On Wednesday 7th March, there will be a reverts panel and discussions, and question and answer sessions. All welcome to attend. All events are free.

Monday: “Shariah: Best for the West?” presented by Abdullah Andulusi
(Building 32, Room 1015, 7:30pm)

A great talk on Sharia Law with illustrative examples of Sharia in our every day lives. Compelling reasons put forward as to Sharia law being a solution for all- including the west.

Tuesday: “Islam at a Glance” presented by Abu Muntasir
(Building 46, Room 3001, 7:30pm)

Wednesday: Reverts Panel
(Building 32, Room 1015, 7:30pm)

Thursday: “Muslims for the Community” presented by Anas Altikrit
(Building 46, Room 3001, 7:30pm)

Friday: “The Way to Eternal Bliss” presented by Abu Hafsa
(Building 32, Room 1015, 7:30pm)

Please support ut to raise money for the poor and needy people in Africa that are suffering from famine and drought. We have organised a buffet lunch on Sunday 24 July 2011, 12:00pm to 3:00pm, at Kuti’s Brasserie, 39 Oxford Street, Southampton, SO14 3DP.

Lunch Buffet: £10 Each, £6 Children aged 6-10,  Children under 5 eat FREE!

For further information please contact: Inayatullah 07866 026862, Izaz 07973 626288, Azad 07810 813030

The classes, which are in English, are run on the first and third Sundays of each month, at 10.30am -12pm in the Razvia Masjid. All are welcome to come along but please arrive on time! The classes are informal and there is a Q&A time at the end of each class.

The lectures conducted so far are available in text and audio format (click links below). Please note these are large audio files and may take many minutes to load – so be patient, they are well worth the wait!

Shabe-e-Barat: Mid-Sha’ban is the 15th day of the eighth month (Sha’ban) of the Islamic lunar calendar. The preceding night is known as Laylatul Bara’ah or Laylatun Nisfe min Sha’ban in the Arab world, and as Shab-e-barat (شب برات) in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran and Afghanistan. These names are translated to the night of records, the night of assignment and the night of deliverance, and the observance involves a festive nightlong vigil with prayers, feasting and illumination. In some regions, this is also a night when one’s deceased ancestors are commemorated. It is another blessed night in which you should offer prayers. (source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mid-Sha’ban)

The walk is organised each year by the Southampton Council of Faiths and starts from the Peace Fountain in East Park. Participants come from all-faith groups, non-faith groups, and as individuals, and walk together visiting various faith buildings such as mosques, churches, and temples, and listen to presentations which are delivered by representatives of various faith groups (Baha’i, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Muslim, and Jewish).

(Peace Walk – Interfaith – Southampton UK)

Hosted at Southampton University and chaired by Mohammed Ansar (currently part of the Muslim Council of Southampton), this is the video of the debate between Clive Thorn (a Christian Minister of Lighthouse International Christian Church) and Adnan Rashid (a Muslim historian and senior researcher at the Hittin Institute) which looks at the aspects of both religions with some very interesting topics discussed.

(Which is the way forward: Islam or Christianity?)

(The Call To Prayer – An audience with Muslim reverts in Southampton (Part 1/8))

(The Call To Prayer – An audience with Muslims reverts in Southampton (Part 2/8))

(The Call To Prayer – An audience with Muslims reverts in Southampton (Part 3/8))

(The Call To Prayer – An audience with Muslims reverts in Southampton (Part 4/8))

(The Call To Prayer – An audience with Muslims reverts in Southampton (Part 5/8))

(The Call To Prayer – An audience with Muslims reverts in Southampton (Part 6/8))

(The Call To Prayer – An audience with Muslims reverts in Southampton (Part 7/8))

(The Call To Prayer – An audience with Muslims reverts in Southampton (Part 8/8))

Insha’allah, once this project develops and associated support-network and systems are in place, we hope it will provide a means to the information and support we find people are seeking. Of course, we’ll write another update soon on our progress.

Lastly, apologies for any delays in progress on this website and associated services. Insha’allah we will try to improve soon. As a community-based service organised, funded, and run by volunteers, we primarily try to focus on actual (real-world) group activities and events and providing tailored support in-person. This sadly means there is not always as much time or energy as we would like to spend on tasks such as websites and support for online community. However, we will get there, especially with your help! We have built this website for you, so please get in touch and get involved, and as always your thoughts, suggestions, and feedback is always appreciated.

Wasalaam.

I was brought up attending Mass every Sunday, I attended a Catholic grade school, and I currently attend a Jesuit High School. I never fully believed in the teachings of the Catholic church and I always felt as if something was missing. I noticed that Abraham, Adam, Moses, and Jesus all worshipped the same God. I always felt, if there were other partners with God ie. the Son and Holy Spirit, wouldn’t God, since he is all knowing have at least implied that in the old testament? Where at the same time a god can not be created, according to the doctrine of Christianity, so therefore the only god that can possibly exist is the one true God, Allah (swt).

I at first never knew much about Islam, but eventually I took an interest in it. Islam seemed to makemore sense to me and I began to read more about Islam on the internet. I took so much interest that I  decided to join an online chatroom, icq based. It was there that I met a man named Haroon Chaudhry. He helped to put away some of the stereotypes that I had towards the Muslim Ummah. Fantastically (Mashallah) I said shadaha in my room shortly there after. It was the greatest feeling I have ever felt.

I am writing this page on Monday, November 15th 2010, I am currently 16 years old and a junior in high school. I have endured much persecution from my family since my reversion.

At one point my mother made fun of my religion, which unfortunately resulted in my loosing my temper. The incident even became physical, which I regret very much. I guess you can say I have never been your typical good child but I have never gone to that extreme with my parents before. I committed a sin against Allah (swt) and I gave my mother a bad representation of Islam. From that point on, despite any evidence I have shown her from Quran and Hadith about treating women kindly, she claims Islam is a violent religion and attempts to make my life miserable. She has threatened to punish me, on several occasions, if I did not renounce Islam. I did a couple of times (without sincerity) to try to ease her conscience. Although I have come to realize that no matter what happens or what people say, I need to be firm in my beliefs. My struggle will be rewarded inshallah, and inshallah I may be forgiven for striking out at my mother.

To the young converts out there still living with non-Muslim parents, keep strong, I will pray for you, you pray for me. With Allah (swt) we will be strong as stone.

Ash Hadu Allah, illa al in allah, wa ash hadu anna muhammadar rasoolah!

Allahu Akbar!

Yusuf Abdul Al-Hakim

November 15, 2010

What brought you to Islam?

 
Well, I had a very Catholic upbringing and I didn’t know anything about Islam apart from what you see in the news. So I had a very negative picture of it, even two or three years ago. Then I came to university and saw loads of girls wearing hijab and I wondered what that was for. Manchester was so cosmopolitan and I thought, this is what life’s supposed to be like, mixing with everyone else. I started talking to Muslim students and we became really good friends. Fast time had started and I asked what they were fasting for. They explained and I thought it was interesting and I respected that. I used to hang around with them in the library so we’d talk a lot and occasionally they’d bring up Islamic topics and I’d think, that’s a good way of thinking. Then I started thinking perhaps Islam isn’t negative and it’s just the way people are portraying it.

One girl, Rabia, was trying to make me see the positive side of Islam. To begin with, through ignorance, I was completely opposed to it, trying to prove that it was wrong and how it oppresses women. But I spoke to her a lot on MSN and she gave me a lot of literature. Also, Manchester does a lot of Islamic awareness days, when you can go and listen to lectures and they explain things to you.

At the same time, I had my other friends that I’d go to nightclubs with and drink with and then I was leading this double life – out with my friends in the night, enjoying the normal Western upbringing and then when I talked to my Muslim friends we’d be on another level.

I’ve always had religion in my life but I’ve struggled to get my head around the Holy Trinity – the idea of God being the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Then my friends explained the Islamic principle to me; the fact that none of the prophets are sons of God – God doesn’t have any sons. That made more sense to me and, from there, I started to explore it more and more. I was on the internet every day finding out the Islamic principle for this or that. I became almost obsessed with it. I just really needed to know. I was thinking about becoming Muslim but I also thought, what is my family going to think? What are my friends going to think? I can’t drink any more, I’ve got fast, I’ve got to pray 5 times a day, can I speak Arabic? All this was going through my head but the main concern was what my family would think.

One day I woke up and realised I was just kidding myself and I thought, I know what’s in my heart, just do it. So I went to my Muslim friends and said, “How do you actually become a Muslim and what do I say?” Then I said the shahada and it was done! Then we all went out for a meal to celebrate.

The Shahada is the Muslim declaration of belief in the oneness of God and acceptance of Muhammad as his prophet. The declaration reads: “La ilaha illa Allah, Muhammadu Rasul Allah” which is translated into “There is no god but God, Muhammad is the Messenger of God” in English. Non-Muslims wishing to convert to Islam do so by a public recitation of the creed.

When did you revert and how did your family take the news?

It was just after Christmas 2006 but it took me a while to tell my family. My father is a really strong Catholic so I was dreading telling him. I wasn’t so worried about telling my mother and my brother. I started hinting at home, saying things like, “I read this Islamic book the other day. It’s really interesting. Do you want to have a look?” Then my mum would read a page and say, “Oh that’s nice.” Gradually I started saying things like, “I fasted the other day because the other boys were fasting and I thought I’d try it.” But in the end I just had to say, “I’ve just got to tell you, mum, I think I’ll be Muslim.” She was really shocked and for the first few days wanted to know whether I’d been pressured into it. But, once she was happy that it was my own decision, she was okay. I told my brother and he was a bit concerned but he said, “Whatever you want to do in life I’ll stand by you. If you’re happy, I’m happy.” I thought that was a nice thing to say.

I only told my father officially a couple of months ago. Then I told him that Islam makes more sense to me and I gave him examples of things I found more sensible. I said that it’s a peaceful religion and tried to clear up his misconceptions. He said, “I don’t believe in this way of life but if you want to do it then it’s up to you.” It didn’t go too badly with him. He knew there was something going on but I don’t think he knew quite what, so I think that it came as a relief to him when I actually told him. He’s been fine though. Since I met Sumia [and got married], our parents have got on really well, Masha’Allah. (Sumia agrees.)

What about your wife Sumia?

Sumia: Blackburn is really divided and I ended up going to a predominantly Asian school. You’ve got whites in one area and Asians in another so they don’t tend to mix. There’s a lot of tension there, so I never thought I would marry a white person. After school, I went to college and then studied nursing at university. Afterwards, I went to the Middle East – to Oman – for three months to do nursing there. Straight after I came back from the Middle East, I was doing my dissertation and I came across a website through a Google search. I was finishing university and ready to settle down with somebody. I thought the website might be a good start so I put a profile on. That was the beginning of May last year. At first I thought it was all a bit weird. I thought, should I really be doing this? I didn’t tell anyone about it, not even my friends. I thought they’d think it was weird. But what can you lose? You might as well give it a trial and see how it goes. Then I became interested in Matt. His profile said that he was a revert and I found that interesting. Also, I lived in Blackburn and he lived in Manchester, and that wasn’t too far way.

Matthew: I read in her profile that she was a nurse and I thought, that’s good, a doctor and a nurse! She sounded like a nice girl – humble, down-to-earth. She said that, Insha’Allah, she’d be doing her Masters at Manchester University so I thought that was very convenient. Then I looked at the picture and I thought, she’s alright! I thought there was a good chance she wouldn’t reply because of the culture difference but Masha’Allah she replied and we started messaging back and fore. Our first messages were quite basic, then we sent each other loads of messages, trying to build up a picture of what this person was about. Then we spoke on MSN for a couple of weeks before speaking on the phone.

Sumia was asking about converting and why I did it. Basically, finding out how much of a Muslim I’d become. I’m the sort of personality where it’s all or nothing, so I became a Muslim 100%. I stopped drinking and going to nightclubs straightaway. Sumia was quite impressed with that. I just wanted to completely, unequivocally submit 100%.

I asked Sumia if she prayed, if she was practising, whether she’s had boyfriends in the past. I asked, “What sort of things do you like doing? What do you do with your friends?” I just wanted to see what she was like as a person. She’s a good Muslim, that’s the most important thing, but she is fun as well. Some people are very religious but they are afraid of doing anything. I don’t think that’s the will of God.

Was reverting to Islam and then marrying so soon hard?

Sumia: I really liked Matthew, and as a potential marriage partner, but I thought it would be a difficult journey because I didn’t think my family would be happy with it. But I didn’t want to give up. I never thought, “He’s not Asian, I’ll forget it”. I told my aunties first. I didn’t know how to approach my parents. My aunties were okay with it but concerned about what my parents would think. I think my auntie told my mum and my mum was okay, which was a bit shock for me. She said she didn’t care what other people thought but she was concerned about what my dad would say. Because there was no way I could tell my dad, my uncle told him. We were all completely amazed; he was completely calm about it, Masha’Allah.

Matthew: Sumia texted me on her way home saying, “what do you think?” I replied, “Masha’Allah” then she replied the same thing so I thought our meeting had gone pretty well. I phoned her that night and told her that I really liked her and that if she liked me it had to be enough to consider me for a husband. After that we spoke on the phone at least once a day for about an hour. We had another 3 or 4 meetings and then we were 100% certain that we wanted to marry so I asked her to marry me. I wanted to wait to make a formal proposal once the families were involved though. I didn’t want to overstep any cultural boundaries.

About a week after her mum found out, it was Sumia’s graduation. I insisted on going to see her graduate. I met her mum briefly at the ceremony and I met Sumia’s uncle. He’s the eldest brother and in charge of things really. He was a bit hostile at first but, once he was convinced that I reverted out of my own free will and not just for Sumia, he was okay.

Sumia’s mum is very traditional, very religious. She works at an Islamic school and knows a lot of reverts. I think that helped. She understood that it’s not fair to say that you can’t marry someone. She believes that modern-day Muslims allow you to choose your own partner. She’s a perfect mother – she just wanted you to be happy.

I had to delay meeting Sumia’s father for a few weeks as they had relatives visiting from Pakistan. They’re very traditional and he said he was happy to meet me but we’d have to wait because he didn’t want other people sticking their noses in. It could have made things awkward. So I met up with Sumia’s uncle a couple of times. Then her father and I went for a curry and we got on really well.

When I proposed formally, it was about three months after we’d met on the web. We went out for a meal at the Hilton Hotel in Manchester. I got her a ring (I’d asked her auntie to find out Sumia’s ring size) and got down on one knee, Western-style.

We’ve got the same sense of humour. We’re always laughing. Our work is similar so we’ve got a lot in common. It’s making our Iman and our Deen better by teaching each other. This is why Islam encourages you to get married at a young age, not just to avoid harem relationships but also to better yourself as a person. There are a lot of things I can’t do which I’m going to learn from Sumia.