The Honor of Being Muslim

The Honor of Being Muslim

By Waleed Basyouni

Opening and Introduction

All praise is due to Allah and His praise and blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wa alihi wa sallam), his family, his companions, and his followers until the Day of Judgment. I bear witness that Allah is the only one worthy of worship and Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) is his last and final messenger.

First of all, I would like to start by thanking Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala for giving me the opportunity to be here with you today. And also I would like to thank all the brothers and sisters who are working hard to make this happen every year. May Allah bless you and bless your effort and accept from all of you, the organizers, the attendees, and the speakers.

The Essential Nature of Choosing Islam

Choosing Islam, it is something very essential because actually you cannot be a Muslim unless you choose to be a Muslim. There is nobody who is a Muslim just because his parents are Muslims. Islam is a choice that you have to make.

That's why al ulama rahimahum allahu ta'ala agreed that the essential of the aqeedah of your creed, of your belief, cannot be just based on imitation. If you ask a Muslim why you are a Muslim, he's not going to tell you, oh because my parents are Muslim. I choose to be a Muslim.

I want to be a Muslim. So that's a choice that everybody must do. I choose Islam because I believe in it.

I believe in Allah and I believe in Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). Without making that choice, a person cannot ever be a Muslim. You cannot force someone to be a Muslim.

Not only that, but also to choose to be a Muslim, to choose to submit yourself to Allah and to His Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam).

It is not for a believer, male or female, when Allah and His Messenger make a decision about something, make a ruling about something that you have a choice about, in a sense that, you know what, I can just leave it and consider it Muslim. I have to choose what Allah has chosen for me.

That the believers are the ones who submit themselves to Allah and to the order of His Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam).

Complete submission. That's why we call Muslims, believers, mu'mins.

The Natural Fitrah of Recognizing God

Yes, we are naturally, as all human beings naturally, born with that natural instinct to recognize God, to love God. That we recognize His presence. And by the way, even in the scientific community today, you can search that and look at so many studies in child psychology talking about how children, without being exposed to any concept of religion, they still recognize naturally that there is God, that this exists.

(Bukhari 1358, Muslim 2658)

Which is what the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) told us, Every single child born in a state called al-fitrah. Which is naturally, you believe in the existence, recognize God. That's why when you became Muslim, you feel that you touch that spot inside your heart, which is always you had it, but you didn't know how to express it.

Personal Stories of Faith Recognition

I remember one brother, after he became Muslim, he was telling me that one of the things that always touched my heart is that the verses of the Qur'an. Whenever I hear the verses of the Qur'an, it always touched my heart, even though I have no idea what that means. As a matter of fact, I have one sister in my community.

She told me she used to work in the missionary works. And she was one day in Vietnam. And she said in one of the mountains of Vietnam, she heard this woman reciting Qur'an in the night, in the middle of the night.

And she's the first time in her life to hear the Qur'an. And I loved it, I loved it. It just touched my heart.

There is something inside me told me that this is something different. It's not the same songs or things that the people say. It's completely sound different to me.

So when I asked her, she told me this is al-Qur'an and she's a Muslim. And that's the first time ever exposed. Three or four years later, she said in America, in Houston, Texas, she came to one of the masajid and she learned about Islam.

And she ended up Muslim, alhamdulillah. But my point was that that's something inside her heart. When she heard the words of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, she recognized it.

Multiple Paths to Faith

She felt it. Belief can be established through so many different reasons. Belief is not a philosophical issue.

Or you became Muslim through logical debate or reasoning conclusion that you come to. People became Muslim for many different reasons. From the time of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) until today.

You see in the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) time, somebody became Muslim because he wanted to get married to a Muslim woman. And he became Muslim for that purpose. But he entered Islam for that reason, from that door.

Another person for financial reasons, for security reasons. So people can enter Islam from very different doors. But the point is not this.

The point is what's after that. You became Muslim. Islam is something that you choose to keep, to let it grow, settle in your heart.

And that's what really faith is. That's why I'm not gonna get you into that theological debate between Muslim theologians about is your faith has to be established through logic or through just a blind faith or what is it. I really believe that it can be established through many different ways.

But the main point is how the feeling of the faith is really inside your heart. Do you really believe in it? Does something grow and become strong?

Examples of Faith Recognition Through Different Means

A friend of mine in Maryland was giving a lecture about inheritance. How Islam told us how to divide the inheritance.

A family lawyer attending the lecture was a Muslim. After the lecture he stood up and he said, I want to be Muslim and they gave him the shahada. He said, I'm a family lawyer and I can tell you it made perfect sense to me what you just did.

And he explained. Another person in my masjid in Ramadan a few years back, walked into the masjid while we were praying taraweeh. It was so weird because he brought a chair like this.

And he put it in front of all the lines. We thought he's drunk, but he wasn't. And he was watching me and I said to the companion, just leave him.

And after I finished the whole entire taraweeh, he told me, what are you doing? I said, I'm praying. He said, what's that? And I said, this is Quran. Then he started crying.

And he was not on drugs, he's not drunk or anything like that. He just said, I was passing by. And that time we had a rental place before we moved to our masjid.

And he heard the recitation from outside passing by the rental place that we used to pray at. And he said, it just took over my heart, my soul.

The Key Question: What Makes You Stand Fast?

People can enter Islam, as I said, for so many different reasons.

But the main point is, and you became committed to religion. You became religious for so many reasons. As an MSA student or as a Muslim, already been a Muslim all your life.

You can choose to be committed to your religion for many different reasons. Some of us, after a crisis or something happened to them. Or just, you know what, I thought about it and I decided to stop practicing the religion.

But the main question is, after you enter through that door, what will be the next step? What really can make you stood faster? That you know what, I love this deen, I love this religion. You know, that's why I'm really being a Muslim. And to answer this, I have several things.

And for me, I want to take it from one perspective, which is, what's really the impact of Islam in my life? And that's why I'm a Muslim.

Islam's Deep Understanding of Human Nature

Islam recognizes, knows human beings very well. For a simple reason, because the religion came from the one who made us, who created us.

Allah said in the Quran, don't he the one who created you, so he knows you the best? Absolutely, he knows you the best. If I buy, you know, God forbid, Samsung, I'm an Apple fan. So, I'm not going to go to the Apple store to ask for the, you know, the menu for the Samsung phone.

I have to go to the Samsung menu to know how that functions. I'm not going to go to the, basically, Apple store to teach me about it. And vice versa.

Allah created us, he knows us better than anyone else. Better than any psychologist, better than any anthropologist, better than anyone, any human being. And he knows us, and he tells us a lot about ourselves.

Islam's Holistic View of Humanity

And Islam recognizes human beings. Don't look at human beings as just a machine. Or just a human being that's made of loss.

Or made of just logic and reasoning. No, we are a being that is a combination. Very unique combination of emotions, and body parts, and psychology, and physiology.

We made you in the best fashion.

Allah said in the Quran.

He has put you together. Put together inside you several components of emotions. Of systems that basically allowed you to enjoy life and to live your life.

And Islam recognizes human beings as an individual. But also as a person, part of a community. As a family man.

So, all this is a big consideration. That's why Islam speaks to human beings. Sometimes it speaks to our reasoning.

Sometimes it speaks to our heart. To basically address our emotions. All these areas are addressed in the book of Allah.

And in the Sharia of Muhammad SAW.

Islam's Ultimate Goal: Human Protection and Flourishing

As a matter of fact, if you look at the ultimate goal of Islam. The ultimate goal of Islam is to protect you as a human being.

To protect your intellect. To protect your wealth. To protect your religion.

To protect your lineage. All is about you. So the whole entire religion that Allah has sent down.

It is for me and about me. Not only that. That everything He created.

It's about you. And one of the amazing verses in the Quran. That strike me even though it is very simple.

When Allah talked about. How He has sent down the rain from the earth. To basically.

And that rain caused vegetation and fruit. Then He said. That He said.

This is for you to enjoy. And for your cattle to enjoy. That not only He cares about you to enjoy.

You and your cattle. You and your animals. So He cares about you and anything that belongs to you too.

That's so interesting. That Allah takes care of you.

Addressing the Challenge of Growing Atheism

And I'm saying this because we're living in an era and a time.

I would assume. What is the fastest growing religion in the United States today? What is it? Atheism.

Atheism.

If I call it religion. Atheism is the fastest growing thing that we have in the United States. And that's something a threat.

It is a challenge for all of us. The people for different even faith. And one of the things that always distinguish America from the rest of the world.

The western atmosphere at least. Is that we've been always a community based on faith. And believing in God.

But this even today is not as it was 10 years ago. Our moral standard of believing in God is going down. By the day.

And I believe Muslim community. And Muslim students. Have a great role to play.

To preserve religion in public life. And that's something honored and respect. That Allah is something.

Is someone that has been worshipped. And honored. When they see a sign saying.

Keep God out of LA. That's not something good for all of us. And I think the more we as a Muslim community.

Introduce faith. And the importance of believing in God. It is something to protect the future of our society.

And our country.

Islam as the Religion of Justice

Anyway going back to my point. About what the impact of religion.

That it has. On us as individuals. As a community.

As a family. I put it in few points. That I will share whatever is possible.

During the few minutes. One of the first thing. Talk about Islam.

And they discussed an interesting point. They said. If we would think about the religion of Islam.

And we will say. Islam is about blank. What it will be? Is the religion of put a blank.

What it will be? A lot of scholars came to an interesting word. Which is justice. And one of the people.

Who talked a lot about this. A modern scholar. Who was the head of Al Azhar.

Not long time ago. And he wrote a lot about this issue. That Islam.

And he said. If there is something about Christianity. Distinguish it.

It is the mercy. It is the strict rules. But when it comes about Islam.

It is nothing like justice. And before him. Hundreds of years before him.

He discussed this as well. And he said. The Prophet.

Was sent to seal the prophet. He came to. His personality.

Represented every prophet. And every message before him. And he said.

In Christianity. You see the mercy. And this is a lot in Islam.

In Judaism. You see this a lot in Islam. So Islam is a combination of all the beautiful things.

That came before. But he said. One of the things that distinguish this religion.

Is how much it cares for the concept of justice.

Defining Justice in Islam

What is justice? Justice is to put things where it belongs. Injustice is.

To put things where it doesn't belong. That's how the Muslim scholars have defined it. And from the day one.

You see that this is a religion of justice. For a simple reason. One.

Because Allah. One of his name is العدل. The just.

It's his name. And it's a description of his actions. All his actions is based on justice.

All his qadr is based on justice. Fi'luhu wa qadruhu. Subhanahu wa ta'ala.

It's all based on al-adl. Allah. Who has sent down the book.

With truth and balance. It is Allah. Who has sent down the book.

In truth. And also the balance. And balance represents justice.

We have already sent our messengers with clear evidence. And sent down with them the scripture and the balance. So it's not only knowledge. But also balance.

Scripture and the balance. That the people may maintain justice. Maintain.

Their affairs in justice. So that's the whole goal. Of the messengers.

The whole goal of the message of Islam.

Justice in Practice: Individual Accountability

And this can be clearly seen in several areas in Islam.

Number one. A religion came to establish a very important fact. Which is.

Al-Quran said.

And verily a soul earns not blame except against itself. So you only be held accountable for the sin that you commit. Not someone else did.

And no bearer of burden will bear the burden of another. I cannot bear the burden of someone else problems or mistakes. And that was a clear. Distinguish between.

That why for example. Christians look at. That every soul born sinners.

And you need a saver. To save us from the sin. That committed by Adam.

In Muslim world. We never believed in that. And it was from the beginning.

Because that's against the concept of justice.

Justice with Enemies and Friends Alike

You see in Islam. It speaks about being just with those who don't agree with you. As a matter of fact. Just with the enemy.

Just with your enemies. As Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala said.

And do not let the hatred of people prevent you from being just. Be just. That is near to Taqwa, righteousness. Also to be just and fair with your relatives. With people your friends.

With people close to you. You don't give them what doesn't belong to them. Not because they are relative.

Not because they are friends. Not because they are my country follow men. That I give them justice.

While I treat people outside my country. Unfairly. That's not acceptable.

That's not how Islam looked at it. You're just unfair with those so close. And those are far.

Those are enemy and those are friends. As he said. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala said.

And when you speak. Be just. Even if it concern a near relative to you.

Historical Examples of Islamic Justice

Justice. It is became something known for the prophet. As a ruler.

Represented justice. Manifested in so many ways. And one of my favorite stories.

When the prophet saw the lines of the Muslims. In one of his wars.

Or one of the battles. He was lining up the companions. And he saw Sawwad ibn Ghaziyya was not in the line.

So the prophet pushed him back. With a stick in his hand. He pushed him back to be in the line.

So Sawwad said, Ya Rasulallah you hurt me. The prophet with no hesitation. And I want you to think about this.

Because it's a just society. It's a just and fair society. This man didn't hesitate to speak out.

To say to the leader of the Muslims. Because it's a just and fair society. He can speak up and say, You hurt me.

Then the prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) immediately gave him the stick. And he uncovered his stomach.

Because that man's stomach wasn't covered. To be absolutely fair. And he said go ahead.

Take your revenge. He took the stick. And he approached the prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم).

And all the companions looking. Then all of a sudden he start kissing the prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) stomach. I'm putting his cheek against the prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم).

He said, Ya Rasulallah I will never ever hurt you. I only ask for this. Because of the opportunity to come too close to you.

And to make sure that the last thing I touch in this dunya. In case I die in this battlefield. It will be your skin Ya Rasulallah.

Justice in the Time of Ali ibn Abi Talib

You look at the justice of the companions. Of the justice of the Muslim Ummah. It is unbelievable.

Just the lack of time. We can't go and drive on too many stories. But one of the Jewish community members.

In the Muslim society at that time. Had a problem with Ali Ibn Abi Talib. And Ali Ibn Abi Talib was the head of the state.

At that time. In Al Kufa in Iraq. Ali Ibn Abi Talib found his shield.

Which is something that he took. From the prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم). The shield that he carry in the war.

And it's very dear to him. Because it goes to the prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) time. So he found this Jewish persons.

Having it in the market. So he said that's mine. He said no that's mine.

And they debated over it. So they went to the judge Shurayh. And the Qadi Shurayh said to Ali Ibn Abi Talib.

You have a proof that this is your shield. He said because it's in the possession of that Jewish person. He's a citizen.

He's a person of the society. He has the right. You can't just claim it and take it.

Then he said I have a proof. He said what? He said I have two witnesses. And they are my sons.

Then Qadi Shurayh said no. They are your sons. They cannot be witnesses.

Either you bring me a bayyina. Or this man if he swear by God. That this is his shield.

He can keep it. I know you're saying the truth. And he's not.

In my heart. But that's how I have to be fair and just. So the man said.

Wallahi. This is the exact balance. That Musa used to rule between us. I found the shield on the. One of the valleys.

And I picked it up.

Justice with All Creation

This justice is something. Known in the history.

Also even just with animals. Not just with. Just and fair with everything.

With animals. With environment. And Islam speaks about this.

From 1400 years ago. Not because we have a global warming. At that time.

Not it is a reaction. One of the beautiful point. That in Islam.

Your rights are inherently your rights. You don't need to fight for it. And Islam give it to you.

Like women's for example rights. In Islam we don't have the history. That women have to struggle.

And to live through misery. Or slaves or to recognize. To end racism.

It's something in Islam. Give it to you. That's your right.

You don't even need to fight for it. You deserve to receive it. And it must be protected by the society.

Islam: A Religion Free of Contradictions

And Islam also one of the thing. That impact of Islam in your life. And that's why I choose to be Muslim.

I love Islam. Because Islam make my life free of contradictions. It's a perfect sense religion.

It's a religion do not make contradiction. Between science and religion. We never had this problem in our history.

That's a foreign concept for us as Muslim. Actually if you look it's ironic to know. That so many of the scientists.

During the golden Islamic era. Were Jewish and Christians. Even among Muslim society.

But it's not about being a Muslim. It's about Islam provide the environment. For these scientists to grow.

For science to flourish. Also. You find that we don't have a contradiction.

Between for example. The dunya and the akhira. This life and the next.

Either you have to be completely dedicated to the dunya. Forget about the akhira. Or no.

Actually we see that this dunya is. Ma'bar. Is a bridge.

A bridge is a tool for us to reach the akhira. You can't just be. Devoted all your time to the akhira.

And forget about the dunya. That's why Umarradiyallahu anhu says. Someone sitting in the masjid.

He said why you sitting here? Rain does not carry with it gold and silver. Go work. When the prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.

Saw people in the masjid sitting. You know what the employment. Yes he help them but he told them go.

And go to the desert. Collect some wood and sell it. Just don't beg people for money.

Work. And that's why you see men and women work. During the prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam time.

To earn their income. And to basically. Not just to live off people help.

Or government help.

Simplicity in Islamic Beliefs

You don't have in our belief. The principle of our belief.

There is no complicity. It is simple. Allah is one.

You worship Allah alone. We don't have mediator in the middle. As simple as this.

No prophet. No saint. No human being or anything.

You have one lord that you pray to. You ask and you worship him alone. As simple as that.

Has no partner. Has no son. No three entity in the end up.

It's one. It's a true monism religion. Look at the complicity of the concept of the hereafter.

When you ask a Jewish Rabbi or a scientist. Very hard for them even to explain how it is. So much debate about them.

Is there a hereafter or not? While you look at this simple belief in Islam. It's very clear. Very straightforward.

Simple. Look at Allahsubhanahu wa ta'ala's names and attributes. Clearly stated.

No contradiction. We don't believe in some and deny some. I used to teach in my masjid about Allahsubhanahu wa ta'ala's names and attributes.

And I have a Methodist church next to our masjid. Alhamdulillah we always maintain a good relationship with neighbors. So the youth director used to attend my class about Allah's names and attributes.

And he told me, you know what? I never have been exposed to something like this in my life. I love the way you guys have described the lord. It's so beautiful.

So deep. So detailed. So simple.

I wish that we have something like this. And he said, I use some of your teaching actually to my youth.

You know the concept of al-qadr.

Straightforward. Simple. You want a result, you have to take the necessary means.

You have to remove the hindrance. And everything happen basically you have a will and it happen according to the will of Allahsubhanahu wa ta'ala.

There is no contradiction between the call and the concept of prophethood.

All prophets and messengers they are like half brothers. They all call for la ilaha illallah but everybody has their own sharia, their own rulings.

Islam's Honor for Human Beings

One of the thing about this religion it's honor human being.

And that's why I choose to be a Muslim and I love Islam. Because it's a religion that really look at human being as something very unique. From the day we were created.

I descended. I go back in history all the way to Adamalayhi salam. A being that created by Allah's hand.

A being that created and Allahsubhanahu wa ta'ala made the angel prostrate themselves before Adam. It's not about Adam it's about you. That's why you choose to be a Muslim.

That pride inside you that Allahsubhanahu wa ta'ala created the earth and the heavens all of it for you.

You know when I arrived to this conference the MSA brothers and sisters they basically were very nice and generous preparing you know my room, gift baskets and all the stuff. You know when you see that you feel like wow this is nice.

People really like me and respect me and honor me. You come to a guest to someone at house and he made the house so special for you. How you feel?

Don't you feel special? Look at the earth around you.

Look at the world around you. Allah made this beautiful earth and everything in it for you.

He created for you everything in this earth to serve you.

We honor the human being. Carried in the sea and in the land.

That's why you choose to be a Muslim.

Human Dignity and Freedom

It's a big difference between someone feeling that I go back, my lineage goes back to be an ape. No. I go back to be a prophet, a messenger.

It's a big difference the way you see yourself. Human being are created free. God created every single soul free.

Not enslaved to human being because you might be enslaved to something else. And Islam want to free you from being enslaved to anyone except Allah.

As Ibn al-Qayyim said,

They run away from being a slave to Allah and they end up slave to their own desires and slave to the shaitan.

You don't want to be that way too. Al-Islam honored human being. Give you the rights, so many rights and this is a big subject but I hope this is something just you think about how detail Islam, how in detail Islam speak about honoring you as a human being.

Honor in Life and Death

Alive and dead. Can you imagine Islam you're not even allowed to step over a person's grave. It's not allowed.

What? Why? For honoring that dead person. You don't step over his grave. You don't dig his grave.

Unless there is absolute necessity for that. Muslim or non-Muslim. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam stood up when a janazah funeral passed by.

They said, Ya Rasulullah, this is a Jewish man. He said, he's a human being.

Honor for Women

That's honoring for woman? Oh my god, that's a completely different story.

How Quran came to honor woman in a time in the Middle East where you look in the East, woman are buried. In the Middle East they used to bury them with child. In the Far East they killed them when their husbands died.

In Europe, in France, they were discussing when the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam was 30 years old if woman are human or not human. And they end up saying women are, have the body of human and soul of a devil. And where Islam comes to speak about woman and give a whole entire chapter in the Quran about it.

Islam as Healing for the Heart

Anyway, Al-Islam, it's a healing for the heart, for the diseases, for the crisis that we see.

The Key to Heart's Health: Pure Monotheism

But if there is anything I want to leave you with, to be quick, two points. Number one is Allah said in the Quran

If there is multiple gods in the heavens and earth, there will be corruptions in the heaven and earth.

I want to tell you this is in heavens and earth. If there is multiple gods in it, it will be corrupt. I want to say the same thing goes to your heart.

If your heart have multiple gods in it, it will be corrupt heart. If you keep it only solely for Allah, your heart will be healthy. Your heart will be pure.

Your heart will be sound. Your heart will be that heart that Allah promised on the Day of Judgment. It will be surviving the Hellfire and entering Paradise.

Practical Steps to Love Islam

In the last point that I have, it's just a takeaway point. If you want to love this religion to feel like you know what I'm Islam by loving it, this is takeaway point. Number one, learn.

You cannot love something you're ignorant of. Two, learn about Allah specifically, names and attributes. Learn about the Prophet SAW. Learn about the beautiful Sharia of Islam.

It's so beautiful. Learn about the beauty of it. Number three, learn about the companions and the life of the great Muslim scholars.

Abu Hanifa said, I love to study the life of the scholars even more than studying their Fiqh and their opinion. It strengthens your Iman.

The Importance of Action in Faith

Number three, which Shaykh Tamar mentioned it, is the actions.

This religion is based on actions. You cannot separate faith from actions. As a matter of fact, it's very funny.

I was reading in one of the books of Al-Ahnaf. They talk about the issue of someone who's not praying. Is he Muslim or not? Do you know what the author wrote? I think it was Al-Qarafi.

It's not Al-Ahnafi. It's actually Maliki. Al-Qarafi, rahimahu Allah. He said, and this is a hypothetical example.

Cannot be imagined to exist. To have a Muslim who don't pray. He wrote this about 700-800 years ago.

He said, that's hypothetical. It's impossible to imagine someone claim Muslim and never pray. Allahumsta'an.

Maintaining Positive Outlook Towards the Muslim Community

Be positive towards the Muslim community. A lot of people lose love to the Islam because they have a lot of struggle with the Muslim community or some of the practices that we've seen done by some Muslim.

This negativity, if you allowed your heart and your mind always be negative, negative, negative, negative, people tend to stay away from Islam and Muslims.

Have good friends that they will help you to enjoy your religion and to enjoy your deen.

Closing Du'a

May Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala preserve your deen. May Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala grant us His love and His mercy for dunya and akhira.

Thank you very much.