Are we Muslim or Mu'min?

In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful,

There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his Mesenger.

The desert Arabs say, "We believe." Say, "Ye have no faith; but ye (only)say, 'We have submitted our wills to Allah,' For not yet has Faith entered your hearts. But if ye obey Allah and His Apostle, He will not belittle aught of your deeds: for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."  (Quran 49:14)

I was listening to Dr Israr Ahmed give a beautiful explaination on the difference between a Muslim and a Beleiver. He went into such a detail that I had no doubts whatsoever, what needed to be done to become a beleiver. I will post the url at the end of this article so everyone can listen to it.

When it comes to Immigration, and our green card depending upon the definition of the word an immediate relative, or when it comes to taxes, where if the definition fits we could qualify for alot of money back from the government, we will not leave any stone unturned. In the above verse, Allah is differiantiating between a Mu'min and a Muslim. we should understand the definition of these two words.

So many times, you will hear that a non-practicing Muslim will say that they attest to oneness of Allah, so they are beleivers, and it is one in the same thing. It is not true, as you can see above. Most of us are Muslims by accidents, which mean that we were born in the Muslim family so we had no choice but to be a Muslim. Have we truly accepted Allah as our God, because one can not choose which order to follow and which order to delay from a God.

If we read Quran and ahadith, we will see that, most of the time, the word used is Mu'min or the believer, but not Muslim, and it is on purpose to distinguish between someone who says it from the mouth, and the one who shows it from the actions. I have used the term Prcticing Muslim in the past, and it is same as Mu'min.

For example, a person sign up for Military, and also wears the uniform, but will not respond to the order of the General. What do you think will happen to this soldier? I am so glad that Allah is merciful, because he waits for us to turn around, and not strike us down on first sin.

I will not say much, and let all of you listen to this wonderful explaination which definately will increase your faith at the least. He goes through an example that hits your heart, and a Muslim with a listening heart, should say Labbyaik to it.

Personally, I don't blame muslims by birth, because they never knew what is Islam, and how they can become a Mu'min, as their parents never taught them, because they didn't know. It reflects when I have conversation with older muslims who claim that Islam is what is followed from forefathers, and we should submit to it. If one is from Paksitan or India, they have never seen a woman going to masjid, so they starting to get a heart attack, when I mention that woman used to enter the main hall of the masjid, and sit visibly in the masjid behind men, and would even challenge the Khalifah on his ijtihad.

Let us make a pledge that we all will learn about Islam, and seek it with passion, and seek it for ourselves and not to argue with Scholars, and then try to practice anything that we learn, and share with our families after a congregation at home (which I hope everyeone is doing). Stop each other from sinning, and enjoin to follow Allah, and make an effort to Invite non-muslims to Islam, and establish the community that is an Ideal Muslim Society.

Please watch this video, if you are not afraid of being brainwashed into a believer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZc0yUWedus

JazakAllah Khairin

A wanna be Mu'min
AbuArman Jumani