Finding faith. Finding my way.

How it began

I did not grow up in a Muslim family. I grew up in Hungary, where Islam was not part of my everyday life. When I was around thirteen, I became friends with Arab people, and I started noticing the way faith appeared in their lives. I was curious about how they treated others, how they spoke about God and why their religious teachings mattered so much to them. I began asking questions—not because anyone was telling me what to believe, but because I genuinely wanted to understand. My first lessons were conversations and YouTube videos. Later, people close to me helped answer questions, but the decision to embrace Islam was always mine. I kept learning for years. On the last Friday of Ramadan, I made my shahada. I did not suddenly become a different person that day; it was the beginning of learning how to live with a faith I had been exploring for a long time.

A question can be the beginning of a journey.

What I wish people understood

Coming from Hungary, I know that some people hear the words “Arab” or “Muslim” and immediately think of frightening news stories. I wanted to look beyond those headlines. Arab is a cultural and linguistic identity; Muslim describes a religious faith. They are not the same thing. Muslims come from all over the world, and Arab people have different religions and beliefs too. Of course, no community is made up of perfect people. My point is not that everyone I met was kind, or that difficult experiences do not exist. My point is that it is unfair to judge millions of people by the actions of a few. I would rather invite you to ask questions, meet individuals and learn what Islam actually teaches before deciding what you think.

A headline is not a whole community.

The changes nobody sees in a photograph

For me, embracing Islam also meant thinking about habits that had always felt normal. Christmas is a familiar family celebration in Hungary, so questions about family traditions are not just theoretical—they can be emotional. Then there were everyday details: checking ingredients, avoiding pork, thinking differently about clothes and learning what is appropriate for prayer. I never liked pork very much anyway, but making a conscious choice is different from simply avoiding a food you dislike. Some changes are easy; others require conversations, patience and time. I am still learning, and I do not want to pretend I have every answer. If your family follows different traditions, kindness and respectful communication matter. For specific religious rulings, ask someone qualified who understands your circumstances.

Some changes happen quietly.

Clothes, hijab and finding your way

Clothing is one of the first things people ask me about. From the outside, it can look like a single rule or a dramatic overnight transformation. In reality, there are several conversations here: modesty, what is worn during prayer, cultural styles such as the abaya, and the headscarf. An abaya is a style of loose outer garment common in some places; it is not the only way Muslim women dress. The hijab is connected to religious ideas about modesty, but women’s clothing choices and circumstances differ. I am not here to judge what another woman wears. I want to talk openly about the questions that come up when your wardrobe and your values begin to change. I also had to rethink my artificial nails because I was learning about wudu and making sure water reaches the areas that must be washed. That may sound like a tiny detail, but for a beginner these small questions are often the most practical ones.

If you are curious, start here

You do not need to know everything before you begin learning about Islam. Start with the central belief in one God (Allah), the role of Prophet Muhammad, and the Quran. The five pillars offer a simple framework: the declaration of faith (shahada), the five daily prayers (salah), charity (zakat), fasting in Ramadan (sawm) and pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj) for those able to undertake it. Read slowly. Ask what a word means instead of memorising it without understanding. Learning about Islam is not the same as being expected to change your entire life overnight. If you are considering becoming Muslim, seek reliable guidance about the shahada and what follows.

Learning to pray, one word at a time

Learning salah can feel overwhelming at first. There are movements, Arabic words, different prayer times and the question of how to pronounce everything correctly. What helped me was approaching it in small pieces instead of expecting instant perfection. First, understand the five daily prayer times and learn how to make wudu. Next, learn the sequence of a prayer from a reliable step-by-step guide. Then practise the recitations slowly, listening and repeating. Here is a YouTube pronunciation video I found helpful: you can lower the playback speed to 0.75× or 0.5×, pause after a phrase and say it out loud with the speaker. Use it as a practice companion, and check the wording and movements against a trusted teacher or guide.

Why Friday matters

Friday (Jumu’ah) has a special place in Muslim community life. It is a time when Muslims gather for the Friday sermon (khutbah) and congregational prayer. For adult Muslim men who meet the relevant conditions, the Friday congregational prayer is obligatory. Women are not required to attend, but they may join the mosque congregation; when they pray Jumu’ah with the imam, it takes the place of the regular Dhuhr prayer. For me, Friday is also a reminder to make space for faith in a busy week. If you want to visit a mosque, check the local prayer time, dress respectfully and ask where the women’s prayer area is. Arrive early enough to settle in and listen to the sermon. Exact local arrangements can vary.

What can I say after salah?

After finishing the obligatory prayer, many Muslims spend a few moments remembering Allah (dhikr) and making supplication (dua). I am sharing a reference chart that gathers common post-prayer phrases in Arabic, transliteration and English. A simple place to begin is saying “Astaghfirullah” three times (I seek Allah’s forgiveness). You can also learn “SubhanAllah” (Glory be to Allah), “Alhamdulillah” (Praise be to Allah) and “Allahu Akbar” (Allah is greatest), commonly recited thirty-three times each in a well-known form of post-prayer dhikr. There are authentic variations in the narrations, so treat the chart as a learning reference rather than a claim that every line must be recited in exactly this order. You can zoom in on the chart below. Its original publisher is credited beneath it.

The Quran, dua and the questions in between

When I first started exploring Islam, I needed explanations I could actually understand. A Quran translation helps you explore meanings, while listening to recitation helps you hear the Arabic. Dua is a personal supplication to Allah; you can make dua in words you understand. Dhikr means remembering Allah through phrases of praise and remembrance. I would begin with a short passage, read its meaning and listen to a reciter. You do not need to rush through pages to make progress. If a verse raises a difficult question, look for its context and consult a reliable commentary or teacher instead of relying on a single social media clip.

What I am still learning

I want this website to feel like a conversation, not a test. Some days I have new questions about prayer. Other days I am thinking about food, clothes, celebrations or how to explain my decisions to someone who has never met a Muslim. I do not want to present a perfect version of myself. I want to be honest about learning, changing my habits and trying to live with more intention. If you are at the beginning, take your time. If you are simply curious, you are welcome too. You can explore without having to agree with every part of my story.