(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - A Taunton woman has described how she converted to Islam to “make her life better for herself and her family”.
Roxanne Uddin is English. She converted after deciding to marry her Muslim friend, Ali, who she met at college.
Her decision comes as Swansea University publishes a report which showed an increase in the number of converts who were white and British.
The study said in 2010 an estimated 5,200 people converted to Islam in the UK, with half of them being white.
‘Bad attitude’
The study was carried out by Swansea University on behalf of the charity Faith Matters using data on conversion from the 2001 Scottish census and applying this to the UK population.
Roxanne converted in 2007 at the East London mosque in Whitechapel, London.
“I’d done a lot of bad things in my past, decided to convert there and then when my friend and I decided to get married. It was to change my life and make my life better for me and my family.”
“I didn’t drink or smoke, but I didn’t have a lot of good friends which rubbed off my on personality. It wasn’t a great background I came from, I left home at 15 and had to grow up fast.
“I didn’t have a lot of great friends, I just had college, going out. I just had a bad attitude really.”
Roxanne said her husband did not force her to change religion, but that she felt drawn to it after hearing him pray and recite the Koran, which compelled her to learn more.
She said at first her family was shocked at her decision but have since accepted it.
“My family do come over and celebrate Eid with us. My sister came over last year and did some fasting because she wanted to know what it was like.
“Some of my family have taken part and have enjoyed it.”
‘Very respectful’
Eid is a celebration which takes place at the end of Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting.
During Ramadan, Muslims also try to recite the Koran, pray more and give up bad habits.
Although Roxanne’s family accepted her life-changing decision, Ali’s family did not approve of his choice of partner.
According to Roxanne it was a combination of her English background and because, in keeping with their own culture, they had hoped to arrange a marriage for him.
“Possibly today you see a lot of girls out on the town clubbing and that does not portray a good picture so they kind of thought what if he has picked somebody up like this? But it wasn’t like that.
“It was after I had Rahim, that I met them back in 2008-9. I was frightened, petrified.”
“But they were very respectful, it’s very different to how we are in westernised cultures. They cook lots of food and make you feel really welcome. I was quite surprised when I met them. I relaxed quite a bit.”
Since that first meeting, relations have thawed and are now on a good footing, which have been helped by her conversion.
Roxanne, who follows the Sunni branch of Islam, is continuing her studies of the Koran, the sacred text of the religion.
End item/ 129