How Does Someone Become a Muslim?

Simply by saying with conviction, “La ilaha illa Allah, Muhammadur rasoolu Allah,” one converts to Islam and becomes a Muslim . This saying means “There is no true god (deity) but God (Allah),(1) and Muhammad is the Messenger (Prophet) of God.” The first part, “There is no true god but God,” means that none has the right to be worshipped but God alone, and that God has neither partner nor son. To be a Muslim, one should also:

• Believe that the Holy Quran is the literal word of God, revealed by Him.
• Believe that the Day of Judgment (the Day of Resurrection) is true and will come, as God promised in the Quran.
• Accept Islam as his or her religion.
• Not worship anything nor anyone except God.

The Prophet Muhammad (saws) said: {God is more joyful at the repentance of someone when he turns to Him in repentance than one of you would be if he were riding his camel in the wilderness, and it runs away from him, carrying his food and drink, so that he loses all hope of getting it back. He comes to a tree and lies down in its shade (awaiting death), for he has lost all hope of finding his camel. Then, while he is in that state (of desperation), suddenly it is there before him! So he seizes its halter and cries out from the depth of his joy, “O God, You are my servant and I am Your Lord!” His mistake comes from the intensity of his joy.} (2)

The saying, “There is no true god but God, and Muhammad is the Messenger (Prophet) of God,” inscribed over an entrance.









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Next: What Is the Qur'an About?


Footnotes:
(1) As was mentioned previously, the Arabic word Allah means God (the one and only true God who created the whole universe). This word Allah is a name for God, which is used by Arabic speakers, both Arab Muslims and Arab Christians.


(2) Narrated in Saheeh Muslim, #2747, and Saheeh Al-Bukhari, #6309.