New Muslims Guide

After converting to a Muslim many New Muslims are confused as to what they need to learn. Many try to learn everything about Islam and get overwelmed. This leads to missing many of the essential things they need to learn first.

Some New Muslims are taught by unexperianced brothers and sisters who expect them to learn at a pace they cannot handle and by others who wrongly think that a New Muslim does not need to learn nor practise much of Islam.

I have converted to Muslim now what to do ?

Having specialised in helping New Muslim brothers and sisters from all over the world for more than twenty years, I created this New Muslims guide.

Firstly you need to be firmly grounded in certain essential knowledge if you are New Muslim or thinking of converting to a Muslim.

So please make sure you have read all the articles on the following link

Explanation of what is Islam and why Muslims believe Islam is the true religion of God

If you have not become a Muslim and wish to convert to Muslim please read the following article before proceeding:

How to become a Muslim (Shahadah)

Many New Muslims could have saved themselves from much hardship and confusion if they followed the following advice and guidelines.

Lesson 1

First of all you must realize that after converting to Muslim you will be tested by Allah as to how firm you are on the Islamic Path.

Allah says:

"Do people think that they will be left alone because they say: "We believe," and will not be tested.

"And We indeed tested those who were before them. And Allah will certainly make (it) known (the truth of) those who are true, and will certainly make (it) known (the falsehood of) those who are liars, (although Allah knows all that before putting them to test)". ( Quran 29:2.-3)

Not only do these tests separate the sincere Muslim from the insincere Muslim but they also enable a Muslim to reach a higher rank in heaven.

It was narrated by al-Bukhaari (2581) that Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “In Paradise there are one hundred levels that Allah has prepared for the Mujahideen who strive for the sake of Allah. (The distance) between each two levels is like the distance between the heavens and the earth. When you ask of Allah, ask Him for al-Firdaws for it is in the middle of Paradise and is the highest part of Paradise. Above it is the Throne of the Most Merciful and from it spring forth the rivers of Paradise.

There are many levels in heaven and the best is called Al Firdous. So to reach the best level one needs to go through tests that are more challenging. Those human beings that Allah honoured to become Prophets were tested the most. After them the ones who are tested the most are the pious Muslims. No one is tested beyond their capability. So no one can say I can not bare these tests nor say they are overwhelming and impossible because Allah made us and knows what we can bear.

Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "If Allah loves a people, He tries them, and whoever has patience will have patience, and whoever is anxious will be anxious." (Reported by Imam Ahmad; Saheeh al-Jaami, 1706).

Again Allah says

And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to As-Sabirin (the patient ones, e.t.c..).

Who, when afflicted with calamity, say: "Truly! To Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return."

They are those on whom are the Salawat (.i.e.. blessings, etc.) (i.e. who are blessed and will be forgiven) from their Lord, and (they are those who) receive His Mercy, and it is they who are the guided-ones. (Quran 2:155-157)

If you are having difficulty dealing with the tests then you should immediately email MuslimConverts.com and I will In'sha'Allah give you advice and counselling.

Alhamdulillah I have been able to help those converts brothers and sisters who had a difficult time coping with these tests

So email contact@muslimconverts.com

Lesson 2

Islam is a beautiful and wonderful way of life. After all it is from the one who created us. Islamgoverns every aspect of a Muslims life and thus has its own way of life.

When you become a Muslim there is lot to learn about Islam and also some things to unlearn from your previous culture or religion.

If you try to learn everything at once you will get overwelmed sooner or later. You are not expected to know everything right away. There are certain things which you are required to learn first and thus you must prioritise your learning. This New Muslim guide will explain the things which you need to learn first.

Lesson 3

Try to read and understand what the conditions of the Shahadah (declaration of faith) are and what negates one's Islam. The following is a collection of articles that you should read and understand thoroughly.

Lesson 4

Do not worry about changing your name right away nor learning Arabic right away because you need to concentrate on learning your prayers first.

Lesson 5

LEARN TO PRAY. After having taken the Shahadah (which is the first pillar of Islam) and having done the purifications, a Muslim needs to wear clean cloths and Learn how to pray.

The 5 daily compulsory prayers are the secound pillar of Islam. You cannot jump onto other aspects of Islam that seem more interesting to you such as marriage, learning Arabic etc. That is incorrect and sinful.

So you MUST give priority to learning how to pray. If you jump onto other issues and you have neglected in learning how to pray then will be sinning because you jumped to other topics instead of learning to pray.

At MuslimConverts.com we have prepared for you easy to follow prayer guides for all the 5 daily compulsory prayers on the following link

Muslim Prayer Guides

Yes I am aware that there are many books and videos on how to pray for beginners. But the problem with these books and videos is that they are made by people who are not specialised in teaching converts. So the books and prayer guides the make are to difficult beginners.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) taught New Muslims how to pray in a step by step manner. This is what we teach in our guides, We start New Muslims or those Muslims who have forgoten how to pray on a beginner level first. After that you will advance to the intermediate level and then later to the advanced level.

Others erronously start a new Muslim usually on what we call the Advanced level. Some are bit better and start them on the intermediate level which is also too difficult for them.

Some Muslim Converts who used such books and videous instead of our prayer guides ended up spenting many months trying to learn how to prayer. They eventually overwhelmed.

If you have any difficulties then email us on contact@muslimconverts.com

Lesson 6

There are certain foods Muslims can eat and certain which they can not eat this I have described in detail along with the Islamic etiquettes of eating and drinking

Muslim food guide

Lesson 7

You must dress Islamically.

The Muslim males must not shave their beards but should trim their mustaches so that the mustache does not go over the lips. They should not wear silk cloths. They must have their pants above their ankles.

The Muslim females dress is described in detail on muslimconverts.com/hijab

Lesson 8

Fasting in Ramadan. Learning about fasting in Ramadan will depend on what date you convert to Islam. If you convert in Ramadan or very close to Ramadan then you will have to learn how to fast right away otherwise you should delay learning about fasting and focus on learning the prayers. Due to the Islamic calendar being based on lunar months we cannot know the exact day Ramadan. Each year Ramadan starts about 8-12 days earlier from the previous year. Every year we announce the start of Ramadan on the website on the following link When is Ramadan?

We have also made a Ramadan Guide Ramadan Guide

Please Start reading the Ramadan Guide one to two months before the start of Ramadan but not right away as you need to learn other things first unless we are very close to Ramadan

Lesson 9

Character of a Muslim

Lesson 11

A) Don't get dragged into debates with other Muslims expecially when you are new to Islam. Muslims are passionate about Islam and so they should be. You may not yet know the complete ruling on an issue and may say the wrong thing.

There are things which can take a person out of Islam. If you say such things in front of other Muslims they may start get offended and start doubting your convertion to Islam. So please do not think you know everything about a topic in Islam just because you have read a book or two on Islam. The famous phrase LITTLE KNOWLEDGE IS VERY DANGEROUS IS VERY TRUE.

B) Do not let Muslims push you into doing things or taking positions of authority which you are not qualified for or not capable off, due to your limited knowledge of Islam and the Muslim world. Just say I am learning and when I have learnt sufficiently I will get back to you on this matter. Any information one gives out about Islam must be correct.

In the west we are often conditioned to hypothesize about things we do not know the answers to. We must avoid this when talking about Islam because we are talking about the religion of Allah and thus wehave to be 100% sure that what we are saying is correct.

Islam requires a person to say the truth. Rather than taking a guess or saying what pleases the public.

C) Do not start setting up web sites or groups. You can end up leading other Muslims astray. However do tell other non Muslims about Islam. Those brothers and sisters who have converted to Muslims have been the most succesful in calling non Muslims to Islam.

D). Do not assume that every convert Muslim you come accross will be a guiding beacon of light for you for you. Some will be but there are others who for various reasons are in the dark about certain Islamic rulings issues themselves and they can mislead you.

Muslims have a tendency to hook up a New Muslim with any random convert. Which is wrong.

From my many years of experience and research I seen this cause various serious problems.

Lesson 13

Don't get married right away and do not let others push you into getting married.

Bad marriages have sometimes ended in driving a New Muslim away from Islam. The Muslims Ummah (nation) has a wide spectrum of people. Some are good and some are bad.

After you have accomplished all of the above please read the various other sections of the website.

If you have any difficulties do make sure you email us and we will try to help you as much as possible.

AbuUbaidawebsite Admin