How to Convert to Islam and Become a Muslim

Description: The steps a person needs to take to accept Islam as his/her religion, enter its fold, and become a Muslim.


By IslamReligion.com


Published on 27 Feb 2006 - Last modified on 23 Jan 2010



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Category: Articles
> How to Convert to Islam
> How to Convert to Islam and Become a Muslim

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The word “Muslim” means one who submits to the will of
God, regardless of their race, nationality or ethnic background. Becoming a
Muslim is a simple and easy process that requires no pre-requisites. One may convert
alone in privacy, or he/she may do so in the presence of others.



If anyone has a real desire to be a Muslim and has full
conviction and strong belief that Islam is the true religion of God, then, all one
needs to do is pronounce the “Shahada”, the testimony of faith, without
further delay. The “Shahada” is the first and most important of the five pillars
of Islam.




With the pronunciation of this testimony, or “Shahada”,
with sincere belief and conviction, one enters the fold of Islam.




Upon entering the fold of Islam purely for the Pleasure
of God, all of one’s previous sins are forgiven, and one starts a new life of
piety and righteousness. The Prophet said to a person who had placed the
condition upon the Prophet in accepting Islam that God would forgive his sins:


“Do you not know that accepting Islam destroys all
sins which come before it?” (Saheeh Muslim)


When one accepts Islam, they in essence repent from the
ways and beliefs of their previous life. One need not be overburdened by sins
committed before their acceptance. The person’s record is clean, and it is as if he was
just born from his mother’s womb. One should try as much as possible to keep
his records clean and strive to do as many good deeds as possible.


The Holy Quran and Hadeeth (prophetic sayings) both stress the importance of
following Islam. God states:


“...The only religion in the sight of God is Islam...” (Quran 3:19)


In another verse of the Holy Quran, God states:


“If anyone desires a religion other than Islam, never will it
be accepted of him; and in the Hereafter, he will be in the ranks of those who
have lost (their selves in the Hellfire).” (Quran 3:85)


In another saying, Muhammad, the Prophet of God, said:


“Whoever testifies that there in none worthy of
being worshipped but God, Who has no partner, and that Muhammad is His slave
and Prophet, and that Jesus is the Slave of God, His Prophet, and
His word[1] which He bestowed in Mary and a
spirit created from Him; and that Paradise (Heaven) is true, and that the Hellfire is
true, God will eventually admit him into Paradise, according to his deeds.” (Saheeh
Al-Bukhari)


The Prophet of God, may the blessing and mercy of God be upon him, also reported:


“Indeed God has forbidden to reside eternally in Hell
the person who says: “I testify that none has the right to worship except Allah
(God),’ seeking thereby the Face of God.” (Saheeh Al-Bukhari)

The Declaration of the Testimony (Shahada)




To convert to Islam
and become a Muslim a person needs to pronounce the below testimony with
conviction and understanding its meaning:


I testify “La ilah illa Allah, Muhammad rasoolu Allah.”


The translation of which is:


“I testify that there is no true god (deity) but God (Allah), and that Muhammad is a Messenger (Prophet) of God.”


To hear it click here or click on “Live Help” above for assistance by chat.


When someone
pronounces the testimony with conviction, then he/she has become a
Muslim. It can be done alone, but it is much better to be done with an
adviser through the “Live Help” at top, so we may help you in
pronouncing it right and to provide you with important resources for new
Muslims.


The first part of the testimony consists of the most
important truth that God revealed to mankind: that there is nothing divine or
worthy of being worshipped except for Almighty God. God states in the Holy
Quran:


“We did not send the Messenger before you without revealing to
him: ‘none has the right to be worshipped except I, therefore worship Me.’”
(Quran 21:25)


This conveys that all forms of worship, whether it be
praying, fasting, invoking, seeking refuge in, and offering an animal as
sacrifice, must be directed to God and to God alone. Directing any form of
worship to other than God (whether it be an angel, a messenger, Jesus,
Muhammad, a saint, an idol, the sun, the moon, a tree) is seen as a contradiction
to the fundamental message of Islam, and it is an unforgivable sin unless it is
repented from before one dies. All forms of worship must be directed to God
only.


Worship means the performance of deeds and sayings that please
God, things which He commanded or encouraged to be performed, either by direct
textual proof or by analogy. Thus, worship is not restricted to the
implementation of the five pillars of Islam, but also includes every aspect of
life. Providing food for one’s family, and saying something pleasant to cheer a
person up are also considered acts of worship, if such is done with the
intention of pleasing God. This means that, to be accepted, all acts of
worship must be carried out sincerely for the Sake of God alone.


The second part of the testimony means that Prophet Muhammad
is the servant and chosen messenger of God. This implies that one obeys and
follows the commands of the Prophet. One must believe in what he has said,
practice his teachings and avoid what he has forbidden. One must therefore worship
God only according to his teaching alone, for all the teachings of the Prophet
were in fact revelations and inspirations conveyed to him by God.


One must try to mold their lives and character and
emulate the Prophet, as he was a living example for humans to follow. God
says:


“And indeed you are upon a high standard of moral character.”
(Quran 68:4)


God also said:


“And in deed you have a good and upright example in the Messenger
of God, for those who hope in the meeting of God and the Hereafter, and
mentions God much.” (Quran 33:21)


He was sent in order to practically implement the Quran,
in his saying, deeds, legislation as well as all other facets of life. Aisha,
the wife of the Prophet, when asked about the character of the Prophet,
replied:


“His character was that of the Quran.” (As-Suyooti)


To truly adhere to the second part of the Shahada is
to follow his example in all walks of life. God says:


“Say (O Muhammad to mankind): ‘If you (really) love God, then
follow me.’” (Quran 3:31)


It also means that Muhammad is the Final Prophet and
Messenger of God, and that no (true) Prophet can come after him.


“Muhammad is not the father of any man among you but he is the
Messenger of God and the last (end) of the Prophets and God is Ever All-Aware
of everything.” (Quran 33:40)


All who claim to be prophets or receive revelation after
Muhammad are imposters, and to acknowledge them would be tantamount
to disbelief.


We welcome you to Islam, congratulate you for your
decision, and will try to help you in any way we can.

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Footnotes:



[1] God created
him through His statement, “Be!”