If u are one, tell us what made u join islam?


NB: am nt against anyone's religion here. Am only curious to know.

chances are you will come across Igbo atheists easily than Igbo Muslim, it doesn't mean they don't exist

Yes and I islamised because of the uniqueness in prayer and worship in the Islamic faith.
I spent 30 yrs looking for spirituality in its pure form, ability to adore and beseech God directly one on one and always ask for forgiveness without any intercessor.
Born, baptised and confirmed Catholic boarding school youth. My problem with Catholicism was too many coded messages/parables and all knowledge rests with know it all priests.
Tried protestantism and evangelicalism, problem was too many denominations with different messages compounded by following varied men of God; political, occult, business pastors and thus confusion in my spiritual direction.
My Islamisation was unintended while working for the UN in Khartoum.
Brief. Having been posted from the US, I was a true womaniser (2 abandoned kids by 2 baby mamas) and confirmed a drunk (1btl hennessy alone type).
Being Christians in an Islamic country we were confined to the Hilton hotel (only place allowed to serve alcoholic drinks and hookers) in Khartoum, Sudan.
I became good friends with a Libyan family living Khartoum bariq and soon was regularly invited to leave the hotel and spend time with them at their home.
At the beginning, I accepted these visits outside the hotel with expectations of more freedom to groove late nights and stay away from my inquisitive colleagues in the confined hotel.
But my interaction with these practising (emphasis) Muslims daily completely exposed my wayward lifestyle and peaked my interest in the islamic way of life. A
Firstly I was fascinated by their adherence to prayers 5 times a day no matter what they were doing and also the whole family and their friends exhibited some kind of strange selfless kindness towards me (a traveller). I started noticing the homogeneity in the faith, everybody globally recites prayers in the same language, face the same direction during prayers at the same time (locally) and the most particularly was no interpretation of the holy Quran thus no intercessors, pastors, priests, deacon, elder, no hierarchy just humility towards God. I noticed that there were no thrones in their prayer grounds, everybody from kings, presidents or dignitaries sat on the floor during prayers.
I was told a good Muslim must adhere to the 5 pillars of Islam; Faith, Prayer , Charity , Fasting (30 days/yr ramadan) and Pilgrimage to Mecca (once in a lifetime). As a Christian i could do most of the above requisites so no drastic changes in my life if I became a Muslim except for the obvious abstinence from all the booze and chicks, this was a life changing moment and so I decided to become a Muslim, performed the Shahadah at the central mosque in Khartoum bariq.
I received a gift of the Holy quran in English from my friend and immediately started reading, my initial shock was the clarity, like reading prose, no secrets, no coded messages to be decoded, interpreted nor preached to me by some supposedly wiser person as it is done with the Holy bible. From the very first verse the Holy quran recites " This is a perfect book; there is no doubt in it; it is a guidance for the righteous... Who believe in the unseen and observe prayer, and spend out of what we have provided for them" (al baqarah 3-4). Just a straightforward guide of God's recommendations on how to live with unbridled faith, fervent prayers, selfless charity and even the intricacies of who and how to marry, how to divorce, dowry payments, how to write your will, how to do contracts, how to speak in public, women how to dress in the company of family or in public. This is the real guidance I had been searching for and I was immediately hooked. I memorised few prayers so I could pray alone and I was desperate to ask for forgiveness for the life i had lived. I stopped drinking and chasing women and practised sincerely to myself. My first ramadan fasting came along and I was in Ndjamena, Chad for another assignment and that was a blissful period that culminated this experience.
On a flight back to Nigeria i was sitting next to my igbo brother and listening to the quran recitations on my headphones. His question to me was " why you dey listen to those mad people music?" so he sparked this conversation and i replied " bros it's just faith like yours, not attached to any particular tribe (Hausa nor Yoruba), babariga clothing, nor beard..a Muslim will never be a suicide bomber, terrorist nor any of those ignorant things some engaged in, if you kill another, rape, kidnap, womanise, drink alcohol you are not a Muslim...Al qaeda, boko haram, isis of the world are not even connected to the islamic faith...forget the Allahu akbar they keep shouting...if you are a practising Muslim with knowledge of what you are reciting you will never ever commit those acts..you won't even hate because hatred or all the other vices are all contrary behavior for those who want paradise in Islam ".
Back home the difficulty was explaining to my family and the village people what this was all about. It took time for some to respect the difference but after some years of thorough introspection my family just commended the changes in the life of their child. No more mischievous behaviours, excessive drinking, outlandish behaviour, smoking, and no women drama. I became prayerful, thoughtful and selfless and a complete different and better human being. With my Christian majority family, I don't rub it in, no changes in dressing or hair/beard, i don't announce prayer times i just sneak away to my privacy five times a day. I still pray with family, accompany my mom sometimes to her big occasions in the Anglican church and nowadays there's better understanding that Islam is just another faith.
I believe that when one comes of age after life experiences and different understandings there should be an internal reflection on one's own spiritual direction and preparedness for what comes after this life on earth. I hear when people wrongfully say i was born a christian or muslim, we are all born human beings and then we follow our parents or we create our own path.
In all this, I don't know if I am right but the difference in my story is i have taken control of my spiritual life from human intercessors because I will be standing alone on that judgement day and no pastor nor priest will intervene on my behalf. I am chartering this life's voyage and searching for that eternal salvation in the islamic way and it is has been a splendid success.
Sorry i couldn't keep it brief but here's 's my experience and am Delta igbo from Iguachuku

beresponsible:
Islamised because of the uniqueness in prayer and worship. Spent 30 yrs looking for spirituality in a pure form in which i can speak to God directly, ask for forgiveness without any intercessor.
Born, baptised and confirmed Catholic boarding school youth. My problem with Catholicism was too many coded messages/parables and all knowledge rests with know it all priests.
Tried protestantism, problem was too many denominations with different messages compounded by following varied men of God; political, occult, business pastors thus confusion in my spiritual direction.
Islam was unintended while working for the UN in Khartoum.
Brief. Having been posted from the US, I was a true womaniser(2 failed marriages) and a boozer(1btl hennessy alone type). Being a Christian in an Islamic country we were confined to the Hilton hotel(only place allowed to serve alcoholic drinks).
Became friends with a Libyan family and soon was regularly invited to leave the hotel and spend time with them. At the time I accepted expecting more freedom to groove late nights and stay away from my inquisitive colleagues in the confined hotel.
But my interaction with these practising(emphasis) Muslims daily completely changed my perception of the Islamic faith.
Firstly I was fascinated by their adherence to prayers 5 times a day and also this whole family and their friends exhibited selfless kindness towards me (a traveller). I started noticing the homogeneity in the faith, everybody globally recites prayers in the same language, face the same direction during prayers at the same time (locally) and particularly no interpretation of the Quran. No intercessors, pastors, priests, deacon, elder, no hierarchy, everybody from kings, presidents or dignitaries sat on the floor during prayers, no thrones.
I was told to be a good Muslim adhere to the 5 pillars of Islam; Faith, prayer, charity, fasting (30 days/yr ramadan) and pilgrimage to Mecca (once in a lifetime). As a Christian i could do that so why not. I decided to be a Muslim, performed the Shahadah and during Ramadan my friend gave me the holy Quran in English. My initial reaction, the Quran was like reading prose, no secrets, no coded messages to be decoded by some pastor nor priest. In the very first verse it recites " This is a perfect book; there is no doubt in it; it is a guidance for the righteous... Who believe in the unseen and observe prayer, and spend out of what we have provided for them" (al baqarah 3-4). Just a straightforward guide of God's recommendations on how to live, who and how to marry, how to divorce, dowry payments, how to write your will, how to do contracts, how to speak in public, women how to dress in the company of family or in public.
I was hooked. I memorised few prayers so I could pray alone and I was desperate to ask for forgiveness for the life i had lived. I stopped drinking and chasing women and practised sincerely to myself.
On a flight back to Nigeria i was sitting next my igbo brother and listening to the quran recitations. His question to me was " why you dey listen to those mad people music?" so he sparked this conversation and i replied " bros it's just faith like yours, not attached to any particular tribe, clothing, nor beard..a Muslim is not a suicide bomber, terrorist nor any of those things portrayed by western media..in effect all i had witnessed was love, respect, honesty, integrity and kindness...also if you killed, raped, kidnapped, womanised, drank alcohol you are not a Muslim... The Al qaeda, boko haram, isis of the world are not even an iota of Muslims...forget the Allahu akbar they keep shouting...if you are a practising Muslim with knowledge of what you are reciting you will never ever commit those acts..you won't even hate because these are all contrary behavior for he who wants paradise in Islam ".
In the beginning it was difficult understanding to the family and the village. But after thorough introspection they have realised a change in their child. No more mischievous behaviour, drinking, smoking, and no women drama. I became prayerful, thoughtful and selfless and a complete different and better human being. With my Christian family, I don't rub it in, no changes in dressing or hair/beard, i don't announce prayer times i just sneak away to my privacy five times a day. I still pray with family, accompany my mom sometimes to Anglican and nowadays there's better understanding that mine is just another faith.
I believe when one comes of age after life experiences and understanding there should be reflection on one's own spiritual direction and preparation for what comes after. I don't know if I am right but the difference is i have taken control of my spiritual life from men of God and I charter this life's voyage my way.
Sorry i couldn't keep it brief but here's 's my experience and am Delta igbo from Iguachuku

I really love this ur story... Its quite adventurous.

sweetonugbu:
chances are you will come across Igbo atheists easily than Igbo Muslim, it doesn't mean they don't exist

Yeah... Dats y i asked the question.

All through my stay in the east i didnt come across igbo muslim

Are you Igbo Muslim?
The ones I know of are really having a hard time there from those severe bigots.One even had his shop burnt down for being Muslim.

BeLookingIDIOT:
Are you Igbo Muslim?
The ones I know of are really having a hard time there from those severe bigots.One even had his shop burnt down for being Muslim.

Who are the bigots??

Dey burnt his shop for being a muslim??

beresponsible:
Islamised because of the uniqueness in prayer and worship. Spent 30 yrs looking for spirituality in a pure form in which i can speak to God directly, ask for forgiveness without any intercessor.
Born, baptised and confirmed Catholic boarding school youth. My problem with Catholicism was too many coded messages/parables and all knowledge rests with know it all priests.
Tried protestantism, problem was too many denominations with different messages compounded by following varied men of God; political, occult, business pastors thus confusion in my spiritual direction.
Islam was unintended while working for the UN in Khartoum.
Brief. Having been posted from the US, I was a true womaniser(2 failed marriages) and a boozer(1btl hennessy alone type). Being a Christian in an Islamic country we were confined to the Hilton hotel(only place allowed to serve alcoholic drinks).
Became friends with a Libyan family and soon was regularly invited to leave the hotel and spend time with them. At the time I accepted expecting more freedom to groove late nights and stay away from my inquisitive colleagues in the confined hotel.
But my interaction with these practising(emphasis) Muslims daily completely changed my perception of the Islamic faith.
Firstly I was fascinated by their adherence to prayers 5 times a day and also this whole family and their friends exhibited selfless kindness towards me (a traveller). I started noticing the homogeneity in the faith, everybody globally recites prayers in the same language, face the same direction during prayers at the same time (locally) and particularly no interpretation of the Quran. No intercessors, pastors, priests, deacon, elder, no hierarchy, everybody from kings, presidents or dignitaries sat on the floor during prayers, no thrones.
I was told to be a good Muslim adhere to the 5 pillars of Islam; Faith, prayer, charity, fasting (30 days/yr ramadan) and pilgrimage to Mecca (once in a lifetime). As a Christian i could do that so why not. I decided to be a Muslim, performed the Shahadah and during Ramadan my friend gave me the holy Quran in English. My initial reaction, the Quran was like reading prose, no secrets, no coded messages to be decoded by some pastor nor priest. In the very first verse it recites " This is a perfect book; there is no doubt in it; it is a guidance for the righteous... Who believe in the unseen and observe prayer, and spend out of what we have provided for them" (al baqarah 3-4). Just a straightforward guide of God's recommendations on how to live, who and how to marry, how to divorce, dowry payments, how to write your will, how to do contracts, how to speak in public, women how to dress in the company of family or in public.
I was hooked. I memorised few prayers so I could pray alone and I was desperate to ask for forgiveness for the life i had lived. I stopped drinking and chasing women and practised sincerely to myself.
On a flight back to Nigeria i was sitting next my igbo brother and listening to the quran recitations. His question to me was " why you dey listen to those mad people music?" so he sparked this conversation and i replied " bros it's just faith like yours, not attached to any particular tribe, clothing, nor beard..a Muslim is not a suicide bomber, terrorist nor any of those things portrayed by western media..in effect all i had witnessed was love, respect, honesty, integrity and kindness...also if you killed, raped, kidnapped, womanised, drank alcohol you are not a Muslim... The Al qaeda, boko haram, isis of the world are not even an iota of Muslims...forget the Allahu akbar they keep shouting...if you are a practising Muslim with knowledge of what you are reciting you will never ever commit those acts..you won't even hate because these are all contrary behavior for he who wants paradise in Islam ".
In the beginning it was difficult understanding to the family and the village. But after thorough introspection they have realised a change in their child. No more mischievous behaviour, drinking, smoking, and no women drama. I became prayerful, thoughtful and selfless and a complete different and better human being. With my Christian family, I don't rub it in, no changes in dressing or hair/beard, i don't announce prayer times i just sneak away to my privacy five times a day. I still pray with family, accompany my mom sometimes to Anglican and nowadays there's better understanding that mine is just another faith.
I believe when one comes of age after life experiences and understanding there should be reflection on one's own spiritual direction and preparation for what comes after. I don't know if I am right but the difference is i have taken control of my spiritual life from men of God and I charter this life's voyage my way.
Sorry i couldn't keep it brief but here's 's my experience and am Delta igbo from Iguachuku

wao,this is interesting. may Almighty Allah continue to guide and protect you always amin