I want to get extremely personal and honest. I want to convert to Islam. I'm nervous because I have two children from two different men. I grew up Jehovah witness and right now I just study the Qur'an at home with my children or by myself. I never felt connected when I was a witness. It was something that I was born into. Now that I'm older I've found Islam and I feel connected to it. When I'm sad, or going through things I turn to my Qur'an and I feel strength and better afterwards. Will my children and I be accepted into the religion or will we be denied. How do I go about attending meetings and studying with other people. Will I be able to work, and what kinds of position will I be able to hold? Can I have my own business? How do I convert my children. I have so many questions but my heart is here. This is what I need in my life. Please any and all advice is welcome. Thank you again brothers and sisters.
(In the Name of God, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful)
Hi, sis! Welcome to IB!
Hope you're in good health and good spirits InshaAllah (God-willing).
Yes, sis, of course you'll be accepted as remember that Islam is a religion for which God has invited all human beings. God is the one who accepts from us our intentions and therefore your acceptance of Islam is only between you and God.
As for the Muslim community, InshaAllah (God-willing), they'll be welcoming of you as well because we're all brothers and sisters in humanity and then if you converted you'd be my sister in faith as well.
For studying the religion, you can choose to either attend free online classes offered for new Muslims at Seekershub.org or you can go to your local Islamic center or mosque and phone them to see if they offer any classes for new Muslims that you can attend in person.
Yes, you can work, sister, in Islam. Also, especially since you have children, I also imagine that working for you is a need as well, and you fulfilling this need of your children and yourself in being able to provide for them is a rewarding act in the eyes of God. Ideally, if you had a husband and could afford to stay at home, being a stay-at-home mother is considered even more praiseworthy and rewarding as you'll be able to dedicate time and effort in educating them into being the best human beings and being beacons of hope for the next generation.
Yes, sis, of course you can have your own business; in fact, Khajida, may God be pleased with her, the first wife of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was a businesswoman and she was the first convert to Islam.
Well, as for converting your children, it depends on what their ages are. If they are too young, say below the age of seven, then you probably need not do anything as you'll as their first point of contact will be able to raise them in the faith. If, however, your children are older than the age of seven, then I suggest you sit them down and explain to them in the best way why you're making the decision to convert and ask them open-ended questions and also inquire to see if they would be interested in following your footsteps. If your children are older, remember that it has to be their decision made out of free will and you should in no way ever compel them to take that decision as it is their right that they make the decision with which they'll be able to live; and also remember that if you embody the beauty of Islamic character in your speech, behavior, and actions, then they'll be able to understand what Islam is and will better be able to accept Islam. So, always yourself try to be the best human being and mother and InshaAllah (God-willing) they'll learn from you what it means to be Muslim as you'll always be their first point of reference once you convert InshaAllah (God-willing).
No problem, sis; I'm happy that you've come to us to assuage your concerns. Please feel free to use us as a sounding board or ask any questions; we're here as your sisters and brothers to help you and answer you and offer you support and encouragement on this journey of becoming Muslim and living Islam in your life InshaAllah (God-willing).
Best Wishes,
format_quote Originally Posted by saaa85
I want to get extremely personal and honest. I want to convert to Islam. I'm nervous because I have two children from two different men. I grew up Jehovah witness and right now I just study the Qur'an at home with my children or by myself. I never felt connected when I was a witness. It was something that I was born into. Now that I'm older I've found Islam and I feel connected to it. When I'm sad, or going through things I turn to my Qur'an and I feel strength and better afterwards. Will my children and I be accepted into the religion or will we be denied. How do I go about attending meetings and studying with other people. Will I be able to work, and what kinds of position will I be able to hold? Can I have my own business? How do I convert my children. I have so many questions but my heart is here. This is what I need in my life. Please any and all advice is welcome. Thank you again brothers and sisters.
I have tears in my eyes from happiness. Thank you so much!! I will take classes online until I can call and ask about free classes. What do I wear to the classes. How do I dress when I study? Or when I'm around fellow brothers and sisters. Thank you so much for answering all my question especially about opening my own business. And yes my children are 4 & 6 yrs old. And they are always following me on my ways. I am very excited for this. I can't explain how important this is to me. Thank you again so much for everything.
(In the Name of God, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful)
Aw, (hugs), it's all right, sis. <3
I'm just happy that you were able to find your way to us, and if we can even make an atom of positive difference in your journey to Islam, then that's so much more awesome for us and an honor as well for us.
As for dressing style, I'd advise you to dress modesty when you're around brothers and sisters; if you feel comfortable and don't mind, you can also start wearing hijab (veil) whenever you feel ready to do so.
Well, sis, in your daily life, if you're specifically studying the Quran or Islam, it is better if you're in a state of purity - so, that means taking a bath until you can learn how to properly do wudu (ablution) or ghusl (fully body wash) as per Islam. That said, being in a state of purity is required only for studying and handling the Arabic Quran in its physical format; if, however, you're studying any subject of Islam, then being in a state of purity is not required though it is advisable as spiritually being in a state of purity prepares our hearts to receive divine guidance and mercy from God and we're also able to ward off any bad influences from shaitaan (satan) in that state of being.
That said, take baby steps; we're all advised by Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to seek knowledge from cradle to grave. That said, since Rome wasn't built in a day, we'll have to always be patient with ourselves and know that moving forward in incremental steps is more important and better for us as a pace so that we're not overwhelmed and able to have a high level of iman (faith) as we carry ourselves forward in a better direction and on the Straight Path in Islam.
Well, the online classes to which I linked you are free Alhamdhullilah (all praise, thanks, and credit is to God); I believe they'll be opening their registration in October and then you can register there and learn Islam in a proper way from Islamic scholars themselves.
I'm excited for you too, sis; and you'll find that we have a lot of converts on IB here! So, congratulations on finding your way to your new brothers and sisters! Hehe. InshaAllah (God-willing), you're important to us as well, sis, and we hope for you the best always InshaAllah (God-willing).
Best Wishes,
format_quote Originally Posted by saaa85
I have tears in my eyes from happiness. Thank you so much!! I will take classes online until I can call and ask about free classes. What do I wear to the classes. How do I dress when I study? Or when I'm around fellow brothers and sisters. Thank you so much for answering all my question especially about opening my own business. And yes my children are 4 & 6 yrs old. And they are always following me on my ways. I am very excited for this. I can't explain how important this is to me. Thank you again so much for everything.
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(In the Name of God, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful)
(peace and blessings be upon him) was a businesswoman and she was the first convert to Islam.
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