Spiritual journey of a Muslim

21-11-1999 | IslamWeb

Question:

What is the general path followed in becoming a Muslim? What does the spiritual journey entail? Just as a Hindu goes through 4 stages in life, and a Buddhist follows the 8-fold Path, what happens in the spiritual life of a Muslim? Thank you!

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

Islam is the religion of Fitrah (natural disposition upon which Allah created mankind and which enables them to believe in the Oneness of Allah) and it is very simple and free from any complexities, rituals, ceremonies, and the like. Becoming a Muslim does not require more than saying the Shahaadah, which is to utter the Two Testimonies of Faith, saying: “Ash-Hadu Allaa Ilaaha Illallaah Wa Ash-Hadu Anna Muhammadan Rasoolullaah” (I testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah). One should utter this with his tongue, believe in it with his heart and act according to it with his limbs.

As soon as a person utters this testimony, he becomes a Muslim and has the same rights and obligations as any other Muslim. No Muslim is considered better than him except those who are more obedient to Allah’s commandments and abide more by His Law. Then he should learn how to worship Allah concerning his creed and acts of worship and how to deal with people and behave with them. He will learn all this from the Quran and the Sunnah.

Also, he will find in this what reassures him and what goes along with the human nature and predisposition (Fitrah), and he will find out that it is free from any complexities or contradictions in every field of life. He will feel real happiness in this life and what Allaah will give him in the Hereafter is much greater.

May Allah enable us to do whatever He likes and He is pleased with.

Allah knows best.