We spoke in our last article about how to become a true Muslim in general, and today we will learn practically, step by step how to be a true Muslim from a case study, the case of Abraham peace and blessings be upon him.
In fact Abraham peace and blessings be upon him occupies a high place in Islam, because he is the leader that Allah made for humankind, as Allah told us in:
وَإِذِ ابْتَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ رَبُّهُ بِكَلِمَاتٍ فَأَتَمَّهُنَّ ۖ قَالَ إِنِّي جَاعِلُكَ لِلنَّاسِ إِمَامًا ۖ قَالَ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِي ۖ قَالَ لَا يَنَالُ عَهْدِي الظَّالِمِينَ ﴿١٢٤﴾
Approximate translation:
And [mention, O Muhammad], when Abraham was tried by his Lord with commands and he fulfilled them. [Allah] said, "Indeed, I will make you a leader for the people." [Abraham] said, "And of my descendants?" [Allah] said, "My covenant does not include the wrongdoers."
Chapter 2, verse 124.
And all Muslims have to follow his way as Allah mentioned:
ثُمَّ أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ أَنِ اتَّبِعْ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ حَنِيفًا ۖ وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ ﴿١٢٣﴾
Approximate translation:
Then We revealed to you, [O Muhammad], to follow the religion of Abraham, inclining toward truth; and he was not of those who associate with Allah.
Chapter 16, verse 123 .
So in order to be a good Muslim, you have to learn what is the religion of Abraham, how did Abraham become a Muslim, and what are the steps which he followed?
All of that is what we will together discover throughout the following axes :
- Liberation of oneself
- Seeking for truth
- Annonce of the decision of Islam
- Facing the threats and difficulties
Liberation of oneself
The story of Abraham with Islam began with this annonce :
وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ لِأَبِيهِ آزَرَ أَتَتَّخِذُ أَصْنَامًا آلِهَةً ۖ إِنِّي أَرَاكَ وَقَوْمَكَ فِي ضَلَالٍ مُّبِينٍ ﴿٧٤﴾
Approximate translation:
And [mention, O Muhammad], when Abraham said to his father Azar, "Do you take idols as deities? Indeed, I see you and your people to be in manifest error."
Chapter 6, verse 74
I want you to read again this verse, ponder it, and try to answer this question:
What made Abraham the only person who discovered that idols are void deities?
This question is the key to understand how to start the journey to Islam, so try to think deeply in its answer.
Yes, Abraham was different from his people, he did not accept to be blindly led by the heritage of his people.
He filtered the heritage of his people by his mind and threw away what seemed illogical, like taking idols as deities.
You also, need to make a full revision of all your patrimony, maybe therein some illogical stuff.
But before this revision, we must answer another important question in order to understand the relationship between one and one's patrimony, the question is:
Why all the people of Abraham didn't discover that making idols as deities is something stupid?
This question is very important to facilitate our liberation from our heritage, because when we know why they stay attached to their heritage, we will know how to liberate ourselves, therefore try to answer this question.
The relationship between one and one's patrimony
The relationship between one and one's patrimony is the same as the relationship between creator and creature, because the one is the product of his heritage and his society, hence it's very difficult to liberate oneself from it.
Society makes one of us follow the heritage unconsciously, therefore no matter how silly it's, we will blindly follow it, and that makes a lot of people in Hellfire, we seek protection from Allah from Hellfire.
Allah glory be to Him describes a horrible scene in His saying:
أَذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ نُّزُلًا أَمْ شَجَرَةُ الزَّقُّومِ ﴿٦٢﴾ إِنَّا جَعَلْنَاهَا فِتْنَةً لِّلظَّالِمِينَ ﴿٦٣﴾ إِنَّهَا شَجَرَةٌ تَخْرُجُ فِي أَصْلِ الْجَحِيمِ ﴿٦٤﴾ طَلْعُهَا كَأَنَّهُ رُءُوسُ الشَّيَاطِينِ ﴿٦٥﴾ فَإِنَّهُمْ لَآكِلُونَ مِنْهَا فَمَالِئُونَ مِنْهَا الْبُطُونَ ﴿٦٦﴾ ثُمَّ إِنَّ لَهُمْ عَلَيْهَا لَشَوْبًا مِّنْ حَمِيمٍ ﴿٦٧﴾ ثُمَّ إِنَّ مَرْجِعَهُمْ لَإِلَى الْجَحِيمِ ﴿٦٨﴾
Approximate translation
Is Paradise a better accommodation or the tree of zaqqum? (62) Indeed, We have made it a torment for the wrongdoers. (63) Indeed, it is a tree issuing from the bottom of the Hellfire, (64) Its emerging fruit as if it was heads of the devils. (65) And indeed, they will eat from it and fill with it their bellies. (66) Then indeed, they will have after it a mixture of scalding water. (67) Then indeed, their return will be to the Hellfire. (68)
Chapter 37.
Why all that terrible torment?
What did they do worth all that punishment?
Here is the answer:
إِنَّهُمْ أَلْفَوْا آبَاءَهُمْ ضَالِّينَ ﴿٦٩﴾ فَهُمْ عَلَىٰ آثَارِهِمْ يُهْرَعُونَ ﴿٧٠﴾
Approximate translation
Indeed they found their fathers astray. (69) So they hastened [to follow] in their footsteps. (70)
Yes, when we turn away from the gifts that Allah gave us like sight, hearing and reasoning, and blindly follow our heritage, we aren't worth anything but this terrible punishment.
therefore release your mind, and start to analyze your culture, concepts and principles.
Take your time, and if you need help, I am here, I can help you in this important analysis, just write to me through comment or the page of contact us, I will answer you as soon as possible inshallah.
Our society's idols
After that you made your revision, you will find that the majority of people are making the Ibadah for the following idols :
The human being
After the European Renaissance, human being was taken as the new god instead of God of church, and from now on, the human being has the right to act as creator who has the right to do anything he decides.
Therefore the human being made the declaration of human rights according to what he wants, and pushed away the decision of Allah - the creator of human beings themselves - about human rights
Of course that is the biggest absolute wrong deed, because we are creatures living on the earth of Allah, by what He provides us, therefore we must submit to Him and not be taken as deity.
the market
When the human being started his unfairness, by making himself as a deity, he transformed himself into a slave of the market, and the value of human being decreased from a deity to an object used by the market to make more money. His value depends on how much money he earns.
Therefore there is a huge gap between the rich people and the poorers, and the world was transformed into a wild jungle where the strongest people absorb the blood of the weakest.
And finally instead of being a deity the human being became a miserable slave of the market.
the country
Nowadays, countries try to make people submit to human being through the implementation of human rights declarations, and to the market laws through the implementation of Bretton Woods Agreement and other measures
If you agree with me on what is previous, we can continue to the second step that Abraham peace and blessings be upon him had taken, if not, let me know in comment section, I will discuss with you about it until we get an agreement
By returning to our father Abraham peace and blessings be upon him, we notice that he did not only discover that idols are void deities and worthless, but he strongly announced that to his father:
وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ لِأَبِيهِ آزَرَ أَتَتَّخِذُ أَصْنَامًا آلِهَةً ۖ إِنِّي أَرَاكَ وَقَوْمَكَ فِي ضَلَالٍ مُّبِينٍ ﴿٧٤﴾
Approximate translation:
And [mention, O Muhammad], when Abraham said to his father Azar, "Do you take idols as deities? Indeed, I see you and your people to be in manifest error."
Chapter 6, verse 74
Thus, we also must not only be satisfied with discovering the idols of our society, but we have to announce to those around us the invalidity of what they take as deities, like what Abraham peace and blessings be upon him had done.
This annonce is a very important step in our journey to Allah, because it means our liberation from what our society is submitting to .
Seeking for the truth
Without doubt Abraham discovered that the idols are void deities but he doesn't know yet who is his God to whom he must submit.
Therefore he started looking at the universe around him, and this was his next step as Allah mentioned:
وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُرِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ مَلَكُوتَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَلِيَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُوقِنِينَ ﴿٧٥﴾
Approximate translation
And thus did We show Abraham the realm of the heavens and the earth that he would be among the certain [in faith] (75)
We also, we have to look at the universe around us …
Look at yourself…
Look at the earth, the sky, the rivers, the plants, the seas …
Why was all of that created?
There is a relationship between cause and action, more the action is bigger, more the cause behind it is also bigger, so the universe must have a huge cause for which it was created, this cause must be as big as the universe.
This is a thing very obvious and clear for all reasoners, and that's the difference between Muslim and non-Muslim.
The non-Muslim thinks that this universe is without purpose, therefore he doesn't care about anything except his own desires.
Allah glory be to Him mentioned this fact about the non-muslims in :
وَمَا خَلَقْنَا السَّمَاءَ وَالْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا بَاطِلًا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ظَنُّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا ۚ فَوَيْلٌ لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنَ النَّارِ ﴿٢٧﴾
Approximate translation
And We did not create the heaven and the earth and that between them aimlessly. That is the assumption of those who disbelieve, so woe to those who disbelieve from the Fire. (27)
Chapter 38
The belief that universe hasn't purpose leads the non-muslims to think that nothing is valuable, good deeds are like evil deeds according to them, and that is what Allah answered in the following verse:
أَمْ نَجْعَلُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ كَالْمُفْسِدِينَ فِي الْأَرْضِ أَمْ نَجْعَلُ الْمُتَّقِينَ كَالْفُجَّارِ ﴿٢٨﴾ كِتَابٌ أَنزَلْنَاهُ إِلَيْكَ مُبَارَكٌ لِّيَدَّبَّرُوا آيَاتِهِ وَلِيَتَذَكَّرَ أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ ﴿٢٩﴾
Approximate translation
Or should we treat those who believe and do righteous deeds like corrupters in the land? Or should We treat those who fear Allah like the wicked? (28) [This is] a blessed Book which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], that they might reflect upon its verses and that those of understanding would be reminded. (29)
Chapter 38
In the opposite side Muslims know that Allah did not create universe in vain, therefore they asked Allah to protect them from the Hellfire as Allah told us in several verses from which His saying:
إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلَافِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ لَآيَاتٍ لِّأُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ ﴿١٩٠﴾ الَّذِينَ يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ قِيَامًا وَقُعُودًا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِهِمْ وَيَتَفَكَّرُونَ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقْتَ هَٰذَا بَاطِلًا سُبْحَانَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ ﴿١٩١﴾ رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ مَن تُدْخِلِ النَّارَ فَقَدْ أَخْزَيْتَهُ ۖ وَمَا لِلظَّالِمِينَ مِنْ أَنصَارٍ ﴿١٩٢﴾
Approximate translation
Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day are signs for those of understanding. (190) Who remember Allah while standing or sitting or [lying] on their sides and give thought to the creation of the heavens and the earth, [saying], "Our Lord, You did not create this aimlessly; exalted are You [above such a thing]; then protect us from the punishment of the Fire. (191) Our Lord, indeed whoever You admit to the Fire - You have disgraced him, and for the wrongdoers there are no helpers. (192)
Chapter 3.
Therefore we need to spend a lot of time deeming the universe around us until we realize how great Allah is, and how dangerous our mission on earth is.
By returning to Abraham Allah told us about him:
فَلَمَّا جَنَّ عَلَيْهِ اللَّيْلُ رَأَىٰ كَوْكَبًا ۖ قَالَ هَٰذَا رَبِّي ۖ فَلَمَّا أَفَلَ قَالَ لَا أُحِبُّ الْآفِلِينَ ﴿٧٦﴾ فَلَمَّا رَأَى الْقَمَرَ بَازِغًا قَالَ هَٰذَا رَبِّي ۖ فَلَمَّا أَفَلَ قَالَ لَئِن لَّمْ يَهْدِنِي رَبِّي لَأَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الضَّالِّينَ ﴿٧٧﴾
Approximate translation
So when the night covered him [with darkness], he saw a star. He said, "This is my lord." But when it set, he said, "I like not those that disappear." (76) And when he saw the moon rising, he said, "This is my lord." But when it set, he said, "Unless my Lord guides me, I will surely be among the people gone astray." (77)
Chapter 6
You notice that Abraham started his search for His God by looking at the star and after the star set, Abraham looked at the moon, until it set also
Abraham in his research started from the smallest to the biggest but everytime he realize that he was wrong, that makes him fulfill a condition of guidance which is sincerely return to Allah, when he said:
قَالَ لَئِن لَّمْ يَهْدِنِي رَبِّي لَأَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الضَّالِّينَ ﴿٧٧﴾
Approximate translation
he said, "Unless my Lord guides me, I will surely be among the people gone astray." (77)
So for to be a true Muslim you have to return to Allah sincerely and ask Him consistently to guide you to Him, because none can guide you but Him.
Even though we don't have to search for knowing our God, truly we have a huge need to know which is His speech from all books claim to be God's word like the Quran, the Bible and so on.
This topic will be the next article inshallah, because it will be a long article, in which I will prove with a lot of logical evidences that only the Quran is Allah's word.
After discovering that the moon can't be a god, and even the sun can't be also :
فَلَمَّا رَأَى الشَّمْسَ بَازِغَةً قَالَ هَٰذَا رَبِّي هَٰذَا أَكْبَرُ ۖ فَلَمَّا أَفَلَتْ قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ إِنِّي بَرِيءٌ مِّمَّا تُشْرِكُونَ ﴿٧٨﴾
Approximate translation
And when he saw the sun rising, he said, "This is my lord; this is greater." But when it set, he said, "O my people, indeed I am free from what you associate with Allah. (78)
Abraham finally realized that God is who created all things from nothing, so Abraham will never in this life be able to see Him as he sees the creatures, and he started a new step of his journey to Islam, the step of facing his community.
You will be invited to facing your community also when you will be sure that the Quran is the speech of Allah glory be to Him.
Annonce of the decision of Islam
Abraham was sincere and honest, and he knows Who is his God, so he was ready to announce his faith to his community, and that is what he did in :
فَلَمَّا رَأَى الشَّمْسَ بَازِغَةً قَالَ هَٰذَا رَبِّي هَٰذَا أَكْبَرُ ۖ فَلَمَّا أَفَلَتْ قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ إِنِّي بَرِيءٌ مِّمَّا تُشْرِكُونَ ﴿٧٨﴾ إِنِّي وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِي فَطَرَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ حَنِيفًا ۖ وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ ﴿٧٩﴾
Approximate translation
And when he saw the sun rising, he said, "This is my lord; this is greater." But when it set, he said, "O my people, indeed I am free from what you associate with Allah. (78) Indeed, I have turned my face toward He who created the heavens and the earth, inclining toward truth, and I am not of those who associate others with Allah." (79)
He began his annonce by :
O my people, indeed I am free from what you associate
Remark: In the translation they put in the end of the previous verse "with Allah" while the origin text has not this addition.
That means that he denies the authorities to which his people is submitting
Then he said:
Indeed, I have turned my face toward He who created the heavens and the earth,
That means that he doesn't receive anything from anyone but the Creator of the heavens and the earth, neither concepts nor princip nor anything at all.
Then he said
inclining toward truth,
To emphasize his freedom from what they associate
and I am not of those who associate others with Allah." (79)
Again he emphasizes that he is not of them, he is a Muslim and they are Mushriks.
As you see this annonce is so provocative to his people, so from now on, they will not let him in peace.
Facing the threats and difficulties
As the expected, the people of Abraham started by threatening Abraham but Abraham peace and blessings be upon him was steadfast in his belief, as Allah glory be to Him told us:
وَحَاجَّهُ قَوْمُهُ ۚ قَالَ أَتُحَاجُّونِّي فِي اللَّهِ وَقَدْ هَدَانِ ۚ وَلَا أَخَافُ مَا تُشْرِكُونَ بِهِ إِلَّا أَن يَشَاءَ رَبِّي شَيْئًا ۗ وَسِعَ رَبِّي كُلَّ شَيْءٍ عِلْمًا ۗ أَفَلَا تَتَذَكَّرُونَ ﴿٨٠﴾ وَكَيْفَ أَخَافُ مَا أَشْرَكْتُمْ وَلَا تَخَافُونَ أَنَّكُمْ أَشْرَكْتُم بِاللَّهِ مَا لَمْ يُنَزِّلْ بِهِ عَلَيْكُمْ سُلْطَانًا ۚ فَأَيُّ الْفَرِيقَيْنِ أَحَقُّ بِالْأَمْنِ ۖ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٨١﴾
Approximate translation
And his people argued with him. He said, "Do you argue with me concerning Allah while He has guided me? And I fear not what you associate with Him [and will not be harmed] unless my Lord should will something. My Lord encompasses all things in knowledge; then will you not remember? (80) And how should I fear what you associate while you do not fear that you have associated with Allah that for which He has not sent down to you any authority? So which of the two parties has more right to security, if you should know? (81)
Chapter 6
You also, you will maybe be threatened and maybe be thrown in jail, so you have to be aware of that and be ready, Paradise is not cheap.
Of the grace of Allah that He gave us the possibility to emigrate in the earth instead of facing our people and exposing ourselves to the punishment.
Therefore if you don't have the courage to face your people, and patience to enduring the jail, you can escape to where you will not be under any authority but Allah's authority and living there until Allah changes the situation like the companions of the Messenger of Allah peace and blessings be upon him when they emigrated to Ethiopia and stayed there until the Messenger of Allah peace and blessings be upon him founded the islamic state in Medina, so they joined him peace and blessings be upon him.
If you have any question or suggestions, it's welcome, just write it down, I will do my best to answer you as soon as possible, may Allah guide us amen.
This article is available in Arabic language here.