I'm interested in learning more about Islam, but no idea where to start?

[lil328]

I'm a 32 female, married with 2 young children.
I have always been drawn to Islam, I am unsure why, as I have no connection or I don't know anyone who is Muslim.
I'm interested in learning more about Islam but not sure where to start.
Any advice?

Assalamu alaikum! Hi!

I'm so glad to read of someone wanting to know more about Islam, especially at this difficult time. Ramadhan is a great time to start learning more, too. We're just about to enter a month of fasting (and eating lots in the evening), reflection, charitable work and celebration, which will culminate with Eid. What this also means is that there'll be lots of activities and celebrations going on around the world (including in the UK) that you can explore.

You're very welcome to hang out here and chat with us - we're just ordinary Muslim women, and you'll hopefully get a feel for how we're diverse individuals with different opinions and approaches.

Do you live near a mosque or Islamic centre? Many have female scholars, classes/online groups for people interested in learning more, and in-person events. There are different groups within Islam (the main division is Sunni and Shia) and some mosques may be more conservative or more liberal than others, so you could look at a few online or visit a few and see how you feel about them. I've been to some beautiful and welcoming ones, but also some I've thought "well, I'm not coming back here".

Getting a good translation of the Qur'an (with explanations of context) and a biography of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) can help with understanding what Islam is and how it became established. I like Yusuf Ali's translation, it's quite poetic and explains what was happening at the time of each surah (chapter) being revealed. I'm sure other sisters will have other recommendations too! You could also check if your local library has a copy, or charity bookshops, or if there are dawah stalls on your local high street they often have copies for free.

Don't know whereabouts you are but I have found New Beginings (an online organisation) to be very helpful, they run various courses for those just dipping a toe in.
I do appreciate that I am a total novice though, so others may have more useful suggestions.

It's great that you'd like to know more. If you go to the local masjid they will help you with materials in English and talks and classes.

I'm in Suffolk! We have 2 mosques though in the town I'm in, not sure what the difference is between them.
One is a Bangladeshi community cent and Muslim mosque and one is called Shahjalal Islamic Centre.

As well as the organisation I mentioned upthread, the Cambridge Muslim College has some good resources. Their youtube channel has lots of interesting talks that are very much pitched at beginner level.

Hiya I'm a revert Muslim and have been for 18 months. It's others around I had problem I can't even wear my hjab any more. The building I live in is very racist,I've changed my name but they refuse to call me it.
I'm still and will always be Muslim but in secret.
Which isn't how I wanted it

Assalamu alaikum sister, I'm sorry you're in such a situation. Allah knows what's in your heart and will be with you through all your struggles: Truly, after hardship comes ease. You can always talk with us online on this board. There's a Ramadhan prep thread if you want to chat about plans for Ramadhan, too. It can be nice to feel connected to others, even if it's just online.

Hello, what do you find interesting about Islam? What do you already know?

Asalamu Alaykoum.

So many reaources online. Of course not all are reputable.
On Youtube I watch HUDA TV amazing resource
Local masjid? Local Big Masjid/mosque. Green Lane Masjid in Birmingham is phenomenal.

I wasnt practicing in my youth and had to re learn everything in my 20s. Online was my go to before I built up the courage to attend the mosque.

You can start from any where you want to start. You need to know about the basic of Islam and start slowly and work for it.

Sorry to resurrect an old thread. I came to check out the resources for learning more about Islam, and I was saddened to read of the experiences of one poster here who has encountered racism and intolerance of her faith.

I wanted to mention that I was at Durham Cathedral the other day. I find it the most beautiful and moving of the cathedrals that I have visited. I go there often but on my recent visit I saw something particularly beautiful and moving. It was a framed square of pure black fabric -- a section of the cover for the Kaaba, which I understand is replaced annually.

I found it so ... I can't find the words really ... but just so poignant to find this important fragment of the Islamic faith cherished in the centre of a cathedral. Gifted lovingly by Muslims, displayed with love by Christians.

That is at the core of faith for me. I struggle to have any faith at all, and the faith that I aspire to is of a fairly austere, non-theistic kind. But what I saw the other day was a heart within a heart and I just hoped it might give some relief to Muslims who are operating in a hostile environment.

I'm going to get hold of the Yusuf Ali translation of the Qur'an and see if I can get a little glimmer (through the cloudy glass of translation) of the beauty that it is said to have.

Hi Nebulous, what a lovely post. I wonder who gave it to them. It is fascinating to learn about other beliefs isn't it? I visited a couple of orthodox churches over the past few years and they are certainly very beautiful with lots to look at. You are right that it is tricky to feel the beauty of the Qur'an when it is a translation but could I suggest you go to Youtube and type in 'The Cave English translation (or Al Kahf English translation) - you will be able to listen to it recited in Arabic and also in English (I like the one that has a purple and beige background with Arabic writing in black - you will find it easily). The cave is a surah from the Qur'an that Muslims should try to listen to on Fridays. I find it fascinating and often go on to listen to further explanations about it by scholars. Enjoy!

Thank you very much @Istilldontlikeolives . I began listening to it and enjoyed the beauty of the sung recitation. Because I found myself so much at a loss and agitated by my disorientation, I broke off to find some sort of summary and thematic explanation, and read this page - www.quranexplorer.com/blog/merit-of-surah/Surah_Al_Kahf_%20A_Journey_Through_Divine_Lessons .

Many of the themes, and of course the use of parables to explore these themes, are familiar from my long-ago grounding in the Christian cultural traditions, although of course there is also much that is different. I felt reprimanded by the stern warnings against imagining that Allah may have begotten a son, but no more severely than I feel reprimanded by the portion of Christian religious services that requires congregants to recite the Creed, which involves professing the belief (among other beliefs) that Christ is the son of God.

Sometimes I think that doctrines are just the scaffolding of faith, rather than its essence, that they can sometimes obstruct, and that the truth lies somewhere unsayable behind them, which perhaps resonates with the ideas contained in this surah about the limits of human understanding.

I feel more in a position now to resume the listening, perhaps even just listen passively to the recitation, rather than attempting to understand. xx

Hello again Nebulous. It is interesting that you felt disorientated while listening to the surah. I have never experienced this. Can you expand on this feeling? I tend to feel quite the opposite!
You talk about feeling reprimanded, both by Islam and Christianity in their stance on God not having/having a son. Again, I felt quite the opposite when discovering Islam's (sensible, in my view) explanation. As a teenager I couldn't get my head around the trinity, nor could anyone explain it to me/show interested in explaining it to me so Islam offered a much more believable explanation to me.
There is certainly much that we will never know and can still discover but I do think that (for me at least), the articles of faith in Islam are essential to be remembered and adhered to and I can't see why they would obstruct a person in their belief but this may be the case in Christianity. Islam is logical for me and during times I have not quite understood something upon first reading or hearing, I have been able to go away and read more and ask questions to better understand. Hopefully you have been able to find something else of interest - perhaps you could look at a story you enjoy or are familiar with in the Bible and look at the Islamic version (if there is one). I'm about to start reading a book on Yusuf (Joseph) and in the past I have enjoyed comparing the story of Ibrahim and Hajar in the Qur'an to Abraham and Hagar in the Bible. Happy exploring!

That's a good idea - reading a story that I'm already familiar with from the Bible. In fact, I should read the Islamic accounts of Jesus, as I know he is a very respected figure in Islam. Joseph/Yusuf too. My son is called Joseph. I love the caring solidity of the biblical Joseph (who had to cope with a rather sensitive situation in the Christian narrative!)

Thank you for sharing that — your interest in Islam is deeply personal and it’s wonderful that you’re listening to that inner calling. Many people are drawn to Islam in quiet and powerful ways, even without any direct connection, and it often leads to a meaningful spiritual journey.
You mentioned you're not sure where to start. That’s completely normal — Islam is a rich and deep faith with a lot to explore. Here's a simple roadmap to help you begin, followed by a comment you can use to inquire about Meem Academía, a great place for women learning about Islam.
meemacademia.com/