Islam Is My Way Of Life

How to Become a Muslim

2010-10-20T09:22:00.000-07:00

This is Islam

Islam means “submission to God”. Islam is the belief that there is only One God, whose proper name is Allah, which means “ the God”. Islam is the same message given to all the prophets, from Adam, Noah, Moses, Abraham, Jesus, and finally to the Prophet Muhammad, the last messenger (peace and blessings be upon them). They all brought the same message: worship only God, and stop worshiping human beings and their ideas.

The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him welcomed even those people who had previously fought him and killed his loved ones. These people later on were to become the heroes of Islam. So no matter what your background and no matter what you may have done or said to Muslims or others in the past, you should rest assured that you will be welcomed with open arms.

Who can become a Muslim?

Some people are worried often worried if they will be allowed to become Muslim due to a variety of reasons. So before proceeding onto how to convert to Islam. I wish to reassure you that anyone can become a Muslim.

Islam is for the whole of humanity. Islam unites together people of different colours, languages, races. and nationalities into one brotherhood.

Allah says: "Indeed the Believers are but brothers." [Quran 4 9:10]

So you will be our brother or sisters in Islam when you convert to Islam

Any human being can embrace Islam. You do not need anyones permission to become Muslim. You can be any colour, race, age, speak any language and still become a Muslim. There are many American, British, European, Indian, children and Adults who accept Islam every day.

You may hear from some Muslims incorrect advice due to their lack of knowledge of Islam or due to lack of correct knowledge of Islam. So please note that:

You do not need to do a course or obtain a certificate to become a Muslim

Someone may say you have to do a course or obtain a certificate to be a Muslim. This is incorrect. You do not need to attend a course or obtain a certificate to become Muslim.

You should not delay in becoming a Muslim

If someone advices you to delay your conversion to Islam. This is also incorrect. If you believe Islam is the truth then you should not delay your conversion to Islam. You should convert immediately because we are given a certain lifespan. Since we do not know when we are going to die. Not even a minute should be lost as your time to leave this life may be up the next minute.

If you have tattoos you can still become a Muslim

Some one may say to you that you must remove all tattoos to be a Muslim. This is also incorrect. Tattoos are not allowed in Islam but they DO NOT prevent a person becoming Muslim. You should become Muslims and latter you can have the tattoos removed if you can afford it. If you can not afford it then do not worry there is no sin on you for what you did before becoming Muslim You are still a Muslim.

If you have a wild past of have committed a many of sins you can still become a Muslim

No matter what sins you have committed or how wild your past was. You can still become a Muslim.. Islam erases all sins committed prior to becoming a Muslim. Prophet (may the peace and blessings and mercy of Allah be upon him) said, Islam annuls what came before it. (narrated by Muslim in his Sahih, no. 121).As soon as you become a Muslim all your previous sins are forgiven and you start a blank state. Or a complete clean record.

Muslim (121) narrated that Amr ibn al-Aas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: When Allah put Islam in my heart, I came to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and said: Give me your right hand so that I may swear allegiance to you. He held out his hand and I withdrew my hand. He said, What is the matter, Oh Amr? I said, I want to stipulate a condition. He said, What do you want to stipulate? I said, That I will be forgiven. He said, Do you not know that Islam destroys that which came before it?

If you are a Small child you can still become a Muslim without your parents permission

If you are a child you do not need your parent's permission to become a Muslim. If you fear they may harm, you can become Muslim in secret and tell them when you are ready.

What if their are no Muslims (or no Mosque or Islamic center) in your town

Another common question is that there are no Muslims in the city. This too is not an obstacle in you becoming a Muslim. You do not have to go to a Masjid (Mosque) or Islamic center or know any Muslims in order to be a Muslim. You can say the declaration of faith (called the Shahadah) to yourself and from then onwards you are a Muslim. Click Here to know more!

Become a Muslim Now

If you believe there is only One God who should be worshipped, and no one/nothing else has that right but Him, and you believe Muhammad, peace be upon him, was a messenger who brought the same message as all the prophets before him, then you are basically a Muslim.

Do Not Hesitate

If someone receives the message of Islam and dies rejecting it, they are forever destined to Hellfire. Anyone who truly believes in the message of Islam, their previous sins are forgiven and they will spend eternity in Paradise . If you have belief, act on it. Do not worry about what anyone else thinks. Your eternal life is at stake.

“Do you not know that accepting Islam destroys all sins which come before it?” (Saheeh Muslim)

To become a Muslim, simply declare the following:
Ash-hadu an laa ilaaha illallaah, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa Rasuluh.

I testify there is nothing worthy of worship except Allah, and I testify Muhammad is His slave and messenger.

Tawhid of Allah

2010-10-08T00:54:00.000-07:00

· We say concerning the Tawhîd of Allah that Allah is One without any partners-not in His lordship, Divinity, or in His names and attributes

· So there is no creator besides Him and no Lord besides Him. There is no provider, no master, and no one that disposes of the affairs in this existence except Him. We single out Allah the Glorified in His actions, just as we single Him out in our actions as well. (1)

· So we single Him out in our acts of worship and in our intention and will- for there is nothing that is worshipped in truth except Him, the Glorified-so we testify just as Allah testified for Himself, as well as the Angels, and those endowed with knowledge-as He is always maintaining His creation with justice-[we testify that] there is none that has the right to be worshipped but Him, al-Azîz [the Almighty] al-Hakîm [the Most Wise]. [We say that] while affirming what this mighty word affirms of singling out the worship for Allah alone, as well as its necessary implications and rights. [And we say that] while also negating what it negates of the types of Shirk and partnerships and what follows behind that.

And we believe that the purpose for which Allah created the creation is [worshipping Him alone], as the Most High said:

“ And I have not created mankind or Jinn except to worship Me.” [adh-Dhâriyât 56]

And we call to singling Him, the Glorified out for all types of worship such as: prostration, or bowing, or vowing, or circumambulation [Tawaf], or sacrifice, or slaughter, or supplication or legislation, or other than it…

“Say, “Indeed, my prayer, my sacrifice, my living and my dying is for Allah the Lord of the worlds without any partner. With that I have been commanded and I am the first of the Muslims.” [al-Anâm 162-163]

And the command of the Lord, the Glorified includes both the universal and legislative command. So therefore, just as He, the Glorified is alone in the divine decree/universal ruling- in that He is the one who disposes of the affairs in the universe and the One who judges in it what He wants as according to His wisdom. [So] similarly, we single Him, the glorified out in His legislative ruling, therefore, we do not associate any one in His ruling and we do not associate any one in His worship.

“Certainly, to Him belong the creation and the command. Blessed is Allah the Lord of the worlds.”

Hence, the Halâl is what Allah made Halâl and the Harâm is what He made Harâm:

“ The ruling is for none but Allah. He has commanded that you worship none but Him.” [Yûsuf 54]

So there is no legislator in truth but Him, the Glorified and Most High. We declare enmity and disavowal and we remove and disbelieve in every legislator besides Him - so we seek none besides Him as a lord, and we do not take anyone besides Him the Glorified as a Protecting Friend and we seek no other Deen besides Islam. Therefore, [with that] whoever takes a judge and legislator besides Him the Glorified-following him and traversing with him in his legislation that is in opposition to the legislation of Allah, then he has taken a lord besides Allah and sought a religion besides Islâm.

The Most High said: “And certainly, the Shayâtîn do inspire their friends (from mankind) to dispute with you, and if you obey them, then you would indeed be Mushrikûn [polytheists].”

And the Most High said:
“ They took their Rabbis and Monks as lords besides Allah.”

Importance of Haya

2010-10-08T00:39:00.000-07:00

Haya itself is derived from the word hayat which means life. This term covers a wide number of concepts. In English, it may be translated as modesty, shyness, self-respect, bashfulness, shame, honour, humility, etc. The original meaning of Haya according to a believer's nature, refers to a bad and uneasy feeling accompanied by embarrassment, caused by one's fear of being exposed or censured for some unworthy or indecent conduct.

Haya plays a huge role in the lives of Muslims because it is a very important part of our Iman(faith/ belief). If we do not have any form of haya within us then it is most likely that our Iman is very weak. For as it states in the following hadith:

Narrated by Abu Huraira (ra): The Prophet said, "Faith (Belief) consists of more than sixty branches (i.e. parts). And Haya is a part of faith." (Bukhari)

Narrated Abdullah ibn Umar (ra): The Prophet (saws) passed by a man who was admonishing his brother regarding Haya and was saying, "You are very shy, and I am afraid that might harm you." On that, Allah's Apostle said, "Leave him, for Haya is (a part) of Faith." (Bukhari)

~~Good Haya~~

The good Hayâ' is to be ashamed to commit a sin or a thing which Allah and His Messenger (saws) has forbidden, and bad Hayâ' is to feel ashamed to do a thing, which Allah and His Messenger (saws) ordered to do.

A haya in which the believers become shy of themselves. This is when they have reached the peek of their Iman. What this means is that if they do, or say, or see, anything wrong or even commit the tiniest sin, they start to feel extremely bad and embarrassed or they feel extreme guilt in their heart. This builds a high degree of self-consciousness and that is what strengthens the believers commitment to Allah (swt)

~~Bad Haya~~

A solid proof of the weakness of someone's Iman.

~~Most important aspects of haya, for women:~~
- Guarding their chastity and their modesty.

- To keep hidden themselves and their adornments from all men lawful to them in marriage.
The believing and following women are ashamed of disobeying Allah (swt).

- Shy of the opposite gender in this society because of what they might experience if strange men look at them
and lastly they have haya because they are

- Ashamed of going out in public and committing this grave sin of displaying their beauty is public.

Abdullah ibn Umar (ra) narrated that the Prophet (saw) said: "Indeed haya (modesty) and Iman are Companions. When one of them is lifted, the other leaves as well." (Baihaqi)

Modesty (haya) and maintaining one's honour and dignity are of primary importance in preserving the moral fibre of any society. This is why modesty has been called the ornament of a woman, which protects her from many sins and which prevents ill-intentioned men from daring to have bad thoughts about her. This haya has been made a part of her nature to safeguard her from being abused by immoral men.

Narrated on the authority of Anas bin Malik, the Prophet (saw) said: "When lewdness is a part of anything, it becomes defective; and when haya is a part of anything it becomes beautiful." (Tirmidhi)

~~Merits of Haya~~

"Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: that will make for greater purity for them: and Allah is well acquainted with all that they do. And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty……." (Qur'an Nur, 30-31)

Why read the Qur’an when we do not understand arabic?

2010-10-02T14:02:00.000-07:00

Recently I found an old note attached on a wall in a friend of mine’s office. It was a printout of an article from the internet with the above title about the virtue or hikmah of reading the holy Qur’an. A beautiful story worth sharing!
Here it is:
An old American Muslim lived on a farm in the mountains of eastern Kentucky with his young grandson. Each morning Grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen table reading his Quran. His grandson wanted to be just like him and tried to imitate him in every way he could.
One day the grandson asked, “Grandpa! I try to read the Quran just like you but I don’t understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the Qur’an do?”
The Grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and replied, “Take this coal basket down to the river and bring me back a basket of water. The boy did as he was told, but all the water leaked out before he got back to the house. The grandfather laughed and said, “You’ll have to move a little faster next time,” and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again.
This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned home. Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was impossible to carry water in a basket, and he went to get a bucket instead.
The old man said, “I don’t want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You’re just aganot trying hard enough,” and he went out the door to watch the boy try in.
At this point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak out before he got back to the house. The boy again dipped the basket into river and ran hard, but when he reached his grandfather the basket was again empty. Out of breath, he said, “See Grandpa, it’s useless!”
“So you think it is useless?” The old man said, “Look at the basket.”
The boy looked at the basket and for the first time realized that the basket was different. It had been transformed from a dirty old coal basket and was now clean, inside and out. Son, that’s what happens when you read the Qur’an. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, you will be changed, inside and out. That is the work of Allah in our lives.”

How to deal with whispers during prayer?

2010-09-19T06:17:00.000-07:00

Sometimes when we are in salat or namaz, our attention slips away from our prayer and we begin to think about other things that distract the prayer. We may think how our day went, what we are going to do next and other everyday things. The prayer feels like it finished within a few minutes and sometimes we even forget what we prayed! These are the symptoms of the shaitan trying to infiltrate our mind and attempting to break our salat by whispering his devilish thoughts into our minds. Well how do we solve this problem?

Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wasallam) has guided us to the cure for that. The person should blow out on his left side three times and say, "I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan." If the person does that, his problem will come to an end, Allah willing. When the person enters the prayer, he must firmly believe that he is standing in front of Allah. He is in private conversation with Allah. He should get closer to Allah by his stating Allahu akbar, his glorification of Allah, and his reciting of Allah's word. Also, he should get closer to Allah by means of the places of supplication in the prayer. If a person has this feeling and consciousness in him, he will approach his Lord with humility and submission to Him. He will love what Allah has of good and fear from His punishment if he fails in what Allah has obliged him to do.

So here are some tips to keep in mind

1. Blow out on the left three time saying, "I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan."

2. Remember that you are having a private conversation with Allah, so try be as sincere and focused as you can.

3. Before the salat, remember to clear out all the random thoughts from your mind that might distract you during the prayer. (close your eyes, take a deep breath and breath out)

4. If you still continue to having random thoughts that is distracting your prayer try doing some dhikr in your mind (that is saying Ayuzubillahi himinashaytanirahim, Astagfirallah, SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, Allahu Akbar)

5. It also helps to memorize the translation of the Surahs and Dua'as in the prayer (if Arabic isn't your first language) and remembering them along with your recitation of the Surah or the Dua'a. This might also get you more focused and emotionally connected to Allah.

Supplications and Remembrance of Allah

2010-06-26T23:18:00.000-07:00

Allah loves those who remember Him much, those who supplicate to Him and seek His forgiveness.
Recite the Noble Quran as much as you can - even if you only know a little for verily it is the speech of your Lord, may He be glorified.
After the prayer say, "Astaghffirullah" (i.e. Allah forgive me) three times and then say, "Allahumma Antassalam Wa Minkassalam Tabarakta Yathal Jalali Wal ikram" (i.e. O Allah, you are The source of Peace and from You comes Peace, blessed are You, the Exalted, the Most Generous) then say, "Subhanallah, walhamdulillah, wallahu akbar" thirty three times for each (i.e. Allah is far from every imperfection, thanks and gratitude are due to Allah, Allah is the Most Great). Then finally say, "La ilaha illallah wahdahu la shareeka lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu, wahuwa ala kulli shai'in qadeer" (i.e. There is no true diety worthy of worship except Allah, Who has no partner, for Whom is the dominion, and to Whom thanks and gratitude are due, and He is able to do something).
From the remembrance of Allah, that is best in reward is to say, "La ilaha illallahu wahdahu lashareeka lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu wahuwa ala kuli shai'in qadeer" ten times each day.
Also say one hundred times everyday, "Subhanallahi wabihamdih" (i.e. far be Allah from every imperfection and may His praises be glorified).
One of the best supplications is this supplication which Allah has taught us in the second chapter of the Noble Quran, "Rabbana Atina FIddunya Hassanah Wafill Akhirati Hassanah Waqina Athabannar" (i.e. O Allah give us food in this world and good in the Hereafter and protect us from the torment of the fire), 2:201. Also, this supplication from the third chapter, "Rabbana La Tuzigh qulubana Ba'da Ith Hadaitana Wa Hablana Min Ladunkka Rahmatan Innaka Antal Wahhab" (i.e. O Lord, let not our hearts deviate after you have guided us, and grant us mercy from you. Truly are the Bestower), 3:8. Also say, "Rabbana innana Amanna Faghfir Lana Thunubana Waqina Athabannar" (i.e. O Lord we have indeed believed, so forgive us our sins and save us from the punishment of the Fire), 3:16. The Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, used to say, "Ya Muqallibal qulub Thabbit qalbi 'Ala Deenik" (i.e. O (Allah) who has full control of hearts, keep our hearts firmly on your religion (straight path).

Muslim Ethics and Behaviour

2010-06-26T22:24:00.000-07:00

The Muslim is always clean, likes to smell pleasant, look smart, and regularly brushes his teeth using the Siwak or toothbrush. He trims his nails, removes pubic and armpit hair. He trims his mustache and does not shave or shorten one part of the head while leaving another part (i.e. the hair must be of equal length). The Muslim must be circumcised. He keeps fit and healthy and never imitates the disbelievers.
From the important manners enjoined by Islam is to keep roads and public places clean, to not harm oneself or others, and to maintain general peace and order.
The Muslim uses his right hand in eating and drinking, giving and taking, and in all his dealings with others. When observing hygiene (e.g. Wudhu, bathing, clothing, combing, and shaving), the Muslim begins with the right handside of his body. Even upon entering the mosque he puts his right foot first just like the Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, used to do.
When you intend to sleep, it is recommended to perform Wudhu first, then lie on your right side.
Say, "Bismillah" (i.e. in the name of Allah) before eating, drinking and sleeping. Also when taking clothes off, mounting an animal or driving a vehicle, stumbling or tripping over something, having sexual intercourse with your wife, when slaughtering, performing Wudhu, entering or leaving the house or mosque.
When you finish eating or drinking say, "Alhamdulillah" (i.e. thanks and gratitude be to Allah).
When you sneeze say, "Alhamdulillah" and when your Muslim brother says the same after having sneezed you respond by saying, "Yarhamukallah" (i.e. may Allah have mercy on you). But if you sneeze and a Muslim asks mercy on you, then you are to respond by saying, "Yahdeekallah" (i.e. may Allah guide you to the right path).
From the manners of a Muslim is that he covers his mouth when yawning.
If you mention the name of the prophet or he is mentioned in your presence say, "Sallallahu Aleihi wasallam" (i.e. may Allah exalt his mention and render him safe).
You must be in a state of purification when reciting the Quran. Recite the Quran in the proper manner and when it is being recited in your presence, listen to it attentively.
Once it is time for prayer, calmly walk to the mosque and make sure you are clean and well dressed. Avoid bringing any unpleasant smells with you to the mosque and do not talk about business transactions as long as you are in the mosque. It is highly recommended for Friday prayer that you have a full bath, wear perfume, and listen carefully to the khutbah (Friday sermon).
A Muslim must always ask for permission before entering other people's houses or using their belongings.
When you meet a Muslim, shake his hand, smile and, without bowing, say. "Assalamu Alaikum" (i.e. peace be upon you). If a Muslim greets you first then respond with, "Wa Alaikum Assalam" (i.e. peace be with you too). Again, when you leave say, "Assalamu Alaikum".
Islam enjoins these manners: seeing the traveler off, congratulating Muslims on happy occasions like marriage, birth and success.
Visit patients and say, "La ba'ss, tahoor Insha' Allah" (i.e. never mind, illness is purification from sins, by Allah's will).
If a calamity befalls you or if any of your beloved ones dies say, "Innalillahi Wa inna ilaihe Raaji'oon" (i.e. To Allah we belong, and to Him is our final return).
Be kind to your guest, respect the elder, be compassionate with children, help the needy, and have mercy for animals.
Apologized to whomever you may have offended and thank whosoever helped or advised you and say, "Jazakallahu Khairan" (i.e. may Allah reward you with good).
From the manners of Islam, is to speak and listen well, and to consult others (when you are making a decision) if there is a need to do so.
Suppress your anger and if someone makes you angry say, "A'uthu Billahi Min ashaita Nirrajeem" (i.e. I seek refuge from the evil of the Satan).
Do not change your name just because you have become a Muslim unless it is considered inappropriate by Islam like 'Abd Issa (i.e. the slave of Jesus).

Manners and Morals in Islam

2010-06-26T01:38:00.000-07:00

Islam enjoins good morality and character which is equal to reward and status of prayer and fasting.
The personality of every Muslim must possess the following noble characteristics:

Truthfulness.
Honesty and loyalty.
Chastity and bashfulness.
Patience and gentleness.
Forgiveness and mending ties.
Humbleness, merciful, and kindness.
Generosity and hospitality.
Justice.
Strength of will, dignity, and bravery.
Patience and perseverance.

There are certain manners and ettiquettes that a Muslim follows when conducting his/her affairs in the society. Following are some examples:

When two Muslims meet, they greet each other by saying “Assalamo Alaikum” meaning “peace be upon you”, and “Wa alaikum us-salam” and “upon you be peace”.

When Muslims undertake any activity, they always start it with the name of God, saying “Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem” meaning “In the name of Allah, the most Gracious, the ever Merciful "

When Muslims terminate an activity, such as the eating of one’s meal, they say “Alhamdulillah” meaning “All perfect praise belongs to Allah”. This phrase is said on many other occasions when expressing gratitude to God.

When a Muslim talks about carrying out some activity in the future, he always adds the phrase “Insha’Allah” meaning “If Allah wills”.

When a Muslim receives a favour or a gift he thanks the person by saying “Jazak'Allah Khayrun or Jazakumullah” meaning “may Allah give you the best reward”.

When a Muslim hears sad news, particularly of someone passing away, he says “Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi Rajioon” meaning “we belong to Allah, and unto Him shall we return”.

When a person sneezes, he says “Alhamdulillah” meaning “All perfect praise belongs to Allah”; the other person who hears him sneeze, says “Yar hamo kumullah” meaning “may Allah have mercy on you”; to which the previous person replies “Yahdeekomullah” meaning “may Allah guide you”.

When a Muslim wants to enter another’s home, he first greets the dwellers and then asks for permission to enter. It is prohibited to enter someone’s home without his permission or knowledge. You should knock/ring up to three times to seek permission to enter, if there is still no response after the third time, then you should turn away, even if you know someone might be in (they may not be able or do not wish to meet you).

A Muslim does not talk evil against somebody particularly behind his back. This act of backbiting is not only impolite, but also cowardly. If a genuine complaint exists against someone, it should first of all be brought to that person’s own attention.

Prohibitions in Islam

2010-06-26T00:59:00.000-07:00

Allah is the All Wise. He never prohibits something unless it is harmful to man.
The Muslim's true faith and love for Allah is reflected in his refrainment from what Allah has forbidden, even if such refrainment confronts one's own wishes and desires. The Muslim must always seek to please Allah and give precedence to what pleases Allah over what pleases him/herself.

SOME OF THE MAJOR SINS IN ISLAM ARE AS FOLLOWS:

Shirk (polytheism) as mentioned in this previous blog.
Ridiculing Islam, or hating it.
Dissatisfaction with Allah's decree or cursing of time (because of misfortune, calamity, or failure to succeed).
Making lawful that which Allah has made unlawful or vice versa. To speak about what you do not know about Islam.
Innovating in Islam (e.g. saying one's intention aloud, celebrating the birth of the Prophet, celebrating the night of mid-Sha'baan, the night of Al-Isra wal Mi'raj, and the night of Al-Qadr in Ramadan... etc.)
Cursing or insulting any of the Prophet's companions.
Fortunetelling, magicism and similar things to these.
Not observing prayer in its prescribed time and, for men, not offering it in the Masjid in congregation.
Not giving out the obligatory Zakah.
Not fasting in Ramadan without an Islamic exception.
Suicide and murder.
Fleeing from enemies in the battle.
Fornication, sodomy, and masturbation.
Falsely accusing others of fornication.
Consuming the orphan's wealth and exercising injustice against him.
Riba or usury (e.g. to loan someone 100$ for 110$ on credit).
Bribery.
Gambling.
Theft, damaging entrusted property, not paying debts, and any unlawful way of acquiring wealth.
Extravagance, misuse and squandering of wealth.
Showing disrespect towards parents.
Harming or offending relatives.
Harming or offending neighbors and the public.
Vandalizing (i.e. destroying or damaging public places and facilities).
Oppressing others, exercising injustice against them and abetting the oppressor against the oppressed.
Torturing animals.
Perjury and concealment of truth.
Telling lies, breaking promises, and forgery.
Treachery, disloyalty, and disclosing secrets.
Envy.
Arrogance and ridiculing others.
Backbiting and slandering.
Music.
Alcohol and drugs.
Eating the meat of dead animals, blood, or any other unlawful food.
Eating pork, dog meat, predatorial animals (animals that humt other animals), and birds of prey.
Eating an animal slaughtered in the name of other than Allah.
Keeping a dog without a legitimate Islamic excuse for doing so.
Wearing, hanging, or using the Christian cross and any other symbols which contradict Islam.
Wearing gold and silk and wearing garments which fall below ankle level (for men). However, it is permissible for women to wear gold and silk. They should also wear their garments below ankle-level.

It is worth emphasizing that Islam considers all dealings, acts, and transactions as lawful as long as there aren't any evidences that prove their illegality. Hence, Islam specifies what's forbidden and when it abstains from passing a ruling about something it is regarded as lawful.

Following the Prophet

2010-06-19T23:55:00.000-07:00

In Order to follow Allah's commandments, it is not merely enough to worship Allah according to our whims and desires. Rather, the muslim must follow the teachings of the Messenger, may Allah exalt him, and he must follow them with total submission and surrender, for indeed it is the only correct and perfect way. So, whoever worships Allah by other than the teachings of the Prophet has gone against the commandments of Allah.

The life of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is full of countless examples that show his status as a role model for Muslim societies and individuals. His life is one that was dominated by a superior morality, good habits, noble and gentle feelings and superior skills, all of which are characteristics that help prevent people from getting entangled in a web of sin. The rich and the prosperous, the poor and the needy, the ruler and the ruled, the weak and the lonely, the conqueror and the victorious commander, the teacher and the student, the preacher and the mentor, the merchant and the craftsman, the employer and the employee - in other words, every sort of person can find truths in Prophet Muhammad's life that constitute an example for them to follow.

In conclusion:

The importance of the status of Prophet Muhammad as a role model is defined in the Holy Quran and in the sunnah; this constitutes one of the foremost practices for Muslims.
There is no disagreement among Muslims as to the fact that Prophet Muhammad constitutes the best example with his morality, actions, words and other features.
It would not be correct to demote the Prophet's status as role model to a limited number of fields. This status is related to all fields of life.
Prophet Muhammad's status as role model is important not only from the perspective of the individual, but also from the social perspective. Its binding features and determination of methods must be considered from these two perspectives.
Prophet Muhammad's status as role model and the validity of the sunnah are not limited to his life or to a certain time period. The Holy Quran and the notions of the sunnah state this issue clearly, and the fact that Muslim community practices his sunnah is proof of this issue.
Prophet Muhammad's status as role model and the continuity of his sunnah are the most important components that provide a unifying force in the Muslim world.
It is important to study the lives of the Companions in order to understand and comprehend the status of Prophet Muhammad as a role model.

The Pillars of Faith

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The fundamental beliefs every Muslim should know and must have faith in, they are as follows:

Belief in Allah The Exalted.

That is to believe in the indisputable fact that Allah truly exists above the heavens, and that He is the Creator and Originator of everything. That He is the Owner of everything in the universe and the One who stands in no need of anyone/thing. The All-Knower of everything and the One who is able to do all things . He is complete in His Names and Attributes. He is not brgotten nor does He beget. He has no wife and there is nothing like unto Him. He is the only One worth of worship and everything other than Him is a slave unto him.

Belief in the Angels.

They are a creation from the creations of Allah. They are noble and righteous Slaves of Allah and they are great in number. They execute various tasks in this universe by Allah's command, like bringing down divine inspiration to the Prophets and recording the deeds of human beings.

Belief in the Divine Books and Scriptures.

That Allah has revealed books to some Messengers in order to guide mankind. Among these books is the Torah revealed to Moses and the Gospel revealed to Jesus, peace be upon them. We must believe that all the books were revealed by Allah. The last of these books is the Noble Quran. The Noble Quran abrogates all previous books and scriptures. We therefore only worship Allah according to the Noble Quran.

Belief in the Messengers.

God conveys His message and relates His will through human prophets. They form a link between the earthly beings and the heavens, in the sense that God has picked them to deliver His message to human beings. There are no other channels to receive divine communications. It is the system of communication between the Creator and the created. God does not send angels to every single individual, nor does He open the skies so people can climb up to receive the message. His way of communication is through human prophets who receive the message through angels.

To have faith in the prophets (or messengers) is to firmly believe that God chose morally upright men to bear His message and pass it to humanity. Blessed were those who followed them, and wretched were those who refused to obey. They faithfully delivered the message, without hiding, altering, or corrupting it. Rejecting a prophet is rejecting the One who sent him, and disobeying a prophet is disobeying the One who commanded to obey him.

Muslims believe in those prophets mentioned by name in Islamic sources, such as Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Ishmael, David, Solomon, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, to name a few.

Muslims firmly believe the final prophet was the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad, and there will be no prophet or messenger after him.

To appreciate this fact, one must understand that the teachings of the last prophet are preserved in original language in their primary sources. There is no need for another prophet. In the case of earlier prophets, their scriptures were lost or their message was corrupted to the point that truth was hardly distinguishable from falsehood. The message of the Prophet Muhammad is clear and preserved and will remain so till the end of time.

Belief in the Last Day.

Believing that Allah will resurrect all mankind after they have died, question them ans either reward or punish them. The righteous believers who obey Allah will enter Paradise while the disbelievers and sinners will suffer in the Hell Fire. Life in the Hereafter is eternal and no one will ever die. "O Allah give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter and protect us from the tormnet of the Hell Fire" V.201:2.

Belief in Predestination.

That Allah has predestined everything before it happens. Everything that occurs, happens with the knowledge of Allah and His wisdom, even belief and disbelief, adversity and sustenance, life and death. This all takes place for a great reason, the knowledge and wisdom of which, is with Allah. Verily, Allah has recorded this in a book which is with Him, so nothing takes place except Allah has pre-destined it and recorded it. By Allah's great wisdom, He has guided man to that which He has predestined for him.

The Pillars of Islam

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In Islam, the term ‘worship’ covers any action that one does in accordance with the will of Allah. It can be mental, physical, spoken or otherwise. All such actions will be rewarded. There are five acts of worship that are so fundamental that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) grouped them together as the Five Pillars of Islam. Every muslim is expected to fulfill these obligations. They are:

1. Shahadah

Recognising and acknowledging the monotheistic nature of Allah stands at the core of Islam. This is to firmly believe in the heart and declare:
“Ashhadu allaa ilahha, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadar-rasulullah.”
{” I bear witness that there is no God except Allah, and I bear witness that Mohammad is Allah’s Messenger.”}
This is known as the Shahadah. Once a person declares it, he becomes a Muslim.
The Shahadah has two parts. Firstly, its a declaration that Allah is the only Lord and Ruler, and He Alone is worthy of worship. He has no partner, and He cannot be compared with any other thing. Everything which is in this universe is under His control and wors according to His Command. Mankkind is also required to live according to the C ommands of Allah. Allah loves those who follow His command and He dislikes those who disobey Him.
The second part of the Shahadah is the declaration that Muhammad (PBUH) is the Messenger of Allah. He was the one who b, and ask Allah to give him brought the Qur’an to us. Muslims are required to obey the Prophet (PBHUH) and follow his example without hesitation. Muslims are also required to honour and respect him blessings and salutations. Whenever his name is mentioned we must say: Sallallaahu ulayhi wa sallum meaning “Allah’s peace and blessings upon him.”

2. Salah - Prayer

Prayer or Salah is obliguitary on every muslim and they must pray five times a day. “Verily, the prayer is enjoined on the belivers at fixed hours.” [The Holy Qur'an 4:103] It is the distinguishing feature of Islam and the most obvious act which a muslim does to shows his obedience to Allah. A person abandons prayer at the risk of going out of Islam.
When Allah made us, He made us for a purpose and that was to Worship Him and Him alone. “I have only created jinns and men, that they may worship Me.” [The Holy Qur'an 51:56] Praying regularly reminds us of this prupose and bring us closer to Allah thereby preventing us from straying off the right path. “O all you who believe, bow down and prostrate yourselves and worship your Lord, and do good deeds, so that you may be successful.” [The Holy Qur'an 22:77] Theoretical recognition of Allah and saying you believe in your heart is not sufficient. Many people say that they worship God in their ‘own way’ but by taking this view we make ourselves gods and decide how Allah should be worshipped, rather than follow His command.
The five daily prayers have a physical and spiritual nature. They consist of a series of bowings and prostrations together with recitations of the Holy Qur’an and praises of Allah, complemented by personal requests. They are a fusion of body, soul and mind. We start the day with Fajr which is prayed at morning twilight before sunrise; the second prayer is Zuhr, prayed after the sun has passed its zenith or highest point at noon; then at mid-afternoon Asr is payed; Maghrib is prayedafter sunset, and the final prayer of the day is Isha, which is prayer after the onset of night. The five daily prayers reaffirm again and again that we are in the service of Allah. “Verily, in the rememberance of Allah do hearts find rest.” [The Holy Qur'an 13:28]

3. Zakat - Alms giving

Zakat means purification and growth. Once a year every Muslim above the poverty threshold must give 2.5 % of all his belongings which are not in regular use and wealth which has been allowed to accumulate for a whole year to set categories of recipients, those who are needy or without support. It is way of doing our duty to other Muslims less fortunate to us. Giving zakat reminds a person that his wealth is not his own, but its real owner is Allah. This should make a person ready to spend in accordance with Allah’s Command. “Truly, those who belive and do deeds of righteousness, and perform Salat, and give Zakat, they will have their reward with their Lord, On them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.” [The Holy qur'an 2:277]
Zakat is not tax imposed by Islam, but a due fixed by Allah so that the wealth of a person may be purified. It is an act of worship and purifies the heart from selfishness and greed for wealth. In return, it purifies the heart of the recipient from envy and jealousy, from hatred and uneasiness; and it fosters in his heart, instead, good will and warm wishes for the contributor. It is a way of showing sympthay to those who are less fortunate. It is also to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor. As a result, the society at large; will purify and free itself from class warfare and suspicion, from ill feelings and distrust, from corruption and disintegration, and from all such evils.

4. Sawm - Fasting

Fasting is an obligatory act during the month of Ramadan. “O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was for those before you, that you may attain piety.” [The Holy qur'an 2:183] Muslims must abstain from food, drink, and sexual intercourse from dawn to dusk, and are to be especially mindful of other sins. Fasting is both a spiritual and physical exersice which allows Muslims to seek nearness to Allah, to express their gratitude to and dependence on him, to atone for their past sins, and to remind them of the needy.
During Ramadan, Muslims are also expected to put more effort into following the teachings of Islam by refraining from violence, anger, envy, greed, lust, harsh language, gossip and to try to get along with each other better than normal. In addition, all obscene and irreligious sights and sounds are to be avoided. If he does not control himself and avoid evil deeds, his fast will not bring him any benefit nor reward from Allah. Fastiong throughout ramdan trains one to control their desires and strengthen their will-power.
For those whom fasting is dangerous and excessively problematic, fasting during Ramadan is not obligatory, and is even forbidden in some cases. These include pre-pubescent children, those with a medical condition such as diabetes, elderly people, and pregnant or breastfeeding women. Observing fasts is not permitted for menstruating women. Other individuals for whom it is considered acceptable not to fast are those who are ill or on a travel. Missing fasts usually must be made up soon afterwards, although the exact requirements vary according to circumstance.

5. Hajj - Pilgrimage

Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Makkah is obligatory in every muslim who is finicially and physically able to, once in a lifetime. “And Hajj to the House (Ka’bah) is a duty that mankind owes to Allah, those who can afford the expenses.” [The Holy Qur'an 3:97] No annual event on the face of the globe, religious or non-religious, compares to Hajj in terms of the sheer number of participants, duration of the event and the breadth of agenda. In spite of this fact, it has always remained equally fascinating and mysterious to not only non-Muslims, who are barred from entering the holy city, but also to millions of Muslims, who had not performed Hajj.
At Hajj a number of rituals are carried out which reflect the efforts of Abraham (Ibrahim), peace be with him, who had left his second wife Hajar and her young son Ishmael (Ismail) there in the arid desert, and Allah rewarded Hajar’s struggle to find water with the well of Zamzam, a spring which made the region prosperous and a religious focal point after Ibrahim and Ismail built the Kaabah. There is also the gathering at the plain of Arafat, reminiscent of the even larger gathering to come on the day of judgment.
Hajj is more than a get together of Muslims from all over the globe; it is akin to a virtual reality training camp. Pilgrims leave behind their busy world, dress in simple white sheets of cloth not unlike the ones they will later be buried in, and concentrate on the concept of sacrifice – recalling Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his only son Ismail for Allah. Properly conducted, this simulated journey from this world to the next prepares the pilgrims for the remaining life ahead of them, assisting them in making the right choices and judging their worldly affairs against the standard of the hereafter.
All over the Muslim world the conclusion of Hajj is celebrated with the festival of Eid al-Adha, the feast of sacrifice, where the meat of a sacrificed animal is shared out between family, friends and the needy, celebrating the fact, that Allah only tested Ibrahim’s willingness, but did not demand of him to give up his son, letting him slaughter a ram instead. Islam thereby categorically rejects the concept of human sacrifice but also emphasises that nothing should be so dear to us that we are not willing to give it up for the sake of Allah. “And proclaim unto mankind the Hajj. … That they may witness things that are of benefit to them.” [The Holy Qur'an 22:27-8]

Actions Which Nullify or Invalidate the Prayer

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The following factors nullify your Salah:

Intentionally turning your whole body away from the Qiblah

Intentionally talking in Salah. But if you talk out of forgetfulness or ignorance, your prayer will not be invalidated.

Laughing in Salah.

Irrelevant and unnecessary acts in Salah, such as moving around .

Eating and drinking in Salah.

The breaking of one's Wudu.

Intentionally exposure of any parts of the body which must be covered during the prayer.

How to Perform Salah (Prayer)

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First: make that it is time for the prayer you intend to offer.

Secondly: make sure that you are clean and purified and that you have no impurities (e.g. urine, blood, or stool) in your body, clothes and place you are going to use for prayer.

Thirdly: make sure that your awrah is covered which is from the knees up to the navel. It is not allowed for you to pray if any portion of these parts of the body are exposed. The woman must cover the entire body except the face and hands.

When you intend to pray, face the Ka'bah (i.e. Makkah). This is the sacred mosque which Allah has chosen for Muslims to face for every prayer. Two prophets, Ibrahim and Isma'eel, may Allah bestow peace upon them, built the Ka'bah in compliance with Allah's command.

Stand straight for prayer and say, "Allahu Akbar" and it is better while saying this to gently raise the arms up to the shoulders, with your hands spread and hands facing towards the qibla. Then lower them and place them in your chest - the right hand on the left. Keep your eyes focused on the spot you'll prostrate during the prayer.

After saying, "Allahu AKbar", recite the Fatihah (i.e. the first chapter of the Noble Quran). It is recommended t recite any excerpt or chapter you have memorized from the Quran after the Fatihah.

Bow and say "Allahu Akbar" while bowing, keep your back straight and even with your head. You should have both hands clutching your knees. You say in bowing this supplication, "Subhana Rabbiyal Azeem (three times). When bowing, it is better to raise the hands and lower them as before.

Then return to the upright positioning saying, "Sami Allahuliman Hamidah" and Rabbana Walakalhamd". Again it is preferable to raise the arms, lower them, and place them back on your chest as before.

Prostrate saying, "Allahu Akbar" by kneeling down and placing your forehead, nose, palms, and toes of your feet on the ground, and say "Subhana Rabiyal A'laa" (three times).

Bend back and while in that position sit, say, "Allahu Akbar". Then say this supplication, "Rab Ighfirlee".

Prostrate again and do as you did in the first prostration.

This is one complete rak'ah. After it, stand up saying, "Allahu Akbar" and then recite Al-Fatihah chapter and do as you did in the former rak'ah. When you are finished with the second prostration of the second rak'ah.

Sit down saying, "Allahu Akbar" and then say the Tashahhud as follows:

Attahiyatulillahi wassalawatu wattayibat.

At this point if you wish make some additional supplications from the authentic supplication of the prophet (S.H.W.)

Now salute by turning your face to the right saying, "Assalamu alaikum warahmatullah" and then turning your face to the left saying "Assalamu alaikum warahmatullah". In this way you have completed the your prayer assuming that it consisted of two rak'as only, as in the early-morning prayer (Fajr) for instance.

If the prayer consists of more than two rak'as, immediately stand up after having said the Tashahhud but before giving the salutation as you stand up say, "Allahu Akbar". Recite Sutah Fatihah, then bow, and do as you did in the previous rak'ah. If the prayer happens to be sunset (Magrib) prayer, this third rak'ah is sufficient, hence sit for Tashahhud and salute as before.

However, if the prayer consists of four rak'as, like (Dhuhr), (Asr) and (Isha), stand up after completing the third one and perform a fourth rak'ah like the third one. Then set down, recite the Tashahhud and finally salute as before.

For greater reward, males are required to observed their prayers with other Muslim fellows in the mosque. You must imitate and follow your Imam's (i.e. the leader in prayer) physical movements. Listen to his recitation even if you haven't finished reciting the Fatihah. Never anticipate the Imam's movements nor proceed (or move before) the Imam in the prayer i.e. do not bow before him etc. Just try to follow without unnecessary delay.

You may ask what procedures you are supposed to follow if it happens that you arrive after the people in the mosque have engaged in a prayer.

If you still haven't memorized Chapter Fatihah, recite what ever is possible for you, even a single verse from the Holy Quran. And if you haven't memorized anything from the Holy Quran or don't even know the Tashahhud or the other supplications of Salah, just repeatedly say "Subhanallah", "alhamdulillah", "la ilaha ilallah", "alahu akbar", "lahola walaquwata illabillah". Say what you can any of these words of supplication and never abandon prayer even if you don't know what to say in it.

Click here for Salat Demo

Purification

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When you intend to offer prayer, you must be in a state of purification, which symbolizes glorification of your Lord: Allah, the One to whom you are offering your prayer.

Purification is maintained by observing Wudhu (ablution) in the way prescribed by Allah, in the sixth verse of the fifth chapter in the Noble Quran. Allah says, "O you who believe!, when you intend to offer As-Salat (the prayer):

"Wash your faces"; and this includes rinsing the mouth, sniffing water and then blowing it out through the nose.
"And your hands up to and including the elbows"; and this requires washing booth arms up to the elbows and it is recommended that one begins with the right arm then washes the left one.
"And wipe (by passing wet hands over) your heads". The verse includes wiping the entire head and the ears which are a part of it.
"And (wash) your feet up to the ankles"; and this requires washing both feet up to and including the ankles. Again, it is commendable that you wash the right foot before the left one.

It is necessary to observe order among these four organs in the course of Wudhu. In the following cases, (wudhu) ablution is not enough, and therefore the entire body must be washed before the prayer:

After having the sexual intercourse.
After discharge of semen.
At the end of the menstrual period (for ladies).
At the end of post-natal bleeding (for ladies).

When water is unavailable or unusable, performing Tayamum becomes an alternative. In order to perform Tayamum, strike your hands on dust and then wipe your face and the surface of both hands: your right hand before the left one.

When you have become clean and purified you do not have to repeat purification for every prayer as long as your state of (Wudhu) purification has not been invalidated by any of the following:

All excretions from the private parts such s urine, stool, wind, sperm and blood.
Having sexual intercourse.
Directly touching the private parts with hand.
Not of sound mind, sleep, unconsciousness, intoxication, and the like.
Eating camel meat.

The Salah (Prayer)

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Prayer or Salah is a daily act of worship, wherein we exhibit our submissiveness and glorify our Creator and Benefactor so that He may draw us closer, reward us with the best recompense, forgive us for our sins and increase us in steadfastness in Islam.

Each day you pray five times.:

Early-morning prayer (Fajr): It consists of two rak'as (two bowing positions). Its time starts with the end of night and the first appearance of dawn light and remains till sunrise.
Noon prayer (Dhuhr): It consists of four rak'as (four bowing positions). Its time starts as soon as the sun passes the zenith (Zawal) and remains until the time of Asr.
Afternoon prayer (Asr): It consists of four rak'as (four bowing positions). Its time starts around the mid point of Zawal and Sunset. It remains until the time of Magrib.
Sunset prayer (Magrib): It consists of three rak'as (three bowing positions). Its time starts as soon as the sun sets into the western horizon even though there is still light in the sky, and remains until the time of Isha.
Evening prayer (Isha): It consists of four rak'as (four bowing positions). Its time starts after the disappearance of twilight and the appearance of complete darkness and remains till midnight.

Friday prayer (Jumu'ah): It consists of two rak'as (two bowing positions). It is performed instead of noon prayer "Dhuhr" and it is obligatory to perform this prayer with fellow Muslims in the mosque. Yet if one misses this prayer, he must perform four rak'as, just as if he were offering the usual daily noon prayer.

There are other prayers that are optional, but great of reward. They are as follows:

Two rak'as before the early-morning prayer (Fajr).
Four rak'as (performed in units of two rak'as) before noon prayer (Dhuhr) and two after it.
Two rak'as after sunset prayer (Magrib).
Two rak'as after evening prayer (Isha).
Four rak'as (performed in units of two rak'as) after Friday prayer (Jumu'ah).
After the optional prayer following the evening prayer (Isha), there is another optional prayer called "Witr". There is no fixed number of rak'as but the witr prayer should be odd in number. The minimum number of witr is one.
When you enter the Mosque, it is an established sunnah that you should offer a salutatory prayer of two rak'as before you sit.

The Testimony of Faith

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"ASH-HADU AN LAA ILAHA ILLALLAH, WA ASH HADU ANNA MOHAMMADAN RASOOLULLAH". Once you have articulated this testimony, knowing its meaning, and fully confirming the belief in its two segments, you immediately become a Muslim even if this testimony was not publicly professed.

The meaning of the 1st segment: "LA-ILAHA ILLALLAH": It means the determined belief that there is no God who has the right to be worshipped except Allah because He is the creator of everything that exists. He neither begets nor is He begotten nor associated with a spouse. There is nothing that resembles Him in His names, Attributes, and Perfectness. Nothing other than Him can create nor possess the authority to provide benefit or inflict harm, or knows the unseen. Hence, supplications, prostrations and any other act of worship must not be developed except to Allah Alone.

The meaning of the 2nd segment: "MOHAMMADAN RASOOLULLAH": It means the determined belief that Mohammad, the son of Abdullah, the Quraishite Arab Messenger is sent by Allah with a book of rules and regulations for all mankind. He is the last of all the Messengers and Prophets of Allah, and it is obligatory to believe, follow and love him. Our worship will not be valid unless it is offered in the manner preached by this Messenger.

Tawheed

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The foundation of Islam is Tawheed (to single out Allah alone for worship). The greatest sin is to make shirk with Allah (i.e. to share the worship of Allah with others) The Muslims believes thatAllah is the only one true Lord of All creation. Allah is the Lord of all that exist, the only Creator, the only Sustainer, the only King, the only one who possess Knowledge of the Unseen, the only one who gives life and causes death, and who manages the affairs of creation alone.

The Muslims believes that Allah does not have any partners in His names and attributes. He also believes that Allah is not born of anyone nor does he give birth. Nothing is comparable to Him in His essence, His actions and His names and attributes.

The Muslims firmly believes that all worship should be directed to Allah alone. He does not prostrate to, or sacrifice for other than Allah. He does not supplicate to anyone other than Allah, no matter how pious or righteous the person may be, indeed no one other than Allah, has the power to benefit or harm. Therefore it is prohibited to seek refuge, protection or help from Prophets, Angels, Saints, Fortunetellers, birds, charms, amulets, stars, planets, anything or anyone else. The Muslim must not perform any deeds of worship to gain the praise and compliments of others, nor can he abandon the laws of Allah for the laws of mankind. He does not believe that the law of man are equal to the Laws of Allah, and he does not swear (bear witness) by other than Allah. He does not name himself or other with names that show servitude to other than Allah alone, such as "The Slave of the Prophet" or "The Slave of Hussain".

The Excellency of Learning Islam

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Allah has created you to worship Him Alone, as Allah, the Glorified, says, “And I created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone). I seek not any provision from them nor do I ask that they should feed me. Verily, Allah is the All-Provider, Owner of Power, the Most Strong” (V.56-5:51).

Hence in order to worship Allah (in the manner He wants), it is essential that you must learn the teachings He has legislated.

It is obligatory that you learn about Islam, which you have adopted as a religion, in order to answer whosoever may ask you the question, “Why did you choose Islam as your religion?”

In order to provoke desire in others to embrace Islam, it is essential that you learn Islam and understand it more.

You are very privileged in the sight of Allah when you become more knowledgeable and cognizant about Allah's religion: Islam. Your Prophet, may Allah exalt him, says, "If Allah wants to do good to a person, He makes him comprehend the religion", (Bukhari). The Prophet also gave us this good tiding, he said "Allah will make easy a path to Paradise for him/her who pursues a path to seek religious knowledge", (Muslim).

The Grace of Islam

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Just look around you, contemplate the creation that exists, what’s out there in space: what a magnificent universe it is indeed. Do not go too far, meditate upon yourself and certainly, therein, you will discover signs of a wonderful creation and that of a tremendous universe. Undoubtedly, the creator of this great universe must be One and Unique. Otherwise, the harmonious order of existence would have turned into total chaos. Thus, it stands to reason that we submit to this Creator, approach nearer to Him, and learn His commandments that abound in wisdom and benevolence.

It's a well-known fact man is a rational being, incessantly thinking about himself and the things that exist in his surroundings. He never gives up the habit of posing critical questions such as, "Where did I come from?" "Why am I here?" and "Where am I going?" As a traveller among other travellers, he should know where he is heading, because life is a longer and more deserving journey.

You cannot find a sufficiently convincing answer but in Islam, as it introduces man to his Creator, clarifies the right path that brings him closer to his Lord and explains what's going to happen after death. This guarantees happiness and tranquility for a Muslim.

Verily, Islam is a religion that is preserved forever. The Noble Quran, with which Islam has a distinguished trait is incomparable to that of any other book or scripture. Up until now, all the teachings of the Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, are preserved and intact. In addition, Islam is a complete and comprehensive statute which includes every affair and interest of mankind. It urges him to seek every beneficial and useful knowledge. It enjoins only good and forbids only evil. Moreover, it is simple in its laws, spreading justice and love among people.

Upon becoming a Muslim, one is completely forgiven for all past sin. No matter how evil such sins may have been. Indeed, Islam expiates them all and one becomes just as if born once again. Moreover, Allah will accept and preserve the good deeds, like charity, one used to offer to Allah before embracing Islam. Certainly, Allah, the Most Exalted, has blessed this religion by increasing the reward of a good deed many times over.

How to Convert to Islam and Become a Muslim

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The word “Muslim” means one who submits to the will of God, regardless of their race, nationality or ethnic background. Becoming a Muslim is a simple and easy process that requires no pre-requisites. One may convert alone in privacy, or he/she may do so in the presence of others.

If anyone has a real desire to be a Muslim and has full conviction and strong belief that Islam is the true religion of God, then, all one needs to do is pronounce the “Shahada”, the testimony of faith, without further delay. The “Shahada” is the first and most important of the five pillars of Islam.

With the pronunciation of this testimony, or “Shahada”, with sincere belief and conviction, one enters the fold of Islam.

Upon entering the fold of Islam purely for the Pleasure of God, all of one’s previous sins are forgiven, and one starts a new life of piety and righteousness. The Prophet said to a person who had placed the condition upon the Prophet in accepting Islam that God would forgive his sins:

“Do you not know that accepting Islam destroys all sins which come before it?” (Saheeh Muslim)

When one accepts Islam, they in essence repent from the ways and beliefs of their previous life. One need not be overburdened by sins committed before their acceptance. The person’s record is clean, and it is as if he was just born from his 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.

The Holy Quran and Hadeeth (prophetic sayings) both stress the importance of following Islam. God states:

“...The only religion in the sight of God is Islam...” (Quran 3:19)

In another verse of the Holy Quran, God states:

“If anyone desires a religion other than Islam, 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 Hellfire).” (Quran 3:85)

In another saying, Muhammad, the Prophet of God, said:

“Whoever testifies that there is none worthy of being worshipped but God, Who has no partner, and that Muhammad is His slave and Prophet, and that Jesus is the Slave of God, His Prophet, and His Word which He bestowed in Mary and a spirit created from Him; and that Paradise (Heaven) is true, and that the Hellfire is true, God will eventually admit him into Paradise, according to his deeds.” (Saheeh Al-Bukhari)

The Prophet of God, may the blessing and mercy of God be upon him, also reported:

“Indeed God has forbidden to reside eternally in Hell the person who says: “I testify that none has the right to worship except Allah (God),’ seeking thereby the Face of God.” (Saheeh Al-Bukhari)

The Declaration of the Testimony (Shahada)

To convert to Islam and become a Muslim a person needs to pronounce the below testimony with conviction and understanding its meaning:

“Ash Shaddu an La ilaha illa Allah, Wa Ash Shaddu ana Muhammadan rasoolu Allah.”

The translation of which is:

“I testify that There is no true god (deity) but God (Allah), and I testify that Muhammad is the (Final) Messenger (Prophet) of God.”

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When someone pronounces the testimony with conviction, then he/she has become a Muslim. It can be done alone, but it is much better to be done with an adviser, so they may help you in pronouncing it right and to provide you with important resources for new Muslims.

The first part of the testimony consists of the most important truth that God revealed to mankind: that there is nothing divine or worthy of being worshipped except for Almighty God. God states in the Holy Quran:

“We did not send the Messenger before you without revealing to him: ‘none has the right to be worshipped except I, therefore worship Me.’” (Quran 21:25)

This conveys that all forms of worship, whether it be praying, fasting, invoking, seeking refuge in, and offering an animal as sacrifice, must be directed to God and to God alone. Directing any form of worship to other than God (whether it be an angel, a messenger, Jesus, Muhammad, a saint, an idol, the sun, the moon, a tree) is seen as a contradiction to the fundamental message of Islam, and it is an unforgivable sin unless it is repented from before one dies. All forms of worship must be directed to God only.

Worship means the performance of deeds and sayings that please God, things which He commanded or encouraged to be performed, either by direct textual proof or by analogy. Thus, worship is not restricted to the implementation of the five pillars of Islam, but also includes every aspect of life. Providing food for one’s family, and saying something pleasant to cheer a person up are also considered acts of worship, if such is done with the intention of pleasing God. This means that, to be accepted, all acts of worship must be carried out sincerely for the Sake of God alone.

The second part of the testimony means that Prophet Muhammad is the servant and chosen messenger of God. This implies that one obeys and follows the commands of the Prophet. One must believe in what he has said, practice his teachings and avoid what he has forbidden. One must therefore worship God only according to his teaching alone, for all the teachings of the Prophet were in fact revelations and inspirations conveyed to him by God.

One must try to mold their lives and character and emulate the Prophet, as he was a living example for humans to follow. God says:

“And indeed you are upon a high standard of moral character.” (Quran 68:4)

God also said:

“And in deed you have a good and upright example in the Messenger of God, for those who hope in the meeting of God and the Hereafter, and mentions God much.” (Quran 33:21)

He was sent in order to practically implement the Quran, in his saying, deeds, legislation as well as all other facets of life. Aisha, the wife of the Prophet, when asked about the character of the Prophet, replied:

“His character was that of the Quran.” (As-Suyooti)

To truly adhere to the second part of the Shahada is to follow his example in all walks of life. God says:

“Say (O Muhammad to mankind): ‘If you (really) love God, then follow me.’” (Quran 3:31)

It also means that Muhammad is the Final Prophet and Messenger of God, and that no (true) Prophet can come after him.

“Muhammad is not the father of any man among you but he is the Messenger of God and the last (end) of the Prophets and God is Ever All-Aware of everything.” (Quran 33:40)

All who claim to be prophets or receive revelation after Muhammad are imposters, and to acknowledge them would be tantamount to disbelief.

We welcome you to Islam, congratulate you for your decision, and will try to help you in any way we can, so feel free to email us with any questions that you may have!

“...The only religion in the sight of God is Islam...” (Quran 3:19)