So I was walking past a masjid, looking over at it to try and determined how to get in, there were a couple entrances and this one was big enough that you could accidently go in the sisters' entrance. I was stopped by a man saying - It's interesting isn't it? Sorry? It's interesting isn't it? The building. The mosque. It's a mosque you know? Yes, I know We started chatting, he was telling me it is interesting that the building draws people and was hinting for me to reveal what led me to...

Lockdown had passed and I wanted to go for the night prayers during Ramadan. I had never been before and Islamically there is much reward and goodness to be obtained by doing so. It isn't considered obligatory - but it is highly recommended. There are lots of details about it - but essentially you would pray your usual Maghrib (sunset) and Ishaa (night) prayers - then almost straight after Ishaa, night prayers would commence. They are only two rakah at a time (2 sequences of standing rather th...

So I often I find I get distracted. As is common place, you are living online and you see a video that describes someone as distractible, unproductive, procrastinating and 'unable' to escape this and you relate. You don't necessarily fit the profile for an official label, but you do kind of identify with a lot of the weirdly specific 'struggles'. I have definitely been there and done that, I definitely have something going on in that region, and have been told so by many people throughout my...

Growing up I was always kind of tight. It's somewhat my parents influence not not their fault exactly. They worked many jobs to try and pay for everything, and whilst we still got to have things and we were fortunate to not be deprived, there was always a strong sense of needing to save every tiny bit we could. So I had managed the basics of pillar 1 2, and 3. I had spoken the Shahada , I had learnt enough that I could pray, at least in a basic way - and I had managed my first Ramadan. The 4...

So of course the Quran is in Arabic - and also of course, I don't know Arabic - as many Reverts will not at first. Arabic is not something you can just pick up and 'do'. For those fortunate enough to know it - it gives extra insight and understanding of the Quran, of Khutbas or lectures that may be in Arabic, of other books and texts that detail Islamic knowledge etc. Understanding Arabic well, is a huge advantage when it comes to gaining knowledge. Even being able to read the Quran comes wi...

Our friend(?) ChatGPT says that the below headings are the most common areas that Reverts face difficulty, I will add to them how I found each bit - Here’s a bullet point list of common difficulties people who revert to Islam experience: Family and Social Relationships Resistance or disapproval from family and friends Feeling alienated or isolated from previous social circles Pressure to abandon or reconsider the faith I would say I have been pretty fortunate in this one. My old frie...

After some years of spending both Eids on my own, for the first time this year, I was invited to be able to spend it with a family. I had in the past suggested doing Eid with my family, but it never amounted to anything. They celebrate Christmas as the country does, as consumerism encourages, they're not religious. But this year a colleague invited me to his for Eid, and I was really pleased. I felt the sense of community that I had been told about He has always been good to me sin...

So will preface this one with - I am fine and happy and my family is supportive as are my friends and most people I meet. I am not 'completely alone' and unsure as to how to resolve said isolation. I had people I could and did turn to, and I had the means to turn to more people if I wanted to. I am also aware of so so much privilege I have and also how much worse things can be for others. I don't suffer racism, I don't have a family who persecute me for my decisions. I have it easy Alhamdulila...

As in another post, COVID was a thing. Pretty rubbish all round really, but it did mean that I put off attending the Masjid for a long time. When I did eventually go, I contacted and asked to look around my local one, both because I wanted to go, but also as a possible professional connection too. You might notice that there are some aesthetically beautiful Masjids in the world, but not all of them need to look like that, many are just a normal looking building. I had booked and attended...

As with any topic Islam has some occurrences where people differ in opinion about a certain 'ruling'. I should note from the offset that the vast majority of Muslims theoretically agree on the vast majority of issues or rulings. And that I'm not planning on breaking down the different types/areas in any depth, I am not the person to do that effectively. Just know there are a few types of Muslim, the most common of which is 'Sunni', and within this there a few 'major schools of thought' known...

I did a search and this article posted by Janet Kozak on 15th March 2023 came up 9 Tips for Getting Through Your First Ramadan, that usual, easy to digest format that is so commonly looked for. I take no credit of any sort for her work, and have no affiliation with aboutislam.net - but thought I could talk through it with my own experience/opinions as a reasonably new (ish) Muslim. Background First up a bit of background (if you know this bit do scroll down) Ramadan is the 9th (of 12) of ...

He was my manger at the time of me reverting - and no - I never told him I had reverted. He was always just a completely angry and hateful man - but there were some topics that really brought out the worst in an already pretty sour existence, and religion was one of those things. He wasn't my first manager, I had had many jobs and managers before that, I just mean first - as a Muslim. It wasn't a completely new experience for me, being in a position where, despite me being atheist, and ag...

So after I reverted I felt a sense of duality. My past existence and my new declared existence existing in my head felt kinda weird - but good weird. Lots of different feelings floating around You've got some imposter going on - how can I ever be good enough to do all I think I should. Some identity shifting within yourself, but also within all social situations. When you are a Muslim, it is your primary identity it effects everything you do and everything you aim to do. I could still understa...

So this will depend on who they are, who they are to you, and how you tell them. In my experience - The family member I have a very small family so there were only a few people to tell. My parents and siblings had an idea that I had been looking into things but not how much or how long or the intention behind it. I forget the exact context, but I believe we were all chatting together and my parents asked about me looking into things and the consideration of being a Muslim etc. I responded ...

So I had just taken my Shahada. I had washed, and I had done wudu (abolition - the washing you need to do to put yourself in a state of purity, which is required to pray). But... I had just realised I didn't know how to pray. I knew the basic rough movements, kind of, but not exactly. So I looked it up. And basically, if it is something you've never seen before - which despite all my research, it sort of was - there is actually a lot to it. There are lots of different movements where you shoul...

So maybe we should get to the part where I actually become Muslim - or rather, revert to Islam. Being ready for me, was knowing that I am wanting to, whilst also knowing I will never be ready It was post research, post meeting and knowing other good people who were Muslim, post 'watching Dark' and various other small things and occurrences. It was years on from when I first looked into things - a gradual process that got me to the point where essentially: I wasn't sure about accepting the ...

Good Character This is such an important part of Islam. And I have always valued it before and after reverting to the religion. It was one of the key things that drew me to the religion. Both in the way it is prescribed by the religion - but also in how those whom I knew and met over the years carried themselves. There are individuals I know from the past - who had been through terrible trials and situations, and by all accounts. With all evidence gathered, they should have been completely d...

This is the TV show Dark - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5753856/?ref=fnaltt2 This is a link to a trailer for Season 1 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBpZHcat8DQ (can watch the show, subbed or dubbed, your preference) (all credit for this image goes to Dark, all those associated with it and Netflix) Time as a concept, and Dark the TV show I haven't watched this show in years - I watched through it not long before I reverted and have not actually been back for a rewatch. I also think tha...

How to become religious 101 Yeah not really... But I do often finding myself saying something like It's not that big of a thing. There was no dramatic story. It's not like one day I was walking along and almost got hit by a car. I had no sudden realisation due to someone on the street approaching me. Etc. But that is only sort of true. I do think that sometimes I am fighting the expectation that it will be a story of inspiration due to its 'drama'. But I should remember that any story ca...

Well - you can't of course My old perceptions were strong, and completely in opposition to religion. But at the same time - in hindsight - a lot of how I was, became and translated to some of the better aspects of my attempts at being a 'good Muslim' But that doesn't mean I didn't try... When I was younger I learnt about Church of England Christianity as a small part of young age schooling. To the detriment of itself, and probably sadly for Christianity - it was taught alongside and liken...

Who Am I? I am someone who thinks lots and thinks constantly. I am someone who grew up in an atheist, white, 'British' family - quite probably with Christianity sitting a few generations into the past. I am interested even, in a way, as I write this how it is possible that I am where I am right now. When growing up, depending on how old and my level of maturity, I was always very confused, indifferent, perturbed and even offended by the idea of 'being religious'. Yeah, I attended a 'sorta rel...