assalamualikum, may peace be upon you and may allah bless yourself and your loved ones, ameen<3 (req by @--flxwer---<3) — — — converting to a whole nother religion can be really hard and stressful. religion not only is a belief, but it is also the way you choose to lead your life. it can be scary or unsettling to switch to new changes, because changes itself can be really scary. especially converting to islam. i say 'especially' because islam is one of the most controversial religions in the world, so i understand if anyone is feeling uncertain about converting. but trust me, once you pray your first prayer or dua your first dua, youll feel like this religion belonged to you. but how? what challenges are there? im about to explain that:) especially nowadays, young teenagers and maybe even older kids are at the stage where you find yourself and accept it. this can be gender, pronouns, your ethnicity, personality etc. this also includes religion!! you may be born a certain religion but not feel like you belong to it, you know? so some people decide to change, or stay atheist, which is fine too! there is nothing wrong with converting, reverting or simply not believing in religious beliefs and no one can force you to. tell me, do you really feel like being muslim? do you feel like youd be happy? and im not saying these questions to back you off, just to get you thinking. changing or joining a religion is a big decision to make. watch islamic vlogs, videos, lectures. does it make you at peace? do you feel interested, drawn too? if all those (or most) were positive, youd probably think, what about my parents? my school, friends? if you are nervous about their remarks, remember allah is always with you, by your side. ask him for help, to guide you, even if you havent converted yet. talk to someone you really really trust, so you know what it feels like to talk to someone about converting/joining islam (or any religion). even before converting, you can still act in an islamic manner. you dont have to go to hijab or niqab straight away, but stick to simple, basic rules, such as; - lowering your gaze from people who have not covered their awrah. (awrah = neck to ankles for women, belly button to knees for men) - studying islam, though make sure you do wudhu (ritual bath) before touching the quran - eating with your right hand, drinking water with your right hand - say islamic phrases, like bismillah, allhamdulillah at appropriate times - ask allah for forgiveness, guidance - cover your awrah as best as you can (you dont have to wear burqa or abaya, just something loose/doesnt show the shape of body is fine) - start eating halal foods and avoid the haram always do your research. research is important. listen to mufti menk about marriage, haram and halal and praying etc so you know what to expect once you have officially become muslim. note how i said officially, before becoming a full muslim, you must speak the shahadah in front of at least two muslim witnesses, such as a masjid (islamic prayer centre) or even just muslim friends. the shahadah is 'la illaha illalahu muhammadu rasoolulah' which means 'there is no god but allah and muhammad (peace be upon him) is his messenger'. this is one of the 5 pillars of islam, which are belief (shahadah), praying (salah), charity (zakat), fasting (sawm) + pilgrimage (hajj, holy journey to mecca) what if someone detests me? dont listen to them. they cannot control your life. always remember, allah is by your side. always. hes never busy. tell that person it is your life, your choices, and he/she/they/other prns cant change your beliefs, gender etc. and last of all, good luck!! i am so excited seeing you convert to a muslim, Inshaallah you will enter all gates of jannah, ameen<333 (say ameen w me to make it come true, also how you end duas:))
