TWO KINDS OF MUSLIMS

TWO KINDS OF MUSLIMS

Partial Muslims:

One kind of Muslims are those who, having affirmed faith in God and His Messenger, accept Islam as their religion but treat this religion merely as a part of a section, there is expression of attachment to Islam, profusion of “Ibadat”, use of rosary and offering of Salat, remembrance of God, exercise of Puritanism in the matter of food and some social affairs, and all the rest that can be called a religious attitude. But beyond this section, all the other aspects of their life are exempted from Islam. If they show love, it would be for Nafs or for self benefit or for that country and nation or for somebody else. If they profess enmity of wage war that would also be for the sake of some worldly or selfish interest. Their business, their wives and children, family, society and co-professionals---all these will be to a great extent exempt from religion and totally based on worldly considerations. As a zamindar, as a trader, as a ruler, as a soldier, as a professional,---in all spheres they will have an independent position which will have no connection with their position as Muslims. Then such a type of people will combine and collectively set cultural, educational and political institutions, which, due to their being Muslim, may be partly influenced by them as such or may be related to them in some way but actually these will have no connection with Islam.

Full Muslims

The second kind of Muslims are those who completed merge into Islam their full personality and entire existence. All the positions they hold get submerged into the position of a Muslim. Their roles as fathers, sons, husbands or wives, businessmen, zamindars, labourers, employees, or professionals, should signify the characteristics of a Muslim. Their sentiments, their desires, their ideologies, their thought and opinions, their hatred and inclinations, their likes and dislikes, everything is subservient to Islam. There is a complete sway of Islam on their heart and mind, on their eyes and ears, on their stomach and privet parts, on their hands and feet, on their body and soul. Neither their love nor their enmity is detached from Islam. When they make friendship fight with anybody, it is purely for the sake of Islam. If they give anything to anybody, it is because Islam requires it to be given. If they withhold anything from anybody, it is also because Islam wants to be withheld. And this attitude or theirs is not limited to individuals only but their collective life also based entirely on this principle of Islam. Their entity is to evolve as a community on the basis of Islam only and their entire collective behavior is based on the precepts of Islam only.

Fundamentals of Islam

Syed Abul A’la Maudoodi