Post by revert2016 on Mar 11, 2016 9:40:41 GMT -5
Assalaam Alykum,
I'm hoping to find advice and guidance here as I'm considering converting to Islam. For background I'm a 26 year old woman from the UK. I would consider myself spiritual in the sense that I believe in destiny and in something bigger than ourselves; but not religious. I didn't have a strict religious upbringing at all (both parents being lapsed protestants) and have always been encouraged to explore and forge my own path through my life. Part of this included exploring different faiths a religions. In Scotland, at school we are taught about the basic principles and articles for the world's main faiths through religious education. With this and personal experience, I came to the conclusion as a teenager that any form of Christianity was not going to work for me. I went on to university and then went working and travelling abroad in Asia and America as a teacher, by then describing myself as a Sceptic or Agnostic, with not enough evidence to prove the existence of God, but I've been through some tough moments the last couple of years and I'm looking back wondering how I managed it alone, or if I did. It's made me stop and think.
I am currently working in Saudi Arabia which has really opened my eyes to Islam as a religion. There are aspects of it that I really like; I like the holistic nature of the way of life, the peacefulness and the sense of family it brings. I have been able to acquire an English translation of the Quran but I'm also aware that there is so much more to it than what is just written down. Having not grown up in the culture, some of the context and understanding is missing for me. I do have someone here who is giving me some guidance but he is looking to pursue a marital relationship and is nervous of pressing me too much in case I regret it later and is encouraging me to do more independent research and searching for me to be sure this is what I want. This is great but there is so much out there I'm not sure where to start?!
I am also particularly keen to find out about the experiences of other female reverts, especially regarding acceptance after marriage.
Any advice or guidance would be greatly appreciated and I would be forever grateful.
I'm hoping to find advice and guidance here as I'm considering converting to Islam. For background I'm a 26 year old woman from the UK. I would consider myself spiritual in the sense that I believe in destiny and in something bigger than ourselves; but not religious. I didn't have a strict religious upbringing at all (both parents being lapsed protestants) and have always been encouraged to explore and forge my own path through my life. Part of this included exploring different faiths a religions. In Scotland, at school we are taught about the basic principles and articles for the world's main faiths through religious education. With this and personal experience, I came to the conclusion as a teenager that any form of Christianity was not going to work for me. I went on to university and then went working and travelling abroad in Asia and America as a teacher, by then describing myself as a Sceptic or Agnostic, with not enough evidence to prove the existence of God, but I've been through some tough moments the last couple of years and I'm looking back wondering how I managed it alone, or if I did. It's made me stop and think.
I am currently working in Saudi Arabia which has really opened my eyes to Islam as a religion. There are aspects of it that I really like; I like the holistic nature of the way of life, the peacefulness and the sense of family it brings. I have been able to acquire an English translation of the Quran but I'm also aware that there is so much more to it than what is just written down. Having not grown up in the culture, some of the context and understanding is missing for me. I do have someone here who is giving me some guidance but he is looking to pursue a marital relationship and is nervous of pressing me too much in case I regret it later and is encouraging me to do more independent research and searching for me to be sure this is what I want. This is great but there is so much out there I'm not sure where to start?!
I am also particularly keen to find out about the experiences of other female reverts, especially regarding acceptance after marriage.
Any advice or guidance would be greatly appreciated and I would be forever grateful.
