How to Become a Muslim (Submitter)
Submission Through Sincerity and Simplicity
The Queen of Sheba Submits to God
قَالَتْ رَبِّ إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي وَأَسْلَمْتُ مَعَ سُلَيْمَانَ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
Qālat rabbi innī ẓalamtu nafsī wa-aslamtu maʿa Sulaymāna liAllāhi Rabbi al-ʿĀlamīn
She said, "My Lord, I have wronged myself. I have submitted with Solomon to God, the Lord of the Worlds."
(27:44)
Misconceptions About Conversion
Many new believers express their desire to embrace Islam daily, yet they are often directed toward unnecessary formalities. Common practices include visiting a mosque, reciting the Shahada (testimony of faith), signing conversion documents, or even changing one’s name to an "Islamic" name.
These additional steps, while potentially useful for societal or legal purposes, are not prescribed by Allāh in the Quran.
- Name Changes: The idea of an "Islamic name" is a cultural invention.
- Documents: Any formal signing holds no basis in divine scripture but may serve civil purposes.
What Islam (Submission) Truly Entails
To become a Muslim, one must acknowledge God's absolute authority and testify their faith. Submission to Allāh means recognizing:
- God alone possesses all power.
- Worship and devotion belong exclusively to Him.
This principle is the essence of Islam and is consistent across all scriptures:
Old Testament:
"Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is One God! Therefore, you shall adore the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength." (Deuteronomy 6:4-5)
New Testament:
"Therefore, submit to God..." (James 4:7)
Qurʾān:
God bears witness that there is no deity except Him… (3:18)
Submission Is Without Barriers
The Quran rejects any notion of intermediaries or human-imposed rituals for submission to God.
Two notable examples are:
Abraham's Submission
إِذْ قَالَ لَهُ رَبُّهُ أَسْلِمْ قَالَ أَسْلَمْتُ لِرَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
Idh qāla lahu rabbuhu aslim qāla aslamtu liRabbi al-ʿĀlamīn
When his Lord said to him, "Submit," he said, "I have submitted to the Lord of the Worlds."
(2:131)
The Queen of Sheba's Declaration
قَالَتْ رَبِّ إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي وَأَسْلَمْتُ مَعَ سُلَيْمَانَ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
Qālat rabbi innī ẓalamtu nafsī wa-aslamtu maʿa Sulaymāna liAllāhi Rabbi al-ʿĀlamīn
She said, "My Lord, I have wronged myself. I have submitted with Solomon to God, the Lord of the Worlds."
(27:44)
Becoming a Submitter (Muslim)
Becoming a Muslim requires no rituals, red tape, or ceremonies—only a sincere heart that professes:
"I have submitted myself to the Lord of the Worlds." (2:131)
This timeless act of devotion aligns with the examples of previous prophets and believers, demonstrating Islam's simplicity and accessibility for all.