Do I have to take my shahada (declaration of faith) publicly?

No. The shahada — “I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His Messenger” — is valid whether done privately or publicly. What matters most is sincerity.

However, a public shahada is recommended so the Muslim community knows you have accepted Islam. This allows them to support you and fulfill communal duties (like ensuring a proper Muslim burial if something happens).

Reference: Islam emphasizes intention. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:

“Actions are but by intention, and every man will have only what he intended.” (Bukhari, Muslim)

What should I do first after becoming Muslim?

The most important first steps are:

Believe in Allah alone without partners, and in Prophet Muhammad ﷺ as His Messenger.
Learn how to pray (salah) since prayer is the foundation of Islam and connects you to Allah daily.
Learn how to perform wudu (ablution), as it’s required for prayer.
Develop good character: kindness, honesty, patience, and avoiding harm to others.

Allah says:

“Allah does not burden a soul beyond what it can bear.” (Qur’an 2:286)

This means you don’t have to do everything perfectly right away. Islam is a journey, and your effort is seen by Allah.

Do I have to change my name?

No. Islam does not require a new Muslim to change their name unless:

It has a meaning that contradicts Islam (e.g., “Slave of Jesus” would be changed to “Slave of Allah” — Abdullah).
It has a sinful or offensive meaning.

Otherwise, keeping your birth name is fine. The Prophet ﷺ only changed names that carried bad or un-Islamic meanings.

Reference:

“On the Day of Judgement you will be called by your names and the names of your fathers, so have good names.” (Abu Dawud 4948)

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