My story so far! How I became interested in Islam.

[Reverter]

While I haven't reverted yet I'm seriously considering it. I hope I don't ramble too much but I feel like I need to express my journey so far! It's a huge decision and being brought up as a middle class white Christian from America means I need to make some obvious sacrifices to my lifestyle.

I feel like my interest in Islam should go back to when Islam was in my conscious in some way or another. My conscious of Islam sadly goes back to right after 9/11 when I was in sixth grade. I was sadly an Islamophobic at the time because when you're 12 and you hear all this horrible stuff about a group of people...you tend to believe it without questioning it. Actually I had not heard anything about Islam before 9/11 which is just pathetic. Anyways I held the views until around high school. My high school was extremely multicultural so I was introduced to a bunch of cultures. This really expanded my limited view on the world. Naturally I met a few Muslims and my Islamophobia immediately dissipated when I realized they were just average people they just stayed true to their beliefs. I must say in high school I did have some angst in me so I went through a rebellious atheist phase. I was angry about religion without a clear reason. Right after high school I quickly reversed that seeing how it's impossible to know whether a God exists or not. A person must have faith as their proof for God as I believe.

After I graduated from high school was rough for me. I didn't go straight to college but I worked full time at a local technology distributor that installed computer systems for public. It was a great job and paid well but I eventually got laid off. So I enlisted in the military and went off to basic training. Found out I had anxiety issues so I got shipped back home without even finishing basic training. I felt disconnected from my friends and family so I started doing stupid stuff like taking drugs and partying but I quickly stopped because I realized I was messing up my life (lasted a month thank goodness). Then I went back to school the next semester at a local community college. I've done really well and I'm going into IT. Anyways after the month was over and I wasn't in school yet I devoted myself to intellectual activity (this was like a year ago). I've always been a computer geek but I never really paid attention to world news. When I found out Israel/Palestine I realized the mainstream US media had been lying quite a bit about the situation so I gradually decided to educate myself on the Middle East on a grand scale. Naturally because I did so I would come across Islam quite a few times. It started to spark my interest. Late last summer is when I really became interested in Islam. The whole "ground zero" Islamic center had me quite upset. Then the recent surge of Islamophobia in America after the Islamic center incident made me a Muslim apologetic. I started lurking around various Muslim discussion sites (someone referred me to here and said I should post my story) and started reading the Qur'an causally for further self studies of Islam and the Middle East. It's been really satisfying for me just to read the Qur'an. I suppose the next logical step would be to visit a local mosque. I am a bit shy and anxious around people I don't know well but I'm sure if I contacted the mosque before hand and tell them my story they would be glad to help.

To sum it up...I had a negative impression about Islam initially after 9/11, became neutral about Islam. Then after high school had some rough patches...read up on the Middle East and eventually Islam then started become increasingly interested in it.

What would be your advice from here? I've only read about a quarter of the Sura's in chronological order so far (been really busy!). Is contacting a mosque too early or what?

Thank you so much if you've taken the time to read this!

[Dhul-Qarnayn]

That is a remarkable journey. All I did during my youthful years was miss prayers and be a bad Muslim. I always marvel at how Allah guides people.

By the way, you should repost this in the General forum along with any questions you might have.

Welcome, I hope you stick around!

[Reverter]

That is a remarkable journey. All I did during my youthful years was miss prayers and be a bad Muslim. I always marvel at how Allah guides people.

By the way, you should repost this in the General forum along with any questions you might have.

Welcome, I hope you stick around!

Thanks! I'll be sure repost it in the general forum!

[ahmad12]

Thanks for posting, was a very interesting read

Contacting a masjid is never to early But I would always read quite a bit myself first. If you want books on specific subjects, we could recommend stuff, in many different languages LOL

[NeednoName]

Assalaam'aaleykum!

Ajeeb! Nobody has suggested this brother to take Shahdah without wasting any moment. Do we all not know that death is just around the corner and we know very well about the consequences he would have to face if he dies in the state of kufr.

To Brother Reverter, my message and advice to you would be to not waste any single moment and taste the sweetness of Iman by testifying the Shahada. You just need to recite and accept the following:

Ashhadu-an-laa-ilaha-ill-Allah Wa-Ashhadu-anna-Muhammad-ur-rasool-Allah

Translation:

I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad (pbuh) is the messenger of Allah

May Allah Ta'ala guide you to Islam! Ameen!

[flyingphtm]

Wow! Mashallah! very interesting journey so far May Allah guide u. just keep reading and yes do visit a mosque asap. also if u are interested in comparative religion then read Murad Hoffman. and wellcome to the forum I hope u stay for long time

[Abu Dajanaa]

welcome to forum and islam

[Arif2]

What would be your advice from here? I've only read about a quarter of the Sura's in chronological order so far (been really busy!). Is contacting a mosque too early or what?

I'm not advocating this, you'll know if/when you are ready to take the Shahada, but personally, I made it like a quarter of the way through al-Baqarah before I knew that Islam was the truth. I was doing a lot of side reading about Islam and the Prophet (SAW), but it didn't take a lot of Qur'an for me to be convinced that it was from Allah (SWT), it's a very powerful book, even translated and it was so different from anything else I've ever read that I was easily convinced.

Of course, it's never too early to contact a Masjid if you want information. I'm sure, insha'Allah, you will find someone to speak to that will be more than glad to answer any of your questions.

Also, don't forget to just sit down and sincerely ask Allah (SWT) to guide you. You probably aren't ready to pray yet, but you can still call on Allah and ask for his help.

May Allah guide you and bring you to Islam, jazak'Allah khair (may Allah grant you goodness).