Sorry to bother you, Converted Muslims (Brothers & Sisters)?

Question

I really am, but I wish to hear more from you. Here is the question.
What was the spark that ignited the idea of converting to Islam. Or was it a long term thinking.
P.S. I had my own spark to start practice Islam when I was 10 yrs old with a simple question to my father "Why can't I hear the Azan", he replied "because you don't pray" and that was it.

Answer 1

Ok here goes...

Asalamu’alaykum,

I always believed in God, but there was always something missing. This is my journey to Islam, and insha’Allah by sharing my story this will help bring a little strength to your eman.

Migrating to Australia at the age of two with my parents and (much) older brother and sister, I had very little family for support as we had left a large extended family behind in Seychelles. I was raised up as a Roman Catholic, but didn’t have a close relationship with my parents. Alhamdu’lile they were great at providing for our family, but I never got the emotional support and love that I yearned for being an affectionate child. They loved me, but had great difficulty showing it. From a young age, I rarely felt a sense of acceptance or belonging within my own family. When I was eight, my sister converted to Jehovah’s Witness. When my parents found out, they were furious and went to extreme lengths to ‘convert’ her back. We were all shocked. I remembered seeing how unhappy she was because they refused to speak to her, and eventually she was forced to move out of home. I remember crying as she left; it was like I understood what she was searching for. My parents would constantly drill me saying ‘don’t you ever get ‘brainwashed’ like your sister!’ – being eight years old, those were harsh words that I never forgot.

Many things happened to me in my adolescence that almost pushed me over the edge, but every time I was about to take that step something would always pull me back and make me stop. There was a real spiritual void in my life, Christianity did not fill it and I didn’t dare look to another religion because I knew from my parents that I was a big ‘no – no!’ I even went to a private Catholic girls school, which did very little to revive my faith. When I was about 14, I read a book about the positive affects of meditation. I started to meditate regularly; it was sort of like my therapy. I felt better for a short while, but soon I began to feel stupid because I felt little spiritual purpose in what I was doing. When I was 19, I met a muslim brother when I was in a very dark stage of my life. I felt an overwhelming kindness, humility and wisdom about him. He cared for me, as like he cared for himself. Masha'Allah he was the first muslim that I had ever met, and Alhamdu'lile if only I had known then the impact that he would have on me, and the changes that this would bring on my life.

When we used to talk, he would on occasion mention Islam. Initially, I began researching Islam because I loved him and I was hoping that by learning more about his religion, then I could better know and understand him as a person. Sometimes I felt like I was stubborn, but he was always patient with me and spoke to me with respect. When he spoke about Islam, his eyes and his face lit up, softness and love exuded from his voice, which made tears well up in my eyes and my throat so tight that I could not swallow. The stories that he told me about the prophet Muhammad (saw) and the verses from the Qu'ran were so beautiful, so pure; not anything like the dark perception of Islam that I had painted in my mind. Like many of my peers, I had this perception of Islam being an out dated religion that treated women with inferiority and shackled fearing liberation and evolution. I thought that if I was ever to convert to another religion, it would never be to one that oppressed its mothers, wives, daughters, sisters etc. Slowly I started asking him more questions and I started ‘researching’ on a daily basis. My initial 15 minute sessions researching on Islam, eventually grew to the point where I would stay up until four in the morning reading, even when I knew I had to be up at 6.30am to get ready for university. My eyes wanted to shut, but still my thirst for knowledge was not quenched. Reading about Islam, made me look inwards at myself. The more I read, the more I wanted to know, the more Islam began to make sense to me and find a place in my heart.

One day, he gave me an English translation of the Qu'ran and that night I remember I could not control my tears as I read it. I cried because I always believed that there was more to life than what I had been living, and Alhamdu'lile it was right in front of me. In my hands that I had used to live this foolish life of play and amusement, laid the answer to the emptiness that followed me in worldly desires that I pursued. Something changed within me that day, and when I lay to sleep that night I felt like I was living for the first time. It felt like I had been freed from a huge burden.

For months I fought a battle inside of me. I asked, am I looking to Islam for my own selfish desires, or am I doing it because of my sincere willingness to submit this life to Allah (swt). This was something that I thought much about - I wanted to make sure that I was searching for the truth with sincerity and for no reason other than Allah (swt). Without recognizing it, I changed many things in my life, I stopped eating pork, drinking alcohol, I started dressing much more conservatively, I stopped going out to nightclubs and bars, and my character dramatically changed for the better.

When I read the Qu'ran my soul was at peace, but when I was away from it I heard whispers in my ear that made me question what I had really felt. Allah (swt) knows best what we conceal in our breasts. What I was concealing was pulling me more and more towards Islam, which made it very painful to hide what I knowingly felt in my heart. Looking back now maybe it was the shaytan, trying to blind me of the manifest realization I was coming to; to cause me to stray from the right path. I asked Allah (swt) for a sign, Alhamdu’lile one night the answer came to me in a dream, where I dreamt that I was in a luscious green garden, dressed in white and I was washing myself. I didn't know what it meant, so I told my muslim friend and I described how I was washing myself. His face lit up with joy and SubhaanAllah, he told me that this was called wudu, and that Muslims had to perform wudu in order to purify themselves for prayer. I had never seen a muslim perform wudu before, and I didn't even know prior to my dream that muslims were obligated to do such a thing. I was so overwhelmed because the answer was so evidently clear to me - I knew what I had to do.

Alhamdu'lile I took my declaration of faith the night before Ramadan commenced last year in 2006. Uttering the words ashadu illa illaha illallahu ashadu muhammadar rasulallah, I had little idea of the true weight of its meaning that I would discover. My first time fasting was one of the hardest things that I have ever done, but I have never felt so close to Allah (swt) as to what I did for that whole month. Alhamdu’lile it was the happiest month of my life.

Looking back, Subhaan’Allah I never ever imagined that I would be a muslim. I am forever grateful to my Almighty Creator who has given me another chance to step from darkness to light. I look back on how I used to live my life before Islam, and it is like I'm looking back on a life that was never mine - I hardly recognise who I was without Islam. I am so proud to be muslim, and insha’Allah I pray that I die a righteous muslim! With Allah (swt) as my helper and protector, I put all trust in Him.

I have not told my family yet, I guess I still have a fear of how they will react. Everyday I feel like I’m a step closer to being ready, insha’Allah I gain the strength to do so soon and to be able to explain to them with the same patience and understanding that was shown to me. Slowly my fear is being replaced by my eagerness to tell them. Insha’Allah they’ll understand, and that one day I can share with them the joy that Islam has given me. Alhamdu'lile I have recently learnt how to pray. There is no better feeling in this world that I have experienced, than to put my forehead on the ground and submit to Allah (swt) the Most Gracious, Most Merciful and to be his grateful slave. Everyday is a struggle, and I am no where perfect in my deen, but Allah knows how hard I try. If I have learnt anything in this life, it is that you always have to struggle for the things that matter; and there is no better struggle than that for Allah (swt).

Allah (swt) knows best.

Answer 2

Salam Brother!,

It's amazing to hear that other converts also have moments when "BANG!", everything makes sense! I was listening to a radio interview on Glenn Beck, and he was interviewing a celebrity that had recently converted to Christianity. I was inspired, because I believed in God, but I always felt an empty spot in me. I then went that night after work to Barnes and Nobles to look for books. Believe it or not, I actually felt like something told me and guided me to the section on Islam! I bought "Islam for dummies", and "The Koran for dummies" and I blew through both books in about a week! I couldn't put them down. I then did some looking online, and found our Islamic Center/Mosque in Grand Rapids, and I made an appointment to talk with the Imam. He was a kind, gentle Pakistani gentleman, and after talking with him, I knew I had found what I was seeking. I did the Shahada that day.

Now, I can't say everything has been roses for me. Because of my weak will, I have fallen off the straight path a mess of times. I have problems with drinking, pornography, etc., but I have those problems because I don't fully give myself to Islam, in that way I am struggling. I wish I had Muslim friends, and I wish I had a better experience at Mosque, but I am what I am, a MUSLIM and I am happy!

Hope that helps! Keep up the faith Brother!

Salam!,

Hamed : )

Answer 3

I began studying Islam on my own, then met and married a wonderful Muslim man. Living in his country with his family, immersed in their religion and their culture, I felt completely at home. I knew I finally found my place in this world. Converting was the most rewarding thing I have ever done for myself.

Answer 4

Beautiful stories.. Its funny that some people are super obsessed with condemning Islam. Saying Islam brainwashes people, THEY are the ones being brainwashed by their media.. Sorry for sidetracking bro.

Answer 5

Visit websites of those who guided by Allah:
This is the link to the book “ Historical Jesus, The “ About Writer: Shaykh Khalid Yasin, a former Christian, is the Executive Director of the Islamic Teaching Institute (ITI) explains how (ISA) Jesus gave the good news of the arrival of the last prophet MUHAMMAD (peace be upon him) the prophet of ISLAM of
http://dar-us-salam.com/store/main.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=MD16&Category_Code=NW&Affiliate=allah_is_1

Islam DOOR: Why All LEARNED Christian Priests Turns to Islam? http://www.islamdoor.com/page4.php

Major Canadian Christian Missionary Converts to Islam http://www.islamcan.com/cgi-bin/increaseiman/htmlfiles/static/105944940987611.shtml
ALLAH-hu-AKBAR =D>

POWER OF TRUTH=ISLAM IS THE FASTEST GROWING RELIGION OF THE WORLD -Research and also said by Condoleeza Rice Secretary of State (USA).

ISLAM IS THE FASTEST GROWING RELIGION IN AMERICA-Said by ex-President of America “BILL CLINTON” in Pakistan by raising his forefinger upwards

A website says, just click below:
http://regentsprep.org/Regents/global/themes/diversity/empires.cfm
Islam is currently the second most practiced religion in the world, and experts predict that it will overtake Christianity as the most popular religion in the world sometime during the 21st century. Allah-hu-Akbar

ISLAM = FASTEST GROWING RELIGION IN THE WORLD
THE GREAT BOXER " MUHAMMAD ALI " , CAT STEVANS IS NOW YOUSUF ISLAM, GREAT CRICKETER " YOUSUF YOUHANA " FROM PAKISTAN CONVET 2 ISLAM and so many { FACT FILE }

http://www.islamdoor.com/page4.php
& http://www.ahmed-deedat.co.za/frameset.asp&
http://www.turntoislam.com/

Muhammad Yousuf a Pakistani cricketer after converting to ISLAM from Christianity broke tons of tons WOLRD RECORDS, he said ALLAH made him able to do so:
http://www.theage.com.au/news/news/whats-in-a-name-for-mohammad-yousuf-its-about-1664-runs/2006/11/28/1164476207374.html
& http://content-pak.cricinfo.com/ci/content/image/270445.html

From Judaism to Islam
http://www.usislam.org/converts/asad.htm

Kaka (midfielder Club Milan and the Brazilian team football) Embraces “Islam “
http://planetsoccer.wordpress.com/2006/10/22/kaka-embraces-islam/

A Russian Spy “Litvinenko” Converted To Islam On His Death Bed,
Because he knew that he has not much time & he should accept the truth which is ISLAM
http://sweetness-light.com/archive/spy-litvinenko-converted-to-islam-on-his-death-bed

On the road from the Vatican to Al Azhar
http://www.ireland.com/focus/gageby/tawfiq.htm

The Conversion Story of “Yusuf Estes”, US Federal Prison Chaplain
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yusuf_Estes
from ISLAMIC website as well
http://www.islamfortoday.com/yusufestes.htm

http://www.shareislam.com/ (Converts YouTube Islam Discussion Allah or God? Bible/Quran? Quran Free Events Order CDs/DVDs Donate)

I M A MUSLIM NOT ONLY BY BIRTH BUT BY CHOICE AS WELL.
May Allah help & guide us all, Amen’.

Answer 6

OK heres a link where u can read about more muslim reverts

http://malaysia.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Aikfe7092jMtE5p1CjAtUIC4QAx.?qid=20070703082428AA6i1fr

its a good one,

by the way i am born muslim,

Answer 7

i became a real believer (believing without doubt), these are some of things that happen to me, and it's up to people to believe it or not.

- i dreamed of prophet Muhammad(P) when i was young. and after reviewing his description it was him that i saw.

- in my 20s, two persons came in my dream teaching me about Islam, and commanded me to repent, then i said peace to them, and they said peace to me. i wake up and i end up repenting and learning about Islam.

- the word of "Allah" in Arabic has been written on my carpet while praying, (and yes i was amazed like never before) and i still have that carpet with me.

- when i repented and truly believed, i have felt something that i have never felt it before. i felt as if my room was full of people but i don't really see them. and suddenly that thing came down on me and the only thing i can describe it is "a Huge Mercy" that left my tears cry so hard. a mercy that is much more than the mercy of the mother toward her children.

and at the end, what's more truth than your God is only one, he is not human form, neither he is three or two. worshiping God alone and my religion is Islam.

Answer 8

Bah, when you get into Islam you live in a closed world of restricted information and never get to hear the Dark Side of Islam. Islam is troublesome everywhere they are a minority. They even kill and bomb in THAILAND, which was never supposed to have Muslims in it.

Learn the truth. Talk to the Apostates of Islam. They got out of Islam, and you can too. Everyone can! I'm no promoter of any other religion. It doesn't matter what you become when you get out of Islam. We are in free Western democratic nations here and the government will never ever keep track of your religion. Only your vindictive peer-group will come after you, but you must resist their violence and hate.

Answer 9

Islam is a sect. Once you join the club, you only may leave on punishment of death. How sick is that? How can an intelligent person believe in such an ignorant stone-age book of indoctrination, punishment, suppression, etc.
There may be some kind of "love, peace and respect" in it, but only for those who want to totally submit themselves.
Things like that really make me sick.