Derby man opens up on Islam conversion after addiction

Joshua Munns said he was most looking forward to detoxing and clearing his mind during the fast

A man who converted to Islam after a "life of addiction" is taking part in his first Ramadan.

Joshua Munns, 30, who lives in Derby, said he was in and out of jail, became homeless and was getting into a lot of trouble while addicted to alcohol and drugs.

Ramadan, a month of fasting, prayer, and reflection, started this week.

Mr Munns said he was most looking forward to detoxing and clearing his mind during the fast.

Muslims observing Ramadan do not eat or drink between sunrise and sunset.

Mr Munns, who converted five months ago, said: "People have asked if I have prepared. Realistically you don't know until you do it. A lot of people said the beginning is the hardest but your body adapts to it.

"With me, even when you pray, it is more of a focus and you have that quiet time. That is what I am mainly looking forward to - your mind gets cleared. Someone explained to me it is a detox for your body."

Mr Munns was living in London before he became Muslim.

"I was in a bad life of addiction - drugs, alcohol - I got given an opportunity to move up to Derby to change my life around with a company called New Hope, which give you supported accommodation," he said.

"When I was sitting in my room I thought - what is my purpose? What am I on this Earth for? What do I believe in? I did have a belief - I knew there was God but I didn't know who God was and what God was about until I reached out to a mosque in Normanton."

Mr Munns goes to Derby Jamia Mosque, in Normanton

He said other Muslims had been accepting of his past, and talked to him about forgiveness.

Mr Munns, who was brought up in a Christian family, said: "Things have changed so much for me - my relationship with my family. They have been quite accepting.

"All my mum was really bothered about was getting her son back clean, sober, she just wanted her son back."

He said he followed a programme to help keep his addiction under control and that the changes he had made meant he was in "such a better place".