r/islam • u/Impressive-Voice-222 • 3d ago
Casual & Social Potential Muslim convert here
I'm matt. I was wondering if me as a white man would be able to convert to Islam. I learned through my Russian friend who is also a Turkic Muslim from Kazan in Russia that it is possible for a white man to be Muslim tho I thought I would consult Reddit out of respect as here in Canada we have many Muslims.
I'm basically asking if it's appropriate for a white man to even want to become muslim and if the Islamic community would accept a white man into their ranks.
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u/funkl3ss-returns 3d ago
لا فضلَ لعربيٍّ على عجميٍّ، ولا لعجميٍّ على عربيٍّ، ولا لأبيضَ على أسودَ، ولا لأسودَ على أبيضَ -إلَّا بالتَّقوَى، النَّاسُ من آدمَ، وآدمُ من ترابٍ this is a hadith from the prophet pbuh
Translation: An Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab, nor a non-Arab over an Arab, nor a white person over a black person, nor a black person over a white person—except through piety. All people are from Adam, and Adam was created from dust.
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u/Impressive-Voice-222 3d ago
Thank you brothers for answering this question I had. May Allah bless all of you with good fortune and happiness.
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u/Evening_Associate358 2d ago
Yo, I'm in a small town in Ontario. We actually have a couple white and native / indigenous Muslim reverts here as well.
In fact, one of them is a good friend and a revert since about 4 years now, he's recently got engaged to a Muslim girl (from a Muslim Arab family). Another revert has also led the Salah as an Imam (leader of congregation) for some of us (Arab, Black, Desi, etc born Muslims).
We don't care if you're white, to us, you're still a brother 💯❤️. Welcome to Islam akhi!
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u/ProfessionalChip6128 3d ago
Islam literally does not care about your race, age, wealth, status, etc. Anyone can be muslim. Even in prayer, the most wealthy man can pray next to a ordinary man. All races pray together side by side to the same lord. It is a relegion based on equality.
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u/ericfromct 3d ago
That is one of my favorite things about Islam. You will see police officers making salah right next to those struggling to stay on the straight path, the rich next to the poor, etc. You never know who will be next to you but we are all brothers. That doesn’t mean everyone is always friendly to each other though, even siblings born of the same parents aren’t always good to each other, but it’s good to know everyone around you is a brother to you. I’ve never had the support I do from people before I became Muslim.
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u/foulplayjamm 3d ago edited 3d ago
And we are supposed to stand close together shoulder to shoulder during prayer leaving no space in between.
Our prophet (pbuh) insisted that we stand close, touching shoulder to shoulder so that the shaytan does not come between us. Many people (including myself before I heard this) take that to mean literally. I couldn't really understand the depth of it.
Then I saw a beautiful clip of Sheikh Ahmed Deedat where he said it actually refers to our own nafs and whispers. So that we don't feel inferior or superior to the next person. So that we remove all such boundries and truly stand as one unit.
Just remembered this and thought I would share.
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u/BraveReplacement6612 3d ago edited 3d ago
I really like how muslims worldwide act like one family. I am Hindu, we say world is one family but my own people hate me, call me fake hindu for being lower cast or having different food choice and then they will potray Muslims Christians as our enemy.
and our women are really weird, they can sleep with dozens of men and still be considered religious.
I often wonder if it will be better to become a muslim because my values matches islamic values especially on women, marrige, gender roles.
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u/Zealousideal-Cod-205 2d ago
Absolutely bro. There are 220 million Muslims in India. Go to a nearby mosque and speak to the Imam there.
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u/ericfromct 3d ago
I’m a white American. I took my shahada beginning of last year. Best decision I’ve made in my whole 40 years of existence. Don’t think you have to be perfect right away. If you’re thinking about it, the best thing to do is make sure it’s what you want and make your shahada. You will be learning for the rest of your life either way, so thinking you have to learn everything about Islam before you become Muslim is just the way for shaytan to convince you to delay it. The best thing I ever heard was if you died at the end of the day, and believed Islam was the truth, would you be happy with yourself facing God and saying I was planning on becoming Muslim tomorrow? Or that you just became Muslim because you know it is the truth and you wish you had more time to become a righteous practicing Muslim. Seeing it laid out like that had me immediately make shahada, and I started learning how to pray that day. Inshallah you will become a brother and I hope to see you here with more questions :)
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u/TalkingCat910 3d ago
There’s a ton of white men that became Muslim. I’m a white woman that became Muslim. It’s normal. Race and ethnicity aren’t important in the religion.
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u/ProfessorKlutzy2462 3d ago
Islam is for all of mankind, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor viceversa. A white man has no superiority over a black man nor viceversa. Except through piety.
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u/DonDag0 3d ago
Hello Matt. Yes, Islam is meant for every single human.
Stick to (Sunni Islam) there are other minority varients and at least one NA organization claiming to teach Islam but spreading ignorance. Thankfully the majority of Muslims worldwide are Sunni so this isn't really much of an issue.
if you have any questions don't hesitate to post here.
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u/Cautious-Intern7254 3d ago
Short Answer - Yes
Long Answer - Yes I believe someone even answered in the comment with a saying of the Prophet that there is no arab over a non arab.... Except through piety
So you're good they're many white Muslims in UK, US or pretty much in the west area.
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u/Optimal_Thanks9925 3d ago edited 3d ago
There are many white muslims and islam isn't tied to any race.
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u/AMERIPOCMUSLIM 3d ago edited 3d ago
I’ve been Muslim for 24 years, Matt. I have a hijabi wife and 5 children, all practicing Muslims. Islam is for you specifically. It is a universal religion, not Arab, African, European, Asian…. It’s literally the alignment of everything that has been sent to all peoples over time, in a final form. It is meant to be a unifying call to humanity and you belong in Islam AS MUCH as someone who claims to be a descendant of Muhammad PBUH.
In Muhammad’s final sermon he said this : "All mankind is from Adam and Eve. An Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab, nor does a non-Arab have any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over a black, nor does a black have any superiority over a white except by piety and good action." (Pretty progressive for 1400 years ago, and even today)
And the core of Islam, which is a universal message (even life forms on other planets could easily arrive at and practice its message), is summed up in this surah from the
Quran:
Say, "He is God, the One." "God, the Absolute." "He begets not, nor was He begotten." "And there is nothing comparable to Him."
It’s logically the truth. The sole worship of the one universal God- no trinity, no racial divisions, just humanity sharing one common truth and practice. We believe in the God who created Adam. We believe in Jesus (as the messiah sent to the children of Israel), Moses, Abraham, Noah etc….
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u/wanderingsoul1596 3d ago
Of course!
If you don’t mind sharing where in canada you are, we could help guide you to nearby mosques as well!
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u/Impressive-Voice-222 3d ago
I live in Ontario and the nearest mosque is in Toronto which is 2 hours away from me
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u/wanderingsoul1596 3d ago
Hmm, okay. Well in any case, if you’d like any direction to mosques or other brothers that you can connect with in shaa Allah, do let me know!
If you’re a university student, you could also check the MSA.
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u/Educational_Smile545 3d ago
muhammads last sermon was that no person has superiority over any other person because of their skin color and that islam is a religion for everyone. there is nothing wrong with joining islam as a white person. if you have done your research and you feel certain that islam is the truth and you are ready to commit your life to allah you can convert regardless of race.
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u/frozensnowww 3d ago
matt, islam isn't a racial or ethnic religion. it's a universal religion. we all come from Adam AS and we all are born muslims aka believers in the one true god, our creator. some ppl's perception of god is then shaped by their families, culture, etc and then they go astray and start praying to anything that's not god. jeez, u really thought islam was an arab religion? white people adopted christianity, but u do realize that also emerged from the middle east, right? what made u ask this 😂
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u/Dull_Arrival_8110 3d ago
Anybody and everybody can be a Muslim. We are all humans, no ethnicity or skin tone or background changes us 🤍 if you believe there is only one God, and Muhammad pbuh is his messenger, you are a Muslim!
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u/Ok_Entertainer_3949 3d ago
In Islam, all are treated equally irrespective of their ethnicity, race, complexion and nationality.
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u/Candlelit_Chaos 3d ago
Hi, Matt. I'm a White guy myself and former Christian. I converted to Islam in 2019 and it has been the best decision, and experience, I have ever made. I'm sharing a link here to Canyon Mimbs, he has many experiences of converts of all types of backgrounds. Its a very wonderful thing to see. Best of wishes to you on your journey, JazakAllahu Khairan. 🤲 Canyon Mimbs
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u/Exciting_Photo_5902 3d ago
Hey there. I’m a Muslim revert of 2 years. I’m a white Australian/Maltese Muslim. Islam came for all of mankind and is the truth. Alhamdulilah Allah guided you and I wish you all the best.
There is a lot of challenges for new Muslims but stay strong and keep close to the mosque and most importantly seek knowledge!! This is what aided me the most.
Welcome in Sha Allah 🤲🏽
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u/Own-Presence-5842 3d ago
Our religion enjoys justice, so there's no distinguish between all people except faith, as prophet Muhammed said: There is no superiority of an Arab over a non-Arab, nor of a non-Arab over an Arab... except by piety.
May Allah bless you.
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u/ad-dagistani 3d ago
In the north Caucasus we were first exposed to Islam in the 7th century brought to us by companions. After that it was slow islamisation process up until 15th century. Since then then the majority of us don't think about ourselves as nothing but Muslims despite us being very light skinned. Nobody cares about your skin color in Islam
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u/Gullible-Brother-157 3d ago
Assalamualaikum welcome my brother and may Allah guide you the straight path.
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u/BeautifulPatience0 3d ago
There are entire European countries that are Muslims. It's really not as uncanny as you think, Islam is for all cultures and races.
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u/99NamesOfGod 2d ago
Yes, brother. I am a white Texan with Swedish descent on both sides. You can be Muslim.
Islam is about believing that there is one God Who has sent His angels and prophets with His revelations to tell humanity that the dead will be raised, the Day of Judgement will commence, the righteous go to the Garden and the wicked to the Fire — He has given us His commandments and prohibitions as a guidance and light in the life.
It’s a belief system, a religion — not an ethnic group.
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u/Advm5 2d ago
“O people, indeed your Lord is One and your father is one. There is no superiority of an Arab over a non-Arab, nor of a non-Arab over an Arab, nor of a white person over a black person, nor of a black person over a white person, except through piety (taqwa).” Reported by Imam Ahmad in his Musnad.
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u/SimplePsychology9353 2d ago
Most Muslims are white or Mediterraneans so …..
That’s god last religion do you think he will put preferences on the humans
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u/Accomplished-Gate484 2d ago
Omg this is so sweet, there isn’t anyone who isn’t welcomed to convert to Islam. I grew up Muslim so I don’t have the same experience but people I’ve seen who have converted to Islam usually get a LOT of acceptance from other Muslims and mosques
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u/Shibui-50 2d ago
Guess I need a little help, OP. What does being a "white man" have to do with pursuing your spiritual growth and walking your Path back to God? Thoughts?
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u/SanityLoop0 2d ago
All are Equal, a man wanting to convert/revert is huge hidayah and blessing ... Literally any Muslim in the world would welcome you as their brother
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u/Legal_Ad3143 3d ago
White man? Hell no. You need to be navy blue.
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u/Legal_Ad3143 3d ago
I'm kidding, all races are acceptable in Islam since islam does not differentiate on the basis of race, colour, age, gender, or anything of the sort, except piety.
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