How to become a Muslim (Submitter)
She said, "My Lord, I have wronged myself. I have
submitted with Solomon to God, the Lord of the worlds."
27:44
Many new believers are expressing their desire to convert to Islam every day. Many of them are told that to convert to Islam they must go through specific procedures. They are told that they have to go to a nearby Mosque (masjid) and recite the Shahada (testimony of faith). Following that, they would sign a conversion statement. Following that, the converts are advised to change their name to an Islamic name. Are these regulations set up by God in the Quran for any person who wishes to become a Muslim?
It must be said that the change of name and the signing of documents are totally man-made innovations. As far as names are concerned, the following article "Islamic Names" demonstrates that the concept of 'Islamic name' is a myth which was invented by the Arabs.
As for the signing of documents, once again this may be a requirement for civil law implications, but it is definitely not a requirement that was set by God.
As for the utterance of the Shahada, any person wishing to submit to God must testify his/her acceptance of God's absolute authority.
Islam (Submission to God) is the religion whereby we recognise God's absolute authority, and reach an unshakable conviction that God alone possesses all power; no other entity possesses any power that is independent of Him. The natural result of such a realisation is to devote our lives and our worship absolutely to God alone. This is the First Commandment in all the Scriptures, including the Old Testament, the New Testament, and this Final Testament.
"Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is One God! Therefore you shall adore the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength." [Deuteronomy 6:4-5, Mark 12:29-30]
The same testimony is given in the Quran in 3:18.
To associate anything or anyone with God is known as shirk and is the only unforgivable sin (4:48). The Quranic Shahada by which a believer professes his/her faith in the One God is:
"I bear witness that there is no god but God."
The full details are on this page: Shahadah.
The full details are on this page: Shahadah.
The Quranic narration of Abraham at the time when he submitted to God informs us that to become a Muslim (Submitter), no red tape nor man-made innovations are needed.
When God granted Abraham certainty, He commanded him to submit, to which Abraham replied "I have submitted to the Lord of the worlds." 2:131
Abraham then instructed his children to do the same:
And Abraham instructed his children and Jacob with the same, "O my children, God has selected the religion for you, so do not die except as Submitters." 2:132
The same words were instructed by Jacob to his children when death was near:
Or were you witnesses when death came to Jacob, when he said to his children, "What will you worship after I am gone?" They said, "We worship your God and the God of your fathers; Abraham, Ishmael and Isaac. One God, and to Him we are Submitters." 2:133
We also have in the story of prophet Solomon and the Queen of Sheba an example of how submission to God is attained and professed. The narration tells us about the moment when the Queen of Sheba submitted to God. Previously, she had been an idol worshipper. To demonstrate the greatness of God to the Queen of Sheba, Solomon used powers given to him by God to move her palace from its place to another place in the blink of an eye. Seeing this, the Queen realised God's power, thereby immediately submitting to God and repenting:
She said, "My Lord, I have wronged myself. I have submitted with Solomon to God, the Lord of the worlds." 27:44
Conclusion:
The above Quranic words affirm that becoming a Muslim (Submitter to God) is a much simpler process that has no red tape, nor the unnecessary human innovation.
The examples given in the Quran about Abraham and the Queen of Sheba, and how their submission was instant, portray the ease by which a person can be a Submitter to God (Muslim).
By simply saying, "I have submitted myself to the Lord of the worlds", a person becomes a Muslim.
The examples given in the Quran about Abraham and the Queen of Sheba, and how their submission was instant, portray the ease by which a person can be a Submitter to God (Muslim).
By simply saying, "I have submitted myself to the Lord of the worlds", a person becomes a Muslim.