Ricardo’s story is a remarkable example of what happens when an honest, truth-seeking person refuses to stop searching until he finds the answer that satisfies both the mind and the heart. Raised in a Mexican-Puerto Rican Catholic household in Chicago’s north side, Ricardo spent years studying multiple religions — Buddhism, Judaism, and others — before settling back into devout Catholicism. He attended church every Sunday, prayed every night, and was deeply moved by the stories and sayings of Jesus (Isa, peace be upon him). But when a friend introduced him to Islam, he embarked on seven and a half months of intense, daily study that culminated in him and his younger brother taking their shahada together in 1995.
Seven and a Half Months of Intense Study Led to the Truth
“I read the Quran in about a week — I couldn’t put it down. The truth just hit me like a brick. This wasn’t an emotional experience. Every day I studied, I asked questions, and I investigated. When you’re beholden to the truth, nothing can stop you from following it.”
What makes Ricardo’s conversion so powerful is that it was anything but impulsive. He had already studied world religions, concluded that all faiths were different roads to God, and chosen Catholicism. But he had never studied Islam. When he finally did, the clarity of Tawheed (the oneness of God), the consistency of the Quran, and the life of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) presented a case so compelling that he could not turn away. He and his brother came home that evening and told their parents — and what followed was a painful confrontation that lasted until four in the morning. Yet the truth they had found was worth every difficulty.
- Ricardo studied Islam intensely for 7.5 months before accepting it — this was a deeply intellectual and spiritual process, not an emotional reaction
- He read the entire Quran in one week after purchasing it from a bookstore on his own initiative
- Both he and his younger brother accepted Islam at the same time, taking shahada together
- His family initially opposed the decision strongly, but the truth of Islam could not be denied once it was discovered
- As a former devout Catholic who loved Jesus (peace be upon him), Islam did not ask him to abandon Jesus — it showed him the true message Jesus brought: worship God alone
- Ricardo emphasizes that the Quran consistently links success with internal change — “Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves”
The Quran’s Message on Self-Improvement and Internal Change
“Whenever you see external factors in the Quran, they’re associated with warnings and consequences. Whenever you see internal factors, they’re associated with success. It all comes back to changing what’s within yourself first.”
Ricardo’s journey carries a vital lesson for every seeker: do not settle for assumptions about Islam based on media propaganda or secondhand information. If a devout Catholic from Chicago’s north side — who had every reason to stay in his comfort zone — could find the truth of Islam through sincere study, then anyone can. The key is sincerity, humility, and a willingness to ask the Creator directly for guidance. As the Quran promises, Allah does not change the condition of a people until they change what is within themselves. Take those necessary steps, humble yourself before your Lord, and ask Him to show you the truth. Call 1-800-662-ISLAM with any questions, and may Allah guide every sincere heart to the straight path.
