A Guide for the New Muslims: The Book
Praise be to Allaah.
Praise be to Allaah first and last, and thanks be to Him always. He blesses whomsoever He will with guidance, and deprives whomsoever He will of happiness. He saves His slave from misguidance and supports His close friends until the Hour begins.
My dear Muslim brother, congratulations on your being blessed with guidance. We ask Allaah to make you steadfast until death.
It was a great achievement when you decided to embrace Islam and give up the misguidance in which you had grown up and the shirk [association of others with Allaah] which is forbidden. We welcome you as a new brother in Islam and we welcome you as a visitor to this site.
First of all, we would remind you that in this world man passes through great tests and trials, which require him to be patient and steadfast, and to stand firm until death.
“O man! Verily, you are returning towards your Lord with your deeds and actions (good or bad), a sure returning, and you will meet (the results of your deeds which you did)”
[al-Inshiqaaq 84:6 – interpretation of the meaning]
One of the trials with which Allaah tests His slaves is the enjoining of obligations and duties such as prayer, fasting, zakaah (poor due), Hajj (pilgrimage) and other acts of worship, and the things that He forbids them to do such as lying, cheating, adultery, homosexuality and all other forbidden things, so as to see the sincere believer who obeys the commands of Allaah, so that He may admit him to Paradise, and the liar and hypocrite who does not obey Allaah, so that He may send him to Hell.
Try to do your best to learn what Allaah commands, and do it, and what He forbids, and avoid it.
There are many commands, and many prohibitions, and it is impossible to list them or explain them all in one place. But we refer you to what is mentioned in this site of ours of questions that deal with the teachings of Islam, so you can look at it and read what it says, and may Allaah benefit you thereby.
With regard to what you mention in your question about having to learn Arabic, this is true, but you do not have to learn the whole language, rather just what you need for religious purposes. See question no. 6524. The fact that you do not know Arabic does not justify your not praying, because you can learn what you need for prayer in a short period of time, and until you learn it you should still continue to pray regularly on time, and pray according to what you are able to do. “Allaah burdens not a person beyond his scope” [al-Baqarah 2:286].
With regard to how to pray, you will find the answer to that on this site, under Question no. 13340. See also 8580, 2427, 11040.
Finally we advise you to look for an Islamic Centre in your city, and to keep company with Muslims who practice their religion. Do not forget to read trustworthy websites, and try to benefit from them as much as you can. We will also be happy to help you and others like you who are looking for things that will benefit them, and we will offer whatever advice we can, so keep in touch with us. May Allaah protect you and take care of you.
