Must Read: Former UK Party Girl Converts To Islam, Says Islam Has Changed Her Life

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

She said: ‘I thought I needed to act and dress in a certain way to feel good about myself. I see girls now and think about what image they are portraying to other people, especially men.

‘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 taken earlier this year on the party island of Ibiza, which she now ways shows everything that is wrong about Western beautyBefore 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: Dailymail.co.uk

 

24 COMMENTS

  1. Alhamdulilah!!! All Praises and Adoration to Almighty Allah for His Mercy on you, my sister. You know better now becos u av tasted the two sides. May Allah continue to strengthen ur faith and courage.
    @Adams, don’t be hurt pls. U heard her say she made research about Islam before her right decision. Why don’t you do the same and purge yourself of the distorted (intentional) information u av bn fed with hitherto. This will definitely go a long way in helping u separate the wheat from the chaff. God help u to see reason. Be Blessed!

  2. @bens,I dont think U̶̲̥̅̊ should be bothered asking her if that is what she wants because mere luking at she doesn’t look like a toddler and besides God has created all human to make choices.why then should you assumeshe doesn’t know what she wants.isn’t it better than the previous life she was living?..I am so happy for you my sister.may Allah continue to strengthen you in the new and acceptable life you have choosen.maa salam

  3. @ben and other ppl like u,take an adventure she took to have a personal encounter wt islam and u wil never return to falsehood, bcs jesus never made those spurious claims made in xtianity by pastors who interpreted d bible d way they lik knwing well dt they wont b querried. pls tak time read about islam, u dn need any holy spirit to interprete as u xtians usually claim whenever a muslim venture into readn bible, bt 4 ur information i took courses in xtianity while in d university and all d conspiracies were laid bare. d saviour is d creator of jesus-peace b vpon him, but not jesus himself

  4. Mr Bens (sic) the One who would judge the world that both the Quran and the Bible attest to is the same One and only who. Created the world and all that is, was and ever will be in it – Allah. Even Jesus attested to this in the Bible – someone said to him (Jesus) “good master..”) ; he (Jesus) replied ” “there is none good. Save the One (Allah) that sent me..”. (2). When he (Jesus) went to the mountain to pray (to Allah). (3) On the cross (according to the Bible) he (Jesus) said: “my Lord, my God…” (4) He (Jesus) ate food, releived hiself of gas and defecated! (5) Jesus was the Messiah (sent by the Lord – Allah) to deliver the. Word of God! Etc

  5. @Mr Bens (sic), and Mr Hazard, the One who would judge the world that both the Quran and the Bible attest to is the same One and only who. Created the world and all that is, was and ever will be in it – Allah. Even Jesus attested to this in the Bible – someone said to him (Jesus) “good master..”) ; he (Jesus) replied ” “there is none good. Save the One (Allah) that sent me..”. (2). When he (Jesus) went to the mountain to pray (to Allah). (3) On the cross (according to the Bible) he (Jesus) said: “my Lord, my God…” (4) He (Jesus) ate food, releived hiself of gas and defecated! (5) Jesus was the Messiah (sent by the Lord – Allah) to deliver the. Word of God! Etc

  6. @ sister Heather, Allahu Akbar, we praise and thank Allah (Al hamdu lillahi) for having endeared the perfect faith and way of peace and love in total submission to His will to your heart. Pray for the best of this world and the best of the hereafter continuosly (rabbana atina fil dunya hassanata wa fil. Akhairata hassanatan wa qina adhabar naar), LEARN and ADHERE to the tenets of Islam and it shall be well with you and your soul! Ameen. Ameen. Ameen.

  7. They told u dat jesus will save u on d last day nd dats why our pastors hav capitalized on d phylosophy of haven nd hell to win d uninformd into xtenity nd will hav to suck dem dry true tyte nd oferin all in d name of god. Christainity has no moral value other dan to enrich d priest nd pastors but i knw dat revolution is on d way as dis falsehood cannot continue forever

  8. d most dubious,faithless, childish blv religion ve ever seen is xtianity! in it u will c different kinds of blvs like wife of God (ashera), son of God (Jesus), God is one in 3 (trinity), Jesus will judge d world etc. but all dis rubbish are cleverly,philosophically nd eventfully presented as being real. xtianity cannot witstand a test of time nd challenges like islam or any oda religions.Muslims let’s be wise nd stand firm in our faiths in Allah.

  9. Alhamdulilah sister am so happy 4 u, may Allah strengten u in faith nd give u more understdng.Pls try 2 meet my muslim brdas nd sisters 2 put u true more, dnt let any body 2 decieve u frm d rite way Allah Has shown u, d only religion aceptable in d sight of Allah is Islam( suratul Bakarah) and Jesus and oda prophets (peace be upon them) were a muslim wen they were alive.check hw dey prayed in Bible Mathew 26:39, Nehimaya chpt 36-39, book of Genesis chpt 17:3, Joshua chpt 5:14, book of luk chpt 22:44 and book of revelation chpt 11:16. Dey all prayed d way muslims do pray.