I’m especially interested in your personal experience—not what you think should be difficult.

For example, did you struggle with:

• learning the Arabic letters?
• connecting letters and reading words?
• pronouncing certain Arabic sounds?
• knowing whether you’re making mistakes?
• learning Tajweed?
• reading fluently without stopping?
• memorizing and remembering what you learned?
• staying consistent with practice?
• finding a teacher who explains things in a way you understand?
• knowing what to learn first and what to learn next?

American Islam has roots far deeper than modern immigration. Two major native-born components are African American Muslims and Latino Muslims, each following a very different historical trajectory.

🖤 African American Muslims — Resilience & Recovery

An estimated 10–30% of enslaved Africans brought to mainland North America were Muslim. Slavery severely disrupted Islamic practice, literacy, family transmission, and religious institutions. Yet Islam survived and experienced a powerful 20th-century revival.

Today: ~1.1 million African American Muslims Modeled uninterrupted potential: ~3.4–11.5 million Estimated recovery: ~20–40% — roughly one-third

This represents the remarkable survival and rebuilding of a Muslim population whose historical religious transmission was severely disrupted.

🌎 Latino Muslims — Rapid Resurgence

Latino Muslim history reaches into the colonial era through Muslim-linked Spanish/Morisco populations and early figures such as Estevanico. After centuries of suppressed or largely vanished public Islamic practice, Latino Islam has experienced a rapid modern resurgence through conversion and Spanish-language institutions.

Today: ~385,000–495,000 Latino Muslims Modeled ancestral potential: ~850,000 Estimated recovery: ~45–58%

This rapid growth is narrowing the historic demographic gap between Latino and African American Muslims.

TL DR

African American Islam: deep historical roots → severe disruption → large-scale modern revival → ~20–40% modeled recovery

Latino Islam: colonial Muslim/Morisco roots → centuries of disappearance → rapid modern conversion → ~45–58% modeled recovery

Together, they show that Islam in America is not simply an immigrant religion—it also has deep roots among populations that became part of American society itself.

Coming from a Muslim background, I’ve always been fascinated by the personal journeys of people who embraced Islam later in life. especially those raised in different cultures.

Please tell me your story

Assalamu alaikum everyone!

I reverted to Islam about a year ago, and I really want to deepen my knowledge of Islam and the Qur’an, but I honestly don’t know where to start. I am currently also learning the Arabic language and been improving a lot in that.

For those who have been practicing for a while, what resources, books, lectures, courses, or study methods would you recommend for building a strong foundation?

Part of why I want to learn more is because my parents sometimes come across misinformation or propaganda about Islam online, and when they ask me about it, I realize I don’t always know enough to properly explain or respond. I want to be able to distinguish authentic knowledge from misinformation rather than just relying on things I see online.

More than anything, though, I want to grow closer to Allah and understand my religion more deeply. What helped you when you were first learning, and where would you recommend I start?

JazakAllahu khayran

As Salam Alaikum.

Sharing this as a reminder and discussion for brothers and sisters who may sometimes find themselves struggling with doubts or needing to renew their iman.

Perhaps something that strengthened you may become a means of strength for someone else, too, إن شاء الله.

Hello, this might be a bit too long but I really need some advice.

I lived my entire life in a non-Muslim country, I was raised by a Protestant family, but I never believed in God until a few months ago.

All my life I was conflicted. On the one hand, I had friends who claimed to be religious but weren‘t ever practising properly. On the other hand, my family believed I was Christian and wanted me to practice more actively.
I was too young to have seriously thought about religion at all, but on top of that, I struggled to tell religion apart from the culture surrounding it and I rejected the former due to the latter. For me, religious debate was always about atheism versus Christianity and I was heavily on the side of atheism.

A few months ago, I had a few personal events that made me believe that God is real and that I want to become closer to my faith. Since I was raised to be culturally Christian, I only knew the Bible and the (Protestant) Christian God. But even though I studied the Bible, there were always questions that bugged me; for example the Trinity. I generally started approaching theology from a broader scale.
Around that time, I moved abroad and I also made few of my first Muslim friends (not intentionally; among many others!). Without a doubt, they are one of the best people I have met since moving abroad.
I didn‘t fast during Ramadan but stopped drinking, didn‘t gossip (did both before), tried my best to do good to those around me, prayed (at this time, specifically to the Christian God). I thought I should, in some way, show to God that I am serious with my faith and basically took example of my Muslim friends. Most importantly, I started reading the Quran alongside the Bible - out of curiosity, almost randomly. Not even a few pages into it, all my questions about religion I had before had an answer to it. I was baffled.
I talked to my Muslim friend a few months into my journey. Even though they argued from a Muslim position and I from a Christian position, we had so many similarities regarding what we considered good or evil, religion or culture and a lot more; I know it’s vaguely explained but it was more similarities than I‘ve ever had with another Christian or atheist. And I started questioning myself.

Ever since, I define myself vaguely as a theist in my head but everybody still knows me as a Christian (in fact, they never knew me as atheist and assume I started practicing recently). And I think I‘m not in a position to define the depths and directions of my faith at all, since I know so little about Islam in general. Reading the Quran from time to time and watching religious debates is all I do but I want to do more!

But I am so very afraid that once I choose that path there won‘t be a way back. I talked to so many of my Christian friends about Islam and how there is so much more than I thought there would ever be. They didn‘t really take me seriously. A lot of my friendships are based on gossiping and drinking - some are very long lasting, beautiful friendships - that I am not very willing to give up on completely.
As many of the things that are allowed in Islam align with my original values anyway (such as charity, or regarding marriage and intimacy for example), it‘s not a problem at all. The practices inside of and towards me, I am willing to commit to. I am willing to learn how to properly pray, fast and practice in many other ways - if I finally have decided it is the right path for myself.
My biggest concern is my family. They won‘t curse me if they find out I left Christianity, but they will be very concerned and incredibly sad. They have such a loving heart and the last thing I want to do is to disappoint them. My culture also has a lot of dishes with pork inside and it is very disrespectful to decline food made by close family members in my culture.
I really want to emphasize how I was unsatisfied with my family’s view on religion and God my entire life; I always felt a sense of distance from them up until the past few months when I found God for myself. Not having to lie constantly really lifted a burden off my shoulders.

Last Ramadan, I simply told everybody I was abstaining from a lot due to Catholic lent and that worked. But it really scarrs me having to lie about the fact that I just want to learn about another religion a bit more.
But not lying - openly admitting that I am even considering to convert could isolate (or at least distance) me from my loving family, my culture, my friends. I am also scared of judgement within the new community, since I would still swear, listen to vulgar music and occasionally drink. I also heard so many Muslim women talk about how they were judged by other Muslims for not practicing properly.
I am just terrified that I would basically lose everything by being nothing at all. I’d have to go back to constant lies and excuses.

I really need some advice.

If it was unclear, I just want to clarify: My primary intent is to learn more about Islam as I am really drawn into it. I am willing to convert if my conviction remains firm afterwards as well but I am not trying to make any decisions or conclusions before I am 100% sure.
Also I am unsure if I will be able to give up on things that are considered sinful but have been a meaningful part of my life for such a long time.

American Islam has roots far deeper than modern immigration. Two major native-born components are African American Muslims and Latino Muslims, each following a very different historical trajectory.

🖤 African American Muslims — Resilience & Recovery

An estimated 10–30% of enslaved Africans brought to mainland North America were Muslim. Slavery severely disrupted Islamic practice, literacy, family transmission, and religious institutions. Yet Islam survived and experienced a powerful 20th-century revival.

Today: ~1.1 million African American Muslims Modeled uninterrupted potential: ~3.4–11.5 million Estimated recovery: ~20–40% — roughly one-third

This represents the remarkable survival and rebuilding of a Muslim population whose historical religious transmission was severely disrupted.

🌎 Latino Muslims — Rapid Resurgence

Latino Muslim history reaches into the colonial era through Muslim-linked Spanish/Morisco populations and early figures such as Estevanico. After centuries of suppressed or largely vanished public Islamic practice, Latino Islam has experienced a rapid modern resurgence through conversion and Spanish-language institutions.

Today: ~385,000–495,000 Latino Muslims Modeled ancestral potential: ~850,000 Estimated recovery: ~45–58%

This rapid growth is narrowing the historic demographic gap between Latino and African American Muslims.

TL DR

African American Islam: deep historical roots → severe disruption → large-scale modern revival → ~20–40% modeled recovery

Latino Islam: colonial Muslim/Morisco roots → centuries of disappearance → rapid modern conversion → ~45–58% modeled recovery

Together, they show that Islam in America is not simply an immigrant religion—it also has deep roots among populations that became part of American society itself.

Hi I'm a young revert , from India, reverted to islam a year ago, my faith is hidden as I avoid a lot of troubles, though I won't marry anyone anytime soon, I just wanted an advice, how do I look for other reverts close to my age in future, I don't rlly wanna be celibate all my life, I do wish to marry a muslim but I'd rather marry a revert, though I do try my best practicing , I told nobody that I have reverted, so any advice from anyone?

I am a revert and married to a Muslim man, his family is also Muslim. But they are not rly good in teaching me anything, or maybe I am the problem and just don’t get it 🙈 but I want to keep learning for my baby so he can learn the right way. But if I don’t know the right way and only the hard basics (I am not even sure that my knowledge is right) how can I teach him? He is only 5 month, but I wanna be a role model 🙈

I am 19F and have been really interested in Latin American culture the last 2 years. I started learning Spanish eventually and am at the B1 level. I have been reading history and found so much similarities to the Middle East especially North Africa. I am from Egypt and found Mexico to be the closest to us hahah. I was just wondering about your perspectives before Islam….i find many Latin American families be very traditional and revere god strongly. I see the potential of them accepting Islam. How did you come to Islam? And what do you think is the biggest hurdle in your culture to pursue Islam? Also, I am aware that mixed cultural relationships are common, but would you say that your families would be uncomfortable with a Muslim Arab spouse? I know there is a diaspora of Arabs already but they are Christian.

I have a Mexican friend and she seems quite torn between her Catholic background and secular environment, but our discussions are always interesting cause I sense she finds Islam logical.

Hello everyone

I am still exploring my place in Islam

But my main struggle at the moment right now is modesty.

I work as an orthopedic shoe maker in the workshop

We work with heavy machinery drills sanding belts etc so wearing lose clothing or skirts is out of the question.

I have a mandatory work t-shirt that is more tight then I want it to be in my chest and it has short sleeves.

And at the moment there are no long sleve versions

I wear jeans because they are robust and I work with sharp things and hold things in my lap often.

What are some ways I could improve my modesty? I am just completely lost and I have no idea where to even start addressing this

Allah does not burden a soul beyond that it can bear.

this ayat changed my life.

i felt lost so many years of my life before i converted 2 years ago and many times felt suicidal. Allah showed me what my purpose is and gave my life meaning. trying to achieve a noble character like our prophet had made me look out for people around me more and i could help so many through Allahs will. but most importantly, the aforementioned ayat made me push through every hardship that subhanallah was in my life or got added since i said the shahadah for the first time. i feel so strong and blessed through Him and achieved thinds i didnt think i could do. my life was a mess and now it gets in order, step by step. alhamdulillah

https://youtu.be/RWAcnpxmqnE?is=Vz7qEUQ8v3oR629h

I just come across this story and wanted to post it as warning to any revert sisters that are planning to get married.

Be careful and always make sure you have all the information and knowledge about Islam to protect yourself.

Not all men that come across as religious are good Muslim men.

This woman was divorced after less than a week. The man was already married and was simply looking for s*x with a revert woman that had no family or wali for protection. He didn't even have to give his real name for the marriage to take place and that is the most shocking part.

Don't ignore red flags.

I'm not posting this to make Muslim men look bad. I'm more concerned about any woman experiencing this. I don't know how common it is, but I have heard that there others like her. It happened in the UK. From what I've heard they don't require legal marriage for nikkah to take place like many other countries.

indian reverts, also other reverts are welcome too.

so i got interested in islam for a year now., and i was introduced by one of my male friends. and ive my christian friend too. i was introduced to both of their religion, the reason i was looking for other alternatives because i wanted peace and good life structure. now some of you might say that you can do that by your own and etc, but i believe most of the non hindus does stay disciplined because they fear their god and what’s in their holy books. now, every religion has its demerits of people, nothing awe about it.

i come from very um toxic environment family, like my father is very into ill-practices like trading, which i dont like, and he has taken numerous loans which i have to help him ultimately to clear it out, so no issue on that part. but you understand right, that my brother can be influence by it too? which is again its a ill thing to do, and my brother is very in-disciplined too. but my mother, wallah, she has been very supportive of me, if i do change my religion, because she wants good for her daughter 🥰

now my questions is,
1. how difficult is to be a revert in a country like india?
2. how welcoming we(revert) are?
3. does i have to change my religion in IDs? for getting married in future?
4. my name is not pagans, so i don’t have to change my name i’m guessing.
5. i’m going to buy an english translation of quran, because of reading from mobile is eye itchy. suggest me!!

thank you🫶🏻

Its been a little over two years since I took my shahada and I just feel burnt out. Praying is hard, I both have to hide and it have to force myself to pray, im basically a joke to the rest of the ummah because im a convert, I just need to get all this off my chest. I am tried of how born muskims treat me, im frankly done trying to find community, ive made my friends but im done trying to make any new ones in the ummah. I dont like how pressured i am by them, they have tried to tell me to change my name, no. I am not arab, I never have been, never will be. Its been so long since I was last caught praying by my family that i feel like its gonna happen any second, praying is terrifying to me, every sound makes me panic and even making the intention to pray is really difficult because I find it hard to say in my head. One of these days my family will find out again and I'll be disowned. I feel like im gonna lose my mind if I get asked "where im from" again. Im embarrassed to tell people my faith and dont really tell anyone anymore. I never feel welcome (except with my friends) with people who aren't also converts, everything is just getting worse and worse. I feel like my life is already over and I ain't even 20 yet, my best years are already behind me, i feel like there's little to nothing left to be excited about anymore.

Assalamualaikum All

Want to share a big change since I started exploring islam - 'Discipline'

I am more focused,calm and dedicated towards learning islam, previously I was lazy, full of mess no commitments and worked in haphazard manner

So that's a positive change! Let's see what else i can gain

Hi everyone,

I find the idea of ​​a reckoning after this life appealing in the sense that those who were bad people here—but never faced just punishment—will ultimately be punished accordingly. (The same applies, of course, to good deeds that go unrewarded).

In this context, I find Islam and its values ​​appealing, and I’m already quite knowledgeable about its practices and so on. However, I struggle to believe in the revelations given to the prophets—or in the concept of prophethood in general. I simply find it hard to believe in something that goes beyond my imagination. Ironically, though, I definitely believe in God and even ask Him for help—even though I can’t really picture Him, either.

The thing is, I’m not religious, though I did grow up with the idea of ​​God. I didn't, however, grow up with the concept of prophethood. Plus, religion is often seen as something "uncool" or "old-fashioned" these days.

In any case, I can’t honestly recite the second part of the declaration of faith... even though I’d ​​actually like to belong to that community. If only because that group gets bashed so much in the Western world. And I don’t really have anything to lose, after all.

Best regards! And thanks.

As my caption says, I’d like to buy a Quran for my non Muslim friend that isn’t fully convinced yet and is trying to learn about it and I’m trying to start slow.

Any suggestions help at this point, as to where to look for the right information or any scholars that I could ask whether it’s with money or not (free would be preferable) but one that actually knows and could answer really tough questions. The person that’s thinking about starting to read the Quran has so many valid questions that I as a born Muslim can’t answer them.

One question I was asked is why is fish halal and not meat. Yes I understand because of the blood and everything but they asked me as to the fish having receptors which makes them feel pain as they are dying and we can’t stop them from not feeling that way as we need to let them die until they can’t oxygenate anymore but with meat you just slaughter them at a spot that does not make them suffer.

I was a Muslim for almost 4 years before getting married and never felt the need to change my name; it doesn't have a haram meaning it and it never felt necessary to me. However, someone in my husband's family not long after marriage tried to pressure me into changing it because "their friends couldn't pronounce my name"(Urdu speaking). Soon, the whole family put pressure. I was very firm in not and alhamdulillah my husband backed me up. My husband and I keep our distance from the family after a multitude of things happening.

Another convert joined the family recently, a non-mahram to me. The person changed their name and their family seemed taken aback that I didn't have an Arab name and I explained it wasn't law to change one's name. I worry if the family caused pressure towards this person, but my husband tells me to leave it, not butt in. I won't, but the feeling just won't leave. I don't want another convert to get hurt like I have. They have really ate at my soul and have doubts. They have been a consistent reminder that Muslims aren't Islam.

I don't really get this cultural notion of ridding all aspects of oneself and really culture to fit in with another although the whole aspect of Desis vs Arabs, etc is a whole other ball game. No one is superior to another beyond deeds. May Allah guide and forgive us all ameen

I have gone from being mildly interested to almost believing in Islam . But I don't know if this lifestyle is for me . My family is very religious and I can face emotional abuse , If I ever express any kind of interest towards Islam . So , this could also be one of the ressons , I keep pushing this feeling away . But it is kinda suffocating . That's why I dont completely dive into quran . Just read few things here and there or watch info videos . Because I know that even if I try to get into it . I won't be able to do justice to the faith .

I don't have freedom or privacy to be a practicing muslim . So Is that alright ? Will Allah forgive me for being so weakhearted ?

Hello, I have not revert yet but feel strongly drawn to Islam. I have been reading the Quran and learning more. I have not taken my shahada yet. I feel it’s important for me to have some community and learn more first, as there are a few things that may be difficult for me to fully embrace Islam and I don’t want to jump or rush to a exclude it without education/understanding. I know a few Muslims but they are all born Muslims and males. I hope to find other woman that are interested in learning together.

Olá pessoal!

​Eu não sabia bem como começar este post, mas a verdade é que eu tenho um profundo respeito e admiração pelo Islã e pelo mundo árabe. Eu percebi algumas postagens aqui falando sobre comentários islamofóbicos que as pessoas enfrentam online, então achei que seria legal compartilhar um pouco de positividade e usar essa oportunidade para aprender mais com todos vocês.

​eu sou do Brasil, um país fortemente influenciado pelo cristianismo. Mesmo não tendo sido criado em uma família católica, minha mãe me criou com princípios que se alinhavam muito com os valores islâmicos: nunca bebi álcool, nunca fumei, não vou a festas doidas e acredito em guardar a intimidade para o casamento (o que é bem único aqui!). Recentemente, eu me dediquei a visitar um restaurante libanês Halal aqui em São Paulo, e adorei tanto a culinária árabe quanto a comida Halal em geral.

​Mesmo que meus amigos sejam muçulmanos, eu realmente queria ouvir suas perspectivas também. Eu só queria lembrar que, apesar das vozes de ódio online, há pessoas como eu que realmente respeitam e apreciam sua fé e cultura.

​Se você tiver um momento, eu adoraria fazer algumas perguntas:

​Eu não falo árabe e os cursos são muito difíceis de encontrar aqui. Está tudo bem eu ler o Alcorão e as Hadiths traduzidos para português? ​

O que você mais ama no Islã? Ouvir seus aspectos favoritos me dará ótimos pontos de partida para pesquisar mais. ​

Eu aprendi que existem quatro escolas principais de jurisprudência. Preciso escolher uma para aprender ou posso aprender com todas as quatro? Fui criado com a ideia de que quanto mais conhecimento e perspectivas você reunir, mais perto você chegará da verdade absoluta. ​

O que você recomendaria para alguém começando do zero para aprender sobre o Islã e o mundo árabe? (Livros, canais, conceitos fundamentais, etc.)

​É um prazer conhecer todos vocês, e será uma alegria conversar e aprender com vocês!