The Shahadah is the declaration of faith said by all those wishing to become a Muslim. It is also repeated frequently everyday by all Muslims all over the world to reaffirm their faith.

The words which constitute the shahadah are as follows:

Laa illaaha illallaah muhammad Rasoolullah

There is no god except Allah and Muhammad is His messenger.

In Addition one can declare

Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar,  Laa illaaha illallaah

With this phrase Muslims declare that they believe in only One God /Allah, and that Muhammad is His last and final messenger.

This section is intended to provide the reader with a sense of reassurance and information about the basic essentials of Islam. We have, in a sense, stripped it down to the bones to provide a skeleton model for new Muslims to follow. All basic aspects have been covered and many common questions and concerns have been addressed.

 

Step 1 – Embracing Islam

Firstly, I shall demonstrate how easy it is to enter Islam and become a Muslim. All a person needs to do to become a Muslim is to believe sincerely that:

“Almighty God is the God of the Universe and that the Prophet Muhammad was His last and final Prophet and Messenger”.

Then you need to say the following words in Arabic, which confirm this:

“La ilaha illa Allah, Muhammad rasool Allah”

لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ ٱللَّٰه

which means:

“There is no God except Almighty God and Muhammad is His Messenger.”

This is Called Declaration of Faith, known in Arabic as the Shahadah. This is the first pillar of Islam.

The Declaration of the Faith is said in Arabic but if a person finds it too difficult to pronounce, it can be said in any language. All are equally acceptable in the eyes of Almighty God, who made all languages and can perfectly understand your language and your intention. Therefore there is no need to worry about what language you use.

Note: It is important to remember that the intention is very important and without the sincere intention to become a Muslim, the Shahadah is not accepted. To ensure that you have the right intention, you need to truly believe in your heart that there is One God and to believe that the Prophet Muhammad was His last and final Prophet.

The Shahadah can be said at any time and in any place. It is a contract between you and your Creator and it has nothing to do with any other person. It is recommended to declare the Shahadah in front of two Muslims who can witness your declaration, though this is not obligatory, and your Shahadah is still valid if said alone.

If you wish to take your Shahadah in a mosque or with an Imam, this is of course encouraged, however it does not make one a better Muslim than one who has said their Shahadah, for example, over the internet, over the phone or by themselves.

Once you have taken your Shahadah, it is recommended to take a full shower with the intention to purify yourself, to symbolize a fresh start to your new faith.

Step 2 – After your Declaration

Now you have made the declaration of the faith with true sincerity, you have entered Islam. Congratulations! May Allah accept your faith and fill your heart with His light and guidance. You have now entered a new chapter of your life and are starting afresh.

Islam holds that all previous wrong doings are wiped clean and forgiven and any good deeds that you performed before becoming a Muslim will be brought forward to your new account. It is now up to you to keep this chapter and the chapters to come clean and pure.

Taking this first step guarantees you a place in paradise if you retain the sincerity and belief in Allah in your heart. (God knows best). No matter what you do from this point forward, the most important thing is to preserve your faith.

Remember this verse of the Quran in which Allah declares:

“Inna Allaha la yaghfiru an yushraka bihi wayaghfiru ma doona thalika liman yasha’u waman yushrikbi Allahi faqadi iftara ithman ‘atheema”  ”  

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَن يُشْرَكَ بِهِۦ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ ۚ“

“I do not forgive anyone who associates partners with me, but I forgive whoever I please after that” (Qur’an 4:48)

This verse above shows that Allah is prepared to forgive anyone who believes only in Him, no matter what they have done. The only sin He does not forgive is ascribing partners to Him.

When attempting to live your life as a Muslim, I would advise you to do what you can and do not over stretch yourself. Do not rush to learn everything at once. Islam a religion was revealed step by step and this is the approach you should take.

Always remember that everyone is different and everyone has their own requirements and limits. Although all Muslims are the same in that they all adhere to the religion of Islam, each travels along the path at a different pace.

The next step along the path as a Muslim is to learn to pray, since the prayer, Salah, is the second Pillar of Islam.

These words form the basis of Islam as they are first affirming that they accept the monotheistic nature  Islam, whereby its followers believe in only one God, and secondly they are accepting that Allah’s completed message was revealed through the final Prophet, Muhammad (peace be upon him).

However, in addition to saying this, Muslims must also put these beliefs into practice. By saying that they believe in Allah they must prove this by following Allah’s commands, revealed in the Qur’an. By saying that they believe that Muhammad was the final prophet and messenger, Muslims must follow Prophets Example and live according to the teachings that were revealed to him from Allah.

Of course you need two witnesses and certificate of entering Islam (however it is optional as it is sufficient to declare it anywhere or anytime alone or with people. this declaration is between you and your God Allah.

For more information on becoming a Muslim, please contact  Dr Sheikh Ramzy on 07773034441