Convert Muslim Guide

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Dr. Zuhair Araji

Minister of Islamic Religion

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In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

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Introduction

Changing faith, through knowledge and reason, is a rewarding experience that requires patience and time to adjust. Choosing faith usually comes through intellectual and spiritual quest sought out by the individual, or sometimes through marriage to another Muslim (Islam requires both individuals to be Muslim in marriage).

At the time of conversion to Islam, there are acts of devotion to be performed:

1- Declaring faith in Islam

2- Showering to purify the individual

3- Performing ablution

4- Performing the prayer

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Declaration of Faith

Islam is a Divine religion. It requires that its followers have a certain belief about the existance of God. There should be no doubt in the heart and mind of the convert that God is One. Equally, the convert must believe that God sent prophets and messengers to guide humanity. They begin with Prophet Adam and conclude with Muhammad, the last messenger (peace be upon them all).

The revelation came to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) during a span of twenty three years. Angel Gabriel revealed the Word of God to the Prophet. During the Prophet’s life, this revelation was compiled into the Quran.

In addition to this, God appointed, in a stretched time span, twelve leaders (imams) beginning with Ali and ending with Mahdi (who is in occultation). During their lives, these leaders safeguarded Islam and guided followers on the correct path of Islam.

In order to put these ideas and beliefs into practice, the convert must say out loud and in front of witnesses, one of them preferably a scholar:

“Ash-hado an la-ilaha illallah. Wa Ash-hado anna Muhammadar Rasul-ullah”

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Translation:

“I declare that there is no god but God and that Muhammad is his Messenger”

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Showering

Showering is the act of rinsing the whole body, cleansing it from external dirtiness. It is done in three circumstances: after completing the monthly menstruation (for women), after a wet dream (for boys or men), and after sexual relations (for both men and women).

After this shower is performed, you are purified and permitted to enter a mosque, pray, touch Qur’an, and fast.

The shower is obligatory for purification. The performance of this shower is as followings:

1- Intention: the act of showering should be intended solely to obey the order of God.

This intention should exist from the beginning of the shower until the end.

2- Rinsing the head thoroughly enough so that water penetrates the hair and reaches all crevices of skin around the ears, nose, eyes, and neck.

3- Rinsing the right side of the body beginning with the right shoulder and ending with the right foot.

4- Rinsing the left side of the body in the same manner as step 3.

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Ablution

The Glorious Qur’an, the Divine Book of Islam, says: O ye believe! when ye get ready unto prayers, wash ye your faces and your hands with the elbows, and wipe a part of your heads and a part of your feet to the ankles …(Ma’ida 6)

Ablution is obligatory before performing prayer. The following are very basic steps that must be learned correctly in the right sequence of order. You will find more detailed acts of supplication in other parts of this series.

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Step 1- Niyyah (intention). Start with the intention, i.e. Sincerely believe that you are performing this ablution in obedience of God’s command. Rinse your hands with water.

Step 2– Washing the face. Using a handful of water in your right hand, rinse your face, once, beginning with the hairline at the forehead and ending with the bottom of the chin. Water should penetrate facial hair. Wiping the face can be done several times to make certain the face is thoroughly wet

Step 3– Rinsing the right arm. Rinse the right arm from above the elbow to the tip of the fingers with a handful of water from the left hand, once.

Step 4– Rinsing the left arm. Rinse the left arm from above the elbow to the tip of the fingers with a handful of water from the right hand, once.

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Step 5– Wiping the head. Wipe the head with three fingers, (pointer, index, and ring), of the right hand by placing the fingers on the front top of the head and wipe down to the hairline of the forehead.

Step 6– Wiping the right foot. Wipe the right foot with the right hand beginning with the palm of the hand placed on the toes of the foot and wipe upward towards the ankle and stopping just past the hump on the foot.

Step 7– Wiping the left foot. Wipe the left foot with the left hand in the same manner as above.

When ablution is completed, you are now ready to perform the prayer.

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To learn how to pray Click Here