I'm converting to Islam, where's the best place to start?

How and why did you decide to convert if you don’t know your way around your chosen religion? How do you know it’s right for you?

Just interested

Perhaps by Googling How to Convert to Islam and Become a Muslim

@Cartman I was leaning about it when I was in high school and Islam was the most interesting.

@lunabean ok. Good luck!

Perhaps you can find an Islamic leader in your community. Having a mentor can always be helpful.

Find an Islamic center in your area and contact them.

The Koran might be a good place to start.

the best way to get to know your new religion is to read the Quran. No matter what your religion is you should do the recommended reading.

Hint: the recommended reading does not include the “Purpose Driven Live” or it’s equivalent in your chosen religion. Any book with and excess of exclamation points should be regarded with suspicion.

If you can’t answer the question yourself, I present to you that you are in no position to “start” converting.

you chose your religion based on how interesting it is?
I guess i should be a Scientologist…

Perhaps @lunabean didn’t state clearly why Islam is attractive to her as a religion.

@fundevogel is right in that she should read the Koran first.

However, in my opinion, it is not proper to convert to a religion because it is interesting – I think Islam is interesting, as are Shintō and Christianity. While I see the value in the moral systems, etc…, it doesn’t mean I necessarily ought to convert to those religions. I would always be sceptical of a religion that punishes the apostate anyway… Not being allowed to change your mind sucks.

You need to start learning Arabic since translated versions of the Koran are not considered acceptable as Holy Texts. You may want to join a Mosque so you can find a teacher.

As a Muslim the first thing I think you should know is that there is no compultion in Islam. So do not do it, if in any way, you may be, directly or indirectly, doing it for reasons other then your own. Having said that, the best Muslim is one who comes to the faith with the knowledge of it. So, as many wiser then myself have stated before me, learn about it. There’s a very basic and simple book called “Islam” by Karen Armstrong (a Catholic nun, herself), I’d recommend you read. Then get an English translation of the Quran, there are some good ones out there, I recommend one by Yusuf Ali, it has a translation as well as a commentry on the translation. Lastly, I’d add that all religions are vehicals for spritual development, it doesn’t matter which one you take so long as you reach the destination.
Best of luck to you.

Def. buy a copy of the qur’an with english translations (not just the english), and learn all about it. Once your ready, state “ash-hadu an laa ilahu ilallah, ash-hadu an muhammadu rasulallah” (i bear witness that there is no god but but god and muhammad is his messenger)
My advice would be to follow your heart. Always use your best judgement. Follow what is in the qur’an, not necessarily what others tell you is in it or even “direct” translations, because they are all human interpretations. So, if something in “Islam” doesn’t make sense to you, use your logic, reflect, and think. Remember, it’s okay to ask questions!

I’m converting to Islam,

No you are not. Conversion requires faith, nothing else. If you don’t know what it is you cannot have faith. The attitude that you display with this question is either trolling or pure ignorance.

My suggestion would be to start with educating your self fully about Islam. I cannot see how it is possible to convert to a religion when you do not know what you are committing to, what you are vowing to believe and have faith in.

@DarkScribe: Simmer down. There are nicer ways to explain things and your position.

@lunabean: Reading the Koran, and studying the religion much more closely is the best place to start. Before announcing your intentions, you should really know more of the history, restrictions, etc. and not just ‘the easy stuff’. I assume from what you listed you learned this much from your World History I/II classes. A two page summation of 1400 years of a religion is not adequate for you to accept it as a part of your life, nor is it enough for you to tell others you’re doing it and need to know more. Maybe that you’re entertaining it and need to know more.

Perhaps, your question should have been phrased differently if your purpose was to receive guidance.

“I am searching for my faith and Islam seems to be the answer, where can I go for more information before I make a commitment?”

@asmonet Simmer down.

I am not “simmering” – I am expressing a valid opinion. I find the attitude exasperating and the reasoning expressed for considering it as vapid. I am not politically correct, I don’t pretend to be, I respond as I genuinely feel – much as I would in real life. Sugar coating normal reactions isn’t helping anyone and is pointless.

@DarkScribe: You’re exhausting, the girl is young and trying to find something meaningful. There’s a difference between sugar coating, honesty and being unnecessarily harsh with your words. Guess which of the three you came across as?

@asmonet You’re exhausting, the girl is young and trying to find something meaningful

My opinion is that she needs to re-consider – her motivation cannot be “faith” based, and if not it then adopting another faith is not something that she should be doing until it “is” faith based. Among other issues, it is insulting to Islam. Some Islamics don’t take kindly to that – an issue that concerns me, but possibly escapes you. They regard it as trivialising their faith. For your information I have a lot to do with Islamic people on a day to day professional and social basis.

Do you really have such a problem with people are not conforming to how you think, feel, respond and react?

You seem to have a problem with giving people the benefit of the doubt when they’re young and possibly just unable to express themselves.

Whatever, dude. It’s not that big a deal. I just find it surprising how often you choose to be like this.

@asmonet You seem to have a problem with giving people the benefit of the doubt when they’re young and possibly just unable to express themselves.

If the problem is an inability to express themselves clearly, then ignoring it will not provide incentive to improving their communication. If it is not a problem with expression, but intent, then also, ignoring the negatives in what they propose will be even more potentially damaging. You might ask for opinions and only want supportive and “gentle” response, but I would prefer to know if some people had a more blunt and plain-spoken response.

Ugh, I could keep this up because I still think you’re viewing honest and sugar coated as the same thing… but I honestly don’t care. You’re far too set in your ways and from what I’ve seen everywhere else, it’d be a waste of my time. Seeya.

@asmonet I still think you’re viewing honest and sugar coated as the same thing…

No, I regard honest and blunt as the same thing. I regard sugar coating as corrosive to honesty.

Seeya

How about learning about the religion before “converting” to it?

Its not like picking a major and then learning about it. Its the other way around.

I guess I should have said I’m thinking of converting to Islam to keep the haters away. I’m not doing this on impulse, I just needed help and thought here would be a good place to get it.

How about The Satanic Verses? I’ve never read it myself, but I heard its a rather good commentary on Islam.

So, if we were talking about Christianity, a lot of folks would say start with the bible. Then a group would say ‘search your heart for Jesus’. Then a group would say, ‘go to church next sunday’.

Let’s survey your immediate options-
Option A: Get into the texts. Sure the Qu’ran will be essential to your journey into Islam. However, you will eventually need secondary sources (not just the Hadith, I mean ancient or modern analysis/interpretation, etc.)
Option B: The Spiritual path. You’ll still need to get into the fundamentals of Islam but you can turn your search inward and see how Islam is reflected in your ‘heart’.
Option C: The Community. Meet other Muslims, enjoy the ritual, engage the culture of the faith, discuss, etc.

The best approach will probably be a combination of the three.

The Satanic Verses is too modern, too narrow in focus for a jumping-in point. Rushdie is rad though.

Considering Rushdie got a deathmark for The Satanic Verses it’s probably worth reading to learn what kind of statements will put a bounty on your head.

Fatwa- they call it a fatwa.

They probably don’t get an actual bounty for killing him do they? It’s probably more of a personal satisfaction thing.

@fundevogel Probably 72 virgins in Paradise, like they promise the terrorists. The radical Islamic clerics seem to like treating women as sexual conquests.

There is probably an “Idiot’s Guide to Islam.” You might want to pick that up in the book store. Those books are usually very easy to read and give you the basics. Also, seems obvious you should speak with a Muslim clergyperson for some guidance.

What sparked your interest? Do you have some friends or family members who are Muslim?

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Understanding Islam

I was thinking, maybe you want to take a class at a local college on comparative religions, if you are in a “searching” mode. Might help you find the right fit.

Thanks everyone for the help :)

@FireMadeFlesh You do realize that radical Islamic thought is to the other billion people practicing it what the KKK is to mainstream Christianity?

http://www.al-islam.org/ is good, thought Shia and not pan-Islamic.

@aphilotus I realise that that is the prevailing mode of thought, but I never said Christianity was harmless either. It is often the case that a way of thinking is somewhat overruled by other social forces, such as the way it was not wise to openly support Communism in the 70s in western countries, even if one did think it was a superior political process. I do not condemn people of any religion, and do not think the individuals are the problem unless they allow their religion to rule their sense of social justice.

However, Islamic teachings (again I must stress, not the believers) have a few fundamental problems. Even the more moderate Muslims are patriarchal to a degree not seen in civilised countries for centuries. I know of Muslim girls here in Australia that have been placed in arranged marriages with men in Egypt and similar places, and have been forced to abandon employment and study to be married. Their dress codes subjugate women and deny them any expression of beauty, all in the name of preventing promiscuity (is there any similar restriction on the man?). The Qu’ran teaches intolerance of homosexuals and ‘unbelievers’. The classic example in my mind (although this is probably the work of extremists, and I hope it is not supported by the Qu’ran) is the stoning death of a 12 year old girl in Somalia for adultery, when she was raped by a much older man.

As for Christianity, Jesus Christ was a peaceful human, even if his followers weren’t and the Romans and Colonialists used it as justification for war, extortion and crimes against humanity. Islam on the other hand, was developed and spread by a military leader, who was also sexually perverse. It is also interesting to note that even in the more influential Islamic countries such as UAE and Saudi Arabia, horrific penalties are handed down for crime, including amputations and floggings.

I do not believe Islam to be of any benefit to humanity, but I also do not believe that the majority of followers necessarily support or participate in the more dubious aspects. On the contrary, most followers allow their sense of justice prevail.

@FireMadeFlesh Jesus has good PR, but he wasn’t quite the loving hippie people like to think he was. At least not according to the Bible.

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:26

@FireMadeFlesh But are such things any worse than cherry-picking Leviticus to impose all manner of strange laws upon your people?

Relevant discussion with Ibn Warraq (author of “Why I am not a Muslim”) here.

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/8.30/relrpt/stories/s386913.htm

@lunabean Worth reading the writings and views of ex-muslims before proceeding (ie Warraq, Ayan Hirsi Ali, etc). Their views are as relevant to your decision as any converts.

@fundevogel if you know what that verse means it’s not bad at all but It sounds bad all by itself out of context.

@jaketheripper But that’s what a lot of “Christians” specialize in. Putting things out of context and following “what the Bible says.” Its far more common to pull something out of context and misuse it than to use it in the way it was presumably intended. Picking out what you want to believe in and what you want to ignore (i.e. God is love… for all non-gays because God hates gays) is also a common “Christian” prerogative.

@avvooooooo that might be true in other cases but I don’t see a lot of Christians hating their father or mother or wife

@jaketheripper It’s defended as a hyperbolic statement that you must put Jesus before everyone else and corresponds to a less hyperbolic statement in Matthew. But it always seemed extremely narcissistic to me that someone that is supposed to be all about love gets put off if you only love him the amount you love your souse, parents and children. Especially since my family has done more way more for me personally than Jesus seems to have.

I mean, he never calls, he never writes…

@fundevogel You didn’t get that bike you asked for for CHRISTmas…

@avvooooooo it was all I asked for

@fundevogel You gave that baby Jesus you took out of the nativity a NICE crib too. Even shared your toys.

@avvooooooo ‘course, my mama taught me right.

@fundevogel Oh well. So much for passages on generosity and being nice to folks.

@fundevogel If you believe he is who He says he is and did what the Bible says he did then you would not have much problem loving him that much. Also it’s not like loving Him that much takes away from your love of your family, on the contrary. He teaches a self sacrificing, “others first” type of love that would enrich and nurture those relationships further.

@jaketheripper Yeah, still think it sounds like a bunch of hooey. Believe in this thing these people (who aren’t really the people, but some other people pretending to be these people) wrote which contradict themselves and one another and this guy they wrote about and what they said that he said, some of them hundreds of years after his death. You have to believe all of it to believe any of it and so much of it makes little sense that its nearly impossible if you actually examine it. Most organized religion is much the same.

@jaketheripper Well you’ve got me. I don’t believe in him. But really what’s so great about saving me from the damnation he himself designed into the world? Sacrificing himself, to himself to save us from an enteral damnation he himself was behind? That’s not even a little bit loving or selfless.

There’s a name for it, it might be Münchausen syndrome by proxy. I’m not quite sure. I’m thinking of the condition when people create a catastrophe to garner admiration and glory by subsequently saving people from the catastrophe they created.

Do tell me what that’s called if you know.

Oh I was thinking too hard. It’s the classic Hero Syndrome

Apparently it is connected to poor self worth.

@fundevogel I agree that statement is narcissistic, but I don’t really have a problem with Jesus as a man because his teachings were so progressive for the period. Of course the idea of him dying for us because of the dictates of his own law is a bit ridiculous, but he did have some good ideas. I like to think of him as the first non-violent protester.

@aphilotus Christians don’t follow Leviticus to the letter. Thankfully, even predominantly Christian states such as the USA do not enforce stoning. Most Christians even eat pork. Islam is largely followed very closely; I doubt it would be such a problem if it was followed only as closely as Christians follow the Bible. Islam also lacks the influence of sections of teaching based on love like Christianity (even if that love is woefully misguided and often resembles vindictive judgements).

@jaketheripper Your points have been well answered by @fundvogel. Jesus did nothing remarkable except introducing a new pattern of thought. His death was not an act of selfless mercy as the clergy would have you believe, it was ‘saving’ humanity from his own law, which is supposed to be part of his nature. Because this god is self-important and incapable of agreeing to disagree with other beings, he must kill part of himself to satisfy his blood-lust. Sorry, but this does not sound anything like love to me.

@FireMadeFlesh He is much more likable when you just look him as a man that got hijacked into messiah status. There are just so many ways to interpret Jesus so I tend refer to what seems to be the most common view, which I definitely have issues with.

But then, I’m not even convinced a mortal version of Jesus existed. It’s a bit tricky to have a firm stance on the dude when you’re not sure which Jesus to address. The popular, widely accepted one or the most historically viable one, (if he exists).

@fundevogel When you say if he exists, do you mean if he was born and lived 2000 years ago, or do you mean if he existed as the son of God? You can just believe what many reformed Jews believe, that he was a nice Jewish boy who was very spiritual and believed in good.

@JLeslie Yep, I’m not sure if the Jesus of the Bible was based on a real person or not. From what I’ve read historians haven’t been able to confirm his existence since all references to him were written either long after his death or were based on hearsay. And there are a fair number of scholars that think the lack of contemporary references to a supposedly controversial and revolutionary figure is absurd in one of the most documented periods of history.

It all seems highly circumstantial and speculative to me so I’m reserving my judgment.

@fundevogel Fair enough. I don’t care if he existed or not.

@JLeslie I guess doesn’t matter as much whether or not a man-Jesus lived as it would if a god-Jesus lived.

@fundevogel The Bible refers to many historical events, some of which were solely known from the Bible until archeaological research confirmed them. I regard the Bible as a work of historical fiction – based on real events, with some imaginary characters and the philosophies of the authors worked into the storyline. I am aware that there is a lack of evidence of Jesus’ existence, but I think the most likely interpretation of this is that some people are only famous posthumously. Remember his biggest crowds mentioned were 5000 plus women and children (so maybe 12000?), which is a lot, but in the context of the Roman Empire he was probably just a slightly more successful Messiah and not really worth documenting. That’s my opinion at least.

@fundevogel the way I see it we should use our brains when it comes to behavior. The bible seems to be a guide on how to behave; what’s good, what’s bad. Even though it seems that Christian’s don’t care about behavior in the end from what I have read on fluther, they just care that you believe Jesus was the son of God, but I digress. So, whether the people who wrote the bible were influenced directly by Jesus/God, or if they put together stories and philosophies gathered from other sources should seem irrelevant if the advice is sound.

@JLeslie That’s the point – the advice is not sound, but since Christians believe that it is inspired by the omniscient, omnipotent God, they automatically assume it is sound and do not bother with any form of critical thought to question its validity. Even if they attempt to do so, they are starting with a preconceived conclusion, and always end up saying it is good advice because God said so.

@FireMadeFlesh I agree. Well, not 100%. There are some good things that are sound advice in the bible, like most religions, nothing wrong with utilizing those stories and ideas to teach or demonstrate a philosphy. I guess they look at it like we mere humans are inexperienced and do not see the big picture as God does. The same way an adult has to tell a 4 year old not to stick a key in an electrical socket. The child cannot rely on his own brain, but must be obedient to the adult who is aware of the ultimate consequence.

@JLeslie There is nothing wrong with many of the stories and ideas, but they may be demonstrated in other ways that are not as risky. Your example of the 4yr old and the electrical socket is good, except the 4yr old will one day move into high school science and find out why such a simple act is potentially fatal. According to the religious arguments, we will always be ‘mere humans’ and must rely on a god or gods to help us achieve our desires. I take offence to this, humans are hugely capable, and are the most intelligent known beings. We do not need to be reliant on anyone or anything save the resources provided by nature.
Nietzsche and his contemporaries have advanced some compelling arguments as to why there is no ‘God’s eye view’ of the world. Our current knowledge of advanced physics confirms this. We stray from potential advancement if we indulge ideas of a deity or any form of absolutes in terms of philosophy.

@FireMadeFlesh Of course I agree with you. I, personally, don’t believe that the human race in general is comparable to a 4 year olds intellectual capabilities. I was just trying to understand how the theists think. I believe some religions believe when you die and join God you become all knowing, that your questions are answered.

I don’t like the “obedient” line of thinking, because it implies to me that the person being obedint is not allowed to use their own brain, and I think with some people this is believed in such a strict way that it controls and ruins their life, especially women. Childhood, especially adolescence is practice to argue your point, and stand up for what you think is right for you personally, against/with safe people, also known as parents (of course parents somtimes suck, but let’s stick with the ideal). Parents who discourage conversation, fail to EXPLAIN why something is good or bad, or don’t share examples of their own experiences that relate to a childs desires and questions, but instead simply insist on strict obedience, fail to equip their children with the ability to reason for themselves, or at least might be retarding it. Strict religious belief, in my opinion, encourages this, which I find damaging, I am not talking about strict adherence to traditions and celebrations, but rather the idea that nothing is to be questioned, or even countered even when you are causing your own self harm.

Maybe I am wrong, maybe religious people can separate these two thing, religion and real life? I have no idea what is in the mind of the very relgious, I was raised by atheist parents (I think my mom is more of an agnositic, but for sure God was never brought up in my house) so I am void of that way of thinking. But, it is interesting to me to know how theists do think and how it affects their overall life. Certainly, theists come in all shapes, sizes, and beliefs; so they, in the end, can’t be stereotyped pr painted with a single brush, just like everything else in life.

@JLeslie I think the majority of theists (although few Muslims, which is the point I was making earlier) interpret their religion through their common sense, which gives them a hybridised view of life. They think God is watching over them and directing them, and act in a way they think he wants them to. Since they have created this God, with varying degrees of influence from the Bible, he isn’t much different to themselves and so they are not drastically different from the way they would live without these ideas. At least that’s the way I was until I started to lose my religion about two years back.

Islam is not only a religion but a way of life. If you are prepared to change your way of life then I suggest you read a great deal about Islamic culture. The Koran, Hadiths, newspaper articles, books about women in Islam, their rights and obligations, experiences of previous converts, both negative and positive are all essential. And remember, changing faith is one thing, living it, is another.