Sunday, December 7, 2008

Silly Little Reverts

Now that I have been Muslim for over 2 years, I see a lot of condescending attitudes out there towards reverts. The shiny new Muslim glow has worn off and now we are a target for attack. The same people, who once were so happy that we accepted Islam, now talk to us like we are children that don’t know any better.

I mostly see this kind of thing on Muslim forums and blogs. A well meaning Revert will want to share something they have learned only to be shot down by another Muslim telling them that they have revertitis or are going through a ‘phase’. A reverts desire to stick to Quran and Sunnah is turned against them, and they are called ‘extreme’.

While I am fully aware that we all grow and change in our deen, I don’t feel that most of these reverts (including myself) are going through a ‘phase’, that we will soon snap out of and come back to earth. As reverts, we were guided by Allah Subhanahu wa ta'ala, to leave the religion of our past and embrace the truth. For a lot of us, this was not easy. We had to face persecution by family, friends, co workers and perfect strangers. We now choose to embrace and follow our religion to the best of our ability. To some born Muslims, that might seem extreme, but to us, it’s the only way we know how.

As I read these things, directed at me or others, I feel like pulling back even more from these social circles (online or otherwise). All they do is cause problems. Perhaps this is the best for me and others. Find those who are like you and stay away from the fitnah. Allah knows best.

9 comments:

بنت بيتر said...

Assalamu alaykum sister... I know and understand exactly what you are talking about, and I too believe sometimes the best thing to do is stay away from such fitnah. But it is maddening... may Allah guide them, Ameen.

Empress Anisa said...

Salaamz Sis Jamilah... I agree with you totally on this one- that fitnah is everywhere- and sone of them feel they're a "better" Muslim because they were born one... but at least I can say, the reverts I see where I am, are the ones who practice Islam the way we all should so go figure...
And I JUST came in from Eid Salaat and sad to say you see fitnah on Eid day... gossiping, not speaking to other sisters and the likes- that's why alot of them I leave alone as well... not good for me and my deen....

blahblah said...

salam alaikum

when someone criticises someone else just because that person loves Islam and wishes to practice Islam as well as they can.....then it's obvious who has the problem. If born muslims choose not to take their faith seriously and don't respect reverts they should really keep those thoughts to themselves and focus on improving their own behavior first. Reverts put alot of thought and heart into their decision to revert and take their faith seriously.

Random Muslima said...

Salaamu alayum sister,
you are making some interesting points in your posts. Seems like you are mashaAllah a passionate revert. Myself I am a revert for soon 10years inshaAllah walhamdulillah, and I do see myself some years ago in many of your thoughts.

I have met some prejudices too from born Muslims during these years, but on the other hand there is a lot I have learned through the Islamic culture they are living (not the same ones! even some of the sisters had prejudices towards me turned into nice one mashaAllah as they got to know me).

All khair for you ukhtee inshaallah.

Sacrifice4Allah said...

As Salaamu 'alaikum sister in Islam,

I found your blog through One Muslim's.

I find it astonishing that many Muslims mistreat new Muslims. It makes me mad to see that kind of prejudice! I love revert Muslims because they want to practice Islam according to the Qur'an and Sunnah. Qur'an and Sunnah are the only way for a successful life.

wa Salaamu 'alaikum,
Your sister in islam,
Sacrifice4Allah

Lina said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jamilah said...

Asalamu Alaikum Lina...

I don't know what was going through that sister's head, but there is no reason you should be made to feel like an idiot for wanting to follow your religion! We all learn and grow at different rates... some of us are ready to put on hijab right away, others (like myself) it takes more time. Once we feel compelled to do so, no one should make us feel bad about it.

I don't know what it is about being mean to reverts, but it happens all the time. May Allah make it easy for you and help you to get far from this fitnah.

As for wearing hijab, go for it! There may never be a time when you feel totally ready, but sometimes you just need to take that leap and give it a try. You will feel amazing InshAllah and you will never want to go back to not wearing it.

If you need to chat more, feel free to email me at jenz1020 AT gmail dot com.

Lina said...

Asalamualaikum,

Here is the post that should be above yours. Sorry!! I'll put it back as I know it can be annoying for people not to know what you replied to. InshAllah this and your reply to me may even help another revert sister in a similar situation.

I am a new revert. I have wanted to learn more and follow Islam truthfully so I mentioned to some sisters that I was interested in beginning to wear hijab. I do not mean that I was all of a sudden going to start out of the blue, but just that it was something I felt compelled to do sooner rather than later. Guess what? I was called out on it and made to feel like an idiot. One of them even wrote an article about "me"... my name wasn't used, but she basically wrote about how she met a revert girl who was already considering hijab, which is so over the top and she also mentioned how so many reverts are overzealous and try to look "perfect"...

after hearing this from HIJABI sisters, my confidence was shattered and I was outright embarrassed and I haven't put on hijab sense. I feel awful about this because I am letting this get to me, but I also do not want to be made fun of by my muslim sisters. I just really want to try hijab... Any advice??

I apologize for posting a comment here, but I came across your blog recently and could not stop reading, mashAllah.

Your sister in Islam,
Lina

Lina said...

Have you ever seen/heard of a show called "little mosque on the prairie"? I don't watch it, but I saw one episode and they totally made fun of reverts there. This show is quite popular with many Muslims that I know of. It saddens me that it is such a common stereotype-"the extremist revert"

Lina