subject: How Easy to Convert to Islam? Part I [print this page] How Easy to Convert to Islam? Part I How Easy to Convert to Islam? Part I
Hasan A. Yahya, a writer from Palestine
In short answer, if you sincerely utter and believe in the following statement, you become a Muslim when you finish your sentence. Congratulation! The statement is:
"Ash-Hadu an La Ilaha Illa Allah, wa-Ash-Hadu anna Muhammadan Raul Allah"
Meaning: I witness that there is no god but Allah (The ONLY God) , and Muhammad is His Prophet.
That's all! Believe it or not!
In the long answer form, however, more interpretation is following to show the basics of Islamic belief system. While too many sites on the internet answer the question, the following is a summary for the answer.
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:
By accepting Islam, you are in a stage where all your past sins, are removed, and you begin a new person. This Hadith confirms the statement. "Do you not know that accepting Islam destroys all sins which came before accepting 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 Hadith (prophetic sayings) both stress the importance of following Islam. God states:
"...The only religion in the sight of God is Islam..." (Quran 3:19)
Islam means, however, submission to God as The ONE and ONLY God. This means the Hindu, the Jew, the Christian, etc.,
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 in 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 (Be!) 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)
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. ( 745 words) www.dryahyatv.com
