To: soc.religion.islam From: tyagi mordred nagasiva Subject: Re: How does one become a muslim (9406.bcmmslm.h) Date: 49940807 Quoting: |nkosi@wam.umd.edu (PG2User) [I wrote this on 940628 but didn't figure out how to post it until now.] Assalam alaikum, my kin. |I have a simple question: what are the steps needed for a non-muslim to |become a muslim. I will like to know 1) learn to acknowledge the unity of Allah and His Prophet This involves seeing all gods as One God (fostering a healthy respect for all of the divinities of the world) and being able to place yourself in a student relation with all sources of Allah's wisdom (seeing the perfect Prophet in each). It is said that this first is all that is actually necessary to become a muslim, but if you persist in the Righteous Path you shall come to know the following paths as well.... 2) learn to pray This involves knowing the direction of prayer (toward Allah), the timing of prayer (when the heart/qalb is open) and the content of prayer (acceptance). 3) learn to make pilgrimmage This involves journeying to the omphalos of the world and kissing it with the devotion of the saints. 4) learn to give alms This involves opening your resources to the truly needy. 5) learn to foster a reservoir of discipline in remembrance This involves celebration of holy days (months, like Ramadan) with undertaking of fasts or other disciplines, honoring and remembering the very important principles taught to us by Allah through His Prophet. Some also say that struggle in the cause of Allah (jihad) is quite important. In any case, given all of the above, one may feel secure that one is treading the way of islam. Of course if you are talking about *Islam*, the religious sect, then practice and doctrine vary, though the above may translate into the pilgrimmage to the Ka'ab; prayer 5 times a day toward the Ka'ab; the recitation, understanding and belief in the Double-Testimony of Faith ('There is no god but God and Muhammad is His Prophet'); the celebration of the month of Ramadan with fast from sunup to sundown; and the giving of alms to the poor or to the religious community. |nkosi@wam.umd.edu beware the infidels Haramullah tyagi@houseofkaos.abyss.com