MINA: Among the 19,000 British pilgrims performing Haj this year was British Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Simon Paul Collis and his wife Huda Mujarkech.
It was known by some diplomats and journalists that he had embraced Islam but there had been no official word.
The confirmation came on Tuesday in the form of a tweet from Saudi writer and academic Fawziah Al-Bakr (@fawziah1).
She posted two photos of Ambassador Collis and his wife in which he was wearing ihram, the two pieces of unstitched cloth that male pilgrims wear for performing the pilgrimage.
The ambassador replied to the post by thanking Al-Bakr via his official Twitter handle (@HMASimonCollis).
The ambassador’s wife (@HudaMCollis) retweeted Al-Bakr’s post.
Though Collis refused media requests for interviews on Wednesday, he said: “I have converted to Islam after being in Muslim societies for 30 years, and right before getting married to Huda.”
Collis has served as British ambassador to Saudi Arabia since January last year when Sir John Jenkins retired from the diplomatic service.
The photos went viral on Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram, sending social media into overdrive.
Among the first who congratulated the ambassador and his wife was Princess Basmah bint Saud (@PrincessBasmah).
“Special congratulations to the ambassador and his wife,” wrote Princess Basmah.
“Thank you, Princess Basmah,” replied the ambassador.
British pilgrims were pleasantly surprised by the news.
“I would like to congratulate the ambassador on the historic occasion of his completion of Haj,” said Rashid Mogradia, CEO of the Council of British Hajis (CBHUK).
“He is one of many thousands of British pilgrims to perform the journey of faith and we look forward to him sharing his experience and inspiring us all,” Mogradia added.
At a time when there is so much adverse publicity against Islam and Muslims, especially in the West, the ambassador’s embrace of Islam was seen by the faithful as a vindication of the religion’s universal appeal.
Collis speaks fluent Arabic. He joined the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in 1978 and, after studying Arabic, has served mainly in the Arab world.
A father of five children, his first posting was to Bahrain as second secretary (1981-1984). He served as British ambassador to Iraq (2012-2014), Syria (2007-2012) and Qatar (2005-2007). He was the British consul-general in Dubai (2000-2004) and in Basra (2004-2005). He also served in New Delhi as first secretary from 1991 to 1994.

http://www.arabnews.com/node/984391/saudi-arabia

ﻳُﺮِﻳﺪُﻭﻥَ ﺃَﻥْ ﻳُﻄْﻔِﺌُﻮا ﻧُﻮﺭَ اﻟﻠَّﻪِ ﺑِﺄَﻓْﻮَاﻫِﻬِﻢْ ﻭَﻳَﺄْﺑَﻰ اﻟﻠَّﻪُ ﺇِﻻَّ ﺃَﻥْ ﻳُﺘِﻢَّ ﻧُﻮﺭَﻩُ ﻭَﻟَﻮْ ﻛَﺮِﻩَ اﻟْﻜَﺎﻓِﺮُﻭﻥ

Fain would they extinguish Allah's light with their mouths, but Allah will not allow but that His light should be perfected, even though the Unbelievers may detest (it).
Surat-ut-tawbah Qur'an :9 V:32

Okay

how is this news, abeg jare

ff

Simon Paul Collins and his wife

Allahu Akbar

Alhamdulilah

Allahu Akbar!
إذا جاء نصر الله والفتح ورأيت الناس يدخلون في دين الله أفواجا

Alhamdulilah may Allah strengthens your feet in Islam.

Despite bad press people continue to find guidance in Islam. Didn't the Quran say falsehood is like an illusion and it is bound to fade.

I love this,alhamdulillahi

nice 1.. He has seen d truth, nd cm out f darkness.

Allahu akbar

Masha Allah

Allahu Akbar!

Alhamdulillah. Happy Juma'ah Mubarak fam

Alhamdulillah

Alhamdulilah

Alhamdulilah... this is one of the reason I love Islam.. people that convert to Islam were people that God have already blessed in this world. they were rich and famous and want the same grace hereafter. unlike my xtian that the only people that convert to xtianity were frustrated and confused people that only want magic in this world and doesn't care about life after death. Thank u Allah and nairaland Muslim for making me a Muslim

freesinzu:
how is this news, abeg jare

undecidedYoruba:
So how is this supposed to be a news

One just embraced darkness, sorrows, tears and blood

dadaha:
Another dumb move

uzomore:
Bleep muslim world,Bleep arab world,full of bloodshed...oop jst ban me 4 d truth.

kingsleymike:
Left a religion where its possible to leave at will and at any time to join a religion where the moment you decide to leave, you get charged for Apostasy and get killed because it's punishable by death according to the Prophet..... Just negodu!!.... It's a move no sane man would dare make, let alone a British..... The whole thing is just political, not real.... Think about it...

Abeg why the thing they pain una?

Good.

undecidedYoruba:
So how is this supposed to be a news


One just embraced darkness, sorrows, tears and blood

Stop drinking you no go hear...

See your life...

Alcohol is BAD o. CHAiii...

Masha Allah

Alhamdulilah

Alhamdullilah

الله أكبر
الله أكبر
الله أكبر

undecidedYoruba:
So how is this supposed to be a news


One just embraced darkness, sorrows, tears and blood


The next move will be Jihadi Collins joins ISIS

wetin de do u? Y is it when it is Islamic issues u put ur dirty mouth? Hv u notice dat when it comes to Jesus we Muslim neva say a word to blast ur religion? Is because we respect and believe dat Jesus is d messenger of Allah. pls respect urself.