Be Muslim And Die A Muslim

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate 

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam. 

Among the du'as of Prophet Ibrahim alayhissalaam that is recorded in the Quran is this,

رَبَّنَا وَاجْعَلْنَا مُسْلِمَيْنِ لَكَ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِنَا أُمَّةً مُّسْلِمَةً لَّكَ وَأَرِنَا مَنَاسِكَنَا وَتُبْ عَلَيْنَا ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ ﴿١٢٨

Our Lord, and make us Muslims [in submission] to You and from our descendants a Muslim nation [in submission] to You. And show us our rites and accept our repentance. Indeed, You are the Accepting of repentance, the Merciful. [Quran, Al Baqarah 2:128]

Islam is not a new religion but a continuation of the legacy of Prophet Ibrahim alayhissalaam. When we talk about Prophet Ibrahim, the things that might come to mind are his trials and sacrifices. He had to leave his wife, Hajar, and infant son, Ismail, in the desert and walk away by the command of Allah. Before that, as a young man, he had to challenge his uncle (father in some opinions) and the entire community about their shirk (idol worshipping). He was thrown into the fire because he believes in Islam. When his son got old enough for him to run around with his son, he saw in a dream that he has to slaughter his son. 

Over and over again he gets trial and challenges that no human being has ever faced. Allah never ask a human being to abandon their family, or to jump into the fire, or to slaughter their own child. Prophet Ibrahim was asked to do things that nobody was ever asked. He had the hardest test.

وَإِذِ ابْتَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ رَبُّهُ بِكَلِمَاتٍ فَأَتَمَّهُنَّ ۖ قَالَ إِنِّي جَاعِلُكَ لِلنَّاسِ إِمَامًا ۖ قَالَ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِي ۖ قَالَ لَا يَنَالُ عَهْدِي الظَّالِمِينَ ﴿١٢٤

And [mention, O Muhammad], when Abraham was tried by his Lord with commands and he fulfilled them. [Allah] said, "Indeed, I will make you a leader for the people." [Abraham] said, "And of my descendants?" [Allah] said, "My covenant does not include the wrongdoers."[Quran, Al Baqarah 2:124]

In this ayah, Allah essentially is telling us to relax and that we are on the same track as our father Ibrahim. That’s not very comforting because Ibrahim didn’t have it easy. Allah is giving the example of Ibrahim because if Allah can make jumping into the fire, abandoning family in a desert, standing up to Namrud and challenging him directly, taking a knife and put on his child’s neck, easy for him, because Allah commands them, what did Allah ask of you? Allah didn’t ask that from you but ask much less. All He ask you to do is to stay away from filthy things, make the good and pure things halal for you and mandated a few righteous good deeds. Just do these few things and stay away from those few bad things. 

We are being told, by the legacy of Ibrahim, no matter what difficulty you have you can never compare the difficulties of Ibrahim with your difficulties. 

وَجَاهِدُوا فِي اللَّـهِ حَقَّ جِهَادِهِ ۚ هُوَ اجْتَبَاكُمْ وَمَا جَعَلَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ مِنْ حَرَجٍ ۚ مِّلَّةَ أَبِيكُمْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ۚ هُوَ سَمَّاكُمُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ مِن قَبْلُ وَفِي هَـٰذَا لِيَكُونَ الرَّسُولُ شَهِيدًا عَلَيْكُمْ وَتَكُونُوا شُهَدَاءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ ۚ فَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِاللَّـهِ هُوَ مَوْلَاكُمْ ۖ فَنِعْمَ الْمَوْلَىٰ وَنِعْمَ النَّصِيرُ ﴿٧٨

And strive for Allah with the striving due to Him. He has chosen you and has not placed upon you in the religion any difficulty. [It is] the religion of your father, Abraham. Allah named you "Muslims" before [in former scriptures] and in this [revelation] that the Messenger may be a witness over you and you may be witnesses over the people. So establish prayer and give zakah and hold fast to Allah. He is your protector; and excellent is the protector, and excellent is the helper. [Quran, Al Hajj 22:78]

Allah called us Muslims, the one who gives up, the one who just accept, the one who is at ease and calm, the one who submits calmly. When Allah tells you to do something you are not agitated, you'll do it at ease inside and willingly submit yourself. If Allah says it, it must be good for me, no matter what my mind, family, friends or society say. When Allah told me this is better for me, I am at ease. If you can do that then you are the legacy of Ibrahim. 

Calling ourselves Muslim is easy but being a Muslim is a different thing altogether. It is not just about behavior but what is deep inside us. You have to be able to feel at ease when you obey Allah. You don't feel that you are going to miss out on something when you obey Allah. Women and young girls when thinking about putting the hijab, they are not agitated by it. Men and young man are not annoyed to have to go to the masjid for fajr and isha prayer. You totally believe that there is no way you are at loss when you obey Allah. Allah names you Muslim -- the one who submit completely to Allah at ease and come with comfort to Allah. You can't have the attitude of Islam if you don't submit completely.

May Allah make us true Muslims and enable us to continue the legacy of Prophet Ibrahim alayhissalaam.

تَوَفَّنِي مُسْلِمًا وَأَلْحِقْنِي بِالصَّالِحِينَ ﴿١٠١

Cause me to die a Muslim and join me with the righteous. [Quran, Yusuf 12:101]

Aameen.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam. 

And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all. 

Wassalaam