied by the Turks for over 400 years and we were taught to believe that for every crime committed towards the Greeks, Islam was responsible. That the Turks were Muslims and their crimes were reflecting their religious beliefs. So for hundreds of years we were taught in our history and religious books to hate and make fun of Islam.  In our books, Islam was actually not a religion and Muhammad (pbuh) was not a prophet! He was just a very intelligent leader and politician who gathered rules and laws from the Jews and the Christians, added some of his own ideas and conquered the world.

We were taught at school how to make fun of him and of his wives or his companions. All the ‘caricatures’ and slander against him which is published in today’s media was actually part of our curriculum.

But God protected me so hatred against Islam had not entered my heart. Other Greeks have also succeeded to rid themselves of the burden of the Orthodox religious inheritance placed on their shoulders and they have opened their eyes, ears and hearts to see that Islam is a true religion sent by God and Muhammad (pbuh) is a true prophet, the last of all prophets after a long chain of messengers starting from Adam, Noah, Abraham, Ismael, Isaac, Moses and Jesus (peace be upon them all), all sent to mankind to guide the people to the same message.

It was a great help to me that both of my parents were not very religious themselves, they rarely practised their religion and they used to take me to church only during weddings or funerals. What drove my father away from his religion was the corruption he was seeing daily among the priests and this led him to become an atheist.

As a teenager, I loved to read a lot and I wasn’t really satisfied or convinced with Christianity. I had belief in God, fear and love for Him, but everything else confused me. I started searching around but I never searched towards Islam (maybe due to the background I had against it). But in the end, God had mercy on my soul and guided me from darkness to light of the truth – Islam – submission only to One God.

He brought into my life my husband, a born Muslim, and we got married without us really paying attention to the religious differences. My husband was willing to answer any questions I had concerning his religion without humiliating my beliefs (no matter how wrong they were) and without ever putting any pressure on me or even asking me to change my religion. After three years of being married and having the chance to know more about Islam, to read the Holy Quran, as well as other religious books, I was convinced that there is no such thing as a trinity, nor was Jesus God.

I became a Muslim keeping it secret from my family and friends for many years. We lived with my husband in Greece trying to practise Islam but it was extremely difficult – almost impossible. In my home town there are no mosques, no access to Islamic studies, no people praying, fasting or women wearing hijab (the Islamic head cover).There are only some Muslim immigrants who came to Greece for a better financial future and who let the Western lifestyle attract them and eventually corrupted them. As a result, many do not follow their religious practices and are completely lost.

It was incredibly difficult to perform our Islamic duties, especially for me, as I wasn’t born Muslim and didn’t have an Islamic education. My husband and I had to pray and fast with the use of calendars instead of a Muslim call to prayer in our ears and no Muslim community to support us. We felt that with each passing day we were stepping backwards and our faith was decreasing as the wave was taking us in.

So when my daughter was born, we decided to migrate to a Muslim country. We didn’t want to raise her in a environment where she would struggle to maintain her identity where she could end up lost.

Now, after four years of our migration, I feel so homesick, so nostalgic and I wonder if it is time to return back to Greece, the beautiful country that I was born to and try to find a way to combine the wonderful identity and culture of my Greek ancestors as well as my Islamic identity and beliefs. I feel proud and thankful to God that I can be both Greek and Muslim.

Διαβάστε στα Ελληνικά

Many people do not know this but Islam did not start at the time of prophet Muhammad (pbuh) – it started at the time of Adam and Eve.

Muslims believe that there is only one God in this world, the same God that Abraham, Moses and Jesus worshipped.

What is your belief about God?

Muslims believe God is one and that He created the heavens, the earth, human beings, animals – everything in this universe.  He has no partners and there is no object worthy of worship except Him.  This means Muslims do not believe that a stone, a tree, a cow or a human being is God and they do not worship any of these.  In other words, Muslims cannot fathom Jesus being God or part of God.  This would go against the very nature of monotheism – of God being strictly one. He does not need anyone but we need Him.  He is the most merciful, He sees everything, hears everything and knows everything.  And nothing is comparable to God.

So why do you call Him Allah?

When Muslims use the word ‘Allah’, that does not mean a different god, a moon god or a cow god.  Allah is just the Arabic word for Almighty God in English or Theos in Greek.  Arab Christians and Jews also say ‘Allah’ because it means God.  We prefer to say ‘Allah’ because it accurately means ‘the God’, i.e. the One God without any partners because if you say God in English, some people might think we are talking about Jesus.

Why are there so many religions?

Muslims believe that all of the prophets from Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Ishmael, David, Solomon to Moses, to Jesus and Muhammad etc. (peace be on them all) came to teach the people the exact same message – that God is one, without any partners and to submit your life to God.  This is what we call Islam because the meaning of the word Islam is “submission”, i.e. submit to the will and law of God.  So, in this sense, we believe that all prophets were following Islam, or ‘Muslim’ – someone who submits to God.  Islam is more than a religion, it is a way of life.

Each time a prophet came, some people believed in his message and they established the religion (Islam).  Then after some generations, the original message was lost and people started creating their own religion, mostly creating partners with God (ex. a cow, human etc.). So then God would send the next prophet to bring them back to the original message of Islam and the cycle would continue.

So, this is why Muslims believe in all of the prophets and all of the books, which are the spoken word of God– the Torah, the Gospel, the Quran, etc. and also believe in God’s angels and the Day of Judgement.

You can say Islam is the pure Christianity that Jesus taught and the pure Judaism that Moses taught before some priests, rabbis and people changed it to manipulate their followers and control them.

If God created us, would He leave us to figure things out on our own?

Just like most mothers would not leave their babies to the streets to take care of themselves, God would certainly not leave his creation without taking care of them.  But how does God provide us with this guidance if we cannot hear Him?  Through the Quran and scriptures He left us with full instructions on how to live the best life in this world and in the afterlife and through the prophets He sent us to teach us the guidance.

Because submission to God is a way of life and not just limited to a religion that you practise once a week, the guidance of instructions from God must cover everything in our lives such as the spiritual, emotional, economical, social and family aspects etc.

So, when people ask Muslims why Islam is strict with so many rules, they do not view it like this.  They consider these guidelines as ultimate guidance in living the best life.  Imagine you were lucky enough to have the richest man in the world mentor you on how to succeed financially, the best family counselor in the world mentor you in family and marriage aspects, the world leader in civilization and politics guide your country on how to be the most advanced nation and the wisest spiritual mentor guide you in gaining the closest relationship to God.  Would you consider those rules and restrictions in your life or guidance?

What is the purpose of my life?

And the biggest guidance is to answer a question that most human beings ask themselves at some point in their lives – What is the purpose of my life? Why am I here?

God gives us the answer to this in the Quran.  The purpose of our lives is to worship Him and to submit our lives to Him.  Read that sentence again.  The purpose of our lives is to worship God and to submit our lives to Him. 

We will be asked about this when we die and are resurrected on the big judgement day.  We will be questioned about everything we did and if we followed God’s guidance and did good deeds.  God will reward those who submitted their life to Him will punish those who did not and this is the ultimate justice system.

Free will or not?

God knows everything that we will do but He gives us a chance to live out our lives and gives us the free will or choice in order to provide evidence to us when we are on the Day of Judgement.  In this way, on that day, no one can provide excuses that God’s verdict is not fair.

This is a glimpse to what Islam is so that when you ask a Muslim a question about Islam, you can keep in mind that he or she will answer you from this context.

———–
photo credit: NPCA Photos

Read in English

Translated by Gerasimos Loukatos

Πολλοί είναι αυτοί που δεν γνωρίζουν ότι το Ισλάμ δεν ξεκίνησε τον καιρό του Προφήτη Μωχάμμεντ ( Ειρήνη και Ευλογία μαζί του) – ξεκίνησε από τους Πρωτόπλαστους, τον Αδάμ και την Εύα.

Οι Μουσουλμάνοι πιστεύουν ότι υπάρχει μόνο Ένας Θεός, ο ίδιος Θεός τον οποίο λάτρεψε ο Αβραάμ, ο Μωυσής και ο Ιησούς.

Τι πιστεύετε για τον Θεό;

Οι Μουσουλμάνοι πιστεύουν ότι ο Θεός είναι Ένας και Δημιούργησε τους Ουρανούς, την γη, τους ανθρώπους, τα ζώα και οτιδήποτε υπάρχει μέσα στο Σύμπαν. Δεν έχει συνέταιρους και δεν υπάρχει δημιούργημα άξιο λατρείας, παρά μόνο Εκείνος. Αυτό σημαίνει ότι οι Μουσουλμάνοι δεν πιστεύουν ότι μια πέτρα, ένα δέντρο, μια αγελάδα ή ένας άνθρωπος μπορεί να είναι ο Θεός και δεν θεοποιούν τίποτε από αυτά. Με άλλα λόγια, οι Μουσουλμάνοι δεν μπορούν να εννοήσουν τον Ιησού ως Θεό ή κομμάτι Του. Αυτό θα ήταν ενάντια στην φύση του μονοθεϊσμού – της απόλυτης Μοναδικότητας του Θεού. Εκείνος δεν έχει την ανάγκη κανενός, ενώ τα πάντα είναι εξαρτώμενα από Εκείνον . Εκείνος είναι ο πιο φιλεύσπλαχνος. Εκείνος βλέπει τα πάντα, ακούει τα πάντα, γνωρίζει τα πάντα και τίποτε δεν μπορεί να συγκριθεί μαζί Του.

Τότε γιατί τον αποκαλείτε Αλλάχ;

Όταν οι Μουσουλμάνοι χρησιμοποιούν την λέξη “Αλλάχ” δεν εννοούν τον θεό-φεγγάρι ή τον θεό-αγελάδα. Αλλάχ είναι απλά η Αραβική λέξη για τον Παντοδύναμο όπως είναι η λέξη “God” στα Αγγλικά και η λέξη “Θεός” στα Ελληνικά. Οι Άραβες Χριστιανοί και Εβραίοι επίσης αναφωνούν “Αλλάχ” όταν αναφέρονται στον Θεό γιατί αυτή είναι η σημασία της λέξης. Οι Μουσουλμάνοι προτιμούν να χρησιμοποιούν την λέξη “Αλλάχ” γιατί η ακριβής σημασία της είναι “Ο Θεός” δηλαδή ο Ένας, χωρίς συνέταιρους ή γένος (αρσενικό ή θηλυκό). Διότι αν χρησιμοποιήσουμε την αγγλική ή την ελληνική λέξη, ίσως κάποιοι να νομίζουν ότι αναφερόμαστε στον Ιησού.

Γιατί υπάρχουν τόσες πολλές θρησκείες;

Οι Μουσουλμάνοι πιστεύουν ότι όλοι οι προφήτες από τον Αδάμ, τον Νώε, τον Αβραάμ, τον Ισαάκ, τον Ισμαήλ, τον Δαβίδ, τον Σολομώντα, τον Μωυσή, τον Ιησού και τον Μωχάμμεντ (Ειρήνη και Ευλογία σε όλους) ήρθαν για να διδάξουν με το ίδιο μήνυμα – ότι ο Θεός είναι Ένας χωρίς συνέταιρους και η υποταγή της ζωής μας είναι σε Εκείνον. Αυτό ονομάζεται Ισλάμ, γιατί η λέξη Ισλάμ σημαίνει “υποταγή”, δηλαδή η υποταγή μας στο θέλημα και τον νόμο του Θεού. Υπό αυτήν την έννοια πιστεύουμε ότι όλοι οι προφήτες ακολουθούσαν το Ισλάμ, άρα ήταν Μουσουλμάνοι – (εκείνοι που υποτάσσονται στον Θεό). Το Ισλάμ είναι πολύ περισσότερο από μια θρησκεία, είναι τρόπος ζωής.  

Κάθε φορά που στάλθηκε ένας προφήτης, κάποιοι πίστεψαν στο μήνυμα του και εγκαθίδρυσαν την θρησκεία (Ισλάμ). Όμως, ύστερα από μερικές γενεές, το αρχικό μήνυμα είχε χαθεί αφού οι άνθρωποι είχαν δημιουργήσει την δική τους θρησκεία, κυρίως τοποθετώντας συνέταιρους δίπλα στον Θεό (μία αγελάδα, έναν άνθρωπο κ.τ.λ.). Έτσι, ο Θεός έπρεπε να στείλει τον επόμενο προφήτη για να επαναφέρει στους ανθρώπους το αρχικό μήνυμα του Ισλάμ, ένας κύκλος που συνεχίστηκε.

Γι’αυτό οι Μουσουλμάνοι πιστεύουν σε όλους τους προφήτες και τα βιβλία που εστάλησαν ως ο προφορικός λόγος του Θεού – το Πεντάτευχο, το Ευαγγέλιο, το Κοράνι κτλ, όπως επίσης πιστεύουμε στους αγγέλους Του και στην ημέρα της Κρίσεως. Μπορεί να πει κανείς, ότι το Ισλάμ  είναι ο αγνός Χριστιανισμός που δίδαξε ο Ιησούς και ο αγνός Ιουδαϊσμός που δίδαξε ο Μωυσής. Αυτό, πριν να παραποιηθεί το μήνυμα από Ιερείς, Ραβίνους και άλλους ανθρώπους, προκειμένου να παραπλανήσουν τους οπαδούς τους για να τους ελέγχουν.

Αν ο Θεός μας δημιούργησε, θα μας άφηνε μόνους χωρίς καθοδήγηση;

Όπως μία μητέρα δεν θα εγκατέλειπε το μωρό της χωρίς φροντίδα, έτσι και ο Θεός, σίγουρα δεν θα άφηνε τα δημιουργήματα του χωρίς φροντίδα. Όμως, πώς μπορεί ο Θεός να μας προσφέρει την καθοδήγηση Του, αν εμείς δεν μπορούμε να τον ακούσουμε; Δια μέσω του Κορανίου και των Γραφών που έστειλε σε εμάς, με πλήρεις οδηγίες για να ζήσουμε την καλύτερη ζωή σε αυτό τον κόσμο και σε ότι ακολουθεί μετά από αυτόν και δια μέσω των προφητών που έστειλε για να μας καθοδηγήσουν εκεί.

Επειδή η υποταγή στο Θεό είναι τρόπος ζωής και δεν περιορίζεται σε μια θρησκεία που γίνεται πράξη μία φορά την εβδομάδα, η καθοδήγηση Του θα πρέπει να καλύπτει όλες τις πτυχές της ζωής μας όπως την πνευματική, την ψυχική, την οικονομική, την κοινωνική, την οικογενειακή κτλ.

Έτσι, όταν ερωτούνται οι Μουσουλμάνοι, γιατί το Ισλάμ είναι τόσο αυστηρό σε αρκετούς κανόνες, εκείνοι δεν το αντιλαμβάνονται έτσι. Θεωρούν αυτούς τους κανόνες ως την ύστατη καθοδήγηση, προκειμένου να βιώσουν την καλύτερη των ζωών. Φαντάσου να είχες την τύχη να έχεις δίπλα σου τον πλουσιότερο άνθρωπο του κόσμου, για να σε καθοδηγεί στα οικονομικά, τον καλύτερο οικογενειακό σύμβουλο να σε καθοδηγεί σε οικογενειακά και θέματα γάμου, τον καλύτερο πολιτισμικό και πολιτικό ηγέτη να καθοδηγεί την χώρα σου στο πώς να είναι η πιο προηγμένη και τον πιο σοφό πνευματικό σύμβουλο να σε καθοδηγεί στο να επιτύχεις την στενότερη δυνατή σχέση με το Θεό.

Αυτό θα το θεωρούσες ‘κανόνες και περιορισμούς’ στην ζωή σου ή ως καθοδήγηση στην ζωή σου;

Ποιος είναι ο σκοπός της ζωής μου;

Η σημαντικότερη καθοδήγηση είναι να απαντηθεί αυτό που διερωτούνται όλοι οι άνθρωποι, κάποια στιγμή στην ζωή τους – Ποιος είναι ο σκοπός της ζωής μου; Γιατί βρίσκομαι εδώ;

Ο Θεός μας δίνει την απάντηση μέσα στο Κοράνι. Ο σκοπός της ζωής μας είναι να λατρεύουμε μόνο Εκείνον και να αφιερώσουμε την ζωή μας σε Εκείνον. Ξαναδιάβασε αυτή την πρόταση. Ο σκοπός της ζωής μας είναι να λατρεύουμε μόνο Εκείνον και να αφιερώσουμε την ζωή μας σε Εκείνον.

Θα ερωτηθούμε για αυτό, όταν πεθάνουμε για να αναστηθούμε ξανά, την μεγάλη εκείνη ημέρα της Κρίσεως. Θα ερωτηθούμε για ότι πράξαμε και για το αν ακολουθήσαμε τις οδηγίες του, κάνοντας καλές πράξεις.

Ο Θεός θα επιβραβεύσει εκείνους που άκουσαν τις εκκλήσεις Του και θα τιμωρήσει εκείνους που έκλεισαν τα αυτιά τους στην καθοδήγηση Του. Και η κρίση Του είναι η απολύτως αλάνθαστη.

Ελεύθερη βούληση ή όχι;

Ο Θεός γνωρίζει οτιδήποτε θα πράξουμε αλλά μας δίνει την ελευθερία της βούλησης και της επιλογής ως απόδειξη των πράξεων μας, την ημέρα της Κρίσεως. Έτσι, εκείνη την Ημέρα, κανείς δεν θα έχει την δικαιολογία μιας άδικης κρίσης από τον Θεό.

Τα παραπάνω είναι μια σταγόνα του τι είναι Ισλάμ, έτσι ώστε να έχεις στο μυαλό σου ότι όταν ο Μουσουλμάνος ή η Μουσουλμάνα ερωτηθεί, θα απαντήσει μέσα από το αντίστοιχο πρίσμα.   

Source: Vima Newspaper

By Mariniki Alevizopoulou

Διαβάστε στα Ελληνικά

“If today we are able to ask the Greek prime minister ‘when we will open the Athens mosque?’ that happens thanks to the steps we made,” stated the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan allying the nationalistic groups in his country.

At the same time the Christian pilgrims were attending the historical service at the remains of Holy Mary Soumela of Pontus, for the first time after 88 years. A few days before some other nationalistic groups had desecrated the graves of a Muslim cemetery in Komotini. Those two facts made the Turkish prime minister feel ‘one step in front of the Greeks’ causing discomfort (and) of the Muslims that live in Greece.

“If the government looked this matter of the mosque with greater seriousness, they wouldn’t have pressure via statements from abroad,” responds the almost disappointed  president of the Muslim Association of Greece Mr. Naim Elghandour and continues, “Everything was ready since 2006. Even the funds were there; 15 million euro are in the treasury of the Ministry of Education since that time. This is important to emphasize that in a so crucial financial period for Greece. Maybe part of this money comes from EU.”

The blame is not only on the backward steps of the political will and the political timing that almost four years have passed without a step. The mosque is one but the authorities that are involved in the construction are endless: foreign ministry, education ministry, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Finance and the City of Athens are all basic players.  And the Greek bureaucracy is there at every step.

Meanwhile the square footage of the mosque, that he and the thousands of religious Muslims that live in our country are waiting from 2006 to be constructed, are decreasing. “In the beginning the measurements in the blueprint from the general secretary of the minister of education Mrs. Marietta Giannakou, was 56.000m². At the next meeting, it became 42, the governments change and I make a third meeting to drop at 24 and we reached today 16.000m².”

The objections came from the Church. “Since the first moment that the construction of the mosque came up, the Holy Synod had not an opposite opinion. And that because every human has the right of religious freedom where worship is included, which is a respectful right and is entrenched by the constitution,” states the representative of the Holy Synod, Bishop of Nafpaktos Ierotheos. “In fact, at the same time, in an action of good will the Church bestowed for use 30.000m² from its land in Shisto to create a Muslim cemetery.” The truth is that in the plans of the new Christian cemetery in Shisto, in order to cover the needs of the municipalities of Piraeus and Moshato, was from the beginning a plan for a Muslim cemetery in this area.

Then everything changed. “The Church objected at the establishment of an Islamic educational center,” clarified Mr. Ierotheos. “The concern of the Archbishop Christodoulos was intense for such a center because centers like that promote not only the religious teachings but also political propaganda.”

The area for the cemetery at Shisto finally was found unsuitable because of the terrain, the Islamic center was found “dangerous” and somehow the discussion (and the concern) came back to the mosque. “The law of 2006 at the first New Democracy party government was zoning the mosque at a part of Eleonas. At the second government of Karamanlis, under the authority of his office was formed a committee where we as City of Athens were participating, because this area belongs to the Ministry of National Defense and is characterized as a ‘navy fort’ but it must become a green park and come to the authority of the City of Athens,” states Mrs. Tasia Lagoudaki, topographer of the City of Athens.

Things already became complex without calculating the reef of National Defense ministry, that owns the “navy fort” based on a royal order. “In fact it is a garage with five buses,” Mr. Elghandour supports and continues. “The defense ministry is compromised with 5 million euro and 10 month time to relocate the navy. While the minister was Mr. Meimarakis (and after a formal question of PM Pericles Korovesis in the parliament) he asked initially 68 million (!). We proposed to go out with coupons – not from abroad, we do not want foreign money to build the Athens mosque, we want the Greek state to control it, to gather money from the immigrants and from the Greek Muslims.”  This proposition was not accepted and the last elections came.

When will we come out of the underground garages?

“After the first 100 days of the new government and particularly the 110^th day I sent a letter to the Defense ministry because the problem is with them. As a Greek who has served the Hellenic army I have the courage to complain,” notes Mr. Naim Elghandour who lives 38 years in our country. As a result they invited me and went with all data in hands. For the time being the only movements you can observe are statements before the visit of the prime minister to a country that is in danger to be asked for the mosque, and endless calls from foreign and domestic press to my phone for the development of the mosque. I do not want to harm the image of Greece abroad. At “Focus” I did not respond to them after the front cover with Aphrodite with the finger. Does anyone appreciate that? Will our children ever come out of the underground garages, and now that we have Ramadan with 40°C we are risking to be carried by the ambulances?” he wonders.

The adventure started at 1996

The adventures of the mosque in Greece, as states at “Vima” the vice president of the government Mr. Theodore Pangalos, have their roots way back. “This story started at 1996 by my initiative and based in two thoughts. Firstly that we are the only European country that has not a mosque and secondly that in Athens that time were gathered about 50.000-60.000 without an official and established place to perform their religious duties, when in all Muslim countries there are Orthodox Churches even in Teheran.”

That time as a foreign minister he prepared a draft law describing the establishment of a Muslim religious and cultural institution in the Hellenic capital. “The Greek state would have the control, the majority of the funds would be ours but we would accept contributions from countries that were willing to do so. At that time Arab countries as Saudi Arabia and Egypt showed interest. The Institution would include a library, a place of worship and a place of gathering as in weddings, for example, men and women celebrate separately.”  The plan proceeded for Peania.

“The Archbishop of that time had stated his approval, the mayor of Peania the same, the Arabs as well.”  But on 1999 Mr. Pangalos left the foreign ministry with Otsalan case and somewhere there “the plan was abandoned and the reactions started.”

My name is Aisha(19 years old) and I am Greek currently living in Czech Republic for my studies. When I was in Greece i had no idea about Islam, due to the lack of information about it in Greece. I just thought that it is a religion for Arabs… However Allah gave me the opportunity to see this beautiful way of life in Czech Republic.

As most of the Greeks understand being a muslim in Greece is not very common. In about 1 month i will go back to Greece and i will have to face my Christian parents. Although they are not very religious, they don’t go to church except Easter and Christmas and sometimes not even then, the idea of having a different religion from the rest of my family (and the rest of the Greek citizens) and the idea that i will make it so obvious by wearing the hijab will not give a very good reaction according to their behaviour…

I would appreciate it a lot if you could give me some advise on how to talk to them and what to tell them because they don’t know anything for islam except that it is a religion that people from Pakistan that live in the city center,where most of violence occurs in Athens. May Allah help me and make it easy for me.

Moreover, showing off in Greece is something that I use to do but i find it meaningless anymore. Girls nowdays in Greece have lost their mind and walk almost naked in the street,driving the attention of every female person that passes next to them.

However this is something very common, but wearing the hijab isn’t.. I don’t know what my non-muslim friends will be with the idea of going out with a girl that covers her body… Iknow them since i was a little child and they will understand but i will have to explain them in the right way… do you have any suggestions?

Even a very small advice might be very usefull for me so please help a new muslim girl that needs your help.  please take in consideration that i reverted to islam 2 weeks ago

The following text is for muslim women:

In Czech Republic like in Greece there are not a lot of muslims especially girls. Can you please send me a few basic information about basic things concerning the islam?

not for the social life but the every day life and things that muslim gilrs do!

Peace be upon all of you!!

Thanks to all of you spending time even reading about my story.

ALL PRAISES BE TO ALLAH!

Salam!

© Translation: Muslim Association of Greece

Διαβάστε στα Ελληνικά

In the near future the tens of thousands of Muslims living in Attica (and the visitors as well) will be able to pray at the first official place of worship that will be constructed in the capital after about two centuries. The government announced their decision settling, in fact, a pending case of three decades.

Discussions, laws, plans on paper, bureaucratic obstacles, reactions of citizens and ecclesiastic leaders, in combination with the “political cost” intercepted every attempt dealing with a social matter that was putting the respect of human rights and religious freedom to trial.

“We are very satisfied that an official place will exist. It will be a significant step for the unobstructed practice of our religious duties,” states to “K” Mr. Naim Elghandour, president of the Muslim Association of Greece.

Already, in the last months, the issue was frequented in meetings with the participation of the related factors meaning the ministries of Education, Internal Affairs, Foreign Affairs, City of Athens, Navy General Headquarters, and the Organisation for Regulating Planning of Athens.

As was decided in a meeting, the mosque will be constructed in an area of 17.000m² at the Votanikos area, where today the Maintenance Centre of Navy Vehicles exists. According to the plan, from the moment that all legal procedures will finish in order to bestow the usage of the area to the ministry of Education, it will take 6 -12 months to relocate this Navy department.

The mosque will be constructed by the expenses of the Hellenic state by the Program of Public Expenditure Fund. According to the relative law that was forwarded from 2006 by the former Minister of Education Marietta Giannakou, the building of the mosque must agree with the terms and limitations of building of this area. According to these terms, the building area should cover 839m², its entrance being from Iera Odos Avenue through to Asyrmatou Street and will be close to the church of Saint Christopher.

History

The matter of constructing a mosque in Athens was on the table for the first time since the late 30s. The discussion was forgotten after World War II began. After the change-over and particularly in the 80s, the issue was brought again by ambassadors from Muslim countries. In mid 90s the issue concerned the government again.

The negotiations between those who were concerned led to voting for law 2833 in 2000 that described the construction of a mosque and an Islamic cultural centre funded by Saudi Arabia. For this reason, the state bestowed an area at Peania, but was confronted by the citizens of the area and the deceased Archbishop Christodoulos, who did not agree that the first view of visitors landing to Greece from the new airport to be an Islamic minaret.

As the solving of the matter was not proceeding, the proposal of the former mayor (and right after Foreign Minister) Mrs. Bakoyiannis, to operate the Monastiraki mosque again that today is known as a popular art museum. Finally, after ‘fermentations’ in the internal affairs of New Democracy government the Votanicos solution was forwarded.

Associates of the former foreign minister expressed their satisfaction for the decision to proceed with the construction of the mosque.  Mrs. Bakoyiannis was always in favor of the construction of a mosque. She played a significant role in choosing the place and to the disengagement of the issue from the ‘protection’ of foreign interests,” they state at “K” associates of the former minister. In 2006, the minister of Education Mrs. Giannakou presented the existing law that describes the construction of a mosque with funds from the Hellenic state.

By Nikos Papachristou

Translated by Anna Stamou