It is one of our greatest tests as new Muslims; one that strikes at the very core of our beings, something that hits deep inside, forcing us to push back against our deepest desires and the traditions of our childhood. If you are reading this thinking that I am going to mention shirk (associating partners with Allah) or modesty, this is not the case. I am referring to the struggle with food and drink choices one faces as a convert to Islam.

Recognising and embracing the fact that Allah is One and has no partners is instinctual and is something that resonates internally in our hearts and minds. Following Islamic rulings on what is halal (permissible) and haram (impermissible), particularly when it comes to food, is a much greater challenge. It is something that we learn to do, over time and in varying degrees.

As individuals, we may have our differences when it comes to how we apply the rules in our daily lives, but as converts, we all have the one problem in common relating to how our non-Muslim families regard these dietary changes.

Food plays a large part in defining family roles, rules, and traditions. The kinds of food that we eat and the methods by which we prepare them are central to our identities. My fondest childhood memories are often triggered by the sight and smell of specific foods. Luckily, with a few adjustments to family recipes, I have been able to retain my “comfort foods”. For other converts the transition to eating and drinking halal is more difficult. Here is what some of them had to say on the subject:

"Except for salivating when passing supermarket's cold meats section with smoked meat, salamis, sausages etc, I personally had little problem switching over to halal meat since there are many halal meat shops and there is a big variety of dishes that you can cook with chicken, lamb and beef. I was never attracted to alcohol consumption so giving up alcohol wasn't a problem either. Problems were when I visited my family in the North East of Europe. First of all, there are such few Muslims living there that there aren't any branded halal shops where one can buy meat. Instead you have to go to the market and look for a certain man who can provide it by order. So I could not tell my parents to go to a certain shop and buy it. Shortly after my conversion my parents also tested how serious I was about Islam by insisting that I eat non-halal meat and have wine at dinner together with them. It was hard. I didn't like the feeling of being different than my own family and my grandmother used to get offended if I didn't eat her cooked food. She just didn't understand what that was all about and was not open to such new ideas. But I found a way around by insisting on eating fish instead when I visit my family."

- Female, converted 4 years ago

"I did initially find it difficult to abstain from eating at the local fast food establishments, as well as fine dining restaurants. It was difficult to eat out with family members who are not Muslims and do not eat halal. (Now) my family ensures that they serve halal when I eat at their home. Abstaining from alcohol had its challenges at family get-togethers. They have ceased offering me alcohol, although they have not abstained from drinking in my presence. I am comfortable in my dietary requirements now and no longer find it a challenge maintaining a halal diet. However I do occasionally miss the odd glass of wine."

- Male convert

"Everything came in stages for me so at first I would eat meat from regular restaurants/grocery stores and would just eat chicken or beef at my family's house. Slowly I decided to only eat zabihah (meat from animals slaughtered in an Islamically permissible manner). It was more of a challenge for my parents but now whenever I am coming over they either make seafood or I bring the meat. What I think was more difficult is the fact that I will not go to any family dinners where alcohol will be served. Informal dinners at my father’s house are not an issue and he will not drink (in my presence) but I miss all the big family gatherings due to this (drinking alcohol) as they are not willing to give it up."

- Female convert

"When I became Muslim, I dreaded visiting family, until I realized I could leverage the situation in my favor. I'd stop get some halal meat to cook at their home for the whole family so I would not need to get into details of halal/haram and I could focus on spiritual aspects peacefully with them. Before I converted I was vegetarian and did not realize how much more there was to learn about food and health benefits. Islam taught me that I can better balance my lifestyle to avoid the many restrictions I was inventing and living. "

-  Female convert

"When I first became Muslim, I knew I had to cut beer and bacon out of my diet, and even though I love pepperoni pizza and the red beer from my hometown's local brewery, it ultimately didn't seem like such a daunting task. Little did I know, however, that cutting out alcohol and pork would involve not only much more drastic changes but also a great deal of mixed messages and controversy to wade through.

Early on, someone sent me to one of these websites that rates restaurants on how halal they are. I was totally traumatized. I sat in front of my computer in tears as I realized that I'd never be able to eat in a public restaurant again because, according to said site, not only did I have to worry about not having pepperoni on my pizza, but I also had to worry about whether the pizza cutter that cut my veggie pizza had come into contact with someone else's pepperoni, and whether the restaurant's beer tap may have accidentally splashed a drop of beer into my Coke.

I know the people who directed me to that site were well intentioned but they clearly had no wisdom or understanding of how to "break it to me gently"...and gradually. I wish all Muslims knew that the original converts (the Prophet's Companions) had spent 13 years just learning about tawheed (the oneness of Allah) before they even started praying, much less trying to change their food and drink. Then maybe fewer of today's converts would be so traumatized over this and other related issues."

- Female convert

I welcome any converts in or around the Ottawa area to contact me and assist me in answering my monthly questions and contribute their voices to this column. I can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . ■