Nine Lessons for New Converts/Reverts to Islam

4. Be merciful

Converts are surrounded on all sides by frustrating experiences.  They have to deal with ignorance and intolerance from other faith based family and friends, and often have to deal with the same thing from the Muslim community.  Add a few bad relationships or failed love stories in and you have a recipe for some serious bitterness.

In extremely rare cases, you have American converts who are willing to kill other Americans in terrorist acts (wrongfully under the banner of the religion they claim to represent), as if they weren’t previously of another faith themselves (and a potential victim for such crimes) not too long ago.  Many times we get blind-sided by our negative emotions: fear, disappointment, anger, resentment, etc.  We become intolerant of the shortcomings we see in others that we don’t find in ourselves.  As converts we are in a unique position of having a blended identity that gives us different perspectives, but whatever shortcomings we see in others we should remember that we have our own as well.

The Prophet ṣallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam truly had no shortcomings, and his trademark in dealing with ignorance was mercy.  Instead of looking at others with distaste and judging them, we should feel sorry for them if they really have a problem and resolve to be good friends and a positive influences.  At no point should any person look at us, Muslim or not, and get the impression that we have our noses in the air.  We should focus on keeping a soft heart towards everyone, because the real enemies of Islam are few and far between (though they may get the most traction) and we should always maintain a soft heart towards our Muslim brothers and sisters.

Next: A minority-Muslim is difficult to be.