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JAMAICAN CONVERTS TO ISLAM on 7th January 2010, 6:01 pm
Admin
My name is Usman and I live in Handsworth. I came to the UK in November 1966 from Kingston - Jamaica when I was only 14 years old and settled in Handsworth. I became Muslim 4 years ago and have accepted the invitation to tell the story about my journey to Islam. I used to be called Anthoney before I accepted Islam.
I was bought up in Jamaica as a Christian. Jamaica is quite religious and you would find many people going to Church and I was no different. I used to go to any Church. I used to go to Church of England, Baptist and Catholic Churches. I used to enjoy going to the Catholic Church because they organised games and we used to get food. You had to be Catholic to go there and even though I followed no particular Church I said that I was Catholic in order to get in.
When I came to the UK, I continued going to the Church. I used to go to Church on Sunday but I often thought that there is more to life than going to Church on Sunday to sing hymns and wiping sins and then going home.
I needed something that was 7 days a week to feel the goodness of repentance. This is how I feel when I go to the mosque. I feel I am cleansed.
I went to Gambia with a friend. There were Muslims there. I did not take much notice. When I came back I met an old friend on Soho Road quite close to Bilal Masjid. I did not recognise him at first because I had not seen him for 20 years. He called me over and when he told me who he was I recognised him. This happened just before the month of Ramadhan.
I went to see my friend later and it was a house full of Gambians in Regent Road. I found out that my friend had become Muslim. I used to go and talk but nothing about Islam or Muslims. I used to observe that they prayed 5 times a day. They used to just stop whatever they were doing and prepare for Salaah. I used to sit there just watching them. I watched them for 2 weeks doing Salaah. I thought this is what I am looking for. I said “I want to become a Muslim – what do I have to do?” They told me to say the Kalimah which I did. It was the start of Ramadhan and I then fasted. I never fasted in my life when I was Christian. I used to live in Antrobus Road. I used to go there at 4:30am to start my fast.
I used to be married and had children. I needed to get married again and was looking for a pious Muslim wife. It was when I was studying at Handsworth College that I met a Muslim sister who herself was Jamaican. Alhamdulillah we got married.
I really enjoyed Gambia and went back. I thought to myself – If I am a Muslim, I have to look like a Muslim. I watched a video where Dr Zakir Naik discussed this further. He said that if you work as a Policeman you have to dress a certain way and he went on further to say that if you are a Muslim you dress a certain way.
I started dressing like a Muslim with a thobe and hat. When I started looking like a Muslim, some of my friends said “What are you doing? You can’t go into Indian man religion.” They went on to say “We can’t call you Usman. Your name is Anthony”. They never used to know that I was Muslim until I started looking like a Muslim. They now accept me and I regularly give them dawah. I said to them Allah created you and therefore he is for everybody. I told them that I wasn''t a bad person before Islam and I am still not a bad person.
I have loads of Muslim friends now — It’s like a family. When I was Christian, you would get different cultures that would not mix. When I was a Christian I would never have thought of going to a house of someone who is of a different culture but as a Muslim we are all brothers.
My parents died before I accepted Islam. My family have accepted me as I am. I had children from my previous marriage and I try to give them dawah.
By Usman & Abdushahid
I was bought up in Jamaica as a Christian. Jamaica is quite religious and you would find many people going to Church and I was no different. I used to go to any Church. I used to go to Church of England, Baptist and Catholic Churches. I used to enjoy going to the Catholic Church because they organised games and we used to get food. You had to be Catholic to go there and even though I followed no particular Church I said that I was Catholic in order to get in.
When I came to the UK, I continued going to the Church. I used to go to Church on Sunday but I often thought that there is more to life than going to Church on Sunday to sing hymns and wiping sins and then going home.
I needed something that was 7 days a week to feel the goodness of repentance. This is how I feel when I go to the mosque. I feel I am cleansed.
I went to Gambia with a friend. There were Muslims there. I did not take much notice. When I came back I met an old friend on Soho Road quite close to Bilal Masjid. I did not recognise him at first because I had not seen him for 20 years. He called me over and when he told me who he was I recognised him. This happened just before the month of Ramadhan.
I went to see my friend later and it was a house full of Gambians in Regent Road. I found out that my friend had become Muslim. I used to go and talk but nothing about Islam or Muslims. I used to observe that they prayed 5 times a day. They used to just stop whatever they were doing and prepare for Salaah. I used to sit there just watching them. I watched them for 2 weeks doing Salaah. I thought this is what I am looking for. I said “I want to become a Muslim – what do I have to do?” They told me to say the Kalimah which I did. It was the start of Ramadhan and I then fasted. I never fasted in my life when I was Christian. I used to live in Antrobus Road. I used to go there at 4:30am to start my fast.
I used to be married and had children. I needed to get married again and was looking for a pious Muslim wife. It was when I was studying at Handsworth College that I met a Muslim sister who herself was Jamaican. Alhamdulillah we got married.
I really enjoyed Gambia and went back. I thought to myself – If I am a Muslim, I have to look like a Muslim. I watched a video where Dr Zakir Naik discussed this further. He said that if you work as a Policeman you have to dress a certain way and he went on further to say that if you are a Muslim you dress a certain way.
I started dressing like a Muslim with a thobe and hat. When I started looking like a Muslim, some of my friends said “What are you doing? You can’t go into Indian man religion.” They went on to say “We can’t call you Usman. Your name is Anthony”. They never used to know that I was Muslim until I started looking like a Muslim. They now accept me and I regularly give them dawah. I said to them Allah created you and therefore he is for everybody. I told them that I wasn''t a bad person before Islam and I am still not a bad person.
I have loads of Muslim friends now — It’s like a family. When I was Christian, you would get different cultures that would not mix. When I was a Christian I would never have thought of going to a house of someone who is of a different culture but as a Muslim we are all brothers.
My parents died before I accepted Islam. My family have accepted me as I am. I had children from my previous marriage and I try to give them dawah.
By Usman & Abdushahid
