British Actress Inspired by Prophet’s Life
Posted on 30. Jul, 2011 by Editor in Religion
The opening of Al Fatiha, with its address to the whole of mankind, psychologically stopped me in my tracks. It spoke of 
previous scriptures in a way which I both recognized, but also differed. It clarified many of the doubts I had about Christianity. It made me an adult as I suddenly realized that my destiny and my actions had consequences for which I alone would now be held responsible.
Myriam Francois-Cerrah Embraces Islam
I embraced Islam after graduating from Cambridge. Prior to that I was a skeptical Catholic; a believer in God but with a mistrust of organized religion.
The Qur’an was pivotal for me. I first tried to approach it in anger, as part of an attempt to prove my Muslim friend wrong. Later I began reading it with a more open mind.
The opening of Al Fatiha, with its address to the whole of mankind, psychologically stopped me in my tracks. It spoke of previous scriptures in a way which I both recognized, but also differed. It clarified many of the doubts I had about Christianity. It made me an adult as I suddenly realized that my destiny and my actions had consequences for which I alone would now be held responsible.
In a world governed by relativism, it outlined objective moral truths and the foundation of morality. As someone who’d always had a keen interest in philosophy, the Qur’an felt like the culmination of all of this philosophical cogitation. It combined Kant, Hume, Sartre and Aristotle. It somehow managed to address and answer the deep philosophical questions posed over centuries of human existence and answer its most fundamental one, ‘why are we here?’
In the Prophet Muhammad, I recognized a man who was tasked with a momentous mission, like his predecessors, Moses, Jesus and Abraham. I had to pick apart much of the Orientalist libel surrounding him in order to obtain accurate information, since the historical relativism which people apply to some degree when studying other historical figures, is often completely absent, in what is a clear attempt to disparage his person.
I think many of my close friends thought I was going through another phase and would emerge from the other side unscathed, not realizing that the change was much more profound. Some of my closest friends did their best to support me and understand my decisions. I have remained very close to some of my childhood friends and through them I recognize the universality of the Divine message, as God’s values shine through in the good deeds any human does, Muslim or not.
I have never seen my conversion as a ‘reaction’ against, or an opposition to my culture. In contrast, it was a validation of what I’ve always thought was praiseworthy, whilst being a guidance for areas in need of improvement. I also found many mosques not particularly welcoming and found the rules and protocol confusing and stressful. I did not immediately identify with the Muslim community. I found many things odd and many attitudes perplexing. The attention given to the outward over the inward continues to trouble me deeply.
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Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) said: 'Forgive him who wrongs you. Join him who cuts you off. Do good to him who does evil to you and speak the truth even if it be against yourself.' |
There is a need for a confident, articulate British Muslim identity which can contribute to the discussions of our time. Islam is not meant to be an alien religion, we shouldn’t feel like we’ve lost all trace of ourselves. Islam is a validation of the good in us and a means to rectify the bad. Islam is about always having balance and I think the Prophet's (peace be upon him) message was fundamentally about having balance and equilibrium in all that we do.
The Prophet's message was always that you repel bad with good that you always respond to evil with good and always remember that God loves justice so even when people are committing serious injustices against you, you have a moral responsibility and a moral obligation in front of God to always uphold justice and never yourself transgress those limits.
Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) said: 'Forgive him who wrongs you. Join him who cuts you off. Do good to him who does evil to you and speak the truth even if it be against yourself.'
Islam's beauty really becomes to its own when it becomes manifest and it becomes manifest when you make it into a tool for the betterment of society, human kind and the world.
The ideal from an Islamic perspective is for ethics to become lived ethics, to become an applied body of values and not remain unfortunately as it often is cloistered in the mosque of somewhere which is some more divorced from reality.
Myriam Francois-Cerrah became popular when she was a child for acting in the 90's hit film 'Sense and Sensibility.' Now she is gaining more popularity for being one of a growing number of educated middle class female converts to Islam in Britain.
She has recently contributed to a series of videos on Islam produced in the UK titled (Inspired by Muhammad).
Also read 'When truth touches you.'
Courtesy On Islam
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23 Responses to “British Actress Inspired by Prophet’s Life”
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David Palmer
01. Aug, 2011
Awwww, so this is a Muslim site.
Rabbit
01. Aug, 2011
No David, it is an analysis and opinion site, which does not discriminate against religion. Given that most of the rest of the media is Zionist owned and controlled, and that the many Muslim commenters on this site yet make valid and honest commentary, indeed vastly superior to and more accurate than that lying Zionist media, then even if it were a Muslim site, it would have to be respected anyway.
So your own special brand of Zionist inspired racism, (which just had its expression in the person of Anders Breivik) and I see the hateful and innacurate site of lies you think is worth anyone's time, needs perhaps to have a look at the actual facts, and note that the millions of murdered civilians, murdered in their own beds, when they were living in peace actually, was caused by Jews and ostensible Christians.
At a kill rate of about 100,000 Muslims for every Christian Zionist Jew invader and given that the Christian and Jewish invaders are the aggressor in every case….I think that Islam has clearl;y proved it credibility on the peace front. However dickhead, don't be mistaken, Muslims rae given the right, even ordered to defend themselves and despite being a peaceful people on the whole, you hypocrites and hateful bastards from hell, are earning the anger of the entire Islamic population.
Maybe if Muslims used white phosphorus on civilians, depleted uranium weapons all over and also on civilians, and maybe if they had remote control robots for murdering people, mostly civilians, and maybe if Muslims were invading others lands to bring them "freedom" from the filthy perversions which infest your dirty putrid Zionist inspired societies, and maybe if Muslims were invading and occupying lands to steal their resources, maybe if Muslims owned the media and were using it and their powerful lobbies to create a World War between others, maybe then you piece of shit, you might have a point. As it is you are just a piece of shit.
Actually Islam of which I happen to be a member is a religion of the most profoundly peaceful teachings and it makes the two older primitive religous traditions from the Middle East look like the abominations they have become.. This article describes my own reaaction to reading about the life of the Prophet. They were true religions once also, but have become so corrupted by evil men and their ideas. Islam remains, pure and untainted by filth and perverse lis and corruptions.
andrew james
01. Aug, 2011
Oh, here we go again!…..Islam the religion of peace…..be good to infidels……
be kind to all women….treat all with love and respect…,blah, blah blah blah!
In reality we all know this religion represents hate, hate, hate and more hate
What a joke
sameer
04. Aug, 2011
hi andrew ..
no brother.not at all…..There is not at all a place of hatred in islam
how do u dt islam religin represents hate hate……
No way ..
David Rosenburg
01. Aug, 2011
Mindless twit
Chris
01. Aug, 2011
Ross
01. Aug, 2011
David
of course this is a muslim site! Try to say anything really obvious about their cult's beliefs – and see if it gets up.
They fete cultural traitors like the above dhimmi as trophies
Khalif
01. Aug, 2011
ross & david – look at your cult's history
trophies? that is in Christainity being a pyramidal system. educate yourself.
barbarity, brutality, ……… that is why you were kicked out of most countries and the brit unelected leader was going around world saying sorry and even the brit rums the name cameron said as such
Cameron's F-word rant at reporter over 'UK responsible for world's … - [ ]
10 Apr 2011 – Cameron turned on a journalist who had reported his remark and said: … UK to provide economic, trade assistance to Pakistan: Cameron – Apr …
http://www.thaindian.com/…/camerons-f-word-rant-at-reporter-over-uk-responsible-for-worlds-problems-remark_100524193.htm…
London, April 10(ANI): British Prime Minister David Cameron, who had held his own country responsible for many of the world’s historic problems, including the Kashmir conflict between India and Pakistan, swore angrily on the plane journey back from his trip to Islamabad after he learned of the row sparked by his comment.
Cameron turned on a journalist who had reported his remark and said: “You f*****!”, the Mail Online reported.
————————————-
than rummy came out with UK unelected leader queen's oxford cambridge english word for evrything they have done in the world
it irks you goons when there is any positive story abouut Muslims. You beer louts come out with the isra helli mantra as adopted by edl
Paul Barrow
01. Aug, 2011
I'm still discovering Islam myself, and there is certainly much that I like about it. It's ethics are most certainly progressive. It's enforcement of law has paradoxically raised issues of human rights or humanitarian considerations regar…ding justice, because it is difficult to have a heart for forgiveness and mete out cruel punishments at the same time. I think what I could never embrace are rituals, or acts that must be repeated at any specific time of the day or week or year, because this makes practice itself idolatrous. It is not the practice that appeals to me but the core beliefs about conduct toward one another. I believe that what we practice must come from the heart, or it cannot be unto Allah or to anything pure.
I do like this quotation from a hadith:
Meditation in God is my capital.
Reason and sound logic are the root of my existence.
Love is the foundation of my existence.
Enthusiasm is the vehicle of my life.
Contemplation of Allah is my companion.
Faith is the source of my power.
Sorrow is my friend.
Knowledge is my weapon.
Patience is my clothing and virtue.
Submission to the Divine Will is my pride.
Truth is my salvation.
Worship is my habit.
And in prayer lies the coolness of my eye and my peace of mind.
http://www.sufism.org/soci?ety/hadith.html
When I place that in the context of my somewhat Buddhist sense of the divine, it's quite acceptable and beautiful.
Paul Barrow
01. Aug, 2011
I'm still discovering Islam myself, and there is certainly much that I like about it. It's ethics are most certainly progressive. It's enforcement of law has paradoxically raised issues of human rights or humanitarian considerations regar…ding justice, because it is difficult to have a heart for forgiveness and mete out cruel punishments at the same time. I think what I could never embrace are rituals, or acts that must be repeated at any specific time of the day or week or year, because this makes practice itself idolatrous. It is not the practice that appeals to me but the core beliefs about conduct toward one another. I believe that what we practice must come from the heart, or it cannot be unto Allah or to anything pure.
I do like this quotation from a hadith:
Meditation in God is my capital.
Reason and sound logic are the root of my existence.
Love is the foundation of my existence.
Enthusiasm is the vehicle of my life.
Contemplation of Allah is my companion.
Faith is the source of my power.
Sorrow is my friend.
Knowledge is my weapon.
Patience is my clothing and virtue.
Submission to the Divine Will is my pride.
Truth is my salvation.
Worship is my habit.
And in prayer lies the coolness of my eye and my peace of mind.
http://www.sufism.org/soci?ety/hadith.html
When I place that in the context of my somewhat Buddhist sense of the divine, it's quite acceptable and beautiful.
Folcrom Tafazah
01. Aug, 2011
It has always amazed me how two different people can read the same book and come to completely different conclusions.
Having read the Quran I came to the conclusion that Islam, which does not mean peace at all, it acutally means “submit”, was a religion founded to the core on a hierarchy of slavery.
Even the life of the Profit was to my mind, nothing to be proud of. Later genealogical research showd him to be an ancestor of mine. Something I found so abhorent.
I very much doubt this website will allow my comments through, true though they are. Afterall, it’s all there in their “in-glorious” Quran.
Folcrom Tafazah.
Editor
01. Aug, 2011
According to the editorial policy we do not block any comment as long as it does not hurt the religious sentiments of others or it does not get personal and abusive.
Readers are requested to be careful and kind.
Hamid Ghouse
01. Aug, 2011
This web site is doing a wonderful job by projecting view point of all to a very large number of readers. Muslins point of view is also reflected very frequently by many distinguished writers who are well versed and authority on the subject. The moot point is to read other side of story without becoming hysterical, angered, using foul language. Islam is the last edition of Abramic religion. It is to stay and expand, that is visible, no one is forced to embrace Islam, and it took only twenty three years to complete its package which by any standard is mindboggling. It has truth for those who can fathom. It is for those who are in search for something beyond this life. It has a message for those who do not have a lock on their hearts. It is strange in Quran that it always talks of message to be accepted by HEART and not BRAIN. I will request all to read holy Quran as a novel few times and then comment, you may have totally different views, Inshallah.
AB
01. Aug, 2011
A humble request to all the reader….please give your comments only if you have a strong defender and proof from your wholy books as there is no religious book in the world which says to insult other's religion and their faith…
Peace Follower
AB
Khalif
01. Aug, 2011
your comments is fresh out the books of the dumb thug head zionist beer louts. the edl mantra that they sing from envelopes they claim came from isra hell. brain washed moron
“Later genealogical research showd him to be an ancestor of mine. Something I found so abhorent. ”
- Sometimes the fruit fall away from the tree and rots – GOOD RIDDANCE
Karla
01. Aug, 2011
My heart grieves for this young woman. The Holy Bible is written in the metaphoric and allegoric (ex: Parables) as well as some literal interpretations of understanding of scripture. The Holy scriptures state that We are to study ourselves approved, not to just "read" the scriptures. One will either understand with the Holy spirit being their guide, or they will not understand. Here is a wonderful study site if anyone feels led to seek out the truth in scripture.
http://truthinscripture.com/warning/
Jason
01. Aug, 2011
Reject religion and embrace reason
Salahudeen
01. Aug, 2011
The Torah Mafia is working full time to discredit Islam and divert attention away from their own crimes. Ask them what the Torah says about all non Jews. Islam is the one true faith and they will fail to do any serious damage to it, no matter how much they try. Yes we are peaceful but don’t step on our toes you Zionatzis. Your gig is up, the curtain is falling and the true nature of your dark souls is showing itself for all to see.
Ebrahim
03. Aug, 2011
Type your comment here…
PLEASE VISIT THE FOLLOWING WEBSITES
http://www.al-islam.org
http://www.al-islam.org/encyclopedia/index.html
http://www.abna.ir/data.asp?lang=3&id=242786
http://www.nahjulbalagha.org/sayings.php
Irfan MIrza
03. Aug, 2011
Welcome Aboard Myriam! You have seen the light and I wish you remain blessed as along as you live and become a beacon of light yourself.
Regards,
Pakistanileaders.com.pk
jr
04. Aug, 2011
MAY ALLAH SWT STRENGTHEN YOUR IMAN …
waseem
04. Aug, 2011
I think that as muslim… A human being and a creation of Allah all this prejudices we hve against each other r but tests of our character and spirit.its important to realise that if we want world peace we need towork towards it by stopping the hate and I’m directing this to mankind not a specific religion because I believe that if you believe in God regardless of. what you may call him you should know that his message was always peace compassion and worshiping his brilliance. Insha allah I pray for world peace n I will work towards it … We r our only obstacles
Myriam Francois-Cerrah…from Hollywood to Makkah « Write & Wrong
15. May, 2012
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