Invitation to Understanding Islam: Part 3

BECOMING MUSLIM

How do I become a Muslim? Do I have to register? Do I have to change my name? What is the difference between ‘born Muslims’ and those who embraced Islam? Is a male required to circumcise to become a Muslim? Do I have to stop eating pork meat immediately? What is halal food? Do I have to learn Arabic? Do I have to perform the daily prayers and other obligatory duties in Islam immediately after becoming a Muslim? Testimony of faith Becoming a Muslim is a lot easier compared to getting a visa or a passport! You become a Muslim when you accept that there is no god to be worschipped except Allah and Muhammad is His final Messenger. The Noble Qur’an and the tradition of the Prophet [pbuh] will be the basis of a Muslim’s efforts to achieve the good life here and salvation in the Hereafter. Proof of testimony As proof of your status as a Muslim is required for certain things such as marriage or applying for a Hajj visa, it is better to register your testimony of faith. You may do this in a mosque or with the appropriate organization in your country. A certificate from the appropriate authority is the formal proof of your Muslim identity. Change of name There is no requirement in Islam to change your name when you embrace Islam. However it is better for you to have a Muslim name as well as it will be easier for others to identify you as a Muslim. Choose a name that reflects your desire to lead a life in the way of Allah. According to a tradition of the Prophet [pbuh]. The best names in the sight of Allah as Abdullah (Slave of Allah) and Abdur Rahman (Slave of The Merciful). Brothers and sisters In Islam there is no difference whatsoever between born Muslims and those who embraced Islam. In Islam the believers are differentiated only on the level of their piety. When a person embraces Islam, he returns to his original sinless status like a newborn. When a person embraces Islam he becomes a Muslim. All believers are brothers and sisters in Islam. You become a Muslim by the mercy of The Almighty. Tradition of the Prophet Circumcision is a tradition of the Prophet [pbuh]. It is mentioned as fitra or a rule of cleanliness. It is obligatory for Muslims to follow the tradition of the Prophet. It is exempted if it poses a health risk. Not just pork meat Those embracing Islam must ensure that their food consumption conforms to what is accepted as ‘pure’ in Islam. It is not just pork meat and intoxicants that are prohibited in Islam. The rule is that all food consumed must be halal. Meaning of halal and haram Halal means permitted or lawful. Haram means prohibited or unlawful. To be halal, food products must meet several criteria including cleanliness in preparation and non-contamination with impure food products. In Islam, halal and haram apply not only to food products but to all aspects of life. The original is better It is not mandatory to know Arabic to become a Muslim. As The Qur’an is recited during prayers, one has to memorize a few chapters. The shortest chapter has only three verses. Learning Arabic will be an advantage ad there is a big difference between reading the translation of The Qur’an and the original text in Arabic. Allah knows what is in your heart A person embracing Islam is allowed reasonable time to learn and perform the prayers and other obligatory duties. Remember that you have to perform these duties not to please others but to submit to Allah The Merciful Who knows what is in your heart. By Dr Y Mansoor Marican, Ph. D

Invitation to Understanding Islam: Part 2

WHO IS ALLAH?

Is Allah the God of Muslims? Why are there no pictures or statues of Allah? Allah is referred to as “Him” is He human-like? Are there other names for Allah? Who created Allah? Does He have a son? Does Allah have other gods to help Him? Does Allah need a rest day? Is Allah the god of Jesus? If Allah is Compassionate, why is there so much suffering? If Allah is Merciful, then does He forgive all our sins? The Lord of Creation Allah is The Lord of all created things in the seen and unseen worlds. Everything in Creation worships and submits to Him. The faith of Muslims in Islam. It means submission to the will of Allah. No pictures Allah is beyond the grasp of human vision. He is unlike anything that the human mind can imagine. Therefore drawing pictures or making statues that represent Him as a human, a semi-human or an animal is unacceptable and considered a major sin in Islam. Not a guy If you speak in Englich, you use the words “him” and “she” a lot and it is very easy to give people wrong ideas about God. The female equivalent for ‘God’ is ‘Goddess’. Some believe that God has female partners. Reducing God to a human family person is unacceptable in Islam. The Almighty calls Himself “Allah” in The Noble Qur’an. This Arabic word has no plural and no male or female equivalents. Oh, by the way, The Almighty is not an old man who posed for Michelangelo!   Attributes of Allah Some books refer to the “99 names” of Allah. These names are attributes of Allah. Allah is referred to as Merciful. Just and Compassionate. More than 99 attributes of Allah are mentioned in The Qur’an. Allah is Eternal Allah is eternal. He was not created. He existed before He created. His creations need Him but He does not need them for His existence. Allah dose not have a son or assistants. If He needs the help of others, then He would not be self-sufficient and be in need of a Creator. Nothing is like Him. The Creator can not be of the same nature as the things He created. His creations have a beginning and an end. Allah existed before the beginning and will remain after the end. Eternally vibrant The notion that the Almighty needed a rest day after creating the heavens and earth is a human innovation and not the Almighty’s view of Himself. It is those who were not involved in Creation that are taking the rest! Created things ‘burn out’. Allah is eternally vibrant. The One True God Allah is a proper noun unique to The One True God Who alone deserves all worship. He is the God of all Prophets that He chose to convey His messege. Among the well-known Prophets are Noah, Abraham, David, Moses, Jesus and the final Prophet, Muhammad (peace be upon them). The Compassionate Our suffering is caused by our failure to adhere to what He permitted and refrain from what He has prohibited. There are times when, for example, we cannot explain why bad things happen to good people. Allah knows best. We must seek His help in prayer. The Merciful In the Qur’an, The Almighty states that He will forgive the sins of the Believers who repent sincerely and do not repeat their sins. Many will say that they too believe in The One True God but their daily lives are infused with idolatrous practices such as wearing talismans and worshipping statues. The Almighty declares in The Qur’an tha He will not forgive the worshipping of false gods. By Dr Y Mansoor Marican, Ph. D