Wa alaykum salaam Angela,

It is my honor to be here to support my fellow brothers and sisters in Islam. I have been where you are. Before converting to Islam, I was an evangelical Christian, attended Bible college, and worked as a missionary in a few countries. It was devastating for my friends and family to learn of my conversion, and mostly because I did it in a flagrantly poor fashion, one which showed no regard for their feelings or the delicate tensions of our relationships.

First, be sure that you have the foundations of your faith laid before you attempt to explain to their family members and friends that you are Muslim. Though you may be blessed with open-minded loved ones, even the most open-minded will immediately have a hundred questions about a myriad of things you need to be able to either answer with confidence—something that takes time—or be able to admit you are unsure of.

Learn about the fundamentals of your faith in God and the very basic beliefs of Islam concerning God, Prophet Muhammad and the other prophets, and the question of eternal life or death in Heaven or Hell before you attempt to try to “come out of the closet” as Muslim, as it were. Once you feel really sure in your reasons for embracing Islam and feel confident in sharing the news, and are sure any hostility or negative reactions will not shake your faith or your relationships with these people more than is necessary, I would advise you to keep your conversation as private as possible for as long as possible.

Your relationship with Allah is your own, and no one else’s. No one has a right to know, period. Your choosing to inform them is a privilege they enjoy as a beloved friend or family member, not their right. Be careful who you choose to tell, and be selective in who finds out in the beginning. Honesty is a virtue in Islam, but sharing your faith is not a requirement of honesty for Muslims, and indeed the first Muslims, living in a time of great trial, hid their Islam for years. There is no shame in this. Emphasize to them that you are still the same you, and you still love them dearly, but this is something you have thought about for x number of years/a long time, and you feel confident it’s the path for you. May Allah make it easier for you.

I hope this helps. Please keep in touch. 

Salam.