My only worry was how I would find the courage and words to...

My only worry was how I would find the courage and words to tell my family of my decision. I had been married for twenty-eight years by now but still didnt really know what my husbands beliefs were or how any of my family would react. Imagine my horror therefore and I am sorry to say the anger I felt when I came back from lunch on 11 th September to be confronted with pictures on the Internet of the planes flying into the world trade centre.

Over the next few days and weeks I would hear people say that all Muslims were alike and that they should all be thrown out of the country etc, etc. I found myself defending them saying not all Muslims were terrorists any more than all Roman Catholics supported the IRA and were we going to throw out all Irish people. I soon realised however that now was not the time to break my news. I decided to keep it to myself.

Ramadam came and I remembered that I had just a couple of months earlier imagined I would be fasting. I spent Christmas with my family as I have always done, this year cooking for twenty people. I travelled to Scotland two days before New Year only to spend new years eve travelling back to England, as I was unwell.

We arrived home with fifteen minutes to spare before midnight and I made a resolution that I would give up my job in London and work part time locally so that I would have time to learn Arabic and really make the effort to become a good Muslim. I decided to write to two local Mosques. I desperately wanted to learn how to pray as a Muslim but knew that I couldnt just walk into a Mosque. I was terrified I would do something wrong and really offend someone or that they would be really un-welcoming.

I got no response from either of my letters. One day however I found a book with a rough outline of a prayer in I think the book was meant for school children- but anyhow I followed the instructions and prayed. I knew then I had made the right decision. I also knew I had to find the courage to tell my family, but how? It was at this time that I sent two emails which were to be the most important of my life. One was to a site for new converts and one was to an Islamic Centre in a nearby town.

To my amazement they were both answered. Within two weeks of this I was to meet two amazing groups of people who welcomed me into their midst. Within a month I had said Shahadah in front of witnesses as I had hoped for. I was now a Muslim and somehow I had to find a way of telling my family.