Feeling Drawn to Islam - Seeking Guidance and Support
As-salamu alaykum - I posted about this a week ago and wanted to share more about what I've been feeling. I grew up atheist and became Catholic at 14. Recently I met a Muslim man, fell in love, and we're planning to get married, so naturally religion comes up a lot. Lately I've been feeling genuinely drawn towards Islam. Over the years as a Catholic I often felt ignored by the priest I reached out to and like my local church community judged me or made me feel unwelcome. When I first started asking questions about leaving, I tried seeking support from Christians and some responses were surprisingly rude or passive-aggressive, which hurt. Since I began learning about Islam, people have been so kind and supportive - offering advice, encouragement, and messages that made me feel welcome. It's been a really different and comforting experience. I know I still have a lot to learn. I did get some suggestions from my previous post, and I'm open to more guidance. My fiancé doesn't know yet that I'm seriously considering embracing Islam. I wanted to be sure before bringing it up because I don't want him to think I'm converting just to please him rather than from sincere conviction. I'm also unsure about any formal steps involved - is there something I need to do, like baptism for Catholics? Any practical advice about converting, or what to expect, would be really helpful. Also, does anyone have tips for telling family members who might not fully support this choice? I'm worried about their reaction and would appreciate any ideas for approaching that conversation with patience and wisdom. JazakAllahu khairan for any help or resources - even small tips or personal experiences mean a lot.