Challenges facing Converted Muslims
Friday 26 March 2010, by Tariq Ramadan
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Challenges facing Converted Muslims 27 March 2010 16:36, par
salam, I am a converted and i will never be accepted by muslim . Either they are arabic with all their traditions. Or french muslim who converted and became pakistani in the way of thinking and dressing. Its so true when you said we want to be accepted . Never forget that when we go to islam in the west (for my part) its because I played a role but MY heart said "no" But you dont know what to do . I had no boyfriends and it was like I was not normal . I wanted to be a religious sister at 16 , my parents never encourage it . I was two: the clown they ask me to be and inside, I was looking for a sense of me being on earth with . I went crazy with this pressure . I did all the stupid things you can imagine until I met islam . Its very important who put you inside ; I spent after 13 years with a arabic who never believe in me being muslim so he said i didnt deserve him . I learned nothing with him just hate , beating, insulting. I learned with Iqra , with Mr Ramadan but him , he was talking that s it . He was waiting to beat me up after my prayer , he was so mad to admit God choose a "peace of shit" like me . Its the problem with the arabic : their mentality is so far from Mohamad(PASSL) and our french mentality is so closed to him , I had the worst time in my life to undo al this mess. He made me choose beetween God and my kids!!! Wich kind of muslim can do that ? And I understand something else: he wore the clothes of muslim , he had the name of muslim but he never prayed or fast . And he found a french to accuse her for being a bad muslim . I am french for what its the best: energy, work, planning and arab for what they have the best: hospitality, happiness and I make my islam by taking the qualities of tho people and its in the coran this qualities. God saved me three times: when I did my stupid things ( it will never go from me ) when I spend 13 year with satan,and after, when I have to fight for my kids. And you know what Mr Ramadan? You were always on my way to stop me going out of islam . You dont have the right to be tired!!!!!! (I am joking) You cant let us down . Nobody understand the converties like you. There is now , forus, an other problem: my daughters are born in islam and the way they react are so far from me at this age!! Believe me, I dont know how to react . They know what they want, they know whenthey want to marry, the job, how to help the poor. As converty, we are raising muslim kids but we have no models and reference!!! I dont know if I amclear . As converted, I will never be accepted by muslim but them as muslim they are not accepted by the french.So the only way to make sense , its you, making your conference.salam
Reply to this messageChallenges facing Converted Muslims 28 March 2010 15:04, par sarah
It sounds like you were involved with a sick man; not all muslimmen treat their women like that. The man has issues. I mean, why marry a convert when you look down on them. It doesn’t make sense.
But still, you may be right in saying converts have problems in being accepted. But I would like to say: what do you want to be accepted in? As you say, ethnic muslims have their issues as well, and a lot of younger muslims are searching for something new as well. You talk about finding it difficult to hang on to islam, and I can tell you I have exactly the same: I too had to seek solace in a Swiss thinker, while being Dutch, because the way I was taught islam didn’t make sense, and there are no positive role models in my environment. So we are all a bit lost.
The best thing converts can do for themselves and for other muslims is to stay who they are and don’t give in to the pressure to become ethnic. It doesn’t make sense to take over characteristics of people that don’t even work for themselves. Please stay who you are, and we will follow.
Reply to this messageChallenges facing Converted Muslims 30 March 2010 17:26, par
"we are all a bit lost."... I know I am.. You are right, there are not enough role models (our parents sure weren’t) and we have to discover islam ourselves. Thank God for tariq Ramadan!
Reply to this messageChallenges facing Converted Muslims 31 March 2010 20:47, par
Lost in Cyberummah...
Reply to this messageChallenges facing Converted Muslims 8 April 2010 22:10, par sarah
Who said globalization is all bad?
But my point is, all these people coming to this site and writing down their experiences and views, I think it’s wonderful! But I also think it is and indication that people find something here that they don’t find in real life.
My eperience is that communication with muslims often is superficial. I can have very interesting in-depth conversations with non-muslims, but with muslims often it stays at the surface. I didn’t learn to express myself and communicate at home, I learned it outside (and now I can’t be stopped;-) But it is nice to see it brought together: the open communicative atmosphere I appreciate and islam.
It’s nice to have access to this site, all this information, and to be able to post messages. But it would be nicer if this all was possible in real life.
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