The Journey of Transformation and Belief

Ruba Qawar was raised in an Evangelical Christian environment that believed in “instant salvation.” Her father baptized her at the age of twelve, when she began serving in the church as a teacher and assistant in religious programs. She grew up believing that Christianity must spread across the world to bring global peace and prepare the earth for the return of Christ, who would rule humanity during what is called “the millennial reign.” Since childhood, she was also taught negative ideas about Islam — believing it to be a religion of violence, racism, slavery, and male dominance.

By the grace and mercy of Allah, Qawar embraced Islam in 2005 at the age of twenty-four. In the early days of her conversion, she struggled to accept the Sunnah due to lingering doubts and misconceptions she had learned about the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which led her to follow the Quranists (Qur’an-only sect) for the first six months — despite her former husband’s warnings. Later, she turned to the study of the creed of Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah (the people of the Sunnah and the community), specializing in Islamic theology and sects, and earned her bachelor’s degree. She followed the contemporary Salafi-Madkhali approach — known for its strictness — until 2010, when this extremism drove her to leave Islam and announce her return to Christianity.

Even after returning to Christianity, she did not find conviction in the doctrine of the Trinity or the divinity of Christ. She shifted from the Evangelical denomination to the Coptic Orthodox Church and was baptized a second time. Her apostasy during that phase stemmed largely from psychological struggles, difficult personal circumstances, and the emotional toll of an unhappy marriage and harsh treatment from some people.

In 2011, Ruba Qawar finally settled upon Islam once again after a long journey of searching and reflection. She decided to re-examine her understanding of the religion and learn Islam in its balanced, moderate form — according to the methodology of Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah, away from extremism. Although many people initially doubted her sincerity and were hesitant to interact with her, this did not stop her from continuing her studies under several scholars who trusted her and helped retrain her in authentic Islamic creed, jurisprudence, and character.

Ruba Qawar believes in the creed of Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah, which centers on faith in Allah — His oneness, names, and attributes — and belief in His Messenger ﷺ and all that he brought, according to the understanding of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) and those who followed them in righteousness. It is a balanced creed, steering a middle course between excess and neglect, between anthropomorphism and denial, and between compulsion and delegation. She believes that the sources of faith and law are the Qur’an and authentic Sunnah as understood by the early generations (the Salaf), giving precedence to authentic textual evidence over personal opinion. She rejects all religious innovations, regarding them as deviations from the Sunnah.

Qawar disavows all forms of polytheism, particularly the Christian doctrine of the Trinity, and prays that Allah grants her sincerity in word and deed and a good ending.

Her Current Mission

Today, Ruba Qawar dedicates her life to serving Islam and educating the new generation of Muslims — particularly new converts to Islam — through her role as founder and CEO of American Islamic Diversity Inc. (AID). Through this organization, she aims to support new Muslims, provide educational and awareness programs, and promote interfaith understanding and cultural harmony.

Qawar also produces educational and awareness media using artificial intelligence and animation technologies to teach Islamic principles and moral values in a modern and accessible way. She emphasizes that her mission is to “spread the light of Islam through wisdom and compassion.”