The Islamic Identity

We are grateful to the Glorified Allah

محمد صادق في الأربعاء ١٨ - فبراير - ٢٠٠٩ ١٢:٠٠ صباحاً

mportant matter that concerns us all. It is the matter of belonging to Islam and verifies our Islamic identity. Belonging to this religion? How could it be achieved? And how could we verify our Islamic Identity? What are the facts that help us to achieve these goals? And what are the matters that hinder our way and deprive us from reaching these goals? 
All these important questions need straight answers from every one of us. This is the case because it is a vital issue that faces us today and will continue to face our children the new generation in the future. So let's give it the right amount of focused study instead of being satisfied with quick and brief answers. And instead of issuing superficial and emotional solutions that will never lead to fruitful results. 
The matter of belonging to Islam and the Islamic identity on our personal and public lives is an important matter as important as the deen (religion) itself. An effort is made in this article to focus some light on some points of these matters. The way is open for everyone to share in this discussion. What is the Islamic identity that we have to seek to verify and protect? It is just to belong to Islam by name? Or it is just the maintenance of some legal mandatory duties such as prayers, fasting, zakat (due to the poor) and so on? Or is it just the hijab (cover) of Muslim women? In fact it is all of this and more that constitutes this Islamic Identity and defines its features. 
Actually, we can specify its meaning with accuracy if we refer to the expression "Islamic Identity" itself. That is the following and the submission to the order of Allah and his forbidding in every matter big or small. Allah said in surat Al-Bagarah, (verse 208), translated as, 
“O ye who believe! Come, all of you, into submission (unto Him); and follow not the footsteps of the devil; he is an open enemy for you.” And also Allah said in surat An-Nisaa’, (verse 59, 60), translated as, 
“O you who believe! obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority from among you; then if you quarrel about anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you believe in Allah and the last day; this is better and very good in the end.” 
And then He said: “Have you not seen those who assert that they believe in what has been revealed to you and what was revealed before you? They desire to summon one another to the judgment of the Evil one, though they were commanded to deny him, and the Evil one desires to lead them astray into a remote error. "
The complete application of Islam in our individual and social life does not imply by any means to abandon the contemporary evolved issues and the modern inventions and stick back to the elementary methods that were available during the first era of Islam 1400 years ago. Actually that is not what is meant to be. Some people doubt this explanation due to ignorance of the religion of Allah; where as the religion of Allah is innocent from people's doubts and their vague imaginations. On the contrary, the completion of the Islamic Identity is achieved by having the Muslims cope with the new modern civilizations at their time and take whatever is beneficial and avoid whatever is harmful. 
Allah had described our prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) In the Torah and the Gospel in surat Al-Araf, (verse 157), translated as, 
“Those who follow the Messenger-Prophet, the Ummi, whom they find written down with them in the Taurat and the Injeel enjoins them good and forbids them evil,…..” So every good thing of the products of modern civilizations is lawful to us, and all harmful things are unlawful. And this is the way to judge these matters. 
The complete following of the religion of Allah and verifying the Islamic identity is actually following Allah and his prophet (S.A.W.) only and nothing else. So Allah makes the law and the prophet (S.A.W.) told us these laws. Allah gave us Islam as a complete religion that needs no addition at all. So, be careful to stop any addition to the religion of Allah. This is required even if good intention is behind this addition. And those who try to add new things to Islam whether it is habits or traditions of nations. Are actually adding strange ideas that do not belong to Islam. 
Yes,  it is not wrong for an individual or a group to be influenced by habits or traditions, which they were raised upon. If these traditions are not against the orders of Allah and his messenger. But the vital, dangerous mistake is to introduce these strange habits and traditions into the religion of Allah, where by the introducers of these ideas apply them as part of Islam and ask others to apply and respect them. Adding on strange ideas to our religion is equivalent to removing part of it. Hence it is unfair and is considered an attack on the religion. 
Inviting others, whether consciously or unconsciously to habits we are used in our countries and societies back home, is unfair towards others.
There should be an accurate distinction and a clear separation between the laws of Allah we are ordered to follow and the habits and traditions we practice. Otherwise, trust will be lost and the shining image of Islam will be distorted while we think we are doing a fine job. 
The distinction between the mixed up matters is simple and clear. This is the case because the scale is well established and had neither substituted nor modified. This scale is to expose all matters big or small to the book of Allah . 
Also Allah said in surat Ash shura, (verse 10), translated as, 
“And in whatever thing you disagree, the judgment thereof is (in) Allah's (hand); that is Allah, my Lord, on Him do I rely and to Him do I turn time after time.” 
By doing so we filter the strange attached ideas out of the religion of Allah. On the other hand matters with no clear-cut evidence, each knowledgeable person has his own opinion by which he is convinced. At the same time he cannot force anyone to follow what Allah and his prophet (S.A.W.) did not force to be apply. 
Allah warns us from this mixing up of matters by saying in surat An-Nahl, (verse 116), translated as, 
"And say not concerning that which you tongue put forth falsely: "this is lawful and is this forbidden," so as to invent lies against Allah. Verily, those who invent lies against Allah will never prosper." 
So without this scale and without referring to Allah and His prophet (S.A.W.) the Islamic Identity and its reality will be lost between the unserious appliers of the law of Allah who abandoned his orders and between the matters mixers who try to add to the religion of Allah strange habits and opinions. 
So let's keep the duties in our religion with our brothers and sisters, our families and children and with all people around us. Let's convey the real shining and pure image of Islam as was delivered to our prophet (S.A.W.) and let's listen to Allah's warning and saying in surat Al-Anfal, (verse 27), translated as, 
“O you who believe! be not unfaithful to Allah and the Messenger, nor be unfaithful to your trusts while you know.” 
To insure the correct process of protecting the Islamic identity more knowledge and acquaintance with Islam is very important. Also more Islamic behavior is needed in our daily life. So let's get started by cooperation and let's establish a serious step towards the building path to build our individual and social life aided with Allah’s guidance. This way we achieve and are proud of the Islamic Identity. 
Allah said in surat At-Tawbah, (verse 105), translated as, 
"And say (O Muhammad) Do deeds! Allah will see your deeds, and (so will) His Messenger and the believers. And you will be brought back to the All-Knower of the unseen and the seen. Then He will inform you of what you used to do." 
                                                               Qur'an, Peace, and Justice

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