As he sat outside during a recent lunch break on the Sacramento State campus, barely a minute passed before students began approaching Jarrod Long. They came to ask a question, confirm a social event, or just to say hello.

“Assalaam walaikum,” the 24-year-old humanities and religious studies major greeted each person in return, an Arabic phrase meaning, “Peace be upon you.”

As the president of the Muslim Students Association, Long is a familiar face within the Muslim community on campus. He welcomes discussion surrounding his devotion to the Islamic faith and frequently quotes the teachings of the Quran, the Muslim holy book, in conversation.

While Long is a respected and faithful Muslim, his religious conviction is relatively new. Raised as a Catholic, it was only a year and one half ago, on his 23rd birthday, that he converted to Islam.

RISING TREND

Long represents an increasing number of Americans who are converting to Islam from other religions. The approaching of Ramadan ?” the month-long Islamic reflection period beginning Sept. 23 where Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset ?” has pushed this trend into the spotlight. While there are no studies known to have examined conversion rates, the Sacramento Bee purported Islam to be the fastest growing religion in the world. Time Magazine also estimated that the number of Muslim converts in the U.S. and Europe number in the hundreds of thousands.

STUDENT INTEREST

Ashley Avecilla, 22, is another Sac State student who recently converted to Islam after taking Shahadah, the Islamic testimony of faith. On Aug. 27, she declared her devotion at a Sacramento mosque, the center for Islamic worship.

Although she was baptized in the Catholic church, Avecilla was introduced to Islam by friends in high school. She didn’t understand the faith but developed an interest in it. Her interest grew in college when she purchased a book on Islam and enrolled in an Islamic Studies course.

“One morning I just woke up and knew it was time,” she said.

There are other students who, like Avecilla, are turning to academics for answers. Erin Stiles, assistant professor in humanities and religious studies, has taught courses to introduce students to Islam and Islamic cultures for three years at Sac State. After arriving in 2003, she was impressed by students’ eagerness to learn about the religion.

“Right off the bat there was a great deal of interest,” Stiles said. “For a class with a cap of 40 students, we usually have at least twice that number trying to get in.”

The department will offer an introduction to Islam course next semester for 120 students. Stiles, who is not Muslim, believes terrorist attacks by Muslim extremists fueled interest in the religion.

“I think, in part, it has to do with September 11 (2001) and people wanting to move away from stereotypes you see in the media or biased views you hear on the street,” Stiles said.

While approximately 25 percent of the students enrolled are from a Muslim background, the rest have no previous knowledge of the religion. Stiles also said that, although she isn’t aware of students who have converted to Islam after taking her course, it is a possibility.

REASONING

While Stiles hasn’t studied conversion to Islam, she pointed out that each individual has personal reasons for converting.

“People are drawn to religions for so many reasons,” she said.

Long and Avecilla embraced Islam after a process of self-reflection. For Long, his search was stimulated by the death of his mother, who was also very spiritual. He studied Christianity, Buddhism and Hinduism before coming across Islam.

“It was actually the last religion I looked at,” Long said. He was drawn to the simplicity of Islam and the religion’s emphasis on a one-on-one relationship with Allah, the Muslim word for God.

On the other hand, Avecilla was attracted to the faith’s emphasis on community.

“A lot of us focus on ourselves as individuals and forget how much we do need that connection with other people,” she said.

ADJUSTING

While she appreciated that Islam complimented her personal beliefs, Avecilla’s conversion has not been without adjustment. She admitted that not all of her family and friends initially welcomed her new faith.

“Some of my non-Muslim friends were a bit confused about it,” Avecilla said. “They didn’t know what Islam was about.”

She is also not prepared to wear the traditional hijab, a headscarf worn by Muslim women.

“It’s preferable that you wear it, but it’s a big step to take,” she said. “It’s something you have to really be committed to.”

She doesn’t know if she’ll ever be ready to make the commitment, but, if she does, it won’t be for a long time.

“I’m still getting used to wearing sleeves in the summer,” she remarked. “It’s so hot!”

Avecilla dresses more conservatively than before, preferring to wear loose-fitting clothing that doesn’t divert attention from her inner qualities to her outward appearance. She said it’s been worth it.

“I go to bed feeling a little bit more content at night,” she said. “I’ve found a special place in my heart.”

For Sac State student Larissa Prudence, 22, Islam also coincided with her spiritual convictions.

“After looking at both the Bible and the Quran, it basically made the most sense to me,” Prudence said.

While many students mark their birthdays with a night out, Prudence marked her birthday last week with a personal celebration.

After gathering for dinner with friends, she surprised everyone by announcing that she was visiting a mosque afterwards. There, she declared her submission to Allah.

“I woke up in the morning and thought, ‘It’s a new day, a new beginning,'” she said. “It fit perfectly.”

The transition has been relatively smooth for Prudence, who was raised conservatively in a mixed-religious household.

“Islam already fit with how I led my life, so it wasn’t a radical change,” she said. “My family is also pretty open-minded, so they’ve been accepting.”

While Prudence has experimented with wearing the hijab, she, like Avecilla, has opted not to adopt the traditional dress for financial reasons.

“It was too expensive to buy all new clothes,” she said. “But I would definitely consider it in the future.”

REACTIONS

Long, Avecilla and Prudence said reactions to their conversions have been positive on campus and in the community. The only negative encounter Long has experienced was outside of Sacramento. He also wants to emphasize that the behaviors of terrorists should not represent his religion.

“These actions are not indicative of what Islam actually teaches,” he said. “Muslims feel as offended by these terrorist attacks as does everyone else.”

Long said it is important for people to learn about Islam in order to dismiss such perceptions. He suggested that a person with any questions visit a local mosque.

Students can also participate in MSA events such as Fast for a Day on Oct. 9. The event gives non-Muslim students an opportunity to experience what those who are poor or hungry endure daily and will be broken by a group meal after sunset.

Stiles is also careful to address misconceptions in her courses.

“One of the first things we do is brainstorm perceptions and stereotypes of Islam,” Stiles said. “The students usually don’t hold these views but are aware of them, so it is important to understand why they might be inappropriate.”

For Long, his faith has become such a strong force in his life that any reaction would be worth it. “Islam has offered me a sense of contentment that can’t be shaken,” he said. “I am thankful for whatever comes my way.”

Megan Chuchmach can be reached at [email protected]