Guide for New Muslims

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Congratulations on your conversion to Islam, and welcome to the Muslim community. If you have just embraced Islam, you need to be aware of your obligations as a Muslim. This will likely lead to several lifestyle changes and additions to your routine. We have listed some items that new Muslims will likely need to address immediately after converting. This list assumes the convert has an understanding of how to convert, what the meaning behind the Shahada is, and is familiar with the 5 pillars of Islam (see information on converting and the 5 pillars here). In addition, Muslims should be familiar with the content in the following set of Islam “Lessons” that has been provided on this website.

1. Praying (salat, صلاة): It is obligatory for Muslims men and women older than 7 years old to pray at least 5 times every day, and this obligation begins immediately after your conversion. This requirement is one of the 5 pillars of Islam (see information on the pillars here). After you convert, you must do the ritual cleansing ghusl (غُسْل) before you pray. View our praying page for more information on praying and the ritual cleansing. In addition, you should begin attending the Friday prayer services (Jumu’ah, جمعة‎). Details on the Friday prayer services are available here; in addition, please contact us if you would like someone to go with you to a prayer service.

2. Restraining from forbidden activities. This includes restraining from drinking alcohol or consuming any other product that is an intoxicant (e.g., marijuana) and limiting interactions with people of the opposite gender (please visit our About Mixing, Dating, and Marriage in Islam page). This will likely be a big social change for converts.

3. Dressing Islamically. Please visit our guide About Islamic Clothing page.

4. Eating halal. This includes not eating pork (a special case by itself) or meat from any carnivore with fangs (wolf, cat, dog, bat, etc), omnivore with fangs (e.g. bear, monkey, fox, etc).Information on forbidden (haram) food & beverages can be found on our About Halal & Haram Food & Drinks page.

5. Others: Get familiar with and plan to satisfy the other pillars of Islam (zaka / almsgiving, fasting the month of Ramadhan, pilgrimage) Specific guides and helpful online links are provided on this website to help address a lot of these topics.

Next, you may be interested in learning Arabic. This will help you read, pronounce, and understand the Arabic in the Qur'ân. This means you will no longer have to rely on translations of the Qur'ân and can read it as it has been preserved in it’s original format. For information on learning Arabic and common Arabic phrases, please visit our About the Arabic Language page. Learning the common Arabic phrases will allow you to properly greet other Muslims (you will likely be greeted “Assalamu Alaikum” many times at the mosque) and understand common phrases.

The website "Islam Uncovered" also provides recommendations to new Muslims.