http://www.islamhouse.com/
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HOW TO BECOME A MUSLIM?
All praises be to Allah, the
Lord of the Universe. May the
peace and blessings of Allah be
upon Muhammad His last
messenger.
The objective of this handout is
to correct a false idea spread
among those willing to adopt
Islam as their faith. Some
people are facing difficulties
on the basis of their mistaken
belief that entering into the
Islamic fold requires an
announcement from the concerned
person in the presence of high
ranking scholars or sheikhs or
reporting this act to courts of
justice or other authorities. It
is also thought that the act of
accepting Islam, should, as a
condition have a certificate
issued by the authorities as an
evidence to that effect.
We wish to clarify that the
whole matter is very easy and
that none of the above mentioned
conditions or obligations are
required. For Allah; the
Almighty, is above all
comprehension and knows well the
secrets of all hearts.
Nevertheless, those who are
going to adopt Islam as their
religion are Muslims with the
concerned governmental agency,
as this procedure may facilitate
for them many matters including
the possibility of performing
Hajj and Umrah.
If anyone has a real desire to
be a Muslim and has full
conviction and strong belief
that Islam is the true religion
ordained by Allah (SWT) for all
human beings, then, one should
pronounce that "Shahada" (The
testimony of faith) without
further delay. The Holy Qur'an
is explicit in this regard as
Allah (SWT) has stated.
"Truly, the Religion on the
sight of Allah is Islam." (3:19)
In another verse of the Holy
Qur'an, Allah (SWT) has stated:
"And whosoever desires a
religion other that Islam, never
will it accepted of him; and in
the Hereafter he will be in the
ranks of those who are lost."
(3:85)
In addition, Islam is the only
Religion prevailing over all
other religions. Allah (SWT) has
stated in the Holy Qur'an;
"And to thee. We have sent the
Book in truth, (This Qur'an)
confirming the scripture that
came before it, and a witness
over it..." (5:48)
Muhammad, the Prophet of Allah
(Peace and blessing of Allah be
upon him), said:
"Islam is based on five pillars:
testifying that there is no God
worthy to be worshipped but
Allah, and that Muhammad is the
messenger of Allah and His
servant; performing the prayer;
paying the Zakat (obligatory
charity); fasting the month of
Ramadan; and perfuming Hajj."
The Shahada can be declared as
follows:
''ASH-HADU ANLAA ILAHA ILLA
ALLAH WA ASH HADU ANNA
MUHAMMADAN ABDUHU WA RASUULUH."
The English translation is:
"I bear witness that there is no
deity worthy to be worshipped
but Allah, and I bear witness
the Muhammad is His servant and
messenger.''
However, it would not be
sufficient for anyone to utter
only this testimony orally
either in private or in public,
but rather, one should believe
in it by heart with a firm
conviction with the teachings of
Islam in all his life he will
find himself a new born person,
(or new man).
This will move him to strive
more and more to improve his
character and draw nearer to
perfection. The light of the
living faith will fill his heart
until be becomes the embodiment
of that faith.
What would be next after
declaring the testimony of faith
(Shahada) and then becoming a
Muslim? He should know the real
concept underlying this
testimony which means the
Oneness of Allah and accept
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), as the
last of the Prophet, and meet
its requirements. He must behave
accordingly applying this true
faith to every thing he speaks
or does. What do the words of
"Shahada" signify.
The significant point which
every Muslim must know very well
is the truth that there is no
God (ditty) to be worshipped
other than Allah, (Glory be
Him). He is the only true God,
Who Alone deserves to be
worshipped, since He is the
Giver of life and Sustainer and
Nourisher of mankind and all
creation with His unlimited
bounties. Man must worship
Allah, Who Alone is worthy of
worship.
The second part of the "Sahada"
i. e. "We ashhadu anna
Muhammadan abduhu wa rasuluh"
means that Prophet Muhammad
(PBUH), is the servant and
chosen messenger of Allah. No
one must have two opinions about
this matter. In fact, the Muslim
has to obey the commands of the
Prophet (PBUH), to believe him
in what he has said, to follow
his teachings, to avoid what he
has forbidden, and to worship
Allah alone according to the
message revealed to him.
What is the meaning of worship?
It simply means rendering
sincere service; showing
reverence for Allah. In a deeper
shade of meaning, it implies
total submission and complete
obedience to Allah's
Commandments both in utterances
and actions of man whether
explicit or implicit and whether
private or public.
Worship falls into two
categories:
Visible (manifest or outward)
Invisible (concealed or inward)
Visible worship includes acts
such as uttering the two parts
of the "Shahada" performing
prayers, giving Zakat
(Obligatory charity), observing
fast in the month of Ramadan,
performing Hajj, recitation of
the Holy Qur'an, supplication,
adoring Allah by praising Him,
purifying our bodies before
prayers, etc.
This type of worship is
associated with movement of the
parts of human body, [actions].
Invisible worship is to believe
in Allah, in the Day of
Judgment, in the Hereafter, in
the Angels, in the Books of
Allah, in the Divine Decree of
destiny (that good and bad are
determined by Allah alone.
This type of worship does not
involve movements of parts of
the body but it surely has a
bearing on one's heart which
subsequently affects his way of
life. (Beliefs).
It should be borne in mind that
worship not dedicated to Allah
alone, will be rejected as one
form of polytheism or shirk,
which amount to apostasy from
the Islamic point of view.
The next step for a devotee
(newly reverted to Islam) is to
purify himself by taking a bath
(total ablution). He should then
resolve to comply with all the
principles and rules of Islam in
their entirety. He disowns all
forms of polytheism and false
beliefs. He should reject evil
and be righteous. Such rejection
of evil and being righteous is
one of the requisites of the
motto of Islam that is, Lailaha
Illal Laah.
Allah has stated in the Holy
Qur'an:
"... whoever disbelieves in false
deities and believes in Allah,
hath grasped the most
trustworthy Handhold, that will
never break..." (2:256)
we have to consider that when we
declare from our heart that
"there is no god (ditty) worthy
to be worshipped but Allah." It
implies on our part of love,
devotion, faith and obedience to
the rules of Islamic legislation
which are legally binding on all
Muslims. It is requirement of
"there is no god worty to be
worshipped but Allah," to love
for the sake of Allah and to
reject for the sake of Allah.
This is the firmest anchor of
belief which materializes the
meaning of "AL-WALA and "AL-
BARA". It means that a Muslim
should love and be loyal to his
Muslim brothers. He should, as a
practice, dissociate himself
completely from practices of the
unbelievers and refuse to be
influenced by them, both in
worldly and religious matters.
We conclude with a humble prayer
to Allah that He may cleanse the
hearts and souls of those who
are genuine seekers of truth and
may He bless the community of
believers. Ameen.
