Growing numbers of young British women are converting to Islam. Shanna Bukhari, a 26-year-old Muslim from Manchester, sets out to find out why girls are giving up partying, drinking and wearing whatever they want for a religion some people associate with the oppression of women.
This warm documentary follows the highs and lows of five girls as they embrace their new faith. From adapting to a religion that allows a man to marry up to four wives to the acceptance of friends and family, it isn't always easy.
Have YOU watched it, yet? What did YOU think of it?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01qfqz5/Make_Me_a_Muslim/
Yep watched it, was kinda surprised at shanna - her expectations and beliefs. I liked that she did ask that convert about modelling and to take her to mosque, even though she felt judged. I don't think the convert seemed judgemental though, I think she was just saying and sharing what she believes.
"How many people find fault in what they're reading and the fault is in their own understanding" Al Mutanabbi
Watched it so far- can't stand the shanna woman. Not going to criticise everything she said.. because its just ridiculous. ''I feel less pretty with a Hijaab on''
''I was born as a modern british muslim and I will die as a modern british muslim''.. OK that just made me laugh. You can't compromise your religion with your nationality! ARGH! And that doesn't even make sense. modern? british? yes. muslim? euh? You CAN wear a hijaab and be british at the same time?!
Although, I think the comments sent to her regarding her modelling career were totally uncalled for.
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I absolutely respect and admire the converts (especially safir and alana), because they're so proud to express themselves, yet so humble about it at the same time. Its just amazing, inspiring, and just so lovely!!
But I find it really good of Shana to reflect on her Muslimness towards the end.
I like the term 'Halalyfying', and I think the docummentary has put a LOT of stuff into perspective. I could give my opinion on it all day because I absolutely loved watching that. Thanks for sharing.
SubhanAllah, i find these reverts so inspiring. They leave their old ways, and join a religion which is completely polar to their previous doings. They change for the better and they literally put their heart and soul into this new change. I find it simply amazing. Do any of you have sessions and events in your city that encourage reverts to come along and be a part of the community?
There's this cultural barrier of 'You're only allowed to marry people of your ethnicity and caste' and i find that so sad. It's such a backward idea and people need to move on from that. Maybe the older generations find it hard to accept, but i think this new generation shouldn't be exactly the same. We like the idea of people joining Islam because the prophet Muhammad (S)'s Ummah is growing, but then why do some families sideline reverts and just reject them? They're Muslim, they can cook and clean, and they can be good daughter-in-laws. What's the difference?
Hmm.. and in general terms, i really do wonder why people with a Muslim upbringing, don't seem to have that buzz that the reverts have. Having a bit of a 'lowtime' is understandable but then some seem to have lost the 'touch' and are partially blinded and fail to see the beauty of Islam. I pray Allah guides us all, and brings us closer to Him.
Asalaamualaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatahu,
Bismillahi Rahmaani Rahiim,
In light of innumerate recent posts around Facebook and Twitter, most seemingly condemnatory in their concent - I felt I wanted to make a response to this 'hype' over BBC 3's recent documnetary on Reverts and reverting to the Din.
I begin by first reminding all you readers that I, Esa, am a revert. I also begin by reminding all readers of the different spiritual levels that each of us belong respectively in regards to our religion.
I must admit, I personally enjoyed this piece of TV and felt that the balance and insight offered by the BBC was actually very good. Furthermore, I feel that the BBC had selected a great selection of reverts whom to follow; and I am most pleased by their selection of the program host - Shana Bukhari.
SubhanAllah, may Allahu ta'aala make it easy for all sisters who filmed this program and grant them success in this Duniya and the Akhira.
But I must comment against the attacks that people have made against individuals within this program, and I must also be frank in saying that this program has brought to light numerous spiritual diseases that are afflicting our Ummah in modern times, namely: backbiting, slander, judgement, hatred, belief in ones' own self worth amongst other things.
I notice people attacking the reverts for certain comments made, and it astonishes me. Many of them complained about the judgements they receieve and exclusion they feel from their local Muslim communities, and I admit to suffering the same - and here, they are suffering the same plight yet people who claim to love Islam, RasoolAllah (SallAllahu alaihi wasallam), the Sahabah, The Ahlul Bayt - the great Suffiyyah and Illuminaries of the Din - are those very same people attacking these reverts for certain statements they made in the course of the program.
SubhanAllah what evil is this? That a revert of only a few weeks is judged for saying, 'I love sleep more than Fajr' - yet many of the Muslims who are judging this revert love their daily lives more than practically all of their Amaal? How ugly a thing when an individual speaks their mind, and highlights their own mistakes (which she clearly stipulated, through her own lack of knowledge, she didn't know whether it was bad or good!) yet she was an individual who read all of her other prayers.
SubhanAllah! The reverts on that Documentary held more Taqwa than most Muslim sisters I've encountered today who tirelessly make excuses for their shortcomings and inabilities - and yes, I accept that and it's fine - but then I implore these individuals that they do not become the people to point the finger and attack.
Do we forget that last night we had the pleasure of observing a number of individuals whom, out of the billions upon this earth, Allahu ta'aala Chose to Guide them to His Din? Do we forget their transformation from their former lives? Do we forget their struggles due to family and friends? Yet we are so quick to judge. May Allahu ta'aala forgive any jaahil individual who preoccupies themself in such ugliness, under the delusion that their own state is of some significance and worth in the Akhira and in the Court of Our Master (SallAllahu alaihi wasallam).
Finally, the case of Shana Bukhari.
Do I detect ... insecurity? I'm sorry to all of you individuals who felt the urge to insult some of her more... serious statements, especially regarding Hijab. But I advise all of these narrow minded individuals too look into their own families, observe how many of their own mothers/sisters/aunties/cousins/neices do not wear Hijaab, who spend their time socialising and free-mixing. SubhanAllah.
Yes, Shana Bukhari (may Allahu ta'aala make it easy for her), is misguided on different levels. But this misguidance is, clearly, as a result of her upbringing and she does not deserve the public onslaught she is receiving. Furthermore, towards the end of the Documentary you can clearly see that these encounters and experiances with reverts are having a positive effect upon her.
We so quickly judged her, yet, unfortunately, Shana represents an issue that is now widespread and prevelant amongst many of our youth who have followed similar paths away from the Din - and one must first learn to correct these issues within their own areas of jurisdiction before publicly slamming and hating upon this sister.
How often I remind my students that they may, without even realising it, die upon Kuffr and on the Day of Judgement their rank will be lower than that of a dog. In the same way, I remind all of the 'haters' out there; this individual may be publicly misguided, however, she may well die in a better state than any of us.
I finish by saying that we as an Ummah need to start facing our issues head on, as opposed to sweeping them under the carpet and then destroying someone who publicly brings our issues to the forefront of our mind (due to our own inabilities and insecruties)
May Allahu ta'aala forgive any errors I've made in the process of this post.
BarakAllahu feekum.
my humble and pretty worthless opinion.
it was alright. loved the convert. would love to get in touch with the first one. Was angry at the non practising muslim quite a few times, not at her specifically more at the reaction its going to cause, the whole "look at her, she's muslims and she hasnt got any problem with our society, why do you have to be so difficult?" thing that always happens.
plus i dont often understand girly girl. but she is an extremely girly girl aint she? so that didnt help my migraned mind...
i was angry (As far and as passionately as a migrane ridden person can be) abt what happened to her when she tried to be miss universe, all those hate mail.
I was gawping at the mummy convert walking the dog. at some point the narrator said something like "she's planning of making big changes" and i was like "like getting rid of the DAWG!" lol. that was funneh. mum said something like, can you imagine someone walks into your shop looking at niqaab and they got a dog back home? lol-able. I also would love to visit that shop she went to actually. its loveleh, i shall track it down! her youngest is beautiful with a scarf!
hmm...thinking abt this...the show really was abt Miss Bukhari wasnt it? I would have loved to have found out how the converts found their Islam.
actually, i would love to know how this programme came out. who had the idea of it etc...
i remember being quite very angry at miss Bukhari at the beginning of the show. her whole attitude towards Islam. like..i really couldnt get my head round it. (i couldnt turn my head just around much that night anyway lol). i dont even remember what she said that confuzzled me so much. thats how much it confuzzled me.
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for the next installments of "the adventures of not so little Miss Bukhari" she shld go visit some muslim born, muslim stayed Asians and non asians. wont that make amazing entertainment! and drama. dont forget drama. I mean, all that halaliffying and dehalalifying, or shld that be deharaming clothing was quite the climax
Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?
Just watching it now
Think the first girl on the programme is sweet
I think Shanna expresses the thoughts that everyday normal people ask
So I dont know why there is a need to offended at it
How often do you hear the sort of stuff she has said every other day?
I like Mr Eesa's post, thanks for sharing.
"How many people find fault in what they're reading and the fault is in their own understanding" Al Mutanabbi