Assalamu Alaikum - Need Advice on Building a Muslim Community and Making Muslim Friends
Assalamu Alaikum, everyone. I could use some advice and reassurance. I’ve sort of taken my Shahada (I want to make it official in a mosque with an Imam, but I’m nervous and don’t really have two witnesses to bring, and the people I’ve asked keep telling me to “wait longer”). I have one Muslim friend who recently moved and doesn’t know I plan to revert, and another who does know, but otherwise I don’t have many Muslim friends. I’m struggling to figure out how to build a Muslim community around me. I’m too scared to go to the mosque alone because I don’t know anyone there, I don’t know where to go or what to do, and it all feels really intimidating. I worry I’m not “Muslim enough” to be there. In practice I’m more committed than my non‑Muslim friends - I believe in Allah, I’ve been praying and reading the Qur’an, watching Islamic talks and podcasts, reading books, and even took a uni course that covered Islam - but compared to many practicing Muslims I feel inexperienced. I don’t wear hijab yet and I don’t attend the mosque, so no one would even know I’m Muslim and I worry about making connections. I’m nervous about putting myself out there because people can be judgmental and I’m afraid of saying the wrong thing or embarrassing myself. I’m just looking for advice or personal stories about how others made Muslim friends, got over their fear of going to the mosque, or completed their Shahada. I’ve never felt this lonely and would really appreciate any guidance or encouragement. JazakAllahu khairan.