As salaamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa
barakatuhu wa maghfiratuh! Sadly, today in the twenty first century
to many, way to many Muslims practice Islam as a religion! The reason
they do is due to the way they have been taught through thousands of
books by Muslim scholars who call Islam a religion. They have called
Islam a religion in many English translations of the Qur'an. In
talking to non-Muslim they will equate Islam with the religions of
the Christians and the Jew, i.e., Christianity and Judaism. It is
impossible to equate Islam with any religion; because Islam is not a
religion, it is a deen.
“...This
day, I have perfected your deen for you, completed My Favor upon you,
and have chosen for you Islam as your deen....” (Qur'an
5:3)
Why would Muslim scholars say Islam is
a religion when they know perfectly well that Allah (SWT) never
called it such. I truly believe it is due to the whisperings of
Shaitan who vowed to lead mankind astray.
“[Iblîs
(Shaitan)] said: "By Your Might, then I will surely mislead them
all,..”
(Qur'an 38:82)
Think of an archer shooting an arrow at
the bulls eye of a target. Just a slight degree off will cause the
arrow to miss the bulls eye. In life an archer's (hunter's)
livelihood depends on him being very accurate; just a small
miss-direction of the arrow will determine whether he brings home the
the dinner.
Shaitan knows Muslims are striving to
achieve the ultimate success, Jannah - Paradise. So in keeping with
his promise he devised a very shrewd and subtle plan to cause
a large majority of Muslims to miss the target even though they are
aiming directly at it. He whispers to the Muslims, “Islam is a
religion!” By getting Muslims to believe this he causes Muslims to
compromise their deen! When Muslims practice Islam as a religion they
are extremely limiting their worship of Allah (SWT). Allah (SWT)
created man to worship Him!
“And
I created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship
Me.”
(Qur'an 51:56)
When
a Muslim only thinks of Allah (SWT) when he prays the five daily
salat, attend Jumu'ah salah, fast during Ramadan and go to hajj he is
practicing Islam as a religion. Is what many Muslims worldwide are
doing – many a lot less than.
It
is impossible to worship Allah (SWT) as He requires if one has
religion on his mind. Words are powerful! Words makes mind! If a
person is called 'stupid' continuously from an early age they will
feel and act stupid at an older age. The reverse of this is also
true. To call a child smart at an early age will cause the child to
group up thinking and being smart. Words create mental aspirations to
be achieved. To tell a Muslim that Islam is a religion will cause the
Muslim to strive to worship Allah (SWT) with the limitations that are
inherited to religion, i.e., rituals.
Think
of the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. The Library of
Congress has millions of books. Now, change the name from Library of
Congress to Deen of Islam. Now select one book in the Deen of Islam
and that book is called religion. What is being illustrated here is
that Deen of Islam contains religion and a lot more. Consider
another analogy. You live in a large house with many rooms. Your
house is called Deen and one room is religion. The Muslims who
practice Islam as a religion will take out one book of the library;
at home they will worship in only one room when it comes to
worshiping Allah (SWT). Religion is the rituals of the Deen!
Many
Muslims don't understand that referring to Islam as a religion is
extremely limiting their worship of Allah (SWT). That is the way they
have been taught and that is what they understand. This could be a
large reason the Muslim Ummah is in such dire straights. Remember,
Allah (SWT) created man to worship Him. Worshiping Allah (SWT)
properly is a 60/60/24/7 – every second of every minute of every
hour of every day involvement. To accomplish this requires Muslims to
Dhikr – remember – Allah (SWT) all day every day - not just at
times of the rituals.
The
Deen of Islam involves both internal (within individuals and society)
and external (governing individuals and society: laws, social,
political, educational, legal and all other systems of governance)
components. Therefore, the Deen of Islam has millions of books,
economics, hundreds of branches of sciences, health, law, religion,
engineering, finance, medical, nursing, teaching, etc. and the list
goes on and on! All the books of the Deen are necessary for Mankind
to live the life that Allah (SWT) requires us to live. Allah (SWT)
having created Mankind and all that exist is concerned about all that
His creation does. Therefore, Allah (SWT) is concerned about every
aspect of our lives.
Living
Islam as a Deen is a mind set - state of mind, the intent in which
ones does whatever they do. The key to practicing Islam as a Deen is
to do everything 24/7 with a conscious effort to do everything 'fi
sabilillah' - for the Pleasure of Allah! From the time one awakens
he is giving praises and thanks to Allah (SWT). When at home he
utilizes all rooms for worshiping, i.e, he Dhikr Allah throughout his
home not just during salat. Whatever job he does he does it 'fi
sabilillah '! Remember it is our intent that is most important! Dhikr
Allah in all that you do, which not only involves praying salat and
attending Jumu'ah and observing Ramadan and attending Eid salat and
going on Hajj – the rituals. Rituals are of utmost importance to
the Deen of Islam! However, to practice Deen of Islam fully requires
one to Dhikr Allah all day every day! Throughout the day one is
constantly bringing Allah (SWT) to mind.
Whenever
a person does something that Allah (SWT) requires one to do and they
do it with the intent to please Allah (SWT) and with the guidelines
that Allah (SWT) has set down in the Qur'an and the Sunnah of Prophet
Muhammad (SAW) then one is truly practicing Islam as a Deen and not a
religion.
May
Allah (SWT) bless all Muslim scholars to start writing books
referring to Islam as a deen! Ameen! May Allah (SWT) bless imams and
khateebs to refer to Islam as deen in their khutbahs! Ameen! May
Allah (SWT) bless all Muslims to start thinking of Islam as Deen!
Ameen! May Allah (SWT) bless all Muslims to say deen and not religion
when speaking of Islam to others. Ameen! May Allah (SWT) bless all
Muslims to stop compromising Deen Al-Islam by practicing Islam as a
deen 24/7! Ameen!
It
is important to note that there are Muslims who do all of the above,
alhamdulillah. The Muslim Ummah must do better!
“...Verily!
Allâh will not change the (good) condition of a people as long as
they do not change their state (of goodness) themselves...”
(Qur'an 13:11)
