THE VAST MAJORITY OF MUSLIMS...ARE NOT MUSLIM AT ALL?
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PEACE, TO ALL,
LAYTH wrote In light of all the energy being displayed in the forum discussions, I would like to attempt to 'harness' such energy towards a fundamental question What Constitutes a Muslim?
Here is a list for discussion on what you may think constitutes a Muslim
- Believing in and upholding the commands of 6151-153.
- Believing in and upholding all the social and legal laws of the Quran as per 37.
- Believing that the traditional interpretations and rituals must be followed.
- Believing in the Quran's text (word for word, verse for verse).
- Believing that messengers will come after Mohammed.
- Believing in the number 19 as a sign of the Quran.
- Believing that 2 verses (128&129) must be removed from the Quran.
I would like to take the discussion in a little different direction and state that, per ayat 6116, those who identify as Muslims, are, in fact, not Muslims, but are astray/mushriks.
6116 Were you to follow the majority of those on earth, they will lead you away from the way of Allah. They follow nothing but conjecture they do nothing but lie.
Given that Al-Quran is the clear and indisputable guidance/knowledge from Allah, the definiton for muslim then, is/must be unmistakeable quite clear, otherwise, how would know if one is a muslim or not? When we look at the ayat 2131, Allah, tells Ibrahim to surrender which he does
2131 When his Lord said unto him Surrender! he said I have surrendered to the Lord of the Worlds.
2131 Ith qala lahu rabbuhu aslim qala aslamtu lirabbi alAAalameen
Next, Allah says that Ibrahim was not of the polytheists , that is, he did not associate/give partners to Allah in his guidance.
Main Entry SHIRK/SHARIKA to be a partner share polytheism idolatry making association or partner with Allah to be a companion. The Dictionary of the Holy Quran, pg. 288
2135 And they say Be Jews or Christians, you will be on the right course. Say Nay! (we follow) the millet/creed of Ibrahim, the Hanif, and he was not one of the polytheists.
337 Ibrahim was not a Jew nor a Christian but he was (an) upright (man), a Muslim, and he was not one of the polytheists.
395 Say Allah has spoken the truth, therefore follow the millet/creed of Ibrahim, the upright one; and he was not one of the polytheists.
238 We said Go forth from this (state) all; so surely there will come to you a guidance from Me, then whoever follows My guidance, no fear shall come upon them, nor shall they grieve
Main Entry HADA to guide show with kindnes the right path lead to the right path follow right path until one reaches the goal.
Main Entry GUIDANCE/Al-QURAN the instructions on how to live a righteous life in this world (especially, not to do shirk) , so that, one may successfuly pass the test of conduct , so that, one may avoid the destiny of Hell and gain the destiny of Paradise .
It is apparent that, giving partners to Allah/associating things with Allah, is to follow someone else's guidance either exclusive to Allah or in conjuction with Allah. As with muslim, then, the definition of polytheist/mushrik, likewise, is/must be unmistakeable/quite clear , otherwise, how would know if one is a polytheist or not?
From the above ayats and definitions then, the definition of a muslim is
Main Entry MUSLIM one who surrenders his/her will to Allah and renounces polytheism/not a polytheist/one one gives partners to Allah is guidance.
Allah says
6116 Were you to follow the majority of those on earth, they will lead you away from the way of Allah. They follow nothing but conjecture they do nothing but lie.
With the above ayat in mind then, the vast majority of those on the earth certaintly aren't muslims, because Allah says they are astray. They are astray because they take others either exclusive to Allah or in conjuction with Allah for their guidance. The "majority of those on earth" must also include those who identify themselves as muslim, because they are not muslims at all, but polytheists/mushriks, hence, are astray. The vast majority of those who identify themselves as muslims are astray, because they take for their guidance things like the so-called sunnah of the Prophet and the hadiths of men along with Allah's Guidance--Al-Quran.
Conclusion Allah demands that only He be served, that is, only His Guidance be follwed. Once an individual takes two or more things for one's guidance, then one cannot claim to be a muslim and is in fact a mushrik.
Looking forward to your replies.
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Salaam!
Can I just ask did you post under a different name before on this forum as your style of posting is very similar to a previous poster but I've forgotten his name. I enjoyed his posts nevertheless.
Now onto this topic; I agree with you but what would constitute guidance??Is guidance only the Quran or is guidance everywhere from God such as the earth and heavens and all around us. I personally think God's guidance is personal to everyone and I personally think its not only manifests in only the Quran but wherever there is "TRUTH" around us. Just something to debate on but I would like other peoples insight into this topic.
PEACE
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Conclusion Allah demands that only He be served, that is, only His Guidance be follwed. Once an individual takes two or more things for one's guidance, then one cannot claim to be a muslim and is in fact a mushrik.
If that's what a 'muslim' means, whats the difference between a 'muslim' and 'haneefan musliman' (3/67) ?
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Salaams PB,
YOU SAID THE VAST MAJORITY OF MUSLIMS...ARE NOT MUSLIM AT ALL?
Shouldn?t we say rather THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE...ARE NOT MUSLIM AT ALL?
Second I think we are misunderstanding what Shirk is according to its definition in the quran.
Would appreciate your view on this,and then may be we can start the ball rolling as its said.
Salaams.
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PEACE, 2PAC NOTTS
Can I just ask did you post under a different name before on this forum as your style of posting is very similar to a previous poster but I've forgotten his name. I enjoyed his posts nevertheless.
Yes. I'm pleased, all praises due to Allah, that you enjoy/ed my posts D .
Now onto this topic; I agree with you but what would constitute guidance??Is guidance only the Quran or is guidance everywhere from God such as the earth and heavens and all around us. I personally think God's guidance is personal to everyone and I personally think its not only manifests in only the Quran but wherever there is "TRUTH" around us. Just something to debate on but I would like other peoples insight into this topic.
Allah says this
2185 The month of Ramazan is that in which the Quran was revealed, a guidance to men and clear proofs of the guidance and the criterion...that you should exalt the greatness of Allah for His having guided you and that you may give thanks.
Allah, is making at least a couple of points in the above ayat
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That He revealed Al-Quran as the guidance for mankind.
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That He guides mankind and guides mankind through His Quran.
What's important is this, there are only two destinies awaiting mankind--Heaven or Hell. Remember now, the threat which looms before man is not Death, because we all must die, but disbelief and Hell. Guidance, then, can only be how to obtain Paradise and avoid Hell. The creation, in and of itself, does not guide, only Allah guides (the pagans are known for using taking creation as a god). If the creation could guide, then, creation would be a god besides Allah. Now, does Allah use the creation as His instrument, like Al-Quran, to guide mankind, well, it my understanding that He does, however, the heavens and the earth are not sufficient as instruments to guide, otherwise, the prophets, messengers and books would not have been necessary.
Looking forward to your reply.
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PEACE, MQURAN,
Conclusion Allah demands that only He be served, that is, only His Guidance be follwed. Once an individual takes two or more things for one's guidance, then one cannot claim to be a muslim and is in fact a mushrik.
If that's what a 'muslim' means, whats the difference between a 'muslim' and 'haneefan musliman' (3/67) ?
Haneefan, in my understanding, means to be determined/straight foward/direct.
Looking forward to your reply.
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PEACE, MQURAN,
Salaams PB,
YOU SAID THE VAST MAJORITY OF MUSLIMS...ARE NOT MUSLIM AT ALL?
Shouldn?t we say rather THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE...ARE NOT MUSLIM AT ALL?
Second I think we are misunderstanding what Shirk is according to its definition in the quran.
Would appreciate your view on this,and then may be we can start the ball rolling as its said.
Salaams.
Actually, I wanted the title of the post to read THE VAST MAJORITY OF SO-CALLED MUSLIMS...ARE NOT MUSLIM AT ALL. I wanted the so-called Muslim to understand that, they too are included in the vast majority of people.
I take it then that you do not agree with how I am using shirk and believe I am not being consistent with how Al-Quran definesit. Please elaborate, thanks.
Looking forward to your reply.
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Priest Bokmei, is it possible to be a muslim without being a mumin ?
Define for me mumin, thanks.
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PEACE, MQURAN,
A mumin is one who has conviction in Allah, yaumul akhir, the rusul, kutub and malaika.
This is my understanding as well. To answer your question then, no, it is not possible to be a mumin and not be a muslim.
Better yet is Quran's definition, 3/67 phrases it thus haneefan muslimaan wa maa kaana minal musyrikin. Haneefan muslim, never was he one who associates.
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Do you find my definition haneefan to be inconsistent with Al-Quran's?
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Do you agree the vast majority of those, who identify themselves as muslims, are, in fact, not muslim at all?
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Peace PB,
This is my understanding as well. To answer your question then, no, it is not possible to be a mumin and not be a muslim
Agreed, but the opposite isn't true. You can be a muslim without being mumin (49/14).
- Do you find my definition haneefan to be inconsistent with Al-Quran's?
This is why I highlighted this concept in the first place. You said
Conclusion Allah demands that only He be served, that is, only His Guidance be follwed. Once an individual takes two or more things for one's guidance, then one cannot claim to be a muslim and is in fact a mushrik.I don't agree to this. I think you can be a muslim (but not necessarily mu'min) and still have the shirik disease. However, once you're HANEEFAN musliman, then no, you then worship only Allah.
- Do you agree the vast majority of those, who identify themselves as muslims, are, in fact, not muslim at all?
I don't know, I only know the people i've met who label themselves 'muslim'. Then yes, by quranic definition, they're not muslim as far as i can tell.
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PEACE, MUQURAN.
Agreed, but the opposite isn't true. You can be a muslim without being mumin (49/14).
Regardless, by definition, a muslim is one who surrenders to Allah, that is, the indivdual agrees not to be a polytheist. Mumin, that is, conviction, comes later. One, however, cannot reach the status of mumin until one is first a muslim and a muslim does not take other than Allah as his/her guidance.
PBM 1. Do you find my definition haneefan to be inconsistent with Al-Quran's?
This is why I highlighted this concept in the first place. You said
PBM Conclusion Allah demands that only He be served, that is, only His Guidance be follwed. Once an individual takes two or more things for one's guidance, then one cannot claim to be a muslim and is in fact a mushrik.
I don't agree to this. I think you can be a muslim (but not necessarily mu'min) and still have the shirik disease. However, once you're HANEEFAN musliman, then no, you then worship only Allah.
I don't agree. Abraham, per ayat 2131, says that he surrenders to Allah and that made him a muslim at that point. In ayat 2135, Allah defines Abraham as not being one of the mushriks/polytheists. Now, in ayat 367, Abraham is defined as haneefan muslim and not a mumin. Remember now, the operative term here is muslim and not mumin and Abraham is not labelled a mumin in these ayats. Do you believe that although Abraham is not labelled a mumin in these ayats that, he had the disease of shirk? Nothing supports that notion at all. Haneefan, that is, determined, suggests that he uninhibited in his muslimness. Can we legitimately equate haneefan muslim and mumin? If so, why does Allah make a disticntion in these terms?
PBM 2. Do you agree the vast majority of those, who identify themselves as muslims, are, in fact, not muslim at all?
I don't know, I only know the people i've met who label themselves 'muslim'. Then yes, by quranic definition, they're not muslim as far as i can tell.
No doubt.
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Salaamun alaikum PBM
Regardless, by definition, a muslim is one who surrenders to Allah, that is, the indivdual agrees not to be a polytheist. Mumin, that is, conviction, comes later. One, however, cannot reach the status of mumin until one is first a muslim and a muslim does not take other than Allah as his/her guidance
Disagreed. Please look at this Say "We BELIEVE in God, and in what has been revealed to us and what was revealed to Abraham, Isma'il, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and in (the Books) given to Moses, Jesus, and the prophets, from their Lord We make no distinction between one and another among them, and to God we are MUSLIMEEN (3/84)
PBM Conclusion Allah demands that only He be served, that is, only His Guidance be follwed. Once an individual takes two or more things for one's guidance, then one cannot claim to be a muslim and is in fact a mushrik
Once again, disagreed. A muslim is one who submits. He may still have other dieties which he needs to get rid of like as such his own hawaa (25/43). Only when he's done this can he be 'haneefan muslimaan'.
Musa for example told his people to trust Allah if they are 'muslimeen'. Clearly, if his people were haneefan, he wouldn't need to say this for they would already be in that state.
I don't agree. Abraham, per ayat 2131, says that he surrenders to Allah and that made him a muslim at that point. In ayat 2135, Allah defines Abraham as not being one of the mushriks/polytheists. Now, in ayat 367, Abraham is defined as haneefan muslim and not a mumin. Remember now, the operative term here is muslim and not mumin and Abraham is not labelled a mumin in these ayats. Do you believe that although Abraham is not labelled a mumin in these ayats that, he had the disease of shirk? Nothing supports that notion at all. Haneefan, that is, determined, suggests that he uninhibited in his muslimness. Can we legitimately equate haneefan muslim and mumin? If so, why does Allah make a disticntion in these terms?
No, Ibrahim was called muslim as well as haneef. Therefore he didn't have the disease of shirik. This is different from bani israil who were muslim (as per firaun's recognition in 10/90) but resorted to worshipping the calf after Musa took them across. That's what im trying to get at here. a 'muslim' isnt the same as 'muslim haneefa'. A muslim haneefa truly has achieved the ideal you set.
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Define for me mumin, thanks.
A mumin is one who has conviction in Allah, yaumul akhir, the rusul, kutub and malaika.
This is the traditionalist explanation which is not supported by the reading al-quran.
Did you give your own explanation or did you want to provide the traditional one? -
Really Stephane?
O ye who believe! Believe in God and His Apostle, and the scripture which He hath sent to His Apostle and the scripture which He sent to those before (him). Any who denieth God, His angels, His Books, His Apostles, and the Day of Judgment, hath gone far, far astray (4/136)
Its good to check things before asserting. I've made that mistake myself but its good to always realign one's belief with the book. Hope the verse is clear enough for u )
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Yes really seriously mq!
Really Stephane?
O ye who believe! Believe in God and His Apostle, and the scripture which He hath sent to His Apostle and the scripture which He sent to those before (him). Any who denieth God, His angels, His Books, His Apostles, and the Day of Judgment, hath gone far, far astray (4/136)This verse obviously adresses the current belivers, those with faith; that is to say alla??n 'aman? - and asks them to have faith in God, the carrier of his message etc...
The verse does not imply that alla??n 'aman? is the same thing as m?'m?n, nor does it explain that either one of them IS the one believing in the beliefs stated in that verse, it only encourages them to...
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Joe,
Salaam,
Its good to check things before asserting.
Otherwise we'll end up saying things like Allah said he gave musa tauraat, etc.
out of curiousity - what does the taur?t/tor?h (are hey the same?) have to do with this thread?
kind regards,
St?phane