It took the loss of my brother for me to embrace his advice and finally live for myself, and in doing so, I found my way to Allah.

Islam had always been present in my life, even though I didn’t recognize its significance at first. From birth, I felt a deep connection to Allah, even as I grew up in a devout Christian family, surrounded by uncles who were pastors. But when my family split after we moved to the United States, I found myself grappling with identity issues, feeling lost and unsure of my path.

For years, I felt the pull to read the Quran, but I wanted to be certain that my choice to explore Islam was genuine. I immersed myself in studying different versions of the Bible—26 in total ( Which led me to publish my own book)—and spent years in research, wanting to eliminate any doubts before picking up the Quran. Without a car and limited resources, I also dreamt of creating a space where everything I needed for my journey to Islam would be easily accessible & the relationships and community i long for be present. This was the seed that eventually blossomed into Wali.

I began praying daily, fasting for three months straight, asking Allah for guidance and clarity,the last day of my fasting i did a dry fast ( no water, no food, no distractions for 3 days). In that period of spiritual searching, the vision for Wali took shape—a desire to create something remarkable to mirror the transformative step I was about to take.

The following year and same week my brother passed away, I made the decision to take my shahada, both for myself and in his honor. He had passed before making his own commitment to Allah, his beliefs misunderstood and rejected by our family, allowing him to have no one to rely but me. I chose to take my shahada at the Hagia Sophia, a place that resonated deeply with me. Once a church, then a mosque, its transformation mirrored my own—a Christian finding my way to Islam.

I bought my tickets to Istanbul with no concrete plans, trusting in Allah to guide me. I prayed for ease in my journey, a sign that my decision was right. And Allah answered. I met a kind Turkish family of Islamic teachers who took me in, supported me, and helped me complete my shahada. Their guidance was the final piece I needed to build Wali—a community where people could find knowledge and support, just as I had.

The day I took my shahada was nothing short of miraculous. There was an opening in the mosque that had been dim, but the moment I spoke my shahada, light flooded through, as if Allah Himself was illuminating my soul. In that moment, I felt an overwhelming sense of peace and clarity but also fear for my family and what to come ahead. I knew that I had made the right decision, and with that, the vision of Wali—born from my own journey—became clearer than ever.

Wali is more than just a resource; it’s a community, a light for those seeking guidance, just as I had. And it is my way of honoring the path that led me to Allah.

Date of reversion June 27th