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:

The Shahada can be declared as follows :
“ASH-HADU ANLA ELAHA ILLA-ALLAH WA ASH-HADU ANNA MOHAMMADAN RASUL-ALLAH”.

The English translation is :

“I bear witness that there is no deity (none truly to be worshipped) but, Allah, and I bear witness that Mohammad is the messenger of Allah.”

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)

At over a billion members and growing, Islam is, by some measures, the fastest-growing religion in the world.^[1] Unique among the world's religions in the ease with which new members may join its ranks, Islam requires only a simple, sincere declaration of faith to become a Muslim. The declaration is not to be made lightly, however - devoting oneself to a life guided by Islamic principles is one of the most important (if not the most important) acts you'll ever make.

Part 1 of 3: Becoming a Muslim

1

Make sure you know what it means to be Muslim. Islam considers itself to be the natural way of all creation. That is, Islam is the original, perfect state of being. So, when a person "converts" to Islam, he/she is actually reverting to their own original nature.
- Islam considers anyone who adheres to this state of being to be a Muslim, regardless of when or where she or he lived. For instance, Islam believes that Jesus was a Muslim, though he died hundreds of years before Islam's historical founding.
- Allah, the Islamic name for God, refers to the same God worshiped by Christians and Jews (aka the "Abrahamic" God). Thus, Muslims revere the prophets of Christianity and Judaism (including Jesus, Moses, Elijah, etc.) and consider the Bible and Torah to be divinely-inspired, albeit corrupted.
2

Read Islamic scripture. The Quran is the central religious book of Islam, believed to be the unadulterated word of God and the culmination of all previous Christian and Jewish scripture.^[2] Another very important religious scripture is the Hadith, the sayings and accounts of Muhammad. Hadith collections form the basis for much of Islamic law.^[3]Reading these holy writings will give you an understanding of the stories, laws, and teachings that make up Islamic belief.
3

Talk with an Imam. Imams are Islamic religious leaders who conduct religious services inside and outside the mosque. Imams are chosen for their knowledge of Islamic scripture and their good character. A good Imam will be able to counsel you when deciding whether you're ready to devote to Islam.
- Note that the description above applies to imams of the majority Sunni sect of Islam. Imams have somewhat different roles in the minority Shi'a sect.^[4]
4

Say the Shahada. If you're absolutely sure you want to become a Muslim, all you need to do is recite the Shahada, a short oral declaration of faith. The words of the Shahada are "La ilah illa Allah, Muhammad rasoolu Allah. " This translates to "I testify that there is no true god but God, and Muhammad is God's messenger (prophet)." ^[5] By saying the Shahada, you become a Muslim.
- The first part of the Shahada ("La ilah illa Allah") refers not only to deities from other religions, but also to earthly things which can take the place of Allah in your heart - wealth and power, for example. ^[6]
- The second part of the Shahada ("Muhammad rasoolu Allah") is a recognition that the word of Muhammad is the word of God. Muslims are required to live by the principles of Muhammad revealed in the Quran - the Shahada is a pledge to follow these principles.
- The Shahada must be said with sincerity and understanding to be binding. You can't become a Muslim just by pronouncing the words - the oral recitation is a reflection of belief that's held in the heart.
5

To become a legal member of the Muslim community, have witnesses present at your recitation. Witnesses are not strictly required to become a Muslim - God knows all things, so a Shahada said alone, with conviction, will make you a Muslim in God's eyes. However, to become legally recognized by the Muslim church, you generally must make your Shahada in front of witnesses - two Muslims or an Imam (Islamic religious leader) who is authorized to certify your new faith.^[7]
6

Wash yourself. Immediately upon becoming a Muslim, you should take a shower or bath as a form of purification. This is a symbolic act that signifies the washing away of the past and of emerging from darkness to light.
- No one's sins are too grave to prohibit newfound purity. Upon making your Shahada, your past sins are forgiven. You symbolically begin a new life centered around striving to improve your spiritual state through good deeds.^[8]

Part 2 of 3: Living According to Islamic Principles

1

Offer prayer to God. If you're not sure how to pray as a Muslim, the easiest way to learn is to attend a Mosque for the five daily prayers. Prayer should be a relaxing, enjoyable activity. Take your time when praying. Rushing the prayer should be avoided in order to gain maximum benefit.
- Remember, prayer is a direct spiritual connection between you and the being who keeps your heart beating and who created the universe. It should bring serenity, happiness and peace. This will come with and improve with time. Avoid being excessive or ostentatious with your prayer - pray simply and humbly. Your initial goal is to establish a habit and make it an enjoyable experience.
- Pray to Allah for good judgement and success in life. However, keep two points in mind: First, your must perform the duties that Allah has required of you. It is not enough to merely pray for success - you must do what is necessary to achieve it. Second, have faith in Allah in all matters. Your material success is fleeting, but Allah is eternal - keep your devotion in Allah whether you are successful or not.
2

Perform Islamic obligations (Fard). Islam requires Muslims to fulfill certain obligations. These obligations are called "Fard." There are two kinds of Fard: Fard al-Ayn and Fard al-Kifaya. Fard al-Ayn are individual obligations - things every single Muslim must do if he or she is able, like praying daily and fasting during Ramadan.^[9] Fard al-Kifaya are community obligations - things that the community as a whole must do, even if every member doesn't do them. For instance, if a Muslim dies, some of the Muslims in the community must get together to say funeral prayers. It's not required for every individual Muslims to say the prayers. However, if no one says the funeral prayers, the whole community is at fault.
- Islamic belief also mandates the observance of Sunnah, lifestyle guidelines based on the life of Muhammad which are recommended but not required for Muslims.
3

Observe Muslim etiquette (Adab.) Muslims are required to live their lives in certain ways, avoiding some behaviors and adopting others. As a Muslim, you will keep the following habits (and others):
- Observe halal dietary practices. Muslims abstain from consuming pork, carrion, blood, and alcohol. Additionally, meat must be properly slaughtered by an authorized Muslim, Christian, or Jew.
- Say "Bismillah" ("In the Name of God") before meals.
- Eat and drink with your right hand.
- Practice proper hygiene.
- Abstain from sex during the menstrual cycle.
4

Understand and embody the five pillars of Islam. Islam's Five Pillars are obligatory actions that Muslims must take. They represent the core of pious Islamic life. The Five Pillars are:
- Testimony of Faith (Shahada). You make when you become a Muslim by declaring that there is no God but God and Muhammad is his messenger.
- Performance the five daily prayers (Salat). Prayers are made throughout the day in the direction of the holy city of Mecca.
- Fasting during the month of Ramadan (Sawm). Ramadan is a holy month marked by prayer, fasting, and charity.
- Giving 2.5% of your savings to the poor (Zakat). It is a personal responsibility of Muslims to help those less fortunate.
- Making a pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj). Those who are able are required to make the journey to Mecca at least once.
5

Believe in the six articles of Faith. Muslims have faith in Allah and his divine order even though it cannot be perceived by human senses. The six articles of faith mandate that Muslims believe in:

Allah (God). God is the creator of the universe and the only being worthy of worship.
His angels. Angels are the unquestioning servants of God's divine will.
His revealed scripture. The Quran is the perfect will of God as revealed to Muhammad by through the angel Gabriel (Christian and Jewish scripture is also considered holy).
His messengers. God sent prophets (including Jesus, Abraham, and others) to preach his word on earth; Muhammad is the final, greatest prophet.
The Day of Judgement. God will eventually raise all humans for judgement at a time known only to him.
Fate. God has ordained all things - nothing occurs without his will or pre-knowledge.

Part 3 of 3: Maturing your Faith

1

Continue to read the Qur'an. You can learn much from translations of the Qur'an. Some of these translations may be harder to understand than others. Abdullah Yusuf Ali and Pickthall are the two most common Qur'an translations. However, it's even better to seek guidance from people who are trained in the study of the Qur'an rather than simply relying on your own ability to interpret the Qur'an. Your local mosque will likely have people who will be more than willing to guide and assist you in learning more about Islam and many have "New Muslim" study circles which are often a good place to start. Be careful, but relaxed, about finding someone who you feel comfortable with and who you are convinced has enough knowledge in order to teach well.
2

Study Islamic Law and choose a school. In Sunni Islam, religious law is divided into four schools of thought. Look into the different schools and choose the one that appeals most to you. Subscribing to a school will inform your interpretation of Islamic law as revealed in the primal sources of Islam [Quran and Sunnah] Note that all schools are equally valid. The officially recognized schools are:
- Hanafi. The Hanafi School was founded by Imam Al A'dham Nu'man Abu Hanifa and is the most widely practiced school and has the most information available in english, it ranges from the widely secular Turks to the Ultra-Orthodox Deobandis and Barelvis. Most Hanafis live in the Indo-Pak subcontinent, Turkey, Eastern Iran, parts of Egypt and many Non-Muslim Majority countries
- Shafi'i. The Shafi'i school was founded by Imam Abu 'Abdillah Muhammad Al-Shafi'i and is the second most populous school and is the majority in Egypt and East Africa as well as Yemen, Malaysia and Indonesia, The Shafi'i school is known for their complex legal system.
- Maliki. The Maliki school was founded by Imam Abu Anas Malik who was a student of Imam Abu Hanifa it is the majority school in North and North West Africa, as well as a reasonable following in Saudi Arabia. Imam Malik took his practices from the people of Madinah one famous Maliki scholar is Hamza Yusuf.
- Hanbali. The Hanbali school was founded by Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal and is practiced almost exclusively in Saudi Arabia, with some followers in the West. The Hanbalis place great emphasis on creed and ritual practice and it is considered the most conservative and strict.
3

Above all, be the best person you can be. No matter what may anger, sadden or upset you, your duty on earth is to be the best person you can be. Muslims believe that Allah created us to have a good life, and to be happy. Use your talents to help others and better your community. Be open-minded. Never do harm to anyone.
- Like many religions, Islam advocates that its believers follow the "Golden Rule."Follow the advice of the prophet in the following Hadith:
  - "A Bedouin came to the prophet, grabbed the stirrup of his camel and said: O the messenger of God! Teach me something to go to heaven with it. Prophet said: “As you would have people do to you, do to them; and what you dislike to be done to you, don't do to them. Now let the stirrup go! This maxim is enough for you; go and act in accordance with it!”^[10]