Feeling Drawn to Islam - Need Some Guidance
As-salamu alaykum, everyone. About a week ago I shared that I've been feeling drawn to Islam and I wanted to expand on that a bit. I grew up atheist and then became Catholic at 14. Recently I met a Muslim man, fell in love, and we are planning to get married in the future. As we talked more about life and faith, I noticed a real pull toward Islam. During my years as a Catholic I often felt ignored by the priest I asked for guidance and like I didn’t quite belong in my local Catholic community. I reached out to Christians for support while I figured things out and got more rudeness than help, which was surprising and hurtful. In contrast, since reading about Islam and speaking with Muslim brothers and sisters, I’ve felt welcomed and encouraged - people have reached out with advice and kindness, and it’s been very comforting. I still have a lot to learn. I got some helpful comments on my last post and I’m open to more advice. My fiancé doesn’t actually know I’m seriously considering converting yet. I didn’t want to tell him until I felt certain, and I’m worried he might think I’m doing it just to please him instead of following what I truly feel. I also don’t know if there’s a specific formal step I need to take, like baptism is for Catholics. Any practical guidance on making a sincere shahada, the steps involved, or learning resources would be really appreciated. One more thing - any tips on how to tell family members who might not fully support this change? I’m anxious about their reaction and would love advice on handling those conversations with patience and care. JazakAllahu khairan for any help or personal experiences you can share.