The Procedures For Becoming A Muslim

Being a Muslim is very serious and should not be taken lightly. Becoming a Muslim is one of the most important decisions you will ever make in your life. There are many ways to become a Muslim, but the easiest is probably reading the Quran at least once.

The Quran is the Holy book of Islam. It was revealed to our Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and is believed by Muslims to be the Word of God. Once you've read the Quran, talk with an Imam [Islamic scholar] about its message and message of Islam, and understand its authenticity. You're ready for this next step: becoming a legal member of the Muslim community.

Converting To Islam

Once you've committed to your Islamic beliefs and made the decision to become a Muslim, you'll need to convert legally. There are several ways to do this according to the type of community you're joining.

The easiest way is probably reading the Quran at least once. If there are witnesses present at your recitation, then they will testify in your presence that what you said is true and that you and the person making the witness aware of it have read and understand the Quran.

Make Sure You Know What It Means To Be A Muslim And How To Act Like One

Being a Muslim means that you believe in God and Muhammad as the last of His Prophets. It also means that you obey God's commands and respect His Prophet's guidance. You are a Muslim means that you try to live your life according to the Quran and ask God for forgiveness when you make mistakes. 

You must do these things, or there is no point in becoming a Muslim. If a Muslim doesn't care about what the Quran says, then their personal beliefs should not affect Islam as a whole. In other words: think before saying anything bad about Islam or Muslims because what you say can affect the entire community.

Read Islamic Scripture

Muslims can learn about Islam in many ways. If you read the Quran, you'll notice that one of the first things God asks of us is to seek understanding. By doing this, we can learn how to live a better life and know more about God. Quran, Surah Ali Imran 03:103 “Thus does Allah make clear to you His verses that you may be guided.”

Most Muslims do not believe in having a personal bible or anything similar to them because they feel it is unneeded. After all, they have the Quran, which they say is theirs.

Talk With An Imam

Imams not only teach you how to be a Muslim, but they will also stand witness to your recitation of the Shahada so that if you ever decide to leave Islam, there will be an official record of it. An Imam is like a Priest in Christianity or Judaism. If a Christian wants to become a Muslim or if a Jew wants to become a Christian and they want someone else to certify this, then an Imam of that religion would do it, but if they were not an imam, they would have no authority.

Say The Shahada

The Shahada is the first of the Five Pillars of Islam. It is a two-part statement that "There is no god but God, and Muhammad is the Messenger of God." To become a Muslim, the convert must recite this statement in front of witnesses.

This isn't to prove their faith to anyone else; rather, it's meant as a testimony to the self. The convert recognizes his faith and the fact that they wish to be part of the Islamic community. The Shahada can be spoken or written, but it must be done officially.

To Become A Legal Member Of The Muslim Community, Have Witnesses Present At Your Recitation

Muslims who wish to convert to Islam must have an Imam (Islamic scholar who's learned in Islamic scripture) or another Muslim who is learned in Islam and credible to the majority of Muslims (as they'll be testifying that they've heard you say it) present when he or she recites the Shahada. This is most important when converting to Islamic countries because other Muslims must know that you are sincere in your beliefs and wish to be part of the Islamic community.

Wash Yourself

Muslims must wash five times a day. The first time they wash, they do it in the morning, and the last time they do it at night. Muslims want to eliminate all impurities in their body and mind, as this is one of the greatest commandments in Islam.

Living According To Islamic Principles

Islam is a way of life you must live according to if you want to be accepted as a member of the Islamic community. It means that you have to do many things correctly, or else it may cause problems between you and those in other parts of your life. Once you've committed to your Islamic beliefs and completed the procedure for becoming a Muslim, you must start acting according to your new faith.

Dress as a Muslim

When dressing as a Muslim, you're acting like one of them. That means that you can't wear anything that shows your religion. You must also cover your body with a cloth or something that's not concealing anything under it.

Muslims are encouraged to dress modestly and especially when they go out in public. If a girl is wearing short shorts or even going out without a head scarf or hijab, then it may give the impression she's not a good Muslim, or she might be looked at negatively for not following Islamic dress and decency standards.

The Bottom Line

To become a Muslim, you don't have to do anything special. However, it would be wise to read the Quran at least once or talk with an Imam about what Islam is all about before officially converting.

It's also important that you know what a Muslim means being and that your beliefs are true and sincere. Some Muslim families require their children to become Muslims when they age, but others don't mind if they choose it later in life.