How To Become A Muslim

Hilarion Heagy, a former Christian priest who converted to Islam, describes his journey as ‘like coming home’. There are uncountable stories of people reverting to Islam every year. Islam, a complete code of life, means a complete submission before Allah. It is based on divine teachings. To become a Muslim, you should say the Shahada wholeheartedly. In this blog, we will guide you about how to become a Muslim and its prerequisites. 

What To Say To Convert To Islam  

Hundreds of people want to embrace Islam as a religion but they don’t know what to say to convert to Islam. Every religion has some traditions carried out at the time of conversion. Islam has a simple method to convert. To convert to Islam, you need to recite the Shahada wholeheartedly with pure intention. ‘Shahadah’ literally means ‘to witness’. In Islamic terminology, it is the declaration of Muslim faith that proclaims the Oneness of Allah and the Prophethood of Muhammad PBUH,the last Messenger of Allah and the seal of the Prophets. While taking Shahadah, you have to read the words of Shahadah verbally.

Shahada In Islam

 If anyone is drawn to Islam and has real intention to become a Muslim and believes that Islam is a divine and true religion, then he has to read or say the Shahada–the testimony of faith. Shahada in Islam is the sacred statement that paves a path to live a righteous life ordained by Allah to all human beings.

Meaning Of Shahadah

Shahadah (شَهَادَة) is an Arabic word which means ‘testimony’ or ‘witness’. In Islamic terms, the meaning of Shahadah refers to the profession of faith declaring the Oneness of Allah and the prophethood of Muhammad (SAW). Saying the Shahada is the first step to enter the threshold of Islam. 

Words of Shahadah In Arabic

Shahadah is the sacred statement in Islam. The words of shahadah are in Arabic and are written as;

Shahada Transliteration

Shahada transliteration will help the new Muslims and those struggling with the Arabic to pronounce the shahadah accurately and easily. 

Ashhadu Alla Ilaha Illallahu Wahdahu La Sharika Lahu Wa-ash-hadu Anna Muhammadan Abduhu Wa Rasuluhu

Translation Of Shahada In English

The translation of Shahada in English can assist the reverts to understand the shahada meaning and embrace it wholeheartedly. 

“I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, the One alone, without partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger“

How To Say The Shahada 

By taking Shahadah, one declares that he has become a Muslim and submits himself to the will and commands of Allah Almighty. Reverting to Islam requires reading the shahada with full conviction. It has two perspectives–reading it verbally and accepting it with heart. We will discuss in detail how to say Shahada. 

• The first requirement to recite shahada is to make a clear mind to accept Islam as a religion of faith. 
• Read the sacred phrase of Shahadah loud verbally. 
• Lift the index finger while saying the Shahada. 
• Say the Shahada in front of any Muslim scholar or knowledgeable man as witness. 
• Inform other Muslims about your conversion to Muslim.  

What To Do After Becoming A Muslim

Islam is the true religion and way of salvation for human beings. Converting to Muslim religion is not human endeavour but acceptance from Allah. The Holy Quran states that; 

“Whoever seeks a faith other than Islam, it will never be accepted from him, and he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers”. (3:85)

Becoming a Muslim means that a person has embraced Islam as a religion and has faith with full conviction. The faith in Islam demands the followers to uphold the rules and commands of Allah Almighty. The most important among commands is the worship of Allah. 

A person converted to Islam should carry out all obligatory worship. The worship in Islam falls into two different categories with the same aim of professing Allah’s greatness.

• Visible Worship: The visible or outward worship include acts that require physical action to perform such as praying five times a day, fasting, pilgrimage, and giving zakat. 
• Invisible worship: The invisible or concealed worship include those beliefs and actions that don’t need outward manifestation but need to bear on heart and verbal confession. 

Conversion to Muslim religion needs pure intention and full conviction. After reading full Shahada, a person enters into the fold of Islam and holds a responsibility to submit to the will of Allah. Muslim converts are fully obliged to carry out obligatory and voluntary worship wholeheartedly without any show off. Converting into Islam means to fully commit to avoid things Allah has forbidden and uphold those Allah allows. After becoming a Muslim, a person should take care of fundamental rights and responsibilities enjoined by the Holy Quran and Sunnah.  

Benefits Of Becoming Muslim

Islam is the fastest growing religion in terms of conversion. There are numerous reasons why so many people convert to Islam such as simple Islamic teachings, human rights, modesty and justice. Becoming Muslim is not short of benefits and virtues. Allah says in the Holy Quran;

“There is no compulsion in Faith. The correct way has become distinct from the erroneous. Now, whoever rejects the Tāghūt (the Rebel, the Satan) and believes in Allah has a firm grasp on the strongest ring that never breaks. Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing”.(2:256)

Worship The Creator 

Islam is a divine religion based on the worship of Allah who is the creator of the universe and everything in it. Converting into Islam means you worship only one creator who is worth worshipping, negating polytheism and all other beliefs. Worshiping the true creator frees humans from the shackle of false beliefs and introduces humans to the realities. 

Forgiveness Of Sins

Humans are prone to evils and are fragile to abstain from. Muslim converts may have been involved in sins due to oblivions. However, when they turn to Islam accept the commands of Allah and submit to His will, all their major and minor sins will be forgiven. The Holy Quran states that;

“Except the one who repents and believes and does good deeds, then Allah will replace the evils of such people by good deeds, and Allah is Most-Forgiving, Very-Merciful”. (25:70)

Know The Purpose Of Life

The greatest benefit of becoming Islamic is that you know the purpose of your life. Allah has created humans, jinns, and all creatures with some purpose. The purpose of humans is to know and worship Him. After reading Muslim conversion prayer, an individual came to know about the fact that life is not aimless, paving way to spend life fulfilling its purpose. Allah mentions the purpose of creating human and Jinns in Surah Adh Dhariyat;

I did not create the Jinns and the human beings except for the purpose that they should worship Me. (51:56)

Inner Peace And Happiness

Humans' endeavor for peace and happiness is natural. Islam encourages happiness and paves way for inner peace and spirituality. The one who converts to Islam and embraces its teaching with full conviction finds solace and tranquility. The Quran, the Holy Book of Allah, is the source of peace and happiness. Allah says in the Quran;  

“The ones who believe and their hearts are peaceful with the remembrance of Allah. Listen, the hearts find peace only in the remembrance of Allah.” (13:28)

A Balanced Life 

Islam is a balanced religion and encourages its followers to live life according to its teachings. Unlike other religions, Islam emphasizes the followers to adopt moderation in every aspect of life. After taking shahada Islam, you don’t need to burden yourself with religious activities and customaries. Allah Almighty mentions in the Holy Quran; 

Allah does not obligate anyone beyond his capacity. (2:286)

Conclusion 

Islam, the true religion of Allah, has the easiest way to embrace. In this blog, we shed light on how to become a Muslim and its necessary steps. Reading the Shahadah is the first and utmost prerequisite of entering the threshold of Islam.A person converted to Islam is called a Muslim and has rights and responsibilities to carry out according to the teachings of Islam. There are high virtues and benefits of becoming a Muslim.