A Canadian lady and four Philippino women declared their embrace of Islam in an atmosphere of family unity and social harmony after the performance of yesterday's Friday prayers at Abn-Bakr Al-Siddiq mosque. The Muslim sisters are: Eman, Leila Daza, Fatima and Maha. Attending the event were female officials and Muslim missionaries in the woman branch of Qatar Center for Introducing (People) to Islam. Sheikh Abdul Salam Al-Basioni. a missionary at the Ministry of Waqfs and Islamic Affairs, delivered the Friday preaching on the image of the female in the Holy Quran and Islam's noble treatment of her.
 
The new Islam embracers professed the two "shahadas" in front of the attending praying women and celebrated the embrace of Islam by one of them, Eman, who had declared herself a Muslim at the court three days ago and got married to a Muslim yesterday. Al-Watan wal Mowaten met with Mrs. Eman, who was accompanied by the female missionaries Jennifer and Basma from Qatar Center for Introducing (People) to Islam, and she told us about her journey from error to true guidance. She said:
"My name was Lynn. I was married to a lip-service Muslim. We had three children: Hamid- Daniai and Zakariah. He did not encourage me to embrace Islam although I was very fond of it for eleven years. And, we divorced. That period of time helped me read all about Islam and be introduced to the Islamic rituals and devotions. I lived all my life in Canada until God secured for me a virtuous and true Muslim husband who helped me embrace the new religion. Thus, I began a new life with a Muslim husband and came to Qatar where I have stayed for four weeks. I will leave for Canada again to bring my children and live here in an atmosphere of family union and true fraternal harmony which I missed for several years.

As for my beginnings with Islam, God has led me to embrace Islam through my husband, who chose for me the name Eman (Faith) so that God may consolidate my determination and spiritual powers. For the last six months, I have felt how Islam is deeply rooted in me and therefore decided to declare my embrace of Islam. I was Catholic in origin, and my family did not object to my conversion. They told me "Since you are wise, you are free. You know where your good lies and you know how much you are able and determined." Even my eight-year old son kept watching me while I was praying, fasting and performing night prayers. He fasted with me last Ramadan. Thank God, today I can face the world with a challenge inside me because God has implanted in my depths tranquility and relief."

With regard to the September events, Eman said that these did not make her reluctant to embrace Islam. "On the contrary", said she. "It raised in me several questions about the distortion of the image of Islam by linking it to terrorism. This made me much more tenacious and gave me the feeling at that moment that Islam is 'Truth'. Even my son Hamid was criticized for having such a 'strange' name, on the assumption that it is linked with terrorism. The non-stop criticism and pressure on us, however, made me more willing to declare Islam."

Answering a question about how she envisages her future, Mrs. Eman said: "I will leave for Canada then come back to Qatar with my children to lead a successful family life. And being a nurse, I will be able to work hard after entering a new life."