What is Islam and Who is a Muslim?

Hazrat Moulana Inaamul Hasan Kaandhelwi (rahimahullah) once mentioned the following:

Islam is not a religion which is exclusive to a certain nation or a certain class of people. Rather, Islam is a religion which comprises of certain injunctions and teachings. Whoever accepts these injunctions and teachings and brings them into his life, he will be regarded as a Muslim, otherwise if he does not accept these injunctions and teachings, he will be regarded as a non-Muslim.

Among these injunctions and teachings, there are certain aspects which relate to a person’s heart. These aspects are known as “beliefs” and “articles of faith”.

Other aspects relate to a person’s bodily limbs. These aspects are known as “ibaadaat” (physical acts of worship).

The third aspect relates to improving one’s interaction and conduct with people. The fourth aspect relates to correcting one’s monetary dealings and financial transactions, and the fifth aspect relates to reforming one’s character.

Now, if a person’s relationship with Allah Ta‘ala is in order, then his relationship with the creation will also be in order, and if his relationship with Allah Ta‘ala is not in order, then his relationship with the servants of Allah Ta‘ala will also not be in order.

Ibaadaat are the means through which a person will be able to draw from the mercy and treasures of Allah Ta‘ala. The one who does not know how to draw from the mercy of Allah Ta‘ala, his relationship with the servants of Allah Ta‘ala will not be good.

In this world, it is witnessed that the person who works for someone and receives a salary from the person, he listens and obeys the person who pays him his salary. If only this point can enter our hearts, then all the actions which we carry out with our bodily limbs will also be in order and we will become obedient to Allah Ta‘ala (as we will realize that Allah Ta’ala is our greatest benefactor who blesses us with everything we enjoy in our lives).

The final aspect is that the heart is the king of all the limbs of the body. The actions which the limbs carry out are in actual fact based upon the yaqeen and conviction of the heart.

If the yaqeen and conviction of the heart is placed upon one’s shop and one sees his shop to be the main cause of providing livelihood for himself and his family, then he will exert all his energy and strength upon his shop.

If the yaqeen and conviction of the heart is placed upon Allah Ta‘ala and one sees Allah Ta’ala to be the controller of all affairs, then one will dedicate and devote all his energy and strength towards rectifying his heart and improving his relationship with Allah Ta‘ala. Such a person will lead a life in total conformity to the pleasure of Allah Ta‘ala.

Such a heart is most valuable in the sight of Allah Ta‘ala – a heart which totally conforms to the pleasure of its Master, Allah Ta‘ala in all facets of life.

(Sawaanih Moulana Muhammed Inaamul Hasan [rahimahullah] 3/568)