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Resources » Articles » Beliefs
Embracing Islam
Written by Mufti Afzal Hoosen Elias
Embracing Islaam is a simple matter. The non-Muslim who is convinced of the truth of Islaam and wishes to enter the fold of Islaam can do so quite simply without any fanfare and indulgence in ceremonies and rituals which are sometimes imposed on a new convert by ignorant Muslims. In some places a non-Muslim who wishes to enter the fold of Islaam is subjected to ceremonies and rituals which have neither origin nor sanction in Deen. Ignorant 'imaams" have invented some queer customs which the new Muslim is constrained to carry out. All such practices are NOT Islaamic and no one who enters Islaam should concern himself/herself with the ceremonies of ignorant persons.
Sometimes the convert is made to drink some "special" water, recite unnecessary incantations and observe some other rituals which are pure fabrications and which have absolutely NO relationship with Islaam. Many ignorant persons place greater insistence on circumstances than on the fundamentals of Islaam. The non-Muslim is required by some ignoramuses to first undergo circumcision before he is "accepted" in the fold of Islaam. Circumcision , although an important requirement and teaching of Islaam, is not a fundamental of the Deen. Embracing Islaam should not be pivoted on circumcision. The non-Muslim who wishes to enter Islaam can do so even if he has not yet undergone circumcision.
The non-Muslim who desires to become a Muslim can do so quite simply. He does not have to go through any ordeal. There is no initiation ceremony which Islaam demands of him. Islaam is primarily BELIEF adorned by PRACTICE. If Islaamic BELIEF is accepted in the heart, one is a Muslim. When any person wishes to enter the fold of Islaam and he/she is unable to locate any knowledgeable Muslim to guide him/her in the acceptance of Islaam the only thing to be done is :
1. Reciting the Islaamic declaration of Imaan, viz. Kalimah Tayyaba which is:-
"There is no one worthy of worship but Allaah and Muhammad (Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) is the Rasool (messenger) of Allaah".
The transliteration of the Kalimah is:
LAA ILAAHA IL LAL LAAHU MUHAMMADUR-RASULULLAH
OR
Instead of Kalimah Tayyibah the following declaration known as Kalimah Shahaadat may be recited:-
"I bear witness that there is no one worthy of worship but Allaah and I bear witness that Muhammad (Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) is the Rasool (Messenger) of Allaah".
The transliteration of the Kalimah Shahaadat is:
ASH HADU AL LAA ILAAHA IL LAL LA AHU WA ASH HADU ANNA MUHAMMADUR RASULULLAH.
The non-Muslim wishing to enter the fold of Islaam must acknowledge and believe in the truth of this Declaration with his heart and recite it verbally, i.e. with his tongue. Once these requirements have been fulfilled, the reciter will be a Muslim.
Immediately on becoming a Muslim all the laws of Islaam become applicable. It therefore devolves on the Muslim to acquire the knowledge of the basic teachings of Islaam to enable him to perform his Salaat, and conduct his day to day life in accordance with the Shariat (Law).
It is imperative that the new Muslim (in fact all Muslims) make a concerted and sincere effort to improve his knowledge of Islaam so that the quality of his Imaan improves. Without increasing such knowledge the quality of his Imaan will not only remain static but will weaken to a dangerous level.
Similarly, circumcision is not a constituent part of Imaan. Hence, its prior insistence by ignorant people is erroneous. The one who wishes to embrace Islaam should not postpone his acceptance of Islaam until he has undergone circumcision.
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