[Iqra]

Assalam u alaykum,

If I sound ignorant I really don't mean to and I do apologise if I do (do forgive me), but when addressing new Muslims, do we say converts or reverts? I know the phrase should be Muslims and nothing else, but is it offensive to say converts...what is the difference?

...I do apologise for my ignorance

ANOTHER REQUEST, Could any New Muslims please put their story up (in detail) on how they came to Islam under the section "How I became a Muslim", please as it would help us all in terms of approaching non-muslims in the future (me especially), what made you see the beauty of Islam?

Jazakallah Khairun for all your help!

[Bas]

Assalam Alaikum Aaliya!

Good question. From my own experience I have been introduced to other muslims as a new muslim,a convert and a revert.All are fine by me.There's also another phrase sometimes used (not directly towards someone) and that is "covert" which means a convert/revert who has not declared they are muslim to everyone (it's not an insult or negative just descriptive),It's a process you have to experience to understand why it is not easy to tell everyone you come in contact with.In the case of work collegues for example I tell those I feel can deal with it,better not to get into arguments with people one has to deal with in a work environment.But I'm drifting into another topic here ,sorry... so yes all 3 ("converts" etc) are fine to use as far as I'm concerned.

[hamza_ali78]

Salaam,

Mashallah sister Aaliya ... that a great idea

W'Salaam

[Iqra]

Walaykum aslaam brother B as, jazakallah for that, I just didn't want to sound disrespectful as being born a Muslim doesn't make anybody a better Muslim than anybody else! I actually feel like I am not greatful enough for what I have been blessed with, alhamdulillah!

Now, in response to my request, will you be able to put your story up as an inspiration for the rest of us, pleeeease????

Jazakallah!

[rashida-adihsar-]

assalamu alaikum, im a convert and i dont have a problem with being called this. if Im called a revert, thats fine too. When reading of the early muslims who accepted the call of Islam, its always said that they were converted, not reverted, so I wonder when this term was first used? not to say its right or wrong, because i know why some thinks revert is more appropiate, just curious.

[Sahir]

As salaam wa alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu

Every human being is born a Muslim, it is their surroundings (i.e. family, society) that degrades them to a condition of disbelief (kufr). In the English language to convert is to alter something is appearance, etc.,. However, when the word revert is used, it implies that something has been restored to its original appearance, etc,. Thus, the word "revert" for those brothers and sisters who are first generation Muslims is preferred over the word "convert". Of course, this is simply being technical, there is nothing offensive about using the word "convert", or using it interchangeably with the word "revert".

Jazakhullah

Ya Muhammad Mustafa

[Obaidqadri]

ASSALAM-O-ALAIKUM salamz sis aliya thats a nice question and nice idea also to get the new non muslims know about it so that story wud really help for that thanks ASSALAM0ALAIKUM

[Sariya-Islam]

Assalam Alaikum,

Just as Brother Muhammed Abdul Qadir explained we believe that when Adam AS was shown his progeny, all the souls present proclaimed the unity of Allah, and so are muslim.

Hence when each child is born into this world it is a muslim and it is only the circumstance that surround him or her(importantly his Family) that make him/her a disbeliever. So when a person accepts Islam he/she reverts back to the original state that the soul was in. And so we prefer the word Reverts. For people who go from one state of disbelief to another convert is fine. But then both the words are used interchangably.

Br. BAs glad to meet another revert. My congratulations to you.