A 21st Century Guide for New Muslims - New Converts: Take It Slowly
This is the first article in a series designed to assist new Muslims, (and those who have reaffirmed their faith), in settling into a lifestyle that sometimes feels at odds with this brave new century.
New Converts: Take It Slowly
Now days, perhaps more than at any other time in the history of Islam, there are many obstacles that stand in the way of those considering taking a leap of faith and accepting Islam.
Despite the many negative connotations associated with Islam, the number of people converting continues to grow. Clearly many people are able to look past the bad press and biased media representations and see the inherent beauty in a religion designed for humankind by the Creator of humankind.
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For many, taking that final step and testifying to their belief in One God and His messenger Muhammad, is fraught with unnecessary fear of the repercussions from their previous lifestyle and beliefs.
Mercifully this fear is totally unfounded because accepting Islam means that life begins again. From that moment forward the new Muslim begins life with a clean slate.
A Clean Slate
A clean slate is an idiom used frequently in the English language. The online Free Dictionary[1] says that if you are given a clean slate you can start again, the past is forgotten.
Dictionary.com goes a little further and tells us that it is an opportunity to start over without prejudice, and that you can make a new start by clearing the record.
This idiom comes from the use of chalk and slates in school rooms of the past. By wiping the slate clean, a student removed any evidence of a mistake.
Both the Quran and the authentic Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad make it clear that the past is forgotten. The record is clear when a person chooses to accept Islam.
Say to those who have disbelieved, if they cease (from disbelief), their past will be forgiven… (Quran 8:38)
“If a person embraces Islam sincerely, then Allah shall forgive all his past sins…” (Al-Bukhari) [2]
Thus it is clear that the mistakes and sins of the past have no bearing whatsoever on the new beginning. It is just that, a brand new beginning. One where a person’s good deeds will be rewarded not once but ten to seven hundred times over. And each bad deed will be recorded as one bad deed only, unless Allah, the Most Merciful, forgives it completely.[3]
4 Basic Steps to Convert to Islam
Put Your Mind At Ease
Once you have declared your belief in the religion of Islam, you can put your mind at ease. Feel the peace and relief that wash over you when you think about the sins that have disappeared.
Nothing is so big that it cannot be forgiven by the All Forgiving Allah. That is a huge notion to fully understand, but it is true and it is one of the euphoric moments that seem to propel the new Muslim into their new life.
It might not be too long however before you begin to think that even though all sins have been wiped away, the concept of never behaving badly again is an even bigger challenge to the mind and to your peace of mind.
What some people refer to as the rules and regulations of Islam may seem like insurmountable obstacles to your new life.
You might be plagued with questions of self-doubt.
How am I ever going to be able to get up at dawn every single morning?
How am I ever going to stop drinking alcohol when everybody I know drinks alcohol?
These are very real and troubling questions.
Develop a Lasting Relation With Allah
Let me put your mind at ease by saying that developing a lasting relationship with Allah is far more important than implementing life changes that you cannot sustain. When the bond between you and Allah is firmly fixed, obeying rules becomes something you want to do because you know it pleases Allah.
Thinking about the erasure of your sins and mistakes helps you to focus on behaving in a way that keeps your slate clean. Easier said than done, but remember that Allah is fully aware of the struggles in our daily lives. If we look, we will almost certainly find that He has provided us with the tools required to make the adjustments.
There are a number of changes you may have to make to your day to day routine. But there is no need to make them all in one day. That slate will remain clean so long as you are holding on to your connection to Allah no matter how tenuous you may feel that it is.
All Humans Make Mistakes
What is Your Best Advice for a New Eager Convert to Islam?
While you are trying to implement the changes bear in mind that Allah knows and even expects us to make mistakes. He knows we will fall into sinful behavior again. These are the hallmarks of being a human being. The fear of making a mistake should never ever hold you back from fully embracing the religion of Islam.
Prophet Muhammad tells us that, if we were a people who did not commit sin, Allah would take us away and replace us with people who sin and then seek Allah’s forgiveness.[4]
Allah has a creation that is sinless, the angels, who obey without question or doubt. They never make the wrong choices.
We are something different altogether. When we sin and sincerely ask forgiveness, Allah will accept our repentance and grant us forgiveness. Even if the sins were so many they reached the clouds in the sky[5], and even if the sins are bad choices that we make over and over again[6].
Every era in the history of humankind had problems and challenges for those who choose to change their lifestyles in order to worship God correctly.
The Need for Islam Today
The 21st century however has unique trials never before encountered. Every day we are assaulted by an endless stream of facts and figures; propaganda, 24/7 news broadcasts, increasingly sophisticated sales techniques, and a relentless social media that keeps our minds spinning and in over-drive. In fact it is just this sort of world that makes the religion of Islam seem inviting. It is a chance to make a connection with Allah and slow down the pace of life.
Beginning again with a clean slate is a desirable prospect. Remember however that although the trappings of the world have changed the nature of humankind has not.
The things that were true at the beginning of time are still true today. We still laugh and cry, we still long for a family and community of likeminded people. And we still feel incomplete without a link to Allah.
We can use the 21st century way of life to make ourselves better in every way. And we can control the flow of information; it does not have to control us. The delete button is there for a reason, so too is the on and off switch. Just as we can fade to black we can swipe left or right and reboot with a clean slate.
[1] http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/a+clean+slate
[2] Sahih Al-Bukhari
[3] Sahih Al-Bukhari
[4] Sahih Muslim
[5] At Tirmidi
[6] Sahih Al-Bukhari & Sahih Muslim.
In the previous article we discussed the fact that embracing Islam allowed the new Muslim to begin again with a clean slate.
It’s a new start; a chance to build a life centred on worshiping God. This is an exciting time filled with endless opportunities but the best piece of advice I can give you is to take it slowly.
In those first hours, days and weeks it will be very tempting to shout your new-found happiness from the rooftops.
Before you do this, try to think about what you are doing and who you are talking to. It is important to recognize that every person you tell will have a reaction. And those reactions will not always be what you expect them to be. It might be that the people you fear telling will hug you and that those you had thought had your back will react with horror.
Keep in mind that every person is on their own journey and that not everyone is as fortuitous as you are. Being guided to Islam is a gift, a bounty, and some people have not yet recognized their bounties from God.
It seems quite mystifying that in some places across the globe becoming Muslim is not a cause for celebration; however that is the state of the world today. In fact, it is not so different from the world in the time of Prophet Muhammad and his companions.
3 Obstacles in Seeking Nearness to Allah
You will find solace in the stories of the companions. Many of them feared telling their families, lost their jobs, homes and children. Others were blessed immediately, and their families quickly followed them into their new lives. This is human nature, people are different. The way we perceive and understand things is different for each and every one of us.
Don’t Rush
There is no need to rush into things such as changing your name or taking intensive Arabic classes. If somewhere along the path you feel the need to change your name, then do so.
Prophet Muhammad only changed the names of his companions if their names held some sort of meaning contrary to Islam or had an ambiguous or bad meaning. Having an Arabic sounding name is in no way obligatory. Take some time to think about your name, does it have a good meaning? Because Prophet Muhammad liked a person’s name to evoke good qualities[1].
Islam not rules
You will need to learn a little bit of Arabic because the five daily prayers should be said in Arabic. However as with the entire journey take it slowly. Don’t expect too much of yourself. One step at a time is all that is required and these can be baby steps if that is what you need to have a safe and happy journey into your new life.
Take your time establishing this new relationship with God. Read Quran in your native language, the next step would be to read the translation while listening or watching the recitation of Quran in Arabic. Many translations have the most common Arabic words in the text.
If you delve too deeply, too quickly Islam can appear to be a religion of rules and regulations. This is far from the truth.
If you concentrate on developing a relationship with God and the Quran, rules and regulations will seem like the natural way to act. You will see that the rules are actually guidance from the One that knows humankind best, the Creator Himself.
Don’t Try to Run Before You Can Walk
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If you feel compelled to ask more questions, seek more answers or explore more intricate issues of Islamic law you may find yourself perplexed and confused. There is no point in asking complex questions when you have not yet understood the basics. There is no point trying to run before you can walk.
Take the time to implement the inevitable changes that will occur in your thinking and your lifestyle.
Where though do you begin this process?
In this technologically dominated world, many people will embrace Islam without ever having met a Muslim. For them a good start would be to look in a local community guide or telephone book for a local Islamic centre or mosque. Visiting a mosque for the first time can be a very daunting experience therefore you might telephone or email and ask if there is a new Muslim group that could contact you.
Others might know a Muslim neighbor or work colleague. A quiet word over the fence or at the water cooler might be your way into the Muslim community. Most people are discreet and are not going to shout your new status out for all to hear.
Again, though perhaps you want to bask in your new-found faith quietly and privately, that is also perfectly okay. One step at a time, set your own timetable but be flexible, adjust the settings every now and then to reflect your needs.
Prophet Muhammad emphasized the fact that a person should surround themselves with good companions[2]. He said that the believer is to the believer like parts of a solid building, one part supports the other. Thus, Muslims are usually very keen to help new Muslims get adjusted to their new life.
Important Warning
How to Control Our Love for This Dunya?
A word of warning though, in some circumstances you might feel bombarded by people saying you must do this, and you must do that. Perhaps many of these warnings are true but remember that you will learn more from the Muslim who invites you to his or her home and teaches by example than you will from the one who demands you read this or wear that.
In conclusion, a note of caution about the trials and tribulations sometimes associated with embracing Islam. Sometimes the tests from God can appear to come thick and fast. I personally think that many of them could be avoided if we remember to take it slowly. Think before you leap into new situations and think twice before you reveal personal changes that you may want to keep to yourself, or a small circle of acquaintances, for some time yet.
On the other hand, it is worth remembering that Satan will do his best to harm a person who is learning about the mercy and forgiveness of God. He wants you to feel scared, anxious or depressed. He wants to coat your good fortune with fears and lies.
{(Satan said) “…surely I will sit in wait against them (human beings) on Your Straight Path. Then I will come to them from before them and behind them, from their right and from their left…”} (Quran 7:16-17)
To combat this, take a deep breath, open the Quran and begin reading. Anywhere, it is a source of comfort and inspiration.
Take the next baby step forward into your new life. In the third article we will look a little deeper into how a new Muslim can make a support team.
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Footnotes
[1] Prophet Muhammad’s traditions and advice can be found in books of hadith. A hadith is a piece of information of a story. In Islam it is a narrative record of the saying and actions of Prophet Muhammad and his companions. His views on names were taken from the books of hadith collected by hadith scholars Imam Al Bukhari and Imam Muslim.
[2] Prophet Muhammad said: “The relationship of the believer with another believer is like (the bricks of) a building, each strengthens the other.” He illustrated this by interlacing the fingers of both his hands.
(From Discovering Islam archive)
