Becoming a Muslim is easy – you just say the Shahada (testimony of faith): I bear witness that there is no God but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger…and you’re in! But actually choosing to become a Muslim, especially in the West today, is not so easy. It can, in fact, present unique challenges.

So You Want to be a Muslim introduces viewers to five North American individuals who have left their respective faith traditions to embrace Islam.

For these five – Barbara, Stephanie, Rima, Johnae and Eli – the transition from one religion to another can be simultaneously enlightening and daunting. Each of the people profiled in the film takes us on a journey that, collectively, illuminates the striking diversity of the Muslim community.

Even as they find peace and meaning in their new faith, the varied experiences of these “new’ Muslims speak to the reality of the ‘West vs the rest’ mentality. Barbara, Stephanie, Rima, Johnae and Eli all reflect on what it’s like to live between two worlds, often feeling ‘othered’ both inside and outside of their communities.

With words like “extremist”, “jihadist”, and “terrorist” plaguing mainstream dialogue when the subject of Islam and Muslims come up in our Western society, the deeply personal stories revealed by the diverse group of people in this film help break stereotypes, challenge our preconceived notions about Islam, and reveal the struggles and truths around what it means to be a Muslim in the West today.