Definition Of Muslim
I think the core issue is that the question you are asking is ‘what is the definition of a muslim?’. The point is that it’s subjective. A sincere qadiyani does not think that he is denying the Quran. That is the whole point. We can give our definition of Muslim and they can give theirs. They have a right to preach their understanding and we have a right for ours. We can say that their belief is unislamic or not in accordance with our understanding of the Quran. But as Mr Faisal (I think correctly) pointed out above, surah tawbah makes it clear that zakah and salah are the only two identifiers we are allowed to comment on when it comes to accepting someone as a muslim
Mr. Faisal, as I responded earlier Being a Moderator you should only facilitate in discussion not to take aside. You and Mr. Ahmed responded to what you think or understood my question. If you want to respond please reference to some reliable source (reliable source means not your interpretation of Quran & Hadith but some renowned scholar like Ghamdi sb) and scholarly point of view of some renowned scholar Like Ghamdi sb, but instead, you are insisting upon your own knowledge which I object earlier as well with a full explanation. If you have not understood my question then you should redirect me to someone who can understand instead of keeping an argument over and over about the question which I will explain earlier and will try to explain later in this response. If you have not no other objective or agenda then you should not respond outside the scope of the question and participate in the discussion with your own thoughts or at least balance your response with some scholarly point of you so some qualified person. As you already agreed that you are not qualified then why you are responding again and again and objecting to my question. Respectfully, I don’t know how you are assigned as Moderator to this discussion but I have serious concerns over who you are managing things here. I thought this forum is designed to ask questions to Ghamdi sb or some Scholar to respond in the light of the Quran & Hadith. You have not responded to any of my sub-question I asked from my earlier replies either. The basic thing you should do before replying to my questions is first to read about six basic pillars of Islam and for that, I recommend you should first read Al Mezan by Ghamdi sb, Chapter Imanyat. This will give you clarity that what is Iman of a Muslim and not on your interpretation of the holy verse you quoted earlier. Matter of fact, if you are denying these facts then you are denying the teaching of Ghamdi sb itself and you should separate yourself from being a Moderator on this website. So please read above before responding or explaining something solely upon your own interpretation of Islam or the Quran or anything. Now pointwise respond to your reply but let me clear the fact first, that I have no intention to hurt feelings of anyone personally or objecting someone’s belief or judge anyone, but to only correct record and guide those whoever able to read my comments. My dear brother, I have done my best to respond to ‘your question’. I don’t have any other purpose or agenda. Jazak Allah. May Allah guide us all (Amen). Being a Moderator and senior Member of the Community, you should be very careful and to the point in responding or guiding someone. If you are not qualified enough then you should not share your personal thoughts in being guiding someone. If you do not fully understand a thing it does not mean anyone else cannot understand or wrong. Do ever respond with some scholarly reference instead of personal interpretations. Religion is a very delicate and careful matter and only the should expert asked (what I did) and only the expert should respond. Your initial question assumes that without belief in the finality of prophethood someone can’t claim to be a Muslim. Your second response reasserts that claim. In your third response, you provide arguments and in the last paragraph, you even provide your own definition of Muslim categorically denying those who do not believe in the finality of prophethood. Anyone reading my reply should read first Al Mezan by Ghamdi sb, Chapter Imanyat before judging my replies. Every Muslim should know what are the six basic pillars of Islam. This is not my interpretation but every scholar of Islam including Ghamdi sb and I m refereeing his own book and words to support my argument. Lastly, I have not provided my own definition of Muslim but it is part of the Iman of every Muslim (a reference to six pillars of Islam) In my responses, I have only tried to clarify your misconception and have provided you with references from the Quran. I have not presented my own concept but tried to seek scholarly advice from an Expert in light of his own teachings (Ghamdi sb). Before objecting to my beliefs, with all due respect, you do not have any capacity or authority to say that, you should clear your own in light of the Scholar where you are performing the duty of a Moderator. I have not asked your personal interpretation of the Quran, as earlier I requested you to listen to Al Bayan Surh Tubah before quoting it in argument and explaining it without any expertise on the subject. If I was unable to respond to your question, instead of getting irritated or emotional about it, you can think about rephrasing your question. The better your question can be framed, the more precise of an answer you can get. If I can’t understand your question and as you stated Ahmad didn’t understand your question either, then there might be something lacking in the clarity of your question itself. I m not irritated nor get emotional but just trying to keep the record correct and within scope by defending with scholarly references so that no one else deviates from the guidance they are actually want to achieve. Yes, no one is perfect but I m pretty sure what I have asked and I will explain at the end of this reply. I suggest that you come up with an objective purpose that an elaborate definition of Muslim shall serve. In my mind neither is there any such purpose, nor is it possible to define a Muslim beyond the definition provided by Quran 9:11 because of varying beliefs in just about everything among the Muslim community. If you only research the matter of finality of prophethood, you will find that even Sufis and Shias believe that Sheikhs and Imams get revelations. There are multiple understandings of the concept of Tawheed, the concept of God, the concept of Aakhira – you name it! Even if we come up with a definition, it won’t serve any purpose. Mr. Faisal, clearly you understood the question I have asked, as per your suggestion and elaboration explains that it is the Objective and Purpose of my question that people in responding to their search of answers given incomplete, inappropriate, and incorrect answers that they failed to get correct response entire life. The above reply of yours is an example. Instead, you should refer to some Scholarly opinion or quoted Ghamdi sb in your response you have tried again to quote the Quran in your own personal interpretation of being a Muslim. Again you have questioned and brought back Shias and even raised questions on the concept of Tawheed and God and Aakhira. Being a Moderator on a website that claims to be on guidelines and teaching of Ghamdi sb, you are not even going out of the scope of the question but raising more confusion and questions regarding matters that are not even in discussion or question. Are you really moderating/guiding or assisting someone or you need help and guidance for yourself before even replying to any of the questions asked? Please read first Al Mezan by Ghamdi sb, Chapter Imanyat before replying further, and please stop spreading your own ideology and thoughts in disguise of guidance and help. Give me a favor and let me know how I report and raise concern because respectfully you are going 180 against the teaching and concepts Ghamdi sb teaching and explaining. Before responding to any question, you need serious help. I’m not judgmental here about your beliefs but you should be a follower of Ghamdi sb before answering anything on this forum. (May Allah guide us amen). Please do listen following by Ghamdi sb about Sufi-ism https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyA-GqOKPGo and also following https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzCfiqC3TOA further https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydZ0ZxHcEPE Finally, the question I asked and its explanation. Even though who is ready my replies so far, now very well aware and clear why I have raised the question and why it is necessary for Muslim Ummah, what I’m requesting why we can not develop a basic definition of a Muslim? Many communities claim that they are Muslims but their believes do not fulfill the basics of Islam mostly like the concept of Khatam Nabiyeen. Why Muslims/ Muslim Umma do not do Ijtihad on a single definition of Muslim so that a line can be drawn between the Basic necessity to be Muslim and other beliefs… Like to measure anything or to judge or correct/incorrect our understanding, we need a reference, a certain meaning, a reliable source that makes things clear for us and helps us in finding what is least correct and right, we draw or define certain rules and least minimum requirements to come up to become least legible like to measure 1 KG of weight we have a reference 1 KG weight to compare with, we have rules of traffic lights by which we judge if someone crossed Red light to violate a rule. Same like this we need to define a basic definition of Muslim to clarify a person at least minimum level what is correct belief for a Muslim or what is a bare minimum to be a Muslim in accordance of Quran & Sunnah so that he cannot be get confused or misdirected and will remain on the correct side without going in-depth study/research of Islam. For the very same reason, I asked why not Muslim Ummah define Muslims to make things clear as it’s not about someone’s belief but it’s about identity and integrity of what a Muslim believes. The finality of Prophethood is part of Imanyat of a Muslim (Reference to Al Mezan by Ghamdi sb, Chapter Imanyat), and without acknowledging or believing on it how someone claims to be Muslim? And if someone can then who I protect my identity and my beliefs which is my fundamental right Lastly, I questioned why we cannot do Ijtihad on this to make things easier for a common ordinary Muslim to safeguard his beliefs and concepts without going through in-depth research and study which is not possible for every being. So Mr. Faisal what wrong with my question? Where is a misconception? And where I have not elaborated myself in the question? Any Muslim understand the importance of Khatam e Nabowat in Iman, meaning o Ijtihad, what else needs clarification? I welcome any Scholarly/expert response in light of the teachings of Ghamdi sb not on any personal interpretations and concepts.