Q. "What is the procedure for a Christian to convert to Islam
in order to marry a Sunni Muslim girl? Which reputable institution in
Karachi arranges for such a conversion and Nikah, so that it is a widely
accepted in our society?"
(Anonymous)
A. It is not correct practice to embrace Islam for the sake of
marrying a Muslim girl only. Islam is a composition of certain beliefs
and acts. It is a way of life. It is a matter of faith and conviction.
In order to become a Muslim, it is necessary to accept all its basic teachings
with one's heart and soul. If one's real purpose is only to marry a Muslim
girl, and he wants to register himself as a Muslim only because he cannot
marry that girl without it, while he does not have faith in the basic
beliefs of Islam, he cannot be a Muslim in reality.
Therefore, one should know at the first instance that conversion to Islam
is not meant for marrying Muslim girls. One should, first, study the basic
Islamic beliefs and teachings, and if he is convinced that they are worth
accepting, he should accept Islam for its inherent rightfulness and its
intrinsic merits, and not only because he wants to marry a girl.
Now, the basic beliefs one is required to accept while entering into Islam
are the following :
(i) God is one. He has neither a partner, nor a son or daughter.
He is one in the true sense of the word which has no room for the concept
of Trinity, or for any other form of camoufaged monotheism or a disguised
polytheism.
(ii) The Holy Prophet Muhammad ( Sallaho Alaihai Wasallam ) is
the last Messenger of Allah after whom no messanger or Prophet of Allah
(in any sense of the word) will come.
(iii) The Holy Quran is the last of the divine books revealed on
the Holy Prophet ( Sallaho Alaihai Wasallam ) and all its contents are
true.
(iv) The life Hereafter is the eternal life one has to live after
his death where he will have to face the fate of his good and evil deeds.
(v) All the teachings given by the Holy Quran or by the Holy Prophet
( Sallaho Alaihai Wasallam ) in absolute and unambiguous terms are true
and acceptable.
Once a person accepts all these fundamental beliefs as true, both verbally
and with his heart, he becomes a Muslim.
Conversion to Islam has no particular procedure, like baptism etc. As
soon as a person accepts the aforementioned bel- iefs with his heart and
soul and professes them verbally, he enters the fold of Islam. It is not
necessary that he seeks the mediation of a saint or priest, nor is it
a prerequiste to go to mosque or to an institution for accepting Islam.
One can acc- ept 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.
Normally following sentences are used for that purpose :
I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that
Muhammad (S.A.W.) is His slave and messenger."
"I have believed in Allah and His Angels and His Books (as
they were originally revealed on His Prophets) and in His messengers and
in the Last Day and in the fact that all the good and bad destinies come
from Allah and in being raised alive after death."
A further requirement for a convert Muslim is to free himself from those
beliefs of his former faith or religion which are not in line with the
Islamic beliefs. For example, a Christian must proclaim that he does no
more believe Jesus Christ as the Son of God or a part of the Godhead.
Instead, he accepts that he was a revered messenger of Allah, and was
no more than a messenger, having all the human attributes. There is a
large number of Muslim institutes in karachi which can help a non-Muslim
to do the needful for accepting Islam. Here are the addresses of some
of them :
1. Jamia Darul-Uloom Korangi "K" area Karachi. 2. Jamiatul-Uloom-al-Islamiyyah,Binnori
Town, Karachi. 3. Jamia Farooqi, Shah Faisal Colony, Karachi.
|