The lead article argues that the so called Islamic name is an innovation with no basis in the Quran, noting that Abraham, Jacob, Jesus's disciples and other submitters kept their own names. Notes follow from the 14th annual submitters' conference in Vancouver, along with a parable about a boy, a fence and words spoken in anger, and a reader's letter recalling Dr. Rashad Khalifa.
Sadly, it has been known to happen that every
time a person wishes to convert to Islam, he/she is immediately bombarded
by those who claim to be the custodians of the faith, with a barrage of
ridiculous requirements that he/she has to go through in order to become
a Muslim (Submitter)!
Adopt a New Name?
One of these non-Quranic requirements that they insist on is the need
to change one’s name and adopt a new ‘Islamic Name!’
Not only is the concept of an ‘Islamic Name’ a false concept,
but it is also an innovation that has no basis in the Quran. With a direct
reference to the Quran, it can be demonstrated that there is no such thing
as an ‘Islamic Name.’ The Quran
stresses the fact that submission is a state
of the body, mind and soul and not a nametag over one’s head!
The requirements set by God for any person to adopt Islam and become
a submitter are simply for that person to proclaim submission to God alone,
and consequently observe the rituals required for worshipping God alone.
There is no mention in the Quran whatsoever of the need to change one’s
name so as to have an ‘Islamic Name.’ So where did that innovation
come from?
For that it is necessary to look closely at the phrase ‘Islamic
Name.’
If you are a man wishing to adopt Islam they will tell you choose a name
like Muhammad, Ali, or
Ahmad etc. If you are a woman, they will tell
you choose a name like Khadija, Fatma, or Zeinab.
But are these really ‘Islamic Name’’ or are they merely
ARABIC NAMES? Moreover, is there such a thing as an ‘Islamic Name?’
Even more important, is there any notion in the Quran about any preferential
status for those who have certain names?
The answer to the first question is that these names are in fact ARABIC
NAMES. The evidence to this fact lies in the Quran. We are told in the
Quran that Abraham and his sons were the first Muslims:
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Islamic Names
You shall strive for the cause of God as you should
strive for His cause. He has chosen you and has placed no hardship
on you in practicing your religion-the religion of your father Abraham.
He is the one who named you Muslim (Submitters) originally. (22:78)
Abraham was neither Jewish, nor Christian; he was
a monotheist Muslim (submitter). He never was an idol worshiper.
(3:67)
We are also told that Abraham’s seed were Muslim:
Had you witnessed Jacob on his death bed; he said
to his children, “What will you worship after I die?”
They said, “We will worship your god; the god of your fathers
Abraham, Ismail, and Isaac; the one god. To Him we are Muslim (submitters).”
(2:133)
We are told that all the believers after Abraham and his seed were
Muslim, in the following verse we are told that Jesus and the disciples
were also Muslims (submitters):
Recall that I inspired the disciples: “You
shall believe in Me and My messenger.” They said, “We
have believed, and bear witness that we are Muslim (submitters).”
(5:111)
In other words, we are told in the Quran that all the genuine believers
from the time of Abraham onwards were Muslim. This includes prophets
like Lot, Jacob and Isaac and also disciples like Peter, John, Matthew
etc.
We take a closer look at some of these names (Lot, Jacob, Isaac,
Peter, Matthew etc) and compare them to some of the current names
used by Jews (such as Jacob, Isaac etc) and some
others used by Christians (Peter, Matthew etc.)
None of these good Muslims (Submitters), like Lot, Isaac, Jacob or
Peter, had to go to any puppet establishment and change their names
to a name like Ali or Ahmad in order to become Muslims! did they?
If that is so, then why do those uninformed Muslims insist that new
converts must change their names to what they call an ‘Islamic
Name?’
This imposed requirement has its roots in a subtle act of idol worship.
One of the customs that is taught to Muslims since childhood is to
have great love and respect for all the prophet’s family and
friends. They grow up in the belief that all the family and friends
of Muhammad are saint-like figures. As a result they sadly use a great
part of their Salat (Contact Prayers) sending greetings and praise
for all the family and friends of Muhammad!
If you visit the home of one of these idol worshippers, you are
likely to find their collection of books made up primarily of books
detailing the life and words of such idols! This they call the “Seerah
of the Rasool and the Sahabah” (Lives and stories of
the messenger and his followers). Yes, you may find a copy of the
Quran, but many of them spend much more time reading about their
idols than reading the Quran. When they read the Quran, they read
it at the speed of light! The devil has tricked them to believe
that for every letter of the Quran they read they are credited with
ten credit points!!! So the faster they read the more credit points
they think they will get.
It is thus easy to understand why they
advise you, with such authority, that you have to change your name
immediately to become a Muslim. If they idolize all the family and
friends of Muhammad and praise and greet them in their prayers,
it is understandable that they want everyone to be called with their
names!
Sadly, they have rejected the Quranic truth that it is God alone
who is worthy of constant praise. They have also been blind to the
fact that God never laid any importance on names, or appearance,
in the Quran. The Quran consistently confirms that those who will
be saved in the hereafter are those who arrive with a pure heart,
and not the ones who have certain names!
Paradise will be offered to the righteous, readily.
This is what was promised to every repenter, steadfast. They reverenced
the Most Gracious, in their privacy, and came with pure and faithful
heart. Enter it in peace; this is the Day of Eternity. (50:31-34)
Thus to claim that only the names of the Arab Muslims are fit to
be used by any new convert to Islam is in fact to show ignorance
of the Quran. In reality, the act of becoming a true Muslim (Submitter)
makes it necessary for a person to abandon their idolatry and not
their identity.
Furthermore, and since Islam is a universal faith that does not
distinguish between any culture, race or color, the act of insisting
on a name change does not make the person a Muslim but in fact alienates
the person from the universality of Islam.
A. Muhammad
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14th Annual Conference
Notes
God loves those who fight in His cause
united in one column, like the bricks in one wall. 61:4
You shall sing the praises of your
Lord, and be with the prostrators. 15:98
The 14th annual international submitters’
conference was held from July 30th 1999 to August 1st 1999 in Vancouver,
B.C., Canada. It began with the warm and joyful meeting of the family
members during registration. The Friday khutbah beautifully illustrated
that real happiness is a quality of the soul, and that to develop
our soul we need to work on keeping God as our priority.
It was good to see many new faces during the introductions, and
listen to people’s experiences. Praise God, the talks were
wonderful and covered various aspects including God’s beautiful
attributes, on being appreciative, realizing how fortunate we are,
qualities of the righteous, trusting and submitting wholeheartedly
to God Alone, and God’s marvels in His creations.
Each day brought its new experiences, and the listening to the
young and young at heart was a very positive and energizing experience.
Besides the regular talks, we had beautiful Quran recitation and
studies, commemorative singing, poems, a skit, and even rap music,
all in praise and devotion to God Alone.
Another thing that was brought to light
was the spread of God’s message through the internet with
literally millions of hits on the website (www.submission. org)
from people in over a hundred countries all over the world.
After the conference, the submitters of Vancouver had arranged
a chartered boat cruise along the scenic city bay. Once again we
reveled in devotion to God while enjoying some excellent food for
both the body and the soul.
All in all, this conference was one of the best in the recent times,
and left one with a wonderful feeling of happiness, learning and
peace. InshaAllah we look forward to many more such conferences.
May God bless us all.
2:201... “Our Lord, grant us righteousness
in this world, and righteousness in the Hereafter, and spare us
the retribution of Hell.”
Nargis Currim
[Note: God willing the next year’s conference
will be held in Tucson, Arizona.]
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THE FENCE
Web Site
submission.org
A Reader’s Comment
There once was a little boy who had a bad temper.
His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost
his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back of the fence. The first
day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence.
Over the next few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number
of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier
to hold his temper than to drive all those nails into the fence...
Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He told
his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one
nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper.
The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his
father that all the nails were gone. The father
took his son by the hand and led him to the fence.
He said, “You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the
fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger,
they leave a scar just like this one. You can put a knife in a man and
draw it out. It won't matter how many times you say I’m sorry, the
wound is still there. A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one.
“Friends are a very rare jewel, indeed. They make you smile and
encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they share a word of praise,
and they always want to open their hearts to us.”
This author-unkown-story submitted by Maryam Shobeiri
Dear Brothers and Sisters
May God bless you all for your efforts and dedication.
Ever since the departure of my dear friend Dr. Rashad
Khalifa, you continued the message with tireless dedication.
The newsletter and this web site are indeed rays of light
in a confused and troubled world.
God bless you all.
S. M.
[We would like to have your comments and contributions
for the newsletter or the web site. Please try to send your articles in
an electronic format, if possible. Otherwise, typewritten articles would
be appreciated. Hand-written articles are generally difficult to read.
They are also impossible to scan. Ed.]
About this work
Kind
Document
Author
International Community of Submitters
Publisher
International Community of Submitters / Masjid Tucson