Stories of Embracing Islam and How You Learned the Faith

Assalamu alaikum dear brothers and sisters. A friend of mine is curious about Islam and has started exploring it, but I'm concerned she might be turning to unreliable sources, like Christian apologists. I told her that's not a good approach because they often distort the truth, but she feels she shouldn't just listen to the Muslim perspective-she also wants to hear from non-Muslims and academics who study Islam. For example, she began arguing that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) might have learned about earlier prophets from the People of the Book through his travels, since traders usually pick up on local cultures. So I'm worried about the sources she's using. Of course, ultimately it's her own decision, but I'd like to offer her better alternatives and explain why not every source is trustworthy. Her main point is that she wants to see not only the Islamic viewpoint but also a 'scientific' one-the philosophy of how Islam came about and its origins. So, I'm wondering if any reverts could share their stories: how and where you learned about Islam, how you found reliable sources, and things like that. Thank you so much, and jazakum Allahu khairan. *Edit: I'm also concerned about the big gaps she might see in the written collections of hadith and sirah. I think this is an area where she could get confused-why the oral tradition is actually scholarly and trustworthy, not just a claim but real proof and examples.