I’m sure people have asked themselves at some point what it really means being a muslim. As a muslim convert, I know I certainly have. I have decided to share my personal thoughts on the matter.
To the world, muslims are followers of the religion of Islam…
سورة التوبة ٣٣
هُوَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلَ رَسُولَهُ بِالْهُدَىٰ وَدِينِ الْحَقِّ لِيُظْهِرَهُ عَلَى الدِّينِ كُلِّهِ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ
Surah At-Tawba 9:33
It is He Who hath sent His Messenger with guidance and the Religion of Truth, to proclaim it over all religion, even though the Pagans may detest (it).
Yet there were also muslims in this world even before Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم)…
سورة البقرة ١٣٢
وَوَصَّىٰ بِهَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بَنِيهِ وَيَعْقُوبُ يَا بَنِيَّ إِنَّ اللَّهَ اصْطَفَىٰ لَكُمُ الدِّينَ فَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ
سورة الشورى ١٣
شَرَعَ لَكُم مِّنَ الدِّينِ مَا وَصَّىٰ بِهِ نُوحًا وَالَّذِي أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ وَمَا وَصَّيْنَا بِهِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَمُوسَىٰ وَعِيسَىٰ ۖ أَنْ أَقِيمُوا الدِّينَ وَلَا تَتَفَرَّقُوا فِيهِ ۚ كَبُرَ عَلَى الْمُشْرِكِينَ مَا تَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَيْهِ ۚ اللَّهُ يَجْتَبِي إِلَيْهِ مَن يَشَاءُ وَيَهْدِي إِلَيْهِ مَن يُنِيبُ
Surah Al-Baqara 2:132
And this was the legacy that Abraham left to his sons, and so did Jacob; “Oh my sons! Allah hath chosen the Faith for you; then die not except in the Faith of Islam.”
Surah Ash-Shura 42:13
The same religion has He established for you as that which He enjoined on Noah – the which We have sent by inspiration to thee – and that which We enjoined on Abraham, Moses, and Jesus: Namely, that ye should remain steadfast in religion, and make no divisions therein: to those who worship other things than Allah, hard is the (way) to which thou callest them. Allah chooses to Himself those whom He pleases, and guides to Himself those who turn (to Him).
This may confuse some people… but let’s consider it. What do all muslims have in common? The belief in one God. So the Quran is talking about “muslims” as believers in one God on the one hand, but also about followers of the Prophet and the religion of Islam on the other.
But there is another thing to consider in this. The difference between “title” and “character”. In modern society, the word “muslim” seem to have become more a title than a definition.
سورة العنكبوت ٢
أَحَسِبَ النَّاسُ أَن يُتْرَكُوا أَن يَقُولُوا آمَنَّا وَهُمْ لَا يُفْتَنُونَ
سورة التوبة ٣٨
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَا لَكُمْ إِذَا قِيلَ لَكُمُ انفِرُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ اثَّاقَلْتُمْ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ ۚ أَرَضِيتُم بِالْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا مِنَ الْآخِرَةِ ۚ فَمَا مَتَاعُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا فِي الْآخِرَةِ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌ
Surah Al-Ankaboot 29:2
Do men think that they will be left alone on saying, “We believe”, and that they will not be tested?
Surah At-Tawba 9:38
O ye who believe! what is the matter with you, that, when ye are asked to go forth in the cause of Allah, ye cling heavily to the earth? Do ye prefer the life of this world to the Hereafter? But little is the comfort of this life, as compared with the Hereafter.
Of course, no human being is perfect… and in that sense, we are all striving to face and overcome life’s challenges. The question revolves around where we put our faith.
سورة آل عمران ١٤٢
أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَن تَدْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ وَلَمَّا يَعْلَمِ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ جَاهَدُوا مِنكُمْ وَيَعْلَمَ الصَّابِرِينَ
سورة الحديد ٩-٨
وَمَا لَكُمْ لَا تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ ۙ وَالرَّسُولُ يَدْعُوكُمْ لِتُؤْمِنُوا بِرَبِّكُمْ وَقَدْ أَخَذَ مِيثَاقَكُمْ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ
هُوَ الَّذِي يُنَزِّلُ عَلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ آيَاتٍ بَيِّنَاتٍ لِّيُخْرِجَكُم مِّنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ ۚ وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ بِكُمْ لَرَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ
Surah Aal-i-Imraan 3:142
Did ye think that ye would enter Heaven without Allah testing those of you who fought hard (In His Cause) and remained steadfast?
Surah Al-Hadid 57:8-9
What cause have ye why ye should not believe in Allah?- and the Messenger invites you to believe in your Lord, and has indeed taken your Covenant, if ye are men of Faith.
He is the One Who sends to His Servant Manifest Signs, that He may lead you from the depths of Darkness into the Light and verily Allah is to you most kind and Merciful.
When we are refering to ourselves as “muslims”, we are primarily identifying ourselves as belonging to a specific belief. I wrote the following words in a previous input… “Growing up in a liberal society, I was never really compelled to use alcohol or any other haram substances that exists so freely here. Nor was I drawn into liberal social situations of intimacy and loose morals. I always figured if love is meant for me, it will find me. As I discovered Islam… I realized where my path had always been… somehow, this is where I felt home.” Our journey through life carries on and while we may be refering to ourselves as “muslims”, the reality is that we are all striving to be. The day we are fortunate enough to be pronounced as such by our Creator inshallah… in that time, we will truly know that we have earned that honor at last. A muslim will be granted entrance to Jannah… and not one person will enter Jannah except through His mercy. That is something you will earn through faith… and trust, in Him…
سورة النساء ١٢٤
وَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِنَ الصَّالِحَاتِ مِن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَىٰ وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَأُولَـٰئِكَ يَدْخُلُونَ الْجَنَّةَ وَلَا يُظْلَمُونَ نَقِيرًا
سورة آل عمران ١٣٩
وَلَا تَهِنُوا وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا وَأَنتُمُ الْأَعْلَوْنَ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ
سورة آل عمران ١٥٩
إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُتَوَكِّلِينَ
Surah An-Nisaa 4:124
If any do deeds of righteousness,- be they male or female – and have faith, they will enter Heaven, and not the least injustice will be done to them.
Surah Aal-i-Imraan 3:139
So lose not heart, nor fall into despair: For ye must gain mastery if ye are true in Faith.
Surah Aal-i-Imraan 3:159
For Allah loves those who put their trust (in Him).
I hope you enjoyed this input and found it interesting.
The best of times to you all inshallah.
Peace, happiness, and stay faithful.
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