Becoming Muslim

Becoming Muslim: the cards as text

Islam 101. Draft written with AI help: awaiting scholar review.

  1. Card 1

    One sentence, said sincerely. No ceremony required.

  2. Card 2

    The declaration

    Becoming Muslim means sincerely saying the shahadah: "I bear witness that there is no god but God, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of God." Witnesses are customary but not a condition of faith itself.

  3. Card 3

    Qur'an 3:18

    شَهِدَ ٱللَّهُ أَنَّهُۥ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ وَٱلۡمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ وَأُوْلُواْ ٱلۡعِلۡمِ قَآئِمَۢا بِٱلۡقِسۡطِۚ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ ۝١٨

    18 Allah testifies that none has the right to be worshiped except Him, as do the angels and people of knowledge; He is the Upholder of justice. None has the right to be worshiped except Him, the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.

  4. Card 4

    Lesson: Faith itself is between the person and God.

  5. Card 5

    What it does not require

    Nothing beyond the shahadah is a condition for becoming Muslim: no fee and no exam. A ritual bath (ghusl) follows, required by some schools and recommended by others. A new name is optional unless the old one has a bad meaning.

  6. Card 6

    Lesson: No fee, no exam, and a new name is usually optional.

  7. Card 7

    Family, and no compulsion

    A new Muslim still has a family. Converts are taught to keep honouring non-Muslim parents and relatives: the Qur'an says to keep their company with kindness. It also says there is no compulsion in religion, which many scholars read as a general principle.

  8. Card 8

    Qur'an 2:256

    لَآ إِكۡرَاهَ فِي ٱلدِّينِۖ قَد تَّبَيَّنَ ٱلرُّشۡدُ مِنَ ٱلۡغَيِّۚ فَمَن يَكۡفُرۡ بِٱلطَّٰغُوتِ وَيُؤۡمِنۢ بِٱللَّهِ فَقَدِ ٱسۡتَمۡسَكَ بِٱلۡعُرۡوَةِ ٱلۡوُثۡقَىٰ لَا ٱنفِصَامَ لَهَاۗ وَٱللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ ۝٢٥٦

    256 There is no compulsion in religion; the right guidance has become distinct from error. Whoever rejects Tāghoot[i.e., false gods] and believes in Allah has indeed grasped the most trustworthy handhold that never breaks. And Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.

  9. Card 9

    Lesson: The Qur'an says there is no compulsion in religion.

  10. Card 10

    Reflect: What does becoming Muslim require?

    Answer: Sincerely declaring the shahadah. Sincerely declaring the shahadah. A ceremony and a new name are customs, not conditions.

  11. Card 11

    The end of Becoming Muslim.

Read the full sheet or swipe the cards.