Whether a convert or someone new to a community, we have all had our strange, funny, or awkward moments. Below is a list made by Kelly K. of Chicago Muslim Convert about experiences some of the sisters from our Chicago Convert community have experienced. Please give it a read, have a laugh, relate to the experiences, and feel free to share your own awards moments with us! To read more of our stories please visit Our Voices.
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Top 10 Awkward/Funny Moments Most Converts Will Experience 1. During Taraweeh prayer in Ramadan, not knowing you don’t immediately bow in the last rakaat (cycle) of the witr prayer because du’a is about to be read. And so you do. And nobody else does. Awkward! 2. Having that awkward moment when a fellow Muslim of the opposite gender gives you “that look” when you attempt to shake their hand, and you have to awkwardly retract your hand and try to casually resume conversation. That’s when you learn that many Muslims don’t shake hands with people of the opposite gender. 3. Being around Muslims the first time and they start saying things in Arabic like “Assalamu Alaykum” and you’re like, “Umm, no speaky Arabicy”. 4. Females: The first time you are given a ‘Muslim Make-over” to go to Jumu’ah (the Friday prayer). For me it was like a tornado of fabric being thrown all around me, women shaking their heads “this simply won’t do…do you have a longer winter coat” > “On me? Are you asking if I brought several winter coats with me to mosque? No!” > “Not a problem. We will find a way to make you acceptable.” 5. Females: Your first encounter with a man who will not make eye contact with you while having a dialogue in public. You keep trying to move your head to go into his line of sight, and he keeps moving his eyes or head in any direction away from where you are until he can only look at his feet or the clouds. That’s when you learn about the ‘divert your eyes’ passage regarding interactions with the opposite gender. 6. Females: When wearing hijab…Finding efficient ways to convince cab drivers that you are not Desi. “No, I don’t have any Palestenian/Indian/etc. in my bloodline..Really, I’m Caucasian…No, neither do my parents….Honestly, I’m Caucasian…(sigh) No, neither did theirparents…Yes, we are sure. Yes, we are sure. Positive!” 7. Before “coming out of the closet” as a Muslim, trying to not let others reach the conclusion that you are anorexic during Ramadan since you never seem to be eating. Also, finding creative reasons to give as to why you are not eating, can not do brunch with friends, drink coffee during ‘coffee breaks’, etc. Going to a friend’s house for a dinner party, only to realize EVERYTHING is made with pork/bacon/sherry. 8. Explaining to your parents what a ‘Matrimonial Dating Site’ is; Having to broach the sex topic with your parents when you explain that no, Muslims don’t have premarital sex. Yes, even if we’re are going to get Married. Yes I am attracted to him. 9. For the first time in your life, having to ask someone you are pursuing for marriage (1) if they have a Green Card or are a Permanent Resident of the USA, and (2) (females) if they intend on marrying multiple wives at any point. Those words are very very hard to get out of one’s mouth! 10. The first time you drive up to a mosque with the windows down and the music blaring, wondering why you are getting all those dirty looks. And then you learn that some Muslims believe music is haram (forbidden). |
