Welcome to the authentic, unedited diary of Sister Shannon, a 19-year-old former Catholic who embraced the beauty of Islam. Navigating the first few days after taking your Shahadah can be a whirlwind of profound peace, excitement, and sudden challenges—especially when it comes to telling family members.

Shannon kept a daily journal during her historic first week as a new Muslim revert. Whether you are a non-Muslim exploring the faith, a struggling new revert looking for solidarity, or a born Muslim wanting to understand the convert experience, her raw 7-day timeline offers deep inspiration.

Assalaamu Alaykum wa rahmatullaah wa barakaatuh

My name is shannon and i told everyone on muslimconverts.com that I converted a week ago Alhamdulillah and I wanted to thank everyone for their support and advice. I had kept a journal for a week now and I hope it will be beneficial for those who haven’t converted or who have and are struggling with telling their family. in sha Allah this will help.
your sister in Islam
shannon

From Catholicism to Islam: My Background

Before I embraced Islam, my emotional life felt like a constant roller coaster. I was born into a Catholic family. My grandmother used to take me to church, but when she passed away, my family stopped going to church.

About a year later, while working a retail job, I met a Muslim coworker who became a close friend. I began asking him questions about Islam, and the theology simply made complete sense to my intellect. I started reading an English translation of the Holy Quran. Four months before my official transition, I voluntarily began wearing the hijab and learned how to perform the daily Islamic prayers.

All that was left was for me to actually convert. I thought what was i waiting for?

when i actually converted a week ago i felt so happy, and since i discovered islam my personally is calm and more relaxed, i just feel very peaceful. i think it is wonderful for those who have discovered islam. alhamdulillah allah subhana wa ta’ala has guided me to islam. 

I already believed in my heart that there is only one true God, Allah, and that Muhammad is His final Messenger (Peace be upon him).

When i actually converted I felt so happy. Since discovering Islam I feel very peaceful. I think it is wonderful for those who have discovered Islam. Alhamdulillah Allah subhana wa ta’ala has guided me to Islam. 

Here is exactly what happened during my first seven days as a Muslim woman.

The 7-Day Revert Diary

🕌 Day 1 (Monday): Taking My Shahadah at the Masjid

Today I officially said my Shahadah! When my friend and I arrived at the local Masjid, the sisters warmly greeted us.

First we prayed Maghrib prayer and then we registered for a beginners Quran reading class. My decided to take the beginners Quran class with me to improve her pronunciation.

Being 19 years old in a class filled with 5 and 6-year-olds made me stand out, but I didn’t mind the girls are so cute, and besides i’m there to learn. my teacher is so nice and she is closer to my age. she was so happy when she found out i wanted to convert that day, all the sisters were so nice and kept giving me hugs.

We decided to do the conversion After the Isha prayers. We all lined up for prayer with my teacher being next to me, and I felt so happy being at the masjid.

After the Isha prayer, sister Ishraq took me to the imam and i said the shahada Alhamdulillah.

The I went back to the class and everyone congratulated me, I was so happy that I converted to Islam.

I had already read and English Translation of the Quran. learned how to pray and had been wearing hijab so converting was my final step and the great happiness that I cannot fully describe.

📝Day 2 (Tuesday): Praying at Work & Telling My Family

Today was my very first experience performing my daily prayers at the hair salon where I work. Even though my coworkers are not Muslim, they gave me incredible support.

Later, a few Muslim friends invited me over for dinner and gifted me a beautiful new hijab. I felt very welcomed and had lots of support. This makes converting to Islam so much easier.

Although I get a lot of support from my friends, my co-workers, and the masjid, I don’t get any from my family.

While my dad accepts my decision and told me he loves me regardless I know he wished I had not converted.

My mom has given me a cold attitude to make her disapproval clear. Previously I have talked to her about Islam many times. Sometimes she understood my wish to convert but I think she was hoping I would change my mind.

Islam teaches us to treat our parents with ultimate kindness and patience, so I am biting my tongue and In sha Allah (Allah willing) she will accept me the way I am and treat me the way she treated me before. I know she loves me.

📝 Day 3 (Wednesday): Small Victories & Community Blessings

Atmosphere at home felt slightly better today. My sister teased me like normal siblings do, and my mom seemed a bit calmer.

On the bright side, my Quran teacher emailed telling me how happy she was for me and once again congratulated me on my conversion. Also a supportive Muslim brother’s mother sent me a new prayer rug and his brother has offered to teach me Arabic.

📝 Day 4 (Thursday): Inspiring Born-Muslim Friends

Today was a good day. My Muslim friend invited me to her house for dinner. She and her family are all Muslim and she knows more about Islam more than I do but she’s more into American ways than what is right and doesn’t wear hijab. After a little while her parents asked me to help her become a better Muslim.

in sha Allah one day she will understand the importance of doing what Allah wants us to do.

🎂 Day 5 (Friday): Reuniting with Old Friends in Hijab

Today I met up with my old friends from beauty school to celebrate a birthday. Because they already knew I was was converting to Islam, none of them were shocked to see me arriving in my full hijab.

My friend Ashley gave me amazing support. She said she was happy for me and was glad that I was doing what I believed in and standing up for it.

To my total surprise, My friends sisters were at the restaurant too, and they also converts to Islam even though my friend is not a Muslim.

💔 Day 6 (Saturday): The Emotional Hardships of a Revert

Just when thought things were going good with my mom, I was wrong.

When I got home from work I ask why she has been barely talking to me.

She admitted that she feels like I am no longer part of her family and that I am abandoning our family traditions.

It is incredibly painful when your parents ignore everything you try to explain about the peace of Islam.

She is ignoring everything I have told her about Islam and this is making me very emotional but in sha Allah soon everything will be okay. I just keep praying to Allah to keep me on the straight path and to make me stronger.
 

📚 Day 7 (Sunday): Learning About Women’s Rights in Islam

To end my first week, my friends and I attended an incredible Islamic lecture at the Masjid detailing women’s rights in Islam compared to other major theological worldviews.

I never knew how bad other religions thought of women.

The masjid has Islamic lectures every Sunday, so In sha Allah I will go to many more of them. It was also very nice to be around other sisters, they were all really nice.
 

Best of all, my mom and I got along wonderfully today.

I feel overwhelmingly blessed that Allah guided me to this Islam. Ya Allah please guide all humanity to islam. Ameen

your sister in islam

shannon

Final Advice for New Muslim Reverts

If you are a new convert going through family hardships or feeling lonely during your first weeks, know that you are not alone. Talk to muslimconverts.com, Lean heavily on your local Masjid, hold onto your daily prayers, read Quran and show your non-Muslim parents the absolute best character possible. Make Dua for their guidance

May Allah keep all Muslims steadfast on the straight path, grant patience to our families, and guide humanity to Islam. Ameen.