Converting to Islam

[Ziggzagg]

Hey,

So after 3 and a bit years of reading, praying and questions I have finally decided to take Shahada

I'm very happy and excited for the future! I just have one question if there are any converts around? How did you tell your family and friends?

My DF is a lapsed Catholic, DM is non practicing C of E. I've always described myself as agnostic leaning towards atheist until now. I'm just worried about their reactions.

Any advice would be great!

Hello! Sorry, am not a convert to Islam - in fact, I was born a Muslim but converted to Christianity two years ago! - but I just wanted to say best of luck in your spiritual journey.

Islam has a terrible press in this country, so don't be disheartened or surprised if your news is met with shock and genuine fear that you've been somehow 'brainwashed'. So much fear stems from ignorance. Once they realise that you're still you, and your brain hasn't been harvested or whatever else, I hope your loved ones will accept your decision.

For my part, my deeply pious Muslim mother is still not really speaking to me. My conversion has hurt her very badly; it's a rejection of her (Malay) culture as well as her faith, and she simply doesn't subscribe to the principle of freedom of conscience. I believe that there's one God who loves us all, and I'll pray that she'll accept me for who I am eventually.

Hopefully it won't be so tricky for you to 'come out'.

A quick google should turn up lots of online support groups and also opportunities to meet other converts (or reverts, as people often prefer to be known) to Islam.

Good luck!

Hi

I am a convert to islam. I converted when I was young and still under my parents roof which made life hard.

I would say that if you are an adult and not dependent on your parents at all then just be confident in your decision and tell them without feeling as though it's bad. If you present the news in a matter of fact way then it will hopefully influence them to not see it as a big deal.

Also depending on what type of people they are, if they are likely to ask questions then maybe have some answers prepared. The kind of things most non muslims wonder about islam is stuff like the role of women, terrorism, halal meat etc.

Congratulations on your decision and welcome to islam. I hope you have a good local mosque or a support system. Converting can be quite isolating but remember you always have Allah so turn to him in times of struggle.

All the best with telling people your exciting news. I hope my perspective has been useful to you.

Salam.

Thank you both for your replies! I took my Shahada yesterday

I have my DH for support and I don't think my parents will react too negatively. I think they will just be worried that I will be at risk or that I will change as a person.

Hopefully when they see that I am happy and the same person, they will not be as worried for me

Why did you choose this? Out of interest.

My ex DH of many years was Islamic but there was never any pressure to revert.

Just wanted to add my congratulations ZiggZagg. I’m a born Muslim so haven’t direct experience of what you’re embarking on but I wish you well and hope your local community and DH are supportive.

@PlaidPjamas My DH is Muslim, so I started to read Quran and the Hadith so I was more aware of his religion. Over the past three years I have learnt so much and it just made sense to me. There was no pressure from DH to convert but of course he is very happy for me.

I live local to a mosque and have friends and colleagues who are Muslim so I have a lot of practical and emotional support.

I'm looking forward to learning the prayers and am taking an Arabic course to help.

Thank you @bonjovigirl

It sounds like you have a nice support system and I'm sure that having a muslim husband means you know quite a lot already so I'm sure you will be fine.

Good to hear that your parents will probably be fine with it too.

I remember how exciting it was to convert and would love to do it again, lol. So enjoy it.

I am neither Muslim nor Christian, but congratulations on finding your spiritual path and I hope that you will be very happy. ❤️

Thank you @TooManyPaws 

@mumofboys24 how are your parents with that decision now? What has been the hardest change for you? I said to my DH that I will really miss Richmond Sausages, even though I haven't eaten Pork for 2 years now haha!

@ZiggZagg my mum is fine with everything now, I see her often and she understands and we get on very well. I can trust her to look after my children and not give them things they are not allowed. She buys them eid gifts instead of birthday and xmas. I don't speak to my dad right now due to reasons unrelated to my conversion. He is ok with it and actually has some muslim family members (uncles and aunties, cousins) but at the same time he is the type of person that believes you shouldn't place restrictions on yourself, so I think he doesn't like my quite strict practice of islam. I became muslim when I was 16 which is 12 years ago now so there is not much I miss. I'm too used to being muslim now.

@mumofboys24 Thanks for your answer! Still trying to work up the courage to tell them It's just trying to find the right time so they can ask questions etc.

I mean I'm 34 this shouldn't be hard haha!!

Congratulations @Ziggzagg!! I have recently been listening to The Purpose of Life -Khalid Yasin I'm so interested. I am with a Muslim man and we have a child together so I am looking into Islam for myself taking my time with no pressure to revert. I think it's quite a scary thought that your life will be different with many restrictions however, being with a Muslim I haven't eaten pork for years anyway and I only eat halal. Good luck with your journey... all the best x

@mincymoo124 Good luck in your journey! I read the Quran and am currently reading the Hadith. I can recommend "From My Sisters Lips" by Na'ima Robert which gave me an insight into women's journeys and the role of women in Islam. And remember that you can only revert if you truly believe Islam is the way for you, I felt it in my heart and head

We never want to disappoint our parents so it's a natural feeling but I'm sure you will be fine. I have also read "from my sisters lips". it's a great book.

@mincymoo all the best with your journey, in islam the fundamental principle of the religion is tawheed which is the oneness of god so i recommend you start there. once you have accepted tawheed then the specific rules don't matter as much anymore because the reason behind them is what motivates you.

There is a book called 'daughters of another path' that your parents as well as you might want to read. It's about the dynamics of a relationship between a Christian mother and her convert Muslim daughter. The book is online as a free pdf if you Google.

I wish you good luck OP. Don't convert for anyone, only convert for yourself. Not for love, not for logistics. People will always disappoint you and neither reason can help you keep going if the faith is deficient.

archive.org/details/DaughtersOfAnotherPath

(Author: Carol Ann Conway)

Thank you @Triplejeopardy .

I did convert for myself,DH didn't expect me to.

I'll read that book and pass it on to my mum 🤣

Revert here of 4 years. Congratulations and welcome!!
I was living with my DM when I started practicing, she hated me wearing a hijab and would make snide comments every now and again. Once I moved out she still had her objections but it was manageable as I had my own space so I could kinda brush it off. She's got alot better now, although my DFs family have totally disowned me apart from DF himself.
I have no regrets and live quite happily
Also for learning prayers i found getting one of the children books the best, they're alot more descriptive and have the translation from English to Arabic.
All the best!

Thank you! I'm now 4 weeks a Muslim 

I have a new Muslim group on Sunday and have been practicing prayers. I've done Mahgreb and Isha everyday and all 5 at weekends! I'm just hoping once I know it all by heart I can do every single prayer inshallah 

Congratulations OP. I’ve lived in a Muslim country for over ten years and have seen first hand what a beautiful religion it is. I wish you all the very best on this journey.

My DP reverted four years ago (we’re married islamically), he told his older sister first, IL’s are CofE. MIL is religious and a church warden. I was really worried she would feel deeply hurt in hearing about DP reverting.

However DP his sister and dad were not religious or regular church attending people. DP did play church organ during midnight mass every Christmas tho as a favour to his mum and also because he got paid for it!

Anyway, his sister was really supportive and suggested he tell his mum first, she was worried that she’d lose him. And asked that he wouldn’t stop seeing her! I felt a little heartbroken that she’d even think that. We see her more now then DP used to (this is what DP tells me), as I invite her to us as much as possible especially since I had our baby and she really really loves seeing her grandchild. Mil is also an utter sweetheart to my older dc (from a previous relationship).

FIL, was expected not to be quite so accepting, but he is and he has gone out of his way also to make us feel welcome and a part of the family.

My IL’s have been incredibly kind and loving and go out of their way to ensure when we are invited the food is halal and they let me go off and pray when I need.

I know I am incredibly lucky in my IL’s, I love them dearly. We do participate in Christmas with them as they invite us & I think they’d be incredibly hurt if we rejected their invitations, especially as they have a long established tradition of all getting together for Christmas. We do get them gifts as they tend to give us Christmas gifts and are so thoughtful to us (I got a few designer scarves from them as they see I wear hijab lol which is so sweet of them).

DP hasn’t done anything drastic and heh as always been really kind and loving to his family anyway. He obviously observed a halal diet and both in-laws and DP are mindful and respectful of eachother.

Oh yes!! I told my family and after the initial shock they have all been great!! Mum has been asking me lots of questions but they have just got on with it!! It's been quite a lovely experience, I think I knew they would be ok but I just had that little bit of doubt  Needn't have worried though xx

Congratulations Ziggzagg!
After reading this thread, I have ordered a copy of, 'From my sister's lips'. Looking forward to reading it.