Islam and Muslim are not synonymous!
Ummm, wait a second.... don’t Muslims follow Islam as their religion? Yes and no - a complicated answer, but an honest one.
Islam, by definition, means to submit, surrender and obey in peace and sincerity to the will of God. In Arabic the person who does this is referred to as a Muslim. (In English we use the suffix -er to indicate the action of a person; such as runner, baker, writer... In Arabic the prefix -Mu is applied instead; so Mu -slim is the “one who Islams.”)
Unfortunately, however, the actions/behaviors of Muslims are used to unfairly judge or define the entire religion of Islam. We’re human, we all make mistakes. Just because I’m Muslim doesn’t make me perfect. I have my own personal struggles as a Muslim; that doesn't mean there's something wrong with Islam, it just means I have faults. No one judges Christianity, Judaism, or Buddhism by the actions of its followers... so the same courtesy should be applied to Islam as well.
Additionally there are Muslims and then there are Muslims. Here’s the slightly complicated part of my point... There are many who call themselves Muslim because they were born in a Muslim country or in a Muslim family but do not practice Islam whatsoever. They may say they believe in God (Allah) but that’s usually the extent to their beliefs. They don’t pray, or fast, or give charity... Oftentimes society or the media misconstrue their cultural behaviors for Islam - when it’s not from Islam at all, or worse, it’s against what Islam teaches {for example - “honor killings” are in NO way sanctioned in Islam}.
This is why I always encourage my family and friends to ask questions when they’re not sure of something they see or hear about Islam/Muslims. I’ve been asked some very interesting questions in the past; I truly don’t mind at all. I’d rather someone know the truth then go around believing a misconception!
You are absolutely right...I mean I am born Muslim...and reverted Alhamdulilah...shamely admit I was not a proper Muslim, not dressed like Muslim and all....Thank you Allah for guiding me :)
ReplyDeleteWhat's most important for us all is to "be" a Muslim rather than "look like" a Muslim! There are so many people who judge others because they don't look Muslim enough... the main fundamental of Islam is to believe in Allah (One God - without any partners)! This belief starts in the heart and cannot be seen from the outside - so no matter how pious a person looks, it cannot account for how much they truly love Allah (God). So don't worry about being or not being a "proper Muslim." Our concern should always start with what is in our hearts... everything else will follow in time! :D Alhamdulillah (All Praise to Allah/God) for showing us our faults and guiding us....
DeleteYes what you said is indeed true. I was born in a Muslim country and family so I see that sometimes Muslims take their religion for granted.
ReplyDeleteu cannot reduce islam to a dressing - or the length of a beard - cover your body, be modest and lower your gaze - we are muslim but have no islam - why and how? - we have no leadership we submit to, no qadi to submit to, no zakaat collected and distributed by legitimate authority, no minting of the dinar/dirham, no control of weights and measures and ensuring free market without usury, we do not wage war against usury - yes, we r muslim, but we do not have islam until we establish and submit to the requirements for an islamic governance -
ReplyDeleteI have never reduced Islam to a "dressing." I hope you didn't think I was... I have future posts lined up where I actually make that point. For the Muslims who have no Islam it's NOT because of lack of leadership - it's lack of fear and respect of Allah and love for the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). Worshiping and obeying Allah (as individuals) requires no Islamic governance whatsoever...
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