| This section deals with the most fundamental
of questions: What must a person profess or do in order
to be considered a Muslim according to the teachings of
Islam? [It must be
made clear that the point at issue here is not
what are the requirements for a person to be a full and
true Muslim in belief and deed.]
At this point, it is
important to keep in mind that personal piety is not
being discussed here, that this is not a
discussion of the definition of a full Muslim or true
believer.
The issue relevant to the
case is, What is the criteria laid down by Islam for a
person to be known as, identified as and treated
as a Muslim so far as matters of civil law and his social
relations with other Muslims are concerned. The evidence
on this point is divided into the following parts:
(1) From the Holy Quran,
extracts showing that belief in God and His messenger
makes a person a `Muslim'.
(2) From the Hadith,
incidents showing that during the life-time of the Holy
Prophet Muhammad people embraced Islam by reciting the Kalima
Shahada.
(3) Opinion of Muslim
authorities, throughout the history of Islam, again
showing that to be known as a Muslim and included in the
Islamic community, a person has only to profess the Kalima.
(4) Sayings of the Holy
Prophet Muhammad, giving certain outward signs of a
Muslim, so that a person showing those signs must be
treated as a Muslim.
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Also, we present detailed
extracts from the writings of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad,
in which he strongly professed to be a Muslim, clearly
stated that he believed in all the doctrines and
practices of Islam as recognised by the Ahl as-Sunna,
and urged his followers to adhere to the religion of
Islam to the best of their ability.
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