The Shahada
أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِAsh-hadu an lā ilāha illā-llāh, wa ash-hadu anna Muḥammadan rasūlu-llāh
I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.
The first half means none deserves worship but Allah alone. The second means believing that Muhammad ﷺ is a messenger sent by Allah — trusting what he conveyed and following what he taught.
Steps to embrace Islam
Believe in your heart
Make sure you believe that Allah is One without partner and that Muhammad ﷺ is His messenger. Take your time and ask about anything on your mind.
Say the Shahada
Say it sincerely. It is good to do so in front of Muslims who can support and welcome you, but it is not required.
أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ
Ash-hadu an lā ilāha illā-llāh, wa ash-hadu anna Muḥammadan rasūlu-llāh
Take a full bath (ghusl)
It is recommended to wash your whole body with the intention of purification after accepting Islam.
Learn to pray
Prayer is the most important thing to start with. Learn wudu and pray as best you can — even with just Al-Fatihah at first.
Go step by step and find company
No one expects you to know everything in one day. Find a nearby mosque or trusted Muslims to help you.
A fresh start
The Prophet ﷺ said to Amr ibn al-As when he accepted Islam:
أَمَا عَلِمْتَ أَنَّ الْإِسْلَامَ يَهْدِمُ مَا كَانَ قَبْلَهُDo you not know that Islam wipes out what came before it?
Frequently asked questions
Do I need witnesses or a certificate?
Not for your Islam to be valid. You may need an official certificate later for things like marriage or Hajj, which a mosque or Islamic center can provide.
Do I have to change my name?
No — unless its meaning goes against Islam, such as a name meaning "servant" of something other than God.
How should I treat my non-Muslim family?
With kindness and respect. Allah says about parents: "…and accompany them in this world with kindness" (Luqman 31:15, meaning).
I don't speak Arabic — is that a problem?
Not at all. Islam is for all people, and you will gradually learn the Arabic you need for prayer.
Texts and translations are under scholarly review.