What is a moderate Muslim?

[Ali Mujahidin]

There are no such things as "moderate" Muslims and "extremist" Muslims. There are only people who try their best to live, as far as humanly possible, according to the teachings of Islam and people who commit sins in the name of Islam. As a simple example, there are people who quote the Quranic verse to justify why they practice polygamy. What they omitted to do was to read to the end of the verse they quoted.

 

[truthseeker63]

I think I have a idea of what the Western media means by a moderate Muslim.

 

[Ali Mujahidin]

From what I can understand so far, the western media's idea of a moderate Muslim is one who subscribes to Western concepts of life and living, meaning a Muslim in name only and, for all practical purposes, might as well be a non-Muslim. To the western mindset, it is totally incomprehensible that any other way of thinking can be correct. In simple words, their guiding principle is "If you are not with us, you are against us".

 

[Ramadhan]

From what I can understand so far, the western media's idea of a moderate Muslim is one who subscribes to Western concepts of life and living, meaning a Muslim in name only and, for all practical purposes, might as well be a non-Muslim. To the western mindset, it is totally incomprehensible that any other way of thinking can be correct. In simple words, their guiding principle is "If you are not with us, you are against us".

This hits the mark. Even muslims now subscribe to this view. Islam is confined as mere rituals (shalah, fasting, that is if they still do it), and not a way of life.
For all we know, the world is already operating on dajjal-system: what look good and acceptable (by society) are actually paths to hell, and vice versa.

 

[Ali Mujahidin]

Re: Thread turned into the Validity of ahadith?

So let's get back to the basics. Islam is complete. There is no need to add or modify anything to make Islam suitable for our present world. We are not trying to win a popularity contest. We are here to appreciate the greatness of Allah's creation. Let me put it this way:

If you are invited to a rich man's house, you would not make a mess of the house by defecating all over the place, would you?

 

[جوري]

Re: Thread turned into the Validity of ahadith?

So let's get back to the basics. Islam is complete. There is no need to add or modify anything to make Islam suitable for our present world. We are not trying to win a popularity contest. We are here to appreciate the greatness of Allah's creation. Let me put it this way: If you are invited to a rich man's house, you would not make a mess of the house by defecating all over the place, would you?

I really appreciate your wisdom.. and masha'Allah reading your intro.. how amazing was it to raise ten children?

 

[needtorepent]

The phrase "moderate Muslim" is redundant.

 

[Woodrow]

Let us return to the original topic. this is not a thread about Ahadith.

 

[GuestFellow]

This hits the mark. Even muslims now subscribe to this view. Islam is confined as mere rituals (shalah, fasting, that is if they still do it), and not a way of life.
For all we know, the world is already operating on dajjal-system: what look good and acceptable (by society) are actually paths to hell, and vice versa.

I think there is pressure on Muslims to modernise Islam. I think when some Muslims try to defend Islam, they are trying their best to please others to the extent where they abandon their own Islamic beliefs...though I hope it is unintentional.

Even Amnesty International or I think it was the University of Exeter report which said that the government in western countries are trying to make Muslims abandon certain beliefs within Islam.

 

[Hamza Asadullah]

Islam is complete and perfected and is also timeless and dynamic as in it adapts with time and will therefore be relevant until the end of this earth so it certainly does not need modernising. This is what liberalists and secularists will tell you or those with a lack of knolwedge of Islam. Islam will NEVER become like Christianity has become today which is like a religion so far from its scriptures that it is unrecognisable. It has become a religion with so many different denominations that each has different core beleifs from the other.

Clearly the west are putting pressure on Muslims using the media and other scare tactics to try and stop Muslims practising Islam and they are trying their utmost to liberalise our beliefs and practices and our response to that pressure should be to practice Islam more than ever before in its pure form.

Regardless of the evil tricks of the west using the media to try and defame Islam and brand it as a religion with medieval practices more people than EVER before are turning to Islam.

Those who talk about modernising certain beliefs in Islam do not even understand those beliefs in the first place and need to educate themselves about those beliefs before they come to such conclusions. There is no such thing as a moderate Muslim.

You are either a fully practising Muslim or just Muslim by name. Allah also tells us this in the Qur'an to go FULLY into Islam and not become a part timer or moderate Muslim:

O believers enter into Islam completely and do not follow the footsteps of Shaitan, surely he is your clear-cut enemy. (Surah Al-Baqara, Ayah 208-210)

Therefore let us enter fully into Islam and make Islam our life not part of our life.

And Allah knows best in all matters

 

[Ali Mujahidin]

Myself, I didn't have the urge to be moderate or to be modern. Maybe that's because I have always been the odd man out ever since I could remember. So, for example, it is no big deal for me to wear Muslim attire (meaning beard, flowing robe and serban) even when I was operating my computer shop. Quite a few new customers did a double-take when they found out that ThisOldMan who looked like a discard from the "Lawrence of Arabia" movie could actually write computer programs. I have never found that practicing Islam is a hindrance to my professional work.

However I can empathize with our Muslim brothers and sisters who may feel compelled to tone down or even hide their Muslim identity so as to fit in, so to say. This is what I would suggest. Begin by making an effort to pray in jemaah. It is not coincidental that praying in jemaah is worth 25-27 times the pahala of performing salah alone. As a very rough analogy, consider how direct sales businesses are conducted. They organize weekly meetings to motivate their members to stay strong in their belief that they can make a lot of money, if they will just keep on going and keep on going to visit their prospects.

Take that first step today and may Allah keep you strong on the true path of Islam. Insha Allah.

 

[Little_Lion]

Someone once termed me a "hippie Muslim", and it is a term I wear with pride - I was called that because, the person said, "you're all about peace and love and helping everyone"! I think to that person I would probably be considered a "moderate Muslim" . . . I think that moderates, to Westerners, are those Muslims in whom they can see a reflection of themselves rather than someone without any connection to themselves in belief, action, and manner.

I think the west just needs to spend more time with more Muslims!

 

[Argamemnon]

Islam is complete and perfected and is also timeless and dynamic as in it adapts with time and will therefore be relevant until the end of this earth

Truth has to be told though, there are (and were) a great deal of ignorant Muslims who don't/didn't appreciate or understand this face of Islam. During the Ottoman period there were many Muslim shaikhs and scholars who were actively trying to block Ottoman technological advancements. In Islam there must be a balance between wordly life and the Hereafter. Therefore we shouldn't blindly follow certain scholars or shaikhs, even if they are popular. We shouldn't be afraid to disagree with them. In the glorious Qur'an Allah (swt) literally warns us "not to become like a flock of sheep".

 

[Thinker]

You say . . . “Islam is complete,” “Islam is perfect,” “Muslims should not feel the need to adapt or modernise or fit in”

The problems with these statements is that the Koran is almost totally focused on events of the 6th century, the sunnah is absolutely all about adopting the standards and values of the 6th century. And those standards are incompatible with every the 21st non-Muslim country.

Muhammad knew that there would be problems for Muslims living amongst the kuffar that’s why he (and God) commanded that anyone finding themselves in such a place must make hijrah but most of you choose to dress like a 6th century mujahadeen but live in the security and comfort of 21st century land of the kuffar. You pick and choose which of God’s commands you choose to obey and think that because you’ve got a beard God will forgive you!!

 

[Ali Mujahidin]

because you’ve got a beard God will forgive you!!

Just curious. How did you come to that conclusion?

 

[kidcanman]

You say . . . “Islam is complete,” “Islam is perfect,” “Muslims should not feel the need to adapt or modernise or fit in”

The problems with these statements is that the Koran is almost totally focused on events of the 6th century, the sunnah is absolutely all about adopting the standards and values of the 6th century. And those standards are incompatible with every the 21st non-Muslim country.

Muhammad knew that there would be problems for Muslims living amongst the kuffar that’s why he (and God) commanded that anyone finding themselves in such a place must make hijrah but most of you choose to dress like a 6th century mujahadeen but live in the security and comfort of 21st century land of the kuffar. You pick and choose which of God’s commands you choose to obey and think that because you’ve got a beard God will forgive you!!

The quran is not totally focused on the 6th century. We believe that the quran is from Allah. The majority of the book does not directly address the events that occurred at the time of its revelation. The quran gives instructions for living a good life and it also presents information to help an individual succeed spiritually.

The information contained in the quran is still relevant in the 21st century.

Some people argue that it is virtually impossible to correctly follow islam in the West.

This argument holds weight in the eyes of people who are more inclined to think that a person must strive to live exactly as the prophet did in order to correctly follow islam. That is their opinion (and I think it is a valid one).

You correctly pointed out , islam is absolutely compatible with many 21st century Muslim countries.

You observed the hypocrisy of muslims that focus on imitating the prophet when it comes to practicing Islam; even though just by living in the west they indulge in countless acts that are against the practices of the prophet.

I agree with that observation.

But your claim that Islam is not compatible with 21st century Western countries is an ignorant one.

You have not read, or do not understand, enough about the quran to make that claim.

If you did understand the quran and ahadith than you would have accounted for the different ways in which muslims practice the religion; some preferring to lean more towards the quran and some the sunnah, and others who don't care.

And if you did understand the quran and the sunnah than you would have understood "What a "moderate" muslim is".

What incompatible information in the quran are you referring to?

 

[Thinker]

Just curious. How did you come to that conclusion?

It seems to me, from what I have seen on this forum and elsewhere that Muslims in the UK are even more ‘devout’ than Muslims living is dar al Islam and I have formed the view that this is because they know they are committing a sin by not making hijrah and try to make up for that by being even more Muslim in other ways. Hence you grow the beard and wear the style of clothing worn by Muhammad.

And, getting back on thread – what is a moderate Muslim? You must know that looking like a member of the Taliban is not consistent with ‘moderation’ and is consistent with extremism yet you choose to do it because you hope in doing so God will forgive you for not complying with his command in Qur'an verse 4:97.

 

[Thinker]

But your claim that Islam is not compatible with 21st century Western countries is an ignorant one.

You have not read, or do not understand, enough about the quran to make that claim.

If you did understand the quran and ahadith than you would have accounted for the different ways in which muslims practice the religion; some preferring to lean more towards the quran and some the sunnah, and others who don't care.

And if you did understand the quran and the sunnah than you would have understood "What a "moderate" muslim is".

What incompatible information in the quran are you referring to?

Islam is only compatible with 21st western values and culture if you can find a scholar who will tell you that the literal word of the Qur’an and Hadith doesn’t actually mean what it say but should be interpreted as meaning something else. And, most Muslims choose to believe whichever scholar interprets the text in a way which suites them. You choose to take verses a, b and c literally but x, y and z not literally. The problem with interpreting a verse other than literally is to suggest that God wasn’t clear in what he said and meant something else – God made a mistake!!

 

[aamirsaab]

Islam is only compatible with 21st western values and culture if you can find a scholar who will tell you that the literal word of the Qur’an and Hadith doesn’t actually mean what it say but should be interpreted as meaning something else. And, most Muslims choose to believe whichever scholar interprets the text in a way which suites them. You choose to take verses a, b and c literally but x, y and z not literally. The problem with interpreting a verse other than literally is to suggest that God wasn’t clear in what he said and meant something else – God made a mistake!!

You're supposed to use your brain when reading the Qur'an. Following it blindly will get you nowhere. Some verses are literal, some require interpretation.

Also, you're being very judgemental. It's laughable actually given that I myself do not fit any of your western-muslim stereotypes.

 

[Ali Mujahidin]

Hence you grow the beard and wear the style of clothing worn by Muhammad

Please be informed that any Muslim who grows a beard and wears the style of clothing worn by the Holy Prophet, for the purpose of showing that he is a better Muslim than other Muslims have booked himself a permanent place in hell. To practice Islam and to follow the Sunnah for the purpose of showing off one's piety is a major sin and is expressly forbidden in Islam.