The next step
How to become a Muslim
There is no baptism, no priest, no ceremony and no fee. Between you and God there is one sincere sentence - the same testimony the disciples of Jesus gave when they said, 'We testify that we are Muslims.'
The Shahadah - the testimony of faith
أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا الله، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ الله
Ash-hadu an la ilaha illa Allah, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan rasulu Allah.
“I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.”
Allah is the Arabic word for God - the same word Arabic-speaking Christians use.
Many new Muslims who come from a Christian background like to add what is already implied: “and I bear witness that Jesus is His servant, His messenger, His word bestowed upon Mary, and a spirit from Him.” This is exactly the formulation the Prophet Muhammad taught (Bukhari and Muslim).
What the testimony means
“No god but Allah” - You reject the worship of anything created: no idols, no saints, no prophets, no self. You worship the Creator alone, exactly as Jesus commanded: “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve” (Matthew 4:10).
“Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah” - You accept that God sent a final messenger with a final, preserved book - as He sent Moses with the Torah and Jesus with the Gospel. Jesus foretold him (John 16:13); Moses foretold him (Deuteronomy 18:18). Accepting him is completing your faith, not changing it.
Step by step
- 1
Believe it in your heart
That there is no god worthy of worship except the One God - the God of Abraham, Moses and Jesus - and that Muhammad is His final messenger, as Jesus was His messenger before him.
- 2
Say it with your tongue
Say the Shahadah below, in Arabic if you can and in your own language. No witnesses are required between you and God, though it is beautiful to share it with Muslims who can support you.
- 3
Take a bath
It is recommended (not required) to perform a full-body wash (ghusl) as a symbol of a new beginning. All your previous sins are forgiven at this moment.
- 4
Learn the prayer
Learn to pray the five daily prayers gradually - as Jesus prayed, with bowing and prostration. Any mosque or Muslim will gladly teach you; it takes days, not years.
- 5
Keep learning
Read the Quran in translation, starting with Surah 19 (Mary), Surah 3 (The Family of Imran) and Surah 112. Learn the life of the Prophet. Find a local community.
Before you decide, pray
Do not take anyone’s word for this - not ours, not your pastor’s. Go to a quiet place, as Jesus did, fall on your face as he did, and ask the God of Abraham directly: “O God, if this is the truth, guide me to it, and make my heart accept it.” Then read the words of Jesus on this site and the Quran with an open heart. God promises:
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
And when My servants ask you, [O Muḥammad], concerning Me - indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me [by obedience] and believe in Me that they may be [rightly] guided.
Say, “O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allāh. Indeed, Allāh forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.”
Common worries
- “I don’t know Arabic.” You do not need to. God understands every language; Arabic is learned gradually, for the prayer, at your own pace.
- “I am not good enough yet.” No one is. You become Muslim first; God helps you change afterwards. Every sin before the Shahadah is wiped away.
- “My family will be upset.” Islam commands kindness to parents even if they are not Muslim (Quran 31:15). Many families come around when they see your character improve. Jesus faced the same (Matthew 10:37).
- “What about Christmas, my church friends, my culture?” You keep your family, your friends, your language and your good customs. You change only what contradicts worshipping God alone.
Still have questions? Read the FAQ, or see the resources page for where to go next.