My name is: Ellie Belhaj
I am: 32 years old
I am from: United Kingdom
Before I became a Muslim, I was: Christened and had some Christian aspects in my life but overall I was unreligious. I did start becoming very spiritual a few years before I reverted.
I have been a Muslim for: 2.5 years
I became a Muslim because:
I had travelled to many Islamic countries and found the people there extremely welcoming, especially in Saudi Arabia where I got to see people pray and see people really practise Islam for the first time.
Seeing the scheduled prayers had a huge effect on me.
I started researching Islam at the start of the pandemic and found everything to be true and for the religion to be very comforting,
I took part in Ramadan, learnt to pray, kept learning and did my shahada a few months later alhamdulillah.
The best thing that has changed in my life is:
I feel very at peace with my life now I’m Muslim and I enjoy that Islam is a way of life, its a place to look to for advice and guidance.
I have also met so many wonderful people and sisters especially who are reverts and born-Muslims.
My advice to someone who is looking into Islam is:
To keep learning and to vary your resources. Remember there are different schools of thought for many topics, especially relating to living in a western world and be aware of people who tell you everything is haram and make too many judgements.
Don’t think you have to change everything in your life straight away. Take small manageable steps to make it sustainable and long lasting! Allah sees all your efforts and you’re not meant to be the ‘perfect Muslim’ before you revert or do everything correct straight away afterwards
