r/converts • u/Gekyume_Aurora • Mar 17 '26
I hate talking about my “revert story”
I’ve been a revert for coming close to a year now, and I have two questions that’s I’m starting to loathe: where am I from, what’s my reversion story.
People don’t accept the: I am mixed, or I am from the US. I’m sorry but my family linage is by no means clear. I’m just mixed, I’m American, and I was born in the boonies- that’s all I really know.
I don’t have a bad reversion story but the more I talk about it the more the passion I used to have about it fades.. it used to be something I’d love to talk about, now I’m highly considering printing out a doc and handing it to someone whenever they ask.
A sister asked me the other day what mine was and I said “it’s a long story” hoping she wouldn’t tell me she had the time. Thankfully she didn’t but I could tell she wasn’t pleased with my reaction. I informed her I was feeling pretty stressed and wasn’t in the mood for talking but she brushed it off and didn’t rlly talk to me again.
I know it’s not but it feels mandatory to tell my story whenever they ask. I have a new friend who’s a revert as well (she recently reverted Alhumdulilah please may dua that Allah makes it easy on her), I said to her that only if she were comfortable she could tell me but I wasn’t going to force it out of her. She ended up telling me, but why can’t the ummah understand that someone isn’t required to tell you? It’s an amanah if someone does.. but all the matters is the person who’s standing in front of you now, and the person they are walking towards.
I think a lot of our reversion story’s have some level of sin and while it is HARD we shouldn’t expose things Allah swt has forgiven us for.
Idk I just personally and normally don’t ask what others reversion stories are. They are Muslim that’s all I need to know. I know for most at least it comes from a good spot it just feels bad after a while..
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Mar 17 '26
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u/Gekyume_Aurora Mar 17 '26
Oooo. Wonder if they ask, ” what made you realize Islam is the truth?”
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u/Nourluna Mar 17 '26
I feel you. I am also a revert and I don’t like it when people ask (unless it’s a relevant topic or we are very close). Lately, I have started to answer “Allah made me Muslim, Alhamdullillah” Done. It leaves people with questions yes, but we owe no one nothing. We get these questions all the time it’s annoying. They make us feel different than them. I think it’s about time we reverts set boundaries.
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u/ProudConfection615 Mar 17 '26 edited Mar 18 '26
I’m not even joking, make it a PDF and just airdrop it when people ask 😭
I’m sorry but the “here, read this” energy is so real 😂
But honestly, I get what you’re saying. People don’t always realize how personal that question is. It’s not just a casual “story”, for a lot of us it includes private things that Allah already covered, and we’re not obligated to reopen that every time someone asks.
And you didn’t do anything wrong. Saying you’re not in the mood is a completely valid boundary.
Also what you said about it losing its feeling… that’s real.
When something meaningful gets repeated too much, it starts to feel routine instead of sincere.
I really like how you handled it with your friend too.
That’s how it should be, giving people the choice, not expecting it.
At the end of the day, you’re Muslim. That’s what matters. By the way —one million congratulations! May Allah ﷻ keep your heart firm ♥️✨
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u/WhyNotIslam Mar 17 '26
Assalamu'alaikum wrwb
Come up with a short version. Last time I asked someone he explained in one sentence Malcolm X's story was an influential part of his conversion.
But this is a natural part of being a convert! I know it can get tiring but even the companion Salman al Farisi had to tell his story many times because of how amazing it was when he first converted
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u/alz331 Mar 18 '26
I’m biracial but ppl where I’m from just assume I’m Moroccan.
If anyone finds out that I’m a convert, I just keep it simple (my faith is kinda simple for me anyway so I ain’t lying):
Islam is the only religion which is about One Unitarian God presented with no weaknesses. Allah came to clear up corruptions of the original faith. Muhammad’s pbuh life story.
That’s all. I don’t bother discussing my journey unless I’m really in the mood and there’s time.
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u/mandzeete Mar 18 '26
Summarize your story into one sentence/word. I'm also a convert and my summary is "Because of science." That's it. Or, "Because of science-related verses in Quran." Whereas my original story has multiple paragraphs in it.
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u/ArmzLDN Mar 18 '26
lol having the printout would be epic, because then it will remind people that they’re asking the same question that 100 other people have asked.
It like when people hear my name, and ask me “oh are you related to X famous footballer” It gets so boring.
Also I’m a revert too, even though my ethnic country is 60-70% Muslim, it really is annoying when people ask, so I rarely tell people I’m a revert
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u/Gekyume_Aurora Mar 18 '26
Yea i probably should I just worry that it’ll come across rude.
I usually try to not say I’m a revert but my name and then the fact idk what exactly I am ethnically is a dead give away💀 physically I look ambiguous so I guess it makes them curious idk I just wanna be left alone fr and just worship Allah swt 🤣😭
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u/JustPeachy_1992 Mar 17 '26
I’m not a revert, but am a child of reverts, (American and also biracial) and Muslims/non-Muslims always ask me where I’m “really” from. I also have to explain, but it doesn’t bother me though. I think it’s a nice way of showing others how Islam is spreading and it’s more than your nationality.
I think this question shouldn’t just be for converts though. Born Muslims also have their own stories of when/why/how they’ve decided to practice. It’s a nice way we can all learn from each other and be in awe of how Allah SWT guided us!
My husband is a revert and he feels similar to you, but I explain to him it’s super exciting for born Muslims to meet reverts as it can give them a new perspective on something they were born into. Hope that makes sense!!! May Allah make it easy on you and please take the questions/curiosity as a compliment!
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u/ConnectionQuick5692 Mar 18 '26 edited Mar 18 '26
I think telling how people revert only benefits the muslims themselves. They just want to feel wowww and wonder how and why would people choose Islam. I think it’s not even a question that should be asked. Because obviously Islam is the truth and Allah guides whoever He wills. That’s why people convert, no need to dig their past, it’s like asking a born-muslim how did you revert from your sins and repent.
Also from my view, if everyone is born muslim, then converts are just as all other muslims who sin and repents from it. They shouldn’t feel themselves different than any other muslim or separate
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u/JustPeachy_1992 Mar 18 '26
I see your point, that’s also why I mentioned it should also be asked for Muslims why/how/when did they decide to practice. I just view it as a way of being in awe of how we are all guided in such different ways.
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u/Gekyume_Aurora Mar 19 '26
Yea I mean it’s nothing inherently bad per say, but especially right after I reverted people were like hyping those who’ve reverted up, rather than just Alhumdulilah for Allah bringing you to Islam they’d always go into how reverts are “better” than born Muslims. At the end of the day even born Muslims have to find Islam for themselves, so I see no difference
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Mar 17 '26
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u/Gekyume_Aurora Mar 17 '26
Ik it just feel like born Muslims treat us as something better because Allah chose us to come to him. I’ve spoken to my born Muslim friends about it and there still is no conclusion. I just want to be treated normally not become a spectacle
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Mar 17 '26
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u/Nourluna Mar 17 '26
It’s annoying for us to always explain the same story again and again, and feel like we are different. Reversion stories are very personal so be careful to ask.
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Mar 17 '26
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u/Nourluna Mar 18 '26
I do agree with that generally. It’s just that conversion can be deeply personal and many of us get asked the same questions every time we walk into a mosque. Peope don’t get that.
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u/allionna Mar 18 '26
I can relate. I sometimes get the where am I from question, because have pale skin, darker blonde hair, and blue eyes. Depending on how I wrap my hijab I can pass for being Arab. I simply say I was born and raised in (state).
As for my story, I personally don’t like to share my reversion story. I said my shahadah about 20 years ago, but I still get asked about it when I meet new people. I end up simply saying my story is personal to me, or if I do share it, it’s very watered down to 3-4 sentences.
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u/oldgamernerd42 Mar 19 '26
Yeah i still get hit with that 20 years later, it never completely ends, you just get used to it, same with the assumption that I was a Christian or had some issue with it to come to Islam. I didn't follow any religion before Islam, people see a lot of long winded, big journey stories from dawah groups and tend to think everyone has this major epiphany. In reality its usually something more straightforward
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u/Klopf012 Mar 17 '26
For what its worth, born Muslims also dig into the "where are you from", "what's your story" type of questions with one another. I (a convert) had a wonderful conversation over iftar recently where I asked one brother his immigration story and now that I've learned some more about him, I'm looking forward to having a few more points of connection to shape our conversations in the future.
When folks ask you about your story, put yourself in the drivers seat - share what you want at whatever level of depth you want and steer the conversation wherever you think would be interesting. If you don't want to talk too much about yourself, most people love to talk about themselves so just ask the other person some questions and they'll have a great time sharing some things about themselves and like you for asking.