Why did Islam Spread so Quickly DBQ: Faith, Practice, and Divine Consciousness

Defining True Belief: The Distinctions Between Being Labeled a Muslim and Embodying Islamic Faith

Claiming to be a Muslim and being a Muslim hold two entirely different connotations that must be differentiated. There is a broad sense of being Muslim which is depicted as one who practices the religion of Islam, and often those who are born into Muslim families who are initially labeled as Muslims, such as children born into Christian families, are assumed Christians, etc. 37 Once Identified as a Muslim, how does one transcend into different categories of belief, such as a Mu’min and a Muhsin, and what definitive characteristics are associated with these levels of belief? A Muslim must abide by certain established rules and practices to consider them a true Muslim and separate them from those labeled as a Kafir, or a disbeliever.

Religious perspectives can be broadly categorized into a normative and descriptive approach. A normative perspective on religion is when one claims how things ought to be, such as how religion is meant to be practiced. A descriptive perspective on religion pertains to how things are practiced by insiders of the religion. These two perspectives must possess a balance between one another. As a Muslim, there are ways that certain aspects of Islam are practiced, but one should keep in mind how things should be practiced as well. Each of these questions coincides with, and answers one another, and one is identified as a Muslim through beliefs and practices they must abide by, their Iman and profession to Shahada, and one’s taqwa to God.

Why Did Islam Spread So Quickly Mini Q Answers: An Examination of the Five Pillars and Fundamental Beliefs of Islam

To be a Muslim is to follow the faith of Islam and possess a belief in everything it portrays. “Islam is that you should testify that there is no deity except Allah and that Muhammed is His Messenger, that you should perform salah, pay the Zakah, fast during Ramadan, and perform the Hajj to the House if you are able to do so” (Hadith of Gabriel). These five requirements of being a Muslim constitute the five pillars of Islam. The first pillar is the Shahada, which is a declaration of faith in the Tawhid, or the oneness of God. Islam revolves around a monotheistic perspective on religion which requires one to be in the complete affirmation that there is only one God and to negate all thoughts that would conceive one to believe the possibility of another deity. A very important prayer that conveys this belief is “La Ilaha Illallah” (37:35 of Qur’an), or there is no god but God. The second pillar of Islam is Salah (prayer). The Salah consists of 5 prayers that correspond with the different times of day, which are Fajr (dawn), Dhuhr (noon), Asr (afternoon), Maghrib (evening), and Isha (night). These prayers must all be done with proper form, recitation of verses from the Quran, and one must face towards the Kaaba in Mecca. Prior to each prayer, one must perform Wudu. Wudu is a cleansing of the body which purifies and cleanses the body. Prayers are one’s commandment to God in which one praises him and ultimately confesses their and all’s submission to God. The third pillar of Islam is Zakat (charity). These charitable donations are dependent upon one’s wealth and income. The fourth pillar of Islam is fasting (dawn), which is when one neither eats nor drinks from sunrise to sunset. The fifth pillar of Islam is a pilgrimage (Hijra) to Mecca (Hajj). A Muslim should embark on this pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime to portray worship to Allah. This pilgrimage isn’t a necessity if one cannot afford it or is incapable of embarking on the journey.

Unraveling the Essence of Islam: The Relationship Between Faith, Articles, and Spiritual Transcendence

Moreover, one may question what Islam means. “Islam is the original and true religion for humankind…Religion is “name brand” Islam (with a capital I). But all true religion is “surrender” to God and, thus, Islam is the generic sense (with a small i)” (Page 60 Frederick Denny). This is the basis of the three-part series of transcendence as a Muslim. ‘Islam is that you should testify that there is no deity except Allah and that Muhammed is His Messenger. The foundation is to forever abide by that belief and to perform the rest of the Pillars of Islam. From belief in Islam, one accepts the entirety of its essence, which is to “believe in Allah and His angels and His books and His Messengers and in the Last day, and in Qatar (fate), both in its good and in its evil aspects.” (Hadith of Gabriel). These attributes constitute the six articles of faith. These articles must be not only acknowledged but performed in one’s lifestyle, accompanied by righteous deeds to one’s faith in Allah and to those around you. Iman is closely related to Shahada (faith) because for one to believe in these six articles, one must first have faith in God because it is He who creates what constitutes these articles. Without Shahada in Allah, one may not believe in the six articles, stripping them of Iman. Faith in the name of Allah is the motif for one to perform these acts. Thus, they must coincide in synchrony to deem someone as possessing Iman. One who has fulfilled these six articles is considered a Mu’min. One must first become a Muslim to become a Mu’min. Therefore, all Mu’min are Muslim, but the same doesn’t always hold true and vice versa.

The Path to Ihsan: God-Consciousness, Intention, and the Highest Spiritual Elevation in Islam

These two attributes act as a stairway in which one may achieve that of Ihsan. Ihsan “is that you should save Allah as though you could see Him, for though you cannot see him yet (know that) He sees you” (Hadith of Gabriel). This God consciousness begins to reside within someone, and they begin to act through it. One considers their actions according to God’s judgment, and their performances either align with what God deems just or what would be categorized as a sign of worship to Allah. Islam describes what one should do, and Iman is why one should do it. Ihsan brings these two onto the same spectrum and produces the notion of intention. One’s intention is what guides one to perform these righteous deeds to please Allah. This perfected form of Islam lays a pathway to Heaven as one dedicates their life to paying back their dean (debt) to Allah for his creation and as they bring positivity and exert their faith amongst people and the world. This awareness of Allah is what names one Muhsin. A Muhsin is the highest level of Muslim in which one acts as if Allah is watching and judging every single action one commits.

Distinguishing Faith: Between Muslim Devotion and Kafir Denial

Furthermore, what distinctions depict one as a Muslim or a Kafir? One who claims faith in Tawhid and God’s messages is a Muslim. A kafir is broadly stated to be one who conceives of the truth but chooses to reject it. In relation to the Islamic religion, one who rejects God but doesn’t acknowledge His existence is Katie. One who either believes that there is more than one God or chooses to find doubt in the existence of a deity. One may practice the basic essential acts of a Muslim such as the five pillars but may do these sorts of things in expectancy of worldly rewards or simply to claim to belong to the Islamic religion and the Muslim community. If one commits to the Islamic religion yet performs immoral and religious contradicting sins, they should also be assumed, Kafir. In a real-world atmosphere, this can be compared to an if, then statement. If one performs unjust acts such as a deadly sin, they are considered a Kafir unless they repent from their sins. Some of these sins are polytheism, murder without just cause, magic, and fleeing from battle, to name a few. Another factor that differentiates these two terms is the God-fearing mind state or taqwa. A sense of taqwa should be conveyed through one’s everyday actions. One with taqwa walks and acts in the name of God and is conscious of refraining from practices that would displease the lord. A kafir lacks this sense of consciousness and acts in the way they choose to act, disregarding its correlation with justification in the name of God. One may be a Kafir without even knowing it. They may consider themselves dedicated Muslims, but their actions may not correspond with the word of Allah.

Defining Devotion: The Nuanced Layers of Muslim Identity and Commitment

In conclusion, A Muslim is many things. A Muslim is someone who practices the religion of Islam. A Muslim is one who professes faith in Allah and his creations. A Muslim is one who walks with an aware mind that God always sees them. Claiming to be a Muslim and acting as a Muslim are two entirely different essences. One can claim to be a Muslim because of their belief in Tawhid and performance of the five pillars, but performing sins while professing these claims portrays them as a kafir. Islam is portrayed through one’s beauty, one’s daily worship, one’s god consciousness, and one’s ability to spread righteousness throughout the world. Muslims transcend through different levels of religious spirituality, which escalates from Muslim to Mu’min and then Muhsin, each categorized in their own characteristics. The stronger sense of being a Muslim requires more than the sole basis of proclaiming oneself to be a Muslim but requires one to emulate their belief through their behaviors as well. It is conveyed that one is identified as a Muslim through beliefs and practices they must abide by, their Iman and profession to Shahada, and one’s taqwa to God.

Defining Devotion: The Nuanced Layers of Muslim Identity and Commitment

Claiming to be a Muslim and being a Muslim hold two entirely different connotations that must be differentiated. There is a broad sense of being Muslim which is depicted as one who practices the religion of Islam, and often those who are born into Muslim families who are initially labeled as Muslims, such as children born into Christian families, are assumed Christians, etc. 37 Once Identified as a Muslim, how does one transcend into different categories of belief, such as a Mu’min and a Muhsin, and what definitive characteristics are associated with these levels of belief? A Muslim must abide by certain established rules and practices to consider them a true Muslim and separate them from those labeled as a Kafir, or a disbeliever. Religious perspectives can be broadly categorized into a normative and descriptive approach. A normative perspective on religion is when one claims how things ought to be, such as how religion is meant to be practiced. A descriptive perspective on religion pertains to how things are practiced by insiders of the religion. These two perspectives must possess a balance between one another. As a Muslim, there are ways that certain aspects of Islam are practiced, but one should keep in mind how things should be practiced as well. Each of these questions coincides with, and answers one another, and one is identified as a Muslim through beliefs and practices they must abide by, their Iman and profession to Shahada, and one’s taqwa to God.

Defining Devotion: The Nuanced Layers of Muslim Identity and Commitment

To be a Muslim is to follow the faith of Islam and possess a belief in everything it portrays. “Islam is that you should testify that there is no deity except Allah and that Muhammed is His Messenger, that you should perform salah, pay the Zakah, fast during Ramadan, and perform the Hajj to the House if you are able to do so” (Hadith of Gabriel). These five requirements of being a Muslim constitute the five pillars of Islam. The first pillar is the Shahada, which is a declaration of faith in the Tawhid, or the oneness of God. Islam revolves around a monotheistic perspective on religion which requires one to be in the complete affirmation that there is only one God and to negate all thoughts that would conceive one to believe the possibility of another deity. A very important prayer that conveys this belief is “La Ilaha Illallah” (37:35 of Qur’an), or there is no god but God. The second pillar of Islam is Salah (prayer). The Salah consists of 5 prayers that correspond with the different times of day, which are Fajr (dawn), Dhuhr (noon), Asr (afternoon), Maghrib (evening), and Isha (night). These prayers must all be done with proper form, recitation of verses from the Quran, and one must face towards the Kaaba in Mecca. Prior to each prayer, one must perform Wudu. Wudu is a cleansing of the body which purifies and cleanses the body. Prayers are one’s commandment to God in which one praises him and ultimately confesses their and all’s submission to God. The third pillar of Islam is Zakat (charity). These charitable donations are dependent upon one’s wealth and income. The fourth pillar of Islam is fasting (dawn), which is when one neither eats nor drinks from sunrise to sunset. The fifth pillar of Islam is a pilgrimage (Hijra) to Mecca (Hajj). A Muslim should embark on this pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime to portray worship to Allah. This pilgrimage isn’t a necessity if one cannot afford it or is incapable of embarking on the journey.

Defining Devotion: The Nuanced Layers of Muslim Identity and Commitment

Moreover, one may question what Islam means. “Islam is the original and true religion for humankind…Religion is “name brand” Islam (with a capital I). But all true religion is “surrender” to God and, thus, Islam is the generic sense (with a small i)” (Page 60 Frederick Denny). This is the basis of the three-part series of transcendence as a Muslim. ‘Islam is that you should testify that there is no deity except Allah and that Muhammed is His Messenger. The foundation is to forever abide by that belief and to perform the rest of the Pillars of Islam. From belief in Islam, one accepts the entirety of its essence, which is to “believe in Allah and His angels and His books and His Messengers and in the Last day, and in Qatar (fate), both in its good and in its evil aspects.” (Hadith of Gabriel). These attributes constitute the six articles of faith. These articles must be not only acknowledged but performed in one’s lifestyle, accompanied by righteous deeds to one’s faith in Allah and to those around you. Iman is closely related to Shahada (faith) because for one to believe in these six articles, one must first have faith in God because it is He who creates what constitutes these articles. Without Shahada in Allah, one may not believe in the six articles, stripping them of Iman. Faith in the name of Allah is the motif for one to perform these acts. Thus, they must coincide in synchrony to deem someone as possessing Iman. One who has fulfilled these six articles is considered a Mu’min.

One must first become a Muslim to become a Mu’min. Therefore, all Mu’min are Muslim, but the same doesn’t always hold true and vice versa. These two attributes act as a stairway in which one may achieve that of Ihsan. Ihsan “is that you should save Allah as though you could see Him, for though you cannot see him yet (know that) He sees you” (Hadith of Gabriel). This God consciousness begins to reside within someone, and they begin to act through it. One considers their actions according to God’s judgment, and their performances either align with what God deems just or what would be categorized as a sign of worship to Allah. Islam describes what one should do, and Iman is why one should do it. Ihsan brings these two onto the same spectrum and produces the notion of intention. One’s intention is what guides one to perform these righteous deeds to please Allah. This perfected form of Islam lays a pathway to Heaven as one dedicates their life to paying back their dean (debt) to Allah for his creation and as they bring positivity and exert their faith amongst people and the world. This awareness of Allah is what names one Muhsin. A Muhsin is the highest level of Muslim in which one acts as if Allah is watching and judging every single action one commits.

Defining Devotion: The Nuanced Layers of Muslim Identity and Commitment

Furthermore, what distinctions depict one as a Muslim or a Kafir? One who claims faith in Tawhid and God’s messages is a Muslim. A kafir is broadly stated to be one who conceives of the truth but chooses to reject it. In relation to the Islamic religion, one who rejects God but doesn’t acknowledge His existence is Katie. One who either believes that there is more than one God or chooses to find doubt in the existence of a deity. One may practice the basic essential acts of a Muslim such as the five pillars but may do these sorts of things in expectancy of worldly rewards or simply to claim to belong to the Islamic religion and the Muslim community. If one commits to the Islamic religion yet performs immoral and religious contradicting sins, they should also be assumed, Kafir. In a real-world atmosphere, this can be compared to an if, then statement. If one performs unjust acts such as a deadly sin, they are considered a Kafir unless they repent from their sins. Some of these sins are polytheism, murder without just cause, magic, and fleeing from battle, to name a few. Another factor that differentiates these two terms is the God-fearing mind state or taqwa. A sense of taqwa should be conveyed through one’s everyday actions. One with taqwa walks and acts in the name of God and is conscious of refraining from practices that would displease the lord. A kafir lacks this sense of consciousness and acts in the way they choose to act, disregarding its correlation with justification in the name of God. One may be a Kafir without even knowing it. They may consider themselves dedicated Muslims, but their actions may not correspond with the word of Allah.

In conclusion, A Muslim is many things. A Muslim is someone who practices the religion of Islam. A Muslim is one who professes faith in Allah and his creations. A Muslim is one who walks with an aware mind that God always sees them. Claiming to be a Muslim and acting as a Muslim are two entirely different essences. One can claim to be a Muslim because of their belief in Tawhid and performance of the five pillars, but performing sins while professing these claims portrays them as a kafir. Islam is portrayed through one’s beauty, one’s daily worship, one’s god consciousness, and one’s ability to spread righteousness throughout the world. Muslims transcend through different levels of religious spirituality, which escalates from Muslim to Mu’min and then Muhsin, each categorized in their own characteristics. The stronger sense of being a Muslim requires more than the sole basis of proclaiming oneself to be a Muslim but requires one to emulate their belief through their behaviors as well. It is conveyed that one is identified as a Muslim through beliefs and practices they must abide by, their Iman and profession to Shahada, and one’s taqwa to God.

References

1. Hadith of Gabriel, “Introduction to Islam-Hangout 1”
2. Hadith of Gabriel, “Introduction to Islam-Hangout 10”
3. Frederick Matthewson Denny “An Introduction to Islam Fourth Edition”

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