I Became Muslim. What Do I Do Now?

I Became Muslim. What Do I Do Now?

Alhamdulillah. You accepted Islam. So... what do you do now?

Maybe you said the Shahadah today.

Maybe you have been Muslim for a while, but you still don't know what you're supposed to do.

You might be thinking:

“What am I supposed to do now?”

Don't worry.

You don't need to learn everything about Islam in one day.

You don't need to become perfect overnight.

Islam is a journey, and you will learn step by step.

Here are the most important things to do first.

1. Understand What You Have Accepted

The foundation of Islam is the Shahadah:

أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله، وأشهد أن محمدًا رسول الله

Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan rasulullah.

“I testify that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, and I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.”

This means that you believe that Allah alone deserves to be worshipped and that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the Messenger of Allah.

By sincerely believing this and saying the Shahadah, you become Muslim.

If you cannot speak Arabic, saying the Shahadah in English or in your own language is enough. It is not necessary to pronounce it in Arabic for the Shahadah to be valid.

You also do not need to go to a mosque or have witnesses present. The Shahadah can be said alone, and Allah knows what is in the heart.

You have entered Islam.

Now what?

⚠️ Important Note Before Continuing: “Prayer” Can Mean Two Different Things

One thing that can be confusing for new Muslims is the word “prayer.” In English, we use this word for both salah and du'a, but they are not the same thing.

Salah is the formal prayer that Muslims perform five times a day. It has specific times, words, and movements, such as standing, bowing, and prostrating. When this guide says “prayer,” it means salah.

Du'a means asking Allah for something. For example, saying, “O Allah, please help me,” or “O Allah, forgive me” is du'a. Du'a can be made at any time, in any place, and in any language. You do not need to be in wudu (ritual purification) or follow any special steps before making du'a.

For example: If a Muslim is worried and says, “O Allah, make this easy for me,” that is du'a. It is not one of the five daily prayers. The Muslim must still perform the salah at its proper time.

Both salah and du'a are important acts of worship, but du'a does not replace salah.

2. Make Ghusl

Ghusl means taking a full ritual bath for purification.

After accepting Islam, it is recommended to perform ghusl.

So, if you have just accepted Islam, performing ghusl is a good way to begin your new life as a Muslim.

Don't let the word “ghusl” make it sound complicated.

It is simply washing your entire body with water for purification.

The simple way to make ghusl

1. Have the intention

Make the intention in your heart that you are performing ghusl for purification.

You don't need to say the intention out loud.

2. Wash your entire body

Pour water over your whole body and make sure that the water reaches everywhere.

Make sure there is nothing preventing water from reaching your skin.

And that's it.

You have completed ghusl.

There is no special soap required.

There is no special supplication that you have to say.

You don't need to spend an hour in the shower.

The important thing is that you intend purification and that water reaches your entire body.

There is also a more complete Sunnah (way of the Prophet Muhammad) method of ghusl that includes wudu and other steps, but the method we mentioned is sufficient. You can learn the complete Sunnah method as you continue studying Islam, but don't let the details overwhelm you at the beginning.

When is ghusl required?

There are certain situations in which a Muslim must perform ghusl before praying. Some of the most common ones are:

• After sexual intercourse

• After ejaculation, including from a wet dream

• After menstruation ends, either by seeing the white discharge or by having no blood for 24 hours

• After postpartum bleeding ends

For now, remember: if one of these situations applies to you, perform ghusl before praying.

If you are ever unsure whether ghusl or simply wudu is required, ask someone knowledgeable. You can also ask by opening a ticket in the Reverts Discord server.

3. Learn Wudu

Now you need to learn wudu, the purification you normally perform before salah (prayer).

It is much shorter than ghusl.

The basic parts of wudu are:

1. Wash the face

2. Wash the arms up to and including the elbows

3. Wipe the head

4. Wash the feet up to and including the ankles

The Sunnah also includes washing the hands, rinsing the mouth and nose, and wiping the ears.

You should learn the complete method and practice it until it becomes easy.

🎥 Watch this video to learn how to perform wudu

We recommend watching the video and following along with it while performing wudu. Seeing the steps practically can make it much easier to understand and remember.

Watch: How to Perform Wudu

Don't worry if it feels difficult at first.

After doing it a few times, it will become something you do without even thinking about it.

When do I need wudu?

You need to be in a state of wudu when you want to perform salah.

So, for example, if you make wudu before Dhuhr (the midday prayer) and your wudu remains valid, you do not need to make wudu again before Asr (the late afternoon prayer).

You can pray multiple prayers with the same wudu.

You only need to make wudu again when something happens that breaks it.

What breaks wudu?

Some of the most common things that break wudu are:

• Urinating

• Defecating

• Passing wind

• Anything that exits the private parts

• Losing consciousness

• Deep sleep

• Touching the private parts with bare hands

When should I make wudu again?

You should make wudu again after your wudu has been broken and before you pray.

For example:

You make wudu → you pray Dhuhr → you sleep → your wudu is broken → you make wudu again → you pray Asr.

But if nothing has happened to break your wudu:

You make wudu → you pray Dhuhr → your wudu is still valid → you can pray Asr with the same wudu.

You don't need to make a new wudu before every prayer.

What if I'm not sure whether my wudu broke?

Don't fall into constant doubt.

If you know that you made wudu and then you simply wonder whether it broke, your wudu remains valid unless you are certain that something happened to break it.

For example:

“I made wudu, but I don't remember if I used the bathroom.”

You don't need to repeat your wudu just because you are unsure.

Certainty is not removed by doubt.

This is an important principle that will save you from unnecessary stress.

As you continue learning Islam, you will come across more detailed rulings about wudu. You don't need to learn everything at once.

Learn the basics, practice them, and keep moving forward.

4. Learn the Five Daily Prayers

One of the most important things you need to learn as a Muslim is salah (prayer).

Prayer is one of the five pillars of Islam, and Muslims pray five times every day.

At first, the prayer might seem like a lot to learn. You have to learn the movements, the words, the prayer times, and how many rak'ahs (units) to pray.

Don't worry.

You can learn the prayer step by step.

The Five Daily Prayers

There are five obligatory prayers every day:

The exact prayer times change throughout the year depending on where you live.

You can use a reliable prayer app or ask your local mosque for the prayer times in your area. It is also recommended to pray each prayer as soon as its time begins.

Prayer Times and Qibla:
This app shows prayer times based on your location and helps you find the Qibla (the direction you should face when praying).

Prayer Times and Qibla App

What Do I Need Before I Pray?

Before praying, there are a few things you need to make sure of.

1. You have wudu

You need to be in a state of purification.

If your wudu has been broken, make wudu again before praying.

If you are in a state that requires ghusl, then you need to perform ghusl instead.

2. The prayer time has started

Each prayer has its own time.

Try your best to pray each prayer within its proper time.

3. Your Body Is Properly Covered

Before praying, you need to make sure that the parts of your body that Islam requires you to cover are covered.

The requirements are different for men and women.

For men

A man must cover the area between his navel and his knees during prayer.

However, it is better to wear clean, modest clothing that covers more of the body.

Make sure your clothing is not so tight, thin, or short that it reveals what should be covered.

For women

A woman should cover her entire body during prayer except for the face and hands.

A woman does not have to wear a particular type of clothing or a specific color to pray.

You can pray in normal clothes as long as they meet the requirements of covering.

For example, you can wear a loose, long dress with a head covering, or loose trousers with a long top that provides proper coverage.

You do not need to buy a special prayer outfit.

What about the clothes themselves?

Your clothes should be free from physical impurities (najāsah) such as urine or other impurities.

They don't have to be completely spotless or brand new.

If your clothes are clean and properly cover you, you can pray in them.

What if I don't have suitable clothes?

Don't let this stop you from learning and praying.

If you are somewhere and genuinely don't have the appropriate clothing available, do your best to cover yourself with whatever you have and ask a knowledgeable person what you should do in your specific situation. You can also reach out to our team on the Reverts Discord server for help.

As a new Muslim, you are learning. You don't need to own a whole new wardrobe before you can start praying.

4. You are facing the Qiblah

The Qiblah is the direction of the Ka'bah in Makkah.

Muslims face the Qiblah when they pray.

You can use a prayer app or Qiblah compass to find the direction.

If you are somewhere unfamiliar and genuinely cannot determine the direction, do your best to figure it out and pray.

5. You are praying somewhere suitable

You can pray anywhere that is clean and suitable for prayer.

You don't have to be inside a mosque.

You can pray at home, at work, at university, outside, or wherever you can find a suitable clean place.

You can use a prayer mat, but a prayer mat is not required.

Note for young new Muslims: If being discovered as a Muslim could put someone in serious danger or cause severe harm from their parents, they should first try to find any other private and reasonably safe place to pray. Praying in the bathroom should only be considered as a last resort, when there is no other reasonably safe option.

What Does a Prayer Actually Look Like?

A prayer is made up of rak'ahs.
A rak'ah is one unit of prayer.

You can think of a rak'ah as a sequence of standing, bowing, and prostrating.

What does one rak'ah include?

Each rak'ah includes:

1. Standing: Reciting Surah Al Fatihah, which is required, and optionally reciting another portion of the Qur'an.

2. Bowing: Bowing while praising Allah.

3. Standing again: Returning to the standing position.

4. First prostration (sujud): Placing the forehead and nose, hands, knees, and toes on the ground while praising Allah.

5. Sitting: Sitting briefly between the two prostrations.

6. Second prostration (sujud): Prostrating again.

After the second prostration, the next rak'ah begins by standing up again.

For example:

• Fajr = 2 rak'ahs
• Dhuhr = 4 rak'ahs
• Asr = 4 rak'ahs
• Maghrib = 3 rak'ahs
• Isha = 4 rak'ahs

The basic movements are repeated according to the number of rak'ahs required for each prayer.

🌱 Don't feel overwhelmed: There may be a lot of new information at first, and that is completely normal. No one expects a new Muslim to learn everything perfectly in one day. Take it step by step. Learn the movements first, then gradually learn what to say in each part. Allah knows your effort and sees you trying.

🎥 Watch This Video: How to Pray

This video gives a practical, step by step explanation of how to perform the prayer and will help you see how all the movements come together.

▶️ Watch: How to Pray

What Do I Need to Memorize?

You might be thinking:
“But I don't know any Arabic!”

Don't worry. You don't need to know the entire Qur'an to start praying.

There are two things to learn for salah: the movements and what to say. You can learn them gradually.

⚠️ Important Note:
We recommend learning how to pray from a video, like the one linked above, as it can make it much easier to follow and understand the movements.

The instructions below are meant to provide additional guidance and clarification, but they are not a substitute for watching the video and following along with it.

The Movements

First, become familiar with the basic movements and positions:

1. Standing

2. Bowing (ruku')

3. Standing after ruku'

4. Prostrating (sujood)

5. Sitting between the two prostrations

6. Prostrating again

7. Sitting for the Tashahhud

You can follow the video above to see what each movement looks like.

What to Say

Then, gradually memorize the words that are said during the prayer. A good order is:

1. Allahu Akbar
الله أكبر
“Allah is the Greatest.”

2. Surah Al Fatihah

This is recited while standing in every rak'ah.

🌱 A tip for memorising Al Fatihah: Try repeating after a reciter. The recitation of Al Fatihah is less than a minute long, so if you repeat it a few times, you will find that it becomes easier and easier.

You don't need to learn Arabic before memorising it. Remember, most Muslims in the world are not Arabs, so learning the words of the prayer without knowing Arabic is completely normal. Millions of Muslims pray every day without speaking Arabic as their first language.

Try your best. You don't need to recite it in a specific tone, and you don't need to sound like an Arab. Just focus on learning the words and pronouncing them as best as you can.

🎧 A recitation you can repeat after:
Listen and repeat

3. In ruku'

Subhana Rabbiyal Adheem
سبحان ربي العظيم
“Glory be to my Lord, the Most Great.”

4. When standing after ruku'

Sami'Allahu liman hamidah
سمع الله لمن حمده
“Allah hears those who praise Him.”

Then:

Rabbana wa lakal hamd
ربنا ولك الحمد
“Our Lord, and to You belongs all praise.”

5. In sujood

Subhana Rabbiyal A'la
سبحان ربي الأعلى
“Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.”

6. While sitting between the two prostrations

Rabbighfir li
رب اغفر لي
“My Lord, forgive me.”

7. The Tashahhud

The Tashahhud is recited while sitting during the prayer.

In prayers with more than two rak'ahs, there is a middle Tashahhud and a final Tashahhud. The middle Tashahhud is recited while sitting after the second rak'ah, while the final Tashahhud is recited during the final sitting of the prayer.

The Middle Tashahhud

At-tahiyyatu lillahi was-salawatu wat-tayyibat, as-salamu 'alayka ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh, as-salamu 'alayna wa 'ala 'ibadillahis-salihin. Ashhadu alla ilaha illallah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasuluh.

التحيات لله والصلوات والطيبات، السلام عليك أيها النبي ورحمة الله وبركاته، السلام علينا وعلى عباد الله الصالحين، أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله، وأشهد أن محمدًا عبده ورسوله.

Meaning:

“All greetings, prayers, and good things are for Allah. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of Allah. I testify that there is no god worthy of worship except Allah, and I testify that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.”

The Final Tashahhud

In the final sitting of the prayer, the same Tashahhud is recited, followed by sending blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala ali Muhammad, kama sallayta 'ala Ibrahima wa 'ala ali Ibrahim, innaka Hamidun Majid. Allahumma barik 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala ali Muhammad, kama barakta 'ala Ibrahima wa 'ala ali Ibrahim, innaka Hamidun Majid.

اللهم صل على محمد وعلى آل محمد، كما صليت على إبراهيم وعلى آل إبراهيم، إنك حميد مجيد. اللهم بارك على محمد وعلى آل محمد، كما باركت على إبراهيم وعلى آل إبراهيم، إنك حميد مجيد.

Meaning:

“O Allah, send Your blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You sent Your blessings upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Indeed, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Indeed, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious.”

The Tashahhud is longer than the other recitations, so don't worry if it takes some time to memorize it. It can be learned gradually, one part at a time.

You can listen to recordings, repeat after a teacher, and practice outside of the prayer until the words become familiar. If you need more guidance, you can also reach out to the Reverts team on Discord for help.

Don't wait until you know everything perfectly before you start learning. Take it step by step.

What If I Can't Memorize Everything Yet?

This is something many new Muslims worry about.

You may know that you have to pray, but you haven't memorized all the Arabic yet.

Don't give up.

Learn as much as you can and seek guidance from a knowledgeable teacher about what to do while you are still learning.

Your goal should be to learn the prayer properly as soon as you reasonably can, but don't let the amount you have to memorize make you feel like Islam is impossible.

You were not born knowing how to pray.

Every Muslim had to learn.

Do I Have to Pray in Arabic?

The Qur'an is recited in Arabic during salah.

You can learn the Arabic gradually even if you don't understand it yet.

At the same time, learn the meaning of what you are saying.

For example:

الله أكبر : Allahu Akbar

“Allah is the Greatest.”

Understanding what you are saying will help you feel connected to the prayer rather than simply repeating sounds.

What If I Make a Mistake?

You will make mistakes.

Especially when you are new.

You might forget a word.

You might mix up the movements.

You might forget how many rak'ahs you have prayed.

Don't panic.

Learning anything new involves mistakes.

Ask someone knowledgeable when you don't know what to do, and keep practicing.

Don't let fear of making a mistake stop you from praying.

Don't Wait Until You Feel Like a “Real Muslim”

You might think:

“I'm still learning. I don't know Arabic. I don't know how to pray properly. Maybe I should wait until I know more.”

Don't.

Start.

Prayer is not something you do once you become a perfect Muslim.

Prayer is one of the things that helps you become a better Muslim.

You will learn it.

You will make mistakes.

You will improve.

Eventually, what once seemed complicated will become a normal part of your day.

Your goal right now is simple:

Learn the five prayers.

Learn wudu.

Learn the basic movements.

Start memorizing what you need to say.

Practice every day.

And most importantly:

Don't give up.

Allah knows that you are learning, and He knows every effort you make to worship Him.

Finally, welcome to Islam!

As the Reverts team, we would be more than happy to have you as part of our community. We would love to get to know you, hear more about your journey in Islam, and be inspired by your story. Most importantly, we hope to provide you with as much support and guidance as we can along the way.