I’m a convert to Islam AMA

[Candyapplesandhearts]

All in the title really.

feel free to ask. I know this has been done before but irl people always seem fascinated but too afraid to ask yet have LOTS of questions

i’ll answer a few in advance: I’m white british
I’ve been Muslim 12 years. Since my early 20s
i didn’t convert for a man (Christians and Jews wouldn’t need to anyway)

hope this can be a place to ask a question you’ve wanted to ask IRL but maybe felt too shy or was worried someone would take it the wrong way

Is their father a Muslim? If not what does he think about you raising the children in your faith?

Yes

but the Quran is quite complex, I believe some of it is told allegorically, context is hugely important but there are lessons and teachings for all times

Yes my husband and my children’s father (same bloke) is Muslim too

So you would say that not all of it is literally true?

hijab, Ive worn the niqab (not for the right reasons though)

well, some made fun of me, some like the ones you see on the street preaching were a bit pushy but the mosque was quite understanding and host a list of revert events

i Believe the Quran is the word of God delivered through the prophet Muhammad through the Angel Gabriel

How do you feel about animals NOT being stunned before they are slaughtered as per Islamic rules -

www.rspca.org.uk/getinvolved/campaign/slaughter

Practice, I’d say so so, I was raised CoE so I used to go to Sunday school.

when I was older I started going to church again but something was missing so I went to a different domination and even spoke to the priest but there was a disconnect for me

Is there any food from you previous life you recall and miss? Bacon, Baileys, non Halal sweets/marshmallows?

How can fish be halal when it has blood but isn't killed the same way as other halal meat? Does an Imam say prayers over fish?

Yes it does. I'm Christian, my husband is Muslim. We have no issues with this and he does not expect me to convert ( nor I him)

How interesting. What happens at eg Ramadan and Christmas? Do you both celebrate each other's special religious times?.

I feel that animals should be treated with dignity and respect from birth to death and this is something of grave importance in Islam. Animals were killed unjustly will be brought forward to testify against us on the day of judgment
the meat Industry is incredibly cruel and profit comes before welfare, it is very sad that the concept of halal has been stretched so thinly to ensure profit.

true halal would be organic free range, adequate vet care and living spaces and good quality feed, taking only what you need, using everything, making sure the animal is calm, no animal sees another animal die, and it’s throat slit to ensure a quick and as painless a death as possible.

i think anything that can be done to reduce the suffering of the animal should be done

Is there food I miss, not really no. I don’t like sweets and you can pretty much buy everything halal anyway

so it’s not a question of if it has blood it has to be slaughtered in a halal way, for instance game meat (if the hunter says the basmallah prior to pulling the trigger is halal). Anything from the sea is halal based on a hadith that basically says the same.

I do, i really do.

the More I’ve learned and the more I’ve grown the more I understand, even the things that I didn’t used to, so it just makes sense to me

If you have parents/close biological relatives. Are they supportive? X

Thanks for your reply to my query, but would you mind adding an explanation when you use words many of us non-Muslims aren't familiar with? Fithah, Basmallah, Hadith for example?

I think I explained fitrah (it means god consciousness, although some interpret it to mean Islam ie you are born Muslim)

basmallah- the blessing that starts with bismillah (in the name of god…’)

hadith are sayings of the prophet

Hi! I'm a new convert who has found Islam through doing my own research, I don't currently know any other Muslims and I'm aware that some of my views might be different to other Muslims. I'm hoping to find a nice Masjid to go to but unsure of what to expect/what to look out for, any advice?

No they aren’t really, it an elephant in the room even over 10 years later and a don’t ask don’t tell situation because it just causes arguments

Where do you live lovely? Feel free to PM me if you don’t want to say here

id say look out for central mosques- they tend to be quite open

or salafi mosques (now that can appear a bit scary, but they tend to be the least cultural, I’ve found the more cultural places to be the most hostile and some of the teachings can be a bit wonky at times.

or anything that does a revert out reach program.

don’t let anyone pressure you or make you feel like you need to get married ASAP to complete your deen, you don’t want to end up with the wrong brother.

don’t be afraid to ask questions

^ or don’t feel the pressure to do everything at once, I include the hijab in that, it’s a journey and you’re just starting on yours, take you time, feel comfortable.

if you start tajweed and tilawa just make sure to get an Arabic tajweed book and go to a class that teaches the Arabic method :)

I’d be sad but it would be my failing.

Because children take the religion of the father.

However, there is actually a theory that women are free to marry Christians and Jews, as the Quran doesn’t expressly ban it or comment on it - it only talks about men marrying women “of the book”, nothing about women marrying. As with all religions - everything is open to interpretation.

Depends on the faith and the woman though.

My grandma converted to Catholicism from the C of E to marry my grandad, as that was what had to happen back then.

I'm Catholic and wouldn't be able to marry a Muslim man because he'd have to agree to bring the children up Catholic and get them baptised. And if he couldn't do that, I wouldn't be able to marry him.

Can you read/speak Arabic? If not how do you access the Qu’ran
Why are the prayers at Mosque separate sex?