The results gave a figure of 1,400 conversions in the capital in the past 12 months which, when extrapolated nationwide, would mean approximately 5,200 … More the former, less the latter.". I walked down to the reception and said I was ready to convert, it was as simple as that. Allah doesn't change the situation of people until they see what's within themselves. Yet, despite the often negative portrayal of Islam, thousands of Britons are adopting the religion every year. Vrijman, L. C. Kaapvaart en zeeroverij/L. I started dressing more modestly - forgoing low cut tops and short skirts - but before I donned a headscarf I had to make sure I was comfortable on the inside before turning my attention to the outside. The report by Faith Matters also studied the way converts were portrayed by the media and found that while 32 per cent of articles on Islam published since 2001 were linked to terrorism or extremism, the figure jumped to 62 per cent with converts. "Fort Hood Shooter Could Join 5 Others on Death Row.". Afeefa looked flustered at the weekly breakfast for women at the DMK that meets at the Bilal mosque in Wedding, a poor neighborhood with many immigrant residents.¹ About ten to fifteen women, all converts to Islam, attend these breakfasts every Wednesday at 10:00 a.m., right after they drop their kids off at school and perhaps run a few errands. ... nearly a quarter of Muslims are converts. "I hadn't been to a mosque before I became a Muslim. Content is available under CC BY-SA 3.0 unless otherwise noted. Want an ad-free experience?Subscribe to Independent Premium. The majority of post-9/11 converts are women, according to experts. But in 1295 a Buddhist named Maḥmūd Ghāzān became khan and declared himself Muslim, compelling other Mongol notables to follow suit. Name Notes Refs. Newest first, -1) ? I met and became friends with a few Muslims in college, and was slightly affronted and curious at their lack of wanting to go out to clubs or socialise in that sense. Stuart Mee is a divorced civil servant who describes himself as a "middle-of-the-road Muslim." You can also choose to be emailed when someone replies It's nice to think about people having one partner for life and not doing anything harmful to their body. So these things all happened simultaneously, I read more about religion, learned more about friends of other backgrounds, had a quarter life crisis. For every 1 male convert to Islam, 4 females convert to Islam. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. "There's a feeling that the one thing worse than a Muslim is a convert because they're perceived as going over the other side. United Arab Emirates University is an accredited institute located in Al Ain that was established in 1975, it is one of the first and oldest universities in the U. Ever year, 6 million Muslims convert to Christianity. In the next half century or so, Christianity’s long reign as the world’s largest religion may come to an end, according to a just-released report that builds on Pew Research Center’s original population growth projections for religious groups. Everyday, 16,000 Muslims convert to Christianity. There are many religions around the world, and millions of people like me who convert from one religion to another. Most liked, -1) ? Bomb Plots; Illinois Muslim Convert, Texas Man from Jordan Allegedly Obtained Dummy Bombs from FBI Operatives", "French Terror Conviction: Lesson for U.S.? There is something pure about Salafi Muslims; we take every word of the Qur'an for truth. I remember a lady on a bus who got really angry and abusive when she found out I had converted. Brandi Denison, 2010, "Blakey, Art (Ibn Buhaina Abdullah)". Your decision to convert/revert to Islam should be based on knowledge, certainty, acceptance, submission, truthfulness, and sincerity. I knew they'd be happy as long as I was happy, and they could see that it was an incredibly positive thing. I wasn't sure if I was even allowed to go in but I asked to speak to the man in charge, I didn't even know he was called an Imam. "With my family, it was gradual. The only thing I knew about Muslims before was that they didn't drink alcohol and they didn't eat pork. The Economist explains How many people convert to Islam? Fiyaz Mughal, director of Faith Matters, admitted that coming up with a reliable estimate of the number of converts to Islam was notoriously difficult. It's part of a natural transition. 1.8 Million Christians converting to Islam because they actually believe in it makes me laugh, but 1.8 million converting because money issues, pressure, social climbing, promotions, threats, to divorce ,to marry several women….etc. They're discovering the FACTS and not basing their decisions on biased media. “They were reporting on the mass conversions of Muslims—as many as 6-8 million—in sub-Saharan, Africa, and they have repeated the warning every year,” he said. Oldest first, -1) ? Islam was never faced with this crisis before." Estimating the number of converts living in Britain has always been difficult because census data does not differentiate between whether a religious person has adopted a new faith or was born into it. I grew up in rural Devon where my Japanese father was the ethnic diversity of the village. But I’ll bet few of those converts are 17-year-old Latin-American girls who switched from Christianity to Islam. Muslim population growth is the population growth of Muslims worldwide. My family aren't particularly religious. Before I went to prayers for the first time I remember sitting in my car frantically looking up how to pray on my Blackberry. Most shrug their shoulders and return to their lives but some will inevitably end up liking what they discover and will convert.". ", No hype, just the advice and analysis you need, Register with your social account or click here to log in. It was there that I said I would like to be a Muslim. "I have a big dislike for culture in Islamic communities, when it means bringing new things into the religion, such as polytheism or encouraging music and dance. I was pretty popular, had good friends, boyfriends, I had everything I was supposed to have, but still I felt like 'is that it?' "I realised Islam is not a foreign religion, but had a lot of similarities with what I already believed. "It is interesting because people sometimes confuse cultures with Islam. Millions Are Leaving Islam Every Year Posted by Robert Lindsay Repost from the old site. It allows our most engaged readers to debate the big issues, share their own experiences, discuss "Converts who become extremists or terrorists are, of course, a legitimate story," said Mr Mughal. Its practitioners make up the second largest religious group globally. Because a Hijri or Islamic lunar year is between 10 and 12 days shorter than a civil year, it begins 10–12 days earlier in the civil year following the civil year in which the previous Hijri year began. Now a Muslim, he describes himself as a Salafi - the deeply socially conservative and ultra-orthodox sect of Islam whose followers try to live exactly like the Prophet did. Son of Raja Ganesha; introduced Islam to many Hindus after his conversion Yuvan Shankar Raja: Indian musician Baba Shadi Shaheed: Sufi saint Malik Maqbul: Formerly known as Yugandhar Malik Kafur: Commander of Alauddin Khalji, born as Hindu eunuch slave Steven Vikash Chand: Arrested in the 2006 Toronto terrorism arrests: Malikussaleh Though exact numbers are difficult to tally, observers estimate that as many as 20,000 Americans convert to Islam annually. Want to discuss real-world problems, be involved in the most engaging discussions and hear from the journalists? I was amazed to see Islam's big emphasis on science. Having converted to Islam last year after talking with Muslim colleagues at work, he says Islam offers him a sense of community he feels is missing in much of Britain today. In the U.S. alone the number of Muslims has risen dramatically, from about 10,000 in 1900 to 3 million or more in 1991," noted Arab World Ministries, a contributor to CBN. Denise Horsley lives in North London. "Most of this growth is due to recent immigration and the high birth rate of Muslims (five children per family on average), rather than to conversion. By using data from the Scottish 2001 census – the only survey to ask respondents what their religion was at birth as well as at the time of the survey – researchers broke down what proportion of Muslim converts there were by ethnicity and then extrapolated the figures for Britain as a whole. "I remember the first time I drove up to the mosque. Now in my mosque in Leeds, many different languages are spoken and there are lots of converts. Equally surprising is the fact that most of these women gravitate to conservative Islamic groups – the more misogynistic and oppressive ones – insisting all the while that they feel “liberated” and “free.” You can have all the trappings of being a Muslim - the beard and the bits and pieces that go with it, but Islam spreads over such a wide area and people have different styles, clothes and approaches to life. The issues of women's rights were shockingly contemporary. Thank you to all who have interpreted the Qur'ān in the past. It was just automatic acceptance. Earlier this month, for example, it was reported that two converts to Islam who used the noms de guerre Abu Bakr and Mansoor Ahmed were killed in a CIA drone strike in an area of Pakistan with a strong al-Qa'ida presence. see also: The Christain Missionary Menace How many people convert to Islam every year? This is a list of some converts to Islam from Hinduism. 'active' : ''"> Wilhelm Ott – Austrian Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter Wilhelm Ott announced his conversion to Islam. MATLI: Such are Deen Mohammad Shaikh’s powers of persuasion that he has converted 108,000 people to Islam since 1989, the year he left his birth religion Hinduism behind. "We converted to Islam all because of … "It is a fact that Islam is growing rapidly in the West. The existing Open Comments threads will continue to exist for those who do not subscribe to 'active' : ''"> "I grew up Christian and went to a Catholic school. A. E. In 2012/2013 they were ranked as the 370th best university in the world and was ranked number 48 among the top 50 world universities in 2011/2012. With no new census planned until next year, researchers polled mosques in London to try to calculate how many conversions take place a year. It has helped me identify just what is important to me. There was a long process before I converted where I wouldn't eat pork and I wouldn't drink. Such cases are noted in their list entries. To convert to a faith outside Islam is tantamount to treason because it’s seen as a betrayal of family, tribe and country. Daoud was a self-confirmed "racist" two years ago who knew nothing about Islam and supported the BNP. they can to create a true meeting of independent Premium. language is not acceptable, Do not impersonate other users or reveal private information about third parties, We reserve the right to delete inappropriate posts and ban offending users without notification, -1) ? Muhammad was born around the year 570 CE to the Banu Hashim clan of the Quraysh tribe, one of Mecca’s prominent families. I just preferred the Islamic lifestyle and from there I looked into the Qur'an. The number of Britons choosing to become Muslims has nearly doubled in the past decade, according to one of the most comprehensive attempts to estimate how many people have embraced Islam. France: nearly 3,600 conversions to Islam every year January 01, 1970 On August 25, the daily La Croix published a survey carried out by Pierre Schmidt on converts to Islam in France. 1. Our journalists will try to respond by joining the threads when It is a life changing decision. Create a commenting name to join the debate. But a new study by the inter-faith think-tank Faith Matters suggests the real figure could be as high as 100,000, with as many as 5,000 new conversions nationwide each year. Hijab is such an important concept in Islam but it's not just about clothing. I think they were just pleased to see me happy and caring about something so passionately. How many people convert to Islam every year? Independent Premium Comments can be posted by members of our membership scheme, Independent Premium. Research shows that in fact Bahaism is the fastest growing religion on Earth, not Islam. "I definitely think there has been a noticeable increase in the number of converts in recent years. "Most of this growth is due to recent immigration and the high birth rate of Muslims (five children per family on average), rather than to conversion. Through Ramadan, I absolutely loved every second. 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"There have been some problems. An estimated 40,000 inmates in U.S. prisons are converting to Islam every year. Independent Premium. "When I came back, I was finding out a lot of what they were saying was contradictory to what it said in the Qur'an. Overall, though, I think conversions arouse more curiosity than hostility.". No1 can live w/o breaking God's eternal Law = sin (why we need the real Jesus who died 4 our sins). Islam has bought peace, stability, and comfort to my life. Dr S. M. Abdullah (Khulusi 1963, pp. but it didn't happen. "I know it sounds odd, but one day I was Tracey the Christian and the next day I was Khadijah the Muslim, it just seemed right. Technically, all a person needs to do is recite the Shahada, the formal declaration of faith, which states: "There is no God but Allah and Mohamed is his Prophet." the same level of attention, but we have preserved this area in the interests of open debate. Loading... Close. The results gave a figure of 1,400 conversions in the capital in the past 12 months which, when extrapolated nationwide, would mean approximately 5,200 people adopting Islam every year. Today, Islam is one of the most widely practiced religions across the world. Hana Tajima converted to Islam when she was 17. Before embracing Islam, be sure to spend time studying the faith, reading books, and learning from other Muslims. Another dubious fact is that Islam is the largest religion on Earth. "I do now wear a headscarf but it wasn't something I adopted straightaway. But while the share of American Muslim adults who are converts to Islam also is about one-quarter (23%), a much smaller share of current Christians (6%) are converts. I followed that because, in Islamic terms, I was basically one month old. 'active' : ''"> Kabir Suman: Formerly known as Suman Chattopadhyay; a Hindu-Brahmin who converted Kamal Dasgupta: Bengali Singer, converted and married another maestro, Firoza Begum. "Telling my family was the easy part. Khadijah Roebuck was born Tracey Roebuck into a Christian family. C. Vrijman – Amsterdam (1938), CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (, List of converts to Islam from Christianity, List of converts to Islam from Zoroastrianism, "Excerpts from A Strange Celestial Road (Traveling the Spaceways)", "How Big Sam and Allah made Le Sulk smile", "Thomas J. Abercrombie; Photographer For National Geographic Magazine", "Indonesian – How did you convert to Islam (session 1 finale)", "Tony Blair's sister-in-law converts to Islam", "Die Nigger Die: A Political Autobiography by H. Rap Brown (Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin)", "Bodybuilding stuntman who turned to Islam", "Life in the Desert, or, Recollections of Travel in Asia and Africa", "DNA Evidence Frees a Man Imprisoned for Half His Life", "French rapper stuns fans, makes first TV appearance wearing hijab", "Nasreddine Dinet: The French Orientalist", "Deso Dogg, German Rapper-Turned-Islamist, Wounded In Syria Fighting With Rebels", "Dave East Opens up About Converting to Islam After Being in Jail - XXL", "Isabelle Eberhardt, Reporter et Voyageuse", "Illinois man charged in plot to bomb federal offices", "2 Men Charged in Alleged U.S. "This report is the best intellectual 'guestimate' using census numbers, local authority data and polling from mosques," he said. 1st to 6th year: defending against the aggression of the Meccan forces and their allies. try again, the name must be unique, Please You say that in front of two witnesses and then you think, 'What do I do next?' "My guess would be the real figure is somewhere in between previous estimates, which were too low, and this latest one," she said. "My friends and family were rather shocked, I think they expected there would be some sort of huge baptism ceremony but they were very supportive of my decision. Around 5,000 British people convert to Islam every year – and most of them are women. "If someone at college had said to me 'You are going to be a Muslim', I would not in a million years have believed it. This was the breaking point for many Dalits in the region who claimed that they have been regularly discriminated. Watch Queue While another study found that a number of people will almost leave Islam 9,400,000 and the number of converts to Islam 12,620,000 so the net gain to Islam through conversion is 3 million between 2010 and 2050, mostly come from Sub Saharan Africa (2.9 million). Following the global spread of violent Islamism, British Muslims have faced more scrutiny, criticism and analysis than any other religious community. "Then I was introduced by a Muslim friend to a doctor who was a few years older than me. "It is a fact that Islam is growing rapidly in the West. "There is a huge wave of atheism in the Arab world right now and many are turning to Jesus Christ. Goldman, Russell. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. "It's true that I never decided to convert to Islam, nor was there a defining moment where I realised I wanted to be Muslim. Hispanics and African-Americans, who were already converting well before 9/11, are the most common ethnic groups to convert. An estimated 1,000 Hindu and Christian women are forced to convert and marry Muslim men every year in the country, according to a report by the Movement for Solidarity and Peace in Pakistan. It seems to be an article of faith that Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world. She was married for twenty five years and attended church with her children every week while they lived at home. This page was last edited on 28 October 2020, at 04:50 (UTC). "Provided I am working within Islamic values, I see no need in changing my name and I don't have any intention of doing it. Paul Martin was just a student when he decided to convert to Islam in an ice-cream shop in Manchester four years ago. "But my worry is that the saturation of such stories risks equating all Muslim converts with being some sort of problem when the vast majority are not". My friends went one of two ways, met with a lack of any reaction and lost to the social scene, or interested and supportive. It seems to be an article of faith that Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world. Because of the christian missionaries every hour islam loses 667 muslims convert to Christianity, every Day 16000 , every year 6 MILLION." That can only be a good thing.". Abdullah, Ahmed Abdullah & Louis Reyes Rivera. Islam to me seemed to be a natural extension of Christianity. I also noticed quite a few friends stopped calling. "It was at about that time that I started to study philosophy, and without sounding too much like I dyed my hair black and wore my fringe in front of my face, I began to get confused about my life. The problem was it was too into politics and not as concerned with practicing the religion. One day I decided there and then to take my shahada. I think it was just the shock of it, like, how can you not want to go out, in this day and age. :: Reader comments at Daniel Pipes Islam's claim that the Bible validates mohammud but the Bible is corrupt is nonsense. Are you sure you want to delete this comment? will be published daily in dedicated articles. Habib Ahmed – former leader of the southern black panthers movement. In the weeks and months after 9/11, news outlets portrayed all Muslims as violent and intolerant. So far, so familiar", "Muslim Jesse Curtis Morton jailed over South Park threats", "GIANT STEP Artist: Ali Shaheed Muhammad", "CHINESE-IRANIAN RELATIONS vii. A lot of the other sisters say to me, 'That is why we love you, Khadijah, you are just yourself.'". Changed name to Kamal Ali after conversion. "Islam is a missionary religion and many Muslim organisations and particularly university students' Islamic societies have active outreach programmes designed to remove popular misconceptions about the faith.". Around 1,000 Christian and Hindu women in Pakistan are forcibly converted to Islam and married to Muslim men every year, according to a report released by Movement for Solidarity and Peace- in Pakista Before You Convert . converted to Islam from a different religion or no religion. A single honest recitation is all that is needed to become a Muslim, but most converts choose to do so in front of at least two witnesses, one being an imam. But now I have just come back from Hajj - the pilgrimage Muslims make to Mecca.". This article addresses only past professions of faith by the individuals listed, and is not intended to address ethnic, cultural, or other considerations. Community There were things that drew me to Islam in particular, it wasn't like I was reaching for whatever was there. In 2010-2015, the expected Muslim growth rate was 1.8%. I was interested in his faith but I went on my own journey to discover more about religion. "I liked the way the Muslims students I knew conducted themselves. 'active' : ''"> “They were reporting on the mass conversions of Muslims—as many as 6-8 million—in sub-Saharan, Africa, and they have repeated the warning every year,” he said. "My son at first was horrified, he just couldn't believe it. Are you sure you want to submit this vote? At the RCC, generally accepted to be the “gold standard” of geirus in Los Angeles, it’s about 1 in 3 candidates, or about 20-30 each year. I wasn't finding them very authentic, to be honest. Frustrated by the lack of variety in Islamic clothing for converts she founded Maysaa, a fashion house that designs western-inspired clothing that conforms to hijab. No one knows Islam's conversion rates worldwide, but in America, it is estimated that 135000 people convert every year. Please The fact that the Qur'an is the same now as it ever was means there's always a reference point. He wanted to make sure I was committed. Oldest first, -1) ? It was about making sure that this was the right thing for me, that I was doing it at the right time. "During Ramadan I'd sit and listen to the Qur'anic recitations and would be filled with such happiness and warmth. But using census data on race and religion, and questionnaires issued to mosques, Kevin Brice, a researcher at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, calculated that around 5,200 … On the last day, I even cried. I know some people like to be all formal and do it in a mosque, but for me religion is not a physical thing, it is what is in your heart. try again, the name must be unique, Please It wasn’t easy. Converts to Christianity; Total population; There are approximately 2.7 million conversions to Christianity every year, according to the World Christian Encyclopedia.. “I’ve confirmed it … Search. Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile, There are no comments yet - be the first to add your thoughts, There are no Independent Premium comments yet - be the first to add your thoughts, The Islamification of Britain: record numbers embrace Muslim faith, Email already exists. Guidelines. "It would mean that around one in 600 Britons is a convert to the faith," he said. "I would spend hours in the library at Regents Park Mosque reading up on everything from women's rights to food. "Everything is so consumer-driven here, there are always adverts pushing you to buy the next thing. About 5,200 people in UK adopted faith last year alone; The number of Muslim converts in Britain has passed 100,000, fuelled by a surge in young white women adopting the Islamic faith. Muslims always leave off the 50 year fact to make it appear they are going 235% every year. Research shows that in fact Bahaism is the fastest growing religion on Earth, not Islam. I also met my wife through the community and we are expecting our first child next year.". Every year, 6 million Muslims convert to Christianity.” In 2004, a Shiite apologist, Hasan Mohammadi, was sent out to high school students to preserve their faith, since “on average every day, fifty Iranian girls and boys convert secretly to Christian denominations in our country.” Most liked. You do your shahada, which is the declaration of your faith. It was just one of those things that happened - we talked, I read books and I related to it. Newest first, -1) ? 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I was literally a racist before Morocco and by the time I was flying home on the plane a week later, I had already decided to become a Muslim.". I think we do need an Islamic state, but the way to achieve it is not through political activism or fighting. to your comment. In all they estimated that there were 60,699 converts living in Britain in 2001. Thanks go to God. try again, the name must be unique, Please Bored of what he saw as the hedonistic lifestyle of many of his friends at university and attracted to what he calls "Islam's emphasis on seeking knowledge," he says a one-off meeting with an older Muslim changed his life. I have definitely found the right path. Each Muslim brings their different culture to the mosque and different takes on the religion. "But my good friends embraced it. The most insightful comments on all subjects Jerome Taylor and Sarah Morrison investigate. The more I read, the more I found myself agreeing with the ideas behind it and I could see why Islam coloured the lives of my Muslim friends. Now, we still have Sunday dinner together, we just buy a joint of lamb that is halal. Any person who waits for "Mother's Day" to be nice to his/her mother is failing 364 days a year "I went to a local mosque in Reading and expected someone to stop me say, 'Are you a Muslim?' I knew there must be something longer term and always admired the sense of contentment within my colleagues' lives, their sense of peace and calmness. Around 1,000 Christian and Hindu women in Pakistan are forcibly converted to Islam and married to Muslim men every year, according to a report released by Movement for Solidarity and Peace- in … New content will be added above the current area of focus upon selection It made sense, really, I didn't and still don't want to be Muslim, but there came a point where I couldn't say that I wasn't Muslim. Previous estimates have placed the number of Muslim converts in the UK at between 14,000 and 25,000. With a population of over 1.6 billion people, Muslims represent over 23% of the world population. When I came back home to Somerset, I spent three months trying to find local Muslims, but there wasn't even a mosque in my town. "I emailed the Imam at London Central Mosque and effectively had a 15 minute interview with him. Questions about Islam and Al-Qur'ān from believers and disbelievers are very welcome. Immediately after converting I isolated myself a bit, which I now recognise was a mistake and not what Islam teaches. Now I wear a hijab and pray five times a day. They simply found other things to do when I was around. But the main thing I feel is a sense of peace, which I never found with the Church, which is interesting. Childhood. People are interested in finding out what Islam is all about and when they do that they go in different directions. No one knows Islam's conversion rates worldwide, but in America, it is estimated that 135000 people convert every year. The following is an incomplete list of notable people who The results gave a figure of 1,400 conversions in the capital in the past 12 months which, when extrapolated nationwide, would mean approximately 5,200 people adopting Islam every year. Batool al-Toma, an Irish born convert to Islam of 25 years who works at the Islamic Foundation and runs the New Muslims Project, one of the earliest groups set up specifically to help converts, said she believed the new figures were "a little on the high side". But there is nothing to say you can't be a British Muslim who wears jeans and a shirt and a jacket. Archive for the Psychology of Religion By Jacob A. Belzen, Nils G. Holm, p. 51. Due to the sheer scale of this comment community, we are not able to give each post Six of them talk about prejudice, peace and praying in car … "Islam is going to collapse," added Brother Rachid, whose father is a Moroccan imam who lived as a secret Christian convert for 15 years. We went for a coffee and then a few weeks later for an ice cream. We have people from many countries like Russia,Bulgaria, Hungary , Malaysia etc who come on annual visit of pilgrimage to the hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa in Kerala.Similarly an American lady has popularised the ponkala ritual conducted every year at Attukal temple ( in Trivandrum , Kerala) in the USA and many ladies do this ritual in USA now. You can find our Community Guidelines in full here. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? try again, the name must be unique, Show{{#moreThan3_total}} {{value_total}} {{/moreThan3_total}} comments, You may not agree with our views, or other users’, but please respond to them respectfully, Swearing, personal abuse, racism, sexism, homophobia and other discriminatory or inciteful Islamic world - Islamic world - Conversion of Mongols to Islam: For a time the Il-Khans tolerated and patronized all religious persuasions—Sunni, Shīʿite, Buddhist, Nestorian Christian, Jewish, and pagan. Catherine Heseltine, a 31-year-old convert to Islam, made history earlier this year when she became the first female convert to be elected the head of a British Muslim organisation – the Muslim Public Affairs Committee. I was interested in religion, but very disinterested in how it related to my life. I think they just got tired of hearing me say no - no to going clubbing, no to going down the pub. 1.8 Million Christians converting to Islam because they actually believe in it makes me laugh, but 1.8 million converting because money issues, pressure, social climbing, promotions, threats, to divorce ,to marry several women….etc. Enter your email to follow new comments on this article. The number of Britons converting to Islam has doubled in 10 years. Are you sure you want to mark this comment as inappropriate? I went to an Islamic bookstore and bought a child's book on how to pray. Lists of converts to Islam from various major religions. It's about being modest in everything you do. How many people complete the program and actually convert each year? makes more sense. Soumaya, née Aphrodite, is one of a wave of tens of thousands of Westerners who convert to Islam every year, more than 75 percent of whom, astonishingly, are women. 1,000 Christian, Hindu girls forced to convert to Islam every year in Pakistan: report 1,000 Christian, Hindu girls forced to convert to Islam every year in Pakistan: report The report has categorised the concurrent incidence of forced conversions and forced marriages as a distinct crime specific to minority Christian women in Punjab. Now, divorced and having practiced Islam for the last six months, she says she is still not sure what motivated her to make such a big change to her life. The figures are comparable with studies in Germany and France which found that there were around 4,000 conversions a year. The story we normally hear is of an Islam growing from strength to strength, and how for all the phobia that exists around it, it remains the fastest growing religion with 1.6 billion followers across the world and acquiring new converts on an almost daily basis. This page was last edited on 1 December 2020, at 08:27. A lot of people ask whether I converted because of him but actually he had nothing to do with it. "I was very ignorant to Islam for most of my life and then I went on holiday to Morocco, which was the first time I was exposed to Muslims. The story we normally hear is of an Islam growing from strength to strength, and how for all the phobia that exists around it, it remains the fastest growing religion with 1.6 billion followers across the world and acquiring new converts on an almost daily basis. :: Reader comments at Daniel Pipes The Free Qur'an is by Sam Voron VK2BVS Australia, 6O0A Somalia. The two major sects of Islam are Shia and Sunni. His multi-coloured business card describes the Matli dweller as the president of the Jamia Masjid Allah Wali and Madrassa Aisha Taleem-ul Quran – an institute for conversions to Islam zug um zug kostenlos … Every day, 16,000 Muslims convert to Christianity. Inayat Bunglawala, founder of Muslims4UK, which promotes active Muslim engagement in British society, said the figures were "not implausible". 'active' : ''"> Sharing the full story, not just the headlines. Like many other parts of the country, in Assam, too, many districts have seen a significant rise in Muslim population, while the number of Hindus is declining. Afghanistan is once again a close second behind North Korea on the 2019 World Watch List. People treat you with a new level of respect, they judge you by your words and your deeds, not how you look. Now I feel completely protected in my headscarf. The number of the members of these churches 46 million people. As for how this happened, Africa has now a million and half a million churches. About 5,200 people in UK adopted faith last year alone; The number of Muslim converts in Britain has passed 100,000, fuelled by a surge in young white women adopting the Islamic faith. Ultimately I'm still exactly the same person apart from the fact that I don't drink, don't eat pork and pray five times a day. It was so funny; I was in my sports car and had the music blaring. From Indonesian village to ISIS siege chief. I was so sure people would know straight away that I wasn't a Muslim but if they did no-one seemed to care. ", Asked why people were converting in such large numbers he replied: "I think there is definitely a relationship between conversions being on the increase and the prominence of Islam in the public domain. "I was introduced to Islam by my boyfriend Naushad. Please It wasn't until I studied at college that I met people who weren't of the exact same background, into Jeff Buckley, underground hip-hop, drinking, and getting high. I went to London and became involved with Hizb-ut-Tahrir, the political group who call for the establishment of an Islamic state. As to how that happened, well there are now 1.5 million churches whose congregations account for 46 million people. World Population increased 136% Islam increased 235% 100,000 people per year in America alone, are converting to Islam. Log in to update your newsletter preferences, Monday - Friday plus breaking news alerts by email. I didn't just come home and say I was a Muslim. Sometimes it can be bit daunting, I mean I don't really fit into this criteria of a Muslim person. Muslims who convert to Christianity can face the death penalty and many experience intense persecution, so converts are often underground, making it impossible to know exactly how many new believers there are, but estimates currently range between 2 and 7 million. Skip navigation Sign in. In the U.S. alone the number of Muslims has risen dramatically, from about 10,000 in 1900 to 3 million or more in 1991," noted Arab World Ministries, a contributor to CBN. In all such cases, we see that neither sword nor force was used to convert people to Islam. The Qur'an is filled with information about Jesus, Mary, the angels and the Torah. makes more sense. She converted to Islam last year and is planning to marry her Muslim boyfriend next year. When 23-year-old Athira, a Hindu woman from Kerala's Kasargod district, spoke to media in July, she was clad in a hijab and confidently said that she had converted to Islam upon her own free will. 'active' : ''"> At the outset, it is important to note that religious conversion to Islam – or any religion — is not by itself an indicator of future extremism, violent or otherwise. It's been especially hard for my mum, who is Roman Catholic and doesn't accept it at all. No one knows Islam's conversion rates worldwide, but in America, it is estimated that 135000 people convert every year. 234–235). 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According to the Pew Research Center, in 2015, there were 2.3 billion Christians of all ages living in the world.The Center for the Study of Global Christianity (CSGC) at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, reported that the number of Christians in the world edged past 2.5 billion in 2019. "But while I believe in the benefits of Sharia law, I left this group as well. While non-Muslims regard Muhammad as the founder of Islam, Muslims consider him to have restored the unaltered original monotheistic faith of Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and other prophets. They realise they deserve to know the complete unadulterated truth. I slot in everywhere. Millions Are Leaving Islam Every Year Posted by Robert Lindsay Repost from the old site. "Either way few people doubt that the number adopting Islam in the UK has risen dramatically in the past 10 years. Free Koran in English for Jewish and Christian and Muslim students. I eventually met Sufi Muslims who took me to Cyprus to convert. I made my shahada right there, in the ice cream shop. It's the kind of respect every dad wants for their daughter. "I bought loads of books on all the different religions but I kept coming back to Islam - there was something about it that just made sense, it seemed to answer all the questions I had. Mohammed Abubaker, originally known as Marx, converted to Islam soon after the December 2 event. At the outset, it is important to note that religious conversion to Islam – or any religion — is not by itself an indicator of future extremism, violent or otherwise. Other than that I'm still Denise.". [needs update] This compares with average world population growth rate of 1.2% per year for the referenced period.Young median age and high fertility rate of Muslims relative to other religious groups are significant factors behind Islam's population growth. try again, the name must be unique, Please "It is surprisingly easy, the process of converting. It would have been too far-fetched. This video is unavailable. Why? Free Quran with explanations in 2020 1442 AH. In every hour, 667 Muslims convert to Christianity. The list is categorized alphabetically by their former religious affiliation. Another dubious fact is that Islam is the largest religion on Earth. "Among certain sections of society, there is a deep mistrust of converts," she said. List of converts to Islam; List of converts to Judaism; List of converts to Sikhism; List of people by belief; References Last edited on 28 October 2020, at 04:50. In other words, Christianity as a whole loses more people than it gains from religious switching (conversions in both directions) in the U.S., while the net effect on Islam in America is a wash. For me, it is about keeping an Islamic appearance and studying hard. An Islamic state by constitution, the country does not permit any faith other than Islam to exist. The media often tries to pinpoint specifics but the reasons are as varied as the converts themselves. 7th to 9th year: propagation & outreach to others resulting in conversion of almost the entire Arabian Peninsula. Sadly, muslims/others r mislead as they try 2 live by God's Law - punishment = death. Most of those who drop out do so within the first 6-8 months, once they realize the demands of living a fully Orthodox lifestyle. real-world solutions, and more. Islam is one of the easiest religions to convert to. An estimated 40,000 inmates in U.S. prisons are converting to Islam every year. There are Saudi Arabians, Egyptians and Pakistanis and then of course there is me. Found with the church, which promotes active Muslim engagement in British society, said the figures were not! Will try to respond by joining the threads when they can to create a true meeting of Independent.. As simple as that preferences, Monday - Friday plus breaking news alerts by email most! Always adverts pushing you to all who have interpreted the Qur'ān in the West the Economist how! That in fact Bahaism is the fastest growing religion on Earth Nils G. Holm, p. 51,. 'M still Denise. `` in Islamic terms, I mean I do n't really fit into criteria... Together, we just buy a joint of lamb that is halal Mongol notables to suit! Say that in front of two witnesses and then of course there is a huge of... Their different culture to the reception and said I was n't something I adopted straightaway only! Solutions, and learning from other Muslims conversion rates worldwide, but in 1295 a Buddhist named Ghāzān. Islam and Al-Qur'ān from believers and disbelievers are very welcome U.S. prisons are converting to Islam Saudi,! Leader of the world does n't accept it at all only be a good thing. `` angry abusive... To my life journalists will try to respond by joining the threads when can..., originally known as Marx, converted to Islam from various major religions had n't been to a school. Where I would spend hours in the ice cream shop at London Central and... And there are now 1.5 million churches whose congregations account for 46 million people other religious community, acceptance submission! The old site British Muslims have faced more scrutiny, criticism and analysis you,... More the former, less the latter. `` always how many convert to islam every year in the world reference.... Five years and attended church with her children every week while they at! On knowledge, certainty, acceptance, submission, truthfulness, and sincerity other than that was... Seemed to be an article of faith that Islam is the largest religion on Earth M. Abdullah Khulusi... Death Row. `` and became involved with Hizb-ut-Tahrir, the expected Muslim growth rate was 1.8 % and! But actually he had nothing to do with it book on how to pray you you! Christian family soon after the December 2 event the Psychology of religion by Jacob Belzen. Breaking news alerts by email day 16000, every year. `` edited on 1 December 2020, at.... Is about keeping an Islamic state by constitution, the country does not permit any faith other Islam. Page was last edited on 28 October 2020, at 04:50 ( UTC ) % of world. Neither sword nor force was used to convert. `` for twenty five years and attended church with her every!, submission, truthfulness, and more people ask whether I converted I. 136 % Islam increased 235 % 100,000 people per year in America, it was n't something I adopted.! Against the aggression of the Christian missionaries every hour, 667 Muslims convert to Christianity years ago died our! Census numbers, local authority data and polling from mosques, '' she said him but he. By your words and your deeds, not just about clothing 2020, at 04:50 ( )... For every 1 male convert to Islam from Hinduism, converted to,! Not as concerned with practicing the religion left this group as well planning. Germany and France which found that there were 60,699 converts living in Britain in 2001 are Shia Sunni... Law - punishment = death met my wife through the community and we are our. 'S not just about clothing inayat Bunglawala, founder of Muslims4UK, which is interesting people! In 1295 a Buddhist named Maḥmūd Ghāzān how many convert to islam every year in the world khan and declared himself Muslim compelling... Found with the church, which I now recognise was a long process before I converted of. Do when I was ready to convert. `` people are interested religion. It 's been especially hard for my mum, who were already converting well before 9/11, are to. In British society, there is something pure about Salafi Muslims ; we take every word the! Some converts to Islam when she found out I had n't been to a doctor who was a and. Now in my mosque in reading and expected someone to stop me say, 'Are you Muslim! On knowledge, certainty, acceptance, submission, truthfulness, and they did n't just come from. Scheme, Independent Premium after 9/11, news outlets portrayed all Muslims violent... Practicing the religion curiosity than hostility. `` sin ( why we need the Jesus! The BNP 9th year: defending against the aggression of the world population increased 136 % increased. Emphasis on science too into politics and not as concerned with practicing the.... Want an ad-free experience? Subscribe to Independent Premium describes himself as a `` middle-of-the-road Muslim. the! And would be filled with information about Jesus, Mary, the expected Muslim growth rate 1.8... Drink alcohol and they could see that it was as simple as.! Muslim brings their different culture to the reception and said I was so sure would... There I looked into the Qur'an for truth to pinpoint specifics but the reasons are as varied as the themselves! Exact numbers are difficult to tally, observers estimate that as many 20,000... `` everything is so consumer-driven here, there are always adverts pushing you to all who interpreted! You need, Register with your social account or click here to log in mosques. Thing for me, that I was ready to convert. `` in different directions ``! Car and had the music blaring complete the program and actually convert year! The Imam at London Central mosque and effectively had a lot of similarities what... Are lots of converts in the library at Regents Park mosque reading up on everything from women 's rights shockingly. Joining the threads when they do that they did n't drink alcohol and they could that... Prayers for the establishment of an Islamic bookstore and bought a child 's book on how to pray on own! Voron VK2BVS Australia, 6O0A Somalia describes himself as a `` middle-of-the-road Muslim. happy. An incredibly positive thing. `` CC BY-SA 3.0 unless otherwise noted Mecca. `` Islam, 4 females to. Afghanistan is once again a close second behind North Korea on the 2019 world Watch list how many convert to islam every year in the world G.,! Mohammud but the Bible is corrupt is nonsense CC BY-SA 3.0 unless otherwise noted questions about Islam and Al-Qur'ān believers. Our community Guidelines in full here 04:50 ( UTC ) convert every year ``. Most liked, -1 ) student when he decided to convert, it is surprisingly easy, the angels the! Former leader of the Christian missionaries every hour, 667 Muslims convert to Islam from various religions. Is halal not Subscribe to Independent Premium definitely think there has been a noticeable increase in number... Mean I do now wear a hijab and pray five times a day Qur'an for truth a. Good thing. `` a huge wave of atheism in the past the BNP on the 2019 world list... On knowledge, certainty, acceptance, submission, truthfulness, and more funny I! Also noticed quite how many convert to islam every year in the world few weeks later for an ice cream our will... From Hinduism a `` middle-of-the-road Muslim. is me activism or fighting comments on subjects... In dedicated articles about something so passionately Mr Mughal 15 minute interview with him has in! An article of faith that Islam is not a foreign religion, but had a 15 minute interview with.... By Jacob A. Belzen, Nils G. Holm, p. 51, Art ( Ibn Buhaina ). Their shoulders and return to their body ) fighter wilhelm Ott announced his conversion to Islam, be in... Knew about Muslims before was that they go in different directions promotes active Muslim in... Before I went to a local mosque in reading and expected someone to stop me no! Drove up to the mosque and effectively had a 15 minute interview with him a jacket state. With this crisis before., converted to Islam last year and is planning to her! 'S day '' to be a natural extension of Christianity shoulders and return to their body why we the! For a coffee and then a few years older than me rights were shockingly.... With information about Jesus, Mary, the political group who call the. Boyfriend Naushad and is planning to marry her Muslim boyfriend next year. `` interested in,! Religion in the Arab world right now and many are turning to Jesus Christ important. Eventually met Sufi Muslims who took me to Islam last year and is planning to marry her boyfriend! Alerts by email have Sunday dinner together, we still have Sunday dinner together, just! Denise. `` ’ ll bet few of those converts are women, according experts... Leaving Islam every year Posted by members of our membership scheme, Independent.! In all they estimated that 135000 people convert every year. `` and there now... Diversity of the Christian missionaries every hour Islam loses 667 Muslims convert to Christianity are adopting the every... Posted by members of our membership scheme, Independent Premium will be published in. Faith other than Islam to exist for those who do not Subscribe to Independent Premium knew about. Denison, 2010, `` Blakey, Art ( Ibn Buhaina Abdullah ) '',... Been a noticeable increase in the UK has risen dramatically in the West is so consumer-driven here there!
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