I was ready to walk away from Islam.
"I was ready to walk away from Islam."- Mike Swies
"I was ready to walk away from Islam.
For anyone who knows me, they probably have difficulty believing a story like this. Back in 2006 I had researched Islam for nearly two years, feeling ready to finally fully embrace the faith. I thought I was ready to stop dipping my toe in the water and finally jump in. It took one bad experience, however, to make me second guess all that I had learned.
It began when I attended one of the largest conferences of Muslims in America and it left me feeling completely isolated. Eager to meet this new community I hoped to join, I was met with cold shoulders and unreturned, "salaams". Even the Muslims I did know were too busy and occupied to help me navigate this overwhelming experience. The feeling of being in the wrong place became even stronger through a prayer seminar I attended. All of my experiences with prayer, salah, up to this moment were empowering and memorable. The presenter began presenting prayer in a way that was foreign to what I had come to know. "If your back is not at 90 degrees then your prayer is not valid." "If you struggle praying 5 times a day, you are not even a Muslim." The obsession over technicalities was not the spirit of Islam I had learned over the previous two years. Rigid and unforgiving was not the spirit I had come to know. Doubts began circling my mind in a way that never had before, putting me in a state in which I was ready to leave Islam behind me.
I left with what should have been a beautiful experience but instead I left with a shattered spirit. I spent my evening in prayerful tears. If it wasn't for a good friend from out of state checking up on me, I believe that would have been the end of my journey towards Islam. But, God sent me someone to keep the door open for me and point me in the right direction.
My service to this community has allowed me to see time and time again how easily we can help carry folks over the threshold to an empowering embrace of Islam. I have also seen how easily it is to miss these opportunities.
At Ta'leef, we have been blessed to develop systems, programs, and services that enable us to catch countless folks who just need the door held open. It may be the young man who was about to leave Islam but wandered into a program that helped respark his faith, the elderly convert abandoned by her Muslim husband who just needs a shoulder to cry on, the local bicycle messenger inspired by the strength of the Palestinian community who just stops by to learn and embraces Islam. The constant is the fact that they show up to a door that is open to them--to learn, to be inspired, to find healing.
I ask you to support Ta'leef with du'a and a financial gift to allow us to continue supporting folks on their journey of faith who need an open door to walk through.
Sincerely,
Mike Swies
Director of Outreach & Community Engagement
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