why are you muslim?
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For me,
Islam explains the purpose of existence. The Quran is the Divine Constitution for humanity which gives the guidelines for Mankind. It explains God to me, my purpose of existence, my goal. It explains to me which behaviours gives the best results. It uplifts me, makes me excell, makes me peaceful in my innerself, makes me loose all nonsense and superstition, makes me gain insight, truth.
Islam is not a religion. It is our instinct...
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Peace
I believe "islam" is not the title of anything, it just simply means "peacefulness."
I disagree with Arnold that the quran is a constitution for humanity. I think it's meant more for individual guidance (which will of course affect the world). And I don't believe that it's a book written by god, but I think it was written or compiled by people but it was inspired by god, meaning that it contained truth when it was written. I don't think it is incorruptible.
The concept of peacefulness is that when we are at peace (without emotion), we can think and choose, we can have true free-will because we aren't being pushed around by emotions. That along with the truth, we can always make the right choice. -
According to the traditional sense of the term in which speaks of Muhammad as the last Prophet of God (Rasul), I am not a Muslim.
I believe in Submission to God alone through Eir Laws and Ordinances. I believe in pacifism and the inherent right of all human beings to live, as well as compassion and respect for God's Creation. I also believe that lord Muhammad was a great Prophet of God and deserves respect for being the Messenger of God's Law to Humanity.
I even perform my version of the Salat in remembrance of God throughout my day, and believe that the Qur'an is a Perfect Revelation of God sent down to lord Muhammad, but rather the interpretation has been corrupted by divines for power, greed or intellectualism.
In this way then, I am a Muslim.
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I believe in Islam.. after reading the quran. It confirms many truth and it works as a guideline for life and like arnold said, it explains many things.
I believe the whole quran comes from God and it's meaning/ msg are protected by God.
...But integrity and belief are two different thing... a person may say she believes islam yet is not a good muslim. I'm working on that..
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Peace Jankern,
'Islam' means 'Submission' bro. Maybe you follow 'Salam' not 'Islam'. D
This is not true from a linguistic point of view. The words "salam" and "islam" are certainly related. The relation is a fairly common one in Arabic that is found in the forms "fa3al" and "if3al". Here are some examples of the same forms as "salam" and "islam"
Naja7, Inja7
Success, making successfulNabat, inbat
Cultivation, cultivating7alal, I7lal
Allowed, making allowed/ allowance of somethingSala7, Isla7
Good, making good/bettermentTa3am, It3am
Food, feeding/sustenance3amar, I3mar
Prosperity, making prosperUnless you want to contest the above examples, then by the same token, the relationship between "salam" and "islam" is "peace" - "peacemaking/peacefulness".
Peace,
Ayman
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If "muslim" is "one who has submitted", then I believe it's obvious - I am theistic.
But I also follow the Quran, and seek to be of the "mu'min"...
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Peace Jankern,
This is not true from a linguistic point of view. The words "salam" and "islam" are certainly related. The relation is a fairly common one in Arabic that is found in the forms "fa3al" and "if3al". Here are some examples of the same forms as "salam" and "islam"
Naja7, Inja7
Success, making successfulNabat, inbat
Cultivation, cultivating7alal, I7lal
Allowed, making allowed/ allowance of somethingSala7, Isla7
Good, making good/bettermentTa3am, It3am
Food, feeding/sustenance3amar, I3mar
Prosperity, making prosperUnless you want to contest the above examples, then by the same token, the relationship between "salam" and "islam" is "peace" - "peacemaking/peacefulness".
Peace,
Ayman
If Islam was supposed to mean 'peace' then it would be called 'salaam' not 'islaam'. Islaam means to surrender and to submit. Yes both Islam and Salam have a common root but every root in arabic has many meanings. There is absolutely no controversy about the meaning of Islam among scholars of arabic language. So don't make it sound like you know better than them.
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Peace Haji,
There is absolutely no controversy about the meaning of Islam among scholars of arabic language. So don't make it sound like you know better than them.
Who is "them"?
Could you please provide a reference to these scholars who have researched the term as you suggest?Peace,
Tay -
There is absolutely no controversy about the meaning of Islam among scholars of arabic language. So don't make it sound like you know better than them.
Keep in mind I do this to everyone Cited here is an appeal to authority. Neat.
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Salam,
I like this thread.
I am Muslim because I realise that I am only human (a weak creature). I only do my best and the rest is upto God. I can't save the world or help the world but I can only do my best. I could get sick or die anytime. If God wants to get rid of me He can. If He wants to make me poor or sick He can. But if He wants to make me happy and well He also can. I therefore submit myself & all circumstances to Him and realise that He can do anything and everything (I can't do anything and everything - So I killed my ego and became very humble). I can only try my best, but if I ask Him for help, he helps me- I realise His absolute power and authority over everything. Being muslim to me means that when things are not in my hands and I can't help myself or others, I ask Him for help because He's the only one who can do it. So to Him I belong and to Him I will return. I completely give up/surrender/submit to the will of God and that's when I realise his powers and what it means to be muslim.
Serving Him means living by what the Quran says. I have more than 100% faith and trust in God. Again, if I have a problem and I can't solve it, I would look towards Mecca and say to God that I submit this situation/circumstance to Him. I then trust Him and wait faithfully and God sends a way / or a means by which to help me. Realising His total control, absolute power and authority and that He is One God is very important.
If I wasn't Muslim (in a state of submission to God alone) all the time, then my ego or the devil may be driving me and that's not what I want. I want to be a servant of God because this is a temporary life to test us and see if we can realise God's absolute power and authority over everything.
When people who worship their ego lose their money or something bad happens to them or their children, this is their chance to realise that they're not in control, God is! so give up to His will & do what He says- that's what Islam is!
salam = peace (N)
sallem = give peace/ give (V)
Islam = submission (N)
aslem= submit (V-singular)
aslamt=submitted (v-singular-past tense)
salem= whole/complete/perfect (N)
muslim= submitter (N)
musalem= peaceful (Adj)
estaslem = surrender (V)Islam means different things to different people. Maybe it's even related to the word (salalem, sullam -which means laddar --> indicating climbing your way spiritually or going up to heaven step by step -because we don't learn everything in one go!).
I'd like to see more people discuss what it means (for you) to be Muslim and why are you Muslim?
Peace,
Rida peace