A Muslim convert has spoken about the lack of support available for new Muslims leaving some contemplating leaving the religion altogether.

Dawud David Lynas converted to Islam 19 years ago. Through his trajectory he saw many converts lose contact with the Muslim community. His negative experiences led him to launch a support group for new converts.

Dawud, from Leeds, said, “We just have to accept that people aren’t ready for converts sometimes.

“Muslim people can get brash with us. I think that converts should be more tolerant though.

“Muslims need to be true ambassadors of their religion so converts can understand Islam in its true essence.

“When you become a Muslim, no-one is trying to tell you to become an Arab, a Pakistani, an Indian or Malaysian.

“Every culture has a world of benefits it can bring into Islam.”

A University trip to Holland with his rugby team served as the catalyst for Dawud to explore Islam.

“I used to play semi-professional rugby. I went to Belgium and Holland with my team. I saw things I had never seen before. I had never seen a red light district before.

“When I saw how women were treated there, I asked myself, is this the meaning of life?

“Is this what we were created for? That’s when I had a moment of clarity.”

Despite apprehension from his family, Dawud said he faced an even bigger obstacle when he embraced the religion from fellow Muslims.

“Some Muslims advised me to give everything from my former life up. That wasn’t good advice.

“There’s a honeymoon period when you become a Muslim-you want to practice the religion in every manner possible. But it’s not possible to all of a sudden pray five times a day or fast the whole month.

“A new convert can’t match other Muslim people in their faith.

“Even the companions, when they converted, they had room to manoeuvre, they had time to change.

“Converts need a mentor to help them through the transition for at least a year.”

Dawud maintains that although intentions of fellow Muslims were sincere, advice given to him sometimes served more of a vested interest.

“Often when people give advice, it’s like they are accumulating brownie points. You can get 10 people teaching a convert how to pray.

“There should only be one person teaching him, but everyone wants to avail of the reward system, like it’s a buffet.

“Everyone wants to validate themselves by thinking they brought the convert to Islam- this makes them look good, as well as their school of thought or their particular mosque.

“Converts do get paraded in the mosques-we really don’t need that kind of attention.”

Despite the unsolicited attention, Dawud said that converts to Islam face hurdles when it comes to the subject of marriage.

“Asian people are not so receptive to accept a convert marrying their daughter. Converts are seen as being ‘not good enough’ simply because of the cultural difference.”

Dawud says that the challenges he faced as a Muslim led him to launch Dewsbury New Muslims, a support network for new converts. It was originally set up in Al Huda Zawiya Centre in Dewsbury in 2010 with the same model being launched in Manchester.

“I have seen up to 70 coverts during that time.

“I want to help converts today so they’re not ostracised.

“We provide the kind of support that isn’t available in mosques. It’s a safe space for converts to talk about the issues affecting their personal lives without repercussion.

“These include things like boyfriends, girlfriends, alcohol, drugs, homosexuality, things that you can’t always discuss in a mosque.

“The reality is, once you embrace Islam, you can’t all of sudden give up drinking or your partner or all aspects of your former life. These things are gradual and take time.

“We’re not here to preach. We’re here to offer support.

“One young man converted at a dawah stall. The next day he was seen out with this girlfriend. He was admonished by the street brothers which was embarrassing for him and for the woman in question. That man never came back.”

Dewsbury New Muslims provides practical and tangible advice and support to converts, particularly in the face of adversity faced from family members.

“There was one lady, a 60-year-old whose children stopped speaking to her after she converted and she isn’t able to see her grandchildren.

“Christmas was a particularly sensitive time for her.

“She was struggling to pay her bills and couldn’t afford to fix her washing machine.

“We put word out and got donations almost instantly to help her.

“We recognise that converts don’t represent the Muslim community as a whole.

“Dewsbury New Muslims is not a mosque, it’s a neutral environment. Each mosque has their own persuasion and school of thought. We maintain a neutral environment where converts can focus on their spirituality.

“You can come here to get food, women who have nowhere to pray can come here, the homeless are welcome here.

“Whilst we support converts, we can never do enough. We give them the impetus and encouragement to continue in their new path.”