A Muslim is A Muslim is A Muslim

Yay!

Its Ramadhan!

sweet! now time to renew my vows, and set new resolutions.

So this year i want to be less hormonal and more humble.

Two things first. Although there are a few more things i would like to work on, but for now, i'll try to focus on those two things.

So in the spirit of everything good about Ramadhan, i'd like to make a little commentary about being a Muslim.

Hmmm.

Have you ever heard of such terms as 'moderate, conservative or fundamentalist' Muslims?

Come now, i'm sure you have. Like in the newspapers for example:

'Moderate Muslims seek dialogue'

'Fundamentalist Muslims take to the streets'

Which then brings me to my issue:

Why is it that we have such polarising terms to separate siblings amongst siblings? (i us e the term 'siblings' 'cos its more politically correct :p)

Personally its these terms which i feel isolate us from one another, which allows us to commit acts of violence in the name of the religion.

Take for example:

If i have been labeled as a fundamentalist Muslim, i would find myself ostracised by the 'moderate' Muslims. Then i would start going to 'fundamentalist' gatherings, listen to 'fundamentalist' leaders and then start believing that i really am fundamentalist.

As for the 'moderates', they pride themselves on not being as fanatic as the 'fundamentalists' but they don't realise what the root of the problem is.

Moderate basically means, balanced, in-between, non-excessive, non-lacking..

Fundamentalist basically means, one who believes in fundamentals, the basics and has strong foundations and belief.

Going by those definitions i would like to call myself a Moderate Fundamentalist... or Fundamental Moderate... hmmm...

My point is that, why should such terms even exist? They create a culture of separation from one another.

Both 'moderates' and 'fundamentalists' feel that they are better, even holier than each other. They decry the actions of one another. No matter what each other does, they make it a point to get agitated by one another.

So why then even have such terms?

A Muslim is A Muslim is A Muslim.

Allah has sent down His Word to us through Rasulullah s.a.w. complete.

Yes, complete. (i wish i could quote the exact verse but i don't have it off-hand :p)

Complete meaning that the guidelines have been set, and they should be followed.

No where does it mention any delineation between 'moderates' and 'fundamentalists'.

If you admit to being Muslim then there are a set of Guidelines which aren't too difficult to follow.

It does not matter if you follow these guidelines strictly or whether you choose to do any extra 'sunat' religious stuff to get extra religious brownie points. That is between Allah and yourself.

So if you are a Muslim, or a follower of any other religion for that matter, stop labeling yourselves as 'religious or non-religious', 'practicing or non'practicing', 'moderate or fundamentalist'.

If you are a Muslim, then you are a Muslim.