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. All the messengers of Allah told their people none has the right to be worshipped except Allah. Allah says:
وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا نُوحِي إِلَيْهِ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنَا فَاعْبُدُونِ
“We did not send any Messenger before you, except that We revealed to him that none has the right to be worshipped except Me; so worship Me.” (Surah Al-Anbiyaa 21:25)
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, with sincere belief and conviction, one enters the fold of Islam. Allah says:
يُنَزِّلُ الْمَلَائِكَةَ بِالرُّوحِ مِنْ أَمْرِهِ عَلَىٰ مَن يَشَاءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ أَنْ أَنذِرُوا أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنَا فَاتَّقُونِ
“He sends down the angels with the revelation of His commands to whosoever of His slaves that He wills, saying: Warn mankind that none has the right to be worshipped except Me. So fear Me [by keeping away from sin and disobedience].” (Surah An-Nahl 16:2)
THE TESTIMONY OF FAITH
In English: I bear witness that no one deserves to be worshipped except Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of ALLAH.
In Arabic:
أشهدُ أنْ لا إلهَ إلاَّ اللهُ وأشهدُ أنَّ محمّداً رسولُ الله
(ASHHADU ALLA ILAHA ILLALLAH, WA ASHHADU ANNA MUHAMMAD AR RASULULLAHuhammad)
Islam is the only religion that insists upon the worship of the Creator alone and completely rejects the worship of any aspect of creation. Islam dispenses with all intermediaries between man and God and allows every individual to contact Him directly, thus eliminating religious hierarchies and other sources of exploitation that have characterized the history of religions throughout the ages.
There are many benefits of converting to Islam:
- Islam teaches us that difficulties and tests are part of being human
- Islam emancipates the mind from superstitions and uncertainties
- Islam itself is essentially associated with peace and tranquillity
- Islam forms a personal and direct relationship with God
- Islam allows every aspect of life to be an act of worship
- Islam brings mercy, forgiveness, trials, and tribulations
- Islam allows a person to truly experience God’s love
- Islam itself is inherently associated with inner peace
- Islam invokes to communicate with Allah any time
- Islam brings harmony into all relationships
- Islam brings mercy, forgiveness, and trials
- Islam answers all life’s BIG questions
- Islam denotes the clear purpose of life
- Islam makes all relationships harmonious
- Islam is one of the greatest blessings of Allah
- Islam clarifies the mind, relieves it of prejudice
- Islam seems to dispel the fog and find answers
- Islam is that God promises Paradise to the believer
- Islam gives happiness, tranquillity and inner peace
- Islam recognizes God and follows His commandments
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Islam allows every aspect of life to be an act of worship
- Islam can achieve happiness, tranquillity and inner peace
- Islam control your lusts, selfishness, desires, greed, and ego
- Islam reveals God’s mercy and forgiveness towards His creation
- Islam clearly identifies our rights, obligations, and responsibilities
Islam is the true ‘natural religion, and it is the same eternal message revealed through the ages to all of God’s prophets and messengers. The main message of all the prophets has always been that there is only One True God and He alone is to be worshipped. Islam seems to dispel the fog in which a person has been before. Life with all its ups and downs suddenly acquires meaning, it becomes so simple and understandable. Allah says::
إِنَّ هَٰذَا الْقُرْآنَ يَهْدِي لِلَّتِي هِيَ أَقْوَمُ وَيُبَشِّرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ الَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ الصَّالِحَاتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ أَجْرًا كَبِيرًا
“Indeed, this Quran guides to that which is most suitable and gives good tidings to the believers who do righteous deeds that they will have a great reward.” (Surah Al-Isra 17:9)
Converting to Islam frees us from the only potentially unforgivable sin, which is to associate partners with God. On a smaller but equally important scale, Islam liberates a person from the superstitions that rule the lives of those not truly submitted to God. A believer knows that good and bad luck does not exist. Allah says:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ اصْطَفَىٰ آدَمَ وَنُوحًا وَآلَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَآلَ عِمْرَانَ عَلَى الْعَالَمِينَ
“If you (really) love God then follow me (i.e. accept Islamic Monotheism, follow the Quran and the Sunnah), God will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Surah Ali ‘Imran 3:33)
A believer knows that good and bad luck does not exist. Converting to Islam allows a person to achieve God’s love by following His guide to life – the Quran, and the authentic teachings and traditions of the Prophet Muhammad. When God created the world He did not abandon it to instability and insecurity. He sent a rope, firm and steady, and by holding tightly to this rope an insignificant human being can achieve greatness and eternal peace.
Allah Almighty says in the Quran:
- “The Religion in the sight of Allah is Islam.” (Quran 3:19)
- “Indeed the Believers (believers in Islam)are but brothers.” (Quran 49:10)
- ” And turn you to your Rabb, and submit yourselves to Him.” (Quran 39:54)
- “Oh humankind, worship God, you have no other god but Him.” (Quran 7:59)
- “Allah shall bring forth a people whom He loves and they love Him.” (Quran 5:54)
- “Say (O Muhammad to mankind): “If you (really) love Allah then follow me, Allah will love you and forgive you of your sins. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Quran 3:31)
- “If Allah helps you, none can overcome you: If He forsakes you, who is there, after that, that can help you? in Allah, then, Let believers put their trust.” (Surah Al-Imran, 160)
- “Whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter, he will be one of the losers.” (Quran 3:85)
Islam fulfils and balances our physical and spiritual needs. This system, designed by the Creator for his creation, not only expects a high standard of behaviour, morality, and ethics but it also allows each and every human act to be transformed into worship. In fact, God commands believers to dedicate their lives to Him. Allah says:
هَٰذَا بَلَاغٌ لِّلنَّاسِ وَلِيُنذَرُوا بِهِ وَلِيَعْلَمُوا أَنَّمَا هُوَ إِلَٰهٌ وَاحِدٌ وَلِيَذَّكَّرَ أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ
“This [Qur’an] is a notification for the people that they may be warned thereby and that they may know that He is but one God and that those of understanding will be reminded.” (Surah Ibrahim 14:52)
God tells us we will be tested and He advises us to bear our trials and tribulations patiently. This is difficult to understand unless one embraces the Oneness of God, the religion of Islam, where God has given us clear guidelines about how to behave when faced with trials and tribulations. In fulfilling our duties towards God, we automatically acquire the moral qualities required by Islam. Allah says:
وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُم بِشَيْءٍ مِّنَ الْخَوْفِ وَالْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ الْأَمْوَالِ وَالْأَنفُسِ وَالثَّمَرَاتِ وَبَشِّرِ الصَّابِرِينَ
“And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to the patient ones.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:155)
Islam itself is inherently associated with inner peace and tranquillity. Islam is much more than appearance, in order to become a good Muslim, you will have to go for a holistic approach and gradually start adopting Islamic instructions in your life in all its aspects. Thus, when you practice Islam in every walk of life, then surely you are to become a good Muslim.