Answer
Short Answer: The argument that your prayer is not accepted is usually because you haven’t said the Shahadah and therefore, are not practicing as a Muslim. However, you can see that you are saying the Shahadah in every prayer, at least once. The fact that you are already praying suggests to me that you are Muslim in your heart. It is much easier if you can get someone to help you. It appears you have made a good start and you are on the right lines, praise be to Allah. You will find it easier if you can get help. I recommend a mentor, a knowledgeable person to guide you, and this is where the Director of the Islamic Centre can help you. He will know the books to suggest, he will find your speed of learning and be able to answer all your questions.
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Thank you for your question; it is a very interesting one.
Can I Pray and Later Accept Islam, Or Am I a Hypocrite?
You do not explain if you pray in your own language or in Arabic? When a Muslim makes the initial intention to pray, s/he should make the intention to learn Arabic, for the prayer, as soon as possible. (Transliteration helps with the pronunciation.)
First and foremost, we should avoid passing judgment on our fellow humans. Allah is the Judge.
Secondly, when we are in the sitting position, in prayer, and we recite Tashahhud:
(Ath-thahiyātu) we actually say the Shahadah – the testimony of faith, which is the entrance into Islam.
The argument that your prayer is not accepted is usually because you haven’t said the Shahadah and therefore, are not practicing as a Muslim. However, you can see that you are saying the Shahadah in every prayer, at least once.
The next argument is that you need to have said the Shahadah in front of witnesses. This is not strictly true. Obviously, it is better for other Muslims to know you are a Muslim, and the Shahadah can be said in front of many or a few people.
In my own case, I practiced Islam, including praying Juma’ 2 or 3 times a month for 18 months before I formally said the Shahadah. I was asked after Juma’ one Friday if I had said the Shahadah and when I said No! I was asked, Why not? I said, Do you think I know enough?
Yvonne Ridley told me she practiced 3 years before she said the Shahadah. It is a known thing that one doesn’t suddenly become a practicing Muslim after all Islam was revealed over 23 years.
Some Tips
There are pre-requisites for the prayer, which you should be familiar with. For example: clean clothes, personal hygiene, a clean place to pray, the direction of the Ka’ba and the times for the prayers. Also, what invalidates the performance of prayer?
In order to come to Islam, you will need to read the Quran, memorize a few short chapters starting with the Fatiha (the Opening Chapter); the Life of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), the Sealed Nectar is the book I would recommend. Also, an introduction to Islam – Taleem-ul Islam is the classic text which covers the basics of Islam. There are others, but this is the minimum to start. I would suggest you carefully choose which Quran you use. One with some explanation is preferable either Muhammad Azad’s translation or an explanatory text say, Tafsir Ibn Kathir.
The Importance of a Mentor
The fact that you are already praying suggests to me that you are Muslim in your heart. It is much easier if you can get someone to help you. In my own case, I went to the information bureau in the local city and asked if there was a Mosque? They didn’t know but gave me the name of someone they thought could help. I phoned him and told him, I don’t know that I can become a Muslim but with no information, I shall never find out. Come and see me, he said. He turned out to be the Imam of the Mosque, an Englishman who had embraced Islam some 20 years earlier. In 1968 I was lucky to have an English speaking mentor.
I don’t know where you are in the world, but if you have an Islamic Centre near you, I would suggest you go along and talk to the Director. He should be able to help you and be willing to do so.
Starting with Prayers
You are right to start with the Salat, the five times prayer. Salat is taken as the difference between a Muslim and a non-Muslim. Also, Salat builds the relationship between Allah and the worshipper which is an obvious starting point. Of course, there is personal prayer – dua’, but this is more likely to be accepted if we are performing the obligatory formal prayer.
It appears you have made a good start and you are on the right lines, praise be to Allah. You will find it easier if you can get help. I recommend a mentor, a knowledgeable person to guide you, and this is where the Director of the Islamic Centre can help you. He will know the books to suggest, he will find you speed of learning and be able to answer all your questions
May Allah bless and guide you, and make things easy for you as you find your way to Islam, Amiin.
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(From Ask About Islam archive)
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