Why
I converted to Islam Roman Catholic priest
The autobiography of a Roman
Catholic priest, Idris Tawfiq, who became a Muslim about 15 years ago, has
emerged online.
Tawfiq
was reported to have died after a period of illness on February 3, 2016 in the
United Kingdom, UK but before his
death, he had written his experience on how he converted to the ‘religion of
peace.’
Although
the reason for releasing this on the same day, one year after he died cannot be
ascertained, ‘About Islam’ is reporting that until his death, he was head of
religious education in different schools in the UK for several years.
“I
enjoyed being a priest helping the people for some years. However, deep inside I was not happy and I felt that there was something not
right.
“Fortunately,
and it is God’s will, some events and coincidences in my life led me to Islam.
I used to think of Egypt as a country of Pyramids, camels, sand and palm trees.
I actually took a charter flight to Hurghada.
“Shocked
to find it similar to some European beaches, I took the first bus to Cairo
where I spent the most wonderful week in my life. This was my first
introduction to Muslims and Islam. I noticed how Egyptians are such gentle, sweet people, but also very
strong.
“Like
all Britons, my knowledge about Muslims
up to that time didn’t exceed what I heard from the TV about bombers and
fighters, which gave the impression
that Islam is a religion of troubles. However, getting into Cairo I discovered how beautiful this religion is.
“Very simple people selling
goods on the street would abandon their trade and direct their face to Allah
and pray the moment they heard the call to prayer from the mosque.
“They
have a strong faith in the presence and will of Allah. They pray, fast, help
the needy and dream to have a trip to Makkah with the hope of living in heaven
in the hereafter.
“On
my return I resumed my old job of teaching religion. The only compulsory
subject in British education is Religious Studies. I was teaching about
Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism and others.
“So
every day I had to read about these religions to be able to teach my lessons to
the students, many of whom were Arab Muslim refugees. In other words, teaching
about Islam taught me many things.
“Unlike
many troublesome teenagers, these students set a good example of what a Muslim
could be. They were polite and kind. So a friendship developed between us and
they asked if they could use my classroom for prayers during the fasting month
of Ramadan.
“Luckily,
my room was the only one with a carpet. So I got accustomed to sitting at the
back, watching them praying for a month. I sought to encourage them by fasting
during Ramadan with them, even though I wasn’t yet a Muslim.
“One
day I headed to the biggest Mosque in London, to hear more about this religion.
Getting into London Central Mosque,
there was Yusuf Islam, the former pop singer, sitting in a circle talking to some people about Islam. After a
while, I found myself asking him” ‘What
do you actually do to become a Muslim?’
“He answered that a Muslim should believe in one God, pray
five times a day and fast during Ramadan. I interrupted him saying that I
believed all this and had even fasted during Ramadan. So he asked:
‘What
are you waiting for? What is holding you back?’ I said: ‘No, I don’t intend to
convert.’
“At
that moment the call to prayer was made and everyone got ready and stood in
lines to pray. I sat at the back, and I cried and cried. Then I said to myself:
Who am I trying to fool? After they ended their prayers, I headed to Yusuf
Islam, asking him to teach me the words by which I announce my conversion.
“After explaining its
meanings to me in English, I recited
after him in Arabic that there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad is the
Messenger of Allah, I couldn’t hold back my tears.”
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