Converting to Islam

[merijan 0]

My dad is Muslim and Moroccan but was never practicing and I was never raised with a religion. I would celebrate Christmas and Eid holidays as a child. When I entered 8th grade, I began to form my own identity and looked at Christianity and Islam. I don't remember how I came to choose Islam but I did and I remember trying to learn everything about Islam and be the perfect Muslim. I joined the youth group at the mosque and really felt that God had guided me and that now I was part of this community that loved each other for the sake of Islam. That summer I went to Morocco like every summer to visit my grandparents and one day I tried the hijab (a bright pink sparkly one lol) and I just loved it! I thought it was the coolest thing, so since that day I have been wearing hijab-since my first year of high school and I was the only hijabi. My husband began to fall in love with me because of my interest in Islam and my devotion, so we got engaged that summer. I did not convert or start to wear hijab because of him. We fell in love because of our love for Islam. I ask Allah to guide you to the right path and help you with whatever trials come your way.

Lovely story... Its really sweet thanks for sharing that with us.

[UmmSqueakster 54]

I'm a muslim (who uses inshaAllah and alhamdulilah often and has been wearing hijab for ages, even though her husband is here in the states ). I also happen to be a convert, although I'm waiting for the point when I'm considered *just* a muslim and no longer the token convert in gatherings

My story is here - http://umms.wordpress.com/me/ - and I have a list of resources for newbies here - http://umms.wordpress.com/converts/

Feel free to email me (not pm, don't log in here often enough to check it), if you'd like to chat

Edited November 29, 2009 by UmmSqueakster

[Nothing1234 2]

I found some old links (there are more but I only did a search on converting..hehe) that members posted their stories on...hope it helps you as well.

As most will say here and in the other links I'm adding...take your time and make your decision based on your choice, your convictions and your future....everything else will fall into place whatever your choice may be...

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...p;hl=converting

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...p;hl=converting

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...p;hl=converting

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...p;hl=converting

[Staashi 371]

One of the best pieces of advice I ever read about converting is this: Just imagine you and your husband aren't married anymore, will you continue to practice (insert religion here) or will you let it die off and just revert back to your original ways. That to me was the best way to figure out if you are ready to do this.

[Aymsgirl 0]

One of the best pieces of advice I ever read about converting is this: Just imagine you and your husband aren't married anymore, will you continue to practice (insert religion here) or will you let it die off and just revert back to your original ways. That to me was the best way to figure out if you are ready to do this.

Wonderful advice Staashi!

You are welcome to email me with any questions that you have. My story is in the Muslim post. Take care and may Allah guide you in your valley of deciscion.

[amysaid 9]

I converted about four months before I met my husband, but didn't really "come out" until just before i went to Egypt to meet (and marry) my current husband, so most people assume that I converted for my husband. However, I had been studying Islam for about a year prior to converting, and had done a lot of reading, talking, watching videos about Islam, being Muslim, and things like that. I had been agnostic previously, and was not raised with any religion at all. I have had moments of weakness and doubt regarding my conversion, but mostly over silly things, like missing the clothes I used to wear, or being able to uncover my hair as I like, or craving a margarita I haven't had any issues with any of the major tenets of Islam.

[KittyPollitt 284]

One of the best pieces of advice I ever read about converting is this: Just imagine you and your husband aren't married anymore, will you continue to practice (insert religion here) or will you let it die off and just revert back to your original ways. That to me was the best way to figure out if you are ready to do this.

thank you!

[aya*abouelnasr 0]

I started researching Islam when I met my ex- husband from Jordan. With all the bad press after 9-11, I was curious as to what the religion was really all about. However, I did not choose to revert until well after my marriage to him was clinically dead. I had been raised Christian also, but had so many questions, questions which were always answered differently by people of other Christian sects, Lutheran, Catholic, Baptist, Pentacostal. To me it was as if they were all reading verse from a different Bible, it seemed that no one read the same verse and interpretted the same. For me, Islam is one united religion, one God, one belief. So, on January 1, 2009 and with the help of a very dear friend, I said my shahada and reverted to Islam. That decision changed me, for the better and I don't regret it. Sure, sometimes it's hard, but what worth doing is ever easy?

[raina4gy 0]

I took my shahada 16 years ago after studying the religion for about 1 year. I married my husband 1 year after that, so there are no issues of me "converting for him". But even if I did, i would not be ashamed to tell anyone, b/c i consider it a blessing from Allah SWT to become muslim. Alhamdullilah after much arguing with my very christian mother, both my parents also took their shahada about 7 years ago, my brother took his about 2 years ago, and my sister finally took her's 1 month ago.

So I have a great deal to thank Allah for. I wish you the best on your journey. Enshallah.

[Aymsgirl 0]

I took my shahada 16 years ago after studying the religion for about 1 year. I married my husband 1 year after that, so there are no issues of me "converting for him". But even if I did, i would not be ashamed to tell anyone, b/c i consider it a blessing from Allah SWT to become muslim. Alhamdullilah after much arguing with my very christian mother, both my parents also took their shahada about 7 years ago, my brother took his about 2 years ago, and my sister finally took her's 1 month ago.

So I have a great deal to thank Allah for. I wish you the best on your journey. Enshallah.

Wow, how wonderful of an inspiration you were

[Jenn! 918]

This is an honest question because I'm curious about those of you who convert. If you feel that the religion you were raised with doesn't fit, why the urge to find another religion? Why not just believe what you believe and conduct your own relationship with God?

[UmmSqueakster 54]

I didn't convert straight from one religion to islam. I deconverted from Christianity after my freshman year of college and spent some time as a universalistic agnostic. But, it just wasn't spiritually fulfilling for me. As cheesy as it sounds, I felt the Divine was calling me to know and worship Him in a prescribed way. It was just a matter of finding what that way was.

Edited December 2, 2009 by UmmSqueakster

[merijan 0]

This is an honest question because I'm curious about those of you who convert. If you feel that the religion you were raised with doesn't fit, why the urge to find another religion? Why not just believe what you believe and conduct your own relationship with God?

Thats actually a good question. I think that its not about finding a religion for me. It was about finding what I believed to be the true path to God. And discovering that Islam was true so I don't just believe in a religion I believe in the one true God, and I believe in his final message to us.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

This is an honest question because I'm curious about those of you who convert. If you feel that the religion you were raised with doesn't fit, why the urge to find another religion? Why not just believe what you believe and conduct your own relationship with God?

I'm not a convert, but this question caught my eye. I'm curious about who God is and what the boundaries are when you don't share God with a community of believers. I mean no disrespect. I'm just curious, too. Where do the rules for the relationship come from when you go it alone? Is the reason for not joining an organized religion to avoid being held to standards or judgement by other adherents, or to feel more equal to God? How do you know the rules?

[morocco4ever 63]

Perhaps the ones that don't have enough insight to recognize rules are the ones that truly need an organized religion.