Are born muslims superior to muslim who converts?
Salam to my brother and sisters, this is not to hurt anyone.
I know that this is a weird question, but as I'm born as a muslim and have inherited the gift of islam from my birth, am I superior to those who have just embraced islam?
I know that the people who embrace Islam tend to practice it more riglourly than those who are born with it.
But it is true that a person who converted from another religion can also leave islam (Allah knws best) and the person who is a born muslim may leave track of the path but after sometimes may come back on right track (Allah knws best).
So is a born muslim better/superior to a converted muslim. Or both are muslim and both will go to heaven / hell based on their deeds?
- Al-bahjah
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Salaam Al-bahjah, yes you are muslim from birth, but isnt it harder to convert to something new rather than begin with it ?, regardless in they eyes of Allah, all muslims are equal and no-one is superior, the practice of islam is more strict by those who are reverts but that dosent mean they are better or we are worse, simply that they practice more and we dont, in fact it should be rather shameful that revert muslim brother/sisters are practising and yet we are not. Someone who reverts to islam is blessed by Allah, and so its unlikely they would go back to a former religion, when one accepts islam he/she must be educated to the basic level and be happy before taking the shahadah, and never should it be forced upon someone. and yes both reverts and born muslims are equal and both will go to heaven or hell based on their deeds not how they came to islam.
hope this helps
AA;
Yes. Those who are born into it are not better/worse than those who revert. Usually those who revert would be more into it because when you decide and change something major in your life you do not do it for the sake of doing it, but because they really believe in it and they want to do it as best and much as they can. But us who were born into it, we might get into auto pilot mood.
From : http://www.islamweb.net/
In the Sunan from the Prophet peace be upon him, he said: no preference for an Arab over Ajami, nor to Ajami, over an Arab , nor to white on black, or black on white - except by piety, the people from Adam, and Adam from the dust .
May ALLAH guide us, grant us patience, and shower us with his mercy.
If I am correct, it is from ALLAH. If I err it is from me, and I pray ALLAH forgives me. Allah knows best.
AA
salams,
It all depends on deeds. Some reverts are struggling going through broken marriage for Islam. There millions of born muslims who work close mosque and don't pray. Allah is the best judge. you cant compare any body's intentions and actions are based on intentions.
ma salam,
Al-bahjah, you have given the answer yourself: "I know that the people who embrace Islam tend to practice it more rigorously than those who are born with it..."
Converts often have a deeper and stronger faith. They have chosen the religion in spite of negative stereotypes and family opposition. They make an effort to educate themselves in the deen rather than just accept whatever they hear. Look at famous scholars like Bilal Philips, Hamza Yusuf, Imam Zaid Shakir, and many others.
In the end, however, it depends on faith and deeds. The distinction between converts and "born Muslims" is artificial and misleading. We are all Muslims, period. Whoever has the stronger taqwa, that is the better Muslim, regardless of birth or background.
Wael
IslamicAnswers.com Editor
Salaam alaikum , despite being on a blackberry handheld i must take time to say wow !! This question is strait up unintelligent, rude and arrogant and personally offends me. Why is it people say "this is not intended to hurt anyone"when they know full well that this will offend people. The sad part is that many born muslims do feel superior to reverts and what is more sad that most reverts feel this vibe and is is immensely unsettling and a hinderance. Are you aware that as a revert your family and some friends disown you or give you a hard time or pretend to accept you but treat you noticably different ! I would like to see you go through that with loved ones today and then tomorrow attend a khutba and jummaa salat all for the sake of Allah sub hanahu wa ta' Ala , while brothers there treat you like you have no knowledge about Islam, make comments on the color of your skin or refuse to akknowlege you because you are not of their tribe. Would you go ? Many of you would not sad to say but i do .I hate it when when people think Islam is a culturally inherited path, its not culture and religion are seperate. If people knew this you wouldnt get arrogant attitudes towards converts. Im sure by now you have guessed it , Im a revert who has faced these struggles at one point or another and speak on behalf of others who have ,walahi i am not exaggerating. Walahi i hope this changes how you look at stuff and jazak Allah khair to those of you who responded so reasonably and according to the true spirit of Islam, salam
Brother Yasir, thanks for your perspective. I appreciate your struggles and admire your strength ma-sha-Allah.
The questioner is young and just wants to learn. Let's be glad that he asked and got educated, instead of harboring a wrong viewpoint for the rest of his life.
Wael
IslamicAnswers.com Editor
I am not a Muslim, I identify as a Catholic although lately I have been confused as to what I really am. I think I know in my heart the truth but it is not simple as Yasir mentioned. He mentioned many struggles that reverts face and it is not an exaggeration. There is turmoil within oneself, you are doubting the faith you were raised in and that was part of your culture. You start to recognize all the ways that religion has been part of your life. Then questions arise such as say if I were to become Muslim, would certain prayers (personally for me it is the Our Father) which have comforted me in my life be wrong to pray? Etc. not to mention the fear and anxiety of what it means for you within your own family, rejection, ridicule, mockery? It feels almost as if your world is being turned upside down, and it is, this is your faith you are considering a very major and serious decision. To be made to feel second class after reverting would have to be devastating. And I think that to make others feel inferior or second class because of how they came to Islam would be unislamic in and of itself. We, no matter what religion, should never consider ourselves religiously superior to others, it is a form of judging and nobody can truly judge us except for God. Thankfully I have been surrounded by a very positive islamic community so far and have been very welcomed and had many people be excited to teach me about Islam and what it means to them. Al-bahjah I think that by focusing on who is superior (neither reverts or Muslims by birth are) you might be losing sight of what is important, which is the faith and teaching Gods will. I would say to interact with more reverts and use it as an opportunity to learn from each other. Each has their own struggle about coming to Islam or about being raised in Islam and each experience is just as important as the other, with lessons to share. Remember the only superior is God. You are trying to please God so what better way to do so than by being welcoming, encouraging and accepting of reverts who are most likely feeling so much rejection from their previous religion and culture. They/we need the support of other Muslims because we are all brothers and sisters in faith. I hope this helps. And it is better to ask a question and get the correct answer as you did than to stay quiet and wrongly assume something. It took a lot of courage to ask a question that you knew people might take wrongly, but this is how we learn, there is no person who has all the answers to everything 🙂
Assalamu Alaikum dear sister. I would request you to read Quran Majeed , Insha Allah you will find the answers to all the problems faced by mankind in this last and final guidance from the supreme creator on his last messenger Huzoor Muhammad SAW PBUH. If you have any questions after reading the Quran, you can visit the Street Dawah center closest to you and contact our sisters there, Insha Allah they will answer all your queries. May Allah bring you on to the straight path dear sister. Allah Hafiz.
Assalamu alaikum. I know this is an old post, but I just wanted to add a little something as well. As a revert I have gone through many of the struggles mentioned above, but I would also like to point out that as Muslims we seem to be focusing on the problems instead of the situation.plicity in Islam. Before I reverted I was fascinated by the Ummah and how brothers were there for each other, supported each other. But it is hard to find in the masjid, why? My personal observais that Muslims usually go to America and western countries for dunya. As reverts we also don't know just because you speak Arabic doesn't mean you can understand the Qur'an. Even Arabs need to study and this is how Allah has protected Islam and this deen. After 11 years I have finally figured out the secret, spirituality is between you and Allah, so focus on yourself and not what others are doing wrong. Next, we are all Muslims, we should love and want for each other as the Ummah did in the times of the Prophet Muhammad SAW. Remember, we give so that we may receive brake from Allah and what is not given in this life will be given in the next. Iqra, read. Study, read, and learn about this deen, and don't worry about madhab or no madhab, a good friend once told me of Alah is your guide, then who is there to be a better guide. Ameen. I later chose Sunni but Muslims are Muslims, it is not for us to Judge, that is the job of our Rabb, Allah SWT. Be patient, be patient, be patient, and then be patient some more. Sabr, patience and also kindness are two of the most important traits of a Mislim. When the Muslims were starving on the outskirts of Mecca, they were patient and they were kind through it all. Think how humble the Prophet was SAW. Once you become patient, and start living a life closer to the deen, Allah will bring better people into your life, just remember we are all learning, and there are also differences of opinion amongst the scholars, so accept the decisions others make, pray for them when they do something wrong, ask Allah to grant them the same forgiveness and guidance that you would want for yourself. To me there are no good or bad Muslims, just Muslims who are all struggling, and we are all struggling in one way or the other. Read Reliance of the traveler http://concit.org/reliance-of-the-traveller-sharia-law-manual/ a great reference for Shari'a Law and guidelines for Muslims. Born Muslim or not makes no difference, all of the first Muslims were reverts, Khadija, Ali, Zayd, and all.of there children were born Muslims. So we are all special because we have all been given this glorious opportunity by Allah SWT. Also watch the Life of Umar ibn Al-Khattab MBC series English Subtitles https://vimeo.com/183801467/description. May Allah grant us for our sins, the one we are aware of and the ones we are not. May He also grant us guidance and patience and lead us to Jannah. Ameen