Reverts why did you choose Shia Islam?

[musa shakr]

I hear 85% of Muslims are Sunni. Why did you choose shiism?

Edited June 24, 2019 by musa shakr
spelling

[notme]

Because it is very logical.

Because Shia Islam encourages questions.

 

[musa shakr]

6 hours ago, notme said:

Because it is very logical.

Because Shia Islam encourages questions.

 

Any theological reasons like Ali should have been the first kalif?

 

[notme]

35 minutes ago, musa shakr said:

Any theological reasons like Ali should have been the first kalif?

 

Later, but not at first.

[Silas]

For the reverts: did you find it difficult to find a Shia community in your area? Was there any suspicion or reluctance from that community to accept you into their ranks?

 

[Akbar673]

Yup, definitely following this thread...those of us that were "born" into Shi'a Islam can learn so much more than we realize from this thread. To learn of the actions and choices that others made when they chose to follow the path of the Ahle Bayt (عليه السلام) is something that is invaluable to those of us who just "fell into" Shi'a Islam through no personal decision of our own (myself included in that group).

On a side note, I find the term "Revert" a bit misleading (and a bit beguiling by "born Shi'a" unfortunately). Personally, I consider any Shi'a, regardless of when they stepped on this path, to be my brothers and sisters, but that's just me. On the flip side, my Dad considers the term "Revert" to be considered a badge of honor, worthy of deferential respect, because it reflects someone who actively took the steps to choose to be Shi'a vs. someone who's just programmed to continue being Shi'a.

Looking forward to reading the responses...

Edited June 24, 2019 by Akbar673

[notme]

39 minutes ago, Silas said:

For the reverts: did you find it difficult to find a Shia community in your area? Was there any suspicion or reluctance from that community to accept you into their ranks?

I've been Muslim since 2004 and Shia since 2005, and I've never found a Shia community near me. I found the online presence of one community in a city where I used to live, but when I contacted them, they told me strangers were not welcome. After a while I stopped trying. I'm used to being alone anyway.

But I have always lived in a southern US small city or town. I'm sure the experience of urban dwellers is different.

[Akbar673]

5 minutes ago, notme said:

I've been Muslim since 2004 and Shia since 2005

What led to you choosing to become a Shi'a?

6 minutes ago, notme said:

I've never found a Shia community near me.

Small town?

6 minutes ago, notme said:

I found the online presence of one community in a city where I used to live, but when I contacted them, they told me strangers were not welcome.

That was an ignorant, and deplorable response for them to give. I'd like to be present when the Ahle Bayt (عليه السلام) ask them why they said that to anyone, leave alone a Shi'a. If its any consolation, my door is always open (if you're ever in Chicago, that is...).

[notme]

2 minutes ago, Akbar673 said:

What led to you choosing to become a Shi'a? 

Honestly, logic and the tradition of seeking knowledge. But what pushed me to do more research was some Sunni friends assuring me of the sahih-ness of a horribly mysoginistic hadith.

I realize now that we've got our share of horrific hadith too, but we're less likely to demand unquestioning compliance.

[ali47]

Their proofs can be proven from the reputable books of the Sunnis. If you study there is a clear attempt to fabricate and corrupt hadiths by Mu'awiyah ibn Abi Sufyan and his henchmen. From a theological point a view I could only find the answers from ahl al-Bayt on issues like injustice, free-will vs predestination etc. I also think it's generally a bit more peaceful and rational.. of course Shi'as have their own issues and debatable practices but that's just life.

Edited June 24, 2019 by ali47

[The Green Knight]

I was just a Muslim and one of my parent Shia. I used to debate with others and over the Qur'an during mid to late 90s. I had this idea in my head that to find the truth in the sects is extremely difficult. In my engineering university a few of the teachers, the ones with long beards treated me badly because my name begins with Syed and ends with Kazmi and it made them think I am Shia although I prayed with them like they did and all. I think God got me past a particularly zealous wahhabi teacher who taught surveying, did not even hear my viva voce and made me appear some times. Luckily another teacher sat in his place this once and the tradition was broken. Then in the early 2000s at a workplace a senior colleague (may he r.I.p) had this thing, that Wahhabi itching, and tried to assimilate me. But he sort of bad mouthed Imam Hussain (عليه السلام) in the process. I asked him for evidence, being engineers, we think in mathematical terms. He could not provide it. I was single so I started spending money on the earliest Islamic books like Tabari's history to name but one. I spent evenings scouring these books. Soon, after a few weeks I realized the truth was not difficult to find at all even though these books were translated by Deobandi Wahhabis and sometimes heavily distorted.

So basically what I did was read, and not dodge myself. Alhamdulillah I know it was the Creator Almighty who guided me taking mercy. I had the advantage of not fearing the social consequences so much as some of my relatives were Shia. But I think if someone prioritizes God then it doesn't matter even if the consequences become actually fatal. I kept having problems from fundamentalists in society who basically are not throat cutters nor much practicing but I guess its in their genes to rob blind anyone with different religion they got this habit after Pakistan was formed and they robbed all Hindu and Sikh here. And Shia they go out of the way to do some jihad making it difficult for them as much as they can. But truth be told, no hardship of this life matters when we account for the hereafter. Thousands of years from now no one will even remember the worst punishments and hardships of this life or how they enjoyed it because then everybody will be too busy with either enjoying the real stuff or too short on breath screaming in pain.

Edited June 24, 2019 by Darth Vader

[musa shakr]

3 hours ago, Silas said:

For the reverts: did you find it difficult to find a Shia community in your area? Was there any suspicion or reluctance from that community to accept you into their ranks?

 

The only community in the area is Nation Of Islam and I'm mostly white. they only accept black members. so I'm usually alone. Sometimes born Muslims think most reverts leave and go back to there old religion or to something new so there is a small amount of suspicion or reluctance to accept.

Edited June 24, 2019 by musa shakr
grammar

[notme]

15 minutes ago, musa shakr said:

The only community in the area is Nation Of Islam and I'm mostly white. they only accept black members. 

I actually got invited by an acquaintance to attend a NOI mosque, but I didn't go based on what I know of their beliefs. I look totally white and talk like an educated hillbilly. Probably some groups are more open than others.

[Mohammadi_follower]

54 minutes ago, musa shakr said:

The only community in the area is Nation Of Islam and I'm mostly white. they only accept black members. so I'm usually alone. Sometimes born Muslims think most reverts leave and go back to there old religion or to something new so there is a small amount of suspicion or reluctance to accept.

What are exactly the beliefs of these group? 

[Revert1963]

12 hours ago, musa shakr said:

Why did you choose shiism?

I don't know if I chose actually. I had an emotional reaction first time I read the Qur'an many years ago when I first looked into Islam. At that time it wasn't any particular sect and my view of Iran was still influenced by western media. Then I got away from it again for about 25 years, but then I all of a sudden had some experience that made me understand the evil of adultery. I slowly began to dress more modestly and stooped drinking alcohol. I have always been politically involved and the rise of racism and Islamophobia made me more sympathetic towards Muslims. The conflict in the Middle East eventually led me to sympathies with the Shia. Partly because Shias are on the receiving end of takfiri terrorism and also because of Iran's and Hezbollah's support for Palestine. (I don't like Wahabism and Zionism.) Being a "news junkie" I also became aware of tree female hijab wearing role models from alternative media that are Shia; Press TV news anchor Marzieh Hashemi, Lebanese journalist Marwa Osman and political commentator Catherine Shakdam. They all came across to me as highly competent, knowledgeable, intelligent and not at all oppressed. So when I heard someone had build a Shia mosque near me I decided to visit it. I then had the same emotional reaction that I had when I read the Qur'an the first time. Then I just knew that God had called me. I had been to Suni mosques before, but I didn't get the same feeling.

1 hour ago, Silas said:

For the reverts: did you find it difficult to find a Shia community in your area?

I wouldn't say that I have become a part of any community, but it wasn't difficult to find a mosque. The times I have been there people has been really friendly.

[musa shakr]

1 hour ago, Mohammadi_follower said:

What are exactly the beliefs of these group? 

There more similar to Sunnis than Shia and they believe that Yukob created white people in a scientific lab past that I don't much. some are racist some just want to support black people.

[Haj Ghasem]

Because of Sonni's own dacuments, which prove that Imam Ali should be khalif and Imam emidiatly  after the holy Profet.

You can see the book "Al-Morajeat"

المراجعات

[Ashvazdanghe]

Salam I think it can be useful 

https://www.shiachat.com/forum/topic/235060783-convert-whatsapp-group/?page=2&tab=comments#comment-3195847

https://www.shiachat.com/forum/topic/235061074-why-non-Muslim-usually-convert-to-Sunni-Islam-than-Shia-Islam/?page=9

https://www.shiachat.com/forum/topic/235002218-exposing-yassir-al-habib/?page=12&tab=comments#comment-3200605

https://www.shiachat.com/forum/topic/235058359-I-heard-some-Shia-don’t-accept-converts-as-Shia/?tab=comments#comment-3154475

https://www.shiachat.com/forum/topic/235060686-conversion-to-shiism/?tab=comments#comment-3191305

https://www.shiachat.com/forum/topic/235061501-temporary-marriage/?page=2

https://www.shiachat.com/forum/topic/235024400-new-revert-from-scotland/?page=2&tab=comments#comment-3206247

https://www.shiachat.com/forum/topic/235062163-the-failures-of-“born”-Muslims/?tab=comments#comment-3215093

https://www.shiachat.com/forum/topic/235024962-new-Shia-convert-from-Sunni/

https://www.shiachat.com/forum/topic/235025871-new-convert-to-Shia-Islam/

https://www.shiachat.com/forum/topic/235002543-revertconvert-to-Islam-new-to-melbourne/

https://www.shiachat.com/forum/topic/235002400-new-Shia-convert/

Interview with a convert to Shia Islam | "Islamic Pulse: a great learning tool"

https://www.mo.be/en/article/Shia-converts-brussels-we-lived-lie

https://www.al-Islam.org/seeking-straight-path-reflections-new-Muslim-diana-beatty/ appendix-if-you-decide-convert

https://www.islamquest.net/en/archive/question/fa1817

American Revert Story

 

Edited June 25, 2019 by Ashvazdanghe

[AbdulKarim313_Austin/Nola]

Alhamdulilah, 

Im not a “revert” and have disdain for this term. I was Sunni Muslim for most of my life. My mom is Sunni and my dad was Shia. They both converted to Islam in their youth. I considered myself Sunni Muslim because I wanted to practice the sunnah of Muhammad SAW and not for the show of support for the caliphs. I always preached that all Muslims should be united and one. This is before I knew the history of Islam after Muhammad SAW. 

My conversion to Shia Islam started from a dream. On the 19th of Ramadhan in the year 2000 I had a dream in which I was visited by Muhammad SAW and Ali (عليه السلام). 

This dream took place in some type of desert valley. Muhammad was around my age at the time early 20’s  and Ali seemed a little bit older perhaps 30’s. Muhammad was wearing a white shalwar Kamiz Pakistani style and Ali was wearing brown kamiz. I gave Muhammad the salaam and a hug and kiss to each cheek. He smiled and asked me if this is the way Muslims Greet each other in my time where I live and I replied yes. He smiled and said Masha'Allah. Ali (عليه السلام) was holding a little boy but I do not know who this little boy was. We were all standing onside of a black classic old school car that was a drop top sunroof which belonged to them. 

Anyway after this dream I decided to learn about Shia Islam. I started learning the history of Islam which a lot of black American Muslims don’t know. Another side nit is that I didn’t know about the significance of the 19th of ramadhan prior to this dream. An Iranian Muslim who happened to be at the masjid heard about my dream and told me of the significance of the date. 

Alhamdulilah, this is when my life as Shia Muslim officially started.  

 

[Diaz]

I was born with a family who are not religious at all. The only thing I did was praying life Shia’s. But this year, alhamdulillah I proud to say I’m a pro Shia. I choosed to be Shia because with all the evidence and prove they have in both Sunni and Shia book I can’t agree more that Shia follow the Prophet ((صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم)) religion. Plus I’ve never seen any Shia’s saying that Sunnis worship Umar or called as carpet worshippers just like how Anti-Shia called us Imam Ali (عليه السلام) worshippers and stone worshippers. A lot of anti-Shia’s said things that is not true about Shia’s.

Edited June 25, 2019 by Diaz

[Ashvazdanghe]

Reborn-Polish woman from devout Catholic family embraces Islam

 

[Isaam]

3 hours ago, Ashvazdanghe said:

Reborn-Polish woman from devout Catholic family embraces Islam

 

I’ve watched 2.5 episodes of that TV series within the past day because I’m so bored 

[OrthodoxTruth]

I knew this brother personally, his story is worth sharing as well. He explains in details why he chose Shia Islam over Sunnism;

 

Edited June 27, 2019 by OrthodoxTruth

[HakimPtsid]

Two basic reasons:

1. Shi'ism directly matched what the Qur'an actually said to me, in every respect. (also a little wave to Sufism there), so did the notion of successors through the family which open up the inner nature of the Qur'an. It checks out wholly to what the Qur'an says about previous Prophets and the nature of Revelation, theology/metaphysics, philosophy etc.

2. Sunnism gave me cognitive dissonance when I explored it early on and my interactions with Sunnis (before I even learnt about the distinction between Sunnis/Shia) made me resent them. And the less I say about the Salafi/Wahhabi portion, the better.