Answer
Hi Sam,
Thank you for writing to us with your important inquiries on how to deal with this delicate matter. It seems you have fallen for a muslim girl and want to court her in a proper manner according to Islam.
You ask: “I’m not muslim but i am in love with a muslim girl what do i do? Convert?” In general, conversion to Islam is done as a first step not second. That is in your case you want to be with a muslim girl thus want to convert to Islam.
The question is would you still SINCERELY want to be Muslim if it were not for her? This is a critical question that you need to ask yourself honestly. What if anything stops this relationship, would you still stay Muslim?
Learn about Islam first: The 5 Pillars
My advice to you is to first learn about Islam sincerely and without any restraints. Clear yourself of any misconceptions or stereotypes pertaining to the religion and to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and embrace it wholeheartedly.
The religious practice of Islam, which literally means “to submit to one God”, is based on tenets that are known as the 5 Pillars (Arkan), to which all members of the Islamic community (Ummah) should adhere to. They are:
1- The two testimonies of faith (The Shahadah), “There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is His servant and messenger”
2- The daily five obligatory Prayers (Salah)
3- Giving Alms (Zakah)
4- Fasting (Sawm) the Month of Ramadan of the Islamic Lunar Calendar
5- Pilgrimage (Hajj) to Mecca once in a lifetime for those who are capable financially and physically
Can you accept these pillars?
The 6 articles of Islam
Also, can you accept the 6 articles of islamic faith? There are six articles of faith in Islam:
1. Belief in God / Allah
2. Belief in His Angels
3. Belief in His Books (all divinely revealed books to previous Messengers of God in their original uncorrupted forms)
4. Belief in His Messengers (all Messengers)
5. Belief in the Last Day (Day of Judgment)
6. Belief in the Divine Preordainment and the Divine Decree (Qadaa’ and Qadr).
Jesus in Islam
In Islam, Jesus, is a revered prophet and not regarded as God nor son of God. He has a high stance and is considered one of the top 5 Prophets in Islam, amongst Prophet Muhammad, Ibraheem (Abraham), Nuh (Noah) and Musa (Moses).
Can you accept him as a Prophet?
The Shahadah (the Testimony of Islamic Faith)
As soon as you accept the aforementioned beliefs with your heart and soul and
utter them verbally, you enter the fold of Islam.
It is not a prerequisite to go to a mosque or to an institution for accepting Islam. One can accept
Islam on his own.
However, it is advisable to go to a learned Muslim who can
inform him about the basic beliefs of Islam and can teach him the concise
and comprehensive words to express his acceptance to those beliefs.
If you can accept all of the above then you are ready to say the Shahadah (the testimony of islamic faith). Simply type this sentence and say it as it is written:
“Ashhadu an laa ilaaha illa Allaah wa Ashhadu anna Muhammadan Rasool Allaah”
This means: There is no god but Allah (no one has the right to be worshipped but Allah), and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.
Engagement and Marriage
Once you feel established in your new religion you can now court your bride-to-be officialy, that is of course after her parents give you their blessings.
In the period of engagement the couples get to know each other better and what they expect from each other, etc in a respectable setting with no intimacy.
In Islam matrimony is a big deal. It is regarded as a bond of mawadah and rahma (caring, affection and mercy). There are rights and duties for both spouses to insure harmony.
Last Words
Accepting Islam should be something you do from your heart, out of understanding and faith. The journey to Islam must be sincere and based on your relationship with God, not with anyone else.
If that becomes the case, then there will be blessings in your life and a peace you will embrace wholeheartedly with no regrets.
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