Written by Theresa Corbin
Of all the things our friends and families could get into, we in the West seem to fear Islam the most. Which is pretty dumb because as someone who has drug addicts and criminals as family members, I can tell you there are much, MUCH worse things (and converting to Islam is NOT a bad thing, fyi).
With so many people in the West converting to Islam, “concerned” citizens have started making claims that halal meat, learning Arabic words, or even eating falafel turns people into Muslims (whatever turning into a Muslim means?! as if you become a vampire). Such claims are beyond absurd, ignorant, and seriously offensive.
But, satire aside, there is a certain paranoia in the West that someone you know might become a Muslim. So in order to calm fears, I have compiled a list of symptoms that someone might display if/when they start to contemplate choosing Islam for their life. Beware! This is pretty tame stuff.
1. Not Eating pork
Sure, sure it’s bad for your cholesterol and you need to bring down your blood pressure, but if the guy next to you at lunch doesn’t order pork … He might be thinking about becoming a Muslim!
2. Ditching toxic people
I guess it could be just a sign of maturity if the one you love finally breaks up with the loser boy/girlfriend or ditches the drug dealer side kick. But why chance it? They could be converting to Islam!! The horror!
3. Becoming more respectful to parents
Golly Gee! Your loved one might have finally realized all that their parents had to put up with just to raise them. But, if that same loved one becomes “irrationally” respectful of their parents, why not suspect that the creeping Shariah of Islam has something to do with it? A chilling thought.
4. Being more modest in all matters
Have you noticed your friend or family member stopped twerking in booty shorts, stopped cursing so much, or even stopped claiming they are God’s gift to anything? You wouldn’t be remiss if you suspected Islam was sneaking into their hearts. How dare they!
5. Stopped being two-faced
If your guy or gal pal is tired of talking cr@p about people behind their backs and actually wants to talk about something real, beware! She/he might be turning Muslim. Make sure they haven’t been slipped some halal meat!
6. Giving in charity
If someone in your family decides to start giving to the homeless, even though it is illegal in your city, you might have a future Muslim on your hands. Let the outrage begin!
7. Becoming more patient
Did you yell at your loved one and they just hugged you? Weird behavior, right? It might be time to ask them if they have been reading the Quran in secret. You might have a convert on your hands. The humanity!!
8. Being kinder to everyone
Have you noticed your friend/family member treating people … like … better … like with something that looks like what used to be called kindness … but now its known as weakness. That kindness might not be weakness at all, but an attempt to beautify themselves for God. You might have a Muslim on your hands. Alert the authorities!
9. Becoming more affectionate
Did your sister, brother, or child just tell you -out of the blue- that they love you?! Strange things are happening. They might be coming down with a infectious case of Islamic behavior. Call the doctor!
10. Being less judgemental of others and more critical of themselves
Has your loved one turned their criticism inward? Have they started saying things like, we don’t know what she has been through, or I’ve done stupid things myself, when someone is being judge by others? Hmmm, sounds like the introspection of a Muslim. How dare they?!
But here is the kicker. Even if your fears are realized. And you have a family member or friend who is converting to Islam, you can still love them. And they will still love you! ❤
Up next: A look at the signs someone is becoming a radical/extremist/jihadi. Now THAT is a different matter all together and something to actually be concerned with.
Follow us (upper right of the page). Email us (islamwich@yahoo.com). Like our face with your face on Facebook (facebook.com/islamwich). Tumble with us on Tumblr (islamwich.tumblr.com). Pin with us (pinterest.com/islamwich). Follow us on twitter (@islamwich).
Like the post, share it, pin it, comment on it, and/or do whatever social media magic it is that you prefer. Find out more about us in the understandably named “About Us” page and browse other posts in “Table of Contents”.
islamwich 
super/
fayaz
Sent from Windows Mail
LikeLiked by 2 people
Great and incisive information. Thank you so much. I got enlightened.
LikeLike
So glad you found it informative! Thanks for reading.
LikeLike
I noticed all of these things in myself even before shahada. This is like a list of all the things and behaviors I wish to embody. I really appreciate you taking the time to blog and to write this post. Jazakallakhayr!!! Shukran jazeelan!
LikeLiked by 1 person
MashaAllah! Isn’t it amazing how Islam has such a wonderful power to transform us for the better? It is good to have a sister like you here commenting on your journey. Wayakum. Please don’t be a stranger. Asalamu Alaikum!
LikeLike
Taking the liberty to welcome another sister on Islamwich.
JazakAllah, we are growing 🙂
LikeLike
Very beautiful and informative article. Thank you for everything you are doing here, it really helps me a lot and brightens my day! 🙂
LikeLike
SO glad to hear that I can reach someone and brighten anything. Thank you for the kind words and don’t be a stranger.
LikeLike
I couldn’t help but notice that you brought up the positive things that represent the true Christian, you might find my comment offensive to you and you might delete it, but I have lived among Muslims almost all my life and I do not find them to be what you have described them to be here. Some are very nice, I admit. But your insinuations that a non-muslim does not respect his or her own parents is ludicrous, I have had some Muslim friends I was ashamed to call them friends, just because they were guys they were bossing their mothers or sisters around, just because they were females.
Ms. Corbin, I appreciate your thoughts and inputs on Islam, but it does not make sense for someone who has never lived in a Muslim country, such as you, to paint Islam in such a beautiful way. I wish you would live among true Muslims in a true Muslim country to know what true Islam is all about. I have listened to your interview on “Talking in Memphis”, and I cannot say I was impressed.
Most likely you will delete my comment, because, I noticed you only keep the positive ones. I guess if you delete it, it will prove my point, and only you will know I was right and the rest will stay deceived.
If you decide to keep my comment posted, I would appreciate a response, or maybe a response in private if you feel more comfortable.
LikeLike
Yes, Islam and Christianity have a lot of the same values. I am glad you caught on to that. That was my only insinuation. Not that Christians don’t respect their parents. Some do and more don’t. But as you pointed out, people who call themselves followers of a religion don’t always act accordingly.
I have lived all my life among many many Christians (not all) who act as if their religion only exists on Christmas and Easter. The rest of the year they do whatever their whims tell them they should do. Do I believe these people are representative of Christianity? No, not at all. Do I believe that all Christians are like this? Not at all. But if we applied the logic you applied to Islam and the Muslim to Christianity and Christians, sadly this would be Christianity.
Also if you lived in a minority Christian country would that make you any less knowledgeable of your faith, or any less Christian? Would your faith hinge on the amount of fellow Christians around you? I should say not. So why is that this logic is applied to me? I don’t need to live in a Muslim majority country where Islam is no where to be found to know my religion. I don’t need to see what the Muslims are doing that is contrary to Islam to know if I am following my religion correctly. I do not defend Muslims who act as if their religion only exists in Ramadan and Eid. They are not my concern. My concern is with researching the verified sources of Islam and explaining it to people who have a warped view of Islam, be that to a Muslim or non-Muslim.
Secondly, I do not delete all messages that are critical of me and my religion. I have been known to delete messages that are just hateful and disgusting. But I have been blessed lately to only receive warm and friendly comments. Feel free to peruse the past two and a half year of posts in which I have addressed critics.
Finally, you don’t have to be impressed with my interview. People are often unimpressed when they are not being validated. I did the interview with the intention to inform. You can be informed if you so choose. But perhaps you already knew everything I talked about. But my question is, if you had nothing nice to say about it, why say anything at all? Wouldn’t that be the Christian thing to do?
It saddens me that you assumed the worst about my insinuations. I never meant to offend anyone.
LikeLike
As salamu alai kum. Hahahaha.. superb!
LikeLike
Corbin, as salamu alai kum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. I am absolutely mesmerized by your blog posts. You are an intelligent, witty, sensitive and committed muslim alhamdulillah. I am so happy to have come across you. You truly contribute for many reverts to Islam (like me) and the more I read from your page, the more I feel a sense of ease as a muslimah.
I love you for Allah’s pleasure. 🙂 May you always be safe and blessed.
LikeLike
May the one for who’s same you love me for, love you. And I must say that I love you for Allah’s sake as my sister. May Allah make me better than the people think. Jazakum Allah Khair for your seriously kind words. Sometimes I feel like I am not reaching anyone. I can not tell you how amazing it is to hear my writing brings ease to you. xoxo
LikeLiked by 1 person
Asslamo alikom dear sister Corbin. I am thrilled to run into you. Thank God for people like you who are sincere in their faith and know how to clear the points for others.
LikeLike
Walaikum Asalam Ragaa, it is good to have you here with us on islamwich. Jazakum Allah Khair for your kind words. May Allah give us long lives full of good deeds that will be accepted of us. Don’t be a stranger.
LikeLike
Another feature in the cap for our resourceful and amazing sister Corbin. I envy your writing style, I could never write with a dose of humor and sensitivity. Amazing, just amazing, MashAllah! 🙂
LikeLike
Jazakum Allah Khair. Living in a former French New Orleans, if you don’t know the language of sarcasm you can’t communicate. It has gotten me in tons of trouble in others places I have lived. Lol. So glad you enjoy it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Loool. BTW, I sent goodies your way and hope you got them?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on | truthaholics and commented:
With so many people in the West converting to Islam, “concerned” citizens have started making claims that halal meat, learning Arabic words, or even eating falafel turns people into Muslims. Such claims are beyond absurd & ignorant.
But here is the kicker. Even if your fears are realized. And you have a family member or friend who is converting to Islam, you can still love them. And they will still love you!
LikeLike
Reblogged this on cavalierzee.
LikeLike
Great diagnosis for the symptoms of spiritual cure, my Allah SWT makes these symptoms in every American family. The photo of the mother and daughter holding signs, speaks volumes of love and acceptance
JZK sister
Osman
LikeLike
Asalamualaykum sister! As usual; I love your articles. Mashallah! Keep them coming!
LikeLiked by 1 person
LoL LoL LoL
MashaAllah, sister!
Rarely does one find some one who is educated, enlightened, fair, balanced, VERY involved, very sensitive and with a positive sense of humor!
Having all that coming from a female? Oh… That makes me proud 😉 (well that was tooooo feminist (as if I am not (well, as if I am (well, this monologue has to end!))))
So glad I found you, sister…
I am looking forward to your next post! … 🙂
LikeLike
Mama, Jazakum Allah Khair for your kind and encouraging words. May Allah make me like what you think I am. 😉 Looking forward to your next comment! ❤
LikeLike
mmmm… I wrote a comment yesterday… do you have comment moderation or did my mobile go crazy when I clicked submit?
Any ways…
Great article, great subject, and the first photo is just HILARIOUS! 😀
I am so glad I found you… and will go explore your other articles. Expect more comments from me today! 😀
LikeLike
I am glad you found me too. Sorry my wordpress is dumb sometimes (ok, a lot of times) and spams amazing people like you.
LikeLike
Ok your blog swallows comments looool
LikeLike
It was thirsty. 😉
LikeLike