In 2024 Khawaja Abdul Momin Sb. interviews Kamal Yousuf sb., Norway,
about Dr. Qanita. Episode 1
Kamal Yousuf sb:
Dr. Qanita completed her Ph.D. at Lund University. This university is the largest in Scandinavia. It is ranked as the number one university, but its true distinction lies in the fact that many prominent individuals have studied there. Dr. Qanita studied there as well.
Her grandfather, whose name was Anders, was a well-known local judge. He owned numerous textile factories both in Sweden and abroad. Her maternal grandfather, Joel, owned big forest lands, run forestry business and earned substantial wealth from them. He used to give a significant amount of money to her paternal grandfather.
Her mother, whose name was Elsa, and her maternal grandmother, Nathalia, played an important role in her life, nd so did her paternal grandmother, Alida. She had a deep love for her Nani (maternal grandmother) and Dadi (paternal grandmother).
Anyway, before Dr. Qanita started her university studies, she lived in Lysekil, a beautiful place, where her mother used to live. There she was hired to teach at Sunday school in a church. She began teaching, but after a short while, she thought to herself, “I don’t consider Jesus as God and I don’t believe in the concept of the Trinity. How can I teach children about it?” With this conviction, she resigned from that job. The clergy and her mother were upsetabout her decision. She recalled, “My whole family was angry about what I had done.”
From the beginning, she believed in one God and never compromised on this belief, even in childhood. Despite the fact that her entire family was Christian, it was hard for her to acknowledge that her parents were following the wrong faith. She firmly believed, “I can’t live without ONE God.”
After completing her matriculation, she joined Lund University to study languages. However, not long after starting her studies, she fell seriously ill and thought she might not survive. During this time, her mother, Nani (maternal grandmother), and Dadi (paternal grandmother) took excellent care of her, and she eventually recovered.
During her illness, she prayed to God, saying, “If I survive and become healthy, I will research which religion is true and accept that religion.” However, she forgot about this promise for six months. Then one day, she remembered it and decided to act on it.
She went to the library and began studying primitive religions. She realized that some worship stones, the day, or the night, which she did not consider true religions. After eliminating those, she narrowed her focus to Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.
Despite her strong desire to prove that Christianity was the correct religion, it went against her reasoning. The concept of the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost being three gods did not make sense to her. After much study and reflection, she concluded, “This religion is not for me.”
Next, she turned to Judaism. She said: I thought to myself, this is a tribal religion, and not everyone can enter it, and it teaches that only Jews can be allowed to enter Heaven – and what happens then to all others? So Judaism was not an option for me. That left Islam.
However, all the books in the library were written by Christians, which made it difficult for me to trust their perspective. I continued my research and eventually came to the realization that if I had to accept a religion, it would be Islam.
She said: I had no contact with any Muslims and very limited knowledge of Islam. I started praying like Christians, kneeling in my room, trying to emulate what I thought might be Islamic prayer. I knew I needed more knowledge, but I didn’t know where to turn or whom to contact.
One day, while having breakfast in the student’s hostel, I noticed a newspaper in front of me. There was an announcement about the construction of the first Muslim mosque in Copenhagen, Denmark. She told: I was so excited, thinking that my problem is solved! I will go there and tell them I want officially to become a Muslim. In my heart I am already one.
She continue telling: I traveled to Malmö and asked a policeman which boat went to Copenhagen in Denmark. He looked at me as if I were a fool and replied: “Look in front of you.” Right next to the railway station was a boat.
It was my first time in Copenhagen, and I felt anxious about how to find the mosque. I took the bus, and the driver dropped me off, saying; “This is your destination.”
But when I got off, I was worried because I couldn’t see a mosque – only a church. I walked a bit further, and suddenly, I saw a beautiful mosque with a stunning dome. Tears began to flow as I realized I had arrived at the right place.
However, to my surprise, there was no one there. All the doors were locked. After a little while, a man came to the door of the mosque and, in broken English, asked me who I wanted to see. I replied: “I want to meet the mosque man,” as I didn’t know what a missionary or the caretaker of the mosque was called. He laughed and said, “You want to meet the mosque man?”
I explained my purpose, telling him that I wanted to meet someone who could register me as a Muslim. He said, “They will come today, but I’m not sure what time.” I was wearing my most beautiful pink dress, a skirt. I wasn’t sure what kind of clothing was appropriate for Muslims, but I thought this was my best outfit. I was exhausted and hungry. The man brought a chair for me, and I sat down. He even tried to take me to a restaurant for food, but it was closed.
After some time, many men arrived at the mosque. I thought I would finally find someone who could register me. However, there were no women – only men. I heard someone say: “Should we give her a bath?”. I became terrified, thinking they might ask me to take off my clothes and bathe! For a moment, I even considered running away.
Someone said, “We will introduce you to Hudhur.” I didn’t know who Hudhur was. Then another person came and told me, “Hudhur wants to meet you. Please come to another room (it was the drawing room of the mission house attached to the first Danish Mosque).
I entered the room where there were only men. I saw a man wearing a turban. He addressed me in a respectful and kind voice, asking why I had come to the mosque. I told him: “I want to become a Muslim.”
Hudhur asked: “Do you want to become a Muslim or an Ahmadi Muslim?” I was confused, as I didn’t knowthe difference, so I stayed quiet. He asked again, and then I asked, “Does this mosque belong to the Ahmadi Muslims?” He said, “Yes.” I replied, “Then I want to become an Ahmadi Muslim.” Hudhur said, “She wants it very much, but give her the Bai‘at form.” I signed the form and performed the Bai‘at in front of Hudhur.
(Kamal Sahib then mentioned a German lady, Djamila Koopmann, who converted to Ahmadiyyat, l moved to London and passed away there. He also referred to Noor Sahib from Norway and some other names that were not clearly audible.
Khawaja Sahib concluded: “This was the story of Dr. Qanita’s Bai‘at. In our next episode, we will discuss her services to the Jama‘at.”
Comments: The interview is performed in Urdu and the revised contents is given here above in English.
Thanks to Aqila LaHaye, Canada, for translating the Urdu text to English. The text has then been revised by Dr. Qanita, Sweden.
Link to the original Urdu version of the interview:
Dr. Qanita