Over 123 years ago, on October 31, 1901, a crowd gathered at Anfield Cemetery in Liverpool for the funeral of Fatima Cates, a 35-year-old widowed mother and a trailblazer in British Islam.

The event drew curious onlookers and journalists, captivated by the burial of “the first lady ever converted to Islam in England.”

Fatima Cates, born Frances Elizabeth Cates in Birkenhead in 1865, was the daughter of Irish market porter John Murray. Growing up in a working-class Victorian environment marked by poverty, Cates became active in social reform, particularly through the Temperance Movement, which linked alcohol consumption to domestic violence and other societal issues, hyphen online reported.

Her first encounter with Islam came during a lecture hosted by the Liverpool Temperance League, delivered by Abdullah Quilliam, a local solicitor and recent Muslim convert.

Captivated by Quilliam’s lecture on the Prophet Muhammad as “The Great Arabian Teetotaller,” Cates sought deeper understanding. Two years later, at the age of 21, she embraced Islam, taking the name Fatima.

Cates’s conversion sparked backlash from her community and family. Her mother attempted to destroy her Qur’an, prompting her to carry it everywhere for protection. Despite facing hostility and even physical attacks, Cates persisted.

“I was continually scolded and threatened … but all to no purpose; for I persisted in reading it,” she wrote in The Allahabad Review.

Cates became a pillar of Liverpool’s growing Muslim community. She co-founded England’s first mosque and delivered lectures there, bridging connections between British Muslims and those in India.

Her advocacy for women’s rights and dedication to Islam made her a notable figure during her lifetime, though her contributions were largely forgotten after her death.

Legacy

The rediscovery of her legacy began in 2019 when Hamid Mahmood, a teacher and historian, identified her grave in Liverpool’s Anfield Cemetery.

Mahmood, who has spent over a decade researching Cates, described her as a pioneer whose life mirrors the struggles of early Muslims and resonates with Islamophobia seen today.

In 2021, Amirah Scarisbrick, a Liverpool-based convert, raised funds to install a new headstone for Cates, restoring dignity to her burial site.

“She was part of the Liverpudlian community, and I felt it was important to honor her,” said Scarisbrick.

Cates’s life has inspired modern initiatives, including the Fatima Elizabeth Phrontistery madrasa in East London, founded by Mahmood.

The madrasa integrates her legacy into its teachings, encouraging students to connect with their heritage.

For many, Fatima Cates symbolizes resilience and faith. “She inspires me,” says 12-year-old madrasa student Aleena Hussain, who performed a song written by Cates at Liverpool’s Abdullah Quilliam Mosque.

Cates’s story, once forgotten, now serves as a beacon for British Muslims, showcasing the enduring impact of her short but remarkable life.