I recently converted to Islam from atheism, and was wondering what I should know about the faith? Even if it's just how to pray, how to practice in the United States where there's only a few mosques, or just what passages of the Qur'an you find comforting, all advice is welcomed and appreciated.
- Peace
Welcome to the family of Islam, Sister , who will be here with you & also in the Eternal life hereafter for trillions & trills of years
BUT PROVIDED WE DIE WITH EEMAN AS A MUSLIM . Allahu akbar, Allah is the Greatest.
You Should thank 2 much to Allah for selecting you from millions of people because when Allah loves someone he gives them knowledge of Islam first is known from the hadith or sayings of last Prophet of Allah Muhammad :saws: . Just born among muslims with muslim name ONLY does not make you Muslim, Its the faith & practice(submission our will to Allah) & good manners that makes a muslim. The First thing in Islam is salat or prayer 5 times a day as mentioned in the above post by broo aaj.After that be good to your parents even if they are not muslims yet. call them up at least twice in a month or visit them if possible & serve
them islamically ( Means if they so go & buy wine, pork etc do not obey them)
post # 6 with links in the below thread may have some info you need to know
http://www.ummah.com/forum/showthread.php?433274-i-want-to-convert-to-islam-i-need-informations post 6
First & foremost is
you must bath the islamic way called Ghusl. you must make intention or niyat saying ' i take bath to cleanse for the sake of Pleasing Allah'' gargle thrice, rinse your nose untill soft bone (dont pull hard it might hurt you) and take
a full body bath such that a single hair is not dry. this bath is obligatory on theose
1) who enters Islam
2) after sexual contact between spouses
3) after emissions in wet dream
4) after pregnancy after about 40 days (doubtful on the days)
then before going to pray you do wudu or ablution. just do the two first 3 acts like in ghusl mentioned above , Intention of wudu, brushing & gargling your mouth, rinse nose and follow with this four and this is the must than the first three
1) wash your face ear lobe to ear lobe , forehead to the throat bone.( all actions thrice)
2)wash.your hands little above your elbow
3) wet your hands and wipe your head and hair fully
4) wash your feet upto ankles AND NOW you are ready to pray but you must avoid going to urine,stools,or pass wind (fart) or you have to do the ablution again. There are many things like fard, sunnat about wudu will explain latter but fard the above 4 things are a must
1)Let me explain you how the prayers are calculated. The fajr or subuh , the early Morning prayer must be prayed before Sun rise at least 2 minutes before the sun rise time check online sun rise sun set times. The Fajr Praying time starts approximately 1 hour 20-30 minutes before exact sun rise time
2) the zuhr or the Mid afternoon prayer starts when the sun starts its slide or the shade starts to fall a little untill the Sun shade is twice the length of the object.
3) the asar prayer starts when the length of sunshade is twice the shade untill a minute before sun set time- chect sunset time online. In some masjid it may start little early than that because they follow shafi method of prayer and I am explaining the hanafi method, both are ok and equal you can follow any of them
according to the Masjid or mosque you live nearest.
4) the magrib or after sun set prayer has the shortest time it stars 2-3 minutes after sunset time and continues untill you see the redness on the horizon that also can last as long as nearly an hour after sunset time.
5) the Isha or the last obligatory prayer starts after Magrib prayer and can be prayed a little while before the Fajr prayer starts. its best to full fill prayers soon and not delay them if not necessary .
the Friday prayer is the same time as Zuhur or mid afternnoon prayer but its invalid if not prayed with jammat or congregation at the masjid
but for women pray it is not compulsory and even other 5 times prayer can be done at home for only women though going to a masjid is not barred .
Adhan refers to the call of the Prayer and Iqamah refers to the exact time they are going to line up standing for the prayer.
eace:
