DECLARATION OF FAITH IN ISLAM
Shahada is the Muslim Declaration of Belief in the Oneness of God and acceptance of Muhammad ﷺ as His Last and Final Prophet.
Embracing Islam
Islam is one of the fastest-growing religions in the world with over 1.6 billion members. It is a unique religion in terms of the ease with which new members may join its ranks as it requires only a simple, sincere declaration of faith. The declaration is not to be made lightly, however – devoting oneself to a life guided by Islamic principles is one of the most important (if not the most important) acts you’ll ever make.
You should know that accepting Islam destroys all sins which come before it, and as a new convert, your slate is wiped clean by Almighty Allah. Upon embracing the faith, it is as if you was just born from your mother’s womb. Therefore, a person should try to their best ability to keep a clean record through the performance good deeds and through avoiding sins.
Make sure you know what it means to be Muslim
Islam considers itself to be the natural way of life for all creation through submission to the Will of God Almighty.
- Islam considers anyone who adheres to this state of being to be a Muslim, regardless of when or where she or he lived. For instance, Islam believes that Jesus was a Muslim, though he lived hundreds of years before Islam’s historical founding
- Allah, the Islamic name for God, refers to the same God worshiped by Christians and Jews (aka the “Abrahamic” God). Thus, Muslims revere the prophets of Christianity and Judaism (including Jesus, Moses, Elijah, etc.) and consider the Bible and Torah to be divinely-inspired, albeit corrupted by later generations.
Read Islamic Scripture
The Quran is the central religious book of Islam, believed to be the unadulterated word of God and the culmination of all previous Christian and Jewish scripture. Another very important religious scripture is the Hadith, the sayings and accounts of Muhammad. Hadith collections form the basis for much of Islamic law. Reading these holy writings will give you an understanding of the stories, laws, and teachings that make up Islamic belief.
Talk with an Imam
Imams are Islamic religious leaders who conduct religious services inside and outside the mosque. Imams are chosen for their knowledge of Islamic scripture and their good character. A good Imam will be able to counsel you when deciding whether you’re ready to devote to Islam. To speak to our Imam, please email him at imam@nicsatx.org or call us at: (208) 972-6299
If you are convinced that Islam is the right way of life, and you have decided to embrace Islam then:
Contact the Imam at NICSA to take your Shahadah at the Mosque or you can declare it in front of other muslim witnesses.
It is recommended that on this very special occasion to wash your entire body with the intention of embracing Islam.
Upon your arrival to the mosque, the Imam on duty usually asks you some questions to assure your full conviction, in addition he will also brief you with certain fundamental principles of Islam.
The Words of the Shahadah
If you’re absolutely sure you want to become a Muslim, all you need to do is recite the Shahada, a short oral declaration of faith.
The words of the Shahada are “La ilaha illallah, Muhammadur rasulullah” . This translates to “I testify that there is no other god but Allah, and Muhammad is God’s messenger (prophet).” By saying the Shahada, you become a Muslim.
- The first part of the Shahada (“La ilaha illallah”) refers not only to the negation of deities from other religions but also the affirmation of Allah Almighty as the sole deity who is worthy of worship. Deities can also to earthly things which can take the place of Allah in your heart – wealth and power, for example
- The second part of the Shahada (“Muhammadur rasulullah”) is a recognition that the word of Muhammad is the word of God. Muslims are required to live by the principles of Muhammad revealed in the Quran – the Shahada is a pledge to follow these principles
- The Shahada must be said with sincerity and understanding to be binding. You can’t become a Muslim just by pronouncing the words – the oral recitation is a reflection of belief that’s held in the heart.
New Muslims are encouraged to join the congregation at the Masjid on a daily/weekly basis. In doing so, new reverts can learn to pray and become more familiar with the principles of Islam. In addition, the Masjid is a place where new Muslims gain support from each other and from others that has more experience in the Deen and religion. Be sure to also check out the resources that we have available on our website to enhance your knowledge of the faith. We wish you the best!