While learning the ropes of this Muslim thing, I’ve learned quite a bit. But I’m still learning. Here’s my list as of now. Take them with a grain of salt, everyone’s experiences are different:
1) Waking up for Fajr requires more than one alarm. Do not trust yourself with the first one because there is a high chance you’ll fall back asleep and wake up at 9 AM.
2) Plan your schedule around your prayer times accordingly. If not, it leads to some interesting situations, like praying awkwardly in the back of your friend’s car.
3) If you come from a “not as traditionally Muslim” culture, like me, you do not have to disown your culture in order to be a good Muslim. Eating kebabs or briyani (which are both amazing and I love them both dearly!) does not make you any more or less of a Muslim than if you eat pupusas or tortas.
4) However, DO be willing to learn from other cultures. Their cultures have been Muslim for a while and they have some pretty cool aspects that can be very helpful. For example, borrowing a salwar kameez for Eid is great if you do not have anything nice and conservative enough for a masjid for Eid prayers. It is helpful to have Pakistani friends who have oodles of salwar kameezs in their closets! Or another example: I have learned Indonesian batik sarongs are amazingly helpful when you need to pray at home (especially fajr) so you don’t have to change all your clothes. Yes, it took an embarrassing number of times to figure out how to wear it correctly, but it’s the greatest thing ever 🙂 Lesson being, learn from other traditionally Muslim cultures: they’ve had longer to learn the ropes.
5) Going to Jummah can be pretty disorienting. Especially if you’re alone and not a regular. However, smile and say Salaam, even if you have no idea what the Pakistani or Persian auntie is talking about with her fellow Pakistani or Persian aunties. People like friendly people who smile 🙂
6) Also, try to wait a while before standing up to leave Jummah. If not, you’ll run into a maze of colossal proportions while trying to not walk in front of others who making salat. Chances are you’ll get stuck for 5 minutes waiting for someone to finish and by that time they finish, the person right next to them begins to pray as well. Waiting a few minutes til it clears up a bit makes life easier.
7) When attending Jummah or another big event, if your shoes go missing, realize that they might be borrowed. While there are some horror stories of shoes being stolen at mosques, I’ve never encountered that. I have seen shoes borrowed though. People sometimes will use your sandals to do something quickly if they’re the first pair that that he or she finds. So if your shoes are missing, don’t panic. Just wander around a bit and you’ll probably find the auntie or uncle who borrowed your flip flops to go the bathroom.
[…] Part one if you didn’t catch it. Once again, take this with a grain of salt, as the Muslim convert mantra goes: Everybody’s experience is different. […]