by Corey Habbas
So you’ve said the Shahada and reverted to Islam, but are you feeling Muslim yet? You might have expected a jarring epiphany at that moment when you completed the first pillar of belief, finger pointing skyward, reciting in Arabic “Ashahadu alla Ilaha illAllahu wa ashahadu ana Muhammadan abduhu warasuluh”.
Yet, the silence afterwards speaks to you, “I’m a Muslim. Now what?”
Naturally you would like to feel more connected with your faith. Integrating Islamic culture into your lifestyle can be a challenge if you’re a new Muslim, especially if you don’t know where to begin. Here are ten steps to help you find your own, unique Muslim identity.
Assess Your Life
Take a pen and a sheet of paper. Write down the main areas of your life: Finances, Work, Family, Friends, and Hobbies. Make a list of all of the possible conflicts and challenges in each category that may need your attention.
For example, do you own investments that earn interest (riba, which is haram)? Jot down some ideas on how you can convert your current investments to more Islamically sound investments. Is your father, mother, sister or brother having a difficult time learning to accept your new faith? Pray about it and come up with strategies that will make future interactions with your relatives beneficial and productive, rather than riddled with conflict.
Your job is equally important. Does your company participate in halal activities? Are you working for a beer manufacturer? Then quit! During your workweek do you attend social lunches with members of the opposite sex? It may be time for a change.
Don’t just assess your life once. Make an appointment with yourself to asses your life on a regular basis. That way, you can maintain a close relationship with Allah (swta) and achieve a higher degree of Islamic spirituality through loyal practice.
Perfect Your Prayer
Make sure that you have a prayer calendar so that you know when to pray Fajr, Dhur, Asr and Isha. If you aren’t a native speaker of Arabic, then it can take time to learn the prayer. If you have a Muslim friend or family member, then ask them to help you. If not, then visit an online Muslim media outlet like SoundVision and purchase a video or DVD about learning prayer (http://www.soundvision.com).
If you own a computer and have internet access, then you can find a site that has prayer instructions as well as audio files so that you can listen to the prayer as often as needed. Once you learn to pray, it will be important to keep you appointment with Allah (swta) and pray on time. For that, download and install a tool from the internet called Adhan Basic. It’s available from http://www.islamicfinder.org/athanDownload.php and you will hear the muezzin sing the beautiful Adhan.
Read the Qur’an
Each day, reserve twenty minutes before you go to sleep so that you may read the Qur’an. Reading the Qur’an on a regular basis can connect you daily to the words of Allah (swta). Make sure that you have a reputable version of the Qur’an that contains both English and Arabic translation in addition to interpretive notes. You can obtain a Qur’an for free from your local masjid or online from a reputable Islamic site.
Give Zakat
Muslims should never forget their responsibility to give zakat. Zakat, the third pillar of Islam, reminds us that our wealth belongs not only to ourselves but also to Allah (swta). Zakat should always be distributed to the most needy, as defined in the Qur’an (9:60), “The alms are only for the poor and the needy, and those who collect them, and those whose hearts are to be reconciled, and to free the captives and the debtors, and for the cause of Allah, and (for) the wayfarers; a duty imposed by Allah. Allah is knower, Wise”. Giving zakat will purify your wealth.
Try Fasting
You don’t have to wait for Ramadan in order to fast. Fasting with the intention of pleasing Allah (swta), develops ones patience, selflessness and conscience. Takes some time to study what makes a good fast. The Prophet (saws) used to fast on select Mondays and Thursdays (Hadith, Muslim, Book 6, 2600-2606). The Prophet (saws) also instructed us not to fast on Fridays unless we also fast on the day before it or the day after it as well (Hadith, Muslim, Book 6, 2545). Fasting is a wonderful way to cleanse the body and the sprit.
Buy a New Outfit
Whether you are a man or woman, following the rules for proper hijab can increase the quality of your deen. Assess your wardrobe and buy yourself the gift of hijab. Guys, that might mean that you get rid of one of your tight-fitting shirts and buy one that isn’t so snug. Silk still in your closet? Give it to your sister and replace the items by buying clothes that reflect your new Muslim self. Ladies, throw away those mini-skits and buy something sophisticated, elegant and modest that speaks to your new spirituality. Modesty elevates both man and woman. Hijab translates into respect.
Learn a Du’a
Do you remember Allah (swta) often in your day to day life? The term for remembering Allah (swta) is called dhikr. Practicing dhikr can help set up patterns of gratitude to Allah (swta). There are so many du’as for various occasions. Pick an occasion that is important in your daily life, like eating a meal, and learn a du’a so that you can thank Allah (swta) for the blessing. There are small books you can buy and free resources on the internet available for learning these essential supplications.
Cook Something New
Muslims live in all areas of the globe and have a variety of cultural backgrounds. Sometimes one of the most pleasing ways to educate yourself about your brothers and sisters in our diverse Ummah is to become familiar with food from that region. Muslims in Somalia enjoy a dish called Suqaar, a hearty meat and vegetable stew flavored with ginger and garlic. Indian Muslims, from time to time, might enjoy samosas, a pastry filled with spiced potatoes, peas and onions, and dipped in mint chutney. Try to find recipes for these various dishes and make them yourself, or if there is a restaurant nearby that serves halal food from another Muslim culture, experience it.
Join a Muslim Discussion Group on the Internet
Sometimes being a revert can feel lonely, especially if you haven’t met many Muslims. If you’re feeling like you need more unity with the Ummah, go online and search for Muslim discussion groups. You can find groups for Muslims in your local area, or find groups of Muslims whose interests are similar to yours. Yahoo Groups (http://groups.yahoo.com), MSN Groups (http://groups.msn.com) and Google Groups (http://groups-beta.google.com) are one of the best ways to join Muslim collectives in the digital age. Take advantage of technology!
Visit the Local Masjid
For someone who is new to Islam, visiting a masjid can be a very difficult step, and yet it is one of the most beneficial steps one can take after entering the faith. Going to the mosque for Jum’ah will connect you with other brothers and sisters who have the same goal-- worshipping Allah (swta). The Prophet (saws) said, "“Prayer said in congregation excels the prayer said alone by twenty-seven degrees." (Bukhari, 10:30). After attending the masjid once, your next visits will become easier. You will know where to go and what to do.
Before making your first visit, find an address and phone number for your local masjid. Contact the masjid via phone or e-mail first to ask any questions that you may have before attending. Some masjids have websites so that you can read and learn about the masjid. These pages sometimes address frequently asked questions by new Muslims who are making their first visit.
Last update : 17-09-2005 15:21
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