Who Is A Muslim ?

The first five ayats from the second surat of the Holy Quran, in which the Almighty has defined the meaning of Al-Muttaqin (the righteous).

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• Alif Lam Mim.
  
• This is the Book whereof there is no doubt, a guidance to those who are righteous,
  
• Who believe in the Unseen, and offer prayer, and spend of what We have provided them,
  
• And who believe in that which is revealed to thee (Mohammad) and that which was revealed before thee, and who are certain of the Hereafter.
  
• They follow the guidance (which comes) from their Lord; and they are the ones who will prosper. [Quran 2:1-5]

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These Quranic verses inform us of the requirements which, if a person fulfills them, he will be of the righteous people, and whoever is righteous, is a Muslim and a believer.

These requirements are the following:

1. To believe in the unseen (as we believe in the Creator and the Hereafter without seeing them).
2. To offer the five daily prayers.
3. To spend, in the way of God, a portion of the wealth God had provided us (paying Zakat).
4. To believe in that which God has revealed to His Messenger Mohammad (s).
5. To believe in that which was revealed to all Messengers before Mohammad (s).
6. To believe in the Hereafter.

Thus, whoever meets these six requirements, as indicated by the first verse, will be righteous, and as indicated by the last verse, will be well-guided and successful. Here, we can say that every Muslim who is committed to the principles of Islam will meet all the requirements. True Muslims do not disagree on any Islamic principle, and all of them believe in that which Allah (swt) revealed to The Holy Prophet Mohammad (s).

Authentically reported statements of the Prophet are in accordance with the Holy Quran. The following ahadith clearly point this out.

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The Bedouin: What is Islam?
The Messenger of Allah (s): Five daily prayers.
The Bedouin: Do I have to add to them any prayer?
The Messenger of Allah (s): No, unless you volunteer. And fast in the month of Ramadhan.
The Bedouin: Do I have to add to it any other fast?
The Messenger: No, unless you volunteer. Then he mentioned to him the prescribed charity.
The Bedouin: Do I have to add to it?
The Messenger of Allah (s): No, unless you volunteer.
The Bedouin: By God, I shall not add to these; nor shall I subtract from them.
The Messenger of Allah (s): The bedouin has succeeded if he is true.

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A bedouin said to the Prophet: Advise me of a deed that if I accomplish, I will be admitted to Paradise. The Messenger of Allah (s) said: Worship God, ascribe no partner to Him, offer the prescribed prayer, give the prescribed charity, and fast the month of Ramadhan. The Bedouin said: By God, in Whose hand is my soul, I shall not add to these, nor shall I subtract from them. When he turned his back, The Messenger The Messenger of Allah (s) said: Whoever desires to look at a man from the people of Paradise, should look at this man.

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The Messenger of Allah (s) said: Whoever testifies that there is no God but the Almighty, and that Mohammad is Messenger of God, God shall protect him from Hell.

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The Messenger of Allah (s) said: What is due to God from His servants is that they worship Him, ascribe to Him no partner; and what is due to God's servants from Him is that He will not punish anyone that does not ascribe to Him a partner.

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The Messenger of Allah (s) said: Islam is to worship God, ascribing to Him no partner; to offer the prescribed prayers; to pay the prescribed charity, and to fast the month of Ramadhan.

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The Messenger of Allah (s) said: Islam is to testify that there is no God but Allah and that Mohammad is the Messenger of God; to offer the prescribed prayer; pay the regular charity; fast the month of Ramadhan, and visit the Ka'bah.

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The Messenger of Allah (s) said about Iman: To believe in God, His Angels, His Book, His Messengers, the Day of Judgement, and to believe in: "Qadar," pleasant and unpleasant.

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These ahadith [plus many other reliable ahadith] agree with the Quran and indicate that whoever believes in Allah, His Angels, His scriptures, His Messengers, the Hereafter, worships Allah alone by offering the prescribed prayer, fasts the month of Ramadhan, pays zakat, and performs the pilgrimage if he has the financial and physical ability, will be considered a Muslim in good standing.