How to Convert to Islam / How to Become a Muslim

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No matter what your race is, where you are from, what religious background you have, and no matter what sins you have committed in the past, you can become a Muslim and will be welcomed with open arms. The Prophet Mohammad, Peace Be Upon Him (PBUH, SAW, صلى الله عليه وسلم) welcomed to Islam even people who had previously fought him and killed his loved ones.

There is no childhood prerequisite like baptism, and it does not matter what religion your parents are. You do not need to complete a course to convert, nor must a religious authority figure conduct the conversion. You do not need to conduct your conversion in any particular location like a mosque. You may convert alone or in front of others. Your conversion is a personal declaration to Allâh (SWT, سبحانه وتعالى), regardless of those who may assist with providing knowledge or who may be present during your conversion.

A conversion to Islam must be done voluntarily. "There is no compulsion in religion.” (Reference: Qur'ân 2:256)

To convert to Islam, the Prophet Mohammed, Peace Be Upon Him (PBUH, SAW, صلى الله عليه وسلم) simply instructed believers to recite a statement that declares their faith with conviction and understanding. This statement has generically become known using the term shahada (الشهادة). For more information on the declarations of faith, please visit our About Islam page. The shahada is transliterated below:

La illa ha illa Allâh Mohammed ur rasool Allâh.

There is no God [worthy of worship] but Allâh (SWT, سبحانه وتعالى), and Mohammad (PBUH, SAW, صلى الله عليه وسلم) is His Messenger.

Click here to listen to a recitation of the shahada.

Both parts of this phrase are paramount to Islam. The first phrase La illa ha illa Allâh iterates the belief that there is only one god - no 'trinity' or other Gods. This is the confession of "oneness" (tawhid). Please note that, in Islam, all worship (praying, fasting, etc.) must be directed to Allâh (SWT, سبحانه وتعالى) and to Allâh (SWT, سبحانه وتعالى) alone (not directing worship to an angel, a messenger/prophet such as Jesus (AS, عليه السلام) or Mohammed (PBUH, SAW, صلى الله عليه وسلم), a saint, an idol, or objects such as the soon or moon or tree.).

The second phrase Mohammed ur rasool Allâh iterates the acceptance of the prophethood (nabuwat, نبوة) of Muhammad (PBUH, SAW, صلى الله عليه وسلم) and therefore the contents of the message which is the Qur'ân.

“Mohammed (PBUH, SAW, صلى الله عليه وسلم) is not the father of any of your men, but he is the Messenger of Allâh (SWT, سبحانه وتعالى) and the last (end) of the Prophets...” (Reference: Qur'ân 33:40)

"Muhammad (PBUH, SAW, صلى الله عليه وسلم) is the messenger of Allâh (SWT, سبحانه وتعالى). And those with him are hard against the disbelievers and merciful among themselves..." (Reference: Qur'ân 48:29)

"The (true) believers are those only who believe in Allâh (SWT, سبحانه وتعالى) and His messenger (PBUH, SAW, صلى الله عليه وسلم) and afterward doubt not, but strive with their wealth and their lives for the cause of Allâh (SWT, سبحانه وتعالى). Such are the sincere." (Reference: Qur'ân 49:15)

Hadith references: Bukhari Book 1 Volume 2 Hadith 7 and Bukhari Book 1 Volume 2 Hadith 50, both of which explicitly lists this testimony as a the first principle of becoming Muslim.

Note that in this declaration including the name of Mohammed (PBUH, SAW, صلى الله عليه وسلم) as a messenger of God (SWT, سبحانه وتعالى), this does not mean believers do not believe in previous messengers. This portion of the statement ensured people believed Mohammed (PBUH, SAW, صلى الله عليه وسلم) to be a messanger and therefore believe in the message that Prophet Mohammed (PBUH, SAW, صلى الله عليه وسلم) delivered (the Qur'ân) which includes the pillars, etc. This portion of the statement therefore differentiates Muslims (those that believe in and follow the contents of the Qur'ân) from non-Muslims (exclusion of the Prophet Mohammed's (PBUH, SAW, صلى الله عليه وسلم) name in this testimony would not have differentiated Muslims from Jews, for example, since Jews also believe in one god).

For an individual'sconversion to be valid, a set of conditions must be met. Islamic scholars have developed, based on the data of the Quran and hadith, essential criteria for an expression of the shahadah to be earnest. These conditions are listed below.

The Conditions of the Shahadah

1 Knowledge (Al-ilm, العلم)
  Knowledge (al-ilm) of the meaning of the shahada, what it negates and affirms (this is noted above).

2 Certainty (Al-Yaqeen, اليقين)
  A person must believe with full certainty in the meaning of the shahada.

“Only those are the believers who have believed in Allâh (SWT, سبحانه وتعالى) and His Messenger (PBUH, SAW, صلى الله عليه وسلم), and afterward doubt not but strive with their wealth and their lives for the Cause of Allâh. Those! They are the truthful.” (Reference: Qur'ân 49:15)

3 Sincerity (Al-Ikhlaas, الإخلاص)
  Sincerity in believing in the oneness of Allâh (SWT, سبحانه وتعالى). This is iterated in this portion La illa ha illa Allâh of the shahada.

“And they were commanded not, but that they should worship Allâh (SWT, سبحانه وتعالى), and worship none but Him (SWT, سبحانه وتعالى) alone (abstaining from ascribing partners to Him (SWT, سبحانه وتعالى)), and perform As-Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât) and give Zakât: and that is the right religion.” (Reference: Qur'ân 98:5)

4 Truthfulness (As-Sidq, الصدق)
  Truthfulness (as-sidq), which does not allow hypocrisy (nifaaq) or falsehood. When uttering the shahada, you must believe in the truth of what you are uttering.

5 Love and affection (Al-Mahabbah, المحبة)
  Love (al-mahabbah) for the shahada and it's meaning.

6 Submission (Al-Inqiad, الانقياد)
  Being submissive (al-inqiad) to the requirements to Allâh (SWT, سبحانه وتعالى), and performing these obligations for the pleasure of Allâh (SWT, سبحانه وتعالى) alone.

“And whosoever submits his face (himself) to Allâh (SWT, سبحانه وتعالى), while he is a Muhsin (good-doer i.e. performs good deeds totally for Allâh's (SWT, سبحانه وتعالى) sake without any show - off or to gain praise or fame and does them in accordance with the Sunnah of Allâh's Messenger Muhammad (PBUH, SAW, صلى الله عليه وسلم), then he has grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold [Lâ ilâha illallâh (none has the right to be worshipped but Allâh (SWT, سبحانه وتعالى))]. And to Allâh (SWT, سبحانه وتعالى) return all matters for decision.” (Reference: Qur'ân 31:22).

"And turn in repentance and in obedience with true Faith (Islâmic Monotheism) to your Lord (SWT, سبحانه وتعالى) and submit to Him (SWT, سبحانه وتعالى), (in Islâm), before the torment comes upon you, (and) then you will not be helped.” (Reference: Qur'ân 39:54).

7 Acceptance (Al-Qubool, القبول)
  Acceptance (al-qubool) of what Allâh (SWT, سبحانه وتعالى) has commanded, rejection of what Allâh (SWT, سبحانه وتعالى) has prohibited. What is accepted/prohibited is inherent in the words of the shahada, is documented in the Qur'ân and hadith, and is set by the example of the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH, SAW, صلى الله عليه وسلم).

“Indeed in the Messenger of Allâh (PBUH, SAW, صلى الله عليه وسلم) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes for (the Meeting with) Allâh (SWT, سبحانه وتعالى) and the Last Day and remembers Allâh (SWT, سبحانه وتعالى) much.” (Reference: Qur'ân 33:21)

“O you who believe! Obey Allâh (SWT, سبحانه وتعالى) and obey the Messenger (Muhammad, PBUH, SAW, صلى الله عليه وسلم)), and those of you (Muslims) who are in authority. (And) if you differ in anything amongst yourselves, refer it to Allâh and His Messenger (PBUH, SAW, صلى الله عليه وسلم), if you believe in Allâh (SWT, سبحانه وتعالى) and in the Last Day. That is better and more suitable for final determination.” (Reference: Qur'ân 4:59)

“Say (O Muhammad (PBUH, SAW, صلى الله عليه وسلم)): "Obey Allâh (SWT, سبحانه وتعالى) and the Messenger (PBUH, SAW, صلى الله عليه وسلم)." But if they turn away, then Allâh (SWT, سبحانه وتعالى) does not like the disbelievers” (Reference: Qur'ân 3:32)

If you believe in the contents of the shahada and meet the conditions listed above and are ready to convert, you should not wait to convert. If you would like someone to talk to about converting, please contact us and we will find a way to help you.

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Some people may pressure you into changing your first name when you convert to Islam. This is not an Islamic requirement, and it is up to you whether you are interested in changing your first name.

Some people/websites may direct men to shave their heads after converting, and direct women and men to remove body hair from the armpits and private parts.The Prophet (PBUH, SAW, صلى الله عليه وسلم) did not require all converts to shave their heads, therefore the modern instruction to shave heads upon conversion is not sound.

Islam provides not only spiritual guidance but also guidance on behavior, lifestyle, and legal matters. Please see our New Muslim Guide for ‘next steps’ on adopting an Islamic lifestyle.