Who’s a Muslim, Qualities and characteristics of a Muslim, benefits ofbeing a Muslim
Section 1.0
Who is a Muslim?
✓ The word “Muslim” means one who submits to the will (commandments) of Allah.
✓A Muslim can be young or old, black or white, male or female, Nigerian or American.
✓Shahaadah is what makes one a Muslim not country, age, tribe, color, gender, or other
discriminations.
✓ The first principle of Islam is known as the Shahaadah (Testimony of Faith) and is interpreted
as: “There is no one worthy of worship except Allah (God), and Muhammad is the Final
Messenger of Allah.”
✓Theshahaadah has two branches, one pertaining to worshipping Allah only and the other
testifying to the messengership of Muhammad. The two branches must be fulfilled, not one.
✓Theshahaadah is established in three parts, including the 1. heart, 2. tongue, 3. body
✓So a Muslim loves Allah, is proud of Islam, worships Allah, and practices Islam with the
tongue & body.
Section 2.0
Characteristics & Qualities of a Muslim
✓ One cannot judge Islam by looking at those individuals who have a Muslim name, but in their
actions, they are not living or behaving as Muslims.
✓Muslims are ordinary people like other humans; among them are the good and the bad.
✓They are not infallible creatures and, therefore, make mistakes.
When we mention the characteristics of a Muslim, we do not assume that all Muslims have
these characteristics, but only those who follow the best of their abilities—the teachings of
Islam.
Section 3
Categories of Qualities of a Muslim
✓Qualities pertaining to Allah
✓Qualities pertaining to oneself
✓Qualities pertaining to other Muslims
✓Qualities pertaining to Non-Muslims
Qualities of a Muslim to Allah
- Basically, a Muslim is confident and deep in faith, not doubtful and wavering.
- He is spiritually oriented, not materialistic. He always has faith in God’s mercy, not losing
heart or becoming desperate. - He is diligent and vigilant, not negligent in his duties.
- He is thankful to God and constantly prays to Him, not forgetful of His innumerable blessings
Qualities of a Muslim himself
✓AMuslimis
- clean & pure, not dirty & untidy (9, 11)
- modest and decent, not indecent (8)
- God fearing (7)
- obedient, not offender (33)
- hardworking, not lazy
- contented & patient (13)
- not a gambler, a drinker
Note:
Numbers in brackets correspond to Hadith numbers as arranged in the recommended Hadith
book by the management i.e 9 means Hadith 9, 7 means Hadith 7, 33 means Hadith 33
Qualities of a Muslim to others
✓AMuslimis
- truthful, not a liar (32)
- honest and fair, not cheat and corrupt (4)
- loving and solicitous to others, not unmindful of them (21)
- kind and considerate, not harmful or harsh (9, 15)
- polite and helpful, not insulting and disrespectful to people (36)
- refined and gentle in speech, not prone to swearing or cursing (3)
- generous and charitable, not selfish and miserly (50)
- He is moderate, not extremist
- He is reserved, not garrulous
- He is soft-spoken, not boastful
- He is cheerful, not irritable
- He is holy and pure, not lustful
- He is alert, not absent-minded
- He is sincere and straightforward, not hypocritical
- He is optimistic and hopeful, not cynical or pessimistic
Section 4.0
Benefits of Being a Muslim & Beauty of Islam
- Loved by Allah’s creatures
- Guaranteed Wellbeing
- Wellness of the society
- Success in this life & hereafter
- Reward of paradise