As-salamu alaykum, seeking guidance on my journey to learn about Islam
As-salamu alaykum, everyone. I've recently started learning about Islam because my friend is Muslim and I want to broaden my knowledge. I've begun reading the Quran and I'm a few chapters in. I feel like something is guiding me towards possibly accepting Islam in the future. I grew up in a Christian household, but I always had doubts, especially about the Holy Trinity. I've always believed in Allah, but the idea of Jesus being God never fully resonated with me. It felt more like something that was passed down rather than something I personally believed. Even though I've come to recognize that Jesus is not God, I still find it hard to let go of past negative feelings about religion so I can move forward and truly learn about Islam. From what I've seen so far, Islam is truly beautiful to me. One question I keep asking myself is how do I know that Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, is the final prophet of Allah? I understand that believing this is essential to take the shahada someday, so I want to approach this sincerely and thoughtfully. I'd love some advice on how to navigate this journey, especially since I have zero background knowledge. I'm taking my time with everything because it's a lot of new information. At times I feel numb towards religion, and at other times I feel a strong desire to accept a religion that resonates with me because I believe in Allah. I want to focus less on emotions and more on the truth. Right now, I feel overwhelmed by everything - the Arabic, learning how to pray, Islamic law, and understanding how it all fits together. Any advice, resources, or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated. If I do end up accepting Islam in the future, I'd be the first Muslim in my family, and that's something I'd want to represent well, insha'Allah. Thank you in advance for any guidance or support you may be able to offer. I'd also love to connect with a few people who can help answer any questions I have about Islam that I couldn't find online or struggle to understand.