How to Become a Muslim

[فداء الرسول]

At over a billion members and growing, Islam is, by some measures, the fastest-growing religion in the world.^[1] Unique among the world's religions in the ease with which new members may join its ranks, Islam requires only a simple, sincere declaration of faith to become a Muslim. 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 , as a new convert your record is clean, and it is as if you was just born from your mother’s womb, one should try as much as possible to keep his records clean and strive to do as many good deeds as possible. ^[2]

[فداء الرسول]

Part 1 of 3: Becoming a Muslim



Make sure you know what it means to be Muslim. Islam considers itself to be the natural way of all creation. That is, Islam is the original, perfect state of being. So, when a person "converts" to Islam, he/she is actually reverting to their own original nature.
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.

[فداء الرسول]

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.^[3] Another very important religious scripture is the Hadith, the sayings and accounts of Muhammad. Hadith collections form the basis for much of Islamic law.^[4]Reading these holy writings will give you an understanding of the stories, laws, and teachings that make up Islamic belief.

[فداء الرسول]

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.
Note that the description above applies to imams of the majority Sunni sect of Islam. Imams have somewhat different roles in the minority Shi'a sect.^[5]

[فداء الرسول]

To become a legal member of the Muslim community, have witnesses present at your recitation. Witnesses are not strictly required to become a Muslim - God knows all things, so a Shahada said alone, with conviction, will make you a Muslim in God's eyes. However, to become legally recognized by the Muslim mosque, you generally must make your Shahada in front of witnesses - two Muslims or an Imam (Islamic religious leader) who is authorized to certify your new faith.^[8]

[فداء الرسول]

Part 2 of 3: Living According to Islamic Principles


1
Offer prayer to God. If you're not sure how to pray as a Muslim, the easiest way to learn is to attend a Mosque for the five daily prayers. Prayer should be a relaxing, enjoyable activity. Take your time when praying. Rushing the prayer should be avoided in order to gain maximum benefit.
Remember, prayer is a direct spiritual connection between you and the being who keeps your heart beating and who created the universe. It should bring serenity, happiness and peace. This will come with and improve with time. Avoid being excessive or ostentatious with your prayer - pray simply and humbly. Your initial goal is to establish a habit and make it an enjoyable experience.
Pray to Allah for good judgement and success in life. However, keep two points in mind: First, your must perform the duties that Allah has required of you. It is not enough to merely pray for success - you must do what is necessary to achieve it. Second, have faith in Allah in all matters. Your material success is fleeting, but Allah is eternal - keep your devotion in Allah whether you are successful or not.

[فداء الرسول]

2
Perform Islamic obligations (Fard). Islam requires Muslims to fulfill certain obligations. These obligations are called "Fard." There are two kinds of Fard: Fard al-Ayn and Fard al-Kifaya. Fard al-Ayn are individual obligations - things every single Muslim must do if he or she is able, like praying daily and fasting during Ramadan.^[10] Fard al-Kifaya are community obligations - things that the community as a whole must do, even if every member doesn't do them. For instance, if a Muslim dies, some of the Muslims in the community must get together to say funeral prayers. It's not required for every individual Muslims to say the prayers. However, if no one says the funeral prayers, the whole community is at fault.
Islamic belief also mandates the observance of Sunnah, lifestyle guidelines based on the life of Muhammad which are recommended but not required for Muslims.

[فداء الرسول]

Observe Muslim etiquette (Adab.) Muslims are required to live their lives in certain ways, avoiding some behaviors and adopting others. As a Muslim, you will keep the following habits (and others):Observe halal dietary practices. Muslims abstain from consuming pork, carrion, blood, and alcohol. Additionally, meat must be properly slaughtered by an authorized Muslim, Christian, or Jew.
Say "Bismillah" ("In the Name of God") before meals.
Eat and drink with your right hand.
Practice proper hygiene.
Abstain from sex during the menstrual cycle.

[فداء الرسول]

Believe in the six articles of Faith. Muslims have faith in Allah and his divine order even though it cannot be perceived by human senses. The six articles of faith mandate that Muslims believe in:Allah (God). God is the creator of the universe and the only being worthy of worship.
His angels. Angels are the unquestioning servants of God's divine will.
His revealed scripture. The Quran is the perfect will of God as revealed to Muhammad by through the angel Gabriel (Christian and Jewish scripture is also considered holy).
His messengers. God sent prophets (including Jesus, Abraham, and others) to preach his word on earth; Muhammad is the final, greatest prophet.
The Day of Judgement. God will eventually raise all humans for judgement at a time known only to him.
Fate. God has ordained all things - nothing occurs without his will or pre-knowledge.

[فداء الرسول]

Part 3 of 3: Maturing your Faith


1
Continue to read the Qur'an. You can learn much from translations of the Qur'an. Some of these translations may be harder to understand than others. Abdullah Yusuf Ali and Pickthall are the two most common Qur'an translations. However, it's even better to seek guidance from people who are trained in the study of the Qur'an rather than simply relying on your own ability to interpret the Qur'an. Your local mosque will likely have people who will be more than willing to guide and assist you in learning more about Islam and many have "New Muslim" study circles which are often a good place to start. Be careful, but relaxed, about finding someone who you feel comfortable with and who you are convinced has enough knowledge in order to teach well.