What Constitutes A Muslim?

What Constitutes A Muslim?

Everyone has heard the verse: “Allah intends [to provide] ease for you and does not intend [to create] difficulty for you” (Sūrah Baqara, v. 182). Its true Allah has provided ease for us and this applies in our religion too. In a time where Islam seems to be very complicated and difficult, it’s important to re-evaluate the religion and consider in fact how easy it is.

In a tradition, the prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him) remarked: “My slave approaches Me with nothing more beloved to Me than the religious duties I have enjoined upon him”
(Ṣaḥīḥ of Imam Bukhārī). It’s really this simple, merely active on the acts ordained by Allah is sufficient enough to warrant that individual eternal bliss.
What are the ‘ordained acts’? Well this was quite simply defines by our prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessing be upon him) in the tradition famously known as: ‘Ḥadīth Jibrā’īl.’ In which the
prophet (Peace and Blessings be upon him) was asked: “What is Islam?” He responded with the following: “[Islam is:] testifying that there is no deity besides Allah and Muhammad is the
messenger of Allah, to establish prayer, to offer alms, to observe fasting and to perform the pilgrimage” (Ṣaḥīḥ of Imam Muslim). It’s as simple as that!

Islam is perceived as a strict religion with far too many rules and acts that have to be adhered to but in fact, Allah is just seeking that we complete the ordained acts and Allah will be
happy with us.

Allah Knows Best.