Muslims Who Convert to Islam Find Fulfillment in the Holy Month While Facing Unique Challenges
By Sheima Salam Sumer
Mar/Apr 25
Douglas Johnson came to Islam after his experience teaching in Palestine. Imam Suhaib Webb, Amaal Melissa Toney, and Sha’Qira Holemon couldn’t believe in the Catholic doctrine of the Trinity in which God is both one unified being, and three distinct beings. Nicole Hawkins met a Bangladeshi friend who changed her perspective.
According to the Huffington Post, an estimated 20,000 Americans convert to Islam every year, as of 2011. That’s 20,000 Americans every year who are learning to pray, learning to read the Quran, and fasting during Ramadan. Each convert – some prefer to use the term ‘revert’ – has their own unique story and faces their own unique challenges. Ramadan especially can be a bittersweet time as they experience the bliss of the holy month while dealing with struggles inherent to navigating their new religion and its associated traditions.
Islamic Horizons spoke with Muslim American converts to learn more about their experiences.
Positive Interactions with Muslims Inspire Some to Convert
Many converts come to Islam because of Muslims they meet. Douglas Johnson from Ottawa, Ill., was attracted by the good manners of the Muslims he met in Palestine. While working as a teacher there, he was impressed by the students and people’s maturity and goodness. “I felt very welcome. I was attributing it to Islam, which was right,” he said.
Nicole Hawkins from Baltimore, Md., had an online Bangladeshi friend who was Muslim. She became curious about his beliefs and so she bought a copy of the translation of the Quran. What she read made sense to her. The stories of the Prophets moved her. The biggest factor in her conversion was Islam’s teaching that life is a test. Growing up, Nicole, who lost her mother to suicide, always wondered why life was so difficult. She found the answer in Islam. “It’s because Allah puts trials and tests in our way to bring us closer to Him,” she said.
Kareem Muhammad Ali* from Traverse City, Mich., was attracted to the sincerity he saw in Muslims. As a child, he observed hypocrisy in the church. As a result, he left organized religion until he met Muslims in Michigan and learned about Islam. Like Nicole, the people and the Quran inspired him. He especially liked that the Quran is still in its original language. He began exploring mosques and meeting imams. “It was crazy clear that this felt right,” he said. “There was an absence of hypocrisy; there was one clear path. It felt like returning to a place that I could be proud of and give me some forward direction.”
Muslim Converts Resonate with the Islamic Concept of God and Prayer
Many Christians convert to Islam because of Islam’s clear concept of God. The renowned Imam Suhaib Webb from Oklahoma City, Ok., told the Deen Show he converted to Islam because the Catholic concept of the Trinity didn’t make sense to him “I just wasn’t able to digest that God could be three or one of three,” he said.
Similarly, Amaal Melissa Toney from Manhattan, N.Y. could not understand how Jesus prayed to God when he was also God. Sha’Qira Holemon from Richmond, Va., felt that the Trinity and God having a son didn’t make sense. Douglas resonated with the fact that Islam viewed Jesus as a prophet, rather than as God or the son of God.
Luke Hodel* from Mechanicsville, Va., was attracted to Islam by the five daily prayers. He was raised as “a Christmas and Easter Catholic” who went to mass only on holidays. “I liked the idea of remembrance every day,” he said.
Finding Community and Navigating Challenges During Ramadan
Many find solace in the sense of community during Ramadan. Amaal reminisced about her Ramadan in different locales. She loves how Muslims come together to give out dates, water, and to share iftar meals. “I’ve seen it in Egypt. I’ve seen it in Georgia. I’ve seen it in South Carolina, New Jersey, and New York,” she said. “You’re gonna get that same experience no matter where you are – that sense of community, love, and giving.”
Like Amaal, Kareem experienced Ramadan in many places. Wherever he went, he always found a mosque that welcomed him. He shared that he’s always able to find a good mosque and the vibe is always “welcome my brother, let’s do this thing together.” During his first street-wide iftar in Egypt, he felt cared for. “It was incredible. I was welcomed. I didn’t need anything,” he said.
Douglas experienced his first Ramadan in Palestine before he became Muslim. His colleague invited him to a community iftar. When he entered the cafeteria, he didn’t know what to expect. He sat in rows with Muslims who had been fasting all day. Despite not being Muslim, he felt welcomed. There was no sense of distinction between him and the Muslims. It didn’t feel strange that he was participating in a Muslim ceremony; it felt natural. “Being treated like a Muslim before I was Muslim was really special to me,” he said.
For Kareem, suhoor (the pre-dawn meal) is one of his favorite parts of Ramadan. He enjoys waking up early and eating with people he loves. “We say al-Ḥamdu lillāh for this blessing,” he said. “We prepare for the fast and get into that rhythm. Then, when fajr happens, it’s game on.”
Kyle Bayer from Delray Beach, Fla., whose wife inspired him to convert, said he enjoys bonding and connecting at iftar dinners. “I could speak to others freely about my experience fasting and they did the same with me,” he said.
Converts Face Unique Challenges Especially During Ramadan
As strong as the sense of community is during Ramadan, new converts to the religion still deal with certain struggles. Imam Suhaib Webb recalled that he felt “terrified” during his first Ramadan. He actually hadn’t known much about fasting when he converted at the age of 20. He felt he wasn’t just converting to a new religion, but to a new community. He describes all the Muslim cultures he encountered as a “religious Times Square.” On top of that, he was constantly bombarded with questions about how and why he converted which made him uncomfortable.
He found consolation in the hadith that Ramadan is a month of patience. He kept going to the mosque, praying tarawih (night prayers), and reading the translation of the meaning of the Quran in English, which really helped. “Alhamdulillah, man that helped me,” he said. “That first Ramadan ended up being a great blessing for me.”
The act of fasting alone can be difficult for some converts, especially those who are participating in Ramadan for the first time. “I struggle with it,” Douglas said. “[But] the more Muslims I have around me fasting, the easier and better it is.”
Others simply adjust. For Amaal, fasting has been easy overall, but was challenging in the past because of her anemia which she is now able to manage. Kyle fasted for the first time last Ramadan and enjoyed it. “I can’t wait to fast this upcoming Ramadan,” he said.
Sha’Qira, however, finds Ramadan to be bittersweet. Due to her medical condition, she can’t fast. She expressed that she often feels disconnected from Ramadan. To cope, she reads more Quran, listens to nasheed (Islamic songs), and prays more. She tries to go to the mosque to meet Muslims but is often thwarted by her social anxiety. “I’m afraid of people, so it’s hard,” she said.
Fasting isn’t the only aspect of Ramadan that can be hard.
Nicole shared that while she loves fasting because it increases her God-consciousness, Ramadan can be very lonely. Many don’t have the privilege of practicing with their families the way native-born Muslims do. She wishes more Muslims would invite converts to their homes for iftar, and that mosques had more fun activities during the month.
Finding Deeper Meaning in Ramadan
Even before Kareem officially became Muslim, he would fast in solidarity and respect with his Muslim friends. He learned about the value of fasting, being pure, and the spirit behind the practice. He learned that fasting is not just a group activity, it’s also a “solo adventure.”
He enjoys the solo aspect of Ramadan. “Doing the iftar together is awesome,” he said. “But then I like to find my center, when it’s just me and Allah.”
Last year, Kareem read through the Quran a few times. He says there’s always something new to catch. He listens to the Quran in Arabic as he reads it in English, following the words with his hand. To improve this practice, Kareem is currently studying Arabic and sees a mentor regularly.
Like most Muslims, converts see Ramadan as a month to get closer to God, to purify, and to grow. “Ramadan is a month of self-reflection and a chance to become closer to Allah,” said Luke.
For Sha’qira, Ramadan means devotion, sacrifice, and being thankful for one’s blessings.
Amaal is especially fascinated with the Night of Power. “It’s a time when you can ask Allah and seek Laylatul Qadr [the Night of Power],” she said. “There are so many benefits in reaching it because of how many of your sins can be removed. It’s like you’re cleansing yourself.”
For Kyle, Ramadan is about commitment, mental endurance, and introspection. Fasting made him feel more grateful. “Ramadan is a special place in time that allows you to embark on self-introspection,” he shared. “It offers the questions [like] ‘Are you truly being the best version of yourself? Can you still make positive changes in your life?’”
Imam Suhaib Webb describes Ramadan as “a great opportunity to make up for mistakes made in the past and to create a new capacity to continue to grow for the future.”
*Some names have been changed for privacy.
Sheima Salam Sumer is the author of How to be a Happy Muslim Insha’Allah (2014) and The Basic Values of Islam (2021). She is also a tutor and life coach.