Assalam O Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah
Suppose Two Muslims are in Train.Not knowing each other.
One brother ask from other
Q. What You are ??????????????
Answer : I am a Muslim
(If you are not a religiously looking person/not having beard/No signs of interest in Islam the questioner will stop here.And will start discussion on any other topic.
But If you are having beard/Sunnah cap & dress/talking about Islam the next question will come.)
Q. OK,I know but I was not asking that. I mean to say from which Group you are...........
Answer: (The most common answer will be although exception are there)
I am Deobandi,Barelvi,Salafi, Ahle Hadith,Mujahid of kerala,Jamaat e Islami,Kerala Sunni EK,Kerala Sunni AP,Tablighi Jamaat,......................................
Further situation will Depend on the Answer...................................
1. The situation will be very warm if you are same group
2.Very cold if you are from other group.
Next conversation will depend on .....................
1. Whether you are from same/ at least Compatible group.
2. You are from incompatible group.
WHERE ARE MUSLIMS????????????????
We are not raising any question for our muslim brothers and sisters who consider themselves attached with a particular group or label.
We are also not raising whether making labels are right or wrong.Already much discussion has been on it by scholars.No need for further discussion.
ALLAH HAS ALSO CHOSEN ONE LABEL FOR US.
What is that label???????????
Our intention is only to show that Allah (Tabarak Taala), His Rasul (Sallaho Alaihe Wassallam) & the companions (RA) also had an identity and a label which was "Islam" and "Muslim".
The identity of "Islam":
The religion chosen by Allah (SWT) for mankind is "Islam" and it is unambiguously conveyed in the Qur'aan:
إِنَّ ٱلدِّينَ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلۡإِسۡلَـٰمُۗ وَمَا ٱخۡتَلَفَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مَا جَآءَهُمُ ٱلۡعِلۡمُ بَغۡيَۢا بَيۡنَهُمۡۗ وَمَن يَكۡفُرۡ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَرِيعُ ٱلۡحِسَابِ
[3:19] Truly, the (recognized) religion in the sight of Allah is Islam . Those who have been given the Book did not differ (among themselves) until after the knowledge had come to them, (and all this) due to envy against each other. Whoever denies the verses of Allah, then, Allah is swift at reckoning.
The label of "Muslim":
Similarly the label chosen by Allah (SWT) for us is "Muslim", in fact its a name given to us by Allah (SWT).[22:78] Struggle for (seeking the pleasure of) Allah, a struggle that is owed to Him. He has chosen you and did not impose any hardship on you in the religion, the faith of your father Ibrahim. He (Allah) named you as Muslims earlier and also in this (Qur‗an), so that the Messenger becomes a witness to you, and you become witnesses to (other) people. So establish Salah, pay Zakah and hold fast to Allah. He is your patron. So, how excellent He is as a patron, and how excellent as a supporter!
وَجَـٰهِدُواْ فِى ٱللَّهِ حَقَّ جِهَادِهِۦۚ هُوَ ٱجۡتَبَٮٰكُمۡ وَمَا جَعَلَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ فِى ٱلدِّينِ مِنۡ حَرَجٍ۬ۚ مِّلَّةَ أَبِيكُمۡ إِبۡرَٲهِيمَۚ هُوَ سَمَّٮٰكُمُ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِينَ مِن قَبۡلُ وَفِى هَـٰذَا لِيَكُونَ ٱلرَّسُولُ شَهِيدًا عَلَيۡكُمۡ وَتَكُونُواْ شُہَدَآءَ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِۚ فَأَقِيمُواْ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُواْ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَٱعۡتَصِمُواْ بِٱللَّهِ هُوَ مَوۡلَٮٰكُمۡۖ فَنِعۡمَ ٱلۡمَوۡلَىٰ وَنِعۡمَ ٱلنَّصِيرُ
The label of "Muslim" was known and used by the companions to distinguish and differentiate themselves from others and to distance themselves from their past. We will suffice in only giving two extreme examples where the mere ascription to the label of "Muslim" was sufficient as an identity and a distinguishing factor.
Now the next step after getting Muslim Label?
The path for a Muslim is very clearly laid out in the Qur'aan and Sunnah but before elaborating it must be made clear that salvation in Islam is in actions and not in labels.
Merely labelling oneself to part of this group or that group is neither sufficient nor a guarantee of success.
The pathway to a Muslim is as follows:
1 Obey Allah (SWT)
2 Obey Rasul-ullah (Sallaho Alaihe Wassallam)
3 Traverse the path of the first three generations of Islam which includes the companions of Rasul-ullah (Sallaho Alaihe Wassallam), the generation which followed them and the generation which followed them.
The explicit commands given in the Qur'aan & Sunnah are pretty clear:
[4:59] O you who believe, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. Then, if you quarrel about something, revert it back to Allah and the Messenger, if you believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is good, and the best at the end.
[4:64] We did not send any Messenger but to be obeyed by the leave of Allah.
[3:31] Say (O Prophet): .If you really love Allah, then follow me, and Allah shall love you and forgive you your sins. Allah is Most-Forgiving, Very-Merciful.
[33:21] There is indeed a good model for you in the Messenger of Allah - for the one who has hope in Allah and the Last Day, and remembers Allah profusely.
[33:36] It is not open for a believing man or a believing woman, once Allah and His messenger have decided a thing, that they should have a choice about their matter; and whoever disobeys Allah and His messenger, he indeed gets off the track, falling into an open error.
[59:7]... And whatever the Messenger gives you, take it, and whatever he forbids you from, abstain (from it). And fear Allah. Indeed Allah is severe in punishment.
[9:100] As for the first and foremost of the Emigrants (Muhajirin) and the Supporters (Ansar) and those who followed them in goodness, Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Allah, and He has prepared for them gardens beneath which rivers flow, where they will live for ever. That is the supreme achievement.
We should be ready to adopt the name prescribed by Allah and to should believe and act accordingly.
