الحمد لله رب العالمين
All praises be to Allāh , the Lord of the Universe. May the peace and blessings of Allāh be upon Muhammad, His last Messenger
Dear Reader,
On behalf of all the members at Tajwidhub.fun, I extend a warm welcome to you in embracing Islam. The decision to convert to Islam is always met with immense joy among Muslims. We eagerly share this wonderful news with our friends and family, as we take great delight in hearing about the journey of others towards Islam. Your decision to join Islam is certain to be met with open arms and a heartfelt welcome from the Muslim community.
The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, extended his welcome even to those who had previously opposed him, and even caused harm to him and his loved ones. Remarkably, many of these individuals eventually became esteemed figures in the Islamic community. Therefore, regardless of your past experiences or interactions with Muslims or others, rest assured that you will be greeted with open arms and acceptance. Your journey towards Islam is met with understanding and warmth.
Who Can Embrace Islam?
It's natural for some individuals to have concerns about whether they can convert to Islam, stemming from various reasons. Prior to delving into the process of converting to Islam, it's important to reassure you that anyone has the potential to become a Muslim.
Islam is a faith meant for all of humanity, bridging individuals from diverse backgrounds—be it in terms of color, language, race, or nationality—into a unified brotherhood.
In Islam, when you decide to convert, you become our brother or sister in faith.
Embracing Islam is open to all human beings, without the need for anyone's permission. Your ethnicity, age, language, or background do not hinder your ability to become a Muslim. Every day, individuals from various parts of the world, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, India, and both children and adults, embrace Islam.
It's important to note that you do not require a course or a certificate to become a Muslim. Some individuals might provide incorrect advice due to their limited understanding of Islam. Remember that these claims are inaccurate. You should not feel compelled to attend a course or acquire a certificate to convert to Islam. Your decision to become a Muslim is valuable, and there's no need to postpone it.
If someone advises you to postpone your conversion to Islam, it's important to recognize that this advice is not accurate. If you truly believe in Islam's truth, delaying your conversion isn't necessary. The decision to embrace Islam should not be delayed, as our lives are finite, and we are unaware of when our time will come to an end. Even a single moment should not be wasted, as our time in this world could conclude unexpectedly at any given moment.
Having tattoos doesn't prevent you from becoming a Muslim.
While tattoos are not allowed in Islam, they should not deter you from embracing the faith. After converting, if possible, you may choose to remove your tattoos. If that's not financially feasible, don't worry—there's no sin attributed to your actions before becoming a Muslim. You are still fully considered a Muslim.
Regardless of the number or severity of sins committed in the past, you can still become a Muslim.
Islam wipes away all transgressions prior to conversion. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) stated that Islam nullifies what came before it (narrated by Muslim in his Sahih, no. 121). Upon becoming a Muslim, all past sins are forgiven, granting you a fresh start or a completely clean slate.
Muslim (121) narrated that Amr ibn al-Aas (may Allāh be pleased with him) said: When Allāh put Islām in my heart, I came to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) and said: Give me your right hand so that I may swear allegiance to you. He held out his hand and I withdrew my hand. He said, What is the matter, Oh Amr? I said, I want to stipulate a condition. He said, What do you want to stipulate? I said, That I will be forgiven. He said, Do you not know that Islām destroys that which came before it?
Even as a young child, you can embrace Islam without requiring your parents' permission.
If you're concerned about potential harm, you can become a Muslim in private and reveal your decision to them when you feel comfortable.
When you're living in a town without any Muslims or without a mosque or Islamic center, it's a common question whether this poses a barrier to becoming a Muslim.
However, this circumstance doesn't hinder you from converting. You aren't obligated to visit a mosque or Islamic center or even know any Muslims to become a Muslim. Simply reciting the declaration of faith (the Shahadah) to yourself is sufficient to establish your conversion to Islam. From that moment onward, you're considered a Muslim.
To become a Muslim, you need to sincerely and earnestly recite the Shahaadatayn (Declaration of Faith).
The Shahadah can be recited in the following manner:
اَشْهَدُ اَنْ لَا اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اللهُ وَاَشْهَدُ اَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُوْلُ اللهِ
“ASH-HADU ANLA ELAHA ILLA-ALLĀH WA ASH-HADU ANNA MOHAMMADAN RASUL-ALLĀH.”
Translated into English, it means:
"I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger."
The Shahadah serves as the decisive distinction between disbelief (kufr) and Islam. It's often referred to as the "kalimah" or the word. Anyone who sincerely recites it will be granted entry into the Gardens of Paradise.
This declaration, the "kalimah," is something that Allah Himself, the angels, and those with knowledge among His creation have also borne witness to.
Indeed, the Shahadah is a succinct declaration, composed of few letters, easy to pronounce, but its significance holds great weight both in expression and in divine judgment.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “A person from my ummah will be summoned in front of everyone on the Day of Resurrection. Ninety-nine scrolls will be unfurled for him, each scroll extending as far as the eye can see. Then it will be said: Do you deny any of this [i.e. your bad deeds]? So the man will reply: No, 0 Lord. Then it will be said: Do you have any excuse or any good deed? The man, in a state of terror, will answer: No. It will then be said: Rather, you do have some good deeds and no injustice will befall you this Day. So a parchment will be taken out for him, upon which there will be the testification of laa ilaaha illAllāh and the testification that Muhammad is the Slave and Messenger of Allāh . The man will say: 0h Lord, what is this parchment in comparison to those scrolls! It will be said to him: No injustice shall befall you. The scrolls will then be placed in one of the scales and the parchment in the other; the scrolls will be light in weight, whereas the parchment will be heavy.” ( Reported by at-Tirmidhee (no.2641), from Abdullaah ibn Amr radi’Allaahu anhu. It was declared to be saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaanee in as-Saheehah (no.135).
The meaning of the Declaration of Faith (Shahadah) holds profound significance. The initial segment, "laa ilaaha illAllāh," translates to "none has the right to be worshiped except Allah." This segment consists of two fundamental aspects: negation (nafee) and affirmation (ithbaat). In the context of negation, it signifies denying the attribution of divinity and worship (ilaahiyyah) to any entity besides Allah, the Most High. Affirmation, on the other hand, confirms the exclusivity of divinity and worship solely for Allah, the Most Perfect. This means that Allah alone is the true Deity deserving of worship.
Indeed, throughout history, all the messengers sent by Allah conveyed the message to their respective people that no entity is worthy of worship except Allah. This fundamental truth about monotheism was a consistent and central aspect of the teachings of every prophet.
Absolutely, the declaration of faith is brief in its wording, easy to utter, but its significance is immense. This concise statement carries profound weight in both its brevity and its impact on divine judgment.
Allāh ‘s Messenger Peace be upon him said: “Moses said: 0h my Lord! Teach me something by which I can remember You and supplicate to You. Allāh said: 0h Moses! say laa ilaaha ilAllāh. Moses said: 0h my Lord! All Your slaves say this. Allāh said: 0h Moses! If the seven heavens and all that they contain, other than Me, and the seven earths were placed in one scale, and laa ilaaha ilAllāh were put in the other, then laa ilaaha illAllāh would outweigh them all.” (Reported by Ibn Hibbaan in his Saheeh (no.2324) and al-Haakim in al-Mustadrak (1/528).
Absolutely, the second part of the "Shahadah," which is "Wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan abduhu wa rasuluh," signifies that Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) is the devoted servant and the selected messenger of Allah. There should be no uncertainty about this fact. In fact, it's incumbent upon every Muslim to heed the Prophet's commands, have faith in his teachings, adhere to his guidance, abstain from what he prohibited, and worship Allah alone in accordance with the message he conveyed. This part of the declaration emphasizes the vital role of Prophet Muhammad as the final messenger and exemplar for all believers.
Certainly, the concept of "worship" can be understood as offering heartfelt service and demonstrating profound reverence towards Allah. On a deeper level, it signifies embracing a state of absolute submission and unwavering obedience to Allah's commandments. This encompasses both explicit and implied directives, extending to actions and words, whether in the privacy of one's thoughts or in the openness of public life.
Worship can be categorized into two distinct types:
1. **Visible (Outward):** This form of worship encompasses observable acts, including reciting the two components of the "shahadah," engaging in prayers, giving Zakat (mandatory charity), fasting during Ramadan, performing Hajj, reciting the Holy Qur’an, offering supplications, expressing praise to Allah, and purifying our bodies prior to prayers. These actions involve the movement of different parts of the human body.
**Invisible (Inward) Worship:**
Invisible worship pertains to one's belief in Allah, the Day of Judgment, the Hereafter, the Angels, the Books of Allah, and the Divine Decree of destiny that determines both good and bad. This type of worship doesn't entail bodily movements but profoundly influences the heart, consequently shaping one's beliefs and way of life.
It's crucial to remember that worship directed to anyone other than Allah will be disregarded and considered a form of polytheism or "shirk," which is deemed apostasy within the Islamic framework.
Declaring the Shahadah is straightforward, and you do not need to complete a course or obtain a certificate to become a Muslim. Even if there are no mosques or Muslims nearby, and you lack the means to connect with them online, you can recite the Shahadah to yourself.
Should you desire a step-by-step walk-through, feel free to leave a message. We can arrange an online meeting at a suitable time for both parties.
Remember, merely speaking the testimony is insufficient. You must firmly believe in it, with unwavering faith, and then translate that faith into action. Upon reciting the Shahadah, you will be akin to a newborn, free from sins, mirroring the purity of a newborn child.
Absolutely, menstruation doesn't hinder a woman from reciting the Shahadah. Even during menstruation, a woman can freely declare the Shahadah. While menstruating women typically avoid entering the prayer area of the mosque, they can still arrange to recite the Shahadah either just outside the mosque or in a section of the mosque complex that isn't designated for prayer. This ensures that while respecting the guidelines regarding menstruation and prayer, women can still participate in this important declaration of faith.
During the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him), people would give their Bai’a, which is a pledge of allegiance. The Prophet, peace be upon him, would accept their pledge. This pledge indicated their commitment to obeying his commands, standing beside the Muslims and Islam against any adversaries, even if those adversaries were their own friends or relatives. It included a promise to fight alongside the Muslims and refrain from fighting with non-Muslims against them. Additionally, it involved not providing information to non-Muslims that could be used against the Muslims.
Following the Prophet's passing, both believing men and women would pledge their allegiance to the Muslim leader (khalif), and the leader would accept their pledge of allegiance. This practice symbolized their loyalty to the Muslim community and their commitment to upholding the principles of Islam.
During the Treaty of Hudaybiyah, believing women would migrate to the Muslim side in the city of Madina and offer their pledge of allegiance to the Prophet (peace be upon him). This step was taken to verify the authenticity of those who migrated to the Islamic state in Madina; it aimed to ascertain that these women were true believers and not individuals who had simply fled from their non-Muslim families for reasons unrelated to their faith. The pledge of allegiance served as a way to confirm their sincere commitment to Islam and the Muslim community.
So the Prophet would say to them “Pledge to me in that you will not associate any with Allāh , nor steal, nor commit Zina, nor kill your children” Then he would recite the above verse (Qur’ān 60 verse 12) and when the women agreed to those conditions then he would say I have accepted your pledge and he would add “Those among you who fulfil this pledge, will receive their reward from Allāh . Those who deviate from any of it and receive the legal punishment (in this life), the punishment will be expiation for that sin. Whoever deviates from any of it and Allāh screens him, then it is up to Allāh to punish or forgive if He wills.”
