Seems like these days the Muslims now come in "All Flavors." There are so many different names of so many groups in the world today. But which are the "true Muslims?"
The groups carry names like: Sunnies, Salafies, Shi'ites, Ahmadiyah, Kadianis Sufis, Nation of Islam, Hanafi, Shafi, Wahabi, Moorish Science, Five Percenters, Aghakhanis, Ansar Allah, Modernists, Reformed Muslims - etc.
So many sects and groups - all claim to be the "saved sect of Islam", but which one is the real Islam? How do we know for sure?
NOTE: With all respect to those who ascribe themselves to various groups in Islam, this article is dedicated to solving serious issues effecting Muslims world wide. The conclusion is that anyone who can say, "I believe there is only one God, Allah and Muhammad is His messenger and servant" is in fact, a Muslim. It is only when they insist on adding an adjective to describe their particular "type" of Islam that the problems begin to surface. Please read on with this thought in mind - Allah says; ""It is He (Allah) who has named you MUSLIMS.." [Noble Quran 22:78]
Each of the "faith groups" mentioned have been labeled by different people as sects or deviant groups in degrees from border line to completely out of Islam.
Before we begin trying to gain an understanding of who is right or wrong on this issue it is quite advantageous to spend a moment in reviewing the meanings of the actual words which we will be using in our discussion.
We begin by looking to the meanings of key words from the Arabic language as this will assist us in making the right conclusions and avoid more confusion. The first of all the words to understand has to be "Islam" and then immediately following that, the word "Muslim." These words are not English and have to be understood in the Arabic. They do not translate into one word.
First word - "ISLAM." We should have been asking all along, "What does the term ISLAM actually mean, anyway?"
ISLAM comes from the root "slm" or "Salama". The word ISLAM in reference to the faith is understood in Arabic as the:
ISLAM means:
* Surrender: Give up evil and lusts - give in to the Creator
* Submission: Agree to the terms and conditions of being a servant of Almighty God
* Obedience: Comply with His Commandments to the best of your ability
* Sincerity: Do it all whether or not anyone else notices or cares.
* Peace: Accept what Almighty God gives you in this life in serenity.
