A Canadian’s Journey to Islam

In the narratives of guidance, there is often a poignant period in the lives of those who find guidance— a time when they question and seek meaning in their youth. The guidance story of Abu Ayyub, born to a Colombian family in Canada, also begins with this period of questioning. In this interview, we introduce Abu Ayyub, who started his international travels in Japan and continued to Oman, Egypt, and Qatar, and is now residing in Istanbul with his family.

Firstly, let’s get to know you. Can you briefly introduce yourself? Where are you originally from? What do you do?

Assalamu Alaikum, and thank you for inviting me. My name is Abu Ayyub, born in the capital of Canada, Ottawa, and I am originally Canadian. At the age of 7, I migrated to the United States with my family. Subsequently, I lived in different countries for educational purposes. Currently, I have been living in Istanbul, Üsküdar, with my family for 3 years. The reason for coming to Turkey was, like my travels to other countries, for educational purposes. I had visited Turkey a few times before due to my interest in Islamic history. It was a city and country that deeply impressed me. So, when I had the opportunity, I moved here to pursue my education.

We know that you converted to Islam later, Alhamdulillah. What was your religion before Islam, and when did you become Muslim?

Before becoming Muslim, I was a Christian. My family is Colombian, South Americans. As is well known, the majority of Colombia’s population, like other Latin Americans, is Catholic. My family was also Catholic, but I cannot say that I grew up in a very religious environment. When I was around 17-18 years old, I entered a period of questioning and seeking. The triggering event for this was my educational trip to Japan at the age of 17. It was my first time going to a foreign country, away from my family and Christian surroundings.

Having been accepted into an exchange program, I researched Japanese culture when I first went to Japan. Being the only one of my kind, I had the opportunity to question myself a lot. While conducting research on history, I also read various books during this questioning process. This questioning period eventually led me to decide to become Muslim. I made this decision without meeting any Muslims, going to any mosques, or asking anyone anything. After making the decision, I went to a mosque and declared the Shahada. This event occurred about 3 or 4 months after arriving in Japan. I remained in Japan for about 7-8 months after becoming Muslim and then returned to the United States.

In this journey, was it the Quran that led you to embrace Islam? Or what specifically about Islam influenced you?

No, it wasn’t the Quran. It was Japanese books related to Islam that played a crucial role for me. I believe that it was meant to be this way for my own good. If I had started by reading the Quran, I might have interpreted it differently. Therefore, I am genuinely happy that the process unfolded this way. What drew me towards Islam in the books I read were the rational explanations within the Islamic faith. Moreover, compared to other religions, Islam resonated with me more on a spiritual level. The fact that it appeals to both the intellect and the heart is the main reason I chose Islam. As I mentioned, I then returned to my family. I converted to Islam at the age of 18, and I have been a Muslim for approximately 25 years now, thanks be to God.

How did your family react when you returned to them? Also, you are currently living with your own family, correct?

Firstly, some members of my family were very surprised, while others accepted it tolerantly. Since we are Latin American, there was a sympathy for Al-Andalus. Especially my father received this situation with understanding, and he even accompanied me to the mosque sometimes. However, after the events of September 11, 2001, things changed a bit. Due to what was shown in the media and what happened, they saw Islam as a violent religion and Muslims as enemies. This was the beginning of a difficult period for me because, after these events, my relationship with my family, especially with my father, and their views towards me changed. Currently, I am living with my wife and five children.

How were your university years?

These events coincided with my university years. I chose to study at the University of British Columbia in Canada instead of New York. Canada is a more tolerant country compared to the United States, and people are more open-minded. Taking advantage of this, I started to show that Islam is not a religion of terror and began to represent the correct and beautiful aspects of Islam around me. During those years, I felt intimately that Allah was protecting me. Because many of my friends were either convicted of murder or died as a result of accidents during that period. I could have been involved in these incidents, but with the help of Allah, none of them touched me. Allah preserved me in many such incidents.

What was your name before you converted to Islam?

My name before becoming Muslim was Edan. It actually has Hebrew origins and means “judgment.”

Where were you living before coming to Turkey?

It can be said that I have been living outside of Canada for 12 years. After Canada, my first stop was Oman. Then, I went to Egypt for education. After that, I moved to Doha, the capital of Qatar. After staying there for 4-5 years, I came here. I have been here for about 3 years now.

Where in Turkey are you currently living?

Since I came to Turkey, I have been living in Üsküdar. My family is very happy to be here. I am also very happy to be here, both for my education and to be able to live Islam more comfortably. I understand better why some scholars call this place ISLAMBOL as I live here. Therefore, my family and I are very pleased to live in Istanbul, especially in Üsküdar. We are proud to be neighbors with a great figure (referring to Aziz Mahmud Hudayi).

You mentioned that your name is Abu Ayyub. Is this because of Abu Ayyub al-Ansari? Also, is the reason you prefer to live in Istanbul because of him?

Actually, one reason for me being here is him. But my name being the same as his is just a nice coincidence. As you may know, in Arab countries, individuals carry a kunya related to their first son. For example, Abu Ahmed, Abu Kasim, and so on. When I started living in Arab countries, I had difficulty explaining my name, and it was not a Muslim name. So, following that tradition, I changed my name to Abu Ayyub. I have been using this name since that day.

We know that you are a photographer and a writer, and due to your interest in history, you are on the verge of publishing a book. How did you find Istanbul, and where did the idea for this book come from?

Since I moved here, I have been utilizing my photography skills to capture moments filled with spirituality. I am trying to show the beauty of Islam using photography as a tool. Istanbul has been an inspiration for me in this regard many times. Istanbul is an ancient city from a historical perspective. As you know, Abu Ayyub al-Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him) had a history before coming here. After the conquest by Fatih Sultan Mehmet, it became the capital of the Islamic world. So, while living here, I am very happy to learn about Islam and history. Sometimes I even explain the history to those who come here. All these things inspired me to write. Inshallah, my book will be published soon. It is not directly about Istanbul, but it is related to Andalusia, and there are references to Istanbul in it.

Finally, as someone who has lived in many different countries and embraced Islam later in life, what advice do you have for us?

Firstly, Turkey hosts a magnificent history. It is a city of great importance in terms of Islamic history. I recommend that you take pride in this and appreciate its value. We can continue to live this history by being conscious of it. Also, our most potent weapon is prayer. We should pray abundantly for each other, for the Ummah, and for humanity. Dua, dua, dua…