Let our name be "AHAD"
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Peace to all,
G Omar, what does ahad mean ? I agree that we should try to have some type of word to identify what we believe but, we should be careful to use anything that may restrict us or be interpreted as sectarian, I like True Islam or Divine Islam, or even just using the traditional Islam and muslim, since that is the original term , it was corupted by others , not us, we should try to reclaim it and purify its true meaning.
KUrt
Salaams Kurt,
Ahad means one or the one and o.c. refers to God as in Qol Huwallahu Ahad..... The problem with words like Islam, Muslim etc. is that these concepts have become so negatively charged that they instantly prejudice people with a set of negative thoughts about you and what you have to say. Then you have to wear down their prejudice before they will even hear you. Not a good start for any relationship wouldn't you say? First let's make a good name for ourselves as true believers by our words and actions only then will it be useful to add Islam and Muslim.
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in another religious forum i frequent, i list my religion as Hanif, the term used to describe Ibrahim in the Quran. it is sometimes translated as "monotheist", but more literally means "one who inclines (to the right way)"
Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but he was a monotheist who submitted; he was not of those who set up partners. 367
i love Ahadi though, too.
http//wahiduddin.net/words/99_pages/ahad_67.htm
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I think quranonly should stick to Muslim, it is given in the Qur'an, there is no reason why they should relinquish it for the benefit of others that associate other books to the Qur'an. Let these change their denomination if they will. If now they say that Quranists are not muslims if the quranists themselves change it they are confirming that yes, they are not muslims.
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Our word would be "monotheist" and nothing else. "Muslim" is a meangingless term, as is "ahad" (I had? ) and "hanif".
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If we do not refer to ourselves with one or two words, others, perhaps our enemies will refer to us with names that we would not like. Thus, it is important to use a word to describe our theological and philosophical position.
I have occasionally described myself as "monotheist," or "rational monotheist" or "islamic reformist" or simply "muslim."
I think, we should stick to the word muslim (those who peacefully surrender himself to God alone) with no qualification since we are advised by God to do so 3918. Besides, those who associate others to God call themselves Sunni or Sunni Muslim, Shiite or Shiite Muslim, Sufi or Salafi, etc.
So, a am one of the muslims, a reformed one, inshallah.
Peace,
Edip -
Peace Edip,
It's okay to have a name, but nowadays that's the only thing Muslims have and seem to care about. That's not okay. I want us to be known as more than the shallow traits Muslims themselves overemphasize "I don't eat pork", "I don't drink alcohol", "I pray x times a day" etc. Islam is so much more, and there are greater concerns in Islam than not eating pork.
The traits I believe followers of the Quran should be known for are described in the article below.
http//free-minds.org/articles/quranic/etiquette.htmBut those are traits carried, or can be carried, by virtually anyone. No one needs to know or pledge alliance to Islam to be doing those things. And this is for some, a big problem. If we do things that everyone else can or does, then we're not special anymore. We won't be distinct anymore. We wont have our own identity anymore. Those are the concerns that force people to reduce their faith to the aforementioned peculiarities so they can be different, better, than everyone else. The peculiarities aren't themselves hinders to a brotherhood among man, but they become so when they are overemphasized "You listen to music, you kafir!".
Hmm. I have no idea if I've made my point yet. ???
If I haven't made it, here it is A Muslim's identity should not be his peculiar traits, but his identity should be his exercise of the natural inclination put by god in all of us. He should be known for his good deeds, not his exotic rituals. When people see him, they should think "That's a good man!", the thought that he calls himself a Muslim should arrive at a much later point.
Peace,
Nadeem
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That's pretty cool thinking there Nadeem. I agree with you, we should be more concerned with what we do rather than what we call ourselves as the latter serves in reinforcing herd mentality/borg complexes.
When people see him, they should think "That's a good man!", the thought that he calls himself a Muslim should arrive at a much later point.
Exactly. There is a flip side to this as well, which is people should not be bothered by what he chooses to call himself, rather with what he does etc. Both sides have people wanting to change because of the "other side". Speaking of which I'm reminded of a japanese proverb, "The reverse side also has a reverse side". Peace.
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Peace, i agree with you omar. Using the word 'Muslim' puts up in the same basket as those who set up the prophet as partner of God, those celebrate eid, those who follow hadiths. Whatever some might say, that it is an inferiority complex not to want to be called muslims, check any encyclopedia in libraries, muslims are those who follow sunna. MUSLIMS are those who persecute those who reject hadith, MUSLIMS are those who say that to follow quran alone equals disbelief.
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Peace, i agree with you omar. Using the word 'Muslim' puts up in the same basket as those who set up the prophet as partner of God, those celebrate eid, those who follow hadiths. Whatever some might say, that it is an inferiority complex not to want to be called muslims, check any encyclopedia in libraries, muslims are those who follow sunna. MUSLIMS are those who persecute those who reject hadith, MUSLIMS are those who say that to follow quran alone equals disbelief.
HUMANS are those who follow sunna, HUMANS are those who persecute those who reject hadeeth, etc.
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I think quranonly should stick to Muslim, it is given in the Qur'an, there is no reason why they should relinquish it for the benefit of others that associate other books to the Qur'an. Let these change their denomination if they will. If now they say that Quranists are not muslims if the quranists themselves change it they are confirming that yes, they are not muslims.
Good and valid point, but we are not known today as the Muslims but as Quranists etc. It's that name I would change.
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If we do not refer to ourselves with one or two words, others, perhaps our enemies will refer to us with names that we would not like. Thus, it is important to use a word to describe our theological and philosophical position.
I have occasionally described myself as "monotheist," or "rational monotheist" or "islamic reformist" or simply "muslim."
I think, we should stick to the word muslim (those who peacefully surrender himself to God alone) with no qualification since we are advised by God to do so 3918. Besides, those who associate others to God call themselves Sunni or Sunni Muslim, Shiite or Shiite Muslim, Sufi or Salafi, etc.
So, a am one of the muslims, a reformed one, inshallah.
Salaams Edip.
I'm a great fan of your articles and usually tend to agree with you, however the idea here is not to change what we are before God (Muslims) but rather to change what others call us. The hope being that ears would not be clogged to our message by prejudice against Muslims.
Peace,
Edip -
Peace,
I suggest that we do not reduce our identity as students of the Quran to a simple entry in the dictionary. Let us be known to the world, and to each other, by our deeds.
Nadeem
I wish we could do just that. The problem now is that we being Muslims are known for the Misdeeds of Terrorists and stoners of women and Taliban and others who call themselves Muslims. I want a clean slate to write our good deeds on.
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Peace, i agree with you omar. Using the word 'Muslim' puts up in the same basket as those who set up the prophet as partner of God, those celebrate eid, those who follow hadiths. Whatever some might say, that it is an inferiority complex not to want to be called muslims, check any encyclopedia in libraries, muslims are those who follow sunna. MUSLIMS are those who persecute those who reject hadith, MUSLIMS are those who say that to follow quran alone equals disbelief.
Peace Tarikh and grateful for your support.
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That's pretty cool thinking there Nadeem. I agree with you, we should be more concerned with what we do rather than what we call ourselves as the latter serves in reinforcing herd mentality/borg complexes.
Exactly. There is a flip side to this as well, which is people should not be bothered by what he chooses to call himself, rather with what he does etc. Both sides have people wanting to change because of the "other side". Speaking of which I'm reminded of a japanese proverb, "The reverse side also has a reverse side". Peace.
OK Try to exchange the word Muslim for Nazi. Still think it doesn't matter what we call ourselves? How about Islamofascists?
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OK Try to exchange the word Muslim for Nazi. Still think it doesn't matter what we call ourselves? How about Islamofascists?
If muslim in the quran = "Islamofascists" or "Nazis", you'd have a point. One can call themselves whatever, it's the deeds etc that count. Simply put, in day to day living, I don't see the value of trying to label myself differently. I would prefer that religion gets erased from passports for example, and that when people ask me what religion I follow...thats the best opportunity to describe one's beliefs further/discuss in certain circumstances. I also don't think that those calling themselves Muslims/Christians/Jewish etc are what they are, its what they do that makes them what they are and no amount of names or name changes can erase that.
With that said, if it makes sense to one to use a catch-all term, by all means go ahead.
Previous threads (there are more if one searches)
http//free-minds.org80/forum/index.php?topic=12954.0
http//free-minds.org80/forum/index.php?topic=9149.0
http//free-minds.org80/forum/index.php?topic=13136.0
http//free-minds.org80/forum/index.php?topic=11740.0
http//free-minds.org80/forum/index.php?topic=12867.0
http//free-minds.org80/forum/index.php?topic=13977.0
http//free-minds.org80/forum/index.php?topic=9417.0
http//free-minds.org80/forum/index.php?topic=13896.0
http//free-minds.org80/forum/index.php?topic=14046.0
http//free-minds.org80/forum/index.php?topic=13007.0