Door one · Questions welcome
You don't have to be Muslim, or planning to become one, to come in. This path walks through the questions people ask most, in plain words: what Muslims believe, who Jesus and Muhammad are in Islam, and what it really means to become Muslim.
Nobody here will rush you. Read one page tonight, or ten. Come back next week, or next year. The door stays open.
The path
Start with whatever you're wondering about. Stop at any station, for as long as you like. The path ends at the shahada, but walking it asks nothing of you.
Station 1Start here
“I don't know much about Islam. What do Muslims actually believe?”
At its heart: there is one God, He sent prophets to guide people, and this life has a purpose. Ten minutes gives you the whole outline, plainly, before any of the detail.
Read: Islam in ten minutesStation 2For Christians
“I grew up Christian. What does Islam actually say about Jesus and Mary?”
More than most people expect. Muslims love and honour Jesus as one of the greatest prophets, and Mary is the only woman the Quran names. The page sets out where we agree and where we differ, calmly and with respect.
Read: Jesus and Mary in the QuranHonest questions are a good sign. Good answers have nothing to fear from them.
Station 3The man behind the message
“I've heard so many different things about him. Who was he, really?”
An orphan from Mecca, known as honest long before anyone called him a prophet. The page tells his story simply, and shows why more than a billion people still look to him as an example.
Read: who was Muhammad?You don't have to take anyone's word for it. Read his life, and decide for yourself.
Station 4When you want to read it yourself
“I opened the Quran and got lost on the first page. Where should I start?”
You're not the first. The Quran isn't arranged like a story, so starting at page one can be confusing. The page suggests where to begin, and how to choose a translation you can trust.
Read: your first time with the QuranConfused by a verse on a first read? That's normal. Context helps, and so does asking.
Station 5If you're holding back
“I want to become Muslim, but I'm scared. I've done things I regret, and I'm not sure I can do all of it.”
No. Nobody becomes Muslim finished. Islam teaches that when you become Muslim, what came before is forgiven, and that you grow into the rest step by step, like everyone else did.
Read: do I have to be perfect?Nobody walks in finished. Not the people beside you in the mosque, either.
Station 6What people worry about
“Would I have to change my name, learn Arabic, and stop being part of my family?”
You don't need a new name. You don't need to speak Arabic. You don't have to leave your culture or your family behind. The page goes through the worries people bring most, one by one, and says what is actually true.
Read: myths about convertingSide pathIf someone you love is Muslim
“My partner is Muslim. Can we marry? Do I have to convert for them?”
A fair question, and a common one. Becoming Muslim is between you and God, so it should never be only for someone else. The page sets out what scholars agree on and where they differ, plainly.
Read: dating or marrying a MuslimFor your own situation, please ask a qualified scholar or a local imam. Find a real person.
Station 7When you'd like to see for yourself
“Can I just walk into a mosque if I'm not Muslim? What if I do something wrong?”
Most mosques are happy to welcome guests. Dress modestly, take your shoes off at the door, and it's fine to sit at the back and watch. The page also covers Ramadan, Eid and funerals, if you've been invited to one.
Read: visiting a mosqueYou are welcome as a guest. Nobody will expect you to pray.
Station 8Whenever you're ready, if you are
“I think I believe it. I'm just scared to say it out loud.”
That fear is normal. Becoming Muslim means sincerely saying the shahada: that there is no god but God, and that Muhammad is His messenger. You can say it alone or with others, at a mosque or online. It costs nothing, and you don't need to know everything first.
Read: how to become MuslimNot ready? That's alright. You can keep reading here for as long as you like.
The door stays open
If you've said your shahada, welcome. Door two walks you through your first 30 days, one small step at a time. If you haven't, there's no clock on this. Come back whenever you like.
See your first 30 daysTalk to a real person
A page can only say so much. If you'd rather ask a person, these are independent organisations, not part of How to Muslim. We point to them because they do this well.
Private, one-to-one mentoring with someone who understands the big questions and the first steps. A calm, real conversation, at your pace.
Talk to a mentorIf you are in danger Call your local emergency number now. You can also find a crisis line in your country.
For your own situation For a ruling on something personal, like a marriage, please ask a qualified scholar or your local imam.
A note on safety No one from How to Muslim will ever message you privately, or ask you for money in a message. If someone does, it isn't us.
The other doors
That's fine. Step back out and try another. They all open onto the same house.
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