EMBRACING ISLAAM

Embracing Islaam is a simple matter. The non-Muslim who is convinced of the truth of Islam and wishes to enter the fold of Islam, 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 a ceremony and rituals which have neither origin nor sanction in the Deen. Ignorant “imams” have invented some queer customs which the new Muslim is constrained to carry out. All such practices are not Islaam ic 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 Islam. Many ignorant persons place greater insistence on circumcision 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 Islam. Circumcision although an important requirement and teaching of Islaam , is not a fundamental of the Deen. Embracing Islam 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 Islaam ic BELIEF is accepted in the heart, one is a Muslim. When any person wishes to enter the fold of Islam and he/she is unable to locate any knowledgeable Muslim to guide him/her in the acceptance of Islam, the only things to be done are:

112. Ghusl: A full bath, i.e. an Islaam ic bath, should be taken. By ghusl is meant a bath under running water, not a bath in a tub as non-Muslims do. An Islaam ic bath consists of only three fundamentals.(compulsory acts), viz.,

a. Rinsing the mouth thoroughly.

b. Applying water into the nostrils.

c. Pouring water over the entire body in such

a way that not a hair remains dry.

113. Reciting the Islaam ic declaration of Imaan , viz., Kalimah Tayyibah which is:

There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is the Rasool(Messenger) of Allah.

LAA ILAAHA IL-LAL-LAAHU MUHAMMADUR-RASOOLULLAH.

Instead of Kalimah Tayyibah, the following declaration known as Kalimah Shahaadat may be recited:

I bear witness that there is no God but Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Rasool (Messenger) of Allah.

ASH-HADU AL LAA ILAAHA IL-LAL-LAAHU WA ASH-HADU ANNA MUHAMMADAN ABDUHU WA RASOOLUH.

The non-Muslim wishing to enter the fold of Islam must acknowledge and believe in the truth of this Declaration with his heart and recite it verbally, i.e. with his tongue. Once this requirement has 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 Islam to enable him to perform his Salaat, Fast, and conduct his day to day life in accordance with the Shari'ah.

It is imperative that the new Muslim makes a concerted and a sincere effort to improve his knowledge of Islam 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.

The purpose of the ghusl(bath) mentioned here is for achieving purification from the state of jannabat(i.e. the state of impurity caused by sexual intercourse, emission of semen and menses). Non-Muslims are perpetually in such conditions of ceremonial impurity, hence the need for the ghusl. Although such a ghusl is important and obligatory, it is not a constituent part of Imaan . Thus, a person will become a Muslim by accepting and reciting the Kalimah even if ghusl has not been taken. Similarly, circumcision is not a constituent part of Imaan . Hence, its prior insistence by ignorant people is erroneous. The one who wishes to embrace Islam should not postpone his acceptance of Islam until he has undergone circumcision. Circumcision should be performed as soon as is possible.