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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Converting to Islam - the white Britons becoming Muslims | Converting to Islam - the white Britons becoming Muslims |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| By Catrin Nye BBC Asian Network | By Catrin Nye BBC Asian Network |
| As 22-year-old Aisha Uddin recites Surah Al-Fatiha - the first chapter of the Koran - at home with close friend Sameeah Karim, she may stumble over one word but otherwise the text is perfectly recounted. | As 22-year-old Aisha Uddin recites Surah Al-Fatiha - the first chapter of the Koran - at home with close friend Sameeah Karim, she may stumble over one word but otherwise the text is perfectly recounted. |
| But unlike Sameeah, 35, who has Pakistani heritage and grew up reading the holy book, Aisha is newer to it: she used to be called Laura and only converted to Islam two years ago. | |
| She is pale and has bright blue eyes; originally from Birmingham, until recently she dressed like many other young white British women. | She is pale and has bright blue eyes; originally from Birmingham, until recently she dressed like many other young white British women. |
| "Before it was the jeans, the hoodies, loads of make-up," she says. | "Before it was the jeans, the hoodies, loads of make-up," she says. |
| Now Aisha wears a long black jilbab (a long flowing over-garment) and a cream-coloured hijab (headscarf). | Now Aisha wears a long black jilbab (a long flowing over-garment) and a cream-coloured hijab (headscarf). |
| "For me now, obviously it's a dramatic change, but it's a change I'm happy I've made, because now I don't have to prove myself to anybody out there." | "For me now, obviously it's a dramatic change, but it's a change I'm happy I've made, because now I don't have to prove myself to anybody out there." |
| Aisha took an interest in religion at school - and started quietly visiting her local mosque to find out more. | Aisha took an interest in religion at school - and started quietly visiting her local mosque to find out more. |
| "Islam caught my eye and I wanted to look further into it - the people, the culture - and I carried on studying it and studying it, even after school. Living in Birmingham, I was surrounded by the religion." | "Islam caught my eye and I wanted to look further into it - the people, the culture - and I carried on studying it and studying it, even after school. Living in Birmingham, I was surrounded by the religion." |
| She says she spent years finding out more about Islam before fully committing to the religion, changing her appearance and starting to pray five times a day. | She says she spent years finding out more about Islam before fully committing to the religion, changing her appearance and starting to pray five times a day. |
| "Life's changed dramatically, I was a rebel before, I was always getting into trouble at home, going out and staying out - not trying hard enough at school. | "Life's changed dramatically, I was a rebel before, I was always getting into trouble at home, going out and staying out - not trying hard enough at school. |
| "Then when I became Muslim, I sort of calmed down. I wanted to stay at home studying on the internet or reading books. And I'm more happy than I was - I'm proud of who I am, I've got a certain identity." | "Then when I became Muslim, I sort of calmed down. I wanted to stay at home studying on the internet or reading books. And I'm more happy than I was - I'm proud of who I am, I've got a certain identity." |
| Aisha is one of a growing number of white converts according to a new study by Swansea University for the charity Faith Matters. | Aisha is one of a growing number of white converts according to a new study by Swansea University for the charity Faith Matters. |
| Using a number of sources, including a survey of more than 250 British mosques, census data from 2001 and conversion figures in Europe, the researchers estimate that there could be as many as 100,000 converts - of all ethnic backgrounds - in the UK. This represents an increase on an estimated 60,000 converts in 2001. | Using a number of sources, including a survey of more than 250 British mosques, census data from 2001 and conversion figures in Europe, the researchers estimate that there could be as many as 100,000 converts - of all ethnic backgrounds - in the UK. This represents an increase on an estimated 60,000 converts in 2001. |
| For an insight into the experiences of Muslim converts, the researchers spoke to 120 - mainly young, white women. | |
| Many converts - like Aisha - reported experiencing hostility from their families. She says her parents thought her conversion represented a rejection of her upbringing. | Many converts - like Aisha - reported experiencing hostility from their families. She says her parents thought her conversion represented a rejection of her upbringing. |
| Support network | Support network |
| "My family they weren't too happy about it, [saying] why change your identity? Why cover your hair? Why dress the way you dress?" says Aisha. | "My family they weren't too happy about it, [saying] why change your identity? Why cover your hair? Why dress the way you dress?" says Aisha. |
| "Being in a society where there's so much bad press around... but if you actually get to know these people, they're the friendliest people ever. I'm proud to be Muslim, I don't care what my family say." | "Being in a society where there's so much bad press around... but if you actually get to know these people, they're the friendliest people ever. I'm proud to be Muslim, I don't care what my family say." |
| Aisha does have a wider support network now. She has recently had a traditional Asian wedding to a British Bangladeshi man and lives with her in-laws. | Aisha does have a wider support network now. She has recently had a traditional Asian wedding to a British Bangladeshi man and lives with her in-laws. |
| She also has a lot of friends, also converts, who she met at new Muslim groups. | She also has a lot of friends, also converts, who she met at new Muslim groups. |
| Aisha pores over pictures of all the women lined up in their different coloured headscarves at her wedding. | Aisha pores over pictures of all the women lined up in their different coloured headscarves at her wedding. |
| "That's Lailah, that's Hanan, that's Mary… Sameeah's the only Asian one," she laughs. | "That's Lailah, that's Hanan, that's Mary… Sameeah's the only Asian one," she laughs. |
| At Regent's Park Mosque in central London there are many white faces among the crowd for Friday prayers. | At Regent's Park Mosque in central London there are many white faces among the crowd for Friday prayers. |
| Conversions happen here every week - largely on a Saturday, and they are mostly women. | Conversions happen here every week - largely on a Saturday, and they are mostly women. |
| Tony Blair's sister-in-law, Lauren Booth, is a recent convert and prays there. | Tony Blair's sister-in-law, Lauren Booth, is a recent convert and prays there. |
| One London imam, Ajmal Masroor, says the findings of the study come as little surprise to him. He says in his experience around three-quarters of converts are women. | One London imam, Ajmal Masroor, says the findings of the study come as little surprise to him. He says in his experience around three-quarters of converts are women. |
| 'Personal journey' | 'Personal journey' |
| "Many people are looking for a spiritual and fulfilling lifestyle rather than the hedonistic, materially-driven one that we have around us," says Imam Masroor. | "Many people are looking for a spiritual and fulfilling lifestyle rather than the hedonistic, materially-driven one that we have around us," says Imam Masroor. |
| "They find an answer in Islam. Women are hard-wired to reflect and think and take things more seriously, even from a young age. | "They find an answer in Islam. Women are hard-wired to reflect and think and take things more seriously, even from a young age. |
| "This has been going on for the last 20 years and more so since 9/11. People are curious, so they go to the book rather than the distorted media headlines. | "This has been going on for the last 20 years and more so since 9/11. People are curious, so they go to the book rather than the distorted media headlines. |
| "They learn that Islam is fulfilling as a personal journey as well as a collective conscience." | "They learn that Islam is fulfilling as a personal journey as well as a collective conscience." |
| Sarah Joseph sits in her office studying the latest edition of Emel, the Muslim lifestyle magazine she edits. | Sarah Joseph sits in her office studying the latest edition of Emel, the Muslim lifestyle magazine she edits. |
| She converted to Islam as a teenager and has adopted the headscarf, saying she was looking for something with more meaning. | She converted to Islam as a teenager and has adopted the headscarf, saying she was looking for something with more meaning. |
| "I'd grown up in a model agency and I'd been surrounded my whole life by external beauty, and the hijab was, and very much is, about the search for inner beauty," she says. | "I'd grown up in a model agency and I'd been surrounded my whole life by external beauty, and the hijab was, and very much is, about the search for inner beauty," she says. |
| Despite the difficulties, Sarah says British converts have a vital role to play in explaining two sides - Britain's Muslim and non-Muslim communities - to each other. | Despite the difficulties, Sarah says British converts have a vital role to play in explaining two sides - Britain's Muslim and non-Muslim communities - to each other. |
| "[Converts have] authentically belonged to two traditions and should act as a conduit to show each side that we share far more than we differ." | "[Converts have] authentically belonged to two traditions and should act as a conduit to show each side that we share far more than we differ." |
| You can hear more on this story on the BBC's Asian Network Reports radio show or via the BBC iPlayer. | You can hear more on this story on the BBC's Asian Network Reports radio show or via the BBC iPlayer. |