Do you openly address yourself as a Quran only/God Alone Muslim in public?

uq

Peace Mikebloke,

You raise an interesting point. Thank you for creating this thread.

It was interesting also to read of the views shared by other forum members.

I myself am from a Sunni Muslim background, but I left that creed in 2003.

As a hot-headed teenager in 2003, I began actively dissociating myself from Sunni Islam, to the extent that if someone asked me "Are you a Muslim?" I would reply with a sharp "No."

I would give the same reply even when talking to my closest friends; most of whom are Arab Sunni Muslims.

I used to do this based purely on the fact that I would fear that they would mistake me as one of their own. As zealous a youth, I couldn't even risk such a misapprehension taking place.

As time went on, this militant frame of mind waned somewhat. And now I am more inclined to reply "Yes, I am Muslim, but...." then I will go on to explain my Quran alone position.

Ideally, I would prefer to use the word "submitter," as this is the closest English rendition of "Muslim." But even this has its own undesirable implications.

There is not a thing in existence that is excepted from classification, and human ideologies and their adherents are no exception, thus, labels are almost unavoidable.

I would advise my dear brothers and sisters to choose that "label" which makes life easier for them.

unknownuser

Ha! This issue is one I have yet to work out. I usually go with one of the following depending on my audience...

"No I'm not catholic anymore, just don't believe in dating/sex before marriage"

or

"No I'm not a Christian, I do believe in God, I just don't believe that Jesus is God"

or

"I'm a muslim but I don't follow Muhammed"

or

"No I'm not Muslim, but I try to follow the Quran"

or

"I'm sort of a progressive/westernised muslim"

or

"I'm sort of a submitter, but I don't believe that Rashad Khalifa is a mesenger, I guess I'm a Quran-only-Muslim"

or

"I'm on the free-minds forum/ I'm a free-minder!"

or

"No I'm not Jewish, but I don't eat pork because I believe that God says not to"

or

"No I'm not religious but I just try to follow the scripture(s)"

or

"No I don't have a set religion, but I do try to keep the faith"

or

"I guess I'm a monotheist"

or something else that I think will enable me to continue living as I think I should without attracting too much interest or questioning

es

Ha! This issue is one I have yet to work out. I usually go with one of the following depending on my audience...

"No I'm not catholic anymore, just don't believe in dating/sex before marriage"

or

"No I'm not a Christian, I do believe in God, I just don't believe that Jesus is God"

or

"I'm a muslim but I don't follow Muhammed"

or

"No I'm not Muslim, but I try to follow the Quran"

or

"I'm sort of a progressive/westernised muslim"

or

"I'm sort of a submitter, but I don't believe that Rashad Khalifa is a mesenger, I guess I'm a Quran-only-Muslim"

or

"I'm on the free-minds forum/ I'm a free-minder!"

or

"No I'm not Jewish, but I don't eat pork because I believe that God says not to"

or

"No I'm not religious but I just try to follow the scripture(s)"

or

"No I don't have a set religion, but I do try to keep the faith"

or

"I guess I'm a monotheist"

or something else that I think will enable me to continue living as I think I should without attracting too much interest or questioning

Oh, gosh!

and

ditto! ;D

P.S. Welcome to the forum!

Man_of_Faith

Ha! This issue is one I have yet to work out. I usually go with one of the following depending on my audience...

"No I'm not catholic anymore, just don't believe in dating/sex before marriage"

or

"No I'm not a Christian, I do believe in God, I just don't believe that Jesus is God"

or

"I'm a muslim but I don't follow Muhammed"

or

"No I'm not Muslim, but I try to follow the Quran"

or

"I'm sort of a progressive/westernised muslim"

or

"I'm sort of a submitter, but I don't believe that Rashad Khalifa is a mesenger, I guess I'm a Quran-only-Muslim"

or

"I'm on the free-minds forum/ I'm a free-minder!"

or

"No I'm not Jewish, but I don't eat pork because I believe that God says not to"

or

"No I'm not religious but I just try to follow the scripture(s)"

or

"No I don't have a set religion, but I do try to keep the faith"

or

"I guess I'm a monotheist"

or something else that I think will enable me to continue living as I think I should without attracting too much interest or questioning

Peace,

Seems like a nice way of evading their label-stamping queries.

It is always a hassle when replying to a query about your religion and you say you are a Muslim and they immediately draw some nasty conclusions about your persona. Because I am not originating from Africa/Middle-East they are also shocked and wonder how I possibly ended up being a "Muslim". For each new individual I meet that I have not presented myself to, I need a long time just declaring my faith system for them and if I see there is not enough time to fully explain I refrain from saying I am a Muslim to avoid people obtaining a negative view of me.

One little word like "Muslim" and you are categorized tragically unless you explain yourself because everyone associates it with the neanderthal and degenerate Islam as per sectarian practice. It is sad that you have to be afraid of saying you are a Muslim instead of feeling proud to declare it. But I suppose the best Muslims are those who lack the need to declare it jedi

God bless you

es

Salaam,

But I suppose the best Muslims are those who lack the need to declare it jedi

http//www.everyayah.com/data/images_png/41_33.png (4133)

Peace.

Man_of_Faith

Peace es,

Okay, but I think certain humbleness can be good too.

God bless you

Keri

Guys, don't let anybody label you. That's how they marginalise you. Divide you and conquer you.

Let your arguments speak for themselves. Most importantly let your actions define you. Don't use a label as a crutch to prop up your beliefs.

You have rejected all except God, but now what??

How are you different from anybody else? What are you doing different? Do you feel stronger or weaker?

These are the questions you should be pondering .... but don't let me tell you)

Well said indeed bro!

SarahY

I don't believe people need to specifically know your beliefs or "quran only/God alone muslim".

Religion is a personal matter between you and God, so I personally don't need to define my methodology of following the Quran. Nor do I feel the need to classify myself as a quran only muslim or whatever.

The average person adopts what they have been taught or told to do, not many people are enquirers or at least not the people I have come across.

I think if people are good hearted, do good deeds, proclaim they are muslim they might be perceived as having atypical ways though people just leave you and let you be. They might feel that they need to "correct/guide" you but that goes with many things in life. If you are seen as a threat then people will say stuff and if people openly say hey you're wrong hadith is rubbish etc well it's a threat to their belief and their trust to their scholars. so no need to be offensive.

I think depending on your crowd if you openly say "x y is wrong, you are wrong" people get offended but if you say "well, if you feel that's right, that's up to you but I believe/think xyz" they might be less defensive.

No one likes to be threatened then again there is no reason you can't be yourself. everyone formulates their own opinions of others, what matters most is being true to yourself and hopefully being righteous in God's view.

Salam

diamantinehoneybunch

The things that make me feel that spreading GOD-alone Islam is necessary are
-Violence done by sectarians.
-Forcing beliefs done by sectarians.
-Treatment of women done by sectarians (esp Sunnis)

Islamophobia
Sexist tribal custom
And so on......

SarahY,
Sometimes I also think like you.

I have made a decision. When people ask whether I am a Muslim or not, I will just say "no" because the term Muslim is always related and associated with Sunnism.

SarahY

Injustices are not only committed by sectarians, there are many good people who are associated with sunni sect (and other sects). I wouldn't just outcast them and assume all of them maintain such "evil/bad" practices. and just because one names themselves as "quran only" it doesn't mean they are "good". labels are just that. labels.

People's assumptions are their own problem. I wouldn't want to lie unless I was in a position of threat/death. No harm in saying you're muslim even if it is associated with sunnism. you can always educate people that you don't necessarily follow mainstream muslims but uphold the Holy doctrine; the Quran.

If you don't want to proclaim you're muslims yet you feel spreading your understanding of islam is necessary, it seems kind of hypocritical.

good_logic

Peace All.

Does it matter what you call yourself?

Let us assume it does? Does God approve? That is a more important question!

What people call you, when they get to know you also matters a bit?

The person that you seek to be, what you do and how you treat all around will speaks volumes about you!

Peace to all

diamantinehoneybunch

Injustices are not only committed by sectarians, there are many good people who are associated with sunni sect (and other sects). I wouldn't just outcast them and assume all of them maintain such "evil/bad" practices.

First of all, read my post properly. Did I say all Sunnis and Shias are bad? No! But some of them commit violence in the name of Islam. Some of them force their children to marry at very young ages, force their women to wrap themselves in burqas, rape slaves, punish rape victims and they call these barbaric things 'Islamic'. When I hear this, I feel like my eyes and ears are being hurt. That's why I wrote like that.

and just because one names themselves as "quran only" it doesn't mean they are "good".

I never say all of people who call themselves Quran alone or God alone muslims as good. Of course there are some "Quranists" that are actually nuts such as those who justify sex with slaves and mates and expect women to hide in chadors.

labels are just that. labels.

Yes, this is what I uphold. Labels are not important at all including Muslim (with capital M). Beliefs and deeds matter tthe most.

People's assumptions are their own problem. I wouldn't want to lie unless I was in a position of threat/death. No harm in saying you're muslim even if it is associated with sunnism. you can always educate people that you don't necessarily follow mainstream muslims but uphold the Holy doctrine; the Quran.

If you don't want to proclaim you're muslims yet you feel spreading your understanding of islam is necessary, it seems kind of hypocritical.

You said labels are just labels but you yourself called me hypocritical because I do not want to call (or label) myself MuslimTM. Muslims, Islam, Believers in the Quran. are not the same things as Muslim, Islam and Believers in general terms and mainstream "Islamic" terms.

I am sorry for failing to convey what I really wanted to say in my previous post.

When people simply ask whether I am a Muslim or not (especially if they are "Muslims&quot, I will say "No" but if people want me to explain my belief, I would use the word "Muslim" for myself but only after I have explained much what I believe in.

muslims

http//www.everyayah.com/data/images_png/41_33.png (4133)

And who is better in speech
than one who invites to Allah
and does righteousness and says
"Indeed, I am of the Muslims"

The verse given by es and in (367) is an interesting example for the word Muslim is related to an invitation to bring just and balance in the society and doing righteousness. It is unlikely that Allah will attach importance to labels or get involved with sectarian issues. Therefore maybe during those days it actually means "I am as the man of peace" or "I am as the man of justice", and for that reason many are joining Islam (ie. way of life submitting to just, balance, kindness and unity in the society) even from different backgrounds and traditions. During those days, many don't understand what is "religion" and are busy defending themselves from bandits, pirates, wild animals etc (no law and order). They only understand good and evil, just and unjust... global issue and understand by people from any era and backgrounds, even animals.

Berat_S_

Salam, as a muslim in macedonia, i have a very hard time.
Not because there arent many muslims here (in fact in my city the majority are muslims), but because 99.9% or even all of them are sunnis. The biggest problem i have is that most of them are closed minded and blindly believe and follow whatever they are taught.

Everytime i tell someone i dont follow hadiths, the Quran is all what we need they start calling me a jew, disbeliever and things even worse. (Dont want to use inappropriate words)

The thing that makes me mad is not ehat they call me, but the majority of the youth here dont practice. They dont pray, fast, etc. but no one says anything to them, nor makes a move to change this situation.
I myself try to do my best and i am called a disbeliever and they work hard to change my mind even though they dont provide any evidences to do this. They think i will blindly follow whatever they are telling me lol

Btw i never labell myself as a Quran Alone, i always say i an just a muslim. I only tell people i dont follow hadiths only when the topic is hadiths.
This are the problems i get by telling people i dont follow hadiths P

Man_of_Faith

Salaam,

I am glad you do not follow the conjecture, Berat. Do not fall prey to their steadfastness in trying to divert your from the Path. Rather be called names and harassed or even killed than submitting to their teachings, but you might try to conceal your Faith if it is pointless to reveal it. Calling yourself Muslim is a good thing I think. I do not use another title myself unless I say "I believe in God" without mentioning the word Muslim as it sadly has a negative connotation here.

God bless you

SarahY

Salam sis,

I think you?re overreacting. I didn?t say you said they?re all bad nor that all Quran aloners are good. I was merely conveying an opinion.

I think and I emphasis think, that there is much negativity in general and life seems to be us vs them or vice versa.

I said ?kind of hypocritical?. The reason why I said that is because a person who wants to preach religious beliefs yet claim they?re not of those principles or identity seems rather odd.

Thanks for clarifying your opinion

Sorry if you think I misunderstood you

Salam

Keri

I could also say if someone asks me if I am a Muslim "What do you mean bro?" "Can you explain what does Muslim mean to you? - because there are so many strange ideas about this word, so I am not sure what exactly are you asking about. Tell me first what do YOU think the Muslim mean and I will answer whether it is me or not!" )

in_awe

but you might try to conceal your Faith if it is pointless to reveal it. Calling yourself Muslim is a good thing I think. I do not use another title myself unless I say "I believe in God" without mentioning the word Muslim as it sadly has a negative connotation here.

Exactly my sentiments. bravo

Man_of_Faith

Exactly my sentiments. bravo

Most people miss the point that what Islam is about the most is behavior. I can repeat that endless times but people seem to deny that it is one of the main aspects of Islam.

There is a reason why God repeats about being good dozens of time throughout the Qur'an.

Peace

Al-Azhar

When asked I say I'm muslim or that my family is muslim to those who are not muslim. I am not 'out' to anyone within the muslim community as a Quran Alone believer.

Also, I have thought about calling myself 'Abrahamic'. God says follow Abraham and Judaism, Christianity and Islam are known as the Abrahamic faiths, so maybe that's another way of describing who I am and what I believe in.