1 in 3 Reverts...

[aflawedbeing]

Asalaamu alaykum wa rahmahtullahi wa barakatuh.

Brothers and sisters, years ago I read a statistic, and that was that "1 in 3 reverts eventually leave Islam."

For obvious reasons this weighed heavily on my heart and has played a role in my thinking when I meet and interact with new reverts (also, knowing that isolated feeling you may get from time to time. You know, that 'surrounded by people, but still walking alone' sort of feeling from when I was newly reverted myself.)

I cannot quote a source, I'm not even sure I could find a source to back up the statistic. It could be more optimistic now (or even then for that matter) or it could be even worse. But let's just abandon these details and assume the statistic is true. Undoubtedly, some of these reverts never expected to apostate the day they took their shahada. Undoubtedly, however, some would have came to Islam with the wrong reasons entirely.

I post this as a believer that a prevention is better than a cure.
In this thread I would like us to ask ourselves, what more can we do to eliviate a certain feeling of isolation, alienation or rekection some reverts feel? How can we pay more attention to them? How can we be there for them rather than say "MashaAllah, MashaAllah" give Salaams, and walk into the 'abyss' never to see them again?
What I'd also like to discuss is, what is the prevention?
What in our community is so lacking that these people just seem to come, stay a while, and then move on?

It's a true tragedy. And it's not like we sit idlely by, or anything - especially if we knew of what was coming.

May Allah swt guide us all, and make us as a community better equipped at reaching out to those who may be within a 'risk group' when it comes to apostacy. Ameen.

Wasalaam.

 

[revert88]

I'd like to see a support base for new muslims to keep eachother on the straight path

 

[aflawedbeing]

There was a local Masjid in my area that had a revert group meeting every Saturday morning, when I'd been Muslim for just a few months (back in 2007).
It didn't take off, apparently.

I could never get there due to work commitments. But now wish I had have made a move to...

 

[greenhill]

That's the thing. Islam is such a wide subject. A life time of learning and perfecting. Where do we start? I always say read the stories about the prophets, peace be to them all. Learn the solah, and start on building on the five pillars. And whilst your interest in reading should have picked up, read up on the readable items of the remaining pillars of faith, as you've read the stories of the prophets already. Then you would be more grounded in the basic foundation to explore the 'lifestyle'. Jumping straight into the lifestyle without adequate grounding can be 'jarring'.

Personally, what you described as the 'mashallah' bit and then disappear, I believe, they are happy to hear, but themselves perhaps shy or feel inadequate to help. I am sometimes guilty of this when timing was not favourable, :hiding:

In truth, I reckon this is the hardest area to tackle, Best place to start is in places like these, the forum. Ask, In syaa Allah you will get answers. If you can find support group in your area, even greater. You really need time to really be supportive, without it, it's Hi Bye kind of thing... ^o)

Peace

 

[Sumaiya54]

I have heard that 70/100 new Muslims leave Islam within their first year.
Really helpful things for reverts are other reverts mentoring them. I believe that the Why Islam organization has one of these programs and some Masjids. Also, you can meet Muslims online such as forums like these Alhamdulilah.

Assalamu Aleikum

 

[Allahuakbar_]

I am revert as well. And I think its important for the revert to spend time in the masjid. As far as some programs that the masjid could have could be classes on tauhid and aqeedah. This i how the revert could get more in touch with other reverts. Every muslim could get engaged in this kind of activity not just the research.

 

[sajjad7006]

I suggest to the new reverts to spend their most of time in the Masjid and learning their different lecture from different resources.Research and more about Islam.

 

[Icy Maiden]

I accepted Islam a few years ago and have gone through bad experience with Muslims practicing the religion. I've been ridiculed because I don't wear hijab or eat halal food. I'm sure a lot of reverts must have faced the same sort of thing I have, become angry and left Islam. Perhaps if the Muslims weren't so judgmental more reverts would stick to their religion. What a strange thing it is that when I went to the mosque to say the shahada there were all these cries of Allahu Akbar and people congratulating me for becoming a Muslim. And the next thing I know is that the same people are calling me kafir simply because I don't do this or don't do that.

 

[sister herb]

Salam alaykum

As a revert myself too, I didn´t face kind of problems here when I was new in islam; simply because in my city hadn´t any islamic community at this time, hardly any other muslims at all (even i didn´t know anyone and this is quite small place). Maybe that was good to me at that time as I had to find out what islam really means alone, not by the behavior of other muslims. So I understood that muslims don´t directly mean same than islam everytimes.

I understand, that also some reverts may think that islam is some kind of miracle cure to they every problems and when they return to the reality of the everyday life, they might be disappointed - they problems are still there and they have to struggle with them like before.

Anyways; I hope that those whose are new reverts and face problems from others now, will learn from them and later, when they have been muslims longer time, can be to new muslims kind of sisters and brothers like they hoped to meet when they were new ones.

 

[Woodrow]

While there probably are reverts that leave Islam, I doubt if it is 1 in 3.

Most Muslims I know are reverts. I do not know any who have left Islam.

It would be interesting to see the source of the population studied for the statistics

 

[sister herb]

Actually only Allah knows how really leaves islam and who feels that he/she still needs some time to think. May Allah gives all those unsure brothers/sisters power to be sure and return.

:statisfie

 

[Scimitar]

Asalaamu alaykum wa rahmahtullahi wa barakatuh.

Brothers and sisters, years ago I read a statistic, and that was that "1 in 3 reverts eventually leave Islam."

walakum salaam warahmatullahi wabarakatuhu...

...I wonder how they collated these stats

Not to mention that the whole "stat" game is something that requires cencus reports to justify their authenticity for a locality. And what may be true of one locality may be the opposite for another. Thus, stats such as these make absolutely no dent on Islams numbers of adherents at all.

Especially when the CIA and the NSA published figures claiming that Islam is spreading across the USA at an alarmingly quick rate, despite their attempts to curb the spread of Islam in the USA.

Also, in the same report, they concluded that 3 out of 4 converts were actually women - that's 75% of converts to Islam in the USA are women. This, despite the fact that USA promotes the idea that Islam oppresses women.

Moving on: I can throw legit stat after legit stat with links to authenticate the sources in this post if I want to, but the truth is, you can find the sources yourselves, it's not biggy.

From WIKI, sources from elsewhere so not really WIKI:
Muslim population growth refers to the topic of population growth of the global Muslim community. In 2006, countries with a Muslim majority had an average population growth rate of 1.8% per year (when weighted by percentage Muslim and population size).This compares with a world population growth rate of 1.12% per year.As of 2011, it is predicted that the world's Muslim population will grow twice as fast as non-Muslims over the next 20 years. By 2030, Muslims will make up more than a quarter of the global population. However newer reports show the Muslim population growth will level off and slow down.

Really now? What report can tell you of something that will happen before it has actually happened? Especially something as wide ranging and diverse as the subject of conversion to Islam? LOL... You can see what the agenda is clearly, the enemies of Islam are hating the fact that our numbers exceed all others - and now they want to put a downer on our collective conscious... don't fall for it.

Champion your position in Islam instead.

Scimi

 

[Futuwwa]

From WIKI, sources from elsewhere so not really WIKI:
Muslim population growth refers to the topic of population growth of the global Muslim community. In 2006, countries with a Muslim majority had an average population growth rate of 1.8% per year (when weighted by percentage Muslim and population size).This compares with a world population growth rate of 1.12% per year.As of 2011, it is predicted that the world's Muslim population will grow twice as fast as non-Muslims over the next 20 years. By 2030, Muslims will make up more than a quarter of the global population.However newer reports show the Muslim population growth will level off and slow down.

Really now? What report can tell you of something that will happen before it has actually happened? Especially something as wide ranging and diverse as the subject of conversion to Islam? LOL... You can see what the agenda is clearly, the enemies of Islam are hating the fact that our numbers exceed all others - and now they want to put a downer on our collective conscious... don't fall for it.

It has nothing to do with conversion and everything to do with birth rates. It's called the Demographic Transition, something almost every developing country goes through. It's hardly arbitrary to believe that what happened to almost every industrializing country will happen to Islamic countries as well, especially when many are showing the decreasing but still relatively high birth rates that characterize countries in the later stage of the transition.

 

[Hulk]

There is a difference in doing a wrong action and knowing that it is wrong, and doing a wrong action and saying that it is right. There are muslims who don't fast in ramadan, eat non-halal food, drink alcohol, but they would never say that their actions are permissible, that would be an even deeper problem.

I personally know quite a few converts myself(in fact I know more than 3!) and none have "left Islam", I'm sure the fact that they are on the path of knowledge has something to do with it inshaaAllah.

 

[ServantForAlla]

There are many reasons they could leave.

1. They could have fallen in love with a Muslim boy or Girl converted but when the marriage didn't work out they returned to whatever faith they were originally

2. They converted but had struggles with there families accepting who they were and in the end the weight of there family made them say they reverted back to there original faith.

3. They didn't have a support system no Muslims took them under their wings and helped them into Muslim life.

4. They weren't educated and feel for some anti Islam site or person spreading rumors about Islam

 

[Scimitar]

There are many reasons they could leave.

1. They could have fallen in love with a Muslim boy or Girl converted but when the marriage didn't work out they returned to whatever faith they were originally

crap reason to become Muslim dont you think? I know of two sisters who reverte coz they wanted to marry a Muslim man. One is divorced from him but still wears hijaab and is Muslim. Dare I say, the husband went off the rails - a Pakistani born Muslim. The girl ws a Christian, so really, she didn't have to revert... good thing she did though, she's still Muslim.

2. They converted but had struggles with there families accepting who they were and in the end the weight of there family made them say they reverted back to there original faith.

Highly irregular and quite rare. No one converts back because their families were like "You a terrorist now?" anyone who takes the decision to become Muslim, knows that apostacy is something that you just don't do in Islam - every new convert/revert knows this.

I see on the interwebs, this new agenda to paint Islam as a religion of apostates. With some accounts of supposed Ex-Muslims speaking of their apostacy from Islam and how they found their saviour thru Christ and the like - ie: Judaism. People like this guy:

Exposing a fake apostate:

Yup, as you can see - this guys was never a Muslim - he's clearly not done his research, either that or he has some severe mental difficulty in identifiying good from bad... what a fool.

3. They didn't have a support system no Muslims took them under their wings and helped them into Muslim life.

Allah says, for he who has no one, he has me.

4. They weren't educated and feel for some anti Islam site or person spreading rumors about Islam

I doubt anyone would be so fickle as to leave Islam after visiting Answering-Islam troll site, surely if they can use the internet, they can find the refutations which are all over the web...

...No. Sorry but these reasons are just whimsical and not validated for me.

It has nothing to do with conversion and everything to do with birth rates. It's called the Demographic Transition, something almost every developing country goes through. It's hardly arbitrary to believe that what happened to almost every industrializing country will happen to Islamic countries as well, especially when many are showing the decreasing but still relatively high birth rates that characterize countries in the later stage of the transition.

Bro we're on the same page - I don't agree with wiki lol. Not on this one. It's an insult to my intellect to agree on this one with wiki lol.

Scimi

 

[ServantForAlla]

crap reason to become Muslim dont you think? I know of two sisters who reverte coz they wanted to marry a Muslim man. One is divorced from him but still wears hijaab and is Muslim. Dare I say, the husband went off the rails - a Pakistani born Muslim. The girl ws a Christian, so really, she didn't have to revert... good thing she did though, she's still Muslim.

A crap reason sure doesn't mean it doesn't happen, I once lived in America and there was the Russian girl who was married to her He was Muslim but no practicing but she converted and became a practicing Muslim even after he left her she was an excellent Muslimah

Highly irregular and quite rare. No one converts back because their families were like "You a terrorist now?" anyone who takes the decision to become Muslim, knows that apostacy is something that you just don't do in Islam - every new convert/revert knows this.

I see on the interwebs, this new agenda to paint Islam as a religion of apostates. With some accounts of supposed Ex-Muslims speaking of their apostacy from Islam and how they found their saviour thru Christ and the like - ie: Judaism. People like this guy:

Exposing a fake apostate:

Yup, as you can see - this guys was never a Muslim - he's clearly not done his research, either that or he has some severe mental difficulty in identifiying good from bad... what a fool.

Actually you would be surprised how many say they have had a hard time with there families and revert back to their original faith, Born Muslims wouldn't know how the reverts feel because we have support from our family or family is Muslim we live around Muslims, But my Uncle is married to a Christian woman and she consonantly disrespect Islam in front of her daughter and son making them not practice Islam.

Having family support is important.

That man is one of many who are claiming to be apostates -______________-

Allah says, for he who has no one, he has me.

Doesn't mean Muslims shouldn't try and welcome them to the Ummah, I'm sure the Prophet (pbuh) would welcome every single revert to Islam with open arms and help them with whatever they needed.

I doubt anyone would be so fickle as to leave Islam after visiting Answering-Islam troll site, surely if they can use the internet, they can find the refutations which are all over the web...

...No. Sorry but these reasons are just whimsical and not validated for me.

Anyone can tell Answering Islam hasn't read the Quran and have no idea what they are talking about, but WikiIslam has tricked many Muslims wither you believe that or not. Then you have things such as Quranic Path a deviant website that tells women they don't have to wear the hijab and try to change the interpretation of the Quran and yes many people have fallen for it

But how would you know if they are valid? You aren't a revert to Islam you were born into Islam there is a great difference.

There is a youtube video I watched that a man said he left Islam because Hell sounded scary -_______- but you could tell he never read the Quran because when Allah describes Hell he will Describe Heaven right before or after it.

Besides that these fake apostates and Anti Islamic websites do turn people away from Islam someone who may have wanted to convert may have re thought about it

 

[Icy Maiden]

When I investigated Islam the only thing of interest to me was the concept of God and the emphasis on worshipping only one God. It was radically different from all the other religions I had studied. I was also impressed by the man who taught that message. I studied his life and was convinced that he was God's messenger. I then enquired what it took to accept Islam. They said all I had to do was recognize God's oneness and that Muhammad sws was God's messenger. That was it? Yes, they said. That was all I had to do. So I said the shahada. But after 3 years of belief in Islam and intermingling with Muslims I'm inclined to think that saying the shahada is not enough. There are other things that the Muslim community expects a new Muslim to do and if the new Muslim doesn't act according to their prescribed rules, they show great scorn and disrespect for him/her.They look down upon such a person... someone who has newly said the shahada. Why, they treat the Christians and people of other religions better!

Let me illustrate. Brenda is a Christian and she doesn't wear hijab.She drinks alcohol and smokes cigars. Muslim sister named Maryam is very friendly with her because Brenda has shown a slight interest in Islam. Maryam treats Brenda with kindness, gives her many books as gifts and one of them, a copy of the Quran. This goes on for many years but Brenda doesn't accept Islam. But Maryam continues being friendly with Brenda.And there's another girl by the name of Lola. She too is a Christian, doesn't wear hijab, drinks alcohol and smokes. Maryam meets Lola at the mosque. Lola has been studying Islam for five years. After being convinced that Islam taught about the true God Lola says the shahada at the mosque. Maryam is overjoyed. But what is this? 2 weeks later the very same Maryam who had congratulated Lola on her acceptance of Islam is looking down on her because she had seen Lola at the shopping mall, eating hot dogs and she wasn't wearing a hijab.

This is actually my story. Brenda (name changed) is my Christian friend and to this day my Muslim sisters treat her better than they do me.If it's the hijab that makes me Muslim I would wear it. If it's fasting in Ramadan that makes me Muslim I would fast. If it's eating halal that makes me Muslim I would eat only halal.

But no. It is belief in Allah and His messenger that makes a person Muslim. This is the assertion a person has to make to become Muslim: ashaduan lailailhallah muhammad rasul allah. I know this and that's the reason why I haven't left Islam despite being ridiculed by several Muslims for not doing this or that.

People have called me kafir and accused me of apostasy.But you know what? These people can take that up with Allah on the Day of Judgment and learn for themselves who really believes and who doesn't.

 

[Scimitar]

@ ServantforAlla - the reasons you stated were more the exception than the rule.

Scimi

 

[greenhill]

People have called me kafir and accused me of apostasy.But you know what? These people can take that up with Allah on the Day of Judgment and learn for themselves who really believes and who doesn't.

In these matters, we really shouldn't be the ones to judge. In a story narrated about prophet Musa's journey with Khidr shows how wisdom/knowledge is granted to people very differently.

But on your story, you are absolutely correct (in my humble opinion) about the belief in Allah being the one true God and that Muhammad(pbuh) is His (final) prophet. However, with that already established, we need to proceed with the other pillars.

I tell myself (in layman's terms) the shahada is my passport to heaven. Which means in syaa Allah I will enter paradise. The question is when? After an extensive spell in hell for not upkeeping and submitting to His other commandments? How then do I shorten, or if possible, skip entirely the possibility of even entering hell to expunge myself of sins before being granted access to heaven? By doing what is is asked of me and to avoid that has been warned and to constantly ask for forgiveness.

So, to be a muslim, we also need to practice, not just believe. It is not other people's place to make judgements, but it does not stop them from doing so, such is the way of the world.

Peace