Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalamu alaykum..

My uncle told me that if you are not born muslim, and you convert, you still will never really be considered a muslim, because it is by blood.

I converted a month ago to islam and I recall no one saying to me that i had to be born a muslim to be one. All I read and heard is that as long as one believes in Allah, the last day and the prophet (pbuh)..basically says the shahada and truly believes in his/her heart, they are muslim. Is this true, or is what my uncle said true?

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Answer:

One has to be born muslim

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Statement: My uncle told me that if you are not born muslim, and you convert, you still will never really be considered a muslim, because it is by blood.

Allah the Lord of the Worlds is our witness sister, nothing, and we reiterate nothing could be further from the truth than what your uncle has said!!!!

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 6.298 Narrated by Abu Huraira

Allah's Messenger (saws) said, "No child is born except on ‘Al-Fitra’ (Islam) and then his parents make him Jewish, Christian or Magian." Then he (saws) recited:

"The religion of pure Islamic Faith (Hanifa),(i.e. to worship none but Allah), the pure Allah's nature with which He (Allah) has created mankind. Let There be no change in Allah's religion (i.e. to join none with Allah in worship). That is the Straight Way; but most of men know not..." (Al-Quran 30.30)

Dear and beloved Sister, every single human being is born on ‘Al-Fitrah’ or the natural way of submission to one’s Creator; and it is only one’s surroundings and upbringing which might take one away from one’s natural way and make one a Jew or a Christian or a pagan.

Any individual born of any race, blood, color, language, or nationality, etc.…..any individual who professes belief that there is no god worthy of worship except the Lord God Creator Alone, and that Mohamed (saws) is Allah’s Last and Final Messenger will enter the legal fold of the Brotherhood of Al-Islam; and from that very instant of their uttering this testification of faith, every single right that is due to any muslim will be accorded to them in full, without any diminish whatsoever.

Allah is our witness sister, your uncle has been completely misinformed and absolutely inaccurate regarding his deduction that a revert will never be regarded as a muslim!

Your Statement: I converted a month ago to islam and I recall no one saying to me that i had to be born a muslim to be one.

Dear and beloved sister in Islam, none who has even a basic knowledge of the Laws revealed in Truth by the Lord Most Gracious in His Glorious Quran will dare say that one has to be born to believing parents to be regarded as a muslim!!!

Any who professes belief in the Absolute and Supreme Oneness of their Lord God and Creator, and professes belief in the appointment of Prophet Mohamed (saws) as the Lord’s Last and Final Messenger will be regarded as a muslim in the Sight of Shariah Law and of the believers; and every single right that is due to a believer will be accorded to them in full, without even an iota of diminish or discrimination whatsoever.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan