How to Become a Muslim

All praise be to Allah, the Lord of the universe. For Allah, Almighty, is above all comprehension and knows well the secrets of all hearts. If anyone has a real desire to become a Muslim and has full conviction and strong belief that Islam is the true religion ordained by Allah for all human-beings, then, one should pronounce the “Shahada”, the testimony of faith, without further delay. The Holy Qur’an is explicit on this regard as Allah states:

“The Religion in the sight of Allah is Islam.” (Qur’an 3:19)

In another verse of the Holy Qur’an, Allah states:

“If anyone desires a religion other than Islam (Submission to Allah), 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 hell fire).” (Qur’an 3:85)

In addition, Islam is the only religion prevailing over all other religions. Allah states in the Holy Qur’an:

“To thee We sent the Scripture in truth, confirming the scripture that came before it, and guarding it in safety:…” (Qur’an 5:48)

Mohammad, the Prophet of Allah, said:

“The superstructure of Islam is raised on five (pillars): testifying that there is no God (none truely to be worshiped) but Allah, and that Mohammad is the messenger of Allah, performing the prayer, paying the Zakah (poor-due), fasting the month of Ramadan, and performing Hadj.”

The Shahada can be declared as follows:

“Ash-hadu anla elaha illa-allah wa ash-hadu anna muhammadan rasul-allah”.

The English translation is:

“I bear witness that there is no deity (worthy of worship) but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.”

The significant point which every Muslim must know very well is the truth that there is no God to be worshipped other than Allah. Man must worship Allah, Who alone is worthy of worship.

Worship simply means rendering sincere service, showing reverence for Allah, into two categories:

1. Visible worship includes acts such as uttering the two parts of the “Shahada”, performing prayers, giving Zakah, 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 the human body.

2. Invisible worship is to believe in Allah, in the Day of Judgement, in the Angels, in the Books of Allah, in the Prophets of Allah, in the Divine Decree of destiny.

Allah states in the Holy Qur’an:

“… whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy Hand-hold, that never breaks…” (Qur’an 2:256).

We have to consider that when we declare from our heart that “there is no god worthy to be worshipped but Allah”, it implies on our part love, devotion, faith and obedience to the rules of Islamic legislations which are legally binding on all Muslims. It is a requirement of “there is no god worthy to be worshipped but Allah” to love and reject for the sake of Allah.