Calling yourself religious....
Printed From: IslamiCity.com
Category: Religion - Islam
Forum Name: General Islamic Matter
Forum Discription: Discuss Islamic matters/issues that not covered by other sub catagories
URL: http://www.IslamiCity.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=23823
Printed Date: 22 May 2013 at 2:54pm
Topic: Calling yourself religious....
Posted By: lady
Subject: Calling yourself religious....
Date Posted: 06 September 2012 at 7:04am
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Do you think that man has the right to call himself religious? Or is this a word that should only be confirmed by Allah? I personally think that if a person calls himself religious then he is really in denial.... I am a aware that my thinking could be wrong as well.
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Replies:
Posted By: abuayisha
Date Posted: 06 September 2012 at 8:33pm
| Perhaps the individual is simply indicating their practice of Islam, in other words, prayer, fasting, hajj, zakat and other such outward and ritualistic performances. And not what I'd assume you'd take exception to, that one would declare "emaan" or "righteousness" or "piety" for themselves. |
Posted By: thomaslee
Date Posted: 10 September 2012 at 7:35pm
If a person calls themselves religious then i get nervous. If you watch the movie " Kingdom of Heaven " the knight is talking to Balin and says something about the sins commited in the name of religon. I believe it is all about a personal relationship with God . 
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Posted By: Caringheart
Date Posted: 11 September 2012 at 3:29pm
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I agree with you thomaslee... I didn't comment on this thread the first time I saw it, but today was saying to myself when I saw the title; "I do not believe in religion. I believe in God."  Responding to Lady... I believe man has the right to call himself anything he wants, but only God can judge what is right. Only God is the one true judge... the one who knows all. |
Posted By: Nausheen
Date Posted: 12 September 2012 at 8:58pm
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"I believe man has the right to call himself anything he wants, but only God can judge what is right. Only God is the one true judge... the one who knows all."
Agree with most of it - well said. However I have a problem with 'man has a right to call himself anything he wants'. The problem is not with 'calling' oneself something/anything -rather the choices one makes according to this presumption in treating others.
When we call ourselves religions, many a times we end up treating others with a snob, an aura or supiriority etc. We dont have a right to do that.
I think one who calls himself by an adjective, also thinks himself to possess those qualities - and then treats others using that his yardstick. Pharoah called himself God ... he did many things because of this belief, including atrocities on his people.
One who has a tendency of controlling others, not sure what he would call himself but certainly he gives himself the right to do so - and in all truth he does not have this right.
I dont think people have a right to call themselves whatever they like and then go about infringing others' personal space ... point to ponder.
Lady's post reminded me of a thaught - being religions and believing in God is not a quality we have despite of God, rather a gift from Him. There are people who genuinly want to understand God, His religion, His laws, and find harmony within themselves with it - yet they are unable to find peace. Its not like we read a few books, understand a certain set of logics - do some thinking in a particular direction and the result is we are godfearing religious beings - it does not happen that way. There is no specific formula for acquiering religiosity unless God tends His attention, mercy, favor and aid.
Just a thaught.
------------- Wanu nazzilu minal Qurani ma huwa Shafaa un wa rahmatun lil mo'mineena wa la yaziduzzalimeena illa khasara. |
Posted By: thomaslee
Date Posted: 12 September 2012 at 9:42pm
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I could not of said it better myself Caringheart ! Peace sister
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Posted By: lady
Date Posted: 14 September 2012 at 2:38am
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Thanks all for your replies.
I still think that one can not call himself religious unless God,HIMSELF revealed that to him. A person who is religious tries to practice the deen as much as he can with the best of his ability and at the same time commits very few sins. This person makes the conscience decision in everything he does to go more than beyond the basics of what is required to be a muslim or nonmuslim practicing another faith. Can we say this about ourselves? NO. As a muslim, I can not make the mistake of saying that I know I am going to Jinnah unless Allah has revealed this to me. So how can we say that we are religious? Yes we can say that there are steps we must practice that will help us get there.
So to say that you are religious to me seems like you are in denial of the kind of person you really are. I am not saying that this can not be revealed to you by Allah. I am not bothered that people say this about themselves, but when they do, I always wonder why they think so.
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Posted By: Caringheart
Date Posted: 14 September 2012 at 6:08pm
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Greetings Nausheen, It's been awhile.  "When we call ourselves religious, many a times we end up treating others with a snob, an aura or supiriority etc. We dont have a right to do that." I agree with that statement too. If a person behaves in this way they are not truly religious... belonging to God... are they? Maybe this is why I don't believe in religion. Too many people belong to a religion like one belongs to a club. They don't know what it really means to belong to God and God alone, serving Him, and not themselves and their own purposes. "I dont think people have a right to call themselves whatever they like and then go about infringing others' personal space ... point to ponder." Right... and Hmmm. I still say we need to stand for God. It is in how we do that, that matters. It is a hard call.I shared this on another site; I believe God has come to us in many ways across the generations to try to reach and guide our hearts to Him. It is up to us to I recommend reading this link, there is too much there to share but I think so important. Read the commentaries particularly. http://bible.cc/1_th...onians/5-21.htm - |
Posted By: Purple Cup
Date Posted: 24 September 2012 at 8:10pm
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A person would have a good feeling as to if they feel they are pious. Surely there are many who identify as Muslims but do nothing to adhere to Islam path and thus we would say he is not religious. I do not think it's an ego thing but we can also determine in our own minds whether someone who says they are pious and what we see from them in their errors. ------------- What Muslim Matrimonials has 7 Sunni Imams on board? |
Posted By: Chrysalis
Date Posted: 25 October 2012 at 7:18am
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Very interesting topic.
I personally feel slightly sceptical of people who call themselves 'religious'... don't know why. I feel just as sceptical (for lack of a better word) about people who tend to be too self-deprecating by saying how they are such sinners (in order to convey humility). One should be in the middle... Also, has anyone ever asked you if you are religious? How do you respond? I can't seem to respond to this question in one sentence, I tend to get into a 1000 word essay :) ' Once during a school photograph, the photographer (pakistani muslim) asked me if he could take the picture, or was I 'Islamic' ? I mean, how do you respond? :) ------------- "O Lord, forgive me, my parents and Muslims in the Hereafter. O Lord, show mercy on them as they showed mercy to me when I was young." |
Posted By: Nausheen
Date Posted: 31 October 2012 at 9:12am
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Originally posted by Caringheart Greetings Nausheen, It's been awhile. "When we call ourselves religious, many a times we end up treating others with a snob, an aura or supiriority etc. We dont have a right to do that." I agree with that statement too. If a person behaves in this way they are not truly religious... belonging to God... are they? Maybe this is why I don't believe in religion. Too many people belong to a religion like one belongs to a club. They don't know what it really means to belong to God and God alone, serving Him, and not themselves and their own purposes. "I dont think people have a right to call themselves whatever they like and then go about infringing others' personal space ... point to ponder." Right... and Hmmm. I still say we need to stand for God. It is in how we do that, that matters. It is a hard call.I shared this on another site; I believe God has come to us in many ways across the generations to try to reach and guide our hearts to Him. It is up to us to "keep what is good and reject what is not good." * To discern the Truth. * But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good;. King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.) ... word of God, and what they found to be true they were to embrace; what was false they were to reject I recommend reading this link, there is too much there to share but I think so important. Read the commentaries particularly. http://bible.cc/1_th...onians/5-21.htm - Absolutely! Would like to add - God is in our hearts, He guides those of us who turn to Him inwardly. When we know Him through our hearts, we dont worry what others think of us (religious or not), and we ourselves get so busy with Him, we forget to worry what denominations to give ourselves. peace and blessings to you! ------------- Wanu nazzilu minal Qurani ma huwa Shafaa un wa rahmatun lil mo'mineena wa la yaziduzzalimeena illa khasara. |