Sunni Muslim, is that who I am?

Introduction

Farrukh Shaikh from Dallas wrote, “This is a warning to all Muslims in this forum that Mike Ghouse’s religion is not Islam; he is Ismaili and a misguided person. If anyone needs more information about his religion, please let me know.”

Really?

Aren’t Ismailis Muslims?

Aren’t Ismailis Muslims? So are Sunnis, Shi’as, Bohra’s, Ahmadis, Sufis, the WD Mohammed group, and others. It is disheartening to see some Muslims diminish the universality of Islam. Islam is as vast as the sky, encompassing all of God’s creation. It is He who placed us in different tribes, communities, races, ethnicities, and nations, and I would even include other religions (49:13). Learning to respect and accept their uniqueness is equivalent to honoring the Creator’s choice. This concept is addressed in the very first verse of the first surah, Surah Al-Fatiha, and the very first verse of the last surah, An-Nas and throughout the Quran God addresses mankind.

The great scholar Mohammed Asad highlights this idea in his Tafsir, particularly referencing verse 2:62. He states that anyone who believes in God, acknowledges accountability on the Day of Judgment, and cares for God’s creation is considered a Muslim—a submitter to this narrative.

I have cited this in my article: “Who is a Muslim, and what is Islam?”.

Islam is a Progressive Religion

It is important to recognize that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) introduced a progressive way of life (deen) to humanity—Islam.

He abolished cruel practices such as infanticide.
For the first time in civilizational history, he proclaimed that women could:
- Own their own businesses and property.
- Propose marriage.
- Initiate divorce.
- He took the steps to abolish slavery

He introduced many more progressive values to society, changing the culture significantly over the course of 23 years. If it is not common sense, then it is not Islam.

This was a monumental change, and we should not forget it. Instead, we should continue to promote and advance this spirit of progressiveness.

The Problem of Misinformation

I wish Farrukh Shaikh had written to me or asked me directly. He could have stated:

“Mike Ghouse is a Muslim, but I’m unsure which denomination he belongs to since I have not verified it. It appears that he belongs to all groups, including Shia, Sunni, Sufi, Bohra, Ahmadiyya, Ismaili, Alawite, and others.”

Additionally, he could have added:

“If anyone wants or needs more information about his religion, they should visit the following sites.”

Prophet Muhammad and Denominations/ Madhabs

First of all, Prophet Muhammad knew only one group of people: Muslims.

Terms like Sunni, Shia, Ahmadiyya, Bohra, Sufi, Ismaili, WD Muhammad, Alawite, Deobandi, Barelvi, Ahl-e-Hadith, and Ahl-e-Bait were not part of his vocabulary, and he did not use these labels as they did not exist.

Natural Outcome of Society

The different groups or denominations are natural outcomes of societal development. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) understood human nature and accurately predicted that the singular faith he taught would eventually divide and continue to divide.

He used the metaphorical number 72 to symbolize the infinite number of splits that could occur.

Lessons on Coexistence and Humility

He planted the seed for understanding, teaching us to coexist with our differences. We must race to do good, but we should avoid claiming self-righteousness or denigrating others, as this leads to arrogance. God does not like arrogance, which often serves as the root cause of conflicts knocking peace and tranquility of a family, community, and a nation.

Only God knows who deserves to be ranked #1, #2, or #3, and how to assign grades of A, B, C, or D.

Even if you are a sinner, God may forgive you for a simple act of kindness towards any living being, such as giving water to a thirsty dog, but especially towards fellow humans.

God’s View on Human Actions

Only God understands the full impact of our actions in His creation and how to bestow His grace.

My understanding is that we should strive to be good human beings who care for both our fellow beings and the environment that God has created.

Wouldn’t you feel happy and sing songs of praise for your guests if they meticulously took care of your property before leaving? Employees who ensure your business remains intact and well-maintained? Do you worry about whether an employee is Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, or Christian, Sikh or the other, as long as they care for your business?

God does not concern Himself with how you worship Him or what religion you follow; He appreciates your contributions to preserving His creation and restoring harmony and tranquility, which is reflected through justice, fairness, and kindness.

My Hindu friends can see the parallels among the different aspects of one God in various representations (Avatars=prophets): Brahma, the creator; Vishnu, the sustainer; and Shiva, the recycler (I prefer not to use the term destroyer).

Universal Question of Goodness

God does not discriminate among individuals; His question to us is, “Are you good to your fellow beings, both humans and animals, as well as to the environment?”

The Quran remains the word of God, yet its meanings have been interpreted differently by various people.

No one, not even the great Imams of their time, can claim that their interpretation is the definitive one. It’s important to remember that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) did not appoint anyone as the sole interpreter of the Quran; he stated, “I am leaving this book with you for your understanding, and you cannot go wrong if you follow it.”

It should also be noted that the Shia tradition has a different perspective on this issue, and we must respect their interpretation.

The Mercy of God

If God is kind, merciful, and if the Prophet is a mercy for humanity, then the teachings we find in the Quran reflect common sense aimed at promoting universal goodness. It embodies a continuous message of inclusivity.

You are welcome to hold differing views; Islam is too expansive a religion (aalameen) to exclude anyone.

Denominations Across Religions

In the beginning, there was a single interpretation of Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Islam, and other faiths that endured for many years.

However, over the last millennium, Christianity divided into Protestantism, Catholicism, and their various denominations. Similarly, all faiths have followed a natural path of division, akin to the way amoebas multiply.

In the case of Islam, Prophet Muhammad preached a singular vision: One Islam. Now we have several versions of the same Islam. He was aware that there will be divisions.

I believe the same can be said for all other prophets; for instance, Jesus never used the term Christian and did not know of Catholics, Protestants, Mormons, or Evangelicals.

Hinduism and Buddhism have also splintered into multiple factions, which is a natural process.

Embracing Diversity in Islam

We initially hesitated to accept the split between Shia and Sunni traditions, but eventually, we acknowledged and embraced the six schools of thought within Islam.

Today, Islam encompasses many traditions, and we must approach this diversity with humility and without judgment. Pluralism involves respecting the unique perspectives of others.

📖 Reference: Allahu Akbar – Abused

Sunni Tradition

I have chosen to remain denomination-less, but if you want to know how I pray and sound, it is reflective of Sunni tradition, only because I was raised with those rituals.

It doesn’t mean superior or inferior; it is just my tuning. If my parents had programmed me to be a Shia or an Ahmadiyya, I would have followed that path.

We need to learn to acknowledge each path, as each one means dearly to the believer.

As the saying goes, “Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder; faith is in the heart of the believer.”

The Quran says: “To you is your faith, and to me is my faith.” (109:6 – that is not a radio station, but the Verse from the Quran).

Embracing All Muslim Traditions

Heavens, I am comfortable with every tradition how a Muslim prays and I have been to a Mosque of almost all denominations, including the three most revered ones in Mecca, Madinah, and Jerusalem.

The next place to visit is Karbala, Imam Hussain’s place. He is our hero who stood up for what is right at the cost of losing his entire family.

Am I following the progressive inclusive path paved by the Prophet? Yes, I do. Then why should I limit myself to be a Sunni?

I fully respect other people’s choices to belong to sub-groups, and all are welcome.

I am a Muslim, period!

I have no walls between me and another Muslim, and no barriers between me and another human.

World Muslim Congress and Pluralism

Indeed, the World Muslim Congress was formed with the express purpose of creating space for every Muslim, and the Center for Pluralism was created for all humanity.

We have conducted 780 hours of radio talk shows and 40 workshops covering all traditions, from Atheism to Zoroastrianism, and every faith in between. The purpose was to understand each other and reduce the tensions.

In the search box, you can enter the name of any denomination with my name to find related articles. Similarly, entering the name of any commemoration or festival will provide you with the relevant information.

It took me a lot of time and effort to make that happen, and that is my commitment to create a world where all humanity can get along by knowing each other.

The Role of Muslims in Society

The role of Muslims is to contribute towards the well-being of humanity and to be the conflict mitigators and goodwill nurturers.

Our goal is to build a secure world for every human so each of us can live in peace and tranquility

📖 Reference: Mission of World Muslim Congress

This group focuses on Muslims and their civic responsibilities in creating a dignified religious, social, and civic space for themselves within the community of faiths.

We do not distinguish between a Sunni, Shia, Sufi, Ahmadiyya, WD Muhammad, Ismaili, Bohra, or the subsets of each group; all believe in God, the Prophet, and the accountability of their actions, and whoever calls themself a Muslim is a Muslim to us.

Currently, we are blessed to have our Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Baha’i, Sikh, and Buddhist friends among us to learn and share their perspectives.

This is our world and our God collectively.

World Muslim Congress is a think tank; all are welcome to participate in the discussions.

External References and Background

Meanwhile if you have time:

More Verses to Think About

[2:136] – Say, “We believe in GOD, and in what was sent down to us, and in what was sent down to Abraham, Ismail, Isaac, Jacob, and the Patriarchs; and in what was given to Moses and Jesus, and all the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction among any of them. To Him alone we are submitters.”
[4:152] – As for those who believe in GOD and His messengers, and make no distinction among them, He will grant them their recompense. GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful.
[2:62] – Surely, those who believe, those who are Jewish, the Christians, and the converts; anyone who (1) believes in GOD, and (2) believes in the Last Day, and (3) leads a righteous life, will receive their recompense from their Lord. They have nothing to fear, nor will they grieve.
[22:17] – Those who believe, those who are Jewish, the converts, the Christians, the Zoroastrians, and the idol worshipers, GOD is the One who will judge among them on the Day of Resurrection. GOD witnesses all things.
[43:17] – He also said, he made us into many tribes, races, nations and by extension religions and communities and the best ones among us are those who learn about each other, and when we do that, conflicts fade and solutions emerge.

Closing Reflection

God loves us all, after all we are His creation, and because He cares about us, He offers guidance, and He sends a peacemaker (call a messenger, prophet, Avatar or any other word) to each community and each group to show them how to live in peace and harmony.

The Bhagavad Gita phrases it in another fashion: every time there is chaos in society, someone from among you will emerge to restore righteousness. It could be a Shaman in the remote jungles of Amazon or a Prophet like Abraham, the Quran says make no distinction—they serve God by preserving harmony, peace, and justice in the communities they live in.

Islam has always emphasized serving fellow beings. God assures everyone—not just Muslims—not to worry about the future. As long as you take care of His creation comprising life and matter, He will take care of you.

📖 Reference: Muslim Background of Dr. Mike Mohamed Ghouse