To convert to Islam and become a Muslim a person needs only to pronounce the words below with conviction and understanding:
Arabic transliteration: "Laa ilaaha illa Allah, Muhammad rasool Allah."
English translation: "I testify that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is a Messenger (Prophet) of God."
It's that simple.
Points to note:
- Arabic is the language the Quran was revealed in.
- Allah is the Arabic word for God.
- You are in essence affirming in your heart that God is the only one truly worthy of worship and that Muhammad (and nobody else) was the person who came to teach us how to worship God. That's why as Muslims, we revere Muhammad and follow his teachings – whilst still appreciating he is still human and not divine.
In More Detail
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 a 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:
"Do you not know that accepting Islam destroys all sins which come before it?" — The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)
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.
The Declaration of the Testimony (Shahada)
To convert to Islam and become a Muslim a person needs to pronounce the below testimony with conviction and understanding its meaning:
"I testify that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is a Messenger (Prophet) of God."
Declarations of Faith
When someone pronounces the testimony with conviction, then he/she has become a Muslim. It can be done alone, but it is much better to be done with an adviser.
The first part of the testimony consists of the most important truth that God revealed to mankind: that there is nothing divine or worthy of being worshipped except for Almighty God:
"We sent all messengers before you with this revelation: There is no deity save Me, so worship Me alone." — The Qur'an, Chapter 21, Verse 25
This conveys that all forms of worship, whether it be praying, fasting, invoking, seeking refuge in, and offering an animal as sacrifice, must be directed to God and to God alone.
The second part of the testimony means that Prophet Muhammad is the servant and chosen messenger of God. This implies that one obeys and follows the commands of the Prophet. One must believe in what he has said, practice his teachings and avoid what he has forbidden. One must, therefore, worship God only according to his teaching alone, for all the teachings of the Prophet were in fact revelations and inspirations conveyed to him by God.
One must try to mould their lives and character and emulate the Prophet, as he was a living example for humans to follow:
"And indeed you are upon a high standard of moral character." — The Qur'an, Chapter 68, Verse 4
"And indeed you have a good and upright example in the Messenger of God, for those who hope in the meeting of God and the Hereafter, and mentions God much." — The Qur'an, 33:21
To truly adhere to the second part of the Shahada is to follow his example in all walks of life:
"Say (O Muhammad to mankind): 'If you (really) love God, then follow me.'" — The Qur'an, Chapter 3, Verse 31
We welcome you to Islam, congratulate you for your decision. You're a Muslim now.