My father raised me on his own and as a Christian.  He worked hard to teach me Christian values. I read the Bible a lot when I was in elementary school (I skipped the words I did not know) and noticed there were some contradictions (i.e. eating pork, Jesus’ death (peace be upon him) etc.

When I was twelve I knew I did not really believe in Christianity anymore, but I did not know what to think. I continued searching out God and praying to Him for the truth.  I sought God a lot and very hard.

I had a lot of questions on my mind: “Everybody, at some time or another, asks themselves the question: “Why do I exist?” or “For what purpose am I here on Earth?”

The variety and complexity of the intricate systems, which constitute the fabric of both human beings and the world in which they exist, indicate that there must have been a Supreme Being who created them.

Design indicates a designer. When human beings come across footprints on a beach, they immediately conclude that a human had walked by there some time previously.

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No one imagines that the waves from the sea settled in the sand and by chance produced a depression looking exactly like human footprints. Nor do humans instinctively conclude that they were brought into existence without a purpose.

Since purposeful action is a natural product of human intelligence, humans conclude that the Supreme Intelligent Being who created them must have done so for a specific purpose.

It is for this reason that human beings need to know the purpose for their existence in order to make sense of this life and to do what is ultimately beneficial for them.

When I was nineteen while calling myself a “truth seeker”, I traveled a lot looking for other cultures and beliefs to satisfy my need for finding God.  I looked into Taoism, Wicca, Buddhism, Rastafarian, Judaism, Free Masonry, Christianity, Hinduism, Animism, etc.

I even looked at one or two pages about Islam but immediately dismissed it as it did not suit my own desire. I saw that Muslims worship Allah, and that Muhammad is their Messenger and that they pray five times a day.

Five times a day!?

I thought that sounds like too much work; and it could not possibly be the religion of God, the Creator of the Heavens and the earth!?

By time, I returned to the United States almost twenty one; I was not satisfied with any of the religions I had looked into.  I decided to attend medical school (which was my dream). So, I filled out entrance exams and papers and was accepted at my delight. I took a Greyhound Bus from Michigan and headed to Colorado for college.

While I was traveling, I met a young guy who was sitting behind me for most of the trip.  I asked his name and learned he was Ibrahim from Africa, traveling to college to be an engineer.

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We began talking, and he told me he was a Muslim.  I asked him what that was and he explained that Muslims believe there is none worthy of being worshiped but Allah alone and that Muhammad was the last and final Prophet of the Abrahamic faiths.

I concluded that Jews were behind on two Prophets: Jesus and Muhammad; and Christians were behind on one Prophet: Muhammad.

I inquired further into the religion Islam, and he shared with me a small book of collected prayers (dua and dhikr) that Muslims make.  Inside the first daily remembrance I read was this:

“None has the right to be worshiped but Allah alone, without partner. To Him belongs all sovereignty and praise and He is over all things Omnipotent.”

It was then that I knew Islam was quite possibly what I had been looking for. I then looked further into the book for more clarification on who Allah is and focused on these two:

In the Name of Allah, Who with His Name nothing can cause harm in the earth nor in the heavens, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.

O Allah, whatever blessing has been received by me or anyone of Your creation is from You alone, You have no partner.  All praise is for you and thanks is to You.

I then turned to Ibrahim and asked him how I could become Muslim.  He told me to say my Shahadah: La ilaha illa Allah Muhammad Rasoolu Allah (There is no deity that has the right to be worshiped but Allah alone and Muhammad is His Messenger).

And in believing that and stating it, I became a Muslim right then and there on a Greyhound Bus. So, after speaking with Ibrahim for fifteen minutes I became a Muslim.

This was about seven years ago. I never went to medical school. I decided to spend my time learning my new religion and moved to Utah.

I met many Muslims there who warmly welcomed me into the community and spent much time teaching me the religion.

Source: Islam Religion.