How to Become a Muslim

With nearly two billion members and still growing, Islam is, by various metrics, the fastest growing religion in the world. ^{[1] X Source of Research} In terms of simplicity of entry for new members, Islam is in a rather unique position in the religious world as it requires only a sincere and simple statement of faith to become a Muslim. This statement cannot be made lightly, but dedicating yourself to a life guided by Islamic principles will be one of the most important (even crucial) decisions you make. best) that you have ever given in your life.

You should know that accepting Islam will erase all the sins that you have committed in the past. As a new convert, your background is completely clean; almost reborn. You should do your best to keep your life pure and do as many good deeds as possible.

Note that Islam does not support killing; For most religions, killing is a huge crime. Such extreme behavior is not encouraged at all. Islam also has modest dress code requirements that are obligatory for all Muslims.

Table of Contents

Convert to Islam

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Make sure you understand what it means to be a Muslim and how to behave as a Muslim. The first and foremost rule of a Muslim is to believe only in Allah. Allah is the only saint, Creator and Almighty. He is the only person you should do good deeds for and be worshiped as. Nothing is worthy of standing beside Him. Allah’s Messenger, Muhammad (peace be with him) is the messenger and also the last Prophet sent to earth, and there will be no more prophets after him. Islam considers itself to be the natural outgrowth of all creation. That means that Islam is an original and perfect entity. So when a person “converts” to Islam, they are actually reverting to their original self.

Islam considers everyone who lives according to its teachings to be a Muslim, regardless of where or what era that person is living in. For example, Islam believes that Jesus was a Muslim, even though he lived hundreds of years before the historical establishment of modern Islam.
Allah, the Arabic word for Lord, refers to the same God worshiped by Christians and Jews (also known as Lord Abraham). Therefore, Muslims always have a reverent attitude towards the prophets of Christianity and Judaism (including Jesus, Moses, David, Elijah, etc.) and consider the Bible and Torah to be accepted books. are divinely inspired but change over time, and hence become unreliable. The Quran is the last book of God that affirms the truth in the previous scriptures and corrects any mistakes and distortions over time.
Avoid associating yourself with any sect in Islam. Allah and his prophets command unity for all of us. Therefore, Muslims should only submit to Allah and the Prophets to avoid bid’ah (renovation in religious matters). If Allah and the prophets do not give orders or actions, do not do anything.
- “Indeed, those who have divided religions and created their own sects, [O Muhammad], are not [connected] with them in any way. Your story belongs only to Allah [ decide]; then He will tell them of the sins they have committed.” [6:159] ^{[2] X Research Source}
- The prophet (ﷺ) said: “Beware! Those who read this book have been divided into seventy-two sects, and this community will be further divided into seventy-three parts: seventy-two of these will descend. Hell and one will go to Heaven, and that will be most denominations.” ^{[3] X Research Sources}

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Read Islamic scriptures. The Quran is the central religious book of Islam, said to have been written in the pure words of God and is the culmination of the Biblical and Jewish climax. ^{[4] X Research Sources} Another very important religious scripture is the Hadith, the sayings and explanations of Muhammad. The Hadith is the foundation for no small part of Islamic law. ^{[5] X Research Resources} Reading these books will help you understand the stories, laws, or dogmas that make up the Islamic faith.

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Talk to the Imams. Imam are religious scholars of Islam who specialize in performing religious activities inside and outside the mosque (Masjid). Imams are selected based on their knowledge of Islamic scriptures and dignity. A good Imam can give you advice when deciding whether you are ready to dedicate your life to Islam.

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Get to know Shahada. If you are absolutely certain that you want to be a follower of Islam and are completely obedient to the will of Allah, all you need is to recite the Shahada, a brief statement of faith. Note that, once you have read the Shahada, you have accepted to commit your life to Islam. The words in the Shahada are ” Ash-hadu anla elaha illa-Allah wa ash-hadu anna Mhammadur rasul-Allah “, which means “I confirm that there is only one god, Allah, and I confirm that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.” ^{[6] X Source of Research}^{[7] X Source of Research} By reading the Shahada, you have become a Muslim.

The first part of the Shahada (” Ash-hadu anla elaha illa-Allah “) refers not only to gods from other religions, but also to what can take the place of Allah in your heart, for example. like wealth and power. ^{[8] X Research Sources}
The second part of the Shahada (” wa ash-hadu anna Mhammadur rasul-Allah “) is the recognition that Muhammad is the last messenger of Allah. Muslims must live according to the principles of Muhammad, spelled out in the Quran, and follow his example.
The Shahada must be recited with sincerity and understanding of attachment. You can’t become a Muslim just by pronouncing a few words—the constant recitation of words is a reflection of the faith held in the heart.
Never kill, lie, steal, or do anything like that, and obey Allah’s requirements as to how He wants to be worshipped. In other words, you will have to follow the Islamic rules.

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To become a legitimate member of the Muslim community, ask someone to testify at your first recitation. The witness does not have to be a Muslim—Since God sees through everything, just a single passage of the Shahada recited with faith will make you a Muslim in God’s eyes. However, to be legally recognized in mosques, you usually have to recite the Shahada in front of witnesses—usually two Muslims or an Imam (Islamic religious leader) granted. the right to certify your new faith.

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Purify yourself. Immediately after becoming a Muslim, you should shower as a way to purify yourself. This action symbolizes washing away the past and reaching out to light from the darkness.

No one’s sin is too serious to forbid this purification. Immediately after reciting the Shahada, your past sins will be forgiven and you will be a pure human being. Symbolically speaking, you will begin a new life focused on perfecting your soul through good deeds.
Men are encouraged to get circumcised as soon as possible after becoming a Muslim. While this may seem daunting, cleanliness is considered extremely important and this act also shows love to Allah, seeking His reward. The mosque where you live can connect you to a nearby hospital, where the procedure can be performed in a sterile environment at the hands of qualified professionals.

Live according to Islamic principles

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Say your prayer to God. If you don’t know how to pray like a Muslim, the easiest way to learn is to attend five daily prayers at the church. Prayer should be a relaxing, enjoyable activity, but be aware that praying five times a day is mandatory for all longtime Muslims. Take time to pray. Avoid praying in a hurry to get maximum benefit.

Remember, prayer is the spiritual bridge between you and the entities that keep your heart beating and create the universe. Prayer will bring serenity, happiness and peace. Prayer will become familiar and improve over time. Avoid being overbearing or ostentatious with your prayers—pray simply and humbly. Your first goal is to create a habit and then turn it into an enjoyable and satisfying experience.
Schedule five daily prayers. Make sure you leave enough time for invocations (dua) after the obligatory prayer, as this is how Muslims ask for help from Allah. Try to get into the habit of making your requests every time you pray.
Send your prayers to Allah for good intentions and success in life. However, always remember the following two things. First, you must do the work that Allah asks of you. It is not enough just to pray for success—you must do what is necessary to achieve this. Second, always believe in Allah no matter what happens. Material success is fleeting, but Allah is eternal—always dedicate yourself to Allah whether you succeed or not.
Remember, Allah exists independently and does not really need human worship, instead, He asks us to pray for our own sake.

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Fulfill the obligations of the Church (Fard). Islam requires its followers to perform certain obligations. These obligations are called “Fard”. There are two types of Fards: Fard al-Ayn and Fard al-Kifaya. Fard al-Ayn is a personal obligation—something all Muslims must do if they can afford it, like praying daily and fasting during Ramadan. ^{[9] X Resources} Fard al-Kifaya is a community obligation—things that we need to do as part of a community, even if not all members do it. Example: If a Muslim dies, several other Muslims in the community need to gather and recite the funeral prayer. Not all Muslims need to read prayers. However, if no one reads this prayer, the whole community will suffer.

Those who believe in Islam are also required to adhere to the Sunnah, a lifestyle guide based on the life of the Prophet Muhammad. Some of these behaviors are encouraged, some are mandatory. The words of the Prophet Muhammad narrated in the Hadith will tell you what action is required.

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Observation of Islamic rites (Adab). Muslims are required to live certain ways, avoiding some of these behaviors and accepting others. As a Muslim, you will have to keep some habits such as the following (and many others):

Observing and practicing the halal diet. Muslims abstain from eating pork, carrots and drinking alcohol. Besides, the meat also needs to go through proper slaughtering done by an authorized Muslim.
Say “Bismillah” (“In the Name of God”) before meals.
Eat with your right hand, never with your left hand.
Proper personal hygiene.
Avoid unnecessary interactions with the opposite sex. Remember, any form of sexual activity outside of marriage is forbidden in Islam.
Married women must abstain from sex during menstruation.
Study and adhere to the Islamic dress code, known for its great emphasis on modesty.

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Understand and apply the five pillars of Islam. The Five Pillars of Islam are obligatory actions that Muslims must perform. These pillars represent the core of the life of pious Muslims. These five pillars are:

A statement of faith (Shahada). You will have to do this when you become a Muslim by declaring that there are no saints but Allah and His Messenger Muhammad.
Perform prayer five times per day (Salah). Prayers take place during the day, five times, towards Mecca.
Fast during the month of Ramadan (Sawm) if possible. Ramadan is a holy period of Muslims represented by fasting and doing good deeds such as prayer and charity.
Give 2.5% of your wealth to the poor (Zakat). Muslims consider helping the less fortunate as the responsibility of each individual in the community.
Pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj). All capable people are required to make the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their life.

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Believe in the Six Creeds. Muslims must have faith in Allah and His almighty commands even though these cannot be perceived by the senses of ordinary people. The six creeds that Muslims must believe in are:

Allah (Lord). God is the creator of the universe and the only one worthy of worship.
His Angel. Angels are devoted servants of God’s divine will.
The bible was handed down by him. The Quran is the embodiment of God’s perfect will revealed to Muhammad through the angel Gabriel (Christian and Jewish scriptures are also considered holy books, with content given by Allah but partly not small has changed over time).
His messenger. God sent Prophets (including Jesus, Abraham, and many others) to earth to preach his teachings.
Day of reckoning. God will judge all living things on earth at a time known only to Him.
Destiny. God predestined everything—nothing happens without His will or foreknowledge.

Developing Faith

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Continue reading the Quran. You can learn many things from the translations of the Quran. Some versions will be more difficult to understand than others. Abdullah Yusuf Ali and Pickthall are the two most popular translations of the Quran, but try reading Sahih International if you are having trouble understanding Old English in the other translations. However, it is often better to seek help from those trained and studied in the Quran than to rely solely on yourself when it comes to understanding the Quran. A mosque near where you live will be happy to guide and assist you in learning about Islam, and many also host study groups for beginners, which is often a good place to start. Be careful, but always feel free to seek out people you feel good about and believe are knowledgeable enough to support you.

Many Muslims spend most of their time memorizing the Quran in search of valuable “treasures”. As your Arabic improves, try to memorize some of your favorite surahs. You can read these verses again in prayer or whenever you need spiritual support.
Study and study “genuine” hadith collections (sayings or actions of the Prophet Muhammad [pbuh]), such as Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim. Visit Sunnah.com to read these series.

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Study Islamic Law and choose for yourself a school (you can choose or not). In Sunni Islam, the religious code is divided into four schools of thought. Read the different schools carefully and choose the one that appeals to you the most. Registering with any school will get you the interpretation of Islamic Law as revealed in the origin of Islam [Quran and Sunnah]. Note that all schools are equally valid. Although the Shariah law may be strict in the beginning, the laws and punishments are Allah’s gift to ensure a safe and just society. Do your best to get used to it and try to put what you learn into your life. The officially recognized schools are:

Hanafi. The Hanafi school, founded by Imam Al A’dham Nu’man Abu Hanifa, is the most widely practiced and most informative school in English, it stretches from the famously mundane region of Turkey. Period until the Ultra-Orthodox Deobandis and Barelvis area. Most Hanafis live in the Indian subcontinent, Türkiye, and many non-Muslim countries.
Shafi’i. The Shafi’i school, founded by Imam Abu ‘Abdillah Muhammad Al-Shafi’i, ranks second in popularity and has a majority Muslim population in countries such as Egypt and East Africa, as well as Yemen, Malaysia and Indonesia. The Shafi’i school is known for its extremely complex legal system.
Maliki. The Maliki school was founded by Imam Abu Anas Malik, a student of Imam Abu Hanifa; This is the main school of the North and North West Africa region, with a relative number of practitioners in Saudi Arabia. Imam Malik got the idea for his school from the Madinah; A famous Maliki scholar was Hamza Yusuf.
Hanbali. The Hanbali school was founded by Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal and is practiced almost nowhere but Saudi Arabia, with a few apostles in Western countries. The Hanbali school pays great attention to religious practices, rituals, and is the most conservative and strict school.
You are not required to practice any of the four schools of thought above. These do not exist around the same time as the Prophet Mohammad, and are simply different interpretations of certain actions such as prayer. Don’t worry if the people around you are of a different sect than you; Islam has always issued a warning to those who seek to divide this religion into many sects. Just follow what is written in the Quran and Sunnah, you will never get lost.

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Most importantly, be the best person you can be. No matter what makes you angry, sad or frustrated, your duty in this world is to be the best human you can be by serving Allah and seeking His reward. Muslims believe that Allah created human beings so that we can live a happy and joyful life through acts of submission to Him. Use your talents to help others and improve your community. Open your mind. Never harm others. It is his duty to propagate Islam, and let everyone understand that Islam is the religion of peace.

Like many other religions, supporters of Islam adhere to the “Golden Rule”. Follow the advice of the Prophet in the Hadith as follows:

Advice

Try to meet as many knowledgeable, devout Muslims as possible—They are the ones who are likely to answer your questions more often.
You are never alone—There are many converts to Islam around the world. You can meet them at the mosque where you live.
If you realize that you have made a mistake, sincerely repent, pray for forgiveness and Allah will hear your prayers.
Do not rush to accept the life of a Muslim. You will need to have a deep understanding of the laws that make up an exemplary Muslim before you can convert to Islam. Although there is much to learn, these laws should feel natural, since Islam is the religion of the “natural state”.
Take evening/weekend classes at local churches to learn more about Islam. Islam is not just a religion—it is a way of life, providing its followers with guidance from birth to death.
Take time each day to read the Quran and study Islam—study is a lifelong obligation and the more you know about Islam, the more you will benefit.
It is very important to perform the rite of baptism before the salah.
Always try to read books about the Prophets. This will increase your understanding of Islam and make you feel better.
Remember Allah at all times, not just when you need or are in trouble.
Not all Muslims wear the veil, depending on their understanding of the Quran. If they choose not to wear it, it doesn’t mean that they are not modest people.

Warning

Like every other religion, Islam also has extremists, these are people who think they are trying to perfect this religion to harm the community, support acts of hatred and violence. force. Be careful with the sources from which you get information about your religion. If you read something that claims to be Muslim but seems odd or extreme, listen to a moderate devout Muslim you know.
You may come across people who are hostile to your faith. Unfortunately, Muslims are sometimes the target of ugly comments and personal attacks, such as being called terrorists. ^{[10] X Research Source} Be strong and steadfast, Allah will reward you well.
There are too many misconceptions about Islam, so confirm what you hear with the Quran and the traditional activities of the Prophet. If you need help understanding a certain aspect of Islam, ask a scholar or an Imam at your local mosque.

Steps

Convert to Islam

Live according to Islamic principles

Developing Faith

Advice

Warning

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