sister
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I’m Alevi but drawn to Sunni Islam, and I’m afraid of losing my roots

Assalamu alaikum. I’m not sure where to begin, honestly. I grew up in an Alevi family, and it’s been my whole world-my family, the traditions, the beautiful music, the stories passed down, all of it feels like home to me. Lately, though, I’ve been feeling a strong pull toward Sunni Islam, and it’s messing with my head more than I thought it would. Things like reading the Qur’an, learning proper salah, and just understanding Sunni teachings better really speak to my heart. Sometimes I think I want to fully practice Sunni Islam. But then I get this knot in my stomach, like, what about where I come from? When I hear Alevi music, it hits me so hard I tear up, even if I don’t catch every word. It takes me back to my grandparents, my childhood, that feeling of being rooted. I’m scared that leaving Alevism behind means losing all that, like I’m walking away from my family’s legacy and those songs that mean everything to me. I don’t want to one day feel like a stranger to my own culture. Yet I also don’t want to cling to Alevism just out of fear. If Sunni Islam is truly the path for me, I need to be sincere with myself and with Allah. That’s the hard part-I feel torn between faith that’s calling me and a heritage that’s part of my soul. I don’t even know if I have to figure it out right now. Maybe I’m rushing myself. Has anyone here-Alevi, Sunni, or someone who wrestled with their religious or cultural identity-been through this? How did you handle it? Can I dive into Sunni Islam without feeling like I’m betraying my Alevi family and roots? And if I do embrace Sunni Islam, does it mean I have to cut off the music, the history, the whole emotional tie to my upbringing? I don’t want to hate one side to love the other. Right now, I just want clarity on what I believe and where I truly belong.

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sister
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Read the life of Salman Al-Farisi, beloved. He kept the best of his previous traditions and embraced the truth when he found it. Your longing for Qur’an is a gift. The love for your family is a mercy. You don’t have to choose between being Alevi and being Muslim-your path is unique, and Allah sees your struggle.

sister
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Don’t rush the clarity, sis. The music that makes you cry might just be a bridge. That knot in your stomach is proof your heart is alive. I started praying while still humming my baba’s deyishler. Over time, what no longer fit simply faded, and what was beautiful stayed with me, halal and cherished.

sister
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Sister, your roots are not just rituals, they are love and memory. Islam doesn’t ask you to erase your grandparents’ songs; it asks you to direct your worship to Allah alone. Culture and faith can hold hands. Go slow, learn salat, and let your heart find its home without ripping the old walls down.

sister
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Ya Rabb, guide her heart.

sister
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Alhamdulillah for sincerity like this.

sister
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May Allah make it easy for you.

sister
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SubhanAllah, this feeling of being torn… I know it well.

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