Let our name be "AHAD"
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The question is what purpose a label should have!
Is the purpose to distinguish between groups? I thought we were not supposed to divide into groups.
Is the purpose to describe our inner intentions and values? Well, in every group you will find the best and the worst sort of people... so labels are pretty useless for this aswell! You can't judge a person from his label... it's just not accurate!
So why do we need a label? Why? Even descriptions like "peaceful one" or "peace promoter" can mean anything. Maybe a rigid Taliban thinks he is promoting peace. It's all relative.
We should drop the focus on labels, and just focus on being humans, making it better for our fellow humans... if we don't feel we are all one family, the human beings, we will never succeed in peace. Divisions and exclusive groupings ruins it from the start. When we label someone, or ourselves, we don't give them a chance. Everyone deserves a chance to prove themselves, so let's not label eachother. If we so desperately need labels, then why not resort to groupings which do not so easily result in genocide and war, such as biker, trainspotter, enterpreneur, ornithologist, garden-lover, negotiator, party princess, couch potatoe, exercise freak, computer whiz...
Peace Zulf,
The problem is people will label you no matter what. My hope and intention was to put a name out that has some meaning and that we by our actions could fill with good meaning. brickwall
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Peace to all,
another great post peace4life, I too have tried to argue the Quran alone position in a chatroom and was usually attacked and told I was being misled by Satan, so I asked if satan leads us to the Quran and they were dumbfounded, I said wouldnt satan only be able to lead us astray by hadeeth but never to the Quran ans a few agreed but most just called me names and warned me to change.
I also pray 5 times a day seperately, I dont think this is too much for us to do considering everything we have been given by God for nothing, its literally the least I can do, I would even pray more if the Quran suggested it.
Kurt
Peace Kurt,
I wish one day to be able to make such a defining comment. That must have opened some minds to actual thinking and questioning yes
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I think of my self as a Muslim. However, what I see as Islam is so unbelievably different to virtually every other "Muslim" (basically every "Muslim" bar those on this site and a few other people) that to tell others I'm a Muslim would be like a mainstream Christian telling other people that he's a Satanist.
Therefore I am opting for the name Hanif when answering those who only know about muhammadanism (sectarian "Islam".
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Peace all,
As brother Nadeem has excellently said, deeds/actions are more important than words/names. One can search for the numerous references to "good works" and "good doers" in the Qur'aan.
"Ahad" has been used in the Qur'aan as descriptive attribute of The God, and not of the believers.
Calling ourselves "Ahad" would be nonsensical, and "Ahadie" would be similar to "Allahism".
Let us see what The God's message is concerning this
2132 And Abraham enjoined his sons and Jacob "O my sons, God has selected the system for you, so do not die except as ones who have submitted (muslimoon)."
3102 O you who believe, revere God as He deserves to be revered, and do not die except as ones who have submitted (muslimoon).
5111 "And I inspired the disciples that you shall believe in Me and My messenger; they said "We believe, and bear witness that we have submitted (muslimoon).""
6163 "He has no partner, and it is to this that I was commanded, and I am the first of those who have submitted (muslimeen)."
7126 "And you are only seeking revenge on us because we believed in our Lord's signs when they came to us. Our Lord, provide us with patience, and let us die as submitters (muslimeen)."
1072 "But if you turn away, then I have not asked you for any reward, for my reward is with God. And I have been commanded to be of those who have submitted (muslimeen)."
1090 And We helped the Children of Israel cross the sea, and Pharaoh and his soldiers followed them out of hatred and animosity. But when he was certain to drown, he said "I believe that there is no god except the One in whom the Children of Israel believe, and I am of those who have submitted (muslimeen)."
12101 "My Lord, You have given me sovereignty and taught me the interpretations of what is narrated. Initiator of the heavens and Earth, You are my protector in this world and the Hereafter. Let me die as one who has submitted (musliman), and join me with the good doers."
1689 And the Day We send to every nation a witness against them from themselves, and We have brought you as a witness against these. And We have sent down to you the Scripture as a clarification for all things, and a guide and mercy and good tidings to those who have submitted (muslimeen).
16102 Say "The Holy Spirit has sent it down from your Lord with truth, so that those who believe will be strengthened, and as a guidance and good news for those who have submitted (muslimeen)."
2731 ""Do not be arrogant toward me and come to me as submitters (muslimeen).""
2791 "I have been ordered to serve the Lord of this land that He has made restricted, and to Him are all things, and I have been ordered to be of those who submit (muslimeen)."
3912 "And I was commanded to be the first of those who submit (muslimeen)."
4133 And who is better in saying than one who invites to God, and does good works, and says "I am one of those who have submitted (muslimeen)."
4615 And We enjoined the human being to honor his parents. His mother bore him with hardship, gave birth to him in hardship, and his bearing and weaning lasts thirty months. So that, when he has reached his independence, and he has reached forty years, he says "My Lord, direct me to appreciate the blessings You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents, and to do righteousness that pleases You. And let my progeny be righteous. I have repented to You; I am of those who have submitted (muslimeen)."
AND FINALLY
2278 And strive in the cause of God its truly deserved striving. He is the One who has chosen you, and He has made no hardship for you in the system, the creed of your father Abraham; He is the One who named you 'those who have submitted' (muslimeen) from before as well as in this. So let the messenger be witness over you and you be witness over the people. So uphold the communion and contribute towards betterment and hold tight to God, He is your patron. What an excellent Patron, and what an excellent Supporter.
In the above translations, "became peaceful", or "made peace" can be substituted for "submitted", and "peacemaker" or "peaceful" can be substituted for "submitter".
Remember .... muslim is not a title but a description and one can use this description for oneself only if qualified by one's deeds.
Peace.
Very good post. I agree...
I have a question regarding the origins of the description "Muslim". Many people on here say that Ibraheem gave us (as a group) the title, but the Scriptures say
"And strive in the cause of God its truly deserved striving. He is the One who has chosen you, and He has made no hardship for you in the system, the creed of your father Abraham; He is the One who named you 'those who have submitted' from before as well as in this. So let the messenger be witness over you and you be witness over the people. So uphold the communion and contribute towards betterment and hold tight to God, He is your patron. What an excellent Patron, and what an excellent Supporter." (Al-Qur'aan 227
Maybe I'm missing something here, but to me, this looks like GOD HIMSELF gave us the title of Muslims, not Ibraheem. It's evident because it says "from before as well as in this" - Ibraheem couldn't have named the ones "before" and "in this" as Muslims, since he was dead long before Mohammed delivered the Message of Al-Qur'aan. That's just my take on this Scripture, though...
Peace.