Laura El Alam About twenty ago, a cashier at a store looked at me in my modest clothing and said, “You couldn’t get most women in this country to put on a headscarf.” “Well,” I replied cheerfully, “you couldn’t get me to take it off!” Although I tried [...]
Habeeba Husain Philadelphia born and raised Angelina Rivera grew up participating in church every Sunday at her mother’s request. She considered herself Christian and was fairly practicing. Interestingly enough, she said it was because of her regular attendance in the congregation and listening to the pastor that questions [...]
Laura El Alam I remember the first time I ever went to a mosque as a new convert. In my carefully-chosen outfit of loose pants, a long-sleeved blouse, and headscarf, I was certain that I’d fit right in with the women around me. After all, I felt extremely [...]
Interview By: Melissa Barreto Candice Elam's Journey to Islam Candice Elam, DNP, FNP-C, accepted Islam 19 years ago. Like many converts, her choice meant practicing a new religion, navigating changing family dynamics, and learning how to maintain her own identity in the wider, and often ethnocentric, Muslim communities. This [...]
Laura El Alam When people first embrace Islam, they are often filled with energy, optimism, and positivity. The joy of connecting with their Creator and discovering His plan for humanity makes them feel like they have a new lease on life. When they share their new mindset and [...]
Habeeba Husain Growing up in a nonreligious household, Stephanie never thought twice about Islam. She had no connection to it. If anything, she considered herself opposed to what she thought she knew of the religion. “If you grow up in an Agnostic, Atheist, or non-practicing background, sometimes the [...]
Jana Hussain There is a saying of the Prophet Muhammad (may the blessings and peace of God be upon him), “Verily, the parable of good and bad company is that of a seller of musk and a blacksmith. The seller of musk will give you perfume. You will [...]
Laura El Alam There are many sad, true stories of converts’ families rejecting or denouncing them because of their choice to follow Islam. Oftentimes, family members who are deeply religious are the ones who struggle most with accepting their loved one’s conversion. That is not always the case, [...]
Habeeba Husain At the height of the coronavirus pandemic, then high schooler Melanie Perez would cry every time she looked in the mirror. Her mind would not stop pestering her. “What am I doing? What am I here for? What is my purpose? I had to really sit [...]
Laura El Alam Over the years. I’ve talked with dozens of fellow female converts to Islam, and a surprising number of them share a common narrative: they had met their husbands when they were young, often as university students. Back then, the men weren’t practicing their faith [...]
