Her conversion from Ibiza party girl
to hijab-wearing Muslim in barely three months may well raise a few
eyebrows – and she admits that her friends probably think it’s another
one of her fads.
But trainee
teacher Heather Matthews, 27, says Islam has brought her ‘love and
happiness’ that she never found in her old ‘shallow’ lifestyle.
Mrs
Matthews, a mother of two, converted to the faith four weeks ago – two
months after returning from a holiday in Ibiza. And she says that the
photographs of the ‘old her’ taken on that trip show all that is wrong
with Western images of beauty.
New faith: Heather Matthews, with daughters Ellah, 5, and Halle, 2, converted to Islam four weeks ago
‘It is about self-respect. If you dress and act in a certain way, rightly or wrongly, you’ll be treated in a certain way.
‘Islam has taught me about real love, not false passion and lust. I can even see the logic in arranged marriage.’
A study by multi-faith group
Faith Matters found the number of Muslim converts in Britain has now
passed 100,000, doubling in ten years.
The report estimated nearly two-thirds of the new converts were women, with an average age of 27 – like Mrs Matthews.
Her
path to conversion began when she tried to convince her ex-husband
Jerrome, himself a Muslim convert, that the religion was wrong. She was
‘very suspicious’ of the faith, and began reading up on it to support
her arguments.
Although
they separated last year, she continued to learn about Islam – and
identified with it more and more. Then, four weeks ago, she completed
the ‘revert’ process. She said: ‘I underwent the ‘Shahadah’ ceremony of
conversion to Islam by repeating a declaration of faith in front of the
Imam at my local multi-faith centre.
‘I had several Muslim sisters with me and they bought me a hijab and Islamic books to celebrate. It was wonderful.’
Before Islam: This picture of Heather was taken
earlier this year on the party island of Ibiza, which she now says shows
everything that is wrong about Western beauty
But she admits that her friends
have been shocked at her conversion to a religion which is often seen as
being oppressive towards women.
‘People
are probably thinking “Oh, it is just another one of Heather’s fads”.
It isn’t. It is what I’ve been searching for during the times I’ve been
filling my life with instant gratification,’ she said.
Mrs
Matthews, from Preston, has also had a cautious reaction from her
family. But it is the response from passers-by that surprised her the
most – especially the effect of her headscarf.
‘No
men try to chat me up. It is an idiot repellent. When I’m wearing the
headscarf I can smile at people without them thinking it is a sexual
advance,’ she said.
‘I
definitely agree with Islam’s principles of not having sex with someone
you’re not married to and to save your beauty for your husband. So I
think my next partner would need to be a practising Muslim to
understand.
‘It is easy for
me to say this now, with hindsight, having made the mistakes, but I
think I would have been better off with partners who my parents thought
were suitable, learning to love them through friendship first.’ Mrs
Matthews has given up alcohol, sticks to a halal diet and plans to fast
during Ramadan. She has an English-language Koran which she reads daily,
and wants to learn Arabic so that she can recite prayers five times a
day. But she will not be forcing Islam on to her daughters – Ellah, five, and two-year-old Halle – from her marriage to Jerrome. ‘People
think I must be oppressed but I’m a strong, confident and free woman,’
she said. ‘I know I’m one of the most unlikely people to revert to
Islam. ‘It astounds me. But I’ve done it for love and happiness and it has completely changed my life.’
(source: mailonline)
Dr. Maurice Bucaille is a surgeon by profession. He is also a renowned scholar. In order to be
able to read Quran in its original text and to study its meaning and purport
through direct access to its early and modern commentaries, he devoted himself
to the learning of Arabic language at the ripe age of fifty. Thereafter, he
made a beginning by trying to reconcile proven scientific truths with religious
axioms. As a result of these studies, he wrote his famous book "QURAN,
BIBLE AND SCIENCE" in 1976, which caused a furor in high academic circles
- particularly in the Christian world.
After a deeper
study of Islam and the Quran, he has authored another book titled, "THE
ORIGIN OF MAN". It comprised Quranic explanations of some of the queries
raised much earlier than the period when those queries were logically and
satisfactorily resolved by scientific experimentation, to be fully in conformity
with the explanations provided by Quran about 1500 years before. The Church
acknowledged and accepted these researches of Dr. Bucaille to be a valuable
contribution to human knowledge and the author became famous all over the
world, like Cambridge, and Oxford Universities in U.K. & Yale and Harvard
in USA. He was invited to give Extension Lectures in their academic institutions.
By dint of his Quranic thought, and by virtue of his unprejudiced and realistic
approach to Quranic thought, and by virtue of his unprejudiced and realistic
discussion and research work, Dr. Bucaille has converted a number of high
ranking scholars to agree with him and to subscribe to his view that the
Quran is a Divine Book, not authored by any human being and actually a Book
of Revelations from Almighty God to His Last Prophet, Mohammed, Peace Be
Upon Him.
M. Bucaille is
of the view that his findings in this behalf are a cause of consternation
and chagrin to Western scholars because of their earlier exposure to false
and fictitious propaganda against Islam and its Prophet (S.A.W.), by the
Christian clergy and by biased Western writers and authors. This misguided
class of people could not believe that Quran was the only Scripture which
had remained sacrosanct and free from all additions, alterations and interpolations
and consequently it still retained the purity to guide mankind in all ages,
places and in every conceivable crisis.
For over 1400
years it has been the only treasure house of ecclesiastical and cosmic knowledge
about the universe and life itself. Mankind has not yet to progress and proceed
to a stage where it can fully be au fait with all the pearls and gems of
wisdom and truth, garnered in its bosom by this miracle of literacy, excellence
and academic purity which could not be matched even in one small sentence
by the literary giants of yore, in spite of an open challenge to this effect.
Q: What urged you so forcefully to undertake a study of the Quran and other scriptures, and why?
A: Like
all other Frenchmen, I was also initially of the view that Islam was a religion
conceived and introduced by a genius and a remarkable man of great intellect,
known by the name of Mohammed (S.A.W.). Fifty years ago, by the Grace of
God, I became professionally qualified to practice as a surgeon, and used
to discuss and compare (views on) Islam and Christianity with my patients
who came to consult me (and with my co-professionals). I was told by some
of them that my knowledge of Islam and about its discipline was to a great
extent misconceived and mistaken. In the beginning I was inclined to doubt
them, but now and then some people produced actual and original Quranic Verses
in contradiction of my references, and I was compelled to revise my conclusions.
And, as a result of this revision and review, I felt that they were right
and I was wrong.
I found that those
who had been my teachers had a wrong approach to the problem and had imparted
incorrect information to me. My knowledge of Islam, until then, had been
restricted to Radio and T.V. reviews, articles published in various magazines
and reproduced in biased treatise books. But I was perplexed; what should
I do? How should I amend my position and rectify my understanding?
Q: When did this happen?
A: After
the 8th Vatican Conference but before the birth of a tolerant attitude on
the part of European scholars gravitating to unbiased thought, i.e. before
1926, when the cleavage between Muslims and Christian scholars was at its
zenith and there was no prospect of a direct dialogue between them.
Q: How did you react to this situation?
A: There
was only one road open to me then, that of learning Arabic language so that
I could study the Holy Book, Quran, in its original form and try to get at
its meaning directly. I devoted the next two years to this task when I had
acquired enough knowledge of Arabic (in language and literature) to be able
to make a dependable study of the Quran faithfully as well as academically.
Q: And how did this benefit you?
A: I knew
then that the Quran was the "Work of Allah" and had not been authored
by any human being. I was also convinced that Mohammed (S.A.W.) was a true
Prophet of God.
Q: The world is now celebrating the first centenary of Darwin, do you subscribe to Darwinian theory or disagree with it?
A: No Sir,
I oppose it vehemently. Darwin's theory is totally based on a misconception
and is not at all the outcome of such a scientific research as could prove
that there exists the slightest relation between man and the theory of evolution
of species as propounded by him. In fact his views are nothing but the misguided
and misconceived calculations of a purely materialistic mind. My latest book
(Origin of Man) contains a comprehensive "Rebuttal Article" on
Darwin and his views.
Q: Are you of the opinion that Darwin was aware of his error?
A: Yes,
I think he knew the error he committed. The scholars, who are fond of materialism,
have propounded innumerable theories, mostly incorrect, and the fun of it
is that they are aware of their fallacies. However, being materialist, they
stick to their wrong attitude. In my book I have criticized some of these
scholars, several of whom are Nobel Prize winners.
Q: Do you think your writings have had direct repercussion on people outside France?
A: Yes,
Recently, only a few days ago, I visited Northern and Western African countries,
where I was repeatedly called upon to address innumerable gatherings of educated
persons including scholars, on the Origin of Man and about my first book:
the Quran, Bible and Science. I was closely cross- examined about my views
by some of the most qualified, even hostile, elements. Following this, countless
students and scholars contacted and congratulated me. They declared that
after listening to me, they had, for the first time, been able to feel convinced
of the truth of the Quranic statements about the creation of universe and
origin of man. Some of them frankly admitted that my writings and lectures
had restored in them a firm certainty of belief and faith and converted them
into True Muslims, who actually felt solace and pleasure now in saying their "prayers".
They declared that the element of doubt and dilly-dalliance in faith was
entirely due to the misconceived theories of some of these so-called Western
scholars whose theories had been adopted as gospel truth.
Q: What is the verdict of Science on Man; and why this conflict between Science and Religion on this score?
A: In
my book, "Origin of Man", I have endeavored to explain what is
dubious and what is proved according to scientific findings. I have also
dealt with the theories formerly supported by scholars, but now their very
basis is being demolished and proved to be without sound scientific footing.
In 1851, Darwin published his first book, "Origin of Species".
In it he has pointed out that "All animals can procreate amongst themselves",
but he did not take the trouble to demonstrate and prove scientifically his
view that the "Genealogy of Man" extends up to monkey.
Q: Then who is responsible for propounding this frivolous theory?
A: The
fact is that some other people metamorphosing and without statements digesting
his theories, assigned wrong statements to Darwin, which comprised the assumption
that "Man has evolved from apes". Nevertheless, it is also true
that Darwin did not care to contradict such false notions assigned to him
as it was in this connection and on this topic that confrontation occurred
between the supporters of Darwin and the Clergy, where both the parties roundly
abused and maligned each other. That is why it is now essential that a line
of demarcation should always be drawn between the results of scientific investigations
and arbitrary views of scholars like Darwin.
Q: By such scientific discourses, debates and discussions even Scriptures, are exposed to scientific test resulting in exposing their errors and pin-pointing their weaknesses. As such, may we inquire if you have some across any such anomalies in the Quran, i.e. where its expositions and explanations are in contrast to scientific findings?
A: The
Scriptures of non-Muslims have been copied and passed on from generation
to generation and through different personalities. The oldest document of
this nature is "Jehovah", which was written some time during 9th
Century A.D. This book, although not voluminous, is still the most comprehensive
document of its kind. The second book (Sacrodotal), although generally treated
as Preface to the Bible, came to light in 600 B.C. It deals with the creation
of universe and the appearance of Man on earth and the stories narrating
the events following it. The Bible comes thereafter, but the books of the "New
Testament" do not throw much light on the problem of Man. They repeat
the statements of the Old Testament as adopted by St. Luke. Quran made its
appearance six hundred years after Jesus and furnished valuable material
on Man and his creation which was (and still is) totally lacking in the Old
as well as the New Testaments and other Scriptures. What is more important
is this context is that unlike the Bible's Old and New Testaments, Quran
is completely free from errors and interpolations.
Q: In your opinion, what are the main causes of such plentiful errors in other Scriptures?
A: The
compilers of the Holy Scriptures, in their vanity, presumed to have compiled
them on the basis of heavenly revelations. But all their efforts were the
echoes of their period resounding the thoughts prevalent in that particular
environment. They presented the conception of Man and the phenomenon of his
creation as if enunciated by God Himself, though it merely reflected the
traditions the rite and the perceptions well known and prevalent at that
time. This fact is admitted unanimously by all the exegetes of the Bible,
be they Roman Catholics or Protestants.
Q: Does the church also admit this fact and subscribe to this view?
A: Yes Sir. The
church did accept this truth which was incorporated in the proceedings on
the occasion of the second Vatican conference, which was held to declare
the "Revolutionary Nature of Old and New Testaments". They admitted
that some parts of these Bibles are defective and contradictory in purport.
Q: What are your views about the Quran in this behalf?
A: Now this is a
matter of entirely a different nature. All scholars of the Quran are unanimous
that the Quran is the "Word of God" as revealed to His Last Prophet
Mohammed (S.A.W.) through Gabriel (The Angel of Revelation). I have studied the Book
(Quran) very carefully and have not come across one single instance of scientific
fallacy any where in it. On the contrary, I have felt that the (higher) truths
and realities inherent in Quranic Text have been, throughout the history
of 1400 years, beyond the comprehension of ordinary human beings which in
itself, is positive proof that the Quran is the Word of God and it is (at
places) beyond intellectual potential of mortal man; be he an excellent scholar
or philosopher of the highest caliber, who is not always able to explain
the inherent realities of nature as revealed in the Quran. What obviously
conflicts with scientific truth is the assumption of the Bible that although
life erupted in the form of various species, which have endured, there has
been no evolution or improvement in their functions. On the other hand according
to the Quran, Man has transgressed through gigantic changes in the course
of the entire history of humanity. I felt it very necessary to inform the
Christians of the world of this very serious discrepancy in the Bible. As
it happen to be impartial, truthful and very outspoken in my studies, I have
been repeatedly called upon from time to time to express my views regarding
these matters before distinguished gatherings. On all such occasions, I have
always dealt with the subject from the scientific point of view, ignoring
the ecclesiastic or theological context. Whatever has appeared to be dubious
or fit for further investigation, I have tried to put it on the touchstone
of criticism and have not allowed to pass it unchallenged.
Q: Have you embraced Islam?
A: I wanted to make
it quite clear in the very beginning that even before I learnt the first
letter of Bismillah, I was convinced that God was unique and all- powerful
and when God guided me to undertake a study of the Quran, my inner soul cried
out that Al- Quran was the Word of God revealed to his Last Prophet Mohammed
(S.A.W.).
In my book "Quran,
Bible and Science," I have mentioned these facts and the book has met
with instant success in the entire Christian world. In this book I have devoted
myself to discuss all problems from purely academic angle, rather than that
of faith or belief which would have revealed only my personal convictions.
This was because I desired to be treated by the world as an academician rather
than a theologian. About my faith and belief, God knows what is in one's
heart. I am convinced that if I identify myself with any creed, people will
invariably dub me as one belonging to such and such group and feel that whatever
I say or do, I do so from only the angle of such and such creed group. I
know my fellow beings very well and understand their mentality only too well.
I wanted to assure them that all my pronouncements are based on scientific
knowledge and not on any religious dogmas.
Q: This is O.K., but since you have referred to God's complete awareness with what is in one's heart, may we ask what is your opinion about human heart?
A: Heart is not
an apparent and perceptible organ of the body. It is the abode of faith and
source of eternal light.
Q: What are your views on Islamic mission and its future in the west?
A: The best method
is to approach the people through in their own language. I am using the world
language in its broadest sense, i.e. comprehensive of all the factors which
go to make any language complete and expressive of peoples' views and beliefs.
The principles and the regulations towards which you are inviting their attention,
should be presented in the style with which you are familiar and which is
popular among them. In my book "Quran Bible and Science", I have
adopted a new style to acquaint the readers with Quranic truths and to understand
the intrinsic value of al-Quran. This unprejudiced and impartial viewpoint
of mine gave an impetus to the wide circulation in my books. Firstly, I tried
to find out the central point of attention of the Christians and the style
that appeals to their common sense. Thereafter I achieved this success. After
the publication of these books I received a number of letters from great
academicians and research scholars as well as commoners in which they expressed
their interest in my study of Al-Quran and appreciated it. They felt satisfied
with my views about the Bible and confirmed the fallacies pointed out by
me. I once entertained some Christians at home, in which they expressed their
astonishment over the literature I produced regarding Islam and inquired
the names of exegesis to acquire correct information about it.
Q: What are your activities now?
A: We are now trying
to produce a film on "Science, the Quran and the Origin of Man" as
a matter of fact I have deep friendly relations with Malaysia. The provincial
branch of "Dawa-Islamia" has passed a resolution to produce a film
on the Quran and the director of the producing company visited Paris to prepare
a plan for it. This film is to be in Technicolor. The duration of its presentation
is fifty-five minutes being devoted to the Quran and the history of the facts
related to it, the verses of the Quran are depicted in this film. Thus it
is of great importance. Six hundred thousand dollars have been collected
to produce this film. The preparation of this film has already been started.
To begin with it will be produced in five languages, and then it will be
extended up to ten. The first print will be in English, then Arabic and French,
and thereafter in other languages. It will be circulated throughout the world.
Also watch the video The Book of Signs, which is based on Dr. Maurice Bucaille: "The Bible, The Quran and Science" and "What is the Origin of Man."
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