[An interview with the learned Miss Ayesha Bridget Honey]

Queston: When did you embrace Islam and what was your age at that time?

Answer: Three-and-a-half years back Allah illuminated me with the light of Islam. At that time I was 21 years old.

Question: Please tell us how you come to embrace Islam?

Answer: The family in which I was born and grew up was, form the religious point of view, no
different from the generality of British homes. My mother is a Christian but she does't practise religious worship and rituals. My father however did not believe in any religion. In my childhood I studied at a religious school and learned the subjects which are taught in English Church schools. Our usual conversation was never even remotely concerned with religion. I don't remember any day of my childhood when I heard the name God in my home.
While studying at the Church school I was not satisfied with some of the basic beliefs of Chritianity especially the concept of Trinity and the belief in Atonement that God or Jesus had ransomed the people and by accepting the cross had atoned for these beliefs but whatever I heard seemed to me only side of the reality while I wanted to know fully. My school was Christian school but I left as an unbeliever.

I was infatuated with philosophy and my desire to know the truth was intense. When at the age of 15, I read the book Toateh Ching which is a collection of early writings about Chinese philosophy of Tao, I was influenced by its thought. Then when I found some introductory information about Buddhism I decided to go into the depths of both these philosophical beliefs. I decided to learn Chinese and to go to China myself but this was no easy task for a 15 year old girl with no money or means. So when I was 17 years old I went to Canada where, worked, for 2 years. I collected enough money to continue my education. My programme was to get the secondary school degree so that I could get admission in a university to learn the Chinese language.

In Canada I came to know Hindu philosophy and read the holy books of Hindus. The three beliefs, that is: Taoteh, Buddhism and Hinduism which I knew by now possessed beauty, profundity and exaltation but none of them could satisfy my mind or my feelings. In this vast universe and in daily life where people live together these faiths totally failed to reach any stability or balance. They completely neglect some one aspect. The founder of the Tao philosophy wandered in remote corners of the world as a mystic and an ascetic. In search of truth Buddha left his wife and family. The books of the Hindu are basically ethical but are all human ideas of collective life in society only baseless hallucination? This question bewildered me. I could not believe in any of these faiths. After all what could I believe in? What is the purpose of life? It is only a chance, an accident as some people say? The tension and restlessness grew and I could not sleep nights.

In this way my success in the Secondary Examination and admission in London University to learn Chinese became meaningless for me. It is true that I fullfilled my desire to learn Chinese but the truth I had been searching for seemed still far away.

After joining the university I got the chance to be introduced to Muslims. Before that I had neither read nor heard anything about Islam. In fact like other people in the West I also harboured prejudices and musunderstandings about it. But here in university, Muslim students explained their basic beliefs to calmly and in a very nice manner. They answered all my objections and gave me some books to read. In the beginning I just skipped over the pages of these books when I had nothing to do. I only considered them a source of amusement and derision. But when I actually read parts of these books, they slowly reduced my supicions about Islam.

Then I started reading those books carefully. Their style of presentation and the freshness of explanation and commentary surprised me. I was extremely impressed by the logic and argument with which their concepts of the Creator and the created and life after death were put forward.

After that these Muslim students gave me an English translation of the Qur'an. However hard I try I cannot fully estimate the impression the Qur'an left on my heart. Before I finished the third Surah I had prostrated myself before the Creator of the universe. This was my first Salat(Namaz) and since that time by the grace of Allah Iam a Muslim. I accepted Islam hardly three months after I came to know about it. So I did not know anything more than basic concepts. After that started a lengthy process of question which I asked my Muslim brothers and argued with them over the details and sections of these questions.

I am often asked about the main reasons which made me accept Islam. It is difficult for me to give satisfactory answer to this because the example of Islam--as a European Muslim has put it--is like that of a complete and perfect geometrical pattern whose every part completes its other parts and its real beauty lies in the harmony and cohesion of these parts and it is this charachteristic of Islam which has a profound influence on human beings. Seen from a distance Islam's deep insight into the generality of things, motives, deeds, its explanations about the Muslim government will amaze you and if you look at its details you find it an incomparably guide for social life based as it is on straightforward and true ethical values. A Muslim takes the Name of Allah whenever he does anything. And when he remembers Allah he examines his own self and in this he tries to reach a high standard. In this way the gulf between daily life of the world and the demands of religion is bridged and both sides become proportionate, evenly balanced and essential for each other.

Question: After you accepted Islam what was the reaction of your family and your friends?

Anwer: My parents did not pay much attention to my conversion to Islam. First they thought this was only a hobbyhorse of mine, somewhat liked my desire to learn Chinese. Soon the enthusiam would subside and as time passed the incident would be forgotten. But when time passed and proved them to be wrong and my faith fructified to the extent that it was not limited to my thinking but extended itself to my habits and influenced and changed my way of life, then they started expressing their regrets. I caused them annoyance by abstaining from wine and pork. They disliked seeing me enveloped my head covering(Dopatta) and everywhere keeping it on my head. Actually I am convinced they were more concerned about what other people would say. They were not very concerned about they had the ability to argue and debate and they were ready to accept anything proved rationally. When I discussed Islamic thought and its principles of social life they admitted its wisdom.

I remember once there was an argument with some friends about polygamy and the limits Islam has imposed on it. I compared it with the principles put forward by western civilisation and they all agreed that polygamy limited by Islamic regulations is the best solution for married life.

Question: Did you face any difficulty or embarrassment after you accepted Islam?

Answer: People who have little ability to think are usually full of bigotry against Islam. They often make fun of Muslims. Even if they do not make fun of Muslims in front of them they deride them behind their backs. On the other hand they never tangle with the irreligious and the unbelieves. They in fact respect them for their backs. On the other hand they nver tangle with the irreligous and the unbelievers. They in fact respect them for their so called "free thought" but Islam and Muslims irritate them. Inspite of this I did not meet with any difficulities worth mentioning. The reason for this was that I was a student of the University's Oriental and African Studies Institute and the people I met knew something of religions and beliefs. However I am aware of what many other Muslims have to endure.

Question: After accepting Islam to what extend did you acquire knowledge?
Answer: My study of Islam is limited to the books which reached me. I also learned a lot by questioning Muslim scholars, I also gained a lot by arguing with Muslims of various areas.
Last year I learned about Islamic thought and Western philosophy from a Sudanese student. This student held a meeting every week in which 10 persons used to be present. Our method in this meeting was that we read important English translations of the Quran and compared with the original Arabic Quran to determine the nearst possible meaning of each verse. Then in light of various commentaries, especially Tabari's Tasfir we discussed the verse according to our own understanding. I am sorry to say that after the departure of our Sudanese brother there is no one in London who has such knowledge or the enthusiasm to carry on the work with the same constancy.

Question: Do you think Islam can influence modern civilisation in any way? Please tell us in which way?
Answer: Today the Western world is living in darkness. There is not even the slightest light of hope to show the way for the deliverance of the soul and the self. Any person who is aware of the actual state of European societies can see this universal restlessness and worry which is hidden behind the false glare of progress and material excellence. Now people are searching for a way out of their difficulties but they can see no way out. Their search is fruitless. There is only one choice before them and that is to go on advancing towards the hell of destruction and disaster. The beauiful harmony between the demands of the body and the needs of the soul which Islam presents has strong attraction for the West today. Islam can show modern civilisation the way which leads to the real success and salvation, it could give Western man understand of the real purpose of life and persuade him to struggle for the pleasure of Allah. This would also ensure his success herafter. May Allah grant us success in this life and the next.

Question: In your opinion what is the method of propagating and spreading Islam?
Answer: Before worrying about spreading Islam it is neccessary that in our life and needs we should attain the standard which this faith demands of us.
It is thought that if we become missionaries of Islam then we need not worry about anything else. It is neccessary for us to know Islam fully and only then to become its missionaries so that we may be able to answer all questions and objects. No doubt the presence of certain books about Islam is useful in spreading its invitaion.
If we give a book to a non-Muslim he pays it more attention than he gives to debate or argument. But unfortunately there are very few good books on Islam in English. I would again stress the importance of a living example. Hence it is essential for us that we make ourselves the exemplary human beings the Quran wants us to be.

Question: What are the special difficulties of British Muslims?
Answer: Where entire British families become Muslim they achieve the Islamic social life and live in peace. But when an unmarried boy or girl or a married man or woman singly accept Islam have to face difficulties. They have a constant feeling that British society and its general atmosphere is not their own.
As they are not in an Islamic society they face hardships in saying their prayers and keeping fasts in time. The Islamic families are fulfilling their responsibilities in this respect. We also need teachers who should be examples of Islamic culture and should be able to help new Muslims in understanding the Quran. Many new Muslims want to understand the Quran properly but they have no means of doing this. I feel sorry while saying this that the Islamic Cultural Centre in London is not doing anything about this. This work depends only on students who do not have much time owing to their studies.

It is also neccessary to mention the youths adoration of the West's false nuggets. They have been deceived by its blinding glare and are unaware of its artificiality. Here I would also like to express my liking for the strong family bonds and the clean social life. If we compare it with the West's social life, it is comparatively at ethical heights. If there were Islamic social life in the real sense how excellent it would be!

O Allah make us true Muslims according to the demands of Islam.