The humbleness it brings you to follow the teachings of Islam. The logic and science behind Islam. The discipline, self love and s mental strength Islam helps you build for yourself.

I reverted at the mosque in march of 2021 but I was a Muslim at heart since 2017.

The first day of my first Ramadan was the hardest in regards to hunger but the easiest in regards to comfort and peace. I did not know that a whole month I could feel so peaceful and relaxing until I experienced Ramadan for the first time. It made me value the little things in life, more so the necessities of life since I was feeling the thirst, pain and hunger of those who were less fortunate. It made me value things differently as well as put my situations into perspective.

Becoming a Muslim changed my life by teaching me the important lessons of life that education, society and family can’t teach you. It taught me to value my family, my body, my mind, my creator and life. It allowed me to be modest yet free. It empowered me to be the best version of myself for the LOVE of Allah not just the fear of him. It made me more giving, to my family, friends, society and less fortunate but also most importantly ME. Gave myself back the purity and innocences this dunya, matrix, physical/materialistic world, corrupt society (whatever you may call it} took from me at such a young age by convincing me that every sin I was doing was okay for me when in reality it drove me further away from happiness in seek of something temporary. Opening my eyes to the reality of life thanks to Islam changed my life for the better 🤍

Christian/Catholic

At first they were not understanding and very confused, in a sense they were mad that I was choosing another God so they thought and neglecting the religion they wanted for me but over time they realized through my actions that Islam was teaching me to be a better human and that at the end of the day it didn’t matter what religion was causing this positive change it was the fact that I was taking that step to heal certain parts of me that I hadn’t known how to deal with until I came across Islam. In summary, they are now very understanding and loving towards me despite me having changed religions. They even take the time and expense of buying extra turkey bacon/ribs for me so that I don’t feel left out when we’re having breakfast or dinners, it’s really cute. Actions show more than words could ever and I think practicing Islam instead of cowering away because it might have been too many rules (so they say…} is what made me a better person because it proved the effort I made was worth it when it brought me to the love of Allah.

I would say one of the biggest struggles is not knowing how to read the Quran in Arabic. Because of this I tend to have to lean on other Muslims rather than my own interpretation of the Quran. This is helpful but it leaves room for their opinion rather than just the word of a law and my perspective on it. Aside from not knowing Arabic to read and pray, I would say one of the biggest struggles is also in having your personal life and identity change to a certain degree when you commit to living as a Muslim. This is not always bad but you will tend to see many reverse losing they are family or friends over the choice of religion they want to follow. And lastly I would say the hijab is also a struggle at times. Although I love wearing the hijab and I chose to wear it because I love Allah not just fear Allah. There are times where people only see you for the hijab and forget that you are still a human underneath with opinions, preferences, tendencies, characteristics and a personality that differs from whatever perspective they have in their mind of what a “hijabi” is supposed to look, act and talk like. This is more so with westernized societies which have a more Islamophobic views on the hijab‘s but nevertheless this does happen at times with Middle Eastern men especially approaching me on social media to enforce I act, talk and think in ways that they grew up believing is an “Islamic way”when realistically it’s more of a cultural way of being and that can get very overwhelming when it’s coming from so many different directions of how you “should be” rather than allowing you to have your own journey with Allah.

I would like to tell reverts to remember that when telling your family or friends although you may love it and see all the good Islam, THEY might be hearing it for the first time. This can be a shock to someone who was raised with such a Western/other Islamophobic conditioned way of thinking. So have thick skin, understand that Islam is only for those who God chose it to be understood by and unfortunately all we can do is show and lead by our actions rather than try to explain and change anyone’s mind. A characteristics I saw from so many Muslims that attracted me to Islam, was their actions showing what they believed. Especially how some families acted towards each other without even knowing that I was analyzing them in the moment. It made me realize how genuine and pure Islam is when you are taking the time to learn the teachings and know why God is asking certain things of you and how it is only for your benefit and this ummah rather than to cut you “fun”.

I was at my brothers soccer game and one of the starting players was on the bench because he was fasting. When I asked him why he was fasting, he taught me what Ramadan was. He explained how Muslims fast in order to remember and feel the pain, hunger, thirst of those who are less fortunate. His explanation was so humble, so genuine and heartwarming and yet… still contradicting? I asked myself why and I realized it made me question everything the western society and propaganda had conditioned me to believe: “Muslims are terrorist”. But how could this be if I FELT the love of Allah as my brothers friend had explained to me what Ramadan was. I got this sudden urge to go home and research everything about Islam. I spent the whole afternoon searching, reading and listening about what Islam actually teaches Muslims. I was shocked. It was the complete opposite of what I had seen on the news, movies or been taught by society. That night I was so reassured, at peace and yet so excited because I knew I was Muslim at heart, that the next family dinner I had I eagerly put on my hijab after watching a quick two minute YouTube tutorial and ran downstairs to sit at the family dinner table. Excited as I was, I didn’t realize the rest of my Cristian family household had NOT come to the same eye opening realization that I had come to the night before. To say the least no one ate at the table that day, half of my family went ballistic and the other half tried to de-escalate the situation as I cried in such disbelief that my own family would see me as “a terrorist” after finding what I whole heartedly believed was the truth. I was sad at the time but I did not know what I know now and that is that Allah was preparing me for what was only the start of my revert journey. Unbeknown to me, years later I would come across a humble old man who would speak 6 words that would change my life forever and finally make me convert. While next to him, he was unaware that I was praying in my head and at the time I was thanking God for having given me a job that I asked for earlier that month (which is how I met the old man: he was my coworker} while doing so I felt I needed to ask God to lead me in the right direction. As I finish saying “direction” in my head the old man interrupts me to ask those 6 words that changed me forever. “Have you ever heard about Islam?” No other words were needed, I understood Allah was listening. Before I could even finish the prayer he answered, he knew. From that moment on I have never strayed from Allah. He led me to him while I was lost and gave me life. “Remember me and I will remember you” and he did. I didn’t identify as a Muslim or with any religion at that time but I still prayed to the only merciful God I knew to lead me and he did. Allahuakbar.