How to Become a Muslim
Islam: One of the Fastest-Growing Religions in the World
At over 1.5 billion members and growing, Islam is, by some measures, the fastest-growing religion in the world. Unique among the world’s religions in the ease with which new members may join its ranks, Islam requires only a simple, sincere declaration of faith to become a Muslim. The declaration is not to be made lightly, however – devoting oneself to a life guided by Islamic principles is one of the most important (if not the most important) acts you’ll ever make.
You should know that accepting Islam destroys all sins which come before it , as a new convert your record is clean, and it is as if you was just born from your 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.
Know What it Means to be Muslim
- Islam considers itself to be the natural way of all creation. That is, Islam is the original, perfect state of being. So, when a person “converts” to Islam, he/she is actually reverting to their own original nature.
- Islam considers anyone who adheres to this state of being to be a Muslim, regardless of when or where she or he lived. For instance, Islam believes that Jesus was a Muslim, though he lived hundreds of years before Islam’s historical founding.
- Allah, the Islamic name for God, refers to the same God worshiped by Christians and Jews (aka the “Abrahamic” God). Thus, Muslims revere the prophets of Christianity and Judaism (including Jesus, Moses, Elijah, etc.) and consider the Bible and Torah to be divinely-inspired, albeit corrupted.
- Read Islamic Scripture: The Quran is the central religious book of Islam, believed to be the unadulterated word of God and the culmination of all previous Christian and Jewish scripture. Another very important religious scripture is the Hadith, the sayings and accounts of Muhammad. Hadith collections form the basis for much of Islamic law. Reading these holy writings will give you an understanding of the stories, laws, and teachings that make up Islamic belief.
- Talk with an Imam: Imams are Islamic religious leaders who conduct religious services inside and outside the mosque. Imams are chosen for their knowledge of Islamic scripture and their good character. A good Imam will be able to counsel you when deciding whether you’re ready to devote to Islam.
- Say the Shahada: If you’re absolutely sure you want to become a Muslim, all you need to do is recite the Shahada, a short oral declaration of faith. The words of the Shahada are
“La ilaha illallah, Muhammadur rasulullah”
This translates to “I testify that there is no other god but Allah, and Muhammad is God’s messenger (prophet).” By saying the Shahada, you become a Muslim.
The first part of the Shahada (“La ilaha illallah”) refers not only to deities from other religions, but also to earthly things which can take the place of Allah in your heart – wealth and power, for example.
The second part of the Shahada (“Muhammadur rasulullah”) is a recognition that the word of Muhammad is the word of God. Muslims are required to live by the principles of Muhammad revealed in the Quran – the Shahada is a pledge to follow these principles.
The Shahada must be said with sincerity and understanding to be binding. You can’t become a Muslim just by pronouncing the words – the oral recitation is a reflection of belief that’s held in the heart.
