Captives, yet Later Converts!
I was astonished at the sight of a long list of converts to Islam from different faiths and nationalities. They willingly embraced the new faith from all walks of life: football players, filmmakers, diplomats, ambassadors, writers, philosophers, members of the clergy, preachers, poets, boxers, and many others. Our concern today is captives who resolved to be Muslim converts; albeit they were under captivity, they opted for the faith of the captor.
The new situation in Afghanistan reminds us of a female suspected U.S. spy whose story attracted much attention. The former reporter for the Sunday Express thought the coast was clear, still was soon caught with a camera in 2001 and was immediately kept captive. Although Yvonne Ridley came down on Taliban soldiers like a ton of bricks and could not mind her p’s and q’s, she was forgiven and released when she promised to read the Quran. Yvonne kept her promise and converted to Islam in the wake of a spiritual journey through the leaves of the Holy Quran. The ex-hard-drinking Yvonne was no more a lover of alcohol, nor was she desirous of extramarital relationships. Beautifully enough, she turned into a witness on the power and persuasion of Islam and disowned the twisted ideas she used to have. You can discover this yourself with a new flavour as you watch her videos.
Likewise, much ink was dripped on the issue of former Sophie Petronin, present Mariam, the French aid worker abducted in Mali in 2016. President Emmanuel Macron, known for his aversion to Islam, was taken aback by Mariam’s genuine move to the new faith and her great determination to go back to Mali where she had been detained for four years. Which wizard makes a French woman prefer far-flung backward areas to Eiffel Tower and Parisian perfume? What makes one prefer basic needs to luxury and great comfort?
Two years after the arrest of Sophie, Italian aid worker Silvia Romano was kidnapped by gunmen in northeast Kenya. Rage ran amok in Italy, and everybody questioned Silvia’s true intentions and queer adventure. A couple of months later, Silvia became Aisha without make-up and with a loose robe that does not depict the body’s contours. What makes Silvia favour poor Somalia over rich Italy? What makes her adore the place where she was cornered and look down on the area where she was a free angel?! Was it a matter of Stockholm Syndrome or brainwash as the press alleges in the case of Silvia and Yvonne?
A fourth story, about fifteen centuries ago, is of a male disbeliever in 628. While the patrols, some of the Prophet Muhammad’s companions (PBUH), were combing the area, they came across Thumama bnu Uthal. He was the ruler of Al-Yamama. He had ignored the Prophet’s letters, killed some of his companions and had attempted to assassinate the Prophet himself. They tied him to a post in the mosque and soon after a gentle conversation with Muhammad (PBUH), he was set free. Thumama did not hesitate to accept Islam that went along with his grain, and on the spot boycotted Quraish, the Prophet’s enemies; No wheat was allowed to quit Al-Yamama. Nevertheless, when Quraish urged the Prophet to make Thumama change his mind, the latter expressed his immediate approval.
What makes people from different faiths and eras choose Islam tarred worldwide with the same brush of terrorism?! What made Thumama switch from repugnance for Islam to infatuation with it, and from being an abhorrer to being a devotee?! Again, what made the three female captives in distant parts of the world without security choosers of a faith fought far and wide? Captivity seems to make one rethink existence, question the world after death and review all past files. Truly, every cloud has a silver lining; good shines amid what sounds disaster.
At length, the heart indeed bleeds for every Tom, Dick, and Harry who, in the electronic age, have not yet grasped why they are on earth, which faith fits their fate and shapes their merriment and whether they are initially in need of a given faith.
