I wasn’t a born Muslim.  I was raised as a Christian, Seventh- Day Adventist to be exact. And some things in Christianity that I found to be very similar to Islam were: We preferred eating halal/kosher, valued modesty and stayed away from alcohol, unclean meats (pork, etc.) and these were very relevant to me.

So, as a practicing Christian, I had no intentions other than to please God. I abided by all of those morals.  One Sabbath morning, I came to Church with an ankle length dark purple dress accompanied with a simple tan colored scarf covering my hair which was my personal idea of what modesty was but to others, it seemed  way too extreme and offensive for Church.

Throughout the day, I endured comments from Church goers including children and adults; “ISIS has arrived”, “You know you look like that lady, I think she was Mahatma Gandhi’s wife”, “Hey! Salam alaikum – aaaah! just kidding with you”, all followed by playful laughs.  That day, my grandmother received several complaints from sisters in the Church. I even got into a huge verbal feud with one of the sisters in my Church on my views on modesty. I always made sure to tell people that I was only doing this because the Bible said so:

According to 1 Corinthians 11:  “that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you… Every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same if her head was shaved…For this reason a woman ought to have the symbol of authority on their head, because of the angels.”

After that encounter with my Church, my confidence in following what the Holy Bible had taught me eventually ended up diminishing.  Often, people said things like: “Because times have changed we don’t participate in things like that”, “Jesus died for our sins so we don’t have to do that anymore”, “That was the old ways of Babylon so we no longer do that”, “Wrap it another way and not like a Muslim”, “It’s not good to wear it like that. People will think you worship Allah instead of God.”, “There are others ways to be modest. Why do you have to dress like that?”, “You are beautiful just the way you are. Just take that scarf off already.” Their comments didn’t really affect me much, but it did make me wonder, as Christians, why are we not modeling what the Bible taught us when the Muslims and even Jews were doing it and they don’t even claim the Bible as their Holy Book?

Eventually months later, on October 25, 2016, I started wearing the hijab consistently. However, before leading up to that moment, a couple of people played a major role in my life, when deciding if I should even look into Islam or not.  They were the ones who often cleared up most of my misconceptions of Islam, exchanged phone numbers with me, got to know me over milkshakes, a quick sit-down in the park or even dinner and referred me to so many of the resources to learn about Islam which still currently exist in my life today.

But I was convinced that I wanted to wear the hijab by mid- August but I just wasn’t sure how I could actually go about doing it. I confided in my mother, but I feared the rest of my family wouldn’t approve of me adapting to these new concepts of modesty and almost a foreign lifestyle to them. Transitioning into wearing the Hijab while in high school, was a bit difficult for me but it wasn’t anything that I couldn’t handle. By the first month, my family, school, and Church buddies all got used to it but the remarks remained.

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I get asked quite often why I reverted and what lead me to Islam? So I thought I’d tell you all.
I didn’t have a good start in life. I was abandoned in a crack house at  the age of 14 months. I was there for 2 days before I was found. I was passed around the care system for a while before I was placed with a loving foster Mom. I always yearned for my real mother; she was allowed to see me the 1st Saturday of every month, but she would never come. I’d be sad, waiting for her looking out the window. I would be heartbroken but my foster mom would always be there to hug me when I felt rejected.

At 14, I turned into a “wild child.” I started smoking, drinking, and hanging around with the wrong people. I started running away from home to my birth mother but she would reject me and shut the door in my face, but as always, my foster mom held me close and loved me.

At 17, I started going to the local pub. I was naive. I got pregnant with my son Dylan at the age of 17. I raised him alone. He is now 18 and has never met his dad. When I was 19, I met a Muslim man and got pregnant with Omar. His dad has always been in and out of his life. Omar is now 15. I spent most my 20’s feeling lost and unwanted, so I drank more, smoked more weed to forget about life.

Last year in September, I went to a 24 hr rave (party). I think I lasted about 18 hrs. I just sat in my room and cried and cried and asked God for help for strength, for guidance. I must have passed out from drinking. When I was awake a few hours later, I was overwhelmed with a feeling. I knew what I wanted. I knew what I had to do and for the first time ever, I felt strong enough. I detoxed my body. It took about 3 days. I was shaking and as I was detoxing myself and trying to better myself, I found out I had been betrayed in the worst way possible; stabbed in the back by people who I thought cared about me. I was devastated. All I wanted was a drink but I didn’t. I was so proud of myself.

Once I knew my body was clean from drink and drugs, I took my Shahadah (testimony of Islamic faith). Wow! Amazing! I was free. I felt new. I felt relieved that I would never pick up another drink. Islam to me is more than a religion. I believe it really saved my life.

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I met a  Muslim gentleman who introduced me to Islam.  I wanted to learn more about Islam in order to better understand his lifestyle and his choices.  I immediately fell in love with Islam and within a few short months, decided it was what I’d been searching for all along!

On May 26th, I began wearing the hijab.  I noticed instantly that wearing hijab gained me respect which I’d never  known before.  People apologized for using foul language within earshot of me.  People offered assistance when not necessarily requested.  At a restaurant, a man stopped me from ordering food that had been cooked with pork, because he knew, since I was wearing hijab, I could not consume pork.  It blew my mind!

On June 6th, I took my shahada (testimony of Islamic faith).  It was a bittersweet day.  I was overjoyed to revert to the religion I had fallen in love with.  My (Catholic) family, however, was not thrilled.  My mother even disowned me for  some time. This quickly changed my mood.  Though, in the end, I didn’t allow it to ruin my day.  A week later we had a family meeting  and worked things out.  My family may not understand, but they now support my decision.

I have been told by a few different people that hijab suits me.  I love wearing hijab.  My dà’ì says it makes me even more beautiful than he already thought I was.

It bothers my daughter that people sometimes stare, but it doesn’t bother me.  It hasn’t bothered me from day one.  I knew what I would face them and I know those who stare are just ignorant.  I pray that Allah, one day, opens their eyes.  I know I made the right decision.  I am happy with my choice and my knew life!  Alhamdulillah!  Allahu-akbar!

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I grew up in a Catholic family in a non-Islamic Country. I had everything and yet I felt my life was empty and meaningless. It’s been 2 years now since I accepted Islam and words can’t explain the feeling of happiness in my heart. It was a challenge to wear hijab but because I believe in Allah (swt) and the Prophet Muhammad (saw) nothing stood my way. I always thought it’s great blessing, as if Allah is telling us that amongst many people who doesn’t believe in Him, He chose us and lead us to the right path.

I am a proud Muslimah!

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I am 24 and recently reverted to Islam. I have been wearing hijab for just over three months now.

I don’t just like my hijab, I love it. It has become such a part of me and I would feel very off without it. The first day that I started wearing it, it just felt so right.

My hijab is not a burden or a pain or a nuisance. It is not hot or itchy. It is not in the way, annoying, or cumbersome. It is not time consuming or ugly. It is not oppressive or restrictive; it does not prevent me from doing anything. My hijab is nothing bad, nothing negative, and nothing harmful.

My hijab is pretty and nice and awesome. It is comfortable, warm, and protective. My hijab is empowering and powerful.

My hijab reminds me that I am always in the presence of Allah swt. It reminds me of my faith and to stay strong in it.

My hijab says please don’t be negative around me; I don’t have room for your darkness. It says make small talk with me. It says I am strong. It says look at me with respect; look at me not my body; have interest in me not my body. It says please refrain from hitting on me because I do not need your remarks.

I would take what I have now over what I used to have any day. People do not hit on me; I do not get cat-calls. I can just go out and not be bothered, or if people talk to me there is no underlying intention.

My hijab lets me know that I am too beautiful, too precious, and too important to be put on display. It tells me that I am something more than I ever realized.

That is why I choose to not only wear, but love my hijab.

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I’m a very new Muslim convert. I was raised in a Christian family. I am living in Holland, where it’s not so easy to be a Muslim. I’m just started to wear  hijab  few weeks ago and experienced the greatest feeling ever. When I wear my hijab, I feel perfectly happy, free, confident, strong, secure, and honorable. Because of prejudices, it’s not easy to wear  hijab in my country and without hijab I feel empty, naked, and uncomfortable. No one forced or asked me to wear it, but it feels great and amazing. It makes me so happy and it’s showing me the way of heaven , Alhamdulillah.

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Although at times it’s very difficult to cover in western culture but I am thankful each day to be a Muslim. I support my fellow sisters from all walks of life and I am grateful for the overwhelming support World Hijab Day has gotten. Alhamdulilah (Praise be to Allah)!!! My journey to becoming a Muslim started as one simple curiosity. I never had the intention to accept Islam. I simply wished to know more as I became curious both because of the Muslim friendships I had developed on social media and all the negative news about Islam.

I knew better than to judge anything without actually educating myself outside of the mainstream media. I casually inquired into authentic Islamic sources and spoke to and directed my questions to my Muslim friends. I was drawn to Islam because of the way my Muslim friends conducted themselves, their mannerisms, and how happy and peaceful they appeared to be. After a year, I took my Shahadah (testimony of Islamic faith) as I wanted to be sure if I could commit myself as I knew it would mean a lot of changes in pretty much all aspects of my life. Dressing as a Muslim in Canada has its challenges and I appreciate those who show respect and tolerance for the freedom to practice one’s faith and choice of dress and I show the same respect back.

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