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Eye Opener: Who muslims are. Part I

The view of other non muslims to muslims are very stereotypic. A female wearing a veil is a muslim, a female wearing a conservative clothings are also muslims. When a guy speaks in an ethnic language that they know as muslim language then he is also a muslim or the terrorists that the media shows are muslims. These type of views are common to other non muslims and it is normal since the only way for them to get to know muslims are through media or by living in a community where muslims live. It is common for muslims to live together in one area. In the religion of Islam, it is said that muslims should live in a community where there are other muslims so that they will not waver nor will they stray from the path of Islam. Although, it is actually quite wrong to say that a person wearing a veil or a person speaking in a muslim language is a muslim. The word “Muslim” is sort of a title given only to those who can complete the requirement of being one. It is the same for students or an employee. Just because someone has a student identification card or an employee's identification card means they are a student or employee. Does it not strike you that it could be an old one or it could have been faked.  It is similar for those who claims that they are muslims. The word “muslim” is a title given to those who has the qualities of being one.

A real muslim pray. A muslim is proud to call himself or herself as a muslim when they pray, not once or twice or thrice but all five prayers that is obligatory to them. The first prayer is done during dawn. Not during the evening or midnight but during the moments of dawn or when the sun is about to rise to the sky and while the sun is rising to the sky. They wake early and disturb their sleeps and dreams to connect with their creator, the source of their faith, provider of their lives and creator of everything. The time limit for the first prayer is very short. If the sun has fully rise then the time for the first prayer is over so a muslim wakes early so that they do not miss the first prayer. The next prayer is at noon. Either before they take their lunch or after taking their lunch but never after noon simply because that is their third prayer known as Asr. The Asr prayer or the prayer after noon is considered the hardest time to pray because unlike the other four prayers, this is during the time where people are outside their homes to work, study or play and for those who has responsibility to their jobs and education, they feel like those responsibilities are hard to halt or stop for while so muslims who are willing to pause their jobs and educational responsibilities are more responsible than those who does not. The next time is during the sun set. Not while the sun is still high up in the sky or when the sun fully hides beneath the moon but during the time of it setting down. The last prayer is during the evening, when the moon has fully rise to the sky. This is probably the easiest time to pray since the limit for the prayer during this time is until midnight. This is the first and daily duty of a muslim and those who always completes this duty is considered a faithful muslim who obeys and loves Allah, their sole creator, provider and sustainer. Of course praying is not the only duty of a muslim and praying alone is not the only way for a muslim to be considered a real muslim. There are four more aside from praying, the only difference is, praying is a daily duty and must be done from the day they begin to understand right from wrong or for female, when their first blood strikes in their lives.

          The next responsibility of a muslim and an obligation as well is called zakat. Zakat is like a tax payed by people with the capability of paying it. This obligation is only obligatory to muslims who can provide it. If a muslim has only enough to provide from his family and his assets are not enough for the tax then he is not required to complete with obligatory but if a muslim knows or if a muslim comes from a well-off family and he knows that he is obligatory to pay his zakat then he must pay zakat. This obligation is only for those who are able to complete the requirements for zakat. A certain percentage will be taken from his assets monthly. The payment will then be distributed to other muslims who are in need of these percentage. Real muslims do not feel regret from paying zakat, instead they feel cleansed and feel happy that they were able to perform their duty to Allah, their one true God and duty to their brothers and sisters in Islam. They consider it as giving charity and cleansing to their souls from any possible greed and worldly desires that can set them off to the path of Islam.

        Both praying and paying tax is a responsibilty of a muslim that they are happy to oblige. Muslims do not attach themselves to this world nor do they desire too much wealth or worldly titles or power or objects. The next obligation that they feel responsible about is fasting during the month of Ramadhan. Fasting during this month is like christmas for christians, a month full of gifts and blessings. A lot of stories have been told to muslims about this month. In this month, the gates of hell are closed and the demon or Satan is blocked away from the believers. This is also a month where your good deeds are doubled or tripled or more. It is the best month to collect good deeds and cleanse your soul from impurities and bad deeds. A lot of muslims feel blessed that they are able to reach this time of year. It happens only once a year and last for a whole month. Some misunderstands that when a muslim is fasting, they do not eat or drink the whole day. Technically, they are not wrong. They really do not eat or drink or do bad deeds during the day. They start their fast as early as four in the morning and it last until the sun sets down. They begin it with their intention to fast before the call of the first prayer, then they eat their early breakfast and when the call for the first prayer comes, they stop eating or drinking and start doing their first responsibility as muslims. Their fast continues till the sun sets down. They break their fast during the call for the fourth prayer and after a light meal they first prioritize praying the fourth prayer since the time limit for this prayer is very short. After their fourth prayer, they now enjoy the meal that is set for them. This how they perform their fast. It is a lie that they do not eat anything or drink anything at all for the whole day even at the evening. It is also a lie that this is obligatory to every muslims. If a muslim is feeling unwell or has chronic disease that needs maintainance of drugs and cannot perform this duty then he or she is exempted to this responsibility. If a muslim is pregnant and is unadvisable to fast for the sake of her health and the baby's health, then she is not obligatory to fast. If the female muslim is experiencing her red days then she is also exempted in fasting. Even if fasting is obligatory, when a person is in the state where his or her life is at stake, then they are exempted from fasting. Allah, their creator and their sustainer is a mighty and a very understanding, forgiving and kind God that will not let their life be the sacrifice of their responsibility to him. He is a great being that cares and loves for his creations more than any child, any lover and any parents in this world and muslims feel that and knows that all the time which is why it is a pleasure for them to please their God, Allah.

           The last obligation is just like zakat. An obligation to those who are able to do it. An obligation that needs requirements and are not obligatory to those who cannot perform the requirements but being able to do it at least once in their lives gives them great happiness. This obligation is called Hajj. A pilgrimage that they perform in Makkah, in Saudi Arabia. There are several requirements for this obligation. First, a muslim must be in a right age. A child coming with his her parents in pilgrimage is not considered to have taken his her pilgrimage because she or he is still in a state where his or her age hinders from understanding the weight of this responsibility or this duty. Another is that the muslim must be in his or her right mind. A muslim that has a disorder or is unable to distinguish the right from wrong or the reality is not obligated to perform Hajj. Another requirement is the financial requirement. A muslim who is incapable of performing this duty because of financial incapability is not required to perform this duty. For females, they have two important requirements. First is that they must be in the right of age. The right age of Hajj in female is when their period has arrived. That is the maturing age for women which is why their prayer and fasting also begin to be an obligation during that time. The second requirement for females is a must that most forget or simply just ignores is the requirement for “Mahram” or a person that is an unmarriageable kin of a woman such as father, brothers, uncle from the father side, a son or a husband. These are usually being ignored by some especially when they finally get an opportunity to perform this obligation but their financial asset is only applicable for themselves. Every muslim want to perform their pilgrimage at least once but performing it without following the guide for the pilgrimage will be a waste of their intention and their pilgrimage because any pilgrimage done in the wrong manner could leave doubts if it has been accepted by Allah, their one true God.

        Muslims who are able to perform these obligations are considered to be the real ones. Of course, once a person has stated their intention of becoming a muslim by performing “shahadah”, they are fully considered to have entered the faith of Islam but even if they consider themselves as muslims if they do not perform their duties and obligations as muslims, they could somehow feel the guilt of not being able to perform their duties and responsibilities to their creator, Allah. This guilt is common to all muslims and none can judge whether they do not feel this guilt or not but their creator and other people do not have that kind of ability to actually predict whether a muslim is sincere in his or her faith in Allah. These are the obligations of every muslim and it must be followed and done so that they can proudly call themselves as muslims but to those who are unable to do so, it is no one's judgment as to why they are unable to do it. Judging them as hypocrites or pretender to be a muslim or a believer is not a right of anyone else's but Allah's. These are who muslims are. Those who shout the name of Allah or those who brags the name of Allah in killing people without reason are not muslims. Muslims are not terrorist, they are not like what the media shows. They are peaceful, kind, helpful, hospitable, charitable and believer of one true God. They do not pray in any stones or wood carvings, they are not violent who harms people without reason or purpose, nor do they do drugs or hit women or harrass women. They believe that smiling is an act of charity and that covering themselves protects not only themselves but also the men that could be attracted in doing something to them. This are who muslims are. Muslims are people of “peace and worship of one true God”.

I hope my short article of who muslims are have enlighten you to the world of Islam and who muslims truly are. This article hopefully become an enlightenment to anyone who reads it and I wish to discuss more about the lives of Muslims and the faith Islam to all of you.

Until next time,