Guides / Daily life / Faith & pilgrimage

Converting to Islam in Qatar: the declaration, the certificate and what changes

A factual guide for residents who have decided to become Muslim: where the declaration is made, the certificate of Islam and how to attest it, updating your name and records, what changes in family law, and the classes and support on offer.

Last reviewed: 13 October 2026

Where
Sheikh Abdulla Bin Zaid Al Mahmoud Islamic Cultural Center (Fanar), central Doha, with branches in the Industrial Area and Al Khor
Run by
Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs
You get
An Arabic certificate of Islam, used for a Muslim marriage, Hajj or Umrah and records at home
Support
Classes for new Muslims in English, Hindi and Filipino, at several levels

Some residents of Qatar decide to become Muslim, often after years of living alongside Muslim colleagues, or before marrying a Muslim partner. This guide explains the practical side only: where the declaration of faith (shahada) is made, the certificate you receive, how to get it attested for use abroad, and what to update afterwards. It also sets out, plainly, what changes in Qatari family law for marriage, children and inheritance, so you can decide with full information. Conversion is a personal choice: no employer, sponsor or partner can require it, and nothing in this guide is meant to encourage or discourage it. The usual order is: learn and decide, declare at the Islamic cultural centre, collect the certificate, then deal with documents, family matters and classes at your own pace.

Before you start

  • Be sure the decision is your own; take time to read, ask questions and attend an introductory class first if you wish
  • Your passport and Qatar ID (QID), plus a photocopy of each
  • Your name written exactly as in your passport, because the certificate should match it
  • If you plan to use a new Muslim name, a clear idea of whether you will only use it socially or change it legally later
  • If you are married or have children, an understanding of how the change affects your marriage, custody and inheritance (step 9), ideally after talking to a lawyer
  • If you need the certificate abroad, your home embassy's list of what it accepts (attested, translated or both)
  • If it is for a wedding, the Family Court's document list from the getting-married guide

Step by step

  1. Take your time and learn first

    There is no deadline and no test you have to pass. Fanar runs introductory talks and classes about Islam for non-Muslims, and you can ask questions without committing to anything. Talk it through with people you trust, including your family if you can, because the change can affect family relationships and legal matters. If anyone, such as a manager, sponsor or partner's relative, pressures you, remember the decision is yours alone.

  2. Go to Fanar or one of its branches

    The main place for new Muslims is the Sheikh Abdulla Bin Zaid Al Mahmoud Islamic Cultural Center, known as Fanar, the building with the spiral minaret next to Souq Waqif and the Corniche. It belongs to the Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs, and its 'Introduction to Islam' department looks after new Muslims. It also has branches in the Industrial Area and Al Khor, which are often easier for workers living there. Call or visit during working hours and say you would like to declare Islam; staff will tell you when to come and what to bring.

  3. Bring your ID documents

    Bring your original passport and QID and a copy of each. The certificate is issued in the name on your passport, so check how your name is spelled there. If the centre asks for photos or any other paper, they will tell you on the day. Women and men are both welcome, and you can ask for the explanation in English or, where available, your own language.

    Read guide: Get your Qatar ID (residence permit) →

  4. Make the declaration of faith

    The declaration (shahada) is short: you say, in Arabic and usually also in your own language, that there is no god but God and that Muhammad is His messenger. A member of staff explains its meaning first and says it with you, and others present act as witnesses. It takes a few minutes and is free of ceremony unless you want one. You do not need to know Arabic or have learned prayers beforehand.

  5. Collect your certificate of Islam

    After the declaration the centre records it and gives you a certificate of Islam (often called a shahada certificate). It is in Arabic and shows your name, nationality and passport details. Before you leave, check that every detail matches your passport exactly, because a spelling mismatch can cause problems at the Family Court or an embassy. Ask whether an English version is available, and keep the original safe with your other important papers.

  6. Get it translated and attested if needed abroad

    Inside Qatar, for example at the Family Court, the original Arabic certificate is normally used as it is. If a home-country office or embassy needs it, you will usually need a legal translation and authentication by Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), and sometimes your embassy's stamp after that. The translation and MOFA steps are explained in the notarise-and-translate guide; ask your embassy first exactly which stamps it wants so you do not pay twice.

    Read guide: Notarising and translating documents in Qatar: MOJ authentication and certified translators →

  7. Decide about a Muslim name

    Taking a Muslim name is optional, and many converts keep their birth name. Using a new name socially needs no paperwork. A legal name change happens in your home country's system, usually by changing your passport (for some countries this needs a court order, affidavit or gazette notice). Once you have a new passport, update it in your Qatar residency so your QID shows the new name and number.

    Read guide: Got a new passport? Updating it in your Qatar residence record →

  8. Tell your embassy and update home records

    Some countries ask citizens to register a conversion. The Philippines, for example, asks Filipino converts abroad to register it with the nearest embassy or consulate, and a registered conversion is used for later name changes and family matters under the Muslim personal law there. Other countries have no such process and simply record a new name when you change your passport. Ask your embassy's consular section, bring the attested certificate and passport, and keep copies of whatever they issue.

  9. Understand what changes in family law

    Once you are Muslim, Qatari courts apply the Family Law (Law No. 22 of 2006) to your family matters. A Muslim woman cannot be married to a non-Muslim man under it, so a married woman whose husband does not convert should get legal advice before or straight after declaring. Courts treat children of a Muslim father as Muslim, and custody rules differ by the mother's religion. Under Islamic inheritance rules, Muslims and non-Muslims do not inherit fixed shares from each other, but a will can still leave up to one third to anyone, including non-Muslim family.

    Read guide: Wills and inheritance in Qatar for expats →

  10. Marrying a Muslim partner

    If you are a man converting in order to marry a Muslim woman, the Family Court will ask for your certificate of Islam along with the usual documents and premarital medical test. A Christian or Jewish woman marrying a Muslim man does not have to convert. The full list of documents and the court process are in the getting-married guide, so this guide does not repeat them.

    Read guide: Getting married in Qatar as an expat →

  11. Join classes and community support

    Fanar's Introduction to Islam department runs a foundation level and three further levels on prayer, fasting and other basics, in English, Hindi and Filipino, at its main building and its Industrial Area and Al Khor branches. Before Ramadan it runs a special course on fasting, and it has held daily iftars in the Industrial Area and sports and social days for new Muslims. Fanar also teaches Arabic. These are optional, and you can attend at your own pace.

    Read guide: Learning Arabic in Doha: courses, costs and where to start →

  12. Plan Ramadan, Umrah and Hajj when ready

    Your first Ramadan can be demanding, especially with work; the Ramadan guide covers working hours and daily life. For Umrah or Hajj, keep your certificate of Islam ready, because Saudi authorities or travel operators may ask new Muslims for proof. Fanar has also organised group Umrah trips for new Muslims living in Qatar. Hajj registration and Umrah visas are covered in their own guides.

    Read guide: Umrah from Qatar: visas, Nusuk permits and travelling by road or air →

Common mistakes

  • Accepting a certificate with your name or passport number spelled differently from your passport
  • Assuming a Muslim name on the certificate changes your legal name; it does not until your passport changes
  • Converting shortly before a wedding without checking the Family Court's document list and timing
  • Not getting legal advice when already married to a non-Muslim, especially as a woman
  • Paying an agent for a 'conversion package'; the declaration is done directly at the centre
  • Paying for MOFA attestation before checking exactly what your embassy accepts
  • Forgetting to make a will if you want non-Muslim relatives to receive something from your estate

Questions people ask

Do I have to convert to marry a Muslim in Qatar?

A non-Muslim man must convert to Islam to marry a Muslim woman under Qatari law. A Christian or Jewish woman can marry a Muslim man without converting. Conversion for marriage is still your own decision, and the court asks for the certificate as proof.

Do I have to change my name?

No. Taking a Muslim name is a custom, not a requirement, and many converts keep their birth name. If you want a legal change, it goes through your home country and your passport, and then your QID is updated from the new passport.

Will my QID, visa or job change?

Your residence permit and job do not depend on your religion, and declaring Islam does not change your sponsor or work contract. Your QID shows the name in your passport, so it only changes if your passport does.

How long does it take, and is there a fee?

The declaration itself takes a few minutes. We could not find a published fee for the declaration or certificate; ask the centre when you visit. Translation and MOFA attestation, if you need them abroad, carry their own fees.

Can I still inherit from my non-Muslim parents, or leave them money?

Under the Islamic rules Qatari courts apply, Muslims and non-Muslims do not inherit fixed shares from each other, and inheritance from your parents depends on the law of their country. You can leave up to one third of your estate by will to non-Muslim relatives, and Qatari law accepts wills regardless of religion. A lawyer can help you plan this.

What happens to my children's religion and custody?

Qatari courts treat children of a Muslim father as Muslim. In custody cases, a Muslim mother normally keeps custody of sons until 13 and daughters until 15, while a non-Muslim mother's custody normally ends at 7. If you have children with a non-Muslim partner, get legal advice.

Are there classes in my language?

Fanar runs classes for new Muslims in English, Hindi and Filipino, from a foundation level up to level 3, in Doha, the Industrial Area and Al Khor. Ask the centre whether help is available in other languages.

Can I change my mind later?

You should know before deciding that Qatari law treats leaving Islam as apostasy, which is illegal. The US State Department notes no recorded punishments for it since 1971, but the legal position is a reason to decide carefully and without pressure.

Official sources

Always check the official source before acting. QatarSteps is independent and not a government website.

Related guides

FamilyGetting married in Qatar as an expatDocumentsNotarising and translating documents in Qatar: MOJ authentication and certified translatorsResidencyGot a new passport? Updating it in your Qatar residence recordFamilyWills and inheritance in Qatar for expatsDaily lifeLearning Arabic in Doha: courses, costs and where to startDaily lifeRamadan in Qatar: what changes for residentsDaily lifeUmrah from Qatar: visas, Nusuk permits and travelling by road or airDaily lifeHajj from Qatar: registration, eligibility and licensed campaignsFamilyDivorce in Qatar for expats: courts, custody and residence