Top 20 Facts About A Muslim

Who is a Muslim? On the surface, a Muslim is anybody who fulfils the Five Pillars of Islam and the Six articles of Faith. Suratul Baqarah 2:177 of the Qur’an gives a brief summary of what being a Muslim really entails but, looking at other verses of the Qur’an and some statements of the Prophet (SAW), it will be quite rational to say being a Muslim involves a bit more than that. The topic, ‘Who is a Muslim’ is a broad one as loads of voluminous books have been written to explain this topic to the most minute detail. The topic is also a major
source of divisions among Muslims as different sects tend to give the various verses interpretations they see to be concrete. Nonetheless, some verses tend to have the same meanings irrespective of the sect speaking. The Five Pillars of Islam combined with the Six Articles of Faith instill certain virtues in the heart of a Muslim that cannot be found together in the heart of any other individual. These generally accepted understandings, is what this write-up will be looking at. The word “Muslim’ cannot be substituted by any other word be it Mohammedan or other fabrications. Even the word ‘believer’ is not fit as its meaning still depends on who’s speaking. Not everyone who has a Muslim name can boast of being a Muslim. We have and we have had people with Muslim names who have played and are still playing very active roles in bringing about the down-fall of Islam, popular mention being Kamal Ataturk; the man who ended the Caliphate. Let’s now begin to look at some basic features of a Muslim.

1. A Muslim holds ALLAH above any other being.

And [yet], among the people are those who take other than Allah as equals [to Him]. They love them as they [should] love Allah. But those who believe are stronger in love for Allah. Suratul Baqarah (2:165)

Lesson: This shows that a Muslim sees no ‘power’ as being equal to ALLAH, be it human or otherwise and as such, they (the ‘powers’) enjoy no patronage from him (the Muslim).

2. A Muslim embraces and respects all Messengers of ALLAH.

The Messenger has believed in what was revealed to him from his Lord, and [so have] the believers. All of them have believed in Allah and His angels and His books and His messengers, [saying], "We make no distinction between any of His messengers." And they say, "We hear and we obey. [We seek] Your forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the [final] destination." Suratul Baqarah (2:285)

Lesson: A Muslim does not insult any Messenger of ALLAH. Some Muslims have being found having animosity towards Isa (AS), they are in clear error. All Messengers came with the same Message (Calling to the Oneness of ALLAH), whatever others begin to ascribe to them is entirely their (the people’s) business.

3. A Muslim calls to good and warns against evil.

They believe in Allah and the Last Day, and they enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and hasten to good deeds. And those are among the righteous. Suratul Ali Imran (3:114)

Lessons: (a)Being a Muslim brings no benefit if one does not do good deeds and shuns at the same times strives to bring about an end to evil deeds (to the best of his ability).                                                                                                                                           (b)Being a member of a sect among Muslims (alone) gives you no guarantee of salvation, good deeds do.

4. A Muslim collaborates with other Muslims.

The believing men and believing women are allies of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and establish prayer and give zakah and obey Allah and His Messenger. Those - Allah will have mercy upon them. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise. Suratul Tawba (9:71)

Lesson: A Muslim does not see himself as an island that does not need anyone’s assistance. A Muslim tries to get in touch with his community to get righteous things done.

5. A Muslim depends on Allah.

Those to whom hypocrites said, "Indeed, the people have gathered against you, so fear them." But it [merely] increased them in faith, and they said, "Sufficient for us is Allah , and [He is] the best Disposer of affairs."  Suratul Ali Imran (3:173)

Lesson: No matter how trying a situation gets, a Muslim knows that ALLAH is watching and he carries on with his obedience to ALLAH no matter the taunting of the enemies.

6. A Muslim honors and supports                         the Prophet (SAW).

Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered prophet, whom they find written in what they have of the Torah and the Gospel, who enjoins upon them what is right and forbids them what is wrong and makes lawful for them the good things and prohibits for them the evil and relieves them of their burden and the shackles which were upon them. So they who have believed in him, honored him, supported him and followed the light which was sent down with him - it is those who will be the successful. Suratul Ahraf (7:157)

Lesson: A Muslim will always hold the Prophet (SAW) in high regard irrespective of what the enemies might say about him (SAW). A Muslim will also support the point of view of the Prophet (SAW) in all matters, no matter the logic employed by the unbelievers.

7. A Muslim has strong faith in               the verses of ALLAH (the Qur’an).

The believers are only those who, when Allah is mentioned, their hearts become fearful, and when His verses are recited to them, it increases them in faith; and upon their Lord they rely. Suratul Anfal (8:2)

Lesson: A Muslim does not ridicule the verses of the Qur’an. If he finds some verses mind boggling, he meets scholars to put him through. Listening to the Qur’an makes him see the Might of ALLAH.

8. A Muslim strives for the sake of the Glory of Islam.

Those who believe in Allah and the Last Day would not ask permission of you to be excused from striving with their wealth and their lives. And Allah is Knowing of those who fear Him. Suratul Tawba (9:44)

Lesson: A Muslim is always ready to give his all for the sake Islam when the need arises.

9. A Muslim does not engage in ill speech.

Certainly will the believers have succeeded

They who are during their prayer humbly submissive

And they who turn away from ill speech. Suratul Mu’minun (23:1-3)

Lesson: A Muslim does not get involved in any discussion that involves sinning against ALLAH. These kinds of speech include: gossip, slander, insulting, vulgarity, profanity, blasphemy and the likes.

           

10. A Muslim gives charity.

And they who are observant of zakah. Suratul Mu’minun (23:4)

Lesson: Islam teaches its adherents to be generous and infact, refusing to be generous could lead one out of Islam.

11. A Muslim maintains a high moral standard.

And they who guard their private parts

Except from their wives or those their right hands possess, for indeed, they will not be blamed –

But whoever seeks beyond that, then those are the transgressors –                    Suratul Mu’minun (23:5-7)

Lesson: (a) He/she will not be a Muslim who says immorality is part of civilization. A Muslim is chaste and will ordinarily never be found wanting in issues relating to adultery and fornication.

(b) A Muslim will also always uphold the fact that immoral individuals are inferior beings by the standard of ALLAH.

           

12. A Muslim is trustworthy.

And they who are to their trusts and their promises attentive

And they who carefully maintain their prayers –

Those are the inheritors

Who will inherit al-Firdaus. They will abide therein eternally.                            Suratul Mu’minun (23:8-11)

Lesson: A Muslim who cannot be described as honest, really is at a loss. Breaking promises has been described by the Prophet (SAW) as being among the signs of a hypocrite. If a Muslim makes a promise, he tries his best to fulfill it otherwise he doesn’t make it at all.

13. A Muslim accepts the rulings of Islam whole-heartedly.

It is not for a believing man or a believing woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decided a matter, that they should [thereafter] have any choice about their affair. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger has certainly strayed into clear error. Suratul Ahzab (33:36)

Lesson: A Muslim surrenders his life to the will of ALLAH by following HIS Prophet (SAW) and as such, a Muslim does not argue with the Qur’an (ALLAH) nor with authentic Ahadith [the Prophet (SAW)]. Once a Muslim is told that a statement was made by ALLAH or HIS Messenger, his/her response is to be “I hear and I obey”

14. A Muslim is a peaceful person.

And the servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth easily, and when the ignorant address them [harshly], they say [words of] peace. 

Suratul Furqan (25:63)

Lessons: (a) A Muslim is not an arrogant person.                                                                      (b) A Muslim resorts to physical confrontation if and ‘only if’ peaceful mediation  fails.

15. A Muslim is conscious of Hell.

And those who say, "Our Lord, avert from us the punishment of Hell. Indeed, its punishment is ever adhering; Suratul Furqan (25:65)

Lessons: (a) A Muslim is conscious of the fact that getting into Paradise is by the Mercy of ALLAH and as such, while in this life he/she strives to please ALLAH by every means possible and prays to be among those who will be save from the punishment of Hell.

(b) Islam is not a faith that says “just join us and you will enter Paradise”. In Islam, we work towards Paradise.

16. A Muslim has great respect for human life.

And those who do not invoke with Allah another deity or kill the soul which Allah has forbidden [to be killed], except by right, and do not commit unlawful sexual intercourse. And whoever should do that will meet a penalty. 

Suratul Furqan (25:68)

Lesson: This verse buttresses the fact that human life is sacred in Islam irrespective of what the enemies are striving to make the world believe. The enemies include those posing as ‘muslims’ to commit heinous crimes against humanity.

17. A Muslim does not have love for those who oppose Islam.

You will not find a people who believe in Allah and the Last Day having affection for those who oppose Allah and His Messenger, even if they were their fathers or their sons or their brothers or their kindred. Those - He has decreed within their hearts faith and supported them with spirit from Him. And We will admit them to gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they abide eternally. Allah is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him - those are the party of Allah . Unquestionably, the party of Allah - they are the successful. 

Suratul Mujadilah (58:22)

Lesson: We might have colleagues at school or work with which we might have to converse frequently but, if they are those we know to be hostile to Islam, are to have no love for them whatsoever. It is no crime however to have close associates who are non-Muslim but, these friends must not be among those who directly or indirectly fight against Islam.

18. A Muslim loves other Muslims.

And [there is a share for] those who came after them, saying, "Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith and put not in our hearts [any] resentment toward those who have believed. Our Lord, indeed You are Kind and Merciful." Suratul Hashr (59:10)

Lesson: If a Muslim finds him/herself hating other people whom he knows to be Muslims whether from among those who have passed away or those who are still alive, then there is something wrong with his/her faith.

19. A Muslim is not a liar.

It was narrated that a man asked the Prophet (SAW) “Can a believer be a coward?” He said, “Yes, he can be a coward.” Then it was asked, “Can a believer be a miser?” He replied, “Yes, he can be a miser.” It was then asked, “Can a believer be a liar?” And he replied, “No, a believer cannot be a liar.”

Lesson: Being a liar is not an attribute of Muslims.

20. A Muslim is the best creature ever created.

Indeed, they who have believed and done righteous deeds - those are the best of creatures. Suratul Bayinah (98:7)

Lessons: (a) ALLAH in this verse mentioned 'believe' and 'righteous deeds'. This further buttresses the point made earlier (Being a Muslim is not complete without righteous deeds)

(b) Every rational human being will strive to be among ALLAH's chosen; the Muslims.