Salaams all!
I thought before I write toooo much more I should give a bit of back story into why I’ve chosen to become a Muslim. I’ve touched on a few things here and there but never really condensed it into one blog before, so here goes…
I was raised mostly by my Great Uncle and Aunt in central Florida, although I also spent many years with my maternal grandparents as well. My family is mostly made of Italian- Americans; I’m only the third generation born here in America. To say we were a strict “old world” type of family would be to put it lightly… my great grandparents were an arraigned marriage, and they had 13 children. They were (of course) very Catholic, with one of my uncles a priest. In fact, the uncle that raised me spent 7 years in seminary school himself (a college for men who wish to join the priesthood). My family abhorred many of the ways of American society. None of them smoked or drank, and they didn’t even like the “new” Catholic church. I was taught almost completely only from the Old Testament, and I remember my grandmother complaining regularly that the mass was not said in Latin anymore. I attended catechism school every week (school on Sundays following mass in which you would learn the Bible and other teachings of the church) even though my family also didn’t like the politics of our local church. I was never allowed to wear pants, and still don’t to this day.
So how did I get here? Well, even though my family was as Catholic as one can get, my uncle and aunt were also scholars. They had 7 PhD’s between the two of them, and always sought knowledge throughout their lives. My father told me from a very young age not to accept Catholicism as my religion just because I was born into it… instead I should seek out what was best for ME. He said that the best religion for me is the one which taught me to be the best version of myself that I could ever dream of. One that could show me the way to attaining a oneness both with God as well as guide me towards living a productive, loving life. How could I have known then that he would be describing perfectly how Islam makes me feel… makes me hope to become?
I lost the majority of my family many years ago… both my aunt and uncle passed away within a few months of each other when I was only 16, but their lessons were inscribed on my heart forever. I did seek out many religions. I read and studied about Baptists, Mormons, Hindus, Buddhists, Confucianism, Mysticism, New Age, Jains, Jews, and so many many more. In among them was Islam. I read about Mohammad (pbuh). I read about his life, his friends, his family. I read about the Qu’ran, about it’s teachings. I read about the daily rituals, the prayers, the fasting, the tithing, the do’s and don’ts, the shoulds and shouldn’ts. I was interested… here was a religion based upon the book I knew all my life! Here was a religion who did not bend because it’s followers were weak, as did the Catholic church. Islam does not bend to meet it’s followers, it’s followers bend to meet the will of Allah (SWT)! Finally a religion that stood it’s ground. One that has not changed, one that will not change. How can you put your trust… your FAITH into something that does not stand the test of time? I could not.
And so it stood for a few years. I knew about Islam, but I didn’t know anyone who was a Muslim. I could not imagine how in America one could live according to those rules… until I changed jobs and began to work at a local community college. All of the sudden every where I turned it seemed I came across a hijabi! These beautiful friendly girls who always had a smile and something nice to say to me. Girls who were stunningly smart and just as stunningly gorgeous! “Is this how it could be?” I wondered. Could it be that simple… and that difficult? I befriended a few girls and began asking questions (oh the patience they must have had back then!). When do you pray? When do you fast? What is masha ‘Allah? What is insha ‘Allah? (I thought they were saying mushy and itchy Allah! I was told those were NOT 2 of the attributes of Allah (SWT)!!! 
) When is your service? What’s it like? Have you really never touched a man, even to shake hands? All those questions and a million more over the past year! Until I finally got the answer to the only REAL question I was asking…
Can I do this too? Can I live this life? Would I be accepted? Yes yes and yes! Oh and how my world has opened up to me! So many new things, so many new people… all a part of something bigger. An ummah which I never knew existed… and one that has opened it’s arms and heart to me like nothing I have ever known. I am so grateful to Allah (SWT) that he has called on me and that I have answered! My life has truly started anew…
