… Allah will guide to the ways ofpeace those who follow what pleases
Him. He will bring them by His will from darkness to the light, and
will guide them to a straight path. (Surat al-Ma'ida: 16)
What makes a Muslim different from other people? Non-Muslimsmay answer
this question in a number of ways; They may talk about cultural and
moral differences, about "different outlooks on the world" or
valueswhich they deny outright. Alternatively, some may say the
difference has its roots in the different ideologies which Muslims
embrace. However, all these answers relate to "visible" differences
that appear to be theconsequences of a more fundamental one. Often,
they failto grasp the reasons underlying this difference. (In fact, if
they are not Muslims, it is because they have failed to grasp this
very difference.)
There is one point to be stressedbefore proceeding to explain thebasic
attribute that makes a Muslim different: When we talk about a
"Muslim," we are not referring to someone whose ID card has the word
"Muslim" written on it. Muslim is actually the name Allah gives to
those who adhere to His religion. The basic attribute, referred to in
theQur'an, that distinguishes Muslims from other people is their being
aware of Allah's infinite might. Awareness of Allah's infinite might
does not inall cases mean affirmation of theexistence of a Creator,
however. The Qur'an underlines this fact as follows:
Say: "Who provides for you out of heaven and earth? Who controls
hearing and sight? Whobrings forth the living from the dead and the
dead from the living? Who ordains all things?" They will reply,
"Allah." Say, "Then will you not fear Allah? Such is Allah, your Lord,
the Truth, and what is there after truth except misguidance? How then
can you turn away from Him?" (Surah Yunus: 31-32)
In the verse above, the questions are put to somebody who acknowledges
the existence of Allah, accepts His attributes yet, despite all these
attributes, has no fear of Allah and thus turns away from Him. (In
fact, Satan does not reject the existence of Allah either.)
Grasping Allah's might is not only a matter of verbal confirmation.
Believers are thosewho recognise Allah's existence and His greatness,
"are steadfastin their duty" to Him and re-orient all their deeds and
conduct in the light of this reality which has become apparent to
them. Others, on the other hand, are either those who deny Allah, or,
as in the case of the people depicted in the above verse, those who do
not perform their duty to Allah, despite their awareness of His
existence.
Throughout their lives, such people remain entirely oblivious of
Allah, the Creator of man. To whom they owe their life and how and why
they were granteda lifetime on earth are questionswith which they do
not care to concern themselves. They envision a kind of life entirely
separate from Allah and His religion. However, the following
comparison in the Qur'an makes it clear that such a life rests upon
vain and rotten bases and is doomed to destruction:
Who is better: someone who founds his building on fear of Allah and
His approval; or someone who founds his building on the brink of a
crumbling precipice, so that it collapses with him into the Fire of
Hell? Allah does not love wrongdoers. (Surat at Tawba: 109)
As the above verse also informs us, the lives of those who lack faith,
as described in the Qur'an, are founded on the brink of a "crumbling
precipice." The major goal to which unbelievers are committed is the
attainmentof happiness and peace "in this world." In this sense, what
they most want is to become rich. They do their best to achieve this
goal, making all-out physicaland mental efforts. For others, on the
other hand, becoming a respected and well-known person is the purpose
of life; they will do anything and make any sacrifices to earn public
respect. However, these are nothing but worldly goals that will vanish
once death comes upon them. Some of them may even elude their grasp
right herein this world.
A believer, however, is fully aware of Allah's existence and might. He
knows why Allah has created him and what His expectations are of him.
For this reason, his basic aim in life is to be a servant with whom
Allah is pleased. He employs all means to try to reach his goal, and
strives to do so. This being the case, he resolves the mystery of
death: for many it means nothing but the ultimate end but for him,
death is not extinction, but a phase of transition to the real life.
Disbelievers assume death, which they take to be an incident that puts
an end to their lives, to be a "self-generated accident," just as
theyassume life to have emerged coincidentally and spontaneously. The
fact is, however, that Allah creates life and likewise takes it away.
Death, which is by no means a coincidence or an accident, is an
incident that takes place by the law of Allah at a predestined moment
and place.
A Muslim is a person who graspsthat Allah has power over all things
and that death is not an end but a transition to the real abode of man
(the hereafter). Aware of these facts, he carefullyavoids building his
life on a "crumbling precipice." He turns to Allah, aware that He is
the real Owner and Creator of life, death and what lies beyond. In
this system created by Allah, he comprehends that wealth, socialstatus
or good looks are not the means that lead man to success;they are only
"causes" operatingunder the rules laid down by Allah, which are
effective for only a brief period of time.
The key to the system that Allah has created is the consent of Allah.
That is because Allah guides only those who seek His approval.
…Allah will guide to the ways of peace those who follow what pleases
Him. He will bring them by His will from darkness to the light, and
will guide them to a straight path. (Surat al-Ma'ida: 16)
A Muslim is a Muslim because he seeks Allah's approval. This is the
most important trait that makes a Muslim different from all other
people. Muslims see religion as a way to earn Allah's approval,
whereas the majority of people consider it to be a system of beliefs
which occupiesan insignificant portion of their lives.
Indeed, at this very point there emerges the distinction between real
Muslims and those who imitate them (hypocrites). Muslims embrace
religion as a path of guidance to the approvalof Allah. For
hypocrites, however, it is something from which they derive benefits.
That is why a hypocrite's prayers are of a "pretentious" nature (Surat
al-Ma'un: 6) while Muslims pray in humility (Surat al-Mu'minun: 1-2).
Similarly, while Muslims spend their money in Allah's cause,
hypocrites spend to impress people rather than to earn Allah's
approval.
You who believe! Do not nullify your almsgiving by demands for
gratitude or insulting words, like him who spends his wealth,showing
off to people and not having faith in Allah and the LastDay. He is
like a smooth rock coated with soil, which, when heavy rain falls on
it, is left stripped bare. They shall have no power over anything they
have earned. Allah does not guide the unbelievers. (Surat al-Baqara:
264
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