Can a non-Muslim be a muslim?
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Salam alaikum.
Copying here from my blog
The word ?muslim? is nowadays used as a label. It has become a cultural thing (like Islamic art, Islamic architecture etc). If you are born in a family labeled ?Muslim?, you automatically become one. The word is now used for the so-called followers of Al-Quran, or those who hold the book "sacred".
But that?s not how Al-Quran has used the word ?muslim?. On the contrary, according to Al-Quran, a muslim is the one who submits to the law of God, even without Al-Quran. Yes, you can be a muslim even before coming across Al-Quran, if you had already submitted to God?s law.
Al-Quran calls such people ?those who are given al-kitaab/kitaabillah by God?
28/52 Those to whom We gave al-kitaab from before this, they will believe in it.
28/53 And when it is recited to them, they say "We believe in it. Surely it is the truth from our Lord. Indeed, we were already muslimeen/submitters from before it." -
Interesting though I don't think the verses are in relation to the people of our times?? unless the people who believe and submit to God have not yet come across the Quran??
I always perceived people who believe and submit to God as "mu'mineen" and people who believe and submit to God and follow the way of the Quran as "Muslims".. that's how I have known things though I could be wrong.
The word ?muslim? is nowadays used as a label. It has become a cultural thing (like Islamic art, Islamic architecture etc). If you are born in a family labeled ?Muslim?, you automatically become one. The word is now used for the so-called followers of Al-Quran, or those who hold the book "sacred".
Maybe you are brought up as a "Muslim" ultimately you make the choices and choose whether you feel it as the truth or not. though people having the names such as "Muhammad" "Ahmed" "Omar" "Khalid" automatically associate you as a Muslim because they are Muslim names.. which can be a bad thing if these people don't portray proper Islamic conduct.
(sorry if I'm going off topic)
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Interesting though I don't think the verses are in relation to the people of our times??
They are.
unless the people who believe and submit to God have not yet come across the Quran??
Thats what I said about people who submit
...Yes, you can be a muslim even before coming across Al-Quran, if you had already submitted to God?s law.
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I always perceived people who believe and submit to God as "mu'mineen" and people who believe and submit to God and follow the way of the Quran as "Muslims".. that's how I have known things though I could be wrong.
It is wrong because it would mean that there was no muslim before the revelation of al-quran. But we know that Ibrahim and the prophets were also muslim. They didn't have al-quran.
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Peace be upon you,
The word "muslim" means "one who is at peace/peaceful".....anyone who manifests that nature is described as "muslim". This word has been taken out of context and made a Title...It is not a title but a relative description...which is why the God warns "do not die except as a muslim"....meaning that we go in and out of this state relative to our behavior.
No matter what title one gives oneself or others, they can still be "muslim".