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Fatwa CenterTaking Shahaadah does not have to be in public
Question
Assalaamu alaykum. I am a female muslim revert, praise be to Allaah. I am the only Muslim in my family, and because of this I usually get into some problems with my grandmother, who became my guardian after my mother passed away in 1999. So, recently, when I went to visit her, she started quarelling with me about why I am still Muslim and in a bid to cut short her words, I lied and told her, "I already went back to Church," meaning that I am no longer a muslim and now usually attend religious services in Church. I still pray five times daily and also do other forms of worship regulary, even after this incident, and I have never had any doubt in my heart concerning my faith in Islam, and Allaah knows best. So my question is: by saying that statement, did i fall into kufr (disbelief)? Should i renew my shahadah (testimony of faith)? Please give me a clear guideline on what to do if I need to retake the shahadah. Can do so alone, or do I have to go in public and announce it? My second question is: what is the correct procedure of actions to take when a person reverts to Islam? Is it a must to bathe the whole body, and should that be done before or after saying the shahadah? Is it a must to announce it in public? Thank you for your advice. May Allaah reward you.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
First of all, we congratulate you for the blessing that Allaah has bestowed on you by embracing Islam. We ask Allaah to help us and you in being mindful of Him, being grateful to Him, and worshiping Him in the best manner and make Paradise our abode and yours. We advise you to seek beneficial knowledge, strive to perform good deeds and befriend righteous and pious women.
What you said to your grandmother, "I already went back to Church", is not ruled kufr just by uttering it. The scholars stated that the person whose Islam is proven with certainty, Islam is not removed from him except with similar certainty.
Al-Mullah ‘Ali Qaari said in Sharh ash-Shifa, “Our scholars stated, 'If there are ninety nine aspects that indicate that a Muslim has become a non-Muslim and one aspect indicating that he is still a Muslim, then the Mufti and the judge should act upon this one aspect; this is concluded from the saying of the Prophet 'Avoid applying the hadd (corporal punishment) on the Muslims as much as possible.''”
If a person takes the Shahaadah (testimony of fatith), then he becomes a Muslim, and this does not have to be done in public; please refer to fatwa 51648.
As regards ghusl (ritual bath), it is only recommended to perform it upon embracing Islam, and it is not an obligation, according to the view of the majority of the scholars, as was previously highlighted in fatwa 11140. Ghusl is done after embracing Islam, i.e. after taking the Shahaadah, because it is an act of worship that requires intention, and the non-Muslim is not eligible for it (intention).
Allaah knows best.
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