After converting to Islam, many new Muslims feel confused about what they need to learn first. Trying to learn everything all at once can cause a person to become overwhelmed, which often leads to missing the foundational essentials of the faith.

Some new Muslims face unrealistic expectations from others, while some assume they need to learn very little. This 20-year experienced guide provides a clear, prioritized path to avoid hardship.

If you haven’t taken your Shahadah yet, please see the How to Become a Muslim (Shahadah) guide first.

I have converted to Muslim now what to do ?

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

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

Lesson 1: Understanding Life’s Tests

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 honored 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 E-mail us at contact@muslimconverts.com advice and counseling.

Lesson 2:Prioritizing Your Learning

Avoid burnout by prioritizing what matters most rather than trying to learn everything at once.I

slam is a beautiful and wonderful way of life. After all it is from the one who created us. Islam governs 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:The Conditions of the Shahadah

Understand the conditions of the declaration of faith and actions that negate it, reviewing resources on conditions and invalidators.

• Conditions of Shahadah 1
• Conditions of Shahadah 2
• Invalidators of Shahadah

Lesson 4: Hold Off on Non-Essentials

Postpone non-essentials like legal name changes or advanced Arabic, focusing instead on daily prayers.

Lesson 5: Learn How to Pray (Salah)

Your absolute priority is learning the five daily prayers. Utilize our beginner-friendly resources like Step-by-Step Muslim Prayer Guides rather than rushed advanced materials.

At Muslim Converts we have prepared for you these easy to follow prayer guides for all the 5 daily compulsory prayers

The Prophet (peace be upon him) taught New Muslims how to pray in a step by step manner. Starting from a very simple level then and intermediate level then going to what we call advanced level.

So New Muslims or those Muslims who have forgotten how to pray should start at the simple beginner level.

Many due to lack of knowledge and not being specialized in proper Islamic teaching start a New Muslim usually the Advanced level. Some are bit better and start them on the intermediate level which is also a wrong method of teaching.

Some Muslim Converts who used books or online videos instead of our prayer guides ended up being overwhelmed and not being able to pray for many months.

spending many months trying to learn how to prayer. They eventually overwhelmed.

Lesson 6: Islamic Dietary Laws

Learn core food and drink rules via the Muslim food guide

Lesson 7 : Dress Code Guidelines

Dress according to Islamic Guidelines

The Muslim Men’s dress is described in detail on Muslim Brothers Dress Code

The Muslim females dress is described in detail on Muslim Sisters Dress Code

Lesson 8: Fasting in Ramadan

Learn Ramadan fasting rules immediately if you convert near or during the month; otherwise, defer it to focus on prayer.

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

Lesson 9:Developing Muslim Character

Character of a Muslim

• Character
• Preparation
• Strangers
• Believers
• Nature
• Fortitude
• Positivism
• Al-Wala’u wa Al-Bara'(1)
• Al-Wala’u wa Al-Bara ‘(2)
• Lessons
• Tribulations
• Not working against Islamic teachings
• The proper way to thank Allah

Lesson 10:Protecting Your Faith Within the Community

Safeguard your journey by avoiding debates, declining premature leadership or teaching platforms, and taking your time before entering into marriage.

A) Don’t get dragged into debates with other Muslims especially when you are new to Islam. Muslims are passionate about Islam and 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 get offended and start doubting your conversion 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. But in Islam we must avoid hypothesizing because we are talking about the religion of Allah and thus we have 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 Islam have been the most successful in calling non Muslims to Islam.

D). Do not assume that every convert Muslim you come across will be a guiding beacon of light for you. Some will be but there are others who for various reasons are in the dark about certain Islamic rulings 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 have seen this cause various serious problems.

Lesson 11: Marriage

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

Bad marriages have ended in driving a New Muslim away from Islam. The Muslims Ummah (nation) has a broad spectrum of people. Some are good and some are bad. With time you will become better at picking the right person to marry.

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 to email us and we will try to help you as much as possible.

If you are still figuring out how to become Muslim, read our step-by-step declaration guide first.

Lesson 12: Congratulations

You have now learnt the Basics and can now progress to the Sisters Guide and the Brothers Guide

MuslimConverts.com Admin

Christmas and New Year after my Conversion to Islam

I had a problem with Christmas celebration only in my first stages of conversion to Islam, which lasted about 6 months.

During that time I was seriously considering Islam, reading the Quran and Islamic literature, studying Muslims way of live.

However, I was still not a Muslim.

Before I completely converted to Islam, I still thought that I desperately needed to celebrate Christmas for the sake of my family, as for me it was a family party, not a Christian religious festival.

Christmas had a deep meaning to me mainly because I associated it with cozy family gatherings, eating delicious meals and exchanging presents. This was 2 years ago.

However, after I converted to Islam and started reading and learning more about my deen, I understood as well as I felt that I don’t need Christmas at all and Christmas gradually lost its charm and meaning to me.

Like anything else invented by humans and not by divine decree, non-Muslim festivals can lose its meaning very easily once the person gets disillusioned.

Islam is so beautiful because it works on the heart as well on the mind to transform the believer into a new being. As my knowledge and understanding for Islam grew, my distance from my old religion and old lifestyle grew too.

When the love to Islam increases, one automatically drops various non-Islamic stuff, including Christmas and new year and any other non-Muslim festivals In addition, over time,

I started developing a Muslim identity which made me realize that we Muslims have our own way, our own religion and our own festivals too. We Muslims are blessed to be granted a comprehensive religious system that gives us an explanation and guidance to every aspect of this as well as the next life.

Which sensible and grateful person would need to exchange or add anything useless and rebellious to the perfect system of Islam?!

We have our own two Eids, why do we need anything more?!

Moreover, we Muslims would not dare celebrate any non-Muslim festivals or try to be like the non-Muslims in any respect, if we realize the serious consequences of imitating the non-Muslims.

We all have heard the hadiths that he who imitates a people will be from among them on the Day of Judgment (Abu Daawood) and that the one who imitates people other than the Muslims is not from the Muslims and that we are warned not to imitate the Jews or the Christians (Tirmithi). So, how could I have kept on celebrating non-Muslim festivals after hearing this severe warning?

I don’t have many problems even with my non-Muslim family concerning the celebration of Christmas or any other non-Muslim festivals as they already understood I don’t celebrate with them.

This year they did not even greet me for Christmas! So, everything is possible with the help of Allah swt, Alhamdulillah, when a person has a sincere intention and a determination to be on the right path.

Sister Mariam

Dear Brothers and Sisters, In sha Allah this story will help those of you with non Muslim families to realize that nothing is impossible to do.

Many converts to Islam have refused to take part in Christmas.

Just like you love your family, Sister Mariam also loves her family.

Just like you do not like to disappoint or hurt your families feelings, Sister Mariam also did not like to disappoint or hurt her families feelings.

She is a very intelligent Sister. She studied Accountancy at the best  University in her country and she was joint top in her class. She had also won a beauty contest in Paris. She was greatly admired in her University for her Academic abilities and beauty.

After graduating she moved to another European countries to do her masters. In that country she found Islam.

When she began to wear her khymar(scarf), fellow Muslims from a deviant Turkish group became angry with her and tried to convince her not to wear it.

However, she wanted to please Allah and not give in to pressure  nor let herself  be tricked by humans. So she kept wearing her scarf and even started to wear Niqab.

At  Muslimconverts.com we have received many emails from Sisters and Brothers regarding Christmas. So I developed a whole section dealing with Christmas and other non Muslim events.

In addition to this I asked the sister Mariam if she could write and article for this site on her experience of dealing with family during the Christmas period and Alhamdulillah the sister wrote a wonderful article and Jazaka Allah khair to her.

The only way we Muslim will succeed in achieving our goals is to put obedience to Allah and His Messenger( peace be on him) first. To be stubborn on it and show no kinds of weakness.

MuslimConverts.com Admin

Purifications and Ghusl for a New Muslim

 
Once a person has said Shahadah and thus converted to a Muslim she or he should do the following purifications.

1. A female convert Muslim should trim her nails short, shave the hair under her armpits and pubic hair (for those below puberty they will not have such hairs so they can just shorted their nails).

2. A male convert Muslim should trim his nails short, shave the hair under his armpits, pubic hair and shave the hair on his head (and later get circumcised as soon as possible)
(for those below puberty they will not have such hairs so they can just shorted their nails).

Narrated by Abu Dawood (356) which says that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) commanded a kaafir man who had become Muslim, “Shave off the hair of kufr and get circumcised.” (Classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood; see also al-Mughni, 1/276; Sharh al- Umdah by Shaykh al-Islam, 1/350)

Step 2 Ghusl

After you have done the above you should take perform Ghusl.

Ghusl is a special kind of body washing. After having done Ghusl you should wear clean pure cloths.

By clean it is meant they should be free from impurity such as urine, feces and dog saliva.
Also note that hairs under the armpits and pubic hair should not be aloud to grow for longer than 40 days.

How to perform the Ghusl

1 Have Intention inside ones heart/mind that you are performing Ghusl (It should be in your heart/mind and not verbal said)
2 Say Bismillah (which means in the name of Allah)
(do this outside bathroom if your bathroom has a toilet in it as we should not mention Allah’s name in were there is a tiolet/lavatory )
3 Wash the right hand up to and including the wrists. Make sure to while rub and rub between the fingers of the hand. And thus make sure no part of the hand is left dry. Three times
Then do the same with the left hand. (also three times)

4 Wash off any impurities off the private parts.
 5 Wash the right hand up to and including the wrists. Make sure to while rub and rub between the fingers of the hand. And thus make sure no part of the hand is left dry. Three times
Then do the same with the left hand. (also three times)

6 Make a cup with the right hand then from this hand take water into your mouth and swirl it inside the mouth and then expel out of mouth. then sniff remaining water from the cupped right hand and sniff water into the nose and then blow the water out and using the left hand remove the water from your nose. Do this three times

Some people rinse the mouth first three times and then rinse the nose three times

However the first method is the most authentic.

7 Wash the face three times, from the hairline to the jawbone and chin, and from start of the ear to start of the ear.

 A man (with a beard) should wash the hair of his beard by taking a handful of water and entering it below his chin and rubbing it through his beard and passing the wet fingers through the beard.

8  Wash the right arm up to and including the elbow. Three times.
The arm extends from the fingertips, including the nails, to the lower part of the upper arm. It is essential to remove anything stuck to the hands before washing them, such as dough, mud, paint, nail polish etc, that could prevent the water from reaching the skin.

 Do the same with the LEFT ARM . Three times  

9 Pour water over the head Three times down to the roots of the hairs. rubbing the roots of the hair with the wet fingers
10 Pour water liberally over the entire body, beginning with the right side and then the left side and rubbing the body with hands. Ensuring that no part of the body is untouched by water
11  Move away from area were you did ghusl and Wash the right feet up to and including the ankles, three times,
 You should enter the water between the toes with your little finger and then wash the feet (note not wipe feet but wash them) and make sure and make sure you wash the sole of the foot and the heals. Make sure no parts of the foot is left dry

Wash the left foot same as the right foot. Three times

Note. You can make notes on the sequence of these steps on paper and put the paper in a plastic bag or laminate. Then take it with you to the bathroom. This will be much easier for you.

12  Then say the following Duas (supplications) for Wudhu when outside the bathroom (if bathroom has a toilet inside it)
Ashhadu an laa ilaaha ill-Allaah wahdahu laa shareeka lah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan abduhu wa rasooluhu.

( I bear witness that there is no god except Allah alone, with no partner or associate, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.)

Allaahumm ajalni min al-tawwaabeena wajalni min al-mutatahhireena  

( O Allah, make me one of those who repent and make me one of those who purify themselves)

Note. You can just read these from a piece of paper.   This will be easier for you.

Step 3 Clean pure Clothing

You should wear clean pure cloths. A Muslims cloths and body should always be free from urine, faeces and dog saliva.

Step 4. You should try to perform a 2 Rakkah voluntary prayer or if the prayer is due then perform that.

We have prepared easy to follow prayer guides for New Muslims so try to learn from them. to pray is explained in this following article  
  Prayer Guides for New Muslims

Step 5 Live As a Muslim

You should now try your best to live according to Islam.

You cannot learn every thing at once. So try to learn and do things in the right order as instructed  on our  New Muslims guide
 
Please also note that once one says the Shahadah, he or she starts with a blank slate. No matter how bad the person sinned before embracing Islam he or she is forgiven. So their is no need to worry about past sins. You are sinless and pure. Now you can build start to build your new record of deeds.

But we are human beings and as human beings we are not perfect and we tend to mess up from time to time. Whenever we do mess up we need to make sincere repentance and ask Allah for forgiveness. This and many other issues specific to converts are explained  in the convert issues section .

It is very important that you go through that section of the website and when you encounter problems to get expert advice by email us.

Unlike many others, we are specialised in dealing with matters related to converts because we have been doing this work for 20 years and helped many converts.

 Challenges that New Muslims face and tips on how to deal with various challenges 

“…if you are still figuring out how to become Muslim, read our step-by-step declaration guide first.”