My name is Rhys, and I’m from Cardiff. I’ve been Muslim for about a year and a half now, but my journey didn’t start anywhere near a mosque.
I grew up in Cardiff in a loving home. Like any kid, I got into things growing up, but my mum and dad did their absolute best to give us a good upbringing. They laid strong foundations in our home—values, discipline, and a sense of right and wrong. Both of my parents were heavily involved in the church, so Christianity was a big part of our lives. I took a lot from that environment, especially the sense of community and belief in God. But as I grew older, something always felt missing.
The idea that Jesus was God and the concept of the Trinity never fully made sense to me. No matter how much I tried to understand it, there was always a disconnect I couldn’t ignore. I carried those questions quietly for years.
Before Islam entered my life properly, my view of it was shaped by Western media. Events like 9/11 left a huge impression on me, and that became my first real image of Muslims. I thought Islam was aggressive and violent, and that Muslims held extremist views. Looking back now, I can see how far that was from the truth.
Islam first came into my life through someone I was with at the time. When she introduced it to me, I was completely against it. I couldn’t see how it would ever work, especially coming from a Christian household and knowing my parents’ beliefs.
Eventually, I decided to put my assumptions aside.
I told myself I would simply read the Qur’an and see for myself. So I bought a copy and began reading. Almost immediately, things started to fall into place. The words felt true in a way I had never experienced before. The questions I had carried for so long were being answered, not just logically, but in my heart.
At the time, I didn’t feel connected to a Muslim community. One day at work, I searched for Arabic lessons in Cardiff and ended up calling a woman who ran an Arabic course. For two months, I studied Arabic with her—before I was even Muslim.
She later put me in contact with a local mosque.
That visit changed everything.
I went to the mosque, took my shahada, and officially embraced Islam. I met brothers who welcomed me and supported me, and I began to truly integrate into the Muslim community in Cardiff.
Looking back now, every step of the journey feels guided. What once confused me became clear. What I misunderstood became truth.
