A Journey of Faith: Because the spirit is more important than the body

Some of my friends have been asking me to write about my own spiritual journey in Islam. How did it begin? Maybe why? What did I find useful and beneficial? What was difficult and what gave me the most joy? Though I was born in a Muslim family, belief is a matter of conscious acceptance, not of accidental birth. What we choose to believe or reject must be done thoughtfully after due reflection and investigation because our present and our everlasting future both depend on it. It can't be left to incidental following of traditions and customs we don't even know the origin or meanings of just because our parents or elders used to do them. One's spiritual journey is as important, if not more, than one's journey in this life in terms of one's career or other criteria and so deserves equal mindshare and effort.