Responsibility of Accepting Islam

Are you a Muslim? Then you have responsibility on you.

Islam is the responsibility of a Muslim, because it is - as we know - not just pronouncing the two testimonies, nor is it worshipping only, rather it is the whole of man's actions. For example, if you enter into the company of faith, you must abide by all its rules and regulations, i.e., you have chosen to be a member of that company freely. Joining any company requires that each and every member must abide by the laws of that particular company known to full members; if not, then, you are as if a blindfolded member.

You must also accept the oneness of Allah; this will make you refrain from any form of associating Allah with anything or anyone. And you must bear witness to the prophethood of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.), this will make you obey, trust and follow all that he brought from His Lord (It is not fitting for a believer, men or women, when a matter has been decided by Allah and His Apostle, to have any option about their decision) (Holy Qur'an: 33:36). And you must pray because your prayer restrains you from shameful and evil deeds, and you must fast, because your fasting calls upon refraining from prohibited things both material and spiritual.

Based on this, we can see that there are some acts that remove a Muslim from the Muslim family or from the company of faith because he didn't abide by the laws of the faith. Among those actions are the following:

"Whoever wakes up without giving much care to the Muslim's affairs is not among them, and whoever hears a Muslim seeking help from his fellow Muslims, but didn't answer him, he is not a Muslim."

"He is not among us who cheats or hurts a Muslim."

"He is not among us who doesn't respect his elders and be kind to the little ones."

"He is not among us who calls toward tribalism."

"He is not among us who doesn't take account himself everyday."

"He is not among us who sleeps with his stomach full while his neighbour is hungry."

"He is not among us who does not work for his Hereafter."

"He is not among us who doesn't control himself when he is angry, nor does good to his companion, nor does good to the one who does good to him, nor escorting the one who escorts him and nor be close to the one who is closer to him."

From these narrations, we can under- stand that, as far as Islam is concerned, there is responsibility in everything. And that the words 'he is not among us' excluded anybody who doesn't have the feeling of responsibility in the circle of Muslims.

Adapted from the book: "Youth Aspiration Towards Responsibility" by:  "Al Balagh Foundation"