Tuesday 29 March 2011

Visiting The Graves - Halal Or Haraam? Is It Shirk?

Visiting the graves - Is It Shirk? Did the Sahaba practice it? Did the Ahlul Bayt practice it?


What is your state going to be oh Sahaba after his death?
Do you think "Death" is the end of his life?
No! By the Honour of the Lord!


As Imaam Ibn Hajar al-'Asqalani records in Fath al-Baaru, 2nd Volume also Bayhaqi, al-Haakim and ibn Khuzayma with Sahih chains of narrators the following...


"Bilal ibn al-Haarith, who was a sahabi (companion) of the prophet came to the grave of the prophet (pbuh) in a dry year during the caliphate of 'Umar' RA and stood at the blessed grave and said: "Oh Prophet Of God!"... Think about it..."Ya RasulAllah!"..."Oh Prophet! The land and crops have burnt, so ask God to send rain on your Ummah (nation)!"   


This is because they the Sahaba knew very well he is alive in his grave! He hears the one who sends prayers on him and replies to the one who greets him and he said: "The Prophets are alive in their graves".


It is among the prescriptions of the Shari'ah (Islamic Law) to recite Salutations and Blessings upon Allah's Messenger (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) as is evident in the following Qur’anic verse : 
"Undoubtedly, Allah and His Angels send blessings on the Prophet (the Communicator of Unseen News), O you who believe  ! Send upon him blessings and salute him fully well in abundance" (Surah al-Ahzab, Verse 56).
In Sahih Muslim, the Prophet (pbuh) said "I walked past Musa (pbuh) on the night of Israa and he was standing in prayer, near the red mound and if your were with me, I would have shown you him".


This calls for attachedment to the relics of the Prophets and their grave to get blessings and understand the value of those who deserve value in the eyes of God...



The Only Living Sahabi... The Blessed Tree In Jordan | الشجرة المباركة في الأردن

A meditation on the themes of love of the Prophet , veneration of holy sites, grace and symbolism. This film tells the story of the meeting between the Prophet Muhammad and a Christian monk named Bahira. The meeting happened in the shade of a tree. Fourteen hundred years later that same tree was discovered still alive in the northern deserts of Jordan. The only tree alive in hundreds of square miles of emptiness. This tree is a link to the life of the Prophet and a place of pilgrimage today...

"The Prophet sitting under this tree, and its reacting to the Prophet makes the tree the only living terrestrial witness to the Prophet , what we would call in Arabic a sahabi." H.R.H. Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad

"In this place, we pray to God to make our hearts containers of the love of the Prophet." Shaykh Dr. Muhammad Sa'id Ramadan Al-Buti

"That thing that deserves to be loved most is that which brings forth from the depths of our spirits the recollection of the Divine Name. The title of the Holy Prophet of Islam is Habib Allah, the Beloved of God. This hub, this love for the Prophet could be described as the great transformative emotion of Islam." Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad.

Friday 25 March 2011

WHAT IS THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE? CENTRE OF THE WORLD?


Thursday 24 March 2011

What Has Islam Contributed To The West?

If we study Europe's Middle Ages, we include Spain (at least not until after the so called "reconquest"). Our libraries abound with books on the Middle Ages, but try to find in any of them a single word about daily life and customs in Spain. 
It is as if later historians, in order to justify a uniquely "European history", ignored the fact that a vibrant and brilliant civilization created by "Others"—by Arabs, by Muslims, by Jews—by brown and black people—not only existed in Europe, but without whose contributions the region could not have become what it did. When we talk about "Europe's" Renassiance, we never think of its beginnings in Spain several centuries before it reached Italy. It's as if we lopped off a good 1000 years of history—or at least amputated it from Europe. Nothing could be farther from the truth...
[Timeline of Islamic contributions:]                                       
-     Chuzini, Abu al-Fath al-; physicist.
    -     Ibn Hisham; biographer, historian.
    -     Ibn Labban, Kushyar.
    -     Ibn Turk, `Abd al-Hamid; mathematician.
    -     Ibn al-Muqtafi, Abu al-Fadl Ja`far; astronomer.
    - 767 Ibn Ishaq; biographer, historian.
 721- 815 Jabir ibn Hayyan, Abu Musa (Geber); alchemist.
 780- 850 Khwarizmi, Muhammad ibn Musa al-; astronomer, 
          mathematician.
 82?- 861 Farghani, Abu al-`Abbas al- (Afragamus); astronomer, 
          geographer.
    - 870 Kindi, Abu Yusuf Ya`qub ibn Ishaq al-Sabah al-; 
          philosopher.
 828- 889 Ibn Qutaybah; historian, philologist, theologian.
 826- 901 Ibn Qurra, Thabit; mathematician.
 865- 923 Razi, al- (Rhazes); alchemist, philosopher, physician.
 839- 923 Tabari, al-; historian, theologian.
 858- 929 Battani, al- (Albatenius); astronomer, mathematician.
 870- 950 Farabi, al- (Alfarabicus); philosopher, poet.
 940- 998 Abu al-Wafa'; astronomer, mathematician.
    -1008 Ibn Yunus; astronomer, mathematician.
 936-1013 Abu al-Qasim (Albucasis); physician.
    -1029 Karkhi, al-; mathematician.
 930-1030 Ibn Miskawayh; historian, philosopher.
 980-1037 Ibn Sina, Abu `Ali al-Husayn (Avicenna); philosopher, 
          physician.
 965-1039 Ibn al-Haytham (Alhazen); mathematician, physicist.
 973-1048 Biruni, al-; historian, mathematician, physicist.
1058-1111 Ghazali, Abu Hamid al- (Algazel); philosopher.
1048-1131 Khayyam, `Umar (Omar Khayyam); astronomer, mathematician, 
          poet.
1095-1138 Ibn Bajjah (Avempace); philosopher.
1075-1144 Zamakhshari, al-; philologist, theologian.
1090-1162 Ibn Zuhr, Abu Marwun `Abd al-Malik (Avenzoar, Abumeron);
physician.
1100-1185 Ibn Tufayl; philosopher, physician.
1126-1198 Ibn Rushd, Abu al-Walid (Averroes); philosopher, 
          physician.
1135-1204 Ibn Maymun (Maimonides); Jewish philosopher, physician.
1201-1274 Tusi, Nasir al-Din al-; astronomer, mathematician, 
          philosopher.
    -1288 Ibn al-Nafis; physician.
    -137? Ibn al-Shatir; astronomer.
1332-1406 Ibn Khaldun, Abu Zayd `Abd al-Rahman; historian, 
          sociologist.
    -1436 Kashi, al-; mathematician.
1445-1505 Suyuti, al-; historian, philologist, theologian.


Source: http://www.jannah.org/articles/contrib.html



The Tibetan Muslims


The Tibetan Muslims, also known as the Kachee, form a small minority in Tibet. Despite being Muslim, they are classified as Tibetans, unlike the Hui Muslims, who are also known as the Kyangsha or Gya Kachee (Chinese Muslims). The Tibetan word Kachee literally means Kashmiri and Kashmir was known as Kachee Yul (Yul means Country).

Tibetans muslims pray at a mosque - Source: life.com

Owing to their small population, the Tibetan Muslims are scattered throughout Tibet, although many can be found in Lhasa and Shigatse. If those not living in the Tibet Autonomous Region are not excluded, ethnic groups such as the Balti and Burig, who are also of Tibetan origin and consider themselves to be ethnically Tibetan, who too are Muslims as well. These groups, however, are predominantly found in the Indian-controlled Ladakh and the Pakistani-controlled Baltistan.

The appearance of the first Muslims in Tibet has been lost in the mists of time, although variants of the names of Tibet can be found in Arabic history books.


In modern day, most of Tibetan Muslims are followers of the Sunni sect of Islam. Despite the factor of their religion, the Tibetan Muslims have comfortably assimilated into the Tibetan community, while following Islamic traditions. On the other hand, the Balti and Burig have partially adopted Afghan customs. The Balti and Burig peoples mostly follow Shi'ism and/or Sufism.

Monday 21 March 2011

Libya | Egypt | Yemen | Bahrain | Iran | Saudi | Middle East Revolution Or End Of Time?

[47:18] Are they waiting until the Hour comes to them suddenly? All the signs thereof have already come. Once the Hour comes to them, how will they benefit from their message?
It is necessary for us to believe in judgement day as muslims and the creation of the almighty.  Just like Allah has said in Surah Mumin-The hour will certainly come: Therin is no doubt, yet most men believe not...

The arabic word Qiyamat, is another word for judgement day, resurrection.  It points towards the complete destruction of the Universe.  So, when will this all happen? This is a question which is born in every muslim's mind by nature... The answer is given by Allah (swt) in the Quran:
[7:187]. They ask you about the Hour, when it will come to anchor. Say: "It is my Lord alone Who knows it; none will disclose it in its time but He. It weighs heavily on the heavens and the earth. It does not come to you except unawares." They ask you, as if you (being a Messenger required or meant that you) were well-informed of it. Say: "It is indeed God alone Who knows it, but most people have no knowledge (of this)."

[17:51]. "Or created matter which, in your minds, is hardest (to be raised up),- (Yet shall ye be raised up)!" then will they say: "Who will cause us to return?" Say: "He who created you first!" Then will they wag their heads towards thee, and say, "When will that be?" Say, "May be it will be quite soon!Another verse in the quran also mentions the end;

All prophets (noah, david, jesus) that were sent down told their nations about Judgement Day, the last prophet being the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). He told his companions about Judgement Day in great detail.

In Sahih al-Bukhari, there is a hadith which states that a Bedouin asked the Prophet about the Hour. He said, "It will surely come to pass. What have you prepared for it?" The man said, "O Messenger of Allah, I have not prepared much in the way of prayer and good works, but I love Allah and His Messenger." The Prophet said, "You will be with those you love."The Muslims had never rejoiced as much they did when they heard this hadith.

Everyone in this world is well aware of the fact that this life is mortal. All of us are sent in to this world for some specific time after that we have to dwell in eternal life which starts after the end of this life! Do not delay or waste time, start remembering your creator today and seek forgiveness abundantly.
"Remember Me, I will remember you; thank Me and reject Me not" (Quran 2:152).

Sources of Islam


In this article we propose to study briefly the sources of Islam in order to find out whether or not there is an overall perspective of an Islamic model. The attempt here is made to search in these sources for universal references revealing universal relationships and defining meanings for man's existence. We maintain the idea that the Qur'anic text is ample enough to provide with such a framework. Its convincing power lies in the ‘content of ideas' and the ‘representation form'. This power level is not shared in any Arabic literature of the epoch, nor of the following epochs. The Hadith (Sayings of Muhammad) stands short of the Qur'an and is considered by Muslims as an ordinary human language.

The readings of such references can provide interpretations of general dimensions as we shall see in the following Qur'anic postulates.
 In the following verses we read about what the Qur'an advances as a presentation of the idea of God:
‘Say: He is the one and only God, the eternal, He begets not nor is He begotten and no one can be equal to Him.'  112: 1-4

 Reference to God as the origin of the Universe informs:
‘It is He who created the heavens and earth in truth.'  6: 73
 ‘To God belongs the dominion of the heavens and earth.'2: 107

Sura 35 informs us of God as the One who holds the Universe together:
‘God keeps heavens and earth from vanishing and should they vanish who can hold them together after Him?'  35: 41

 In Sura 23 we are informed about the creation of Man:
‘Verily We have created Man from a lineage of clay.'  23:12


Read more: http://www.articlesbase.com/religion-articles/the-islamic-ummah-the-islamic-model-2781979.html#ixzz1HEGfvoyZ 
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution

Saturday 19 March 2011

The Different Moon Phases

What the Qu'ran says about the moon:

1) Crescent moon as the standard to be used for reckoning of time:
"They ask you about the waxing and waning phases of the crescent moons, say they are to mark fixed times for mankind and Hajj." (2:189)

2) Moon is not my Lord:
"When he saw the moon rising in splendor He said: "This is my Lord." but when the moon set he said: Unless my Lord guide me I shall surely be among those who go astray." (6:77)

3) Sun and Moon to be used for reckoning of time:
"And He who made the night for rest and sun and moon for reckoning of time. This is the decree of the Exalted, the All-knowing." (6:96)

4) Sun, moon, and the stars governed by laws:
"Allah is He, who created the sun, the moon, and the stars (all) governed by laws under His commandment." (7:54)

5) Moon is the measure of month:
"The number of months in the sight of Allah is twelve (in a year) so ordained by Him the day He created the heavens and the earth; of them four are sacred; that is the straight usage.......Verily the transposing (of a prohibited month) is an addition to unbelief: the unbelievers are led to wrong thereby: for they make it lawful one year and forbidden another year in order to adjust the number of months forbidden by Allah and make such forbidden ones lawful. The evil of their course seems pleasing to them. But Allah guideth not those who reject faith." (9:36-37)

6) Sun is source of light and Moon is just light:
"It is He who made sun a lamp, and moon a light and measured stages so you know number of years and count (of time)." (10:5)

7) Joseph's Dream:
"Behold Joseph said to his father: O my father! I did see eleven stars and the sun and the moon: I saw them prostrate themselves to me!"

8) Sun and moon continue in an orbit to their destiny:
"Allah is He who raised heavens without pillars that you can see; Then He established Himself on the throne; And He subjected the sun and the moon (to his law); each one runs its course for a term appointed." (13:2)

9) Allah created Sun and moon, and He made them subject to you:
"It is Allah Who hath created the heavens and the earth and sendeth down rain from the skies......... He has made subject to you, the night and the day; the sun and the moon; and the stars in subjection by His command." (14:32-33)

10) Day and night, sun and moon, and stars made for you:
"He has made subject to you, the night and the day; the sun and the moon; and the stars in subjection by His command." (16:12)

11) Sun bright - Moon dark (no light):
"We made night and day two signs. The sign of night we made dark and sign of day we made bright. That ye may seek bounty from your lord and ye may know number of years and count (of time)." (17:12)

12) Orbits of celestial bodies:
"It is He who created the night and the day, and the sun and the moon, all (the celestial bodies) swim along, each in its orbit." (21:33)

13) All things bow down to Allah:
"See you not that to Allah bow down in worship all things in the heavens and on earth, the sun, the moon, the stars." (22:18)

14) Moon is reflected light of the sun:
"Blessed is He who made constellations in the skies, and placed therein a lamp and a moon reflecting light (25:61)

15) Sun and moon are subjected to Allah's laws
If indeed thou asl them Who has created the heavens and the earth and subjected (to His Law), they will certainly reply, "Allah". How are they then deluded away (from the truth)? (29:61)

16) Sun and moon continue in an orbit to their destiny:
"See you not Allah merges night into day and day into night; And subjected the sun and the moon (to His Law); each one runs its course for a term appointed." (31:29)

17) Sun and moon continue in an orbit to their destiny:
"He merges night into day and day into night; And subjected the sun and the moon (to His Law); each one runs its course for a term appointed." (35:13)

18) Ordained orbits of celestial bodies:
"And the moon, we have measured for her mansions (to traverse) till she returns like the old, (withered, and curved-up like a sickle) date-palm. It is not permitted for sun to catch-up the moon, nor can the night outstrip the day; each swims along in (its own) orbit." (36:39-40)

19) Sun and moon continue in an orbit to their destiny:
"He created heavens and the earth in true proportions; He makes night overlap day and day overlap night and subjected the sun and the moon (to His Law); each one runs its course for a term appointed." (39:5)

20) Do not Prostrate to the Sun and Moon:
"Among His Signs are the Night and the Day and the sun and moon. Prostrate not to the Sun and the Moon but Prostrate to Allah Who created them if it is Him ye wish to serve." (41:37)

21) Moon is split asunder:
"The hour (of Judgment) is near and the moon is split asunder." (54:1)

22) Celestial bodies tied to orbits:
"The sun and the moon follow courses exactly computed." (55:05)

23) Sun is source of light and Moon is just light:
"And made the moon a light in their midst and made the sun as a (Glorious) lamp." (71:16)

24) Swear by the Moon:
"Nay verily: by the Moon." (74:32)

25) Signs of Qiyamah (Judgment Day):
"And the moon is buried in darkness. And the sun and moon are joined together." (75:8-9)

26) Moon becomes full:
"And the moon when it becomes full." (84:18)

27) Moon follows the sun:
"By the sun and its radiant brightness; By the moon as she follows him." (91:1-2)


Source: http://moonphases.info

Thursday 17 March 2011

Next time you pray on a plane, let others know...


On Sunday, three Orthodox Jewish businessmen triggered fears on a flight from Mexico City to Los Angeles.
Passengers on Alaska Airlines Flight 241 became alarmed when the three men began to pray out loud. "Shortly after takeoff ... three passengers were praying out loud in a language other than Spanish," according to an airline spokeswoman.
"They had something that appeared to the flight attendants to be strapped under their clothing," the spokeswoman said. "The flight attendants alerted the flight deck, who in turn alerted the tower at LAX. Law enforcement met the plane upon arrival."
During weekday prayers, some Orthodox Jewish men wear teflillin, or phylacteries - black leather straps wrapped around the left arm and around the forehead. The straps are connected to small boxes with tiny scrolls containing Jewish scriptures. Many Orthodox Jewish men also wear a prayer shawl called a tallit under their clothes, with knotted fringes at each of the four corners.
The airline spokeswoman said she was unaware if the men were wearing either of these traditional items

What Muslims Say About St.Patrick's Day

Saint Patrick's Day is a religious holiday celebrated world wide on the 17th March, every year . It is named after the most commonly recognised of the saints of Ireland. It is observed by the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion (especially the Church of Ireland), the Eastern Orthodox Church and Lutherans. Saint Patrick's Day was made an official feast day in the early 17th century, and has gradually become a celebration of Irish culture in general.
On this day people of the Christian faith generally attend church services, wearing of green attire and sharmocks.  The restrictions on fasting and drinking are lifted which were observed during lent.  As muslims we respect others beliefs and religious celebrations.  For Muslim, this would remind one of the eid al fitr when you would mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan.




Wednesday 16 March 2011

The 10 Elements Of Success

Below are 10 qualities that were identified by psychologists who studied people who were successful in this world;


1.  Every successful person has a strong sense of purpose...
Our Purpose is Allah (God) the almighty.

2.  Role models and mentors
We have the best of role models and mentors the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and his companions.

3.  Strength of visualising your goal
Companions of the prophet were determined of success by the words promised by the prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

4.  Positive sensory - think of past successes not failures.

5.  Self assurances - know that you can succeed.

6.  Plan, Organise and Prioritise.

7.  Ability to require necessary skills to succeed - identify your weaknesses

8.  Patience (Sabr) - Be patient and enjoin others two it.  Qibar and lack of patience are two reasons for our destruction and tribulations.

9.  Nifaq : Hypocrisy is a substitute for 'Nifaq'.  We should not feel safe from hypocrisy, purify and preserve your hearts and minds.

10. Love What Your Doing...  We have to love what we are doing.

Video which explains further, the steps mentioned above...





Please share your views below...

Friday 11 March 2011

Japan, China, Pakistan, Tsunami : Surah 99. Az-Zilzal (The Earthquake) 日本地震


The Glorious Qur'an emphasises the fact that nothing happens in the universe without the knowledge, will and wisdom of the Creator. Earthquakes - like other natural disasters - are part and parcel of the Divine plan for punishing the ill - doers, testing the pious ones, and teaching the saved individuals the lesson of their lives. Unless taken in this context, human beings will never learn from their own mistakes or even from the mistakes of others.  The only way of avoiding this and other disasters is heeding the Creator and living according to His guidance.

Miracle of IslamThe Glorious Quran addresses the subject of earthquakes in many places, and one chapter has the earthquake as its title, Surah 99:

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

1. When the earth is shaken to her (utmost) convulsion,
2. And the earth throws up her burdens (from within),
3. And man cries (distressed): 'What is the matter with her?'-
4. On that Day will she declare her tidings:
5. For that thy Lord will have given her inspiration.
6. On that Day will men proceed in companies sorted out, to be shown the deeds that they (had done).
7. Then shall anyone who has done an atom's weight of good, see it!
8. And anyone who has done an atom's weight of evil, shall see it.


(Yusuf Ali Translation)

Monday 7 March 2011

What Islam Says About Jesus

Muslims relationship with Jesus (Pbuh*)

This great mission is that, among the major signs of the final hour and among the keys of the huge deliverance that will dawn upon his Community of Islam, there will come a time on this earth when the call to the pre-morning  prayer will be raised in Damascus - at a certain white minaret East Of Damascus; the imam will want to step forward to lead the prayer when - lo and behold! - the people will watch in astonishment while our liege-lord Jesus descends from the heaven, his two hands resting on the wings of angels, his head seemingly dripping with water, wearing clothes which our liege-lord Muhammad (pbuh) described in great detail.  He said the colour of his clothes resembled saffron dye, as if his clothes had been dyed with saffron.

The final prophet of god, Muhammad described for us the very appearance of the clothes in which Jesus would descend! Such a great detailed description signifies nothing other than additional emphasis on reflection, perception and discernment for the meaning of our connection with this great master who was thus honoured by his Lord.

The Descent Of Jesus


Jesus will return.  When the Imam Muhammad al-Mahdi - a scion of the prophetic house - sees himas he was readying himself to lead the prayer, he will move back and say to our liege lord Jesus; "Step forward, Spirit from God!"

The spiritual state in which our liege lord Jesus will descend will be immense, it will be a heavenly state for one beloved of God among God's servants whom He caused to perdure in the nearest heaven for more than two thousand years.

Birth of Jesus in the Quran:

And the pangs of childbirth drove her unto the trunk of the palm tree. She said: Oh, would that I had died before this and had become a thing of naught, forgotten! - 19:23
And shake the trunk of the palm tree toward you, you will cause ripe dates to fall upon thee - 19:25
*Peace and blessings be upon him


May God make us and you qualified for this preparation. May He bless us 
and you with it. May He awaken us to its full meanings. May He make sweet 
for us its wellsprings. May He cause us to stop at its contents and secrets. 
May He cause us to attain realization with it outwardly and inwardly. 




Thursday 3 March 2011

What is Islam and how to become a muslim?

Islam is the Way of Natural Disposition [Deen-ul-Fitrah]. Islam is not a new religion, instead it is the recovery and preservation of the original system of belief revealed to Abraham, Moses, David, Soloman, Jesus (peace be on them all!). Islam is all about believing that Allah is the one God, and that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the final messenger of God.


Steps

  1. Have a good mindset of Islam. Rest assured that the path to Islam is indeed very simple. Understand that in Islam one doesn't convert rather one reverts back to an "original" natural belief.
  2. In Islamic understanding every child is born innocent and stays so until puberty, thus all children that die young are taken directly to heaven. So when one "converts" to Islam he/she is actually reverting to their own original nature: Are you willing to commit yourself to Islam? You need to know that there is only one God and Jesus (peace be upon him) was a prophet and also that all prophets including Muhammad (peace be upon him) were directed by that one God - Allah.
  3. Testify your faith by reciting: أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وأشهد أن محمد رسول الله                      Ash-hadu alla ilaha illallah-wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan abduhu wa rasulullah"                   I bear witness that there is no God except Allah and Muhammad (SAW) is His messenger".
  4. Purify yourself. Immediately upon becoming a Muslim, you should take a shower, to purify yourself. This is both a symbolic act of washing away the past and being purified, of emerging from darkness to light, created afresh and also signifies the importance of purity in Islam.
  5. Once you have entered into Islam and made sincere repentance to Allah, you should consider your past minor sins forgiven and strive to improve your spiritual state by doing good deeds.
  6. Repentance can be considered accepted if you have sincerely prayed to Allah, turned away from the sin and never return to it. In some cases where 3rd parties are affected, you should also restore their rights or get their forgiveness to be absolved.
  7. Know the truth of Islam. You can learn a lot from translations of the Qur'an. Some of these translations may be harder to understand than others, however Abdullah Yusuf Ali and Pickthall are the two most common. However, it's much better to seek guidance from learned people if you can rather than simply relying on reading the Qur'an yourself. Your local mosque will likely have people who will be more than willing to guide and assist you in learning more about Islam and many have "New Muslim" study circles which are often a good place to start. Be careful, but relaxed, about finding someone who you feel comfortable with and who you are convinced has enough knowledge in order to teach well.  Visit:  http://www.quranexplorer.com/ for translation and audio quran.
  8. Offer your first prayer to God. If you're not sure how the prayer is performed, again it's best to learn from somebody you trust rather than go it alone. The easiest way to learn is to attend a Mosque for the 5 daily prayers. Just follow along initially but also seek knowledge as to the requirements of the prayer. Prayer should be a relaxing, enjoyable activity and is best when taken time over. Rushing the prayer should be avoided in order to gain maximum benefit. Remember, prayer is a direct spiritual connection between you and the one who keeps your heart beating right now and who created the universe. It should bring serenity, happiness and peace. This will come with and improve with time. Avoid being excessive with the prayer and simply do your best. The goal initially is to establish a habit and make it an enjoyable experience.
  9. Understand the five pillars of Islam. They are the Testimony of Faith (as mentioned in Step 3) and the method of belief (Emaan), the five daily Prayers (Salaah) (as mentioned in Step 5), Fasting (in the month of Ramadan), Compulsory Poor Due (Zakaah), and Pilgrimage (Hajj) (once in your lifetime for those who have the means).
  10. Believe in the seven articles of Faith: Believe in God, his angels, his revealed books, his messengers (from Adam to Mohammad), the Last Day, the fate (good and bad) is predestined by Allah, and the Resurrection after Death. This forms part of the 1st Pillar.
  11. Be the best person you can be: No matter what may anger, sadden or upset you, you must be the best person you can be. Allah created us to have a good life, and to be happy. Being respectful towards others is a big part of being a good Muslim, so make sure to remember that often.

Tips

  • Always ask a moderately knowledgeable Muslim when you have questions about your newly acquired faith. A second opinion is advisable, possibly from the Imam of your local mosque.
  • Listen to the Quran recitation in Arabic while reading the English translation.
  • Visit the websites of reverts to Islam to get a feel of this huge community
  • Don't rush into it. You need to have a firm understanding of the different laws to be a good Muslim. While there are many laws in Islam they are very simple and easy to follow, as its the Natural Way, it will feel totally natural once implemented.
  • Look into different schools of law and choose the one that appeals most to you. The recognised schools are Hanafi, Shafi'i, Maliki and Hanbali. Note that all schools are equally valid and saves one from misguidance when trying to interpret the primal sources of Islam [Quran and Sunnah]
  • Join the evening/weekend classes at your local mosque to learn more about Islam. Islam is a _COMPLETE_ way of life, providing guidance for Muslims from birth to death, from the time you wake up to the time you go to sleep, from the individual to state, from before life to after death!
  • Learn to read the Quran in Arabic. Besides remarkable spiritual benefits from reading in Arabic (even if you dont understand the meaning) the Arabic Quran is the exact words of Allah revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)

Warnings

  • There are many misconceptions about Islam, so confirm what you hear with Quranic Verses and Prophetic traditions. If you need help understanding an aspect of Islam, ask a scholar or the Imam of the local mosque.
  • Most Muslims will want to help, but sometimes they give inaccurate information.
  • You may come across people who will be hostile toward you. Stay strong and steadfast and Allah will reward you.
  • Like other religions, Islam has its extremists. Be careful where you get your information from.
  • Try to be conscious of the Creator and do the best you can where ever you may be. If someone informs you of something that may sound strange or makes you uncomfortable ask for authentic evidences.
  • Try to hang out with pious, knowledgeable Muslims as often as possible, so you will be able to get your questions answered.
Also see this page to find out more and get your free copy of the quran.