Muslims in general and all across the globe often are too critical and judgmental about others not being Practicing Muslims. They simply float around the orthodox and extreme fundamentalism ignoring ways back from the true essence of Islam. Who are practicing Muslims? What does it take to be a practicing Muslim? How Practicing Muslims can bring about changes?
Indeed Islam is a beautiful religion if we feel the true spirit rather than floating on the superficial waves of fanatism worldwide prevalent at present.
First to start with ‘Do not think since you do not pray regularly you are not a practicing Muslim by any means.’ Helping the community in real sense, watching out the desperate despair of people around, feeding one orphan, with a simple warm smile, just patting on the shoulder of a frustrated stranger with words of hope are the basis of creating a humane and MUSLIM heart. If you a true lover of the creations of Allah (swt) you are a practicing Muslim already indeed.
How can you Love HIM?
1. Love His Creations. Show respect to every creature and every living being. Keeping long held grudges, remorse, bitterness, jealousy in one’s soul burns away the Faith or Imaan into ashes. "And HE is the Forgiving and Loving" (Qur'an 85:14). Love is just a word which must be translated in action to be true and it is compliant in the case of all HIS creation, be it human beings or even an ant, and mercy in case of the Creator. Allah (swt) shows HIS love for us through being The Most Forgiving, and also by being The Most Merciful and Loving when we turn towards HIM at any stage of SIN (except SHIRK).
2. Do not just be reasonable and speak kind words to others. If you do so you are a Muslim indeed. But to be a practicing Mislimaah show the righteous work through your own contribution, in the civil society. Start setting examples from your house, your friends circle, from your relatives and out to the society at large. Spread it along the community.
3. In that way you can be a Living example of the Faith within. The activities that we show physically are actually a deep refection of the transparency or clearness of our heart , our soul. That is called clearing your ‘Nafs’. Although some scholars have classified the Nafs up to 7 stages, there is agreement among Ulama' that in the Qur'an, Allah (swt.) has described at least 3 main types of the Nafs. And these are in rank from the worse to better: Nafs al-Ammara Bissu' (the Nafs that urges evil), Nafs al-Lawwama (the Nafs that Blames) and Nafs al-Mutma`inna (the Nafs at Peace).
4.In the Day of Resurrection you will not be asked how we were just as a husband, a wife, a mother, a father, a son a daughter etc, but much more than that. You will be more judged as a combined effect of all the relations of the above mentioned status as well as through the means of brotherhood, which is the focal point in Islam.
Brotherhood in Islam commands strictly the following:
(i)No racism in Islam.
(ii)No violence in the name of Islam.
(iii)Taking care of those in need despite race, ethnicity, religion, caste and skin color.
Islam is disappearing in its action now-a-days. It has become more a synopsis in reality rather than a practice in actuality.
Be critical to all the negativeness around, but do so in a polite and harmless manner. Be courageous. Remember to be a strong voice for the voiceless, armor for the unshielded and a knight for the fearful and oppressed. That’s the true spirit of Islam.
Islam is broad, it has an open arm to respect and show compassion to every living being. There is no place for Terrorism and merciless killing. Allah (swt) is surely the Most Merciful and Benevolent! Ameen.