Myriam francois cerrah biography of abraham james

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. 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.

I embraced Islam after graduating from Cambridge.

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.

It combined Kant, Hume, Sartre and Aristotle. In the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him , I recognized a man who was tasked with a momentous mission, like his predecessors, Moses, Jesus and Abraham peace be upon them all. 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.

Myriam Francois-Cerrah is a writer and broadcaster with a focus on current affairs, France and the Middle East.

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 also found many mosques not particularly welcoming and found the rules and protocol confusing and stressful.