A Catholic man wants to marry a Muslim woman and is thinking about Islam

Who has instilled in you the desire to enter Islam. We thank you for your question about how to enter the religion of Allaah, for no one will be saved on the Day of Resurrection but those who follow it. Allaah says in the Holy Qur’aan:

“And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers”

[Aal ‘Imraan 3:85]

Entering Islam is very easy and is not a complicated matter. All you have to do is to utter the Shahaadatayn (the twin testimony of faith), which is the key to Islam and the sum and basis of the faith. You have to say “Ash-hadu an laa ilaaha ill-Allaah wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan Rasool-Allaah (I bear witness that there is no god except Allaah and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah)”; then take a bath (ghusl) with the intention of purifying yourself in order to pray and practise the rituals of the Islamic religion, the greatest of which is prayer, which connects the person to his Lord. For more details on how to do that, see Question no. 13340 and 11497. You also have to believe with certainty that ‘Eesa ibn Maryam (Jesus the son of Mary – peace be upon him) is the slave of Allaah and His Messenger, not a god or the son of God; rather he is a human being whom Allaah sent with the Message of Divine Oneness (Tawheed) and that only Allaah is to be worshipped, with no partner or associate. Allaah says (interpretation of the meanings): 

“No son (or offspring) did Allaah beget, nor is there any ilaah (god) along with Him”

[al-Mu’mineen 23:91] 

“The Messiah [‘Eesa (Jesus)], son of Maryam (Mary), was no more than a Messenger; many were the Messengers that passed away before him. His mother [Maryam (Mary)] was a Siddeeqah [i.e. she believed in the Words of Allaah and His Books (see Verse 66:12)]. They both used to eat food (as any other human being, while Allaah does not eat)”

[al-Maa’idah 5:75]

 This shows you that Islam respects ‘Eesa (Jesus – peace be upon him) and his mother, without exaggerating about them or falling into shirk (polytheism, the association of others in worship with Allaah).

 We would also like to point out that although the motive for your becoming Muslim at this stage may be your desire to marry a Muslim woman, if you become Muslim and learn more about this religion and really put it into practice in your life, then your faith will become stronger, your intention will become purely for the sake of Allaah and you will have the conviction that this religion is indeed true and the soul cannot be purified except through this religion.

 We are optimistic that you will have a happy future, because of the good start you mention in your question, which makes us optimistic, especially when we ponder the words of the Qur’aan (interpretation of the meaning):

 “And whomsoever Allaah wills to guide, He opens his heart to Islam”

[al-An’aam 6:125]

 We ask Allaah to open your heart to the religion and help you to enter it. No doubt this will be good news for the Muslim woman whom you will marry, for she will know that she cannot marry you unless you become Muslim, as is the law of the Lord of the Worlds. We welcome you to join us on this site as a questioner or reader, or to cooperate with us in doing good. May Allaah send blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his family and companions.