Is My Shahada Valid If I Still Have Doubts About Islam as a Convert?
Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Question
I re-converted to Islam because I felt a strong internal pull toward the religion, almost as if I was being guided by a force outside of my control. However, deep down I still have several doubts and concerns about Islam. Was my Shahada valid? I said it anyway, with the hope that this will go away with time.
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Merciful and Compassionate.
Wa alaykum al-salam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.
Your shahada is valid. You believe in Allah and His Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) and said so, and that makes a person Muslim.
Questions you have not yet answered do not take you out of Islam: Imam Tahawi (Allah have mercy on him) gives the principle of mainstream Sunni Islam: “The servant does not leave faith except by denying what brought him into it.” [Tahawi, al-Aqida al-Tahawiyya]
The Pull You Felt Was a Call, and You Answered It
What drew you back has a name in the Quran. Allah Most High says: “O you who believe: wholeheartedly answer Allah and the Messenger when he summons you to what brings you to life: And know at your peril that Allah may come between even a very able man and what he has set his heart to one day do. And to Him shall you inevitably be massed.” [Quran 8:24; Keller, The Quran Beheld]
Allah Most High also describes the believers by their response: “And who eagerly respond to their Lord and keep well the prayer; And their invariable way is to take Counsel between themselves; And of what We have provided them expend.” [Quran 42:38; Keller, The Quran Beheld]
You responded before every question was settled. That wasn’t a mistake. Responding is something you keep doing: in each prayer, in every act of devotion and obedience.
Commit to the Truth, Then Have the Courage to Ask
Your doubts are questions waiting for answers, not anything that puts your faith in question.
Make one commitment to yourself: that you will accept the truth wherever it is, even when it asks something of you. That is where a sincere seeker stands, and such a seeker is not left without guidance by Allah.
Then ask those who know. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: “Why did they not ask, when they did not know? The cure for not knowing is to ask.” [Abu Dawud]
So write your questions or doubts, one by one, and bring them to us. We are at your service. Write again, and we will go through them with you.
And Allah knows best.
Faraz Rabbani
Related Answers
One. Should I Clear All My Doubts Before Converting to Islam? Should I Change My Name and Cut My Hair? — Shaykh Faraz Rabbani: Anyone who believes in God and accepts the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) is already Muslim, and the testimony lets others know it.
Two. Uncertain about Becoming Muslim — Ustadh Farid Dingle: Knowing Islam is true can come before accepting it emotionally, and wavering along the way is normal.
«النصوص» · Source-Texts
[الطحاوي، العقيدة الطحاوية]
«وَلَا يَخْرُجُ الْعَبْدُ مِنَ الْإِيمَانِ إِلَّا بِجُحُودِ ما أدخله فيه»
[سنن أبي داود]
«أَلَا سَأَلُوا إِذْ لَمْ يَعْلَمُوا فَإِنَّمَا شِفَاءُ الْعِيِّ السُّؤَالُ»
Shaykh Faraz Rabbani is a recognized specialist scholar in the Islamic sciences, having studied under leading scholars from around the world. He is the Founder and Executive Director of SeekersGuidance.Shaykh Faraz stands as a distinguished figure in Islamic scholarship. His journey in seeking knowledge is marked by dedication and depth. He spent ten years studying under some of the most revered scholars of our times. His initial studies took place in Damascus. He then continued in Amman, Jordan. In Damascus, he was privileged to learn from the late Shaykh Adib al-Kallas. Shaykh Adib al-Kallas was renowned as the foremost theologian of his time. Shaykh Faraz also studied under Shaykh Hassan al-Hindi in Damascus. Shaykh Hassan is recognized as one of the leading Hanafi jurists of our era. Upon completing his studies, Shaykh Faraz returned to Canada in 2007. His return marked a new chapter in his service to the community. He founded SeekersGuidance. The organization reflects his commitment to spreading Islamic knowledge. It aims to be reliable, relevant, inspiring, and accessible. This mission addresses both online and on-the-ground needs. Shaykh Faraz is also an accomplished author. His notable work includes “Absolute Essentials of Islam: Faith, Prayer, and the Path of Salvation According to the Hanafi School.” This book, published by White Thread Press in 2004, is a significant contribution to Islamic literature. His influence extends beyond his immediate community. Since 2011, Shaykh Faraz has been recognized as one of the 500 most influential Muslims. This recognition comes from the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center. It underscores his impact on the global Islamic discourse. Shaykh Faraz Rabbani’s life and work embody a profound commitment to Islamic scholarship. His teachings continue to enlighten and guide seekers of knowledge worldwide.
