Taking your declaration of faith, the shahada, is perhaps the most important moment of your life, the beginning of a new chapter and a formal acknowledgement of your becoming a Muslim.
Whether you are ready to take the next step, have questions you need answers to, or just want to learn more about Islam, you’ve come to the right place! Contact us
Do I Need a Shahada Certificate?
Many new Muslims are told that it is obligatory for them to get a Shahada Certificate at the time of their conversion. This is false. It is not even required to have one. You are Muslim, with our without it. Allah does not ask for it at the gates of heaven. However, it is recommended to obtain one at some point in time (does not have to be at the time of conversion though).
It is recommended to get one for a few reasons.
Hajj – Only Muslims are allowed to enter Mecca. They require visitors to the city to provide documentation that identifies their faith when entering.
Marriage – Muslim men are permitted to marry only Muslim, Christian, or Jewish women. Women are only permitted to marry another Muslim, so if you are a male, you will need to provide proof that you converted before you will be allowed to marry a Muslim woman. It is strictly forbidden for both men and women to marry Hindus, Buddhists, Atheists, Jains, Agnostics, Pagans, and others.
Death – If you die, you need to be buried according to the Islamic burial process, and have the funeral rights given to you, such as the proper preparation of your body for burial, the janazah prayer offered by the Muslim community over your body, then to be buried according to Islamic guidelines that are not fulfilled by non-Muslims. It is important for a few people in your family, local Muslim community, friends, and the local imam to have a copy of your certificate in case such a need arises. Non-Muslim family members may not know where to go or what to do, and may just bury you as a non-Muslim would be buried, or worse, cremated which is forbidden.
Procedure
THE CEREMONY
Shahada ceremonies are usually intimate affairs. Typically, they are held in a private setting with just a handful of people serving as witnesses, alongside the officiating Imam and a member of Masjid Al Jannah
Please print out two copies and notify MAJ of your request at [email protected] with your name you would like on the certificate and date of Shahadah.
One copy will be given back to you and the other be kept for our records .
Following additional documents must provided with printed two copies of marriage certificate:
- Shahadah Certificate Form (Download)
- Copy of Driver License or Passport
Schedule a time: Email the Masjid at [email protected] to schedule a time for the Imam and the officials to authenticate .
Please bring your state Ids.
Please deposit a fee of $25 into our account via Zelle with our Zelle ID [email protected]
One copy will be returned to you and the other will be kept for our records .
The document does not need to be in color.
HELPFUL RESOURCES
The amount of information available online regarding Islam can sometimes be overwhelming and confusing, with trustworthy and relevant resources hard to identify…
Whether you need to learn to pray, want to understand the Qur’an or would just like to learn more about Islamic spirituality and practice, we have collated a thematic list of helpful resources to help get you started.