common
questions

Register using our shahadah registration form and we’ll email you to book a time. You can take your shahadah with us online or in person at our office in Oldham.

You’ll usually be met by two members of our team, who will explain the basic beliefs of Islam and take you through the testimony of faith in English. There’s no special dress code, and it’s completely natural to feel nervous.

We’ll post your gift pack and Certificate of Conversion to you within 21 working days. Over the following weeks we’ll send you a few welcome emails with useful resources.

About a month after your shahadah, a member of our team will get in touch to see how you’re getting on. Women are contacted by a woman and men by a man. You’ll also be invited to Firm Foundations, our course for new Muslims, and to our WhatsApp group for people who took their shahadah with us.

Yes, if you take your shahadah with us. Your Certificate of Conversion comes free with your gift pack. We need proof of your identity and address, and your signature. Our certificates can’t be posted abroad or issued digitally.

If you took your shahadah elsewhere, we can issue a Certificate of Faith with the current date. Our shahadah page has more details.

No. Your shahadah is between you and God, and you can choose when and how to tell your family. Many converts take their time, especially if they’re unsure how their family will react. It’s still a good idea to let a few Muslims you trust know.

If you’d like to talk it through with someone who understands, Peer Connect is free and confidential.

Start with Firm Foundations, our course for new Muslims, which covers how to pray. You’ll find more free classes, videos and resources on our developing your knowledge page, and you can always message us with questions.

No. Absolutely not.  However, the Prophet ﷺ changed some names of his companions that contained extremely negative meanings after they converted to Islam. Islam does not require a person to abandon their roots and culture as long as they do not contradict the principles of the religion. Thus, a person is free to choose what style of dress to wear, for example, and types of food to eat as long as they do not violate something that is prohibited such as exposing nakedness or the consumption of pork. See our article here for a more detailed discussion.

No. None of the companions of the Prophet ﷺ or Islamic scholars who came after them ever said this. This is due to a misunderstanding of the hadith, “There is no new-born except that they are born on the primordial state (Al-Fitrah), and its parents make it a Jew or a Christian or a Zoroastrian.”[1] This does not mean that the child is born as a Muslim, rather, that it is born with a “clean slate”. Also, the term “Muslim” has a very specific definition meaning the one who has believed in and affirmed everything the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ came with. Since this is not possible for a minor to do, it is incorrect to label them as Muslims unless their parents are Muslims. The Prophet ﷺ was also asked about whether the children of disbelievers will be saved if they die young and he replied, “Allah, when he created them, knows best what they would have done.”[2]

[1] Al-Bukhari (1358), Muslim (2658).

[2] Al-Bukhari (1383), Muslim (2660).

In an ideal world, we would prefer not to use any of these labels, but we feel that the term “Convert to Islam” best describes the person who has taken on Islam as their religion, however, you may see these words used by us and others due to their widespread use in the Muslim community. The label “New Muslim” could not be applied to someone who has been Muslim for 5 years, or even 3 or 4. Likewise, if someone converts to Christianity, for example, we would not say, “New Christian”. As for the term “Revert” we feel that it is a loaded term as well as being theologically inaccurate. This is because revert, in this context, means to go back to one’s previous religion so could only be applied to the one who was already Muslim, left Islam, and then came back to Islam. There is no precedence of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, his companions, nor any Islamic scholar who came after them using any term similar to it in Arabic. For more detail, read our article here.

Yes. As part of our safeguarding, at least two members of our team will be present, and we keep a written record of the shahadah.

Our office is in Greater Manchester. Most of our support, including Peer Connect and many of our classes, happens online, so we can help people anywhere in the UK. We also hold events and socials in different cities.

Yes. Our socials and events are open to converts and their families, and our funeral advice includes guidance for relatives. If you’re not sure whether something is right for you, just ask.

Our classes are free, online and available as recordings, and Peer Connect is free. Some courses, events and trips have a cost, such as our pre-marriage course, and this is shown when you register.

We take your privacy seriously. Our privacy policy explains what information we collect, why we need it and how we keep it safe.

We are adherents to mainstream orthodox Islam (Sunni Islam). Our team and volunteers may have their own beliefs and practices within Sunni Islam but our policy is one of complete non-partisanship. We recognise that converts come from various groups, schools of thought, and ideologies. We also believe that new converts should be given the space to explore various views and make their own decisions, which is inevitable anyway. Our role is merely to provide a nurturing environment without promoting any agendas and to adhere to discussion of the areas that all Muslims agree upon and unite us as a community. Any people from the Muslim community that may work with us or for us do not necessarily reflect our views as an organisation. Furthermore, New Beginnings does not endorse any of the personal views or behaviour of guests, volunteers, employees, or authors of articles on any platform whatsoever.

Our ultimate aim is to fully integrate the newly converted Muslim into the wider Muslim community. There are several problems already existing in the wider Muslim community which could be harmful to someone who is new to Islam. We feel that they initially need their own non-judgemental space free of any type of pressure to explore Islam and become comfortable with the religion before this happens.

Yes, and regular gifts, however small, help us plan ahead. You can give monthly through our donate page, or become a patron of New Beginnings.

No. Although specific converts to Islam (even if they are wealthy) are one of the categories eligible for zakah mentioned in the Quran (9:60), we feel that this is not needed and would not apply to us as an organisation. The scholars who said that this category is still applicable also said that only the Islamic head of state has the authority to decide which converts receive it specifically, this is coupled with the fact that zakah must be paid directly to individuals. Click here for a more detailed explanation.

Yes. Our shahadah gift boxes help mosques and organisations welcome new Muslims, and our training workshop is for people who support converts. Both pages explain how to order or book.

Yes. New Beginnings is funded by donations and by sponsorship from businesses and charities. If your business would like to support our work, become a patron or get in touch and we’ll talk through the options.