How to Become Muslim
To become Muslim, you have to believe and pronounce the Declaration of Faith (Shahada), with a sincere belief: The declaration of faith is as follows:
"Ash-shadu ana la ilha il Allah wa Muhammad Rasul Allah, I Bear Witness that there is no God But The One True God, and Muhammad is the Messanger of God"
As long as you say and believe this, you are Muslim. It is recommended to say this in front of other people like an Imam (Muslim scholar found at a mosque) or a Muslim friend, who can help you with the Arabic pronunciation, but it is NOT REQUIRED.
Of course, faith is not only words but is complemented with action, so upon reciting the Shahada one should begin to learn and uphold his/her duties as a Muslim. The main pillars of Islam as you know are:
- The Five Daily Prayers
- Annual charity to the poor and needy
- Fasting the month of Ramadan
- Pilgrimage to Mecca (once in a life time for those who are able)
The next step now after the Shahada is to take a complete shower (bath) with the intention of purifying yourself to be ready for prayers.
Take a look at the How to Pray section.
Taken from:http://discover.islamway.com/bindex.php?section=newmuslim