I'm a 27 year-old, Jewish-born woman, born to non-religious Jewish parents, who is dating a non-religious Christian man. When I was 18, I began exploring different religions, since I never felt connected to Judaism. I started with Christianity, and for a while I attended an Episcopalian church. I enjoyed church and found worship calming. However, something didn't feel entirely true about Christianity. Fast-forward nine years, to nearly the present, and by this time I was no longer regularly attending church. I had nowhere to go for religion. I wasn't part of any religion, and couldn't decide where I belonged. I liked Monotheistic religion, but neither Judaism nor Christianity seemed entirely correct. This past winter I had a revelation! I felt a call from Allah to Islam. At first I ignored it. The idea of being Muslim made me uncomfortable at first, with all the current discrimination in the United States, where I live. I didn't want to face any of that. However, the feelings were nagging! Finally I heeded Allah's call to Islam, and began to research the faith...and everything makes so much sense to me! The Bible and Torah were translated over and over again, leading to the messages not being entirely correct. The Quran is the only non-corrupt book. Even the scientific discoveries we hear about, regarding religion, are consistent with Muhammad and his teachings.
I do know that converting to Islam will be difficult. I was never raised with Kosher restrictions, so keeping Halal will not be easy for me, but I'm working on it. I also do have past tattoos and a few piercings. I've been trying to repent, but that's also difficult since I admit I like my body art. I know Allah doesn't like it, though. I also have concerns about my current romantic relationship. I know my boyfriend will not want to be Muslim, nor will he want to raise future children as Muslim. On the other hand, I don't want to leave him. My only hope is to raise our children (when we decide to have them, or rather adopt, since I'm not fertile) with two religions. I'm also worried about wearing a Hijab just yet. Given the discrimination in this country, and my parents, who scold me if I so much as talk about wearing a Hijab in public.
Nevertheless, I'm determined to find a Mosque near me! I want to proceed with Islam as my religion!
I hope to find people here, who will support me on my journey, and make new friends!
Salam aleikum, This post made me so happy lol, but mashallah and congrats! As for your tattoos, remember that once you convert all your sins are forgiven-so you get a clean slate so your tattoos are fine, although i would advise maybe covering them up.
As for Hijab don't rush into it, take your time, im only starting to wear hijab this weekend and i should of ideally started a long time ago however i was not ready. Anyway may Allah help you and welcome to Islam sis! xo
(In the Name of God, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful)
(Peace be upon you)
Sister, the brother who gave you advice right now is an agnostic as we do welcome on this board people of all faiths to discuss or understand Islam. And I thought he was just trying to give you another perspective on the situation from a male POV. For example, I thought I'd been in love once or at least strongly infatuated, and it was the most terrible feeling in the world to realize that the feelings were not reciprocated; therefore, I thought the brother had just been trying to guide you in a direction to thinking more deeply on the issue of your relationship.
Sister, the religion is not meant to be a controlling vehicle and if it feels like that to you, then I do think you've probably been paying attention to negative voices that can seem amplified when you're to the new religion. For example, at my new workplace which I started some weeks ago, though I'm already familiar with the work as I've been doing it for a long time, some people seem to think they can help me further by constantly giving me advice on what to do/not to do when sometimes in my private moments I feel annoyed because I think I learn best when I'm allowed to be left to my own devices. So, if all the advice seems too overwhelming to you, go at your own pace.
Sister, there are no expectations or goals that you have to meet except the ones that you set for yourself at the beginning of your journey in Islam. The sooner you realize it, the better. Some people will tell you to do this/do that, and I think frankly as someone who knows yourself best, you are the best position to decide and be the arbiter of what to do when.
Sister, regardless of what you wish, I do wish you all the best in life. However, I'd appreciate if you stayed my sister in Islam, not for my sake, but for your own sake; sister, you've newly started, and you can't give up so soon on yourself and on the path you chose. Remember all the reasons which led you to choose Islam for yourself; hold on to those reasons in the moments of your frustration and forgive us for any injustice or wrongs we have done or any umbrage we may have caused. Sister, as Muslims, we're not perfect; we're just Muslims trying to do our best just like you. The moment you realize that, you'll be able to see that we're struggling just like you and we hope to just have beautiful people like you on this journey of simply trying our best join us in this struggle to better ourselves and win Allah's Pleasure.
Sincere Regards,
(And peace be upon you)
format_quote Originally Posted by PhoenixBird
Wow! Wtf!
Alright, I've had enough! You are all gravely misunderstanding the situation! Not to mention delving into personal territory that you have no right delving into.
First of all, just because we aren't having sex does NOT mean I don't love him. I'm ASEXUAL. I don't experience sexual attraction. Romantic attraction is not sexual attraction. So don't claim that either.
Second of all, if Christianity was a phase, then it was a hell of a long one! I was Christian from age 18 to age 25!
And religion matching with science is a pretty good reason to go for that religion. We can't deny science! Sadly, though, it seems Muslims are creationists.
Not to mention how incredibly constricting and controlling and yes, abrasive the religion is.
Not the right path for me. Sick of dealing with the awful male dominated religion that is Islam and it's plagiaristic texts.
I thought Islam was truth. Whether that is or isn't the case, I don't know. What I do know is I'm sick of dealing with stupid rules and expectations I cannot meet combined with people who think it is their right to ask personal questions and condemn me for choices I make for a reason, when they hardly understand the situation!
So I'm freeing myself from this control tactic called Islam!
(In the Name of God, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful)
format_quote Originally Posted by fromelsewhere
Now all of a sudden you are bashing Islam. Whoah! What just happened?
InshaAllah (God-willing) the sister will be back and be able to read further responses and then decide for herself what path she wants for herself. Having said that, I do think some well-intentioned people in real life can perhaps hamper progress by making it seem that Islam desires that overnight a person must become a perfected Muslim, and I think that might have contributed to the sister feeling and writing as she did right now. However, Islam was revealed over a period of 23 years, and it is a journey, not a destination. And it can be very overwhelming when it is made to seem that the rules are more important than intentions when instead it is the intentions that are more important than rules. Also, Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) gave new Muslims the following simple supplication to recite instead of rules to memorize: "Allahummaghfir li, warhamni, wahdini,warzuqni (O Allah! Grant me pardon, have mercy upon me, direct me to righteousness and provide me subsistence)."
Lastly I just want to say that Islam isnt that difficult a religion to follow! It obviously will be a lot for people just starting however in theory its not all that difficult. Personally I think you should maybe do some research? Im not trying to persude you here at all to convert or anything like that.
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(In the Name of God, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful)
(Peace be upon you)
(And peace be upon you)
(peace and blessings be upon him) gave new Muslims the following simple supplication to recite instead of rules to memorize: "
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