Lifting the Veil on Irish Islam

By Maggie Armstrong
Irish Independent
January 25, 2014

http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/lifting-the-veil-on-irish-islam-29941427.html

“I was missing a piece of the puzzle, and I was always searching. I already fitted this religion — I just needed to find it.” — Aishah Caulfield

Islam is Ireland's fastest-growing religion, with the number of Muslims recorded in the 2011 Census – 48,130 – expected to reach 100,000 by 2020. In a country where only 34pc of approximately 3.8 million Catholics attend Mass, many people are drifting away from religion. But a small number are finding that Islamic beliefs and practices, which allow for a peaceful and community-oriented life, fit their spiritual needs.

It is estimated that up to 500 Irish people convert to Islam every year. There is no official register and no baptism – to convert you simply have to recite the testimony of creed in front of two Muslim witnesses.

While more women convert than men, and most conversions are for marriage, people can have very personal reasons for converting – or reverting as it is known in the Islamic faith, in which it is believed that everyone was born Muslim.

Ireland has a thriving Muslim community. Building begins next year on what is set to be the biggest Islamic cultural centre in the country, in Clongriffin on Dublin's northside. There are mosques and dedicated primary schools in each of our cities. And unlike the situation in France, there is no policy against Muslim girls wearing the hijab (veil) to school.

Support for converts is offered by the Muslim Sisters of Eire, an organisation run by Irish Muslim women, and at the Islamic Cultural Centre in Clonskeagh, Dublin, where theologian Dr Ali Salem teaches a course for new Muslims.

"When people revert, they can be very enthusiastic," says Dr Salem. "We teach a moderate understanding of Islam, and we also teach them [converts] how to change their lives gradually."

Aishah (formerly Liza) Caulfield (36, creche worker)

I come from Irishtown in Dublin 4, born and bred Irish. I became interested in Islam around 12 years ago.

My lifestyle wasn't typically Irish on the social level. I wasn't going to nightclubs and I wasn't into drinking. I always wondered if there was a group of people out there who had a quieter lifestyle, a faith that matched how I lived my life.

I was missing a piece of the puzzle, and I was always searching. I already fitted this religion – I just needed to find it.

Through research I kept coming across Islam. I wasn't very outward about it at the beginning. When 9/11 happened I thought, "Right, maybe not now, but I'll continue looking". I took the official conversion, the Shahada, three years ago and got married last year to a Muslim from Mauritius.

My dad said, "It's about time", when I took the Shahada. My family bought me hijabs and my dad was like, "I'll get you one of those Qurans." He was very hands-on. He's a staunch Catholic, goes to confession every month and Mass every Sunday. He'd be praying morning and night.