Muslim by name or by virtue – Bashirudin karikari deputy nasara Cordinator fanteakwa north writes

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Virtue is a behaviour showing high moral standard by exhibiting
goodness, righteousness, morality, ethicalness, uprightness, integrity, dignity, rectitude, honesty, honour, incorruptibility, probity, propriety, decency, respectability, nobleness and worthiness

The word “Muslim” means one who submits to the will of God. The first principle of Islam is known as the Shahaadah(Testimony of Faith), and is as follows: “There is no one worthy of worship except God and Muhammad is the Messenger of God.”

In a broader sense, anyone who willingly submits to the will of God is a Muslim. Thus, all humans who submit to the will of God
are considered Muslims.

One cannot judge Islam by looking at those individuals who have a Muslim name, but in their actions, they are not behaving as Muslims

According to the theological definition, a Muslim is one who accepts the Unity of one God

A Muslim is a person that submits or surrenders to God, performs good deeds, follows the religion of Islam and holds the Qur’an and other holy books as central books of guidance.

As in other religious bodies, there are practicing and non-practicing Muslims, liberal and conservative Muslims, tolerant and extremist Muslims. However, their individual actions should not be used to scrutinize or label Islam.

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) describes a muslim in his sermon:

“Blessed is he who earns his living through lawful ways and he whose inward status is good, outward is decent; spends his surplus wealth in charity; abstains from excessive talking; people remain safe of (any) evil from him; he treats others with justice. Surely whoever believes in God, fears Him, and whoever fears God guards himself against the evils of this world.”

By analysing the sermon truthfully i can confidently say that:

Doing what are lawful and righteous deeds is essential.
Having good morals and treating people with respect is demanded of you as a Muslim.

Having a purified heart and soul, neither hating others nor being hypocritical is a virtue of a Muslim.

Spending whatever he has out of his wealth in the cause of God that is in the fields of charity should be the bedrock of every Muslim.

Being offensive to no one and causing no harm to others is most required of a Muslim and respecting other people’s rights.

These characteristics are only found in truly faithful persons who know God well and fear His punishment because those who know Him do not think much of this world’s life, and wish only to achieve the performance of as many good deeds as possible in it, in order to be rewarded in the life hereafter.

A well mannered and cultured Muslim puts up with mistreatment and turns a blind eye to his neighbor’s faults while avoiding committing any such errors himself.

A true Muslim always adopts the Islamic attitude, whereby treating neighbors well is a basic principle of Islam. His relationship with his brothers and friends is the best and purest of relationships, for it is based on love for the sake of God. This pure, sincere, brotherly love derives its purity from the guidance of the Quran and Sunnah (traditions and approved actions of Prophet Muhammad) that became a unique system in the history of human relations.

In his social relationships with all people, he is well mannered, civil and noble, characterized by the attitudes which Islam encourages. Good behavior which is taught in the Quran and Sunnah, has been made a religious duty in Islam, for which man will be brought to account.

 This is the clear, beautiful picture of the Muslim whose personality has been formed by Islam and whose heart, mind and soul are filled with its divine light.

The development of a society is not measured solely in terms of its scientific achievements and material inventions. There is another, more important standard by which a society is measured.

That is the prevalence of human values such as love, empathy, altruism, sacrifice, uprightness and purity of thought, behavior and dealings with others.

If individuals are the basis of a society, then rightly guided societies pay attention to human development and enhance the positive, constructive aspects while seeking to eliminate evil, destructive motives, so that the individual will become a model citizen. It is from groups of such model citizens that clean, civil, strong, healthy, righteous societies are formed, and Islam is the bedrock of such strive.

Malcolm X a true Muslim once said
“I’m for truth no matter who tells it. I’m for justice no matter who it is for or against. I’m a human being first and foremost, and as such I am for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole”. 

Asalamu Alaikum( peace be upon you)

By: Radio1News|Ghana|Obido Nana Gyasi