DEEN OF ISLAM!

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.

It is important that we fully comprehend the difference between the deen and a religion. The following analogy may help to know the difference, in sha Allah.

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)