Until a few months ago I was regarded as a Christian, having been born into a Christian family some 26 years ago, and having endeavoured to live a good life based on the principles taught to me from childhood.
Since I have been an adult, good fortune has not been exactly my friend, and I have sought a tangible "something" which Christianity did not afford me; consquently, I become a "drifter." I went to Church mainly because the work in which I was engaged demanded it, but spiritual help and uplift were lacking.
Some years ago--1926-27--I was in Egypt, and as an ordinary sight-seeing tourist visited the famous Mosque of Muhammed Ali in Cairo. I had the privilege of being present during prayers, and was immediately impressed by the true reverence of rich and poor alike, and by how much their "Allah" and prayer mean t to them, and many times since have marvelled over it.
It is a long jump to 1933, but this year I found myself in Woking, and once again as an interested sight-seer visited the Mosque again during prayers. These were followed by a lecture based on the first chapter of the Holy Quran, the prayer of every Muslim, and, ideed, a prayer of any man of any creed. I learnt of this worldwide brotherhood, possessing no racial or class distinctions; of the "Oneness" of God; of the respect and reverence ascribed to all the former Prophets of God, and of the true meaning of Islam...Peace. It sounded wonderful, and I yearned to know more of this faith, which is so practicable and broad-minded. I procured literature, and a copy of the Holy Quran from the Mosque, and was considerably helped by the Imam in my search for truth, and I have found it! Three months ago, I surrendered myself to the Will of Allah, and publicly declared that I was a Muslim.
To me, the Holy Quran is a mine of infinite wealth; with such guidance--for every day of one's life--no one need fear or go astray. Inwardly, and apparently, too, I am told, I am a much happier person than before, though many trials have come to me because of my changed views; in fact, I have had to resign my position in a Church of England Institution because of it! May I give some of the ideas and views of some of the Christian people with whom I work? The Institution is a Home for Destitute Children--non-denominational,--and my position is that of Assistant Matron.
(i) A. is the Secretary of the Homes' Committee, and when the Committtee heard of my changed ideas, I received the following letter from A.:-
Dear Miss Griffiths,
The House Committee learnt to-day with much regret and suprise that you have recently become interested in Moslemism,[~1 see below Editor Add] and that you are attending service and lectures at the Woking Mosque.
In view of this fact coming before the Homes 'Committee at their next meeting, we wish to know if you are intending definitely to associate yourself with Islam, and I must make it clear that the committee would consider this a sufficient ground for dismissal as we can obviously not only have a person professing the Moslem faith on the Staff, but not even one who is making a practice of attending a Mosque.
I can only add that I am extremely sorry to hear that you contemplate giving up your Christianity, and do beg you to think very seriously before you take this irrevocable step.
Yours faithfully,
D.C.T.H.
I replied to this letter saying that I had "taken this irrevocable step," but I had always thought that religion was purely personal matter; therefore, my changed ideas had not interfered with my work, or in the welfare of the children with whom I worked. I received a reply, which unfortunately I burnt, in which the good lady said that apparently I had not realized the scope of my work when stating that religion was a personal matter, and inferring that it was impossible for me, as a Muslim, to bring up children in the straight and narrow path.
(ii) B. is a member of the afore-mentioned Committee, and a very ardent church-goer. When she heard the news, it was as though a firework had exploded unexpectedly. Her hands were raised in horror and dismay--"Did I realize what was doing? Had I lost my sense? Isalm was a religion made for men by a man, and for coloured men only."
(iii) C. is another member of the Committee who has lived in Bengal for many years. She affirms that Muslims in that district were acknowledged as the "not so-good type"; they were wonderfully honest, but terrible liars. In all classes, she says, wives are treated as mere chattels; a man reveres his mother, sisters and like relations, but his wife!--he can treat her as he likes, and all because his Quran allows him to do these things. (I produced my Holy Quran, and read passages from it which gave her statements the lie.)
(iv) D. is a male member of the Committee--a well-read and learned man--retired headmaster of a well-known public school. When asked for his views, he said, "Well, of course, we know that they (the Muslims) just look forward to the hereafter as a time of unlimited sexual enjoyment!" Could any theory be more ridiculous when naturally physical desires and needs die with the physical body?
(v) E. is the Vicar who was called in to endeavour to reclaim me to the Christian faith. "Did I realize what a terrible thing I had done?" "The matter was enough to make the Foundress of our Home rise from her grave!" "Did I realize Jesus, Moses, and all the Prophets, but I acknowledge Muhammed as the last of the Prophets of God!" "Did I dare to put Jesus on a level with Moses even?" "Yes, Moses gave the Commandments, and had Jesus not been born, if the people followed those Commandments they would not have gone far wrong!" "But Jesus is Divine, He is the son of God!" I asked for proof, and pointed out how Jesus only refers to himself as the Son of Man." This gentleman explained to me that Jesus was divine because of his miraculous birth. I disagreed, not on the birth itself but the fact of divinity. "Did I ever pray?" "Certainly!" "Whom to ?" "The One and only God!" "How could I mix with black men?" I mix with coloured people because I believe their faith, and that preaches a worldwide brotherhood which is really ordained by God but only practised in Islam.
(vi) F. is my matron who has been a wonderful friend to me, but, however, I have lost her friendship. She tells me I have demeaned myself as low as it is possibile, and that she has lost all respect for me. She asked me: "Don't you feel highly superior to these coloured men with whom you're mixing?" I thanked God that I had never suffered from superiority complex. She contentds that Islam is a political bait ! That if indians--why do people think that Islam is confined to India?--can convert English people to their faith, before long they will be demanding to govern India for themselves. This I definitely refuted. Having read only a very small portion of the Preface to the Holy Quran (Muhammed Ali's translation) she tells me that sex is the main theme of the Holy Book, and though some of the beliefs are sound and good, the word Islam is a pretty covering for something very ....."Admin: bad and respectless words are unpublishable".
(vii) G.is a Christian friend with a very wrong conception of Isalm. I quote a few lines from a recent letter:-
"...I feel your step is a very mistaken and truly downward one, for I cannot see what attraction there could be in the Moslem faith; it is essentially an Eastern religion[~2], and, I should have thought, could have had no appeal to the mind of an educated woman of the West. It seems to me to be in no wise comparable to the Gospels. The God of Mahomed is a kind of...."Admin: bad and respectless words are unpublishable", but never a Father[~3].
Moreover, consider the immeasurable distance claimed to be a Prophet, but--Christ! he could calmly say: 'I came from the Father, and I leave the world and go to the Father'... also he said to his carping critics: 'Before Abraham was, I AM' ... All these majestic utterances remove him (Christ) altogether from the category of a mere prophet, and proclaim him God--in the flesh!.... I will not say much about the distinctly lower morality of Islam, but that is undeniable. The status of woman is lower[~4]; the Koran allows for polygamy[~5] and slavery[~6], also for proselytism by the sword; all these things are purely carnal..."
These are a few of the slurs which have been cast upon Islam and Muslims; I hear more daily; some are too ridiculous to pay attention to.
From what I gather, these accusations are absolutely unfounded, for no real evidence is forthcomming in support of any one statement. Thus, I am even more sure of my convictions, but I am sorry for these poeple who are so bigoted that they will not listen to the truths which Islam proclaims. They may one day!
Moreover, I am proud and thankful to be a Muslim, and my faith in Islam will never be shattered. Allah be praised.
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[~1] It must be Islam. Moselmism has been stated our of hatred by the so-called committee--Editor Add myislam.eu
[~2]. Is Christianity non Eastern religion? You are accepting by the order of devil one from Eastern'Jew' and call him without any proof, logic, science, as God or son of God and believing on 150.000 version man changed book 'Bible'. But you don't believe the other from Eastern, who brought you from God proofs "Jesus has done what all Prophets done, not more and not less, and..." that the Jesus was Prophet of Allah and brought you unchangeable words of Allah the Quran, which no book in the world can replace it, which is usefull and the best guidance for most people in the world--Editor Add myislam.eu
[~3] Remember, if you want to respect God because he is father, you have to know there are many bad fathers, this is no god respectfull example for God. Respecting and calling god as father is bad action against mothers.--Editor Add myislam.eu
[~4] Islam gives for women more protection and rights then any other religions. Allah order in Quran 'Man is responsible for the food and cloths of women and children as much as he can' can you count this how much right, benefit, respect, protection is for women? In christianity, Jews, Budhism, Indos,.. women are an instrument to bring benefites'taxes' for the governments or men.--Editor Add myislam.eu
[~5] Polygamy saves human race in the earth, {1 man x (4 or more women) => more children} if there was no polygamy from the beginn, the human race were not existed today. Ask great Allah to let you get logical knowledge from Quran.--Editor Add myislam.eu
[~6] Slavery in Islam is just to Great Allah. Prophet Mohamed(peace be upon Him) has ordered muslims to end slavery that is why all african people becomed muslims. Now the african people has forgoten what Islam gave to them.
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