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Believing as Ourselves
In Believing as Ourselves, the author, an American Muslim of 16 years, brings to the forefront the indispensable importance of personal authenticity to the maintenance of faith. The author asserts that all too often "non-native" Muslims, in their well meaning zeal, throw away the very parts of their identity that, not only led them to Islam in the first place, but ultimately make them who they are- - in so doing creating the impossibility of a true and vibrant connection with God. Not simply an exposé on the difficulties to be found within the Islamic community, Believing as Ourselves, is packed with advice for those who find themselves struggling to reconcile the gap between the sometimes, bitter, reality of actual life within the faith, and the Islamic ideal they so cherish. In the words of Dr. Jeffrey Lang, author of the books, Struggling to Surrender, and Even Angels Ask, She (the author) reaches out to them with practical, hard earned wisdom and carefully thought out advice on how they can overcome the many distractions and hardships, and reclaim that "initial determination, internal strength, and sense of authentic faith that was once theirs." -And they so deserve. Lynn Jones is a writer and mother of two. She lives in a modest home under the shadow of a grove of giant cedar trees in suburban Washington state.
- GenresIslam
176 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 11, 2019
As a Muslim convert, I have to say that this book can really express how is like to convert into Islam in a western country and I would recommend it to all converts I know.
I could relate every single chapter and experience J. Lynn let us know about it and the struggle of acceptance is the thing that doesn't matter what is your background, after taking the huge decision of converting into Islam, we go for it.
Under the light of the greatness of Muslims along the ancient history we expect much more but nowadays it's just dust what is left when we talk about muslim communities taking a whole nationality or culture as the definition of it when actually is not anymore and how our "social circle" of muslims can define our way in this new life style.
Basically, if the muslim community in your area and the people who introduced you to it is from the middle East or South Asian, it's easy to say that you will become (trying to be accepted) like them and you will fail, and you will realize that it's not about it (unless you marry one of them) It's not about to become from that origin, it's all about how to keep being yourself, improving what's good in you and leaving what doesn't help you to improve or stops you without becoming Arab, Indian... etc
J. Lynn Jones, after making an image of how it was like to round herself in circles looking for acceptance, going along cultures, learning new things, visitng new places, getting to know new people, getting new habits, having terrible experiences on herself and some of the people she knew, victims of the "ideal muslim"; she finally made a room for herself getting mature after the time to be able to be muslim without converting in a new mixture of "American easternized Muslim".
As the last thing, once we have conceived that idea in our mind, she let us know her struggles along her life as a believer and the things that life bring to each other having a thankful feeling with Allah of everything she passed by and everything she lost and gained that allowed her to there, in the space, time and place where she is right now. A perfect place indeed!
I could have said a lot more and express more about each chapter and lines that I took as a fact but with the hope of inviting converts to reach tothis book and be able to understand and acknowledge what I did, I think no more words are enough to say about this book.
Above all, I rather to recommend this book to native muslims so, for at least once, they can realize how is like having new members of the "Ummah" in the convert's eyes and heart so, they can improve themselves as well as converts do by playing the roll of the true Brotherhood and feeling of union in Islam with fellow muslims.
I could relate every single chapter and experience J. Lynn let us know about it and the struggle of acceptance is the thing that doesn't matter what is your background, after taking the huge decision of converting into Islam, we go for it.
Under the light of the greatness of Muslims along the ancient history we expect much more but nowadays it's just dust what is left when we talk about muslim communities taking a whole nationality or culture as the definition of it when actually is not anymore and how our "social circle" of muslims can define our way in this new life style.
Basically, if the muslim community in your area and the people who introduced you to it is from the middle East or South Asian, it's easy to say that you will become (trying to be accepted) like them and you will fail, and you will realize that it's not about it (unless you marry one of them) It's not about to become from that origin, it's all about how to keep being yourself, improving what's good in you and leaving what doesn't help you to improve or stops you without becoming Arab, Indian... etc
J. Lynn Jones, after making an image of how it was like to round herself in circles looking for acceptance, going along cultures, learning new things, visitng new places, getting to know new people, getting new habits, having terrible experiences on herself and some of the people she knew, victims of the "ideal muslim"; she finally made a room for herself getting mature after the time to be able to be muslim without converting in a new mixture of "American easternized Muslim".
As the last thing, once we have conceived that idea in our mind, she let us know her struggles along her life as a believer and the things that life bring to each other having a thankful feeling with Allah of everything she passed by and everything she lost and gained that allowed her to there, in the space, time and place where she is right now. A perfect place indeed!
I could have said a lot more and express more about each chapter and lines that I took as a fact but with the hope of inviting converts to reach tothis book and be able to understand and acknowledge what I did, I think no more words are enough to say about this book.
Above all, I rather to recommend this book to native muslims so, for at least once, they can realize how is like having new members of the "Ummah" in the convert's eyes and heart so, they can improve themselves as well as converts do by playing the roll of the true Brotherhood and feeling of union in Islam with fellow muslims.
June 6, 2024
AN AMERICAN-BORN CONVERT RECOUNTS SOME TRIALS AND EXPERIENCES
Jennifer Lynn Jones was born and raised in Independence, Oregon, where she converted to Islam from Christianity at the age of fourteen. She is active in the North American Islamic community and has written articles for the Ma’an News Agency, the Seattle Times, and has contributed to the Islamic Society of North America’s (ISNA) magazine, Islamic Horizon.
She wrote in the Introduction to this 2002 book, “It’s not easy being a Muslim… Those who say it IS are either telling a woeful life, or have conned themselves. As for the rest of us, we have passed through the initial excitement of discovering Islam---and have realized that the heady euphoria of our early days has tempered to a kind of uneasy internal bemusement… Fights in the Mosque, religious one-upmanship, backbiting, spousal abuse, and cultural prejudice, not to mention the travails that greet us as ‘Western’ Muslims alone, are no longer new… we grow quiet, sullen and resigned---and find ourselves precariously hanging onto our once secure faith by the tips of our fingernails… Amazingly… it IS possible to begin a return to that part of ourselves that once housed the pure exuberance of those early days… but with the wisdom, knowledge and experience that we have so thoroughly earned through time---wisdom that acknowledge the indispensable importance of authenticity to the maintenance of faith, and wisdom that recognized that truth spiritual growth can only be accomplished when we are honestly true to ourselves and who we are.”
In the first chapter, he recalls, “I have seen the poor souls who, unlike me, have been subject to a veritable interrogation before being ‘allowed’ to accept Islam… One incident, at a mosque in Washington State, is particularly vivid in my memory… a beautiful young woman, attending our regular Friday night meeting, said she wanted to become a Muslim… there were no fewer than thirty Muslim women present… Nevertheless, a flurry of activity ensued to locate a suitable ‘brother’ to officiate over the process. Unfortunately, the young man found it necessary to interrogate the young woman so mercilessly that, after finally ‘allowing’ her to take her shahada, she was never seen in the mosque again.” (Pg. 5)
She argues, “What is so insidious about those who hide their malevolence behind a mask of religious piety is the devastating effect they can have on the faith of others. From smug ‘scholars’ who forbid everything from driving to freedom of divorce, from the mortal sin of the pink hijab to drinking sparkling apple juice… and the wickedness of dancing at weddings…the joys and pleasures are slowly leached out of life and slapped with the dreaded label of ‘haraam.’… The problem with all of this is it becomes seemingly virtuous to invent or support prohibitions in Islam that are either based on opinion or out-and-out fiction, as if Islam were not challenging enough on its own well-grounded and unquestionable limitations.” (Pg. 91-92)
She recounts, “There is sat in Salon Lorise in Bethlehem, watching in mute horror as the… beautician’s assistant applied yet another layer of makeup to my already clownish face. It was the day of my ‘Palestinian wedding,’ and I sat dressed in a frilly white, gazing at my hair, coiffed to an incredible height… I was faced with a decision. I could either relent and submit in acquiescence to my stylist’s ‘vision’ for my face, or I could… procure the jar of cold cream and wordlessly remove the excess eye-liner and shadow… I began removing the offending excess. At this, my beautician… stood back to regard me with undisguised contempt… her companion sneered… ‘She? A virgin, yeah right.’… Although it was true that I had been married to my husband for two years prior to this ‘wedding,’ the beautician had no way of knowing that... It was clear, however, that as an American woman, I was incapable of being insulted… an American woman could not possibly be insulted by an insinuation… that she is, shall we say a somewhat loose character. It is simply a given.” (Pg. 102-103)
She concludes, “Zealously take time---read, write, walk, think and explore. Live a truly authentic life as a Muslim woman---the life you were meant to live, and a life in which you have something of real value to offer. To live anything else is a waste and a lie.” (Pg. 156)
This book will be of keen interest to those concerned about the situation of women converts (particularly Americans) to Islam.
Jennifer Lynn Jones was born and raised in Independence, Oregon, where she converted to Islam from Christianity at the age of fourteen. She is active in the North American Islamic community and has written articles for the Ma’an News Agency, the Seattle Times, and has contributed to the Islamic Society of North America’s (ISNA) magazine, Islamic Horizon.
She wrote in the Introduction to this 2002 book, “It’s not easy being a Muslim… Those who say it IS are either telling a woeful life, or have conned themselves. As for the rest of us, we have passed through the initial excitement of discovering Islam---and have realized that the heady euphoria of our early days has tempered to a kind of uneasy internal bemusement… Fights in the Mosque, religious one-upmanship, backbiting, spousal abuse, and cultural prejudice, not to mention the travails that greet us as ‘Western’ Muslims alone, are no longer new… we grow quiet, sullen and resigned---and find ourselves precariously hanging onto our once secure faith by the tips of our fingernails… Amazingly… it IS possible to begin a return to that part of ourselves that once housed the pure exuberance of those early days… but with the wisdom, knowledge and experience that we have so thoroughly earned through time---wisdom that acknowledge the indispensable importance of authenticity to the maintenance of faith, and wisdom that recognized that truth spiritual growth can only be accomplished when we are honestly true to ourselves and who we are.”
In the first chapter, he recalls, “I have seen the poor souls who, unlike me, have been subject to a veritable interrogation before being ‘allowed’ to accept Islam… One incident, at a mosque in Washington State, is particularly vivid in my memory… a beautiful young woman, attending our regular Friday night meeting, said she wanted to become a Muslim… there were no fewer than thirty Muslim women present… Nevertheless, a flurry of activity ensued to locate a suitable ‘brother’ to officiate over the process. Unfortunately, the young man found it necessary to interrogate the young woman so mercilessly that, after finally ‘allowing’ her to take her shahada, she was never seen in the mosque again.” (Pg. 5)
She argues, “What is so insidious about those who hide their malevolence behind a mask of religious piety is the devastating effect they can have on the faith of others. From smug ‘scholars’ who forbid everything from driving to freedom of divorce, from the mortal sin of the pink hijab to drinking sparkling apple juice… and the wickedness of dancing at weddings…the joys and pleasures are slowly leached out of life and slapped with the dreaded label of ‘haraam.’… The problem with all of this is it becomes seemingly virtuous to invent or support prohibitions in Islam that are either based on opinion or out-and-out fiction, as if Islam were not challenging enough on its own well-grounded and unquestionable limitations.” (Pg. 91-92)
She recounts, “There is sat in Salon Lorise in Bethlehem, watching in mute horror as the… beautician’s assistant applied yet another layer of makeup to my already clownish face. It was the day of my ‘Palestinian wedding,’ and I sat dressed in a frilly white, gazing at my hair, coiffed to an incredible height… I was faced with a decision. I could either relent and submit in acquiescence to my stylist’s ‘vision’ for my face, or I could… procure the jar of cold cream and wordlessly remove the excess eye-liner and shadow… I began removing the offending excess. At this, my beautician… stood back to regard me with undisguised contempt… her companion sneered… ‘She? A virgin, yeah right.’… Although it was true that I had been married to my husband for two years prior to this ‘wedding,’ the beautician had no way of knowing that... It was clear, however, that as an American woman, I was incapable of being insulted… an American woman could not possibly be insulted by an insinuation… that she is, shall we say a somewhat loose character. It is simply a given.” (Pg. 102-103)
She concludes, “Zealously take time---read, write, walk, think and explore. Live a truly authentic life as a Muslim woman---the life you were meant to live, and a life in which you have something of real value to offer. To live anything else is a waste and a lie.” (Pg. 156)
This book will be of keen interest to those concerned about the situation of women converts (particularly Americans) to Islam.
February 10, 2011
i actually wrote a review about this book.
This is very important books which inspire people who have the blurry message of what becoming a Muslim like, and thus have people educated themselves on what Islam is.
The book is beautifully written, compelling and honest depiction of life as a female American convert to Islam. Furthermore, the personal experiences of her shows great sincerity and introspection as she struggles to attain authentic self-surrender to God.
more on
believe-as-ourselves #1
&believe-as-ourselves #2
do have a look!
This is very important books which inspire people who have the blurry message of what becoming a Muslim like, and thus have people educated themselves on what Islam is.
The book is beautifully written, compelling and honest depiction of life as a female American convert to Islam. Furthermore, the personal experiences of her shows great sincerity and introspection as she struggles to attain authentic self-surrender to God.
more on
believe-as-ourselves #1
&believe-as-ourselves #2
do have a look!
January 6, 2010
Loved this book so much I read it in 6 hours! the style the book was written in and the points raised had me giggling from pretty much start to finish. What Lynn is experiencing with the "native Muslims" in the US is no different to the situation we face here in the UK with the "native Muslims". Great book a must read for all Muslims and those wanting to understand the lack of cohesion in the Muslim "ummah"... just a fabulous book!:) well done Lynn! and thank you so much!!
July 23, 2014
A must have for all Muslim converts!!! Read it and you'll know you are not alone.
Also a must read for all Muslims, because it does bring to light a lot of the problems/pains/suffering that we converts go through. InshaAllah, things will change once we all read this book and act on it.
Also a must read for all Muslims, because it does bring to light a lot of the problems/pains/suffering that we converts go through. InshaAllah, things will change once we all read this book and act on it.
February 7, 2017
This is a book that I first read maybe 12 or 13 years ago, before I even officially converted to Islam. I'm surprised with how much of it stuck with me over that time. Few books make such an impression on me. It's definitely more relateable to me now than it was then.
July 17, 2007
This book was funny, moving and right on the mark. I think it is worth reading not only for converts but those who have "reverted" to Islam. I loved it.
January 7, 2011
Thought provoking and exciting! Waiting for authors next release soon! Excellent read for converts, things many of us have gone through, ponder or may struggle with. Great read!
February 26, 2013
Tells it like it is for so many
March 17, 2008
A very good shelf-help spiritual book
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews