![\"Scots](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.new-muslims.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/Finding-God-Why-More-and-More-Scots-are-Turning-to-Islam-300x173.jpg?resize=300%2C173\")
<\/a><\/p>\nGlasgow Central Mosque alone is now seeing more than 200 Scots a year \u2018revert\u2019.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Glasgow Central Mosque alone is now seeing more than 200 Scots a year \u2018revert\u2019. Due to the rising number of Scots finding Islam, mosques across the country are also setting up support groups for new \u2018reverts\u2019. Many are fearful of abuse and intimidation.<\/p>\n
Reversion is the preferred term within Islam for those who \u2018convert\u2019 – as Muslims believe everyone is born believing in Allah.<\/p>\n
From Christianity<\/strong><\/h2>\nThe Sunday Herald spoke to Hannah, a 25-year-old administrator from Glasgow who recently \u201creverted\u201d. Hannah asked for her surname to be kept confidential. Though brought up without any particular faith, Hannah is one of a growing number of Scots who are turning to Islam despite what many see as a \u201cdemonization\u201d of the religion.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d done a degree in comparative religion and had to analyze all the religious texts,\u201d said Hannah. \u201cI went away from that thinking that maybe I should be a Christian.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut a few months later, while meditating, I found myself pulled in the direction of Islam. After that I started reading again, but this time in a more emotional way. I found, I preferred the simplicity of Islam.\u201d<\/p>\n
After mulling it over for six months, she decided to revert. In July this year, she visited Glasgow Central Mosque to take the Shahadah<\/a> (the Declaration of Faith<\/a>) in front of two witnesses, in which Allah is recognized as the only God.<\/p>\nHer conversion was shared online by the Glasgow Central Mosque along with others including 20-year-old Jade from the Shetland Isles, and Katie, also 20 and an administration worker from Glasgow, who made her Shahadah last month.<\/p>\n
Increasing Influx <\/strong><\/h2>\nGlasgow Central Mosque says numbers of \u201creverts\u201d have been gradually rising and they are now dealing with up to four conversions a week. Along with the Edinburgh Central Mosque, it has now started support groups for new Muslims.<\/p>\n
The total number of converts is not known, but according to a report by Faith Matters, 5,200 people now join the UK-wide Muslim population of three million every year. Scotland\u2019s community is significantly smaller at 90,000 people, over one-third of whom live in Glasgow.<\/p>\n
Rizy Mohammad, a co-ordinator at the Glasgow Central Mosque, said: \u201cWe are seeing an influx, particularly in the number of women expressing an interest in Islam. I don\u2019t think there is one reason for it but it\u2019s interesting that after 9\/11, where Muslims were blamed for the bombing of the twin towers, a lot of people started doing their own research. Many found out more about Islam that led them to different conclusions.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is also the spiritual dimension. They\u2019ve been part of the material world, done the shopping thing and now they are looking for a deeper connection<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\nScots & Islamophobia<\/strong><\/h2>\nBut for many reverts, it is not an easy transition. High-profile conversions of white Muslims such as Richard Dart, who is serving a six-year jail sentence for plotting an attack on soldiers in Royal Wootton Bassett, mean alarm bells often sound for family members.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause of the extent of Islamophobia in the media, my mum, who is a Pagan, thought that I was going to join IS,\u201d said Hannah.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople see the violent, loud things<\/a>. They don\u2019t see the quiet Muslims who aren\u2019t doing anything bad. My brother told her not to be so ridiculous and after about a week she came round. Now she makes sure that I don\u2019t drink when I come to her house and even cooks halal for me.\u201d<\/p>\nHannah has also found some of the more conservative aspects of the religion, which still segregates men and women at places of worship, difficult to deal with. She admits she has taken off her hijab in parts of the city where she perceived the reaction to Muslim men and women wearing full traditional dress to be less than supportive. Since converting she has not been swimming due to concerns about covering up, and finds it hard cycling while wearing a hijab<\/a>.<\/p>\nA 2013 Cambridge University study about women\u2019s experience of conversion claimed it was \u201cnot for the faint-hearted\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think in Islam men and women are equal<\/a> but different,\u201d said Hannah. \u201cBut I also think there are some cultural issues with equality.\u201d<\/p>\nInner Peace… Inner Power<\/strong><\/h2>\nJay (not his real name), who converted less than three months ago after a near-death experience with drugs, said that while some friends had asked if he was going to travel to Syria and fight for IS, most people have been positive about his decision. Before his conversion, he said, he worked and partied too hard, and lived for the weekend.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of my colleagues in particular was keen to know why I converted,\u201d said Jay. \u201cHe wanted to know how I could give up the clubs, drink and girlfriends, and now spend my time praying.<\/p>\n
\u201cI told him that now I had inner peace. I could now go to sleep at night. A few weeks later he also became Muslim<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\nThe Convert\u2019s Need for Support<\/strong><\/h2>\nHowever, other converts have been left disillusioned. Dawud Duncan, originally from Oban, who became Muslim nine years ago, believes the lack of support from fellow \u201cheritage Muslims\u201d – people born into Islam -has led some reverts to leave their newfound faith.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen a person takes the Shahadah they are treated like a superstar and everyone wants to know their story,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, within a week they can be left to their own devices. This can make the individual feel very isolated as they are often caught between two communities<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\nDuncan, who now lives in Glasgow, currently hosts an online radio program for converts and also aims to set up a support and advocacy group<\/a>. He hopes that issues raised by the group can be taken up by the leadership of the mosque to help avoid future problems.<\/p>\n\u201cNew Muslims have so much to offer the Muslim community and Scotland,\u201d said Duncan. \u201cThis would include a fresh perspective and a deeper understanding of the cultural issues our society faces. Converts find it easier to explain Islam to a Scottish audience.\u201d<\/p>\n
His experience chimes with that of Saleem Mcgroarty, 43, from Edinburgh, a member of the Edinburgh Muslim Community Association who was raised a Catholic and converted to Islam at 26.<\/p>\n
He no longer attends his local mosque <\/a>due to concerns about its links to Saudi Arabia, a country with a very conservative approach to Islam, and has found it hard to integrate.<\/p>\nMcgroarty said: \u201cI think there should be some emotional and community support<\/a>, a buddy network<\/a>; the things you really need when you are moving into another world.\u201d<\/p>\n_________________________<\/p>\n
Source: <\/em>The Herald<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n
Her conversion was shared online by the Glasgow Central Mosque along with others including 20-year-old Jade from the Shetland Isles, and Katie, also 20 and an administration worker from Glasgow, who made her Shahadah last month.<\/p>\n
Increasing Influx <\/strong><\/h2>\nGlasgow Central Mosque says numbers of \u201creverts\u201d have been gradually rising and they are now dealing with up to four conversions a week. Along with the Edinburgh Central Mosque, it has now started support groups for new Muslims.<\/p>\n
The total number of converts is not known, but according to a report by Faith Matters, 5,200 people now join the UK-wide Muslim population of three million every year. Scotland\u2019s community is significantly smaller at 90,000 people, over one-third of whom live in Glasgow.<\/p>\n
Rizy Mohammad, a co-ordinator at the Glasgow Central Mosque, said: \u201cWe are seeing an influx, particularly in the number of women expressing an interest in Islam. I don\u2019t think there is one reason for it but it\u2019s interesting that after 9\/11, where Muslims were blamed for the bombing of the twin towers, a lot of people started doing their own research. Many found out more about Islam that led them to different conclusions.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is also the spiritual dimension. They\u2019ve been part of the material world, done the shopping thing and now they are looking for a deeper connection<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\nScots & Islamophobia<\/strong><\/h2>\nBut for many reverts, it is not an easy transition. High-profile conversions of white Muslims such as Richard Dart, who is serving a six-year jail sentence for plotting an attack on soldiers in Royal Wootton Bassett, mean alarm bells often sound for family members.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause of the extent of Islamophobia in the media, my mum, who is a Pagan, thought that I was going to join IS,\u201d said Hannah.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople see the violent, loud things<\/a>. They don\u2019t see the quiet Muslims who aren\u2019t doing anything bad. My brother told her not to be so ridiculous and after about a week she came round. Now she makes sure that I don\u2019t drink when I come to her house and even cooks halal for me.\u201d<\/p>\nHannah has also found some of the more conservative aspects of the religion, which still segregates men and women at places of worship, difficult to deal with. She admits she has taken off her hijab in parts of the city where she perceived the reaction to Muslim men and women wearing full traditional dress to be less than supportive. Since converting she has not been swimming due to concerns about covering up, and finds it hard cycling while wearing a hijab<\/a>.<\/p>\nA 2013 Cambridge University study about women\u2019s experience of conversion claimed it was \u201cnot for the faint-hearted\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think in Islam men and women are equal<\/a> but different,\u201d said Hannah. \u201cBut I also think there are some cultural issues with equality.\u201d<\/p>\nInner Peace… Inner Power<\/strong><\/h2>\nJay (not his real name), who converted less than three months ago after a near-death experience with drugs, said that while some friends had asked if he was going to travel to Syria and fight for IS, most people have been positive about his decision. Before his conversion, he said, he worked and partied too hard, and lived for the weekend.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of my colleagues in particular was keen to know why I converted,\u201d said Jay. \u201cHe wanted to know how I could give up the clubs, drink and girlfriends, and now spend my time praying.<\/p>\n
\u201cI told him that now I had inner peace. I could now go to sleep at night. A few weeks later he also became Muslim<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\nThe Convert\u2019s Need for Support<\/strong><\/h2>\nHowever, other converts have been left disillusioned. Dawud Duncan, originally from Oban, who became Muslim nine years ago, believes the lack of support from fellow \u201cheritage Muslims\u201d – people born into Islam -has led some reverts to leave their newfound faith.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen a person takes the Shahadah they are treated like a superstar and everyone wants to know their story,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, within a week they can be left to their own devices. This can make the individual feel very isolated as they are often caught between two communities<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\nDuncan, who now lives in Glasgow, currently hosts an online radio program for converts and also aims to set up a support and advocacy group<\/a>. He hopes that issues raised by the group can be taken up by the leadership of the mosque to help avoid future problems.<\/p>\n\u201cNew Muslims have so much to offer the Muslim community and Scotland,\u201d said Duncan. \u201cThis would include a fresh perspective and a deeper understanding of the cultural issues our society faces. Converts find it easier to explain Islam to a Scottish audience.\u201d<\/p>\n
His experience chimes with that of Saleem Mcgroarty, 43, from Edinburgh, a member of the Edinburgh Muslim Community Association who was raised a Catholic and converted to Islam at 26.<\/p>\n
He no longer attends his local mosque <\/a>due to concerns about its links to Saudi Arabia, a country with a very conservative approach to Islam, and has found it hard to integrate.<\/p>\nMcgroarty said: \u201cI think there should be some emotional and community support<\/a>, a buddy network<\/a>; the things you really need when you are moving into another world.\u201d<\/p>\n_________________________<\/p>\n
Source: <\/em>The Herald<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n
Scots & Islamophobia<\/strong><\/h2>\nBut for many reverts, it is not an easy transition. High-profile conversions of white Muslims such as Richard Dart, who is serving a six-year jail sentence for plotting an attack on soldiers in Royal Wootton Bassett, mean alarm bells often sound for family members.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause of the extent of Islamophobia in the media, my mum, who is a Pagan, thought that I was going to join IS,\u201d said Hannah.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople see the violent, loud things<\/a>. They don\u2019t see the quiet Muslims who aren\u2019t doing anything bad. My brother told her not to be so ridiculous and after about a week she came round. Now she makes sure that I don\u2019t drink when I come to her house and even cooks halal for me.\u201d<\/p>\nHannah has also found some of the more conservative aspects of the religion, which still segregates men and women at places of worship, difficult to deal with. She admits she has taken off her hijab in parts of the city where she perceived the reaction to Muslim men and women wearing full traditional dress to be less than supportive. Since converting she has not been swimming due to concerns about covering up, and finds it hard cycling while wearing a hijab<\/a>.<\/p>\nA 2013 Cambridge University study about women\u2019s experience of conversion claimed it was \u201cnot for the faint-hearted\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think in Islam men and women are equal<\/a> but different,\u201d said Hannah. \u201cBut I also think there are some cultural issues with equality.\u201d<\/p>\nInner Peace… Inner Power<\/strong><\/h2>\nJay (not his real name), who converted less than three months ago after a near-death experience with drugs, said that while some friends had asked if he was going to travel to Syria and fight for IS, most people have been positive about his decision. Before his conversion, he said, he worked and partied too hard, and lived for the weekend.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of my colleagues in particular was keen to know why I converted,\u201d said Jay. \u201cHe wanted to know how I could give up the clubs, drink and girlfriends, and now spend my time praying.<\/p>\n
\u201cI told him that now I had inner peace. I could now go to sleep at night. A few weeks later he also became Muslim<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\nThe Convert\u2019s Need for Support<\/strong><\/h2>\nHowever, other converts have been left disillusioned. Dawud Duncan, originally from Oban, who became Muslim nine years ago, believes the lack of support from fellow \u201cheritage Muslims\u201d – people born into Islam -has led some reverts to leave their newfound faith.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen a person takes the Shahadah they are treated like a superstar and everyone wants to know their story,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, within a week they can be left to their own devices. This can make the individual feel very isolated as they are often caught between two communities<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\nDuncan, who now lives in Glasgow, currently hosts an online radio program for converts and also aims to set up a support and advocacy group<\/a>. He hopes that issues raised by the group can be taken up by the leadership of the mosque to help avoid future problems.<\/p>\n\u201cNew Muslims have so much to offer the Muslim community and Scotland,\u201d said Duncan. \u201cThis would include a fresh perspective and a deeper understanding of the cultural issues our society faces. Converts find it easier to explain Islam to a Scottish audience.\u201d<\/p>\n
His experience chimes with that of Saleem Mcgroarty, 43, from Edinburgh, a member of the Edinburgh Muslim Community Association who was raised a Catholic and converted to Islam at 26.<\/p>\n
He no longer attends his local mosque <\/a>due to concerns about its links to Saudi Arabia, a country with a very conservative approach to Islam, and has found it hard to integrate.<\/p>\nMcgroarty said: \u201cI think there should be some emotional and community support<\/a>, a buddy network<\/a>; the things you really need when you are moving into another world.\u201d<\/p>\n_________________________<\/p>\n
Source: <\/em>The Herald<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n
Hannah has also found some of the more conservative aspects of the religion, which still segregates men and women at places of worship, difficult to deal with. She admits she has taken off her hijab in parts of the city where she perceived the reaction to Muslim men and women wearing full traditional dress to be less than supportive. Since converting she has not been swimming due to concerns about covering up, and finds it hard cycling while wearing a hijab<\/a>.<\/p>\n A 2013 Cambridge University study about women\u2019s experience of conversion claimed it was \u201cnot for the faint-hearted\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cI think in Islam men and women are equal<\/a> but different,\u201d said Hannah. \u201cBut I also think there are some cultural issues with equality.\u201d<\/p>\n Jay (not his real name), who converted less than three months ago after a near-death experience with drugs, said that while some friends had asked if he was going to travel to Syria and fight for IS, most people have been positive about his decision. Before his conversion, he said, he worked and partied too hard, and lived for the weekend.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of my colleagues in particular was keen to know why I converted,\u201d said Jay. \u201cHe wanted to know how I could give up the clubs, drink and girlfriends, and now spend my time praying.<\/p>\n \u201cI told him that now I had inner peace. I could now go to sleep at night. A few weeks later he also became Muslim<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n However, other converts have been left disillusioned. Dawud Duncan, originally from Oban, who became Muslim nine years ago, believes the lack of support from fellow \u201cheritage Muslims\u201d – people born into Islam -has led some reverts to leave their newfound faith.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen a person takes the Shahadah they are treated like a superstar and everyone wants to know their story,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cHowever, within a week they can be left to their own devices. This can make the individual feel very isolated as they are often caught between two communities<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n Duncan, who now lives in Glasgow, currently hosts an online radio program for converts and also aims to set up a support and advocacy group<\/a>. He hopes that issues raised by the group can be taken up by the leadership of the mosque to help avoid future problems.<\/p>\n \u201cNew Muslims have so much to offer the Muslim community and Scotland,\u201d said Duncan. \u201cThis would include a fresh perspective and a deeper understanding of the cultural issues our society faces. Converts find it easier to explain Islam to a Scottish audience.\u201d<\/p>\n His experience chimes with that of Saleem Mcgroarty, 43, from Edinburgh, a member of the Edinburgh Muslim Community Association who was raised a Catholic and converted to Islam at 26.<\/p>\n He no longer attends his local mosque <\/a>due to concerns about its links to Saudi Arabia, a country with a very conservative approach to Islam, and has found it hard to integrate.<\/p>\n Mcgroarty said: \u201cI think there should be some emotional and community support<\/a>, a buddy network<\/a>; the things you really need when you are moving into another world.\u201d<\/p>\n _________________________<\/p>\n Source: <\/em>The Herald<\/em><\/a><\/p>\nInner Peace… Inner Power<\/strong><\/h2>\n
The Convert\u2019s Need for Support<\/strong><\/h2>\n