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Madame Fatima Mik
Davidson is the Minister
of State for Social
Development and Local
Government of the
Republic of Trinidad and
Tobago. In an interview
given by her to the
renowned Arabic Magazine
Minbar-al-Islam of
Cairo, Madame Fatima Mik
Davidson (formerly Mrs.
Model Donafarnik
Davidson) talked about
the beginning of her
encounter with Islam and
how she ultimately
turned Muslim.
She said: "I totally
deny the idea that I
accepted Islam in
1975 by renouncing
Christianity. Really
I am quite unable to
understand and
explain what the
matter was with me.
Let me take you back
to the 9th March,
1950, the day that
was fixed for me to
enter Christian
Monastery.
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When
I woke up in the morning of
that day, I felt that the
voice -Allaahu-Akbar
Allaahu-Akbar (Allaah is the
Greatest) was ringing in my
ears and it was thrilling my
entire inner self. Lo! I had
come back to Islam.
'I did not quite know what
it was, but the monastery I
refused to enter. After that
I passed many years, seeking
Allah's guidance, until at
last I was able to come
across a copy of the
translation of the Holy
Quran. Then I readily put
faith in it. I happened to
meet a Muslim scholar,
Maulana Siddiq from Pakistan
and an Indian scholar Shaykh
Ansari. I had detailed talks
with them about nature and
what I felt about it in my
heart, so much so that these
great scholars exclaimed to
me: Thank Allah you are a
Muslim! You are now a Muslim
lady. Read what you like,
enter the Mosques and pray.
We are prepared to welcome
you, whenever you feel
disposed to learn
anything."'
Iman (Faith) is Bliss
"I felt happy. Ever since
that day I have been feeling
that my heart is overflowing
with the bliss of Iman
(Faith) and with love and
high esteem for the Holy
Prophet Muhammad [Sallallahu
Alaihi Wa Sallam / peace be
upon him] Although the date
of my formally embracing
Islam is sometime in the
year 1975, I have been a
Muslim for the last 33
years, ever since the day I
heard the great mysterious
voice and I refused to enter
the monastery. My heart
proclaimed: Allahu Akbar:
God is the Greatest).
"I was the first coloured
girl to enter the Mosque.
This encouraged many Muslim
girls to enter Mosques for
prayer, particularly the
Mosque of the Anjuman Jami'
Sanatal which was founded by
the great scholar Dr. Shaikh
Ansari in the city of
Francis in Trinidad. Its
present Chairman is Al-Hajj
Shafiq Muhammad.
"Prior to this, the
residents over there thought
that Islam was the religion
of the Indians who followed
so many shades of religious
tenets and paths. They
thought Qadianism and
Ahmadism being more
important.
"Later on a large number of
the islanders, mostly of
African origin, embraced
Islam, until the ratio of
the Muslims rose to 13
percent of the total
population of the Republic,
as against 31 percent
Catholics, 27 percent
Protestants, 6 percent
Hindus, and 23 percent
others."
Effect on her Duties
About the effect of her
embracing Islam on her work
in a state where Muslims are
not in the majority, she
said: "Islam demands of us
efficient and sincere
application to duty and I
practise the teachings of
the Faith (Islam) with
sincerity. I do not tell
lies either in my (official)
work or in my (personal)
life. To the best of my
ability and with strong
consciousness of my heart I
shun everything that is
repugnant to Islam. As
regard the impact of my
conversion upon my work, it
was nothing but all blessing
and good. Our former Prime
Minister advised me to visit
Egypt, because it is the
land of the renowned Jami'ah
Al-Azhar and the source of
civilisation. He used to
talk a great deal about
Islam.
"When I requested my present
Prime Minister to give me
permission to visit Egypt in
connection with my
assignment as Minister of
State for Social Development
and Local Government, he
agreed and also advised me
to visit Al-Azhar and the
Supreme Council of Islamic
Affairs about whose
activities we heard so much
during our visits to the
U.S.A. and the U.K.
"I took part in the
parliamentary elections many
a time and came out
successful in spite of being
a Muslim. I have worked as
Minister for Education and
Culture and also as a
Minister in the Prime
Minister's Cabinet, although
I am a Muslim.
"I would like to tell
something important. The
Republic of Trinidad and
Tobago allows official
holidays on the occasions of
Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha
festivals. The Muslims have
freedom to celebrate the
month of Ramadan in their
houses as well as in the
Mosques throughout the
State."
She further said: "I make an
appeal to the Islamic World
to close their ranks because
unity is strength,
particularly under cover of
the excellent religion of
Islam which has brought
equality to mankind and
which regulates our
relations and dealings. It
is, therefore, imperative
that the Islamic World
should halt the wars raging
among its certain states. It
is possible to resolve all
difficulties and disputes
with mutual negotiations,
consultation and
understanding.
"Almighty Allaah has guided
me to Islam and I pray Him
to guide the Muslims towards
fraternity and peace so that
they may in reality become
in this present age the best
community that has been
raised up for mankind."
Source :
http://www.islamweb.net/emainpage/index.php?page=articles&id=135534
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