Re: What is a Muslim?
Perhaps a good starting point would be to answer the question from a negative viewpoint i.e. what is not a Muslim? In this way we can rid ourselves of certain misconceptions that exist.Islam is not confined to any race, colour or creed. It is not dependent on any sacramental ceremony or ritual. It is not the prerogative of any caste nor is it the custom of our forefathers.
It has nothing to do with wealth or ambition or intellectual prowess. And it certainly is not something we pretend to embrace to make ourselves acceptable to our fellow human beings.
The first step in becoming a Muslim is to consciously and solemnly declare that "There is no God but Allah and Muhammad (Sallallaahu æ#129;layhi Wasallam) is the Prophet of Allah". By so doing one is entitled to all the rights and is bound by all the obligations of Islamic law.
However, this declaration of faith is alone insufficient to assure one of salvation. A further requirement is that one required to do deeds and works of righteousness and virtue so to transform the declaration into a living reality.
Of course, the scale of righteousness and virtue is infinite there is no point at which a Muslim may say that he has enough to earn salvation.
Indeed, it is Allah alone who decides whether one has done enough to enter the gates of Paradise and He may well reject the greatest and most virtuous deeds on account of lack of faith and insincerity while at the same forgiving one who has sinned deeply.
A Muslim is one who is both the humblest and the proudest of Creatures. This may appear to be contradictory but is not so.
A Muslim is the humblest because he submits himself completely to Allah, the Creator, the Provider, the Ruler, the Forgiver, the Judge, the First Cause and the Final End of everything, in essence the Ultimate Reality.
Allah is the object of adoration, praise and worship, the One Master to Whom the whole of one's life is devoted in dedication and service.
A Muslim is the proudest precisely because of this loyalty to Allah. Nothing and no one is worthy of such loyalty. In this regard it is a well known fact that many people submit themselves to rulers and tyrants instead of submitting themselves to Allah but in doing so they are violating the essence of their faith.
On account of their acknowledgement that Allah above is Master. Muslims are revolutionaries who champion the cause of human freedom everywhere. It is deplorable to a Muslim when people set up money, sex, power or pleasure as their object of worship. But when a tyrant demands absolute loyalty from his citizens, a loyalty which is the sole and exclusive preserve of Allah, then rebellion against such tyrant, and his ultimate over-throw, becomes a Muslim's prime religious objective.
There can be no greater meaning in a Muslim's life than to fulfil and make real Allah's will on earth. However, no little burden falls on the shoulders of a Khalifah of Allah on earth. Firstly, the task has no geographic or territorial limitations. A Muslim's duty encompasses every corner of the globe. Secondly, the task is not confined to any particular race, colour or creed. The problems of mankind as a whole are the problems of every Muslim, who is bound to confront these problems and to seek solutions.
These tasks are the obligations of, and the source of pride to every Muslim and are in fact the destiny of every Muslim.
Obviously, to live the life of a Muslim is to live dangerously. But Muslims believe that it is also to live with the highest expectation, the greatest promise and the deepest joy of which humans are capable.
In conclusion we shall give a basic answer to a basic question and say that to be a Muslim is to submit oneself to the Will of Allah - nothing more, nothing less.
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