Acceptance Not a Family Issue
The view expressed by two women converts was that their families of origin didn't have any say about their choice. They felt it really was not any of their family's business and if the daughter's decision was disturbing, it was the family's problem, not the daughter's. +The effect on my family members is nonexistent. I am an adult, and I choose to do what I want. We conduct ourselves as adults and do not ask for permission to live our lives. Religion is not an outward part of my parents' lives, and we do not talk about religious matters unless asked. When we move overseas, I hope they will understand, but if they don't, that is an issue that they will have to deal with.
Becoming Muslim has no effect on my relationship with my family. They knew they could accept or reject my religion; either way they had no influence. My husband (non-Muslim) accepted my changes because he respects me as a person. I live in the West [of the United States] and my relatives live in the East/Midwest. I feel as though they will never fully understand. But after they found out I was a Muslim.; and since there was no one that influenced me to make the choice, they accepted that Allah (SWT) guides who Allah wills.
In no instance did the questionnaire responses reflect that the women were becoming Muslim in order to anger their parents or family of origin or to try to get back at them in any way. Most were cognizant that relationships would be strained by their actions and tried to find ways to soften the news of their conversion. But for the women, this newfound faith was worth even the loss of their families if that was the only way it could be. They had chosen their path, and they intended to walk it.