If You Were Not Born As A Muslim

[Khadim uz Zahra]

(bismillah)

 

(salam)

 

I hope you are all in the best of health and Imaan.

 

As we all know belief is one of the fundamental requirements for success in the afterlife:

 

"By time! Verily, man is at loss, except for those who believe and perform goods and exhort one another to the truth and to endurance." - Surah Asr

 

While these verses and numerous others in the Qur'an constantly remind us of the importance of belief, I have wondered if many of us born Muslims really fulfil the requirements as they were meant to be met. Most converts - from any religion to any other religion, whether Islam or not - can safely claim that they tried to find the truth and have arrived at whatever they found most logical. Even if they were ultimately wrong, they can at least excuse themselves by telling God that they tried their best. Can we do the same, however? Can we truly say that we believe not because we were born into the religion but because we believe? Are we sure that we aren't Muslims simply because we have a bias toward the religion? Over the years, I have become more and more certain that while the test of the non-Muslims is to oppose their bias against their against Islam, ours is the exact opposite: to be introspective and examine our belief while considering our bias for the religion. And, the more I consider this, the more I realise that many of us have failed utterly in this regard! Consider the following verses:

 

[2:170] …they say, "Rather, we will follow that which we found our fathers doing." Even though their fathers understood nothing, nor were they guided?"

 

[5:104] …they say, "Sufficient for us is that upon which we found our fathers…"

 

Do you believe were only relevant to the pagan Arabs and don't apply to us? How many of us can satisfactorily answer the problem of evil? How many of us even know about and properly understand the problem of evil? How many of us will just stand silently? And, how many of our answers will just be lip service to what we heard some Sheikh say in some lecture, when we don't even understand half of it? Even if we think we have the answer, how many of us would now present it to an atheist to see if it actually holds up to scrutiny? If we have never even entertained these questions, are we not the same as the pagan Arabs, sheep who have simply followed in their forefathers' footsteps?

 

While you must have heard numerous how we are lucky to have been born into Islam, I have often wondered whether this has made us lax, as we have simply started to believe that just because we are Muslims, we have successfully fulfilled the belief part of the criteria. Would a just God give a man who had to fight his family, his friends and, most important, his own self to validate Islam the same "pass" as He would to someone who claims to be Muslim but doesn't even understand the basics properly, let alone being able to justify them? If we've never even tried attacking Islam, or considered the arguments made by other religions, if we've simply lived in this bubble for all your life, as many of us have, I highly doubt we will be labelled as Muslims on the Day of Judgement and that we will be granted the Jannah that we deem our birth right!

 

In conclusion, if you were born as a non-Muslim, can you truly answer that, with the way you have lived your life, you would have become a Muslim?

Edited January 21, 2015 by Khadim uz Zahra

[monad]

 

How many of us can satisfactorily answer the problem of evil?

 Find the one who planted the seed. ( original source ).

 

How many of us even know about and properly understand the problem of evil?

Definition of evil is anything that is contrary to the ideology and moral rule set one follows. Killing is synonymous with all ideologies, yet it factors in two accounts, and that is of acceptability, if the incorporated rules are broken or its for the greater command, be it STATE or GOD.

 

How many of us will just stand silently?

We speak out, when there is no preponderance of damage and there is personal advantage to inequity. To speak out for the greater circle, there has to be added benefits.

 

how many of our answers will just be lip service to what we heard some Sheikh say in some lecture, when we don't even understand half of it?

The same system is in place due to the religious schools that were put in place. Rinse and repeat, extra information based on social and lineage class.

Specializing in subject matter due to it being advantageous in living. Would I study intense farming, when I intend to be a politician?. However, I will study its surface in order to bring votes from the farmers. Religious studies are the same.

 

 

Even if we think we have the answer, how many of us would now present it to an atheist to see if it actually holds up to scrutiny? If we have never even entertained these questions, are we not the same as the pagan Arabs, sheep who have simply followed in their forefathers' footsteps?

One cannot entertain the ideas for all subjects, as there in an impossibility of knowing, hence we have specialists within subject matters. An atheist could relay the same point to the theism that they follow their forefathers footsteps ( religion ), while the atheist follows the same footsteps ( democracy or ancient atheistic notions, )

 

 

In conclusion, if you were born as a non-Muslim, can you truly answer that, with the way you have lived your life, you would have become a Muslim?

IF - I don't even understand this statement. I suppose its to simple minded for me. However, life is based on imitation and rebellion-ism which leads to individuality.

 

I would re-write the last statement.

 

If you were born-a non Muslim, with the desires quenched, can you truly answer, that, with out sufferance, you would have become a Muslim or possibly even venture on to SC due to escape from the problems of life, in order to then create the acceptance that theism is due to being favoured by the creator?. Fact is, we adopt ideas, because the old ideas were not favourable, there is always that emotional drive to find a justification to the new idea, as its commands a plausible position of it quenching the thirsty.

Edited January 21, 2015 by monad

[Aftahb]

(bismillah)

(salam)

I hope you are all in the best of health and Imaan.

As we all know belief is one of the fundamental requirements for success in the afterlife:

"By time! Verily, man is at loss, except for those who believe and perform goods and exhort one another to the truth and to endurance." - Surah Asr

While these verses and numerous others in the Qur'an constantly remind us of the importance of belief, I have wondered if many of us born Muslims really fulfil the requirements as they were meant to be met. Most converts - from any religion to any other religion, whether Islam or not - can safely claim that they tried to find the truth and have arrived at whatever they found most logical. Even if they were ultimately wrong, they can at least excuse themselves by telling God that they tried their best. Can we do the same, however? Can we truly say that we believe not because we were born into the religion but because we believe? Are we sure that we aren't Muslims simply because we have a bias toward the religion? Over the years, I have become more and more certain that while the test of the non-Muslims is to oppose their bias against their against Islam, ours is the exact opposite: to be introspective and examine our belief while considering our bias for the religion. And, the more I consider this, the more I realise that many of us have failed utterly in this regard! Consider the following verses:

[2:170] …they say, "Rather, we will follow that which we found our fathers doing." Even though their fathers understood nothing, nor were they guided?"

[5:104] …they say, "Sufficient for us is that upon which we found our fathers…"

Do you believe were only relevant to the pagan Arabs and don't apply to us? How many of us can satisfactorily answer the problem of evil? How many of us even know about and properly understand the problem of evil? How many of us will just stand silently? And, how many of our answers will just be lip service to what we heard some Sheikh say in some lecture, when we don't even understand half of it? Even if we think we have the answer, how many of us would now present it to an atheist to see if it actually holds up to scrutiny? If we have never even entertained these questions, are we not the same as the pagan Arabs, sheep who have simply followed in their forefathers' footsteps?

While you must have heard numerous how we are lucky to have been born into Islam, I have often wondered whether this has made us lax, as we have simply started to believe that just because we are Muslims, we have successfully fulfilled the belief part of the criteria. Would a just God give a man who had to fight his family, his friends and, most important, his own self to validate Islam the same "pass" as He would to someone who claims to be Muslim but doesn't even understand the basics properly, let alone being able to justify them? If we've never even tried attacking Islam, or considered the arguments made by other religions, if we've simply lived in this bubble for all your life, as many of us have, I highly doubt we will be labelled as Muslims on the Day of Judgement and that we will be granted the Jannah that we deem our birth right!

In conclusion, if you were born as a non-Muslim, can you truly answer that, with the way you have lived your life, you would have become a Muslim?

salam, you've put out some really good points. But I didn't read everything. however I still want to add is Islam really the only way to purify oneself and be with ahad ?

Therefore if I wasnt born a moslem. I would hve nvr converted unless my religion before islam hadn't really defined life.

The place was different and a saint came and guided us and so we converted. In exchange for conversion he promised us rulership and so we accepted whole heartily.

Or else I doubt my men would hve accepted so y would I hve accepted?

we give our head but not our honour. And those who betray us, when we honour them. Not even god saves them from our avenge. Ah it felt good remembering something brutal!