Ibrahim_06

My name is Ibrahim. I’m 25 years old. I was born and raised in Dubai and completed most of my schooling there. In 2018- I began pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce . Later- in search of better opportunities and with the support of my father- I decided to continue my studies abroad. I arrived in Canada in May 2023 and pursued a Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Accounting- graduating in September 2025. Throughout my studies- I worked off campus to cover my expenses. This phase of my life was very challenging. Being homesick- living alone in a foreign country- and managing all my daily chores were experiences that were completely new to me. Alhamdulillah- by the mercy of Allah- that difficult phase of my life also passed. Currently- I am on a three-year work permit. I am transitioning from regular jobs to a position related to my field to build a better lifestyle and work toward achieving permanent residency in Canada- bi idhnillah. My Journey with Islam Growing up in a Muslim country had a very strong impact on me as an individual. People around me were generally kind and carried a certain sense of belief and faith within them- whether they were practicing Muslims or not. My schooling was done in a very conservative school- which initially felt a bit ajeeb -strange- to me. As I grew up- most of my friends were Muslims. We often had open discussions about Islam and also about my previous religion- Sikhism. These conversations led me to question my own belief system and think more deeply about mankind and the purpose of life. I could not find the answers I was looking for within Sikhism- so I began exploring other perspectives. At first- I approached this exploration almost like a hobby—reading and learning out of curiosity- without taking it too seriously. When I arrived in Canada- everything felt nice and welcoming. The newfound freedom and independence were something completely new for me. As time passed- that phase also faded. Being homesick and curious- I began comparing life in Canada with life in the UAE. At the end- the schooling life didn’t feel ajeeb. I started asking myself questions such as: Why do people behave differently here- Why are certain drugs banned in the UAE but legal here- Why do people sometimes do irresponsible things without much accountability- Long story short- during Ramadan 1445- by the mercy of Allah -SWT-- I accepted Islam. After doing my research and reflecting deeply- I felt content and truly satisfied with Islam. My Family I come from a family of five originally from Punjab- India. My family includes my father- my mother- my two sisters- and me. I have a close relationship with both of my sisters. My eldest sister is six years older than me and works as an accountant. My other sister- who is four years older than me- is an interior designer and is also married. My father moved to Dubai in the early 1990s in search of better opportunities. I was born and raised in Dubai- and growing up my family maintained strong values and a close bond with one another. We come from a middle-class background- and my father always tried to provide us with stability and opportunities for a better future. My parents don’t know that I reverted to Islam. My sisters do know of my decision. The reasoning of not informing my parents is due to extenuating circumstances-which can be discussed-.