REVERTING TO ISLAM - THE CORRECT PROCEDURE

After I embraced Islam in 1983 as a Sunni Muslim it was explained to me that to be a Muslim it was essential that a person not only believed that Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala - Glory be to Him, the Most High) was the one and only God and that Muhammad (sall-Allahu alayhi wa-sallam - may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was His Messenger but they also had to recite in Arabic the Kalimah ‘La ilaha ill-Allah, Muhammad-ur-Rasoolullah’ [there is no god but Allah and Muhammad (sall-Allahu alayhi wa-sallam - may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) is his Messenger].

Please note that ‘La ilaha ill-Allah, Muhammad-ur-Rasoolullah’ [there is no god but Allah and Muhammad (sall-Allahu alayhi wa-sallam - may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) is his Messenger] is the First Kalimah (Declaration of Faith or Article of Faith).

Traditionally, people recite the second Kalimah when they embrace Islam. After I initially recited the first Kalimah, I later recited in Arabic the second Kalimah which is:

'Ash-hadu an-la ilaha ill-Allaah wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan abduhu wa rasooluh.'

It means: 'I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, the One alone, without partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger'.

As a result of reciting the Kalimah I dated my reversion to Islam from 1983. 

There is a detailed explanation of the correct procedure for embracing Islam on Islamqa.org. The link is EMBRACINGISLAM.

THE SUNNI PATH IS THE STRAIGHT PATH

It is essential if anyone embraces Islam that they take only the straight path of the Sunnis. Under no circumstances should they follow any other path. If anyone is in doubt about this, they should consult one of the Ulama (qualified religious scholars - singular Alim).

Muftis of such standing can be readily reached by contacting the Australian National Imams Council (ANIC) or their local mosque. You can also search for guidance on Islamqa.org or even submit a question if you need to do so.

In reverting to Islam, it is important to practise the religion in the standard form in accordance with the teachings of one of the four recognised schools:  The schools are the Hanafi, Shafi'i, Maliki and Hanbali.

Don't try to make personal decisions about the veracity or otherwise of the Qur'an or Ahadith; forming your own opinion when you are not qualified to do so about the teachings of Islam can - unless Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala - Glory be to Him, the Most High) saves you - set you on the path to Jahannam (Hell).

If you wish to revert to Islam, then read the article on Islamqa.org headed 'Procedure for Reverting to Islam'. The link is: Islamqa.org81786 .

It notes and I quote: "First instruct the person who intends embracing Islam (who we will hereafter refer to as ‘revert’) to have a shower by washing the hands, mouth and nose, and then pouring water over the entire body. This is the basic ghusl for a revert and is not compulsory but mustahabb. Instruct the revert to wear clean clothes as well. All this will be done prior to the time of conversion."

Mustahabb in Islam means something that is not obligatory but is recommended.

There are two fundamental steps in reverting to Islam:

Firstly, you must believe sincerely in the heart that Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala - Glory be to Him, the Most High) is the one and only God and that the Prophet Muhammad (sall-Allahu alayhi wa-sallam - may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) is the last of the Prophets and Messengers. If you hold heretical beliefs then your Islam will not be accepted. 

Secondly, you must recite the Second Kalimah in Arabic.

The word Kalimah is an Arabic word that encompasses the fundamentals of Islam.  According to Islamqa.org there are seven Kalimahs. The link for the relevant article on Islamqa.org is Islamqa.org104017. The article is headed: 'Kalimas: Five or Six?'

The relevant paragraphs from the article on Islamqa.org headed 'Procedure for Reverting to Islam' are:

"When the person arrives at the appointed time, then begin by explaining the meaning of the Kalimah to the revert. State that Muslims must believe in One God who has no partner, no son, no father, no wife, and nothing is comparable unto Him. Then we believe that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the last and final Messenger of God to this world, after whom there will be no new Messenger or Prophet. Also explain that for God we say “ALLAH”, which is Arabic for ‘God’.

"Thereafter read the Kalimah and let the revert read after you. Break it up and read slowly so that the revert will be able to follow and pronounce the words correctly. Do this thrice or more, as per the need. After reading the Kalimah now give the person the translation, as follows: 'There is none worthy of Worship but Allah; Muhammad is The Messenger of Allah'."

It is also halal (lawful) for a revert to Islam to practise tasawwuf, or Sufism as it is known in the West, but under those circumstances one should practise it in the standard form and take a Shaykh from one of the established orders, such as the Naqshbandi, Qadiryya or Chishti.

I am not a Sufi, I do not have a Shaykh from a tariqah (Sufi order) and do not have any authority to take a person’s bay’ah or baiyat, (oath of allegiance) which is normally given by a murid (disciple) to the Shaykh when he joins a tariqah (Sufi order).

WEBCOPY 29 NOV 25