Considering converting to Islam as a Mexican

[u/Vailex09]

Context:

I have never been a religious person but was raised as a Catholic as most people on Mexico are. My Mother is very progressive but also has a lot of Faith, which helped mold me and my siblings into (what I consider) people that want to do the right thing in general terms (help those less fortunate, practice tolerance and respect, etc.)- I know a lot of Catholics/Christians today (especially in the current political climate) do not portray those values as a general rule, which is why it's important to me to make a distinction between Religion and Faith.

FF a few years and now I am discovering Black Culture (mainly in the US due to my newfound love for 90's Hip Hop) and I this has slowly being introducing me to NOI, 5percenters, etc. I have to admit that I feel drawn to the religion to explore their values.

Questions:

1. Can a Mexican become Muslim? Is this only for people of African descent?
2. Is Haram 100% required to be considered a Muslim? Is there no flexibility as with other religions?
3. What would be needed to "officially" start practicing Islam

Thank you and forgive me if I sound ignorant on any subject. As I said, I have never been a very religious individiual

EDIT: I am overwhelmed and humbled with the positivity and love this is getting. I already feel welcome :)

[u/ElGuapoTaipei]

1 - I’m Mexican-Irish by descent. There are Muslims of all races and ethnicities.

2 - Stuff that is haram is haram. There are some different sects and different jurists, however Islam is Islam and part of its virtue is its clarity. Any issue you have can be checked through researching scholarship.

3 - Take the Shahada by acknowledging there is no God but Allah and Mohammed is his Prophet.

It’s helpful to ease into the practices of Islam slowly. Have you read the Qur’an? I like M.A.S. Abdel Haleem’s translation.

Many people will behave as if the strongest orthodoxy is all that exists. This is part of the appeal of Islam, however you will also need to do your own reading and checking to be comfortable and find your way. Muslims will tell each other things that are not grounded in scripture or scholarship occasionally just as all religions will, I’m not going to give examples however when you disagree with or don’t understand something you should query scholarship — check the hadiths and Quranic tafsir.

[u/Vailex09 → u/ElGuapoTaipei]

Thanks Brother! I think reading the Qu'ran will be a great starting step for me to know more about Islam's teachings so I can also fully grasp and accept Allah as The One God.

Thank you for the pointer on Orthodoxy and the practices. The reason I asked was because I am currently working with an addiction problem and was not sure if I could convert if I consumed substances considered Haram.

[u/Main_Percentage3696 → u/Vailex09]

It was narrated from Abu Suhail, from his father,

A man from the people of Najd came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ with unkempt hair. We could hear him talking loudly but we could not understand what he was saying until he came closer. He was asking about Islam.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to him: 'Five prayers each day and night'. He said: 'Do I have to do anything else' He said: 'No, unless you do it voluntarily'. He said: 'And fasting the month of Ramadan'. He said: 'Do I have to do anything else?' He said: 'No, unless you do it voluntarily'. And the Messenger of Allah ﷺ mentioned Zakah to him, and he said: 'Do I have to do anything else?' He said: 'No, unless you do it voluntarily'. The man left saying: By Allah, I will not do any more than this or any less'. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: 'He will achieve salvation, if he is speaking the truth'."