Athira (left, before conversion) and Ayisha (right, after conversion to Islam), Image Source: The News Minute
Ever since the teaser of the film, The Kerala Storyb showed up, there have been protests, and attempts to tame it by calling the film propaganda. At such time, we bring to you the story of this Hindu woman who embraced Islam under the influence of radical Islamic preacher Zakir Naik but returned to the Snantan fold on her own.
This is the story of Athira who became Ayisha.
In 2017, the 23-year-old Athira went missing, for a few months, in July later she showed up wearing a full-body veil (Burqa) and a head scarf (Hijab). This was an indication to her family that she had converted to Islam. Her new name was Ayisha.
Notably, Ayisha reverted back to Sanatana Dharma in September 2017. Athira is a native of Kasargod district of Kerala. Upon reverting back to Hinduism she made a public statement in front of the media and started the press conference by saying “Om Namah Shivay”.
In an exclusive interview with India Today, Athiya shared her story, “During my college days most of my friends were Muslims. Some of them started to initiate religious conversations and they used to tell me that Hindu beliefs were not authentic I didn’t have any response as I knew nothing about my religion.”
She added, Influenced by them, I misunderstood that Islam is the only true religion. They used to give me books to read. I was really frightened after reading the descriptions of hell (Jahannum).
“I used to listen to speeches including that of Zakir Naik. After all of this, I misunderstood that Islam is the only true religion. I blindly believed in Islam. That’s when I decided to choose Islam, ” Athira said.
She said, she was influenced by the religious texts shared with her by some of her Muslim friends and no one forced her to Islam.
According to her, she got in touch with an Ustad in Malappuram through a friend, after which, she was added to a WhatsApp group called “Hidayat sisters.”
Apart from reading more about Islam, Athira said that at one point, she also tried to convince her parents to convert.
“I started telling them that Islam was the only true religion. When they didn’t get convinced, I began to be very angry with them. Because according to Islam, non-believers are kaafirs. In Quran, it is said that if your parents don’t believe in Islam, you needn’t show love to them,” she said.
Influenced by her friends and religious texts, Athira decided to embrace Islam. Her parents were totally against her decision and then she decided to leave her home.
On July 10th, she left home leaving a 15-page letter to her parents that she has gone to learn about Islam. On July 27, she surrendered before Kannur police and a local court sent her to a state home for women.
Her parents then moved to Kerala High Court, seeking her custody. It was granted after Athira said that she was willing to go with her parents, as long as they did not object to her practicing Islam.
According to Athira, she knew her parents would protest if she started dressing differently or started praying in the Islamic way. Her friends then told her about three Islamic institutions where she can study the religion, Athira told reporters.
“They told me I will get a certificate from one centre in Ponnani, Tharbiat-ul Sabha and Sathyasarani. I was oblivious to my parents’ suffering”.
She also spoke about Siraj, a worker of Popular Front of India (PFI), who she claims, helped her with everything. She said that people including Siraj instructed her on how she should give her statement in court when her family files a complaint.
After a series of judicial battles, Athria decided to go with her parents under the condition that they would not let her practice the religion of her choice. After embracing Islam she also changed her name to Ayisha.
After a silence of over a month, Athira once again met the media, this time claiming that he has decided to return to Hinduism. The return is believed to be under the counselling of Arsha Vidya Samajam.
Talking about her return, Athira says that after contacting Arya Vidhya Samajam, they asked her to read Quran with logic rather than blind religious belief. “As I started reading it with logic, I started to realize that many things mentioned in the Quran were wrong or illogical.
It was the unawareness about my own religion that forced me to believe in another religion. Now, I’m happy for realizing the fact and returning to Hinduism,” concluded Athira.
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