Salam,

This is the first time I’m writing this down.

I accepted Islam around 1994. My journey to Islam was very slow but Al Hamdulillah, steady.

Up til that point in my life, I had 2 best friends in my life and both of them were Muslim. Born to a Brahmin family, I was so sheltered from Muslims that in a country where 20 to 30 percent are Muslims, I only knew 2 Muslims in the 12 years I lived in India.

I had also transitioned from being a Hindu to Atheist.

After coming to the US, I knew 1 after 4 years (Misbah). Through him I met another Muslim named Azim. Eventually I met Azim’s his family. I took a fancy to Azim’s sister though she never suspected.

So I accepted Islam in order to stand a chance at marrying this Muslim girl. I was so impressed with how this family was so respectful to the father. I had never seen that before.

Soon enough, my parents got to know about this and my father went to this girl’s house and said “Your daughter has ruined my son’s life”, etc…and that was the end of that.

Just as I accepted Islam to thumb my nose at Muslims for “religious bias”, I felt that my parents had no right to impose their beliefs on me. Aside from this fact, I didn’t really have a great life at home and went through quite an abusive childhood.

So I saw this opportunity to leave my parents’ house.

I still wasn’t a Muslim except by claim. I would tell my atheist friends that I was not a Muslim and tell my Muslim friends that I was.

Finally I decided to read the Quran. The first chapter seemed inspirational but it wasn’t until I started reading the 2nd chapter that fear struck my heart so much that I quickly shut the book and put it away. I even looked around to see if anyone saw me.

It was the verses 8 through 10.

After this I started taking Islam a lot more seriously and in about a year or so of constant questioning, I accepted Islam. Al Hamdulillah!

Jazakallah Khair wa Salam,

-Umar.