Jewish Women Embracing Islam to Double

Reprinted with permission of Islamic Times
http://www.islamictimes.co.uk/content/view/227/


Written by Dr Piyara Begum
Wednesday, 23 August 2006

THE NUMBER OF Jewish women reverting to Islam and marrying Muslim men is expected to double this year. According to Israel's population registry, an average of 35 women have reverted each year, but so far, in the first half of 2006, 42 women have reverted.

The reversions are carried out at Islamic Shariah Courts. Unlike the lengthy study requirements and proceedings necessary to convert to Judaism in Israel, reverting to Islam is a very short ordeal, entailing only declaring one's wishes to become a Muslim before the court.

According to Jewish law, the women remain Jews and their children will be Jewish as well however, as Muslims we believe they are Muslims.

But what are the causes of the Jewish Womens reversion? Some have said, mixed Arab and Jewish communities which exist in certain parts of Palestine and Israel has drawn sympathy amongst the Jewish women. Others say, the rights of Muslim women far exceed the rights of women in any other religion or community in the area or even the world and it is due to this that the Jewish women are increasing being drawn to Islam.

One former Jewish woman who reverted to Islam is Amalia Rahman. Friends and family say that she converted to Islam on the suggestion of her husband, Habib.

Amalia, however, begins her story much earlier, just after college when she moved to California to be with her family. She befriended a group of Arabs who used to visit her father's dried fruit and nut stand at the San Jose Farmer's Market. "I had a very low opinion of Arabs, you grow up Jewish so you have this low opinion. It's like a filmy residue from childhood."

Despite these ingrained feelings, she found herself drawn to them and their faith. "One thing I noticed about the people I had met, even though I had all these prejudices in my mind, that they were very good to each other. I wanted to be a part of that, a part of this feeling of belonging to something so wonderful."

Whatever the reason, all we can say is Allahu Akbar as Allah guides whom he wills and may he guide more into the folds of Islam.