From Christian to Muslim
These city women chose to embrace Islam willingly
Jody Warwaruk, Journal Staff Writer
Edmonton Journal
Monday, November 05, 2001
When Leah Spelliscy walks down the street, strangers who see her shrouded in traditional Muslim dress occasionally urge her to break free from her oppression.
They're always surprised to discover that Spelliscy, an Irish-Canadian, willingly chose to embrace Islam when she was in her mid-20s.
For her, Islam -- a religion she was barely aware of growing up -- answered all the questions about God she grappled with during her Catholic upbringing.
"In Islam, I found a match to all the ideas I already had," says Spelliscy, 32, who converted years before she met her Muslim husband. "I could accept it in its totality, not just take some parts and reject others."
In the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States, when non-Muslims hear about Islam it is likely to be combined with images of terrorism, violence or oppression.
But contrary to that negative stereotype, Islam is a religion of peace and love, says Spelliscy.
Her parents, however, at times still struggle to comprehend her conversion. It's become a bit more confusing for them with the nonstop media coverage of the terrorist attacks.
"I love and respect my parents," Spelliscy says. "But sometimes it's difficult for them because they can see that my husband and I and his family are not like what they see on TV. They understand what I tell them about Islam, but often get a conflicting story from the news.
"The negative stereotype of Muslims started long before Sept. 11. It's not just on the news. You even see it in movies because now that the Cold War is over, the enemy is often portrayed as a Muslim."
But have recent events ever caused her to regret converting to Islam?
"Not for even a split second. Islam is not responsible for these attacks. Some criminals somewhere are," says Spelliscy, who kept her maiden name, an Islamic tradition to preserve a woman's individuality.
Scholars say in Islam women are equal to men in the eyes of God.
In fact, some rights were given to Muslim women centuries before their western counterparts. For example, since the time of Mohammed in the seventh century, Muslim women have been allowed to vote and to own personal property.
And it has always been the duty of all Muslims -- both men and women -- to seek knowledge from cradle to grave.
It is not uncommon, say experts, for women of different faiths to embrace Islam, particularly those of Christian or Jewish background as the Koran is intertwined with the sacred texts of those two religions.
For some, Islam holds the answers they've been seeking.
Such was the case for Joanna, an Edmonton woman who chose to embrace the faith in her early-20s. Like Spelliscy, she struggled with Christianity and was attracted to what she calls Islam's simplicity.
Before converting, however, she read an English version of the Koran from cover to cover. "I accepted Islam solely on the message," says Joanna, 26, who asked that her last name not be used.
Spelliscy and Joanna both observe hijab, the covering of the head and body. Hijab is not a requirement or restriction, but a right and privilege, the women say.
"I am not oppressed. I choose to wear hijab. It is something I treasure. I would never want it to be taken away from me," says Spelliscy, who is in her fourth year of education at the U of A.
Hijab gives strength and empowerment, says Joanna. It's not worn because a woman is forced to by her husband, but because she wants to worship God and follow the rules of modesty that are prescribed for both men and women in the Koran.
"Some people view the hijab as oppressive, but it's actually the opposite," she says.
"It liberates in that the woman doesn't feel she has to impress other people. She has more self-respect because she is not just something to look at. She doesn't have to worry about her hair or body, but can focus on who she is, her person, her mind, her character."
In fact, Joanna believes it is women who don't cover who are oppressed because they risk becoming slaves to the ideals of feminine beauty dictated by society.
Charlene Smith, 21, converted to Islam while at university. Like the other two women, she converted for herself, not because she was marrying a Muslim.
After wearing the hijab for a few years, Smith started going out occasionally in niqab, a covering which hides the entire face except the eyes.
Soon she realized when her face was covered she felt more comfortable in public.
The niqab, however, does elicit more of a response from strangers. A man in a pickup truck once yelled at Smith to go back to her country. One of her friends was asked if it was Halloween when she was working out at a fitness club.
The stares and comments don't bother Smith, but she wishes people would take the time to talk to her before making uninformed judgments.
"Why don't people just ask," she says. "If they are going to be thinking about us and talking about us, why don't they just come and ask us instead of forming their own ideas."
Spelliscy says the strange looks and occasional jeers are far outweighed by the joy she finds in Islam.
"When I accepted Islam, I finally found peace in my life," she says.
"If everyone understood Islam for what it really is and could get beyond the severe misconceptions that are out there, they would understand that Islam means peace. They would run to it." |
