9/11 Curiosity Leads Americans to Islam

After the 9/11, the curiosity of many Americans to know more about Islam has led them to embrace the faith.

Johannah Segarich, the Utah-born music instructor, decided to study Islam as she was very curious to learn about this religion. In just a few months later, she decided to recite the Kalimah Shahadah (Islamic testimony of faith) and embraced Islam.

“I was a middle-aged professional woman, the Utah-born music instructor very independent, very contemporary, and here I was turning to this religion." Johannah Segarich said while she was talking of her conversion as the Huffington Post reported on Thursday, August 25.

Besides Segarich, Angela Collins Telles decided to embrace Islam after seeing the anti-Muslim frenzy grew after the 9/11. Telles told that when she saw some of her country’s people think Muslims as terrorists and oppressors of women she felt a need to defend Muslims. At this point, Telles began studying Islam to get a better understanding of the faith. After an in-depth study, she decided to become a Muslim.

"I knew that I had found God, and that"s all I ever wanted." she said and continued; “The concept of God was the most beautiful thing, and that concept fit with what I believe," she said.

Collins Telles now lives in Brazil with her husband, who also embraced Islam after meeting her.

Chicagoan Kelly Kaufmann had a similar experience when she had to defend Muslims against accusations of being anti-peace. Kaufmann decided to study Islam and became a Muslim.

Trisha Squires was also another Muslim convert who studied on Islam after 9/11.

Observers estimate that as many as 20,000 Americans convert to Islam annually.

According to experts, the majority of post-9/11 converts are women.

Serving converts, many mosques have launched programs to help them with learning the Islamic principles: prayer, basic beliefs, and proper behavior.

Vaqar Sharief, who was tasked to create a program for converts at the Islamic Center of Wilmington, Del., estimates his mosque gets four or five converts every month.