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Understanding the Needs Asiya N Rodrigo

Understanding the needs of converts necessitates incorporating their observations and experiences into one's own. While every convert is different, and his/her experiences may differ to some extent, the majority of converts do conform to a certain mold. There are identifiable phases many go through after conversion: elation, emphatic enthusiasm, fanaticism, disillusionment, weakness, and renewal. The factors that contribute to fanaticism, disillusionment and weakness vary from confusion about the multitude of ideologies within Islam to difficulties being accepted as a muslim, difficulties fitting in with other muslims, and disappointment with the wider muslim community. Most converts are not sufficiently prepared for the process of change, and few are equipped with the skills one needs to overcome the hurdles one inevitably faces along the way. In many, change happens too quickly, or inappropriately. When no-one seems to understand, and when Islam starts to become something it was never meant to be (a lonely torture), it becomes infamously easy to slip out of the fold of a once treasured religion. Hence, measures to counteract and prevent such experiences are paramount to the healthy development of one of the fastest growing communities in this country.

There is a false notion commonly existing among muslims today that Islam and the West are opponents in a battle of strengths. It implies that Islam and the West belong to the same category of deen, and that what is islamic cannot be western, and what is western cannot be islamic. Western converts need to remember that their identity as a westerner does not necessarily mean that they aren't just as muslim as anyone else. One does not need to abandon one for the other - Islam is just as present in the West if not more, as any other country containing muslims. We are all aware of the fact that a muslim is not just one who dresses and eats and acts like an Arab or a Pakistani or an Indonesian. Yet this fact is one many converts have trouble coming to grips with, due to the continuing bombardment of media denoting a distinct discrepancy between the muslim world and the West.

The questions most pertinent to a western convert are: How can one retain one's cultural identity as a westerner while still adopting Islam? How can one convey Islam in the way the rest of one's society may be able to understand and relate to? How can one maintain one's happiness and ease of living being a western muslim? And how may one progress spiritually in this context?

The majority of services available to muslims in Australia are migrant services or services in languages other than English. Even the few convert associations that do exist do not tackle the essential questions posed above. Instead, they concentrate on the rote-learning of Qur'an and Sunnah, adopting hijab or niqab, changing names, learning Arabic, and arranging marriages. Little attempt is made to enhance the quality of the life of the convert.

It is to this end that I would suggest the establishment of a true support-service for converts in Australia, based upon the following criteria:

Services such an establishment should offer include:

Ideally, the establishment should be housed in one building, with facilities open to members of both sexes, and not focused on any one ethnicity. Services are designed to be problem-solving and allowing converts to think for and help themselves. Converts may thus be able to experience the essence of brotherhood with those whom they can truly relate to, and insha Allah, never fall into the tormenting isolation that may serve to remove one from the fold of Islam.

Moreover, the generation of active, God-conscious, English-speaking muslims should provide an unprecedented service to Australian muslim life. Converts or reverts to Islam represent a significant percent of the untapped da'wah 'oil-fields' within Australia. It is an undeniable fact that muslims have a long way to go in presenting Islam effectively to the rest of society. Converts, having no real nationalistic or sectarian bias, are a priceless resource in changing the image of our community for the better. It is through a revert's eyes that the true beauty Islam embodies may be fully realised. Not being constrained by political and cultural influences releases a breath of fresh air we all need to get back to the business of graciously serving Allah and humanity. Hence, such an establishment is not only desperately needed by converts, but also by the entire Australian muslim community at large.

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