Why calling ourselves "Muslims" or refering to our faith as "Islam" is a Mistake
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The word 'muslim' today signifies anything but what it actually means. Sad, but its true.
Within any group there's always be a 'muslim' and 'non-muslim' people found within..
In similar to 'honest' and 'dishonet' people can also be found within any groups..Let's assume in another planet, God commanded a group of sentient beings who lived there to be 'honest'..
As a result, that group call themselves "honest" people.. and start to convert people to 'honest'.
As time progress, they make thousands of regulations, ruling and dogma to be applied within that 'honest' community. And they start labeling those who are not a member of their group as 'non-honest', regardless of their character, deeds and attitudes.After many centuries, people tend to forgot what 'honest' really means and start to ask and say things like
- Is anal sex allowed in "honest"?
- According to 'honest' how should we washed our butt after dropping our bomb?
- How should we pray according to 'honest'?
- Those infidels are the enemy of "honest"!!!
- We should fight the infidels to uphold "honest"!!
- I really admire the 'honest-ic' architecture..
- I want to convert to 'honest'.
- Those who leave 'honest' is an apostate and should be put to death!
- etc.. etc.. etc..
Salam / Peace
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Greetings and Peace, all group
Well, there are also the options of calling oneself a monotheist OR follower of GOD/ALLAH alone. One dislike of the word "Quranist" is that it may suggest to some that one worships the Qur'an. nope Another disadvantage of the word "Quranist" is that it quickly becomes an insult/label that may prevent polite discourse. A muslim may be welcome in places that a "Quranist" may quickly wind up unwelcome or hurt or even dead!
One of the advantages of calling oneself a muslim, IMO, is that ISA it provides opportunities to invite people from other systems and perhaps especially from "mainstream" Islam to monotheism. More people are interested in learning about Islam than about some cult-sounding-system/label that they are unfamiliar with. ISA, we reclaim the word and detoxify islam through positive actions and example.
Many people come to FM to find information on Islam. Others come here ostensibly to "bring us back to the fold" only to be convinced themselves and gain monotheism, ISA. If there is no connection made between Islam and monotheism, opportunities to invite others may be lost.
There is no compulsion in the system. Call yourself according to your understanding and situation. ALLAH knows best who ALLAH's believers are.
May ALLAH see fit to Guide all seekers.
peace
~Abdul-Hadi
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Hi, I am new to this forum, but let me give an opinion.
I think labeling ourselves anything other than Islam is a bad idea. First of all, we will just create yet another sect, completely different from that of the Prophet (as we will have to form some ideas surrounding our label, whatever that may be), which is forbidden by the Qur'an.
Second of all, it promotes disunity amongst Muslims, because other sects will be tempted to proclam Takfir on us (let us hope we do not fall into such mistake)
Third of all, by using the name Islam yet promoting a better Islam which allows understanding to be reached, it is not us which will become obsolete, but those who divide religion up and promotes disunity. We must trust that if we are the true Muslims, God will protect the name of Islam.
If someone points out that we are unlike other Muslims, simply pointing out the reasoning for doing so would be enough. Such as, "well in the Qur'an it was stated blabla, so they are mistaken in practicing that". This will give a better image of them. If we instead say "well they are Muslims, but I am a XX" this will be problematic because it will only be seen as if we are trying to reinterpret Islam as a new sect instead of really showing people how Islam should be.
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People who have found the truth aren't religious and DO NOT have faith. Islam is a deen not a religion, and faith is stupid. And no everything you said was wrong.
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Hi, I am new to this forum, but let me give an opinion.
I think labeling ourselves anything other than Islam is a bad idea. First of all, we will just create yet another sect, completely different from that of the Prophet (as we will have to form some ideas surrounding our label, whatever that may be), which is forbidden by the Qur'an.
Second of all, it promotes disunity amongst Muslims, because other sects will be tempted to proclam Takfir on us (let us hope we do not fall into such mistake)
Third of all, by using the name Islam yet promoting a better Islam which allows understanding to be reached, it is not us which will become obsolete, but those who divide religion up and promotes disunity. We must trust that if we are the true Muslims, God will protect the name of Islam.
If someone points out that we are unlike other Muslims, simply pointing out the reasoning for doing so would be enough. Such as, "well in the Qur'an it was stated blabla, so they are mistaken in practicing that". This will give a better image of them. If we instead say "well they are Muslims, but I am a XX" this will be problematic because it will only be seen as if we are trying to reinterpret Islam as a new sect instead of really showing people how Islam should be.
I don't think its wise to worry too much about Muslims accepting us or not. This notion of unity can only come about if WE compromise as its very unlikely that they will. Thei Islam is deeply sectarian and rigid. I have noticed that Koranist who use this logic you said tend to try to distance themselves from other Koranist who may have views that Muslims may find extreme. This creates diunity among the Koranist.
Often these Koranist start accepting concepts that are not laid out in the Koran causing disunity among the Koranist. The Koran warned against seperation. There is nothing wrong with disagreements but this should not lead to seperation. That is how sects are created is when their disagrements leads to seperation.
One of the best examples of that is the Muslim rituals. Often for the sake of this unity with Muslims some Koranist tried to force other Koranist to follow these rituals and distanced themselves from them when these Koranist refused. We must only make binding what the Koran made binding in explicit verses.
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Hello,
Very interesting.. What is "iman" & "mumin" ?
And Where in the quran can we read "muslim" ?
Tank you
PeaceQuran is to respond to the sense of the ayat; and to behave so that the ayats of Quran is appreciated by the people around you; hence Quran is not for sporting your abilities to dispute and your disputable abilities.
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