My journey to Islam was a long one. It started (unbeknownst to me) when I became pregnant at 16. When I was 3 months pregnant, I told my boyfriend that I wanted to get our baby christened as I believe religion gives a child a moral compass. He flat out refused and explained his child had to be raised Muslim as that’s the religion he was born into, I agreed but on one condition he must be a practising Muslim. Fast forward 4 years and my son started madrasah for years I watched as he grew to love his faith and his naturally inquisitive nature overtook my meagre knowledge of Islam, so I began attending an Islamic women’s study circle to be able to answer his questions and converse with him about his newfound passion. A few times, things spoke to me but I was steadfast that I myself would never be a Muslim. I liked my lifestyle and most of all my hairstyle too much!! I tried out fasting in Ramadan here and there I engaged with so much about Islam but still couldn’t see myself being a Muslim I was too afraid and then the night before Ramadan in 2012 (3 years after my son started madrasah) I rang his madrasah teacher to find out when Ramadan definitely began I was determined to fast the full 30 but still resisted becoming Muslim during that conversation she asked me what was holding me back and I told her honestly I don’t want to wear the hijab she told me that I didn’t have to but the thing that stayed with me was a question she asked me, what if I died before I ever felt ready? We hung up and I sat thinking for what felt like a lifetime so then I called her back and asked if she would help me take Shahadah[1] the following day she agreed but stressed that she didn’t want to pressure me with her question. The following day I became Muslim, this was 8 years ago and despite still having my struggles with leaving my old life behind, I know that I made the right choice and I even became a full-fledged hijabi almost a year later (I still prefer my hair though).

[1] The testification of faith to become a Muslim.