She is lover of them as well as anxious about them. She has come from a long distance from the other side of the oceans… from a small area of Australia where the number of the Muslims is very few. … being on this long distance, her entry to Islam and the Shiite can not be less than a miracle, in this age of modern ignorance…
Mrs. Zaynab Taylor from Australia arrived Iran on June 21st, Iran to participate in International Fatimology Congress and expressed her sentiments as truthfully and agreeably as I could not ignore them easily.
She introduced herself as: “I have come from a village so different in Australia to Iran. We have a very small number of Muslims over there. I was a Christian so that a Muslim friend introduce me some Islamic books. Those books are very attractive. But of course the most attractive book was the most important book i.e. the Holy Quran.”
“I had not yet accepted Islam but I studied the Holy Quran in English and I feeling were revealing the fact that this book can not be the earthly book but it is Devine book” she added.
She said: “I learned Quran in English and in Arabic and than studied the life of Prophet Mohammad (PUBH) and I knew Islam gradually. Now my situation is the situation of satisfaction and confidence. I heartedly believe that if there is a single light of guidance that is the light of Islam”.
I (the reporter) asked her about difficulties being faced by her in Australia and she got upset. Her big problem might be upset probably because of having limited relation with her family members and old friends she lost after accepting Islam. Anyway Mrs. Taylor urged: “this situation is Jihad itself. Seeing me in this type of Islamic dress people get shocked and they excommunicate me as well as make mock of me. Number of Muslims in the region is very small and this situation makes the life terrible for me, local media is disproportionate with my faith and religion, so that I have eliminated them from my home and disconnected my relation with some of my old friends because continuation of friendship with them was impossible for me”.
Mrs. Taylor added with the mixed sentiments of proud and persecution: “I was the first veiled woman of the region. I am strange and wonderful for them and they flout me instead knowing me; but in all of these problems I feel a cheer they do not have at all and that is “Islam” and “Quran”. I have very close attachment with Allah and Ahl ul-Bayt (the Household) (a.s.) and they are deprived of this blessing”.
Answering to my questions, the above mentioned Australian Shia Muslim lady pointed out some shortages as well and sad: “we face the shortage of Islamic facilities in our home area including books about the religion of Islam. Life is very hard and difficult for me over there, but in spite of all that, I travel a long distance put my children in a small Islamic Center, that is why I am a mother.
In spite of all pains and sufferings, Zaynab Taylor completed her interview (with ABNA) with these hope and optimism and said: “I am happy and lucky because I am plunging in the boundless ocean of Islam with the company of my husband and children”.
This is to mention that Mrs. Zaynab Taylor was invited to participate in the Internatioal Fatimology Congress as a Shia thinker and scholar.
ABNA Reporter: Mrs. Taylor! we are very happy to have a very friendly meeting with you and we hope to really thank Allah for having no problem in the Islamic republic of Iran and enjoying full freedom to live as Muslims and facing no hurdle in practicing our religious commandments and precepts. May Allah end all the problems and difficulties being faced by all the Muslims including new and those who are Muslims by birth, very soon.
Translated by : Khalil Hosein Hoseini