Lauren Booth Reversion to Islam

Lauren Booth is sister-in-law to Tony Blair and is a human rights activists and journalist and has decided to convert to Islam after visiting the holy Shrine of Fatima al-Masumeh in the holy city of Qum

In her own words:

I went to Iran, and I went to a holy Shrine called the Masumeh shrine and I was there with a friend of mine. I didn’t know what to expect when I got there and she put me in a chador and we walked through the crowds to the main area. I always loved your religion since I came to know many people of Islam. When in Iran, in this very holy shrine, in the city of Qum, I took hold of the walls of the shrine itself and I said Allah thank you for putting me on this journey and if you can spare some time to look at Palestine and ease their pain that would be great and then I sat down on the floor of the shrine and I felt an overwhelming sense of peace. It’s like a feeling I’ve never ever had before. I couldn’t move for a very, very long time. I was so overcome by this feeling of absolute joy it was like being in love it was like being somewhere else it was like being in myself and not myself at the same time.

That night I slept on the floor of the Masumeh shrine with the women and the children having our food on the floor. When I woke up in the morning I knew that my life would never be the same again. I wanted to share with you today that my name is Lauren Booth and that I’m a Muslim.

When I was on the floor of the shrine having this feeling a sister came over to me and she was maybe 22 years old. I was sitting there and all you can see is my face and she came and said are you at peace? and I thought what a strange question what else is there but this feeling of peace. I know now what you feel when you pray and I know now that your religion is one of great joy and passion and peace and love for each other and thank you so much Allah for sharing that moment with me.