The easiest and most convenient way to become a Muslim is to visit the Mosque or Islamic Center closest to you, they will give you a warm welcome and guide you through everything you need to become a true Muslim.
As soon as you visit the Mosque or Islamic Center close to you, find the Imam (Leader) there, and tell him that you are willing to become a Muslim.
He will give you a brief explanation of Islam, and will tell you that in order to become a Muslim you will need to declare the Shahadah (Declaration of faith), which is to confess and bear witness that there is no god but Allah (God), and that Mohammad is the messenger of god. He might make you repeat it in Arabic and in your own language.
When you declare the Shahadah, it means that you have confessed and submitted to the fact that there is only one God to the universe, he created all things and he manages everything according to his wisdom. You totally disbelieve in any fantasy god or power competing with God’s power.
Therefore, as soon as you have declared the Shahadah, you have embraced Islam, Congratulations! May God fulfill your life with pleasure and guide you to the right path.
The people in the Mosque or Islamic Center will welcome you warmly with hugs, because Muslims must have a brotherhood relationship. Then the Imam will explain to you some basics of Islam, mainly the 5 pillars of Islam, and how to pray, and he shall also give you a translated book of the Quran.
You might ask what the 5 pillars of Islam are; they are the 5 symbols in which if you abide to, then you are a true Muslim.
The 5 pillars of Islam are:
- The Shahadah (You would have already done it by now).
- Obligatory prayer (5 times a day).
- Compulsory giving (Zakat).
- Ramadan fasting.
- Pilgrimage.
We shall explain them now one by one.
1) The declaration of faith (Shahada)
This is to believe and confess that there is no god but Allah (God), and that Mohammad is the messenger of God. Christians would also need to confess that Jesus is just a messenger of God and is not a deity nor the son of God. It is preferable to declare the Shahada in a Mosque or in front of a group of Muslims, to better bond with Islam and the Muslim community, but one can also declare it privately if he can’t announce it.
2) Prayer
Muslims are committed to 5 obligatory prayers per day, each has its own timing of the day: dawn, noon, afternoon, evening, night. A Muslim can do his prayer anywhere, either as a single, or in a group, and most preferably in a Mosque. A prayer in average takes between 5 to 10 minutes only.
3) Compulsory giving (Zakat)
If a Muslim has enough money, he must give 2.5% of it each year to the people in need, this is to purify himself and be blessed.
4) Ramadan fasting
Muslims fast the whole lunar month Ramadan, where they would prohibit themselves from food, drink and sexual intercourse, from dawn to sunset, everyday, until the end of Ramadan. One can freely eat, drink and have sex with his wife after sunset, until dawn. Sick people are excused, but must compensate skipped days in a later time of the year.
5) Pilgrimage
A Muslim must make the pilgrimage to Mecca (In Saudi Arabia) at least one time in his lifetime, if he was able to make it. The pilgrimage consists of several rituals spread among several days. It takes place in the last month of an Islamic lunar year, the month is called Thulhijja. The Saudi Arabian government currently allows a certain percentage of Muslims per country, and prefers the most elderly.
If you have questions or inquiries about Islam, please navigate to the FAQ page which answers many of the common questions.
