Faith be upon you,
I find it cool that Rev. John refers to himself as 'Christian Minister', but participated on a Qur'an forum.
However, with my latest "realizations" it appears that "Muslim" simply refers to a person with faith, so it could be any person with faith, it is not specified, although one must be faithful to the right cause, i.e. what is called 'Allah' in Arabic (and Elohim in Hebrew/Aramaic although they basically mean the same linguistically). It should be "b'ism'Allah", with the spirit of Allah.
Many people who are convicted to other groups would be insulted if you would call them "Muslim", but if they knew what it really means then it would not be so insulting. However, finally you have a way of knowing what you should aim towards in a translation of "Muslim" into English. A problem is that "Believer" is inaccurate and is not honest to this phenomenon of being 'united' (iman/amen) with Allah/"God".
But check what 'Longman Advanced American Dictionary says about 'faithful'.
faith‧ful 1 / ˈfeɪθfəl / adjective
1 remaining loyal to a person, belief, political party etc. and continuing to support them :
and check faith:
faith / feɪθ / S3 W2 noun
1 TRUST/BELIEF IN SOMEBODY/SOMETHING [ uncountable ] a strong feeling of trust or confidence in someone or something :
The problem is that people associate "belief" into the picture while "iman/amen" does not translate or is defined as "belief" but rather according to this dictionary definition of faith and faithful, although you attribute the wrong word too since "salam" refers to faith while "iman/amen" refers to "unity".
Belief is synonymous with thinking, uncertainty and that it not what the 'Rabb' is asking for, but seeks confidence. There is a huge misrepresentation of what the 'Rabb' wills here.
I humorously translated it as 'faithling', since I have not really found a good translation of making a proper name of 'faith', while Arabic easily assigns a 'meem' in front of the word and suffixes is with the "objectifier" 'nun'. But I refuse to define myself as "Believer" for I know it is inaccurate and shows weak faith.
We have faithful one, two words. Faithful to what? The 'Rabb'.
Do you want to know what Arabic words means 'belief'? I know which one, henceforth.
خ و ف kwaf does not mean fear but it means believe/think, or rather uncertainty as you can see below. It is another misconception in "Islam".
13:12 He is the One who shows you the lightning, giving you fear uncertainty and hope. And He establishes the heavy clouds.
2:38 We said: ?Descend from it all of you, so when the guidance comes from Me, then whoever follows My guidance, no uncertainty will be upon them, nor will they grieve.?
Note: You can also say they have no reason to believe anything, i.e. belief does not exist if you are able to perceive. This means belief are for those of weak faith.
2:112 No; whoever himself is faithful to God, while doing good, he will have his recompense with his Lord. There will be no uncertainty, nor will they grieve.
As you notice, my previous preaching about doing good and having faith in "God" is the truth from your 'Rabb' and my 'Rabb'. But if you insist on continuing to be stubborn in interpreting 'salateh' and some other words as taken from a Pagan mindset then there will be contemplation for you, verily.
2:114 needs serious reinterpretation, I leave it, but it is not because my argument is weak. Besides if I use my own interpretation skill and it looks very different from the scribes and scholars then you may still not have faith in what I say regardless. I keep my own translations to threads I keep my mind focused at.
2:155 And We will test you with uncertainty and hunger, and a shortage in money and lives and fruits. And give good news to those who are patient.
You must consider that the testing is through making some people question their faith and the weak lose their faith.
2:182 If anyone fears uncertain (about) harm or sin from his beneficiary, then reconcile what is between them. God is Forgiving, Merciful.
The important thing with خ و ف (kwaf) is that is reflects uncertainty. That is an important message with this. It is better if one is not خ و ف.
2:229 The divorce is allowed twice. So, either they remain together equitably, or they part ways with goodness. And it is not lawful for you to take back anything you have given them unless you are uncertain that they will not uphold the boundaries of God. So if you are uncertain that they will not uphold the boundaries of God, then there is no sin upon them for what is given back. These are the boundaries of God so do not transgress them. And whoever shall transgress the boundaries of God, then these are the wicked.
Honestly; a person with faith does not have this kind of fear that traditionalism wants to imply.
I tried to find about belief and I found uncertainty, how interesting.
3:175 It is only the devil trying to create uncertainty for you, so do not choose their uncertainty and be uncertain if they are united ones.
3:176 And do not be saddened by those who rush into delusion. They will not harm God in the least. God does not wish to make for them any share in the Hereafter, and they will have a painful retribution.
It is sad that I have to reinterpret the whole passage because it is wrong. I wish it did not have to be like this.
Have faith
