Are you a Muslim?

Do you pray five times a day?

Do you fast for all 30 days during Ramazan?

Do you remember Allah in sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow?

Do you recite the Quran every day?

Do you get into the meaning of the Quran?

Do you abide by the rules of the Quran?

Do you try to follow Sunnat and Ahadith, whenever possible?

Do you try to follow in the footsteps of the Holy Prophet (SAW)?

Do you do Nafl?

Do we decide to be good just for the month of Ramazan, or do we strive to be good throughout the year?

Do you give charity to the poor and the needy?

Are you kind to the widows and the orphans?

Do you give money to the beggars walking on the streets?

Do you always make sure you never hurt anyone by your hand or your tongue?

Do you promote peace or hatred?

Do you believe in the rewards and punishment on the Day of Judgement?

Do you intend to prepare for it now or when you’re on your deathbed?

Do you respect your parents?

Do you respect your elders, and love those who are younger than you?

Do you spend your money foolishly?

Do you respect human life?

Do you promote hatred, war and terrorism?

When you make a promise, do you keep your word, or break it like it’s nothing?

Do you work for the greater good?

These are some of the questions I had when I was thinking along the lines of how a Muslim is defined. Or as this post’s title says – are you a Muslim? Because I realized that we might call ourselves Muslims, we might be staunch believes in the Oneness of Allah, and we might wage wars in the name of Islam, but if all the above answers are in the negative, then truly we do not have the right to call ourselves Muslims. They say in Urdu – woh toh bus naam ka Muslim hai (he’s just a Muslim by name, his acts say otherwise). Well I believe it is true. Because when I self-analyzed myself, I realized that I did not do half of the things that make me a Muslim. And if I’m not doing anything like that, then do I have the right to call myself a Muslim? Wouldn’t that just be hypocrisy? Which itself incurs Allah’s wrath more than anything.

Furthermore, it’s a very common practice that people would pray and fast and think they have served their purpose as Muslims. This is not true. Islam consists to two parts – Haqooq-ullah (Rights of Allah) and Haqooq-ul-Ibad (Rights of Men). Islam does not just finish at prayer, fasting and the yearly pilgrimage (Hajj). It goes on to working for the welfare of the society and taking care of parents, children, neighbors, relatives, the poor, the needy, the widows and orphans – everyone who needs it. And only when you have fulfilled the rights of men, is Allah pleased with you. A Muslim is not a Muslim without fulfilling the rights of his fellow human beings, as well.

It was mostly self-realization which hit me at 2 in the morning. And I just wanted to share it with everyone, so that everyone would realize this and they would strive to do everything, or at least try to do everything, that would make them bring them closer to Allah. This, in return, will result in Allah being pleased with them. And I believe, there is no greater reward, in this world and the Hereafter, which is better than Allah’s consent. And there is no greater reward that we should be striving for.