It was the simple code of ethics, discipline and true devotion that prompted a Filipino Christian couple and a cousin to embrace Islam just prior to Ramadan. Mohammed Ali Sanchez and his wife Sheikha Sanchez embraced Islam after five years of studying it in the UAE.

Sheikha's cousin Febie Cheka, who lives in Abu Dhabi, also embraced Islam and adopted Zulekha as her Muslim name. Mohammed, formerly known as Enrique Sanchez, has been working for the Private Department of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan for 12 years.

Working among Muslims in Ras Al Ghanadha, he said he was deeply impressed by their regular prayers and true devotion to God and the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) and their simple lifestyle.

"The simple lifestyle attracted me a lot. Gradually I started learning more about Islam from my colleagues and by studying Islamic literature in the Tagalog language of the Philippines," he said. His wife Sheikha, formerly known as Rosy Sanchez, has studied Islam for two years.

The couple have a five-year-old son called Ken, who will be renamed with a Muslim name. "It took me about five years to fully understand Islam and then finally my wife and I decided to convert and went to the Ministry Islamic Affairs and Awqaf to embrace Islam on November 18," Mohammed said.

Now they plan to learn to read the Holy Quran. "My colleagues at the workplace are teaching me how to pray and read the Holy Quran, and Insha'allah, I will soon be able to read the Book of God," Mohammed said.

This being their first Ramadan as Muslims, they are fasting and praying five times a day. "I embraced Islam because I saw from the bottom of my heart that it is the religion of peace to save us from worldly sins and bad habits.

"Now by the grace of God all the bad habits that affected both my mental and physical health have gone. "I no longer drink or sin because of the fear of God...the fear of God is the most important thing to bring discipline into one's life and that can only be found in Islam."

Sheikha said she knew little about Islam in the Philippines, but after joining her husband here in 1995 she began learning. "We are not the only ones to have embraced Islam in the family. One of my uncles embraced Islam several years ago back home in Mindanao. But I learned very little about Islam from him.

"After coming to the UAE, I was really impressed by the lifestyle of Muslims, especially the women. "I found that all the basic pillars and compulsory practices of Islam, such as praying five times a day, ablution, Zakat and fasting, bring one closer to God and create discipline in life. They also have scientific reasons to keep man physically and mentally healthy."

She has a lot of literature about Islam in Tagalog, and a Muslim woman has offered to teach her how to read the Holy Quran. Sheikha's cousin Zulekha, who embraced Islam on November 22, also started learning about Islam two years ago.

She said it was very easy for her to understand Islam because, as a born Christian, she had read the entire Bible. "I was extremely influenced by the way Islam treats women. In Islam there is great respect for women," Zulekha said.