Report:  Narratives of Conversion to Islam, Female Perspectives

by Sheila Musaji


A report has just been released by Professor Yasir Suleiman of the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Centre of Islamic Studies, University of Cambridge in Association with The New Muslims Project, Markfield.  The 135 page report, titled NARRATIVES of CONVERSION TO ISLAM Female Perspectives is available in PDF here. 

The researchers brought together 50 British female converts to Islam to discuss their conversion, and their post conversion experiences (positive and negative) within the Muslim community, within their own families, and within the greater society.

The women in the study came from many different faith backgrounds before converting.  There were Jews, Anglicans, Catholics, Sikhs, Hindus and Buddhists, and some who held no particular religious belief or were atheists.

The study is getting quite a bit of press.

Seeking Allah in the Midlands by Hasan Suroor notes that Yet, Islam appears to hold a strange fascination for white British women who are converting to it in large numbers. Of an estimated 50,000 or so white Britons who convert to Islam every year, some two-thirds are thought to be women. Most of them are independent career women — bankers, doctors, broadcasters — who know what they are doing, and often do so in the face of opposition from family and friends. High profile converts include Lauren Booth, sister-in-law of former Prime Minister Tony Blair, well-known journalist Yvonne Ridley and MTV presenter Kristiane Backer.

Muslim Women Converts Tell Of Hijab Dilemmas, Family Rows And Negative Portrayal Of Faith by Jessica Elgot quotes Prof. Yasir Suleiman, the project leader as saying: “Conversion is a complex phenomenon. It is often full of joy and pain for the convert and her family and friends, regardless of the faith to which she converts, but no more so than when the faith is a maligned Islam and its followers.”

Most of the articles about the study focus on whatever positive or negative experiences of women that interest them personally.  I strongly suggest that you read the actual report and take from it what is meaningful to you.

As an American Muslim convert (of more than four decades), I am well aware that the conversion experience can be difficult, and that it very different for different individuals.  On TAM we have published many articles by and about converts.  If you type convert into the TAM search engine, 134 articles will come up.  We also have a TAM article collection titled Resources for American Muslims to avoid the converts/reverts/new Muslims dispute as to the “correct” term.  This was first published in 2007, and regularly updated.

For those interested in the subject of conversion, this is the reading list from that resource.  Just scrolling through the titles should give a feel for the variety of experiences and issues.

5 Things Every Mosque Should Do for Converts http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/5-things-every-mosque-should-do-for-converts

8 Things You Should Understand About Converts to Islam, Alex Arrick http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/8-things-you-should-understand-about-converts-to-islam

9/11…The day I became a Muslim, Robert Salaam http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/9-11the-day-i-became-a-muslim

A Growing Presence: American Converts to Islam, Uzra Zeya http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/a-growing-presence-american-converts-to-islam

A Native American Muslims Story, Lois Stands Ali http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/a_native_american_muslims_story/
A Page From Islamic History: the ‘Other’ 1492, Aisha Brown http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/a_page_from_islamic_history_the_other_1492/
A Plea for Unity, Sheila Musaji http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/a_plea_for_unity/

A Time for Healing, Imam Ghayth Nur (Lonnie) Kashif http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/a_time_for_healing/

Advice for New Muslims or those considering Islam, Saraji Umm Zaid http://en.islamway.net/article/8400

African-American Islam Reformed: “Black Muslims” and the Universal Ummah http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/african-american-islam-reformed-black-muslims-and-the-universal-ummah

African American Muslims Key to Bridge Building in US, Dr. Aminah Beverly McCloud http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/african_american_muslims_key_to_bridge_building_in_us
Allah Came Knocking At My Heart, Giles Whitell http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/allah-came-knocking-at-my-heart

American Muslims and ‘Integration’, Parvez Ahmed http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/american_muslims_and_integration/

American Muslims Need Not Be Blind Followers, Sheila Musaji http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/american_muslims_need_not_be_blind_followers
American Muslims Struggle for the Soul of Islam, Hasan Zillur Rahim http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/american_muslims_struggle_for_the_soul_of_islam/

Answering Questions from American Muslims, Grand Mufti of Egypt, Shaykh Ali Gomaa http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/answering_questions_from_american_muslims

Apostasy and Freedom of Faith in Islam http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/apostasy_and_freedom_of_faith_in_islam
ARABIC - Every day Muslim expressions http://www.jamiat.org.za/isinfo/mtongue.html - Longer glossary of Islamic terms http://cwis.usc.edu/dept/MSA/reference/glossary.html

Basics of Islam topic on the TAM site http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/tam/categories/C92/

Becoming Muslim, Nuh Ha Meem Keller http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/2003jan_comments.php?id=227_0_17_0_C

Becoming Muslim, Michael Wolfe http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/becoming_muslim1/

BIOGRAPHY:
— Daniel Abdal-Hayy Moore http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/biography-daniel-abdal-hayy-moore
— Benyamin van Hattum, Aman Ali http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/biography-benyamin-van-hattum
— Mos Def (Yasin Bey) - You’re Gonna Serve Somebody. Ali Asadullah http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/biography-mos-def-youre-gonna-serve-somebody
— Abdullah Quilliam: Forgotten champion of Islam: One man and his mosque, Michael Savage (with article collection on Quilliam) http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/abdullah-quilliam-forgotten-champion-of-islam-one-man-and-his-mosque
— Hamza Yusuf Hanson http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/hanson_hamza_yusuf
— The World of Mohamed Zakariya, Piney Kesting http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/zakariya_mohamed_the_world_of_mohamed_zakariya—and VIDEO bio http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nshXFQ360wI&mode=related&sear

Blasphemy Before God: the Darkness of Racism in Muslim Culture, Adam Misbah al-Haqq http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/blasphemy_before_god_the_darkness_of_racism_in_muslim_culture

Gray Henry-Blakemore Wins Alexander Russell Webb Award http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/gray_henry_blakemore_wins_alexander_russell_webb_award
BOOKS: The American Muslim has a recommended book list which is quite extensive, and very useful. Here are a few of particular interest to new Muslims:

- 99 Names of Allah, Shems Friedlander http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/ninety_nine_names_of_allah_shems_friedlander/
- 101 Questions and Answers on Islam, John Renard http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/101_questions_and_answers_on_islam_john_renard/
- A Bad Beginning: the path to Islam, Charles LeGai Eaton http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/book_announcement_a_bad_beginning_the_path_to_islam_charles_le_gai_eaton
- African American Islam, Aminah McCloud
- American Islam: Growing Up Muslim in America, Richard Wormser http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/american_islam_growing_up_muslm_in_america_richard_wormser/
- American Jihad, Steven Barbosa http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/american_jihad_islam_after_malcolm_x_steven_barboza/
- Autobiography of Malcolm X, Alex Haley http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/autobiography_of_malcolm_x_alex_haley/
- Becoming Muslim, Nuh Ha Mim Keller http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/becoming_muslim_nu_ha_mim_keller/
- Believing as Ourselves, J. Lynn Jones and Jeffrey Lang http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/believing_as_ourselves_jeffrey_lang/
- BIOGRAPHIES OF THE PROPHET - the best are by M.H. Haykal, Seyyed Hossein Nasr, and Martin Lings
- Case for Islamo-Christian Civilization, Richard Bulliett
- Daughters of Another Path, Carole Anway http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/daughters_of_another_path_carole_amway/
- Essentials of the Islamic Faith, M. Fethullah Gulen http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the_essentials_of_the_islamic_faith_m_fethullah_gulen/
- Even Angels Ask, Jeffrey Lang http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/even_angels_ask_jeffrey_lang/
- Finding Fran, Lois Banner http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/finding_fran_lois_banner/
- Girl in the Tangerine Scarf, Mohja Kahf
- Hadj: An American’s Pilgrimage to Mecca, Michael Wolfe http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the_hadj_an_americans_pilgrimage_to_mecca_michael_wolfe/
- Hajj: Reflections on Its Rituals, Ali Shariati http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/hajj_reflections_on_its_rituals_ali_shariat/
- Illuminated Prayer : The Five-Times Prayer of the Sufis, Coleman Barks, Michael Green http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the_illuminated_prayer_the_five_times_prayer_of_the_sufis_coleman_barks_mic/
- Islam: A Search for Meaning, Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/islam_a_search_for_meaning_feisal_abdul_rauf/
- Islam and the Blackamerican, Sherman Jackson http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/islam_and_the_blackamerican_shermn_a_jackson/
- Islam: Beliefs and Teachings, Ghulam Sarwar (one of the best introduction to practice, prayer, etc.) http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/islam_beliefs_and_teachings_ghulam_sarwar/
- Islam in Focus, Hammudah Abdalati http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/islam_in_focus_hammudah_abdalati/
- Islam, Our Choice, ed. Debra L. Dirks http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/islam_our_choice_debra_l_dirks/
- Islam : Religion, History, and Civilization, Seyyed Hossein Nasr http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/islam_religion_history_and_civilization_seyyed_hossein_nasr/
- Lawful and the Prohibited in Islam, Yusuf al Qaradawi (one of the best introductions to Sharia) http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the_lawful_and_the_prohibited_in_islam_yusuf_al_qaradawi/
- Losing My Religion, Jeffrey Lang http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/losing_my_religion_jeffrey_lang/
- Mecca to Mainstreet, Genevieve Abdo
- Road to Mecca, Muhammad Asad http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the_road_to_mecca_muhammad_asad/
- Struggling to Surrender, Jeffrey Lang http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/struggling_to_surrender_jeffrey_lang/
- Trialogue of the Abrahamic Faiths, Ismail al-Faruqi

Book Announcement: A Bad Beginning, the Path to Islam (Charles le Gai Eaton) http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/book_announcement_a_bad_beginning_the_path_to_islam_charles_le_gai_eaton

Book Announcement: Losing My Religion- a call for help (Jeffrey Lang) http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/book_announcement_losing_my_religion_a_call_for_help_jeffrey_lang

Lauren Booth’s Spiritual Journey to Islam, Hasan Zillur Rahim http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/lauren_booths_spiritual_journey_to_islam

Born in the USA, Miriam Lambert http://prospect.org/article/born-usa

Brief Accounting on The Establishment of the Nation of Islam in the U.S., Ayesha K. Mustafaa http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/brief_accounting_on_the_establishment_of_the_nation_of_islam_in_the_us
British and Muslim, Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad (Timothy Winter) http://www.masud.co.uk/ISLAM/ahm/british.htm

Building New Medinas In These Sceptered Isles, Jonathan Birt http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/building_new_medinas_in_these_sceptered_isles/

Challenge is not to be perfect - it’s to be whole, Aishah Schwartz http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/wisdom_and_its_varying_sources

Challenges Facing American Muslim Women, Samer Hathout http://www.articlesbase.com/strategic-planning-articles/challenges-facing-american-muslim-women-by-samer-hathout-1531916.html

Chasm Between African Americans and Immigrant Muslims, Hasan Zillur Rahim http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/chasm_between_african_americans_and_immigrant_muslims1/

Christmas: Cutting Kinship Ties in the Name of Islam?, Sheikh Ali Gomaa http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/christmas-cutting-kinship-ties-in-the-name-of-islam

Lady Evelyn Cobbold’s ‘Pilgrimage to Mecca’ (Hajj) republished, Susannah Tarbush http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/lady-evelyn-cobbolds-pilgrimage-to-mecca-republished
Convertitis - or the case of the insta-scholar, Saraji Umm Zaid http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/convertitis_or_the_case_of_the_insta_scholar

Converts: Islam Now or Never?, Dr. Hesham A. Hassaballa http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/converts_islam_now_or_never/

Criticism Strengthens CommUnity, Abdul Malik Mujahid http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/criticism_strengthens_community/

Cultural Identity: the New Religion, Svend White http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/cultural_identity_the_new_religion/

Dangers of Excess, Extremism among Muslims, Imam Ghayth Nur Kashif http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/dangers_of_excess_extremism_among_muslims/

Daring to be European Muslims, H. A. Hellyer http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/daring_to_be_european_muslims_2/

Dismantling the culture of Muslim sectarianism, Imam Luqman Ahmad http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/dismantling-the-culture-of-muslim-sectarianism

The Dynamics of Islamic Identity in North America, Yvonne Yazbeck-Haddad and John L. Esposito http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the-dynamics-of-islamic-identity-in-north-america

THE ECSTATIC EXCHANGE: WORDS ON MY LIFE AND POETRY, Daniel Abdal-Hayy Moore http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the_ecstatic_exchange_words_on_my_life_and_poetry
EID - The Fiqh of Eid ul Adha, Shaykh Firaz Rabbani http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the_fiqh_of_eid_al_adha/ - The Social Message of ‘Id Al-Adha
Imam A. Rashied Omar http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the_social_message_of_id_al_adha/

FILM ANNOUNCEMENT: A Road to Mecca [Muhammad Asad] http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/film-announcement-a-road-to-mecca-muhammad-asad
Finding the Creamy Center: Challenges to Youth, by Karima Omar http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/finding_the_creamy_center_challenges_to_youth/

Finding the prophet in his people, Ingrid Mattson http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/finding-the-prophet-in-his-people
From Drury Lane to Mecca: Hedley Churchward, Abdal Hakim Murad http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/from-drury-lane-to-makka-hedley-churchward

Frustrations of a Muslim Convert, Michael Young http://www.usislam.org/conversion/frustration.htm

Good News Stories About/By/For North American Muslims in 2012 http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/positive-news— 2011 http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/new-years

The Great Dive, the unusual life of William Williamson, Abdal-Hakim Murad http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the-great-dive-the-unusual-life-of-william-williamson
Growing Number of Germans Embracing Islam http://quickstart.clari.net/qs_se/webnews/wed/bt/Qramadan-germany.RVwe_DOP.html

HAJJ - Hajj Experience, Sheila Musaji http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/hajj_experience/ - Hajj and Umrah, the Cornerstone, Dr. Faiz A. Khan http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the_corner_stone/ - Hajj Information and Resources http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/hajj_information_and_resources_2005_2006/ - Universal Lessons of Hajj, Faisal Kutty http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the_universal_lessons_of_hajj/

HISTORIC EVENTS AND PEOPLE THAT SHAPED THE AMERICAN MUSLIM COMMUNITY, compiled by Sheila Musaji http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/north-american-muslim-community-firsts

How Does It Feel, Michael Wolfe http://www.beliefnet.com/story/82/story_8281_1.html

How I Became A Muslim: Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens) http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/how-i-became-a-muslim
Hurdling the American Muslim Challenge, Imam Abu Laith Luqman Ahmad http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/hurdling-the-american-muslim-challenge

IN MEMORIAM:
—Muhammad Asad - 1900-1992 – An Intellectual Giant, Yussuf Nazeer http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/in_memorium_muhammad_asad_1900_1992_an_intellectual_giant
—Aminah Assilmi http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the_passing_of_aminah_assilmi
— Charles Le Gai Eaton aka Sidi Hasan 1921-2010, Kristiane Backer http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/tribute_to_charles_le_gai_eaton_-_glamour_and_humility and by H.A. Hellyer http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/on_the_passing_of_charles_le_gai_eaton_remembering_the_uks_eloquent_vo
—Rene Guenon (Sheikh ‘Abd al-Wahid Yahya) 1886-1951 http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/guenon_rene_in_memorium_1886_1951
—Tribute to Dr. Thomas Ballantyne Irving – A Canadian Muslim, Muneeb Nasir http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/tribute_to_dr_thomas_ballantyne_irving_a_canadian_muslim - and by Abdul Malik Mujahid http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/in_memorium_dr_tb_irving_passes_away/ - and by Ayub Khan http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/irving_thomas_b_in_memorium_a_life_well_lived/
— Prof. Martin Lings aka Abu Bakr Siraj 1909-2005, Ibrahim N. Abusharif http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/in_memorium_on_the_passing_of_martin_lings
—Mohammed Marmaduke Pickthall 1875-1936 http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/pickthall_marmaduke_in_memorium_1875_1936
— Khadijah Rivera ?-2009 (founder of PIEDAD) http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/in-memoriam-khadijah-rivera
— Frithjof Schuon 1907-1998 http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/schuon_frithjof_in_memorium_1907_1998
— Mohammed Alexander Russell Webb 1846-1916 http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/webb_mohammed_alexander_russell_in_memorium_1846_1916

INTERVIEWS:
— Shems Friedlander: “Dust on the Path of Muhammad”, Isla Rosser-Owen http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/interview-with-shems-friedlander-dust-on-the-path-of-muhammad
— Professor T.B. Irving, Sheila Musaji http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/2002feb_comments.php?id=156_0_6_0_C
— Michael Muhammad Knight, Richard Marcus http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/interview-with-michael-muhammad-knight
—— Jeffrey Lang on why he became a Muslim - 3 parts VIDEO http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2z73ohM_Rjw&feature=related
— Tariq Nelson on Surviving Salafism http://www.religionwriter.com/islam-in-america/surviving-salafism-an-american-muslim-recovers-from-radicalism-and-makes-a-difference/
— Imam Zaid Shakir: A Spiritual and Intellectual Journey to Islam, Asma Nemati http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/interview-with-imam-zaid-shakir-a-spiritual-and-intellectual-journey-to-isl
— Dr. Amina Wadud - Confronting Our Ignorance: As Americans, As Muslims, and As Women http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/interview-with-dr.-amina-wadud-confronting-our-ignorance-as-americans-as-mu another interview http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/interview-with-dr.-amina-wadud

Islam and the African American Ethos: Malcolm X/US Muslim Legacy Abused, Imam Ghayth Nur Kashif http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/islam_and_the_african_american_ethos_malcolm_us_muslim_legacy_abused

Islam in America and the West topic on the TAM site http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/tam/categories/C37/ - and Islam in America tam article collection http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/islam_in_america/

Islam Is Wonderful But I Can’t Stand Muslims, Michael A. Malik http://www.muslimaccess.com/articles/misc/cant_stand_muslims.asp

Islam Now or Never?, Dr. Hesham A. Hassaballa http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/converts_islam_now_or_never/

Islam: the Real 12 Steps, Karima Omar http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/islam_the_real_12_steps1

Islamic Funeral Practices http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/islamic_funeral_practices/

Islamic Spirituality: The Forgotten Revolution (the poverty of fanaticism), Abdal Hakim Murad http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/islamic_spirituality_the_forgotten_revolution

Ingrid Mattson, Muslim Convert takes on leadership of ISNA http://www.csmonitor.com/2001/1213/p16s1-lire.html

Muslim Community Dialogue Issues topic on TAM site http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/tam/categories/C45/

Muslim Names?: A Rose by Any Other Name…, Sheila Musaji http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/muslim_names_a_rose_by_any_other_name/0013650

Muslim Voices Against Extremism and Terrorism (fatwas, condemnations, articles, etc.) http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/muslim_voices_against_extremism_and_terrorism_2/

My Conversion Was My Most Formative Religious Experience, Imam Zaid Shakir http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/my-conversion-was-my-most-formative-religious-experience

My First Year As a Muslim, Ten Years Later: The Failure of Muslim-American Leadership , Jeremiah McAuliffe http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/my_first_year_as_a_muslim_ten_years_later_the_failure_of_muslim_american_le

My Hajj Experience, Sheila Musaji http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/hajj_experience

National Coalition of African American Muslims Formed http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/national_coalition_of_african_american_muslims_formed

New Face of Islam, Nick Compton http://quickstart.clari.net/qs_se/webnews/wed/bt/Qramadan-germany.RVwe_DOP.html
No longer a convert, David Coolidge http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/no-longer-a-convert

Number of Hispanic Converts Growing http://www.gulf-news.com/Articles/news.asp?ArticleID=10347

On Being An American and a Muslim: Dilemmas of Politics and Culture, Ali Mazrui http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/on-being-an-american-and-a-muslim-dilemmas-of-politics-and-culture

On the Passing of an American Muslim Hero - Imam Samuel Ansari , Sheila Musaji http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/imam_ansari
Patterns of Da’wa in America: By the Hand (Why I Am a Muslim), Dr. Robert D. Crane (Faruq Abd al Haqq) http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/patterns_of_dawa_in_america_by_the_hand/

Perfection, Karima Omar http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/perfection1

POETRY: Malcolm, No “X” No Mo’ F’ You and Me, Imam Faruq Bilal Rasheed http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/poetry_malcolm_no_x_no_mo_f_you_and_me1

Politicizing Religion as Ideology: The Case of the 10,000 Chinese Converts, Dr. Robert D. Crane http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/politicizing_religion_as_ideology_the_case_of_the_10000_chinese_converts/

POW WOW:— The Great Pow-Wow: American Muslims Come of Age, Dr. Robert D. Crane http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/pow_wow_the_great_pow_wow_american_muslims_come_of_age — An Overview of The 1993 First North American Muslim Pow Wow, Sheila Musaji http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/pow_wow_an_overview_of_the_1993_north_american_muslim_pow_wow — Poem: The American Muslim Pow Wow, Yahya Monastra http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/poetry_the_american_muslim_powwow_dr_al_islm_abiquiu_new_mexico_1414_19931/ — My Experience of the 1993 North American Muslim Pow Wow, Mumina Kowalski http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/pow_wow_my_experience_of_the_1993_north_american_muslim_pow_wow/ — Glimpses of the 1993 North American Musim Pow Wow http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/pow_wow_glimpses_of_the_1993_north_american_muslim_pow_wow/ — Afterthoughts on the Pow Wow, Hakim Archuletta http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/pow_wow_afterthoughts_on_the_1993_north_american_muslim_pow_wow_with_twin_s/

PROFILE: Dar al - Islam, Abiquiu NM The Code and the Calling, William Tracy http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/profile-dar-al-islam-abiquiu-nm-the-code-and-the-calling
QUR’AN - Qur’an and hadith topic on the TAM site http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/tam/categories/C53/ - QURAN TRANSLATIONS - those most highly recommended are: Qur’an - Message of the Qur’an, Muhammad Asad, Qur’an - Majestic Quran, Abdal hakim Murad, Uthman Hutchinson, Qur’an - Thomas Cleary, Qur’an - Noble Qur’an, Abdal Haqq & Aisha Bewley, Qur’an - Thomas B. Irving, Qur’an - Abdullah Yusuf Ali (original version)

RAMADAN - Ramadan Resources http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/ramadan_resources/ - The Spiritual Essence of Ramadan, Louay Safi http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the_spiritual_essence_of_ramadan/

Resources for dealing with Islamophobes (Clicking on any of the many links provided in this collection will take you to an article that provides a response or analysis of the particular claim or issue. Many of these articles have extensive collections of articles and reference materials) http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/there-is-a-reason/0019403

Saying goodbye to Brother Imam (Imam W. D. Muhammad), Sheila Musaji http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/saying_goodbye_to_brother_imam_imam_w_d_muhammad

Seeing With Both Eyes, Abdal Hakim Murad http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/seeing_with_both_eyes/

Seven out of every ten converts, leave Islam, Imam Luqman Ahmad http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/seven-out-of-every-ten-converts-leave-islam
SHARIAH, Fiqh & Islamic Law topic on the TAM site http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/tam/categories/C63/

Robert Spencer: Gov’t Officials Conversion to Islam like “joining the Nazi Party during WW II”, Sheila Musaji http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/robert-spencer-and
SUNNAH - The Spirit of the Sunnah, Ahmed Baki http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the_spirit_of_the_sunnah/

Symbolism and Allegory in the Qur’an, Muhammad Asad http://www.ummah.com/forum/showthread.php?34914-Symbolism-and-Allegory-in-the-Qur-an-by-Muhammed-Asad

The Ta’leef Collective, Svend White http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the-taleef-collective

The Tale of The Two Muslim Americas (immigrants, native born), Shaykh Luqman Ahmad http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the-tale-of-the-two-muslim-americas
There Is No One Kind of Muslim, Andrea Stone http://www.islamicbulletin.org/newsletters/issue_12/islam.aspx

Transformations: Why Are You a Muslim?, Aminah Huntress http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/transformations_why_are_you_a_muslim1/

Understanding Conversion: Bridging the Two Selves, Abdul Lateef Abdullah http://www.usislam.org/conversion/understanding.htm

VIDEOS:
- American Muslims http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guvzGVIEJKk
- “Bean Pie My Brother?: A Slice of American Muslim History” http://www.linktv.org/onenation/films/view/131#
- CNN Report on Converts to Islam in America http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PN-EfgU7PW4
- Difference between Sunni and Shia, Abdal Hakim Murad http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMhgt3JRqeU
- History of Islam in Europe http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4948121296578586703&q=islam
- Inside Edition Report on Converts to Islam in the U.S. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxY-uUOs01o
- Interview with Jeffrey Lang on why he became Muslim (3 parts) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2z73ohM_Rjw&feature=related
- Interview with Hamza Yusuf on Islam in America http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2b4ucnJ8Kio&feature=related
- Five pillars of Islam
- Shahada http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jYrBWpjMvA
- Salat http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fdw2IfLf0yE
- Hajj http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wHd5FoUpHQ
- Love for Humanity, Imam Zaid Shakir http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6t5MK7Q9MCw
- Muslim influence on America and the West, Abdal Hakim Murad http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOrWrLpBUrw
- Muslim Like Me (converts in U.S.) http://www.myfoxkc.com/myfox/MyFox/pages/sidebar_video.jsp?contentId=2362166&version=1&locale=EN-US
- “Sunnah, Shari’ah, Sectarianism and Ijtihad” by Abdal Hakim Murad http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMhgt3JRqeU&mode=related&search=
- Turning Muslim in Texas http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-9184353144432289069&q=islam&hl=en
- Why We Converted to Islam - part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1R-L8Qgpag - part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?=B4c2gewApWI&mode=related&search= part 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWsu_EAGH9A&mode=related&search= part 4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txDvNJqPi2I&mode=related&search=

(Note: type VIDEO in the internal search engine on The American Muslim site for a long list of videos including music videos, and humor videos)

“What are the Special Issues and Needs of Converts within the Muslim Community?”, Sheila Musaji http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/a_hopeful_event/0013649

Western converts to Islam: finding the inner Muslim prince, Eric Walberg http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/western_converts_to_islam_finding_the_inner_muslim_prince

What Islam is to me, Faruq ‘Abd al Haqq http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/what-is-islam-to-me

Where have all the American Muslims gone, Sheila Musaji http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/something_to_think_about_where_have_all_the_american_muslims_gone

Where Is T.B. Irving, Abdul Malik Mujahid http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/where_is_tb_irving/
White privilege and white converts, Yusuf Smith http://www.blogistan.co.uk/blog/mt.php/2009/05/16/white_privilege_and_the_white_convert

Why Are You a Muslim?, Amina Huntress http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/transformations_why_are_you_a_muslim1/

Who Am I and How Did I Get Here? - Reflections From An American Muslim, Mustafa Davis http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/who-am-i-and-how-did-i-get-here

Why the British are flocking to Islam’s call, Abdal Hakim Murad http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/why-the-british-are-flocking-to-islams-call

Women Friendly Mosques brochure, CAIR - Unanswered Questions of Women Friendly Mosques brochure, Shahed Amanullah http://www.patheos.com/blogs/altmuslim/2005/06/women_friendly_mosques_document_leaves_unanswered_questions/

The “X” Phenomenon: Reflection on the Resurrection and Commercialization of El-Hajj Mali, James Edward Jones http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the_x_phenomenon_reflection_on_the_resurrection_and_commercialization_of_el

Mohamed Zakariya: New Stamp Celebrates Eid, John Marlowe http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/zakariya_mohamed_new_stamp_celebrates_eid