Answer
New Muslims: Does Making Shahadah Need Witnesses?
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
In this fatwa:
Making Shahadah in presence of witnesses is not an essential condition, though it is preferable to put the official arrangements in order. Islam lays more emphasis on conviction on the part of the person who embraces Islam. This is what really matters, as there should be no compulsion in religion.
In responding to your question, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and an Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states:
Strictly speaking, it is not at all considered an essential requirement for witnesses to be present when a person is embracing Islam.
Thus, if a person declares Shahadah (testimony of faith) between himself and Allah, he is considered a Muslim in the sight of Allah.
But in order for him to be recognized as a member of the Muslim community, he must declare the same in presence of two witnesses or before an Imam of a mosque who has been duly authorized to issue a certificate indicating the same.
Therefore, it is highly recommended for anyone embracing Islam to do so in the presence of persons authorized to issue certificates as he/she may be called upon to produce them while planning to go for Hajj or in case of any question concerning his Islamic identity.
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught us that while doing things, we should try to do them as professionally and efficiently as possible.
Allah Almighty knows best.
Editor’s note: This fatwa is from Ask the Scholar’s archive and was originally published at an earlier date.