You become a Muslim by saying with your tongue, sincerely from your heart, “I bear witness that nothing has the right to worshipped except Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.”
You are not required to have any witnesses or a ceremony for the validity of this testimony of faith. You do not have to change your name.
Muslims pray five times a day. The prayer is the connection between man and his Creator. The similitude for the prayer is that of the person who bathes at the riverbank five times a day. Would this person have any traces of filth upon them?
There are an estimated 4,200 religions in the world today! This is astounding when you consider there is only one God, who alone, created the Universe and everything in it. How can there be over 4,000 religions for one Creator?
The notion that everyone can worship God according to their desires, and thus there can be countless religions, is inconceivable. Likewise, the thought that we can ignore God, and live our lives without accountability is unimaginable.
God did not create us in vain or leave us without guidance. Due to His mercy, He outlined for us a complete way of life, for our prosperity in this life and the Hereafter.
With so many religions in the world, how do we know which one to follow? You may be surprised to learn that out of all the world religions, there is only one religion that directs all aspects of worship to the Creator alone, without associating any partners with Him or deeming Him to be similar to His creation.
There are religions that believe the Universe contains many gods, like Greek mythology. Some religions believe idols are a physical representation of God, so they direct their worship toward carvings or statues. Others teach a doctrine of intercessory prayer to so-called saints. Some practice a form of ancestral worship, believing the dead can influence the fortune of the living; while many believe God begot a son who is also worshipped and serves as an intermediary between man and God.
All of the mentioned examples have different rituals, carrying distinctive names, while sharing a common practice. They all direct aspects of worship toward the creation; either something that was created or someone that was born.
The correct religion, the natural way of life, is to worship your Creator, alone, not the creation. Prophet Muhammad simplified this when asked, “What is the greatest of all sins?” He said, “That you set up rivals with Allah in worship, while He, alone, created you.”
This is Islam. This is the religion of Abraham.
“Say, ‘Indeed, my Lord has guided me to a straight path—a correct religion—the way of Abraham, inclining toward truth. And he was not among those who associated partners with Allah.’” (Quran, Chapter 6, Verses 161)
Muslims believe in one, incomparable God who, alone, created the entire universe and controls all affairs within it. He alone gives life, causes death, and all affairs are in His Hands. He has no sons or daughters, no siblings, no mother, no father, and no wife.
Allah has no likeness and no equal; consequently, He is the only One that deserves to be worshipped. Directing any aspect of worship to anyone other than Him is the greatest of all sins.
Muslims do not worship prophets, ancestors, trees, stones, idols, stars, the sun, the moon, or anything from the creation. Muslims only worship Allah, praying directly to Him with no intermediary.