What I didn't know before conversion to islam -

Conversion to Islam

Think for a moment about the biggest decisions in your life. Were they easy? Did you have any doubts? How long did it take you to decide? Did you seek advice from others?

You likely asked yourself many questions and took your time to make the right choice, didn’t you? It’s understandable. Many of us find it challenging to step out of our comfort zones and make the changes needed to grow and achieve our dreams. It’s not easy, and sometimes we need an extra push to get things moving. For me conversion to Islam was one of those things I needed to process and do in my own time.

When I decided to move to England, there were countless reasons not to do it. I was leaving my family behind, including my five-year-old brother, my grandparents and friends. I didn’t speak English, had no friends there, and faced many objections from others. The more people knew about my plans, the more unwanted opinions I received, questioning whether it was a good idea to go alone and urging me to rethink the whole situation.

Eventually, when I started researching Islam, I kept it very private. Nobody, except my partner, knew anything about it. The more opinions you get, the more confused you can become, and I knew the responses wouldn’t be positive. I didn’t want anyone influencing my decision. To this day, I’m glad I kept it to myself. Embracing Islam is probably the biggest and bravest thing I’ve ever done, and I can honestly say it was a decision made solely by me, without anyone’s interference. Allhamdulilah.

Because I researched on my own without guidance, I did get confused about certain things. That’s why I’ve put together five things I wish I knew before conversion to islam.

1. Changing name

Looking back, this was probably hands down the hardest part for me. I was told to choose an Islamic name, and at first, I was excited about it. I spent hours searching for a name with a beautiful meaning. Although I never wanted to change my original name, I liked the idea of having it as a ‘second’ name.

However, things changed quickly when my husband’s family started calling me by my new Islamic name instead of my original name. This upset me quite a bit. Conversion to Islam was a huge step and big change for me and I was not ready to change my name. My name had been my identity since birth, my parents gave me that name when I was born and I never considered changing it. At the moment it’s very rare for someone call me by my islamic name, and to be honest I use it myself sometimes when I don’t want to give my real name to somebody. 😀

Islam encourages people to take an Islamic name because its meaning brings blessings, and I know this to be true now. It is not compulsory to have a Muslim name, but it is definitely encouraged. My advice is to take it easy—there are more important things to focus on after your conversion to Islam. You can always choose a name when it feels right for you.

2. Removing a tattoo?

Here we go again, another overwhelming situation. I was excited about taking my Shahada, but a big question loomed: what about my tattoos? At first, I felt hopeless because it seemed I would have to get rid of the them before taking Shahada. I thought to myself, why is it suddenly becoming so hard? Everything was going smoothly, and if I had to remove the tattoos, it would take months and cost a lot of money.

Yes, if I could go back in time, I would have zero tattoos. I was young and impulsive and these tattooed parts of my body will always remind me of that, but guess what? I now see them as a story to be told. They are a part of me and a testament to my past and how far I’ve come.

Initially, I intended to eventually remove my tattoos, but as I learned more about Islam, I decided not to do it. From what I understand, it’s not necessary to remove them. Islam opposes self-harm, and tattoo removal is a painful process that can leave scars and potentially damage the skin more.

3. DO NOT delay taking shahadah

I knew within a couple of months that I was ready to accept Islam. Part of me couldn’t wait to embark on this journey of becoming a ‘new me’. However, I continued seeking knowledge, realising there was so much I didn’t know, and still don’t know to this day. I started overthinking things, grappling with the idea that I wasn’t good enough to become Muslim because I didn’t grow up in Islam.

One of my biggest fears was head covering. I saw other women wearing hijabs, but the idea of covering my head felt uncomfortable. They say ‘get to know your fears’. So I did, with time and knowledge, my perspective changed. It’s incredibly soothing to gain a deeper understanding of things you initially feared.

The longer you delay taking Shahada, the more Satan will try to mess with your mind, because his goal is to push people away from the faith. I had no real understanding of Satan before; I had heard about it but didn’t grasp it fully.

Can you see what I’m trying to say here….? I was ready to embrace Islam, but ‘somebody/something’ was messing with my head. Maybe some of you can relate on this with me.

So please, don’t waste your time. If you know Islam is the path you’ve been waiting for, accept Islam with all your heart. The rest will fall into place. For every step you take towards Allah, He takes ten steps towards you. It’s better to be a Muslim and gradually improve yourself than to not be a Muslim at all. Insha’Allah, Allah SWT will make your conversion to Islam smooth and rewarding.

4. Charity and Compassion:

Participating in acts of kindness and helping those in need has brought me a profound sense of fulfillment and purpose. Before converting to Islam, I must admit I wasn’t very charitable. I can’t pinpoint exactly why, but it simply never crossed my mind. I would give small amounts sporadically, but it wasn’t a regular habit.

Everything changed when I embraced Islam and gained a deeper understanding of the blessings that come from charity. It’s not about the amount you give; it’s about the intention behind it. Someone might donate £50 a week with impure intentions, while another person might give £0.20 every day with a pure heart. Consistency and sincerity are what truly matter in charity.

Here’s a small tip: keep a box near your front door, and each time you leave the house, put a small amount into it. When the box is full, donate the money to a local charity or someone in need. Make this practise part of your daily routine.

Some examples of blessings by giving charity (sadaqah) are numerous:

It does not decrease your wealth.
It eases hardship and protects you from calamities.
It wipes out your sins.
Giving sadaqah before making dua increases the likelihood of your dua being accepted.
You earn rewards for the hereafter.

5. Gratitude and Contentment:

Conversion to Islam taught me so much. One of them being GRATITUDE. The teachings of Islam emphasize gratitude, known as ‘shukr’. This can apply to everything, being grateful for both the good and the bad. Someone once told me,

“You should look up to people who have less than you.”

Such a powerful statement!

We tend to do the exact opposite, thanks to social media. We constantly seek perfect bodies, flawless skin, ideal relationships, luxurious cars, the latest phones, dream vacations—you name it. But this pursuit makes us ungrateful very quickly. Instead (as previously mentioned) you should look up at those who have way less than you, why? Because that is your reminder to be grateful! There are always people around you who have less than you and who have lost more than you.

When we are continuously receiving good things, we might stop appreciating them, which can make us ungrateful and arrogant. For a Muslim, this ungratefulness can even lead to straying from the faith.

The hardest part is to be grateful for the bad that can happen in your life. Remember, both good and bad come from Allah. They are tests, and how you handle them is entirely up to you.

Here’s an example:

Imagine you keep asking Allah for money because you want to live comfortably, buy what you like, and travel. Allah grants your request, but what happens next depends on you and your intentions.

Scenario 1:

You say “Alhamdulillah” immediately and are truly grateful. You decide to give a portion to charity and think of those who are struggling the most. You might help a friend or family member by giving or lending them money they desperately need. You’ve considered others’ needs before your own, and this gratitude brings you closer to Allah. In this case, the money was a blessing from Allah, and you passed the test.

Scenario 2:

You start spending money carelessly and boast about how much you have. Suddenly, it’s not enough, and you crave more. You keep chasing money and in the process, you forget about Allah, you forget to be grateful, and you never say “Alhamdulillah.” In this scenario, the test turns into a punishment because you failed to appreciate and use the blessing wisely.

These scenarios illustrate how our responses to Allah’s tests determine whether they become a source of good and bring us closer to Allah or that we fail the test and it becomes our punnishment. Gratitude and the mindful use of our resources are crucial in maintaining our faith and connection to Allah.

I hope this makes sense, and it’s applicable to the everyday struggles we all face.

For example, getting angry about being stuck in traffic—Alhamdulillah, I’m safe, and the car causing the traffic was in a bad accident. Feeling annoyed about cleaning up a mess in the house—Alhamdulillah, I have a house to clean, while others don’t even have a roof over their heads. Complaining about going to work—Alhamdulillah, I have a job that provides me with income, allowing me to afford the things I want.

These are just a few examples, but I hope you get the point. It’s not always easy because some people face very challenging difficulties, but you have to train your mind to see the positive in less-than-ideal situations.

I used to get angry over small things. It makes me laugh now to think about how I let the tiniest things get to me. Whether it was someone being late, a last-minute appointment cancellation, people’s opinions, or even the weather 🙂 I know right, what could I possibly have done about the weather? Oh… well, that was the old me. The new me doesn’t care anymore. At least not as much 🙂 Once you start applying this mindset to your daily life, you’ll see the ease that comes with it, I promise.