A Converted Muslim’s Letter to Her Parents

I love you. I know we don’t see each other as much as i would like; I just wanted to make sure you knew that.

Mom:

Things have changed over the years, both big and small. Things you’ve been proud of as well as things you were disappointed with or didn’t accept at first. You were always my provider and inspiration from a young age. As a single mother of three, you worked hard to make sure we had the necessities needed to survive. Now that I have two little ones of my own, I can’t begin to imagine all the hardships you endured.

I can truly, wholeheartedly appreciate all you’ve ever done for us. I will forever be grateful to the one and only mother I will ever have. Even though some of my views may be different now and hard to understand, you taught me how to be a good, respectable woman. My faith has been strong from the beginning because of your guidance, just not with the one you would have wanted.

I know you’re still disappointed and even worried with my choices and the way I dress now. It’s understandable to be unwilling to accept and to fear what is foreign to you, but I hope I’ve been able ease your concerns. I wish I could spend more time with you and show you how things really are, to explain why I do what I do. Mothers are important figures in my faith, and I wholeheartedly believe that.

Dad:

Only ever seeing you a handful of times throughout my whole life, I never knew you as well as I would have liked. What I did remember from you, though, was how passionate you were in your faith. You had many problems that I only ever heard of from my mom and sisters: alcohol, gambling, and domestic violence being the main ones. I don’t remember anything myself. I was always oblivious and never questioned anything. You were always so kind and enthusiastic, I never would’ve guessed you were the same person everyone else described. But of all the things I should have hated you for, it was how you always preached your faith and only talked about religion.

I was young and naïve, I just didn’t understand how important it could be to some people. Ironically enough, I feel like the strength in my faith now is based on how I remember you teaching us. You were the first one to accept me and my decision to follow Islam.

I’ll always regret not reaching out to you, checking up on you. I wish there was something i could do to help you because you always seemed to be struggling alone. Most might have nothing good to say about you, but I have learned to forgive. I hold no ill feelings towards you. Though I grew up with a father figure, I still reserve the title “Father” for you, even if it’s just by name, though the majority would disagree. It’s been roughly four, almost five years since then. I hope you’re doing well.