[Boripiomi]

The title says it all!

How many of us are active in our communities on a weekly or monthly basis,seeking out these revert Muslims ? How much are we doing to make them feel welcomed? How often do we invite them to our homes or visit them ? Do we care if they are going through any problems ( financial,physical,emotional or spiritual) ?? Do we look out for their children,as if their our own? Do we wonder how they are progressing in learning and practicing Islam? Don't we think that they would like us to look out for their well being and have someone to motivate them at times?

One thing every revert sister have said to me is they would like to be in an Islamic environment occasionally, if not always. Most of them are practicing Islam amongst non Muslims,they families are non Muslims, they work amongst non Muslims. They don't have the deeni environment like we do to keep them steadfast and to help them stay away from the fitnahs.

I think it's our duty as individuals and also the communities to assist these reverts, facilitate for them and make them feel welcome into our homes,our functions and our get togethers.

Please post/share what goes in your communities to help these revert muslims ( mostly sisters) ..... maybe some of us can use the same approach to start the same in on our own community

Why I say for sisters mostly, is not everywhere have masaajids or Islamic centers that cater and facilitate for women.So where would these revert Muslimas go? Where I'm from we don't have facilities that cater for women other than a girls madressa....

[L8fGLM4d]

Bismillah
May be in local masjid, people can set some system through which sisters can contact and keep in touch and regularly they can organize something as a group may be every weekend or any time comfortable. Born muslim can invite them to their house, have some islamic programmes and have a get together.
And also they can set up a website and sisters can get in touch with each other through that. Allahu alam

[milfovoxapl]

As-Salamu ´alaykum,

Most Masajid keep records of how many people said their Shahada there. However, almost none of the Masajid keep track of the converts, they don't support them, don't assist in nurturing their new found Iman. For many, if not most converts, rifts are created between them and their surroundings, and it is our responsibility as an Ummah to take care of, and support each other, physically, emotionally, psychologically, spiritually. Due to the lack of such support and follow-up, many converts never get to embrace Islam in its fullness, with all that it has to offer, and many, unfortunately, leave Islam altogether within the first year.

wassalam

[Bgfbukpf]

As a revert one resource I really needed were basic lessons on Islam. I was very confused with many terms and concepts in Islam because I know absolutely no Arabic. Many times terms and concepts would be explained in more Arabic making things more confusing. Another thing is many times I was referred to websites online and given various texts on Islam that were very awkward sounding when written (I mean stylistically). Many times they contained really long odd sentences and the the way these things were written made them very difficult to read. An example of one of these websites is islamqa. Someone referred me to this but I can barely ever get through a fatwa because of the way they are written. They are really hard to understand and I can barely ever get the point of the fatwa (for example if a certain thing is haram) because the fatwa is so dense and strangely written.

[karaburatoreror]

Salam

How about marriage to reverts? I'm looking to get married and would welcome such an opportunity

[unsamiSlini]

Salams,

marco100 are you a revert? One thing I've noticed is, before so many of these convert Muslimahs have even learned the basics of the faith, they get pressured into getting married, usually to some Pakistani or Arab born Muslim. I think, in this case, we need to get our priorities straight, if converts are going to be helped out. Salah comes before nikah, iow.

Wa Salam,

Tempest Desh

[karaburatoreror]

Salams,

marco100 are you a revert? One thing I've noticed is, before so many of these convert Muslimahs have even learned the basics of the faith, they get pressured into getting married, usually to some Pakistani or Arab born Muslim. I think, in this case, we need to get our priorities straight, if converts are going to be helped out. Salah comes before nikah, iow.

Wa Salam,

Tempest Desh

no i'm not a revert. i love the fact that someone has embraced Islam in these times and in addition I would love the opportunity to gain rewards for guiding a revert muslimah. as far as family/cultural issues are concerned, there is nothing like that in my family.

[giftplas]

Salams,

marco100 are you a revert? One thing I've noticed is, before so many of these convert Muslimahs have even learned the basics of the faith, they get pressured into getting married, usually to some Pakistani or Arab born Muslim. I think, in this case, we need to get our priorities straight, if converts are going to be helped out. Salah comes before nikah, iow.

Wa Salam,

Tempest Desh

I deeply agree with you!

[klubneras]

That is true, but there is also a flip-side to this situation: Its not so much that they are pressured into getting married, they really want to get married. Coming from outside of Islam, where men have virtually no accountability towards the women that they use, no respect, and do not know how to treat them, many women who find Islam and learn about marriage in Islam are just amazed with the honor, the respect, the comfort and peace they find in marriage within Islam, so they want to get married. Some born Muslims see marriage as something not that urgent while they are young, or something more cultural than religious. I think the pressure to get married is not there for most of us, because our families oppose the fact that we became Muslim, so they definitely dont want us to go and marry a Muslim... As a revert myself, I think the resources most needed are groups where new Muslims can spend time with eachother, and with born Muslims, and people of knowledge in the community. there should be someone who they have access to, to call or to go to with questions and to ask for help.

[klubneras]

Salam

How about marriage to reverts? I'm looking to get married and would welcome such an opportunity

May Allah give you the best. If you marry a revert make sure you continue to teach her the deen, and help her grow iA, thats one of the benefits of marriage for new Muslims, its like they have a personal teacher

[Maryjasmine]

As a revert myself, I think the resources most needed are groups where new Muslims can spend time with each other, and with born Muslims, and people of knowledge in the community. there should be someone who they have access to, to call or to go to with questions and to ask for help.

This is an awesome idea... I was just thinking about the same! when people accept islaam, they rightfully want to feel part of the muslim brotherhood and want to have an avenue to talk, discuss and learn from other muslim people. learning from kitaabs and online ect. is good, but not the same as learning from another muslim in real life. Also just reading books and learning online can be very confusing to a new muslim because of the difference in math-habs, difference of opinions and arabic terms... and the list can go on.

[Maryjasmine]

Bismillah
Sister you being a Deo, perhaps speak to the gujis from Surat & Bharuch in UK and the dissconnected elders who are in some parts no more softer version of village idiots. I have a dislike for a lot of the TJ elders for their backwardness and their tendency to control scholars (similar to that of JI). Then again what can we expect when the notion of ikram and seeking knolwege is limited to 6 points parrot fashion repatation.
Just ask how many of the TJ sathis visit their local sathis when they are ill or not seen for few days. This is the case with born muslim who is trying to find their ways. The only time, people seems interested in them when joining their movement. Pathetic!! Insincerty speaks louder then action.

I have had bad experience with the TJ and one of the reason why many of us although like the effort do not wish to join these regressive people. They have obsession building madaris after madaris in India as if this is the sole puropose of effort of deen. time has come to put stop to these projects and focus on the need at hand. There are plenty of darul ulm in India and now focus on building insitutes in UK that has tangible benefit.
Allahualam

Errrm where exactly do deo's and TJ's come into the picture? i though this discussion is on REVERTS which mean's NEW MUSLIM'S.

[Maryjasmine]

Because a lot of the masjed are run by deo and have TJ effort in them and raise a lot of money for vairous causes. Atleast the ones I used to attend. Please re read my earlier post.

whatever it is. Plz dont spoil another good discussion with the TJ, Deo subject. theres more than enough threads (on TJ's AND Deo's) existing on SF, where you can always post your debates and questions on and leave this thread On-Topic.

[klubneras]

Bismillah
Sister you being a Deo, perhaps speak to the gujis from Surat & Bharuch in UK and the dissconnected elders who are in some parts no more softer version of village idiots. I have a dislike for a lot of the TJ elders for their backwardness and their tendency to control scholars (similar to that of JI). Then again what can we expect when the notion of ikram and seeking knolwege is limited to 6 points parrot fashion repatation.
Just ask how many of the TJ sathis visit their local sathis when they are ill or not seen for few days. This is the case with born muslim who is trying to find their ways. The only time, people seems interested in them when joining their movement. Pathetic!! Insincerty speaks louder then action.

I have had bad experience with the TJ and one of the reason why many of us although like the effort do not wish to join these regressive people. They have obsession building madaris after madaris in India as if this is the sole puropose of effort of deen. time has come to put stop to these projects and focus on the need at hand. There are plenty of darul ulm in India and now focus on building insitutes in UK that has tangible benefit.

I remember speaking to Imam Absamad Clark about the issue of revert and he said there has to be a community that one can feel part of. Our deen is a collective one and am surprised not much emphasis is given in building tools for a community. If brothers are sincere, they would not just give books to revert but make them an extenstion of thier family.
Allahualam

wrong thread??

[asivisepo]

reverts definitely need a support group of reverts, upright born muslims and reliable connected contemporary ulama - males or female scholars (ulama who are born, raised and educated in the same country as the revert AND who are experienced with outreach work). UK wise vast overwhelming majority of masjids are extremely ill equipped to handle the needs of reverts despite this being a huge requirement for them given there actually in a non-muslim country. Reverts have a huge need/yearning to being felt that they 'belong' to a muslim community and are 'part' of it.

p.s Yes Deo masjids (which form the majority in UK) dont look after reverts needs but then again nor do Barelwi mostly. Salafi's are the only ones who do. Actually there are no Deo orgs (maybe also no Barelwi) i know of in the western world that solely do dawah towards non-muslim or cater for their needs.

[karaburatoreror]

May Allah give you the best. If you marry a revert make sure you continue to teach her the deen, and help her grow iA, thats one of the benefits of marriage for new Muslims, its like they have a personal teacher

sister. that is exactly how i feel and i feel, no i know that i'm strong enough in the Deen at this stage of my life to guide a revert muslimah wife with patience and humility. make dua for me brothers and sisters that it works out for me Inshallah.

[Boripiomi]

reverts definitely need a support group of reverts, upright born muslims and reliable connected contemporary ulama - males or female scholars (ulama who are born, raised and educated in the same country as the revert AND who are experienced with outreach work). UK wise vast overwhelming majority of masjids are extremely ill equipped to handle the needs of reverts despite this being a huge requirement for them given there actually in a non-muslim country. Reverts have a huge need/yearning to being felt that they 'belong' to a muslim community and are 'part' of it.

p.s Yes Deo masjids (which form the majority in UK) dont look after reverts needs but then again nor do Barelwi mostly. Salafi's are the only ones who do. Actually there are no Deo orgs (maybe also no Barelwi) i know of in the western world that solely do dawah towards non-muslim or cater for their needs.

My thoughts exactly!

Reason for starting this thread was I just wanted to know what happens in other communities for reverts,or if only where I'm from it's like this. As individuals, born as Muslims do we see the importance of assisting and being involved in the lives of these reverts?

I live in a small community with many ulema, access to knowledge is available but sadly nothing is been made available for the revert community . Many sisters , when the embrace Islam and read up about the brotherhood and sisterhood they come into the community of Muslims searching for that . That sense of " belonging" but sadly they don't find it . They instead remain isolated. Many a times due to having no Islamic environment at home and no support from Muslims, they tend to drift back into their old lives. I've seen sisters who wore hijab/niqab and after some time they took it off, out of embarrassment they remain aloof from Muslims they knew.

It's sad we boast ourselves how many people have taking shahadah we will count the numbers.... but do we count the amount that actually remain on deen after a few years have passed?

What I myself/family have done for the sisters around us is to start up a monthly get together, where they meet up for a meal and to socialize with each other. After a few meetings where they have got use to each other. I try to introduce something Islamic in the gathering,some thing beneficial . I must say it has proven beneficial so far, it took along while for the sisters to actually open up to each other ( still some haven't ) but they all now look out for each other.

My objective was to have something for them where they could meet sisters who are just like them and going through similar situations . I knew all of them on an individual basis, but aside from me none of them actually have any close connection with anyone in the Muslim community. So no one knows their plight and what issues they are dealing with. Some of them are having it really tough, some are single mothers with children with none to support them. Few of them are entitled to zakaat and are barely making ends meet each month. They would never ask or complain to anyone but willingly accept whatever little you give them. I've seen their children taking 2-3 servings of a meat dish and enjoying it as it's the first time their seeing meat ever. ( they can't afford to have meat in their homes). One sister is opting to remove her niqab and stop working in a low paid Islamic environ because she and her kids are desperately in need of money.She's looking for a job that can pay her more. Not all are in need of money, they are some who are going through issues with their families and have none to talk to, some who are having a tough time dealing with friends/co workers because they wear hijab etc.

Only if the Muslim community as a whole and us as Individuals would see the need of these reverts within our communities, assist them weather it's financially or just for moral support it'll help them a huge deal.

May Allah make it easy for us all aameen

sister. that is exactly how i feel and i feel, no i know that i'm strong enough in the Deen at this stage of my life to guide a revert muslimah wife with patience and humility. make dua for me brothers and sisters that it works out for me Inshallah.

May Allah grant you what is best for you and bless you with a good spouse aameen