I thought converting to Islam would be easy. I was wrong. This will be one of the hardest things I have ever done. There is so much I don’t know and so much I need to know. I feel like my brain is going to explode from tmi. This is seriously no joke and not for the faint of heart. I promise if my taqwaa(I’m sure it’s spelled wrong and doesn’t apply.) becomes strong I will start a weekly study group to strengthen my faith and to help other new converts. There needs to be a Muslim 101 class and if there isn’t one in my area when I am more confident and studied in Islam then I will start one. There are so many Catholic and Christian churches in my area but there is only one mosque. I would prefer not to go to that one because I know the Imam and any questions that I may ask will only get back to my husband. And I am without a doubt the things I may ask or do will only be used against me and to make my husband look like a fool.
On another note I find myself wondering why after many years do converts still refer to themselves as converts. No matter the number of years they have been a Muslim they always say convert. What makes you not a convert? I feel someone like myself(once I do convert) yes, but after 5, 10, or 15 years no, I will no longer call myself a convert.
Greetings of Peace Dear:
Ha ha, out of the mouth of babes: when do we stop being a convert!
In Islam, we believe that everyone is born a Muslim, but that the parents make them some other religion. Thus, some “converts” refer to themselves as “re-verts” to Islam, because we came back.
I am going to stop calling myself a “re-vert”. I am simply a Muslim, Alhamdulillah. No one needs to know my story in between my birth or now unless I chose to tell them, right?!
As for questions: feel free to ask away here! Or you can go to sites for new Muslims. Or ask away on the blogs of other Muslims who you respect, etc.
Assalaamu alaikum,
I guess it’s just an identifier… I don’t go out of my way to describe myself as a ‘convert’ – it’s normally enough to say that I am Muslim but sometimes it just helps to clarify when I explain that my family is not Muslim, I converted to Islam.
May Allah make the transition easy for you… focus on aqeedah (belief) rather than on the complicated stuff and everything else can follow slowly. If you believe in the Oneness and Unity of Allah, in all his prophets including Muhammad, upon him be peace, in the angels, the books of Allah, the unseen and divine destiny then it’s time to make shahada and learn slowly but surely about everything else.
For learning about Islam, I saw a nice list of websites on another blog earlier today:
http://southernmuslimah.wordpress.com/2008/02/18/a-list-of-some-of-my-favorite-islamic-sites-and-resources-online/
Umm Ibrahim said what I am saying – focus on the big picture…tawheed (oneness of Allah) and everything else will follow. One thing I will say though is that you should hurry and take your shahada (declare your faith) and not worry too much about the extra “stuff”. I say this b/c the most important thing is that you are muslim as Allah forgives all except shirk (ascribing partners to him). If you were to die tomorrow (God-forbid) it’ s best to be muslim with a whole lot of faults and shortcomings as opposed to being “about to become muslim”. Just my opinion.
As of right now things in my life are very stressful. I have a child that is disabled and not too long ago I received news that they are worse then originally thought. I have no free time and I do all my blog writing in the early morning hours. If I can get an hour which most of the time I can’t but this is why I am “about to become Muslim”, instead of a Muslim. I feel my heart is in the right place and with time things will not be so stressfull. I hope.
muslimahintraining – take it easy.
Take things slowly as God knows what is in your heart. I always had images of taking my shahada as a massive event with tears and wotnot but it happened without warning. Don’t make it a big deal or someting looming and something to be scared of. Of course it IS a BIG deal but take things in your stride. And if things are getting too much for you, take a break and come back to it later.
I will pray for you and your child.
God willing, he/she will become the light of your life and a joy for you and your husband, even if it is very difficult for you. 
It can only make you both stronger.
*more hugs!*
You are courageous to strike out in a direction different from your friends, family and environment. Writing this blog will be a positive experience because you’ll meet many wonderful Muslims who’ll support you.
In spite of the good atmosphere you’ll find in the blogosphere, you’ll want to make contact with Muslims closer to home, people with whom you can relate face-to- face. Maybe then you won’t feel as though everything is so hard.
I converted to Islam twenty years ago. I do not use the term “revert” because I think it sounds pompous. I don’t believe we are all born Muslim and then forced into other religions. There is no shame to admit that one is convert. Many converts were devoted to their former religions and beliefs. Only a thoughtful, sincere, deep-thinking person undertakes a seeking of spiritual realty to the extent that a new religious system becomes attractive and viable.
Don’t feel rushed into taking shahada, I personally believe it is VITAL to wait until if feels right and your heart is at peace with the decision. Otherwise one is more in danger of giving up in panic at the first ‘obstacle’. If you believe in One God, all of His prophets, the angels, the books of scripture, the unseen, and the divine power of Allah which encompasses everything – then don’t sweat the small stuff. There is a broad range of opinion in Islam so don’t get scared if you hear something that sounds extreme to you. A lot of Muslims have cultural ideas which are not really Islamic at all (epecially when it comes to men/women). Go to good reliable sources for your information, not necessarily your husband……may Allah ta’ala make everything easy for you, hugs to you and your child
Asalaamu Alaikum,
Being new to anything, Islam included, is always hard, but take your time and you will feel more comfortable with everything as you learn and experience more things.
I have a website which might be helpful. I put it together right before I converted in 2004 and still add links and try to keep it updated.
There is information on Islam, the Prophet (Peace Be Upon him), Women in Islam, Eid ul Fitr and Eid ul Adha, books you can read about Islam, where you can buy Islamically appropriate clothing online, and Muslim online e-groups you can join.
The URL is: http://www.gecoities.com/to_find_islam
I still use it for reference and have had positive feedback from others about it too.
Best wishes!
Fi aman Allah (I leave you in God’s care),
Hadiya
How Many muslims Does it Take to….?
Q: Why did the muslim blow himself up in a hospital in Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan?
A: Because murdering civilians that can’t move is easier than murdering those who can defend themselves.
Q: Why did the Shiite muslim cross the road?
A: To blow up a busload of non-Shiite muslim school children.
Q: Why does it take four muslims to gang-rape a woman?
A: (How else can they go to a good public stoning later in the afternoon?)
Q: Why did muslims use jets to maximize death of civilians on September 11th?
A: There is no such thing as a muslim rocket scientist.
Q: Why do muslims hate infidels?
A: Because allah tells imams to tell muslims to hate, kill, and torture infidels at every opportunity.
Q: Why do muslims hate Jews?
A: Because Jews are educationally, financially, and culturally superior to them – why else?
Q: Why do muslims hate Christians so much?
A: What could scare a muslim more than love?
Q: Why do muslims routinely kill Buddhists in Thailand?
A: Because Buddhists are infidels – duh!
Q: Why do muslims routinely kill Hindus in India?
A: Need we ask?
Q: Why won’t muslim men let their daughters get an education?
A: (muslim men must be superior to at least one group of people.)
Q: Why do muslims want Mindinao, the largest of the Philippine Islands, to be for muslims only?
A: Because no one else can stand the smell of muslims, and they know it.
Q: Why don’t muslim men bath on a regular basis?
A: It’s yet another way to make their wives suffer.
Q: Why did the Saudi-muslim man break his wife’s jaw?
A: Because another man looked at her.
Q: Why didn’t the Saudi court or the Saudi police punish the man?
A: Because they’re muslims – duh!
Q: Why don’t muslims eat pork?
A: Because their god is actually a pile of pig shit.
Q: How many muslims does it take to screw in a light bulb?
A: How could we know? (They blew each other up before they finished.)
Q: Why do muslims recruit only young adults to blow themselves up?
A: Because they’re stupid enough to believe that allah “wills” it.
Q: Why do muslims in Iraq and the Philippines use children as human shields?
A: We don’t want any jihadists to get hurt do we?
Q: Why did the muslim blow himself up in a hospital in Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan?
A: Because murdering civilians that can’t move is easier than murdering those who can defend themselves.
Q. Why do jerks like the one above troll blogs and post anti-Islamic garbage and think they’re funny or clever?
A. Because unlike us peace-loving Muslims, they have absolutely no love for others and no life.