Struggles of a Revert: Telling Friends and Family

Being a Muslim revert comes with its own unique struggles and challenges that are sometimes very difficult to manage. It's normal for Muslim reverts to feel isolated, confused, and conflicted due to the changes happening in their lives. The fear of scrutiny from loved ones is a common fear amongst reverts, and I can say personally this was a struggle of mine for a long time. I want to share my personal experiences of telling my friends and family my decision to convert to Islam to offer some insight for those who may be in the same position I was when deciding to convert to Islam.

Although it wasn't easy, shortly after deciding I wanted to follow Islam, I built up the courage to tell my friends and family. I took it slow, and I explained to them how I had been learning about the religion for awhile and I fell in love with it. I'm very grateful that I have family and friends who share their honest opinions with me, even if it's not always what I want to hear. A few friends expressed some hesitance towards my decision and shared that they didn't quite understand why I changed my mind about the religion. I could tell that they might have been thinking I was pressured into following for a man but when I shared with them all of the reasons why I loved the religion and why I thought it was the right life for me, I could tell they sensed how passionate I was about Islam. Now I can say as a Muslim that my family and friends fully support me in my life and accept me just the way I am. My friends and family are always open to learn about what I follow and willing to accommodate to the changes I've made in my life! Even when I started trying to wear hijab, I received nothing but support and love from my friends and family. Alhumdullilah, I am so grateful to be surrounded by people who are so accepting and loving.

---

Although I am very fortunate for the acceptance and love showed to me by my friends and family, I know that not everyone has shared the same experience. I've heard countless stories of Muslim converts who's families have disowned them because of their decision to follow Islam, along with many other stories of Muslim converts who lose all of their friends because of their change in lifestyle. The best advice I can give to those who are fearful of such outcomes is that those who truly love and care about you will NEVER disown you or unfriend you just because you chose to follow a different religion. I can't imagine the difficulty and pain that comes with having friends or family that won't accept you for who you are, but I do know that everything happens for a reason and at Allah's will. My husband once told me a saying; "There's not a leaf that moves without Allah's permission", and I believe that to be true in all aspects of life. Everything is a part of Allah's plan, and even if you can't understand it, have faith that there's a purpose behind each struggle and triumph that you face in life.

If you are someone who is struggling with your decision to convert to Islam and feeling alone, there are countless support groups and resources for Muslim reverts! Most likely your local mosque will have resources for new Muslims and there are many support groups on facebook as well! Also, if you want to message me personally with any questions, I will always be happy to help you with any issues you may be facing or questions you have regarding the religion.