Welcome
Anyone who is exploring Islam, feels drawn to it, or has already decided to embrace it, may come to our mosque. Nobody is hurried and no pressure is applied: every step is taken by your own free will. If you would first like a calm conversation with our imam, to ask your questions and understand the process, our door is always open.
The conversation can be held in French or in Turkish. Women may ask to speak with our female religious officer, who leads the Wednesday programme for women.
How Does One Become Muslim?
Becoming Muslim means believing in your heart that God is One and that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is His Messenger, and then declaring it aloud — the declaration of faith (shahada). There is no other condition: no special training, no examination and no waiting period.
أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
Ash-hadu an lâ ilâha illa-llâh, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasûluh.
Meaning: “I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.”
- Is there any pressure? No. The decision is entirely yours; at the ceremony the imam asks you this explicitly, in front of witnesses.
- Will my family or others be told? No. What you share stays confidential and is passed only to the smallest possible number of authorised people (the imam, the Counsellor’s office) — see our Privacy Policy.
- Do I have to come alone? The ceremony requires 2 witnesses; if you do not know anyone, we will help you find them within our congregation.
- Do I need to memorise anything? No. The declaration of faith is taught to you at the ceremony, syllable by syllable.
The Process, Step by Step
- Application. Fill in the online form below, or simply call our imam. It is free and commits you to nothing; you may withdraw at any time. If you select another Turkish Muslim mosque in the form, the ceremony is arranged in consultation with that mosque; the Ulu Mosque team follows the coordination of the application and the file.
- Meeting. Our imam contacts you, listens to your questions and explains the process, calmly, at the mosque.
- Setting the date. The day and time of the ceremony are agreed together, around your availability.
- The ceremony. At the mosque you have chosen, before two witnesses, you make the declaration of faith (details below).
- The file and signatures. Your file is prepared with the EK-9, EK-10, a copy of your identity document and your written request; the signatures concerning you are completed.
- Counsellor’s approval and delivery. The file is sent to the Counsellor for Social Affairs at the Turkish Embassy in Brussels. After the handwritten signature of the Counsellor for Social Affairs, Salih GÖR, the certificate usually returns by post to the mosque you have chosen and is handed to you in person; if you wish, direct delivery to your address can also be requested. This stage can take several weeks.
- Afterwards. Guidance, lessons and French-language resources continue — you are not left alone.
How Does the Ceremony Work?
The ceremony follows the Presidency of Religious Affairs’ official text, the “Procedure to be Followed at the Conversion Ceremony” (annex EK-11), in a warm and simple atmosphere. The room is prepared, and our imam leads the ceremony in his robe and turban:
- Recitation of the Qur’an — preferably verses 285-286 of Sûrat al-Baqara, followed by their translation and a brief explanation.
- The address — opening with verse 43 of Sûrat al-A‘râf: the oneness of God, the chain of prophets, the revealed books and the meaning of the declaration of faith.
- The question of free will — before God and before the witnesses, the imam asks you explicitly whether you are choosing Islam freely, under no compulsion. This step is never skipped.
- The declaration of faith (shahada) — repeated together, syllable by syllable.
- Takbir, blessings upon the Prophet, and congratulations.
- Entry in the conversion register and completion of the file.
- Closing — verses 18-20 of Sûrat Âl ‘Imrân, or Sûrat al-‘Asr and al-Fâtiha, are recited and translated; the ceremony ends with a supplication.
- A gift — where possible, a copy of the Qur’an translated into your language and an introductory book on Islam.
The sentence you will say is the declaration of faith given above, under How Does One Become Muslim?; you do not have to learn it by heart: the imam says the Arabic phrase by phrase and you repeat after him.
Immediately before this the imam asks you: “In the presence of Allah and before these witnesses: do you choose Islam of your own free will, freely, without any pressure or compulsion?” The answer must come from you.
For French-speaking candidates the ceremony can be held entirely in French; the declaration of faith is taught in its original Arabic. The ceremony can also be held quietly, with only the people you choose.
What Is the Conversion Certificate (EK-9)?
The conversion certificate (EK-9) is an official bilingual (Turkish/English) document issued by the Presidency of Religious Affairs of Türkiye (Diyanet İşleri Başkanlığı) that formally records your declaration and the details of the ceremony. It carries your signature, that of the two witnesses, and that of the representative of the Presidency (the Counsellor for Social Affairs at the Turkish Embassy in Brussels).
- It is free of charge.
- How is it delivered? Once the signatures are completed, the certificate is sent for the Counsellor’s approval. After the handwritten signature of the Counsellor for Social Affairs, Salih GÖR, it usually returns by post to the mosque you have chosen and is handed to you in person; you may also request direct delivery to your address.
- What does it contain? Name and surname, sex, date and place of birth, parents’ names, nationality, marital status, education, occupation, address and contact details, previous religion, reason for conversion, date of conversion, document number and date, passport photo, and the signatures of the two witnesses and the official.
- What is it used for? Its confirmed, documented use is the Hajj/Umrah visa application to the Saudi authorities, which require a “Certificate of Conversion”. It may also be presented for other official purposes; since each institution sets its own criteria, we recommend checking in advance if you have a particular use in mind.
The online form on this site is a preliminary application for the official EK-9. The ceremony may be held at the mosque you have chosen; the document is issued after the necessary signatures and the Counsellor’s approval are complete.
Documents Required
To upload while filling in the form (section 5):
- 1 passport-style photo — it is printed on the conversion certificate.
- The front and back of your identity card — for a passport, the data page is enough. You can photograph them with your phone; images are resized in your browser before they are sent.
- Your signature — you draw it on screen with your finger or mouse; this is the signature printed on the certificate sent to the Diyanet. If you cannot sign on screen, tick the box provided and sign with a pen on the day of the ceremony.
To bring on the day of the ceremony:
- Your identity card or passport — you show the original to the officer.
- 2 witnesses — our mosque provides them if needed.
- A written request — the file sent to the Counsellor includes a signed request for the conversion certificate. We prepare it for you: it is printed in two languages from the information in the form and the signature you drew there; you read it before signing, and you may also write it out by hand.
- The EK-10 explicit consent form — signed on paper on the day. The full text is available in Turkish, English, French and Dutch through the link in the sidebar.
About your personal data: Diyanet’s conversion directive (article 44) requires a passport photo and a copy of the identity document to be placed in the official file so that the certificate can be issued. We gather these documents in the form itself rather than waiting for the day of the ceremony, so that your file can be prepared in good time. All information and documents relating to your application are kept both by our mosque and by the Social Affairs Counsellor of the Embassy of Türkiye in Brussels; they are never published or passed to third parties and are accessible only to the smallest possible number of authorised people, strictly as the service requires. Your national registry number is never asked for at any stage. The processing of your images and signature is covered by a separate explicit consent in the form, which you may withdraw at any time.
Confidentiality and Discretion
Under European law, changing religion is special category (sensitive) personal data, and we treat it accordingly:
- We do not share your application, the date or your details with your family, your employer or your circle.
- We never use your story, your photograph or your name on our website, on social media or in our announcements without your explicit consent. Nobody is put on display.
- If you are worried about family pressure, say so at the meeting: the ceremony can be held discreetly, in a small circle, with our own witnesses.
- For access, correction, deletion or withdrawal of consent, write to info@ulucamii.be. Details: Privacy Policy.
After Conversion — You Are Not Left Alone
Conversion is a beginning, not an end. After the ceremony:
- A companion. If you wish, a French-speaking member of our congregation accompanies you through the first months: prayer, mosque etiquette, practical questions.
- The basics. Learning ablution and prayer, the Arabic alphabet and Qur’an reading, and essential knowledge — one to one or within our existing classes.
- Resources in your own language. The Diyanet library gives you free access to hundreds of works in more than forty languages, from a practical worship guide to collections of fatwas.
- Community life. Friday prayer, talks, iftars and festivals; on Wednesdays, the programme for women.
- Your name. Changing your first name is not required. If you wish, a name can be suggested and we will tell you which authority handles an official change.
Our aim is not to bring you into a culture but to accompany you in Islam: becoming Muslim does not mean giving up your language, your country or your culture.
Common Difficulties and the Support We Offer
The subjects new Muslims raise with us most often, and how we respond:
- Family reactions. The first period can be hard. Cutting ties with one’s family is not an Islamic teaching: kindness to parents is an explicit command of the Qur’an. We talk it through with you and, if you wish, answer your relatives’ questions too.
- Communicating in French. Every Friday, a French sermon follows the Turkish sermon. You may speak directly with our imam in French; our weekend Qur’an school also provides bilingual Turkish-French teaching. The meeting and ceremony can be held in French, and you may always ask for an explanation.
- Not feeling “inside”. We help you tell religion apart from cultural habit. Nobody can expect you to learn Turkish or adopt a culture.
- Dress and practice. Practice is gradual; nobody forces you and nobody measures your progress.
- Death and wills. For a convert who wishes to be buried according to Islamic rites, a written will matters greatly: without one, the family may choose otherwise (cremation, for example). Our imam can inform you and explain options such as the Funeral and Repatriation Fund.
- Inheritance, marriage, difficulties at work. We offer religious guidance and, for legal matters, refer you to the competent services; we do not give legal advice.
Things to Read (the Diyanet Library)
Every digital publication of the Presidency of Religious Affairs is free. We have gathered more than five hundred books in over forty languages on a single page: introductory booklets on Islam, an illustrated worship guide, forty-hadith collections, Qur’an translations, books on family life, children’s books, high-school textbooks and fatwas. The French publications are sorted by theme (getting started, learning to worship, hadith, family, children, going deeper); there are also Dutch, English, German, Arabic, Spanish, Italian and Turkish sections.
The files stay on Diyanet’s own server; we keep no copy of them. Each publication carries two links: Read (PDF) opens it in your browser’s viewer — its download button, or Ctrl+S, saves it to your device; Download (EPUB), where that format exists, downloads it directly and reads more comfortably on a phone or e-reader. At the bottom of this page you will find a starter selection, a button to all the publications in English and another to the full Diyanet Library.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to change my name? No. Changing your first name is entirely optional; a suggestion can be offered, and we will point you to the official procedure if you want it.
Will my family or my circle find out? No. Your information stays confidential and is shared only with the smallest number of authorised people. Your story is never published without your consent.
Is the certificate paid for? No, the whole process is free of charge.
What exactly is the certificate for? Its confirmed use is the Hajj/Umrah visa application. For any other official purpose, we recommend checking with the institution concerned beforehand.
Do I have to come alone? The ceremony requires 2 witnesses; if you do not know anyone, we will help you find them within our congregation.
How long does it take? After the ceremony and your signatures, the file is sent for the Counsellor’s approval. The return of the certificate carrying the handwritten signature may take several weeks.
Can the ceremony be held in French? Yes. Both the meeting and the ceremony can be held in French or Turkish.
I am a woman; may I speak with a woman? Yes. You may ask to meet our female religious officer, who leads the Wednesday programme for women.
What do I need to learn after converting? Ablution and prayer first. The French Guide pratique des adorations below teaches both step by step with illustrations; we also help you one to one at the mosque.
What if I change my mind? Filling in the form commits you to nothing. You may say “no” up to the day of the ceremony, and again when the question of free will is put to you: that is entirely normal and nobody will question you about it.
Appointments / Contact
For any question, contact our imam directly, or send your application through the online form.
Last updated: 9 September 2026
