Embracing Islam

I am a teen living in the US. As I wish to embrace Islam, I would like to know what I should do to become a Muslim. Is it necessary to wait until I turn 18 for my Islam to be valid and should I sever relations with my non-Muslim relatives and friends when I become a Muslim? I am also confused about Islamic rituals like prayers, fasting etc.

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Is it acceptable to lie if your purpose is to avoid hurting someone?

Is it acceptable to lie if your purpose is to avoid hurting someone?

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If my supplications are not answered, does that mean my prayers are unacceptable?

If my supplications are not answered, does that mean my prayers are unacceptable?

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Believing in God and leading a moral life as sufficing in lieu of conversion

If I believe in God and lead a moral life, why should I convert to Islam?

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Falling into cardinal sins, any chance for repentance?

Falling into cardinal sins, any chance for repentance?

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Who are the real Muslims?

There are people who have Muslim names but rarely, if at all, practice Islam. Others may attend to certain Islamic practices on occasions, such as those who offer their prayers only on Fridays, and perhaps in Ramadhan when they do fast. Please comment.

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If a child is born in a remote village without being exposed to the message of Islam, is he still held accountable?

If a child is born in a remote village without being exposed to the message of Islam, is he still held accountable?

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Why some people enjoy a luxurious living while others endure hardships?

Why some people enjoy a luxurious living while others endure hardships?

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Are Muslims allowed to believe in palmistry and horoscopes?

Are Muslims allowed to believe in palmistry and horoscopes?

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There are many references in the Qur'an to Muslims and to Mu'mins, or believers. What is the difference between the two?

There are many references in the Qur'an to Muslims and to Mu'mins, or believers. What is the difference between the two?

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Should I maintain my Islamic identity at all times or only around Muslim company?

Should I maintain my Islamic identity at all times or only around Muslim company?

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Is it possible for a person to believe that Islam is God's message but remain a non-Muslim?

Is it possible for a person to believe that Islam is God's message but remain a non-Muslim?

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Reconciling between Islam and previous divine religions. How can this be done?

Reconciling between Islam and previous divine religions. How can this be done?

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Is the statement “Isnad (chains of transmission) is from the religion” a hadith, and what does it mean?

Is the statement “Isnad (chains of transmission) is from the religion” a hadith, and what does it mean?

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What is the meaning of “do not act/do not engage” mean in Islam?

What is the meaning of “do not act/do not engage” mean in Islam?

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What is the meaning of, “Whoever knows their Lord will not be concerned with other than Him?”

What is the meaning of, “Whoever knows their Lord will not be concerned with other than Him?”

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How can a Muslim believe in destiny correctly?

How can a Muslim believe in destiny correctly?

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Can a person who is a Muslim choose a religion other than Islam?

Can a person who is a Muslim choose a religion other than Islam?

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What is the ruling of swearing by other than God?

What is the ruling of swearing by other than God?

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What is the difference between reason and revelation in Islamic thought?

What is the difference between reason and revelation in Islamic thought?

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What does the concept of "Ummah" mean in Islam?

What does the concept of "Ummah" mean in Islam?

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Does Revelation Abolish the Role of Reason?

Does Revelation Abolish the Role of Reason?

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Human planning vs. God's destiny: is there a way for reconciliation between them?

Human planning vs. God's destiny: is there a way for reconciliation between them?

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God is not in something, on something or from something

Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq said: "He who claims that Allah is in something or on something or from something, commits ash-shirk (polytheism). Because if He was in something, He would be contained, and if He was on something, He would be carried, and if He was from something, He would be a creature." Is this an authentic report?

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Cursing God and religion: a rising phenomenon worth handling?

Cursing God and religion: a rising phenomenon worth handling?

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In how many days the heavens and the earth were created?

In how many days the heavens and the earth were created?

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What is the ruling on committing suicide? What is the ruling on washing, shrouding, and praying over a person who has committed suicide?

What is the ruling on committing suicide? What is the ruling on washing, shrouding, and praying over a person who has committed suicide?

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How can I repent from a sin so God would forgive me?

How can I repent from a sin so God would forgive me?

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Reconciling between being held accountable and destiny

I am a new Muslim. Among the things that confuses me is the existence of many Qur`anic verses which confirm that God guides whom He wills and misleads whom He wills. If God is the One Who misleads a person, is it just to punish that person for something that was decreed upon him?

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What bearings to visions have in Islam?

What bearings to visions have in Islam?

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Miracles of the righteous people, is it true?

Do miracles (karamat) occur to some of the righteous during their lives? Can they continue after they have left the life of this world and passed over into the life of the barzakh?

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Does the corruption of Muslims equate to the corruption of the world?

Does the corruption of Muslims equate to the corruption of the world?

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Inherited beliefs vs. new persuasion

As Muslims, we believe that the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, was the last messenger Allah sent to mankind and that the Islamic message is the final one from Allah. As such, it is the faith all mankind should follow. The problem is the followers of other religions have similar beliefs, whether they are Christians, Jews, Buddhists or Hindus, they believe that their faith is the best, outlining the ultimate truth. This makes it very difficult to persuade followers of other religions that Islam is the only way to happiness in the life to come. No one chooses where and in which family and community he is born. Please comment.

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Islam and forcible conversion

Does Islam force people to embrace its teachings?

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Why does hunger prevail if God can feed everyone on planet earth?

Why does hunger prevail if God can feed everyone on planet earth?

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The need for miracles

What is it that makes it necessary for God to show people a miracle?

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Did we all stand before God in spirits form before birth to attest to faith?

Did we all stand before God in spirits form before birth to attest to faith?

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Existence of ghosts and evil spirits

Do ghosts or evil spirits exist? Can they cause us harm at will?

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Why does God put us through the test of life? Why does not He love us as we are?

Why does God put us through the test of life? Why does not He love us as we are?

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Why should we procreate in a world where poverty is spread everywhere?

Why should we procreate in a world where poverty is spread everywhere?

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Should we blame destiny for everything?

Should we blame destiny for everything?

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Writing with my left hand, am I risking my chance of going to heaven?

Writing with my left hand, am I risking my chance of going to heaven?

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I did not choose to come into this world, why would I become responsible for a choice I did not make?

I did not choose to come into this world, why would I become responsible for a choice I did not make?

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What actions constitute hypocrisy?

What actions constitute hypocrisy?

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If I were given the choice, I would prefer to die as a child

According to Islam, those who die in childhood are assured of admission to heaven. Those who live to adulthood are accountable for their deeds, and only if they do well in life they can go to heaven. This means that the longer one lives, the more difficult it is for him or her to ensure going to heaven, while children have the great prize without having to do anything. If I were given the choice, of course I would die in childhood. Yet this is causing me a lot of confusion. Please clarify.

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Does the intention of disbelief make someone a non- Muslim?

I hope you are well. I have a question regarding faith.
If a Muslim has a thought of disbelief (Kufr) in his head and later he thinks to himself about this thought and without intention of Kufr he says in his mind (not verbally) ' I had/have intention of Kufr , but really as he says this in his mind, he actually does not have intention of Kufr.
Does this make him a non- Muslim?
 

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My daughter told me that she loves her friend more than God, is it natural for 12 years old girl to say so?

My daughter told me that she loves her friend more than God, is it natural for 12 years old girl to say so?

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Are calamities seen as punishment for bad deeds?

When misfortune befalls someone, people say that it is a punishment for his bad deeds. They are quick with comments like, 'had he done this, he would not have suffered such misfortune'. How far does this agree with Islamic teachings?

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Are moral values taught by all religions sufficient to ensure salvation?

All religions teach good moral values. Should it not be that such teachings, irrespective of their source, are sufficient to ensure salvation in the hereafter?

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How do Muslims perceive destiny?

How do Muslims perceive destiny?

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Why New Muslims are required to utter the testimony of faith "there is no god but God"?

Why New Muslims are required to utter the testimony of faith "there is no god but God"?

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Do science and faith collide in Islam?

Do science and faith collide in Islam?

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What is the difference between "Islam" and "Iman"?

What is the difference between "Islam" and "Iman"?

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Does supplication change God's destiny?

Does supplication change God's destiny?

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How should we believe correctly in the books revealed by God?

How should we believe correctly in the books revealed by God?

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I want to embrace Islam; can you please tell me the process of conversion?

I want to embrace Islam; can you please tell me the process of conversion?

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The ruling on befriending non- Muslims

What is the ruling on being friends with non- Muslims?

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I met a person who really wants to be a Muslim. How can I help him?

I met a person who really wants to be a Muslim. How can I help him?

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Some people in Sri Lanka maintain the impermisibility of ijma'. Are they right?

I am from Sri Lanka. We have people who call themselves "Ahl al-Qur`an wal-Hadith". They do not acknowledge ijma' (scholarly consensus) and qiyas (analogy), they maintain the impermissibility of taqlid and insist that ijtihad is mandatory upon every individual, even those who do not speak the Arabic language and they do not consider that the words of the Companions constitute binding legal evidence, alleging that the Companions contravened the Qur`an and sunnah. What do you think about their beliefs?

 

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Man’s choice Vs God’s destiny: Is it a paradox that needs to be solved?

Man’s choice Vs God’s destiny: Is it a paradox that needs to be solved?

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What is the Creed of Ahl al- Sunnah wal Jama'at?

What is the Creed of Ahl al- Sunnah wal Jama'at?

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Can I marry a Quranist who does not believe in the Prophet's Sunnah?

Can I marry a Quranist who does not believe in the Prophet's Sunnah?

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How can I tell my non- Muslim friends that Islam is non- violent?

How can I tell my non- Muslim friends that Islam is non- violent?

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Is advocating for freedom of thinking form of disbelief?

Is advocating for freedom of thinking form of disbelief?

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Can I be excused by God for making a mistake out of ignorance?

Can I be excused by God for making a mistake out of ignorance?

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What is the condition of those who died before hearing the call to Islam or if the call to Islam that they have heard has been delivered incorrectly?

What is the condition of those who died before hearing the call to Islam or if the call to Islam that they have heard has been delivered incorrectly?

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What is the ruling regarding visiting the seven mosques of Medina?

What is the ruling regarding visiting the seven mosques of Medina?

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What is the ruling for kissing the Holy Book (the Quran)?

What is the ruling for kissing the Holy Book (the Quran)?

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