Assalaamu alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakaatuh!
I am a British revert to Islam and have been Muslim now for almost 18 years.
My journey to Islam began in 1991 when I started at university at the tender age of 18 to study modern languages. I thought it would be ‘fun’ to try out a bit of Arabic while I was there and so enrolled in a minor course. It was a small class and all the other students were Muslim and taking a degree in Islam or Islam and Comparative religion. Through the Arabic class I started learning about Islam, a religion about which I knew virtually nothing and had no preconceived notions since Islam was not in the headlines as it is these days.
Through studying some of the short Surahs of the Qur’an in detail and asking lots of questions I began to draw closer to Islam and found myself incorporating new things into my life without a thought. I never made a conscious decision to incorporate these things into my life and converting was never something I toyed with – it is just something that happened by itself. One day I was reciting the words of the Shahaadah aloud, “La ilaaha illa Allah, Muhammadur Rasoolu Llah” and there came a turning point where I realised that I believed these words and that made me Muslim.
I was able to incorporate Islamic Studies into my degree and enjoyed studying Shari’ah, Ethics and Seerah to some extent which was a wonderful opportunity for a new Muslimah. Alhamdu Lillah, in June 1995 I graduated with a BA Joint Honours degree in French and Islamic Studies.
Umm Ibrahim
Come With Me To The Casbah
MashaAllah, I love this new place of yours, sis!
aselamualaykum werahmatullah
mashaalah, i really like your simple messages.
i am really wondered how did you do it , while you have got a house, a husband and children to look after?
i guss u might be one of those people whome allah has blessed their time into doing lots of khirat. may allah help you. i will try to keep intouch inshaallah.
weselamualaykum werahmatullah
Wa alaikum salaam wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakaatuh,
Thanks DN.
Thanks for visiting Lameyaa and thank you for your kind message. Hope to see you here again insha’Allah. Ramadan Kareem.
Assalamualaiukum!!
came here thru another blog, Interesting to see a saudi blogger! nice to see u here…
Ramadan kareem..
“Who knows where we could be in another year or two!”
I’ve lived long enough to see the truth in these words more than once, yet the human tendency is to project one’s current condition upon the rest of one’s life. That may actually be appropriate, but again, “Who knows…?”
Allah, of course! He’s not telling, and I’m thanking Him for that.
Welcome to WordPress!
Alaikum salaam,
Niyaz: pleased to ‘meet’ you and welcome! Ramadan Kareem to you also.
Marahm… seriously when you have children everything you do has to be in their best interests. I guess we’re driven the children and their education and as you well know I’m sure, it’s hard in this country once your children reach a certain age; they can’t go to university for starters.
Thanks for the welcome. 
xxx
I love your ever changing 99 nines of Allah, can you teach me? I would love to put it on my blog too!
Thanks
Assalaamu alaikum,
Thank you for your visit sister asqfish. I have sent you instructions on how to add the 99 names; hope it is clear enough insha’Allah.
I am touched by your story of conversion to Islam and sincerity to practice your faith. May Allah keep your feet firm on the straight path and give you His blessings both in this world and in the hereafter.
Assalaamu alaikum Turgayevren
Thanks for stopping by and ameen to your beautiful du’a. May Allah give you the best in this life and in the hereafter, ameen.
Salam
Umm Ibrahim,
I just read about you quite recently, the little you said made my mom and I just tear…
We Alhamdulillah are born Muslims, but people like YOU I always admire, because you had been a searcher for the TRUTH, and ALLAH guides whom HE loves!
May ALLAH keep us with Iman for every breath we take while living and pass away on Husna Khatimah,
Ameen thumma ameen
Assalaamu alaikum
Masha’Allah sis… you made me tear too! Ameen to your du’a also.
Assalamoalaikum Sister,
I stumbled across your blog and what a pleasure it was to read. May Allah SWA reward you for all your efforts and I certainly look forward to reading more.
Your chocolate Fudge looked very appetizing I must say!
Ramadan Kareem
Umm Aisha
Hello,
what is Usool ul fiqh ? I’m very sorry to ask a question that I could probably answer by searching the Internet, but all the articles I found I don’t understand.
Other than that: I like your blog.
Hello Julia,
Thanks for your comment on my blog.
A very brief explanation of usool ul fiqh: if fiqh is the law, then usool ul fiqh are the tools from which the rulings are derived which are primarily the Qur’an and the actions and sayings of the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him and secondarily consensus, analgous reasoning and others.
I love the photos on your blog – they make me wish I could visit France again soon!
As-Salamalaykum Sister!
Ramadan Mubarak! =)
Masha’Allah, you have such a diverse history yourself. How is life in Suadi? I am a Mom of two boys and I just moved to Michigan a year ago. We love it here because there are many Muslims. What is Ramadan like there? Is it very festive? Do people close down shop early?
JK for visiting my page! Sister Hanifah
Assalaam O Alaikum Sister
There is a possibility that we as a family could move to Riyadh in the next few months (insha allah). I have searched through several websites etc to try and get an understanding of what it is really like to live in Saudi/Riyadh for non Arab muslims. Alhamdu Lillah I have always been a muslim and my wife is a muslim revert of about 9 years. We have 4 children (all boys), aged between 9 months and 10 years.
We could really benefit from getting some more info about life in Riyadh. Compounds have been mentioned a few times, but we are not too keen on this as we have heard that they are ‘designed’ for the non-muslims. We are from the UK.
We would be very grateful if you could ‘get us up to speed’ on the matter, and Safiyah has some other questions which are probably best left as private.
Love your blog, its probably the best one out there from a Saudi Resident!
Jazakallah
Ahmed Ali and Safiyah
‘I… enjoyed studying Shari’ah, Ethics and Seerah to some extent…’
Wow, that’s very good masha Allah. Would you mind sharing some details about the curriculum with us? I was pretty shocked by the content of Islamic studies nowadays. Shari`ah is the study of Schacht and Juynboll and Seerah is the study of Crone, Cook and Wansborough *a slight exaggeration, of course)! Do you have any favourite Siyar/books about Islam in general? Are there any books you can recommend to non-Muslims?
I remember thinking that your post on Hisba used Cook’s book on the subject- am I wrong?
Assalaamu alaikum,
Br. Ahmed ~ let your wife know that she is free to email me with any questions and I’ll do my best to answer.
WM ~ I think it’s inevitable that any introduction to Islamic law will cover those Orientalists and their views of ‘Mohammedan law’ to some extent. I do dislike the books of many of the Orientalists (Schacht, Goldziher, Von Kremer…) though and their views of Shari’ah being derived from Justinian law and prefer Nallino’s research.
As for non-Muslims (and Muslims), I think Kamali’s Principles of Islamic Jurisprudence is a good introduction to the subject.
Other sources we used… I can’t remember many: Muhammad Azami, Shatabi, Al-Marghinani, Guraya… a good lecturer who can translate bits and give a jolly good lecture on the subject.
Assalaamu alaikum
I missed your comment Hanifah, oops sorry!
Welcome to my blog.
I have heard about some of the strong Muslim communities in the USA, masha’Allah tabaarak Allah.
Saudi has it’s ups and downs like anywhere. As for shops closing early… see my post on Ramadan opening hours.
Shops open late, close just before maghrib, reopen after taraweeh and then stay open until the wee hours. Everything is skewed during Ramadan so you are utterly confused and don’t know when to go out! 
Wow masha Allah…who is Nallino? Who is Guraya?
Motzki is good.
Guraya wrote Origins of Islamic Jurisprudence
Nallino: Italian Orientalist who did not hold the stance that Shariah is derived from Roman laws.
These authors aren’t ancient! They just aren’t on reading lists anymore…I was stumped…
formidable :O
Do you still…read? How did you deal with it (I mean, those works)? I mean, bearing in mind that you probably lacked the critical apparatus to dismantle their stuff…wow masha Allah.
I don’t read as much these days unfortunately (need to get of the net for 5 minutes
)
assalam’alaykum
barakAllahufiki for this little part of your life,im from france and i will move to saudia ,i dont speak well english and i would know if you speak french for have some information about life in KSA.Im algerian from france
sorry for my aproximatif english
I hope you contact me
hayakiLah
Assalaamu alaikum Um Intisar,
Soyez la bienvenue!
Si vous voulez poser les questions, vouz pouvez envoyer un email a: expatsinsaudi@gmail.com
MachAllah
je vous ai envoyé un email ,j’espere vite avoir de vos nouvelles!
As Salaamu Alaykum
I haven’t seen you around and I just want to check in with you.
BismiLlahi arRahmani arRahim
As salamu aleikum wa rahmatuLlahi ukhti.
I pray everything is ok, for you and your family, insha Allah Ta’ala.
Fi amani Allah.
salam alaikoum sister, hope you are well!! I miss your posts!!! may Allah bless you.
xxx
Assalam o Alaikum
hows u sister?
Wish u a happy EID MUBARAK
AssalaamuAlaikum sister,
Marshaallah,you have an interesting site and i stumbled across it quite by accident.I am south african and living here for a year.My son is 9 and my daughter is 2 and im looking for a madressah for quraan reading with tajweed [son] and swimming lessons for ladies and kids in my area SULAY Exit 15.i only go out when my hubby is home certain days of the week.shukran
Hello Umm Ibrahim,
Thank you for the explanation and your compliment on my photos.
France is cold and uncomfortable at this season, though.
Assalamu alaikoum sister Um Ibrahim!
I’m very happy to read your blog masha Allah, wonderful and useful info here! We have a lot in common sister and hope to meet with you one day as we are to leave for Riyadh in about 5 months insha Allah! I’m an American muslimah (revert) married to an Algerian with 5 children (sound familiar? LOL) Pls do email me as I would like to have more info from you if you could spare some time:) We are to be situated on a compound as well and I desperately need info about the schools for my kids (ages 9, 7 and down.)
Barak Allahu feeqi,
Um Youcef
Mashaa Allah Umm Ibrahim , your blog is wonderful.I subscribed to your feeds and determined to every bit here in shaa Allah
As salam alaikum wa rahmatullah wa barakatu ukhti.
Mabrook on ur reversion to Islam & mashAllah on all your children.
Like you im a revert to islam & began to love islam since i was a child…not knowing id embrace islam at 19 yrs young and here i am 7 yrs later alhumdulillah.
its a pleasure to read ur blogg, look at the wonderfull pics and be reminded of some healthy foods like couscous and addas..time for me to cook lunch lol 1pm.
Have urself a happy ramadhan inshAllah.
Hiyyach Allah
xxx
Asslaamu alaikum,
Jazakillahu khair sis Umm Qahtan. Seems that we have some things in common.
Welcome to my blog by the way.
Assalamualikum,
My husband , my new born and I are planning on moving to Riyadh in the near future. We are looking for a 1 bedroom in a compound. Our budget is at max 75,000 SAR. Can someone please give me some info.? It’s hard to find it online. My email address is Tanu_zahir@yahoo.com.
Thanks,
Ma salama,
Tanu
I just ready this post ..its amazing “Allah guides whom He wills.” (2:272)
Bless you
Thanks for your visit Zahraa – Allah bless you also.
Salamu alaykum sister jazaka ALLAH for the shared information. I have been in Riyadh 1yr now and have 4 children. Would like to know if there is any Quran or arabic schools for nonarabic speakers? We are from sweden and feel isolated since my children don’t speak arabic.
Jazaka ALLAH
Umm Dini
maasha Allah..
salaamun’alayk ukhty ^^
Assalamualaikum dear Sisters & Brothers. MasyaAllah I feel great reading
those postings. I am a muslim from the otherside of the Globe (Asia).
I came across this blog by chance while surfing for islamic news in other
parts of the world. Subahana Allah, Allah has opened the hearts of many to
take Islam as their way of life – Ad Deen. Alhamdulillah… Thanks to ALLAH
Assalaamu aleikum Umm Ibrahim
just stumbled across your blog on the web, I went for Hajj this year and was missing the Hijaz, so I really enjoyed your pictures, ma sha Allah.
I’m a convert too, and studying Arabic at uni back in the day had something to do with it… alhamdulillah.
Mind if I stick around and read more?
I don’t know how I have missed your blog before but I look forward to reading it. Masha’allah, I’ve learned something new about you already x