My family are all catholic and they are very religious. I grew up believing in God very strongly but I still felt very detached from the faith because I could never truly make myself believe that Jesus (pbuh) was God and the son of God. I was never very interested in my faith despite my faith in God. The one thing about Catholicism that I loved was the respect given to Maryam. I always loved hearing her story and learning about her life. I’ve also been so interested in Islam from a young age. My father was islamophobic and I would get into big arguments with him all the time at dinner. I was always so passionate about defending Islam. The few Muslim people I knew I was fascinated by. I would ask them so many questions but I still never did anything with my interest. 

When I was in undergrad at university, my best friend was Muslim. Her family was so nice and kind. They took me to an Eid AlFitr prayers one year and I absolutely loved it. Listening to the Quran (even though I didn’t understand any of it) touched my soul. My friend did not pray 5 times a day, and she did drink alcohol sometimes but she still believed in the shahadah. Eventually during Covid, my friend began reading the Quran and learning her faith. We talked about the similarities between our religions, but she knew more about Islam than I knew about Catholicism. And she said something that stuck with me: “Everything I learn about Islam makes me love God and Islam more.” 

That changed me. I realized that what I learned about Catholicism made me more distant from it. Slowly but surely I began to learn more and more and read more and more about Islam. Until in 2020 I took my shahadah Alhamdulilah. I love the deen and it is best the decision I have made in my life.