format_quote Originally Posted by
Who Am I?
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Anyway, this is something that I feel strongly about. It should be enough for Allah and enough for my brothers and sisters that I believe in Him. I don't think He really cares about rules and regulations. Even the Qur'an says that those who pray, and those who ask for guidance, are among the best of believers, not those who follow every rule.
Islam isn't just the prayer and guidance isn't just being guided by Allah to pray; the best of believers
are those who follow every rule. All of Islam that we follow is not for in Allah in the sense that we benefit Him, but it is to glorify His name and remember Him. Worship of Allah is for us to benefit from and to be purified through. No one benefits from worship than the Muslim who does it. In this sense, we cannot say that what we do 'it is enough for Allah', rather we say what Allah said in the Qur'an: "And if you would count the favours of Allâh, never could you be able to count them." (Quran 16:18), so in this sense, what we do for Allah will never be enough compared to what He has already done – and will always do – for us. This verse however should never make a Muslim feel hopeless, but it should humble one before the One who nurtures, nourishes and takes care of him at all times so we can submit to Him.
You should know that belief in Allah is three folds: belief of the heart, testimony of the tongue and action of the limbs. Anything less than this is not true and complete belief in Allah. And this combined with the verses of Qur'an where Allah mentions numerous times "..those who believe and do righteous deeds..." is proof that seeking knowledge, then implementing it through action is a fundamental part of belief and that belief of the heart and righteous actions is one and the same thing and one cannot stay while the other is missing.
Now having said all of this, Allah says in the Qur'an in surah Al Baqarah (chapter 2) "...Allah wishes for you easy, He does not intend for you any difficulty." And yet in another verse, despite all the laws, rules and regulations revealed that we must follow, Allah says "...We do not wish to burden you with limits and conditions and restrictions...". Here we will find the answer and harmony between these two verse when we see
the goals of all the intended laws, rules and regulations; they are to make all the affairs of our life easy for us, to purify our heart and illuminate it with light, grant our hearts peace, serenity and comfort, and to transform us to be better people. This is of the goals of the Islamic law, it's rules and regulations.
Now after saying all of this, I would hate to know that you are doing actions to please Muslims or anyone else for that matter. The creation will never be able to reward you and it is befitting that everything a Muslim does is for Allah alone and to expect reward only from Him. You should, in fact you must, perform all acts of worship for Allah alone. But if another Muslim informs you of something mentioned in the Qur'an and Sunnah you should try your best to act upon it. A new rule that you learn is meant to make your life easy, this is of the goals of the Islamic Law. And all of what I have mentioned encompasses sincerity i.e. for Allah alone.
Don't overburden yourself but take things one step at a time and keep constantly doing all of what you are able to do.