Are We Really Muslims?

“We have heard of part-time job, part-time teachers, etc. Now, there is a new trend called part-time Muslim. As the name itself suggests, the part-time Muslim is one who practices Islam only at specific times or at certain places and this is increasing extensively. Some examples are the Mussalli who prays five times a day but in his daily business dealings, he cheats his customers by giving them defect articles. Or there is the sister who wears Hijab (veil) only when going to a Mayyat (funeral) but dresses exactly like the Bollywood actresses during a wedding. 

Where are we going O Muslims? Is this the true notion of Islam – complete submission to Allah’s commands whatever the circumstance as Allah (swt) says in the following verses:

“O you who believe! Enter perfectly in Islam and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Verily! He is to you a plain enemy.” (2:209)

The above verse calls to people to enter Islam fully but just saying Shahada or being born and raise in a Muslim family do not make us a Muslim. Entering Islam fully means that we have to follow the teachings of Islam without any exceptions, without any reservations or without just focusing on one part and leaving the other on Allah (swt) to forgive. But let’s ask ourselves what Islam teaches us, how the life of our beloved Prophet (saws) was and his companions. Islam is a whole way of life and our Prophet Muhammad (saws) showed us practically how to live Islam in our daily life.

We must act like Muslims also. Islam does not only include some rituals, customs and forms of worship but something more comprehensive, one that includes everything that governs our way of life, how we spend our life and what to do and what not to do, whether it’s our social events, our personal matters, the social and economic system, our relations to warfare. So everything is a part of Deen and since Islam is our Deen all those areas need to be governed as per Islam.

We must also put in action what we say in words and what we believe. We say we’re Muslims, but are we really? He is not a true Muslim whose hands and tongue are violent. Several of us stopped cursing and backbiting and lying during the month of Ramadan, but now what? Since Ramadan is over, should we return to those faults? Are we Muslims only in Ramadan?

Every Muslim is to pray five times a day, every day, and no exceptions. Several of us did that very promptly during Ramadan. Now when Ramadan is over, now what? Should we give up those prayers just because Ramadan is over? Should we return to our previous lifestyle and shun our responsibilities?

We refrained from dawn to dusk not only from the Haraam (illicit), but also the Halaal. The purpose of this abstinence was to create patience and virtue, and realise that if you want you can even stay away from the Halaal (licit), so why can you not avoid the Haraam? Sure you can. You just need the will. Now that Ramadan, Insha-Allah in few days will be over, can we go back to eating, talking watching, doing, and thinking Haraam? Think about it…

If we want to see a better society and a better generation rising up, then become a true Muslim who fears Allah (swt) everywhere and whose character is that of the Quran and who strives to shoulder his responsibilities until he meets with death, as Allah (swt) says in Surah Al-Hijr, Verse 99 or 100.

“And worship Your Lord until there comes unto you the certainty (i.e. death).”

Be a full time Muslim before meeting with your Lord! May Allah (swt) make us among those with whom He is satisfied with when we meet Him. Ameen.

-Extracts from a speech delivered on 14 August 2011, the Khalifatullah Hazrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) of Mauritius